Team Herald
PANJIM: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Churchill Alemao on Tuesday sought Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari’s intervention in dropping the minimum qualification of SSC required for obtaining Indian Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC).
In his representation, Alemao pointed out that 80 percent of Goans working on ships are non-SSC and therefore unable to get the CDC as the SSC certificate has been made mandatory by the Shipping Director.
“I have requested the Minister to intervene in the matter and omit the minimum qualification of SSC in order to apply for the CDC so that all Goans working on ships can apply for the CDC before joining, irrespective of their educational qualification,” Alemao told media persons after the meeting. He said that Gadkari has assured to look into the matter.
Earlier last month TCP Minister Vijai Sardesdai and South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar had written to Gadkari seeking his intervention to resolve the problem faced by the beleaguered Goan seafarers, but there has been no solution forthcoming from the Centre or the Shipping Director.
On the mining issue, Alemao demanded that the government initiate the process to auction mining leases as directed by the Supreme Court and as per provisions of MMDR Act. “Auction will bring in much needed revenue to the State. Government can set conditions that local trucks, machineries and others will be employed at the mines once auctioned,” he said.
