MUI seeks use of CSR funds by major ports on maritime training infra

New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI): MUI seeks use of CSR funds by major ports on maritime training infra – Maritime body MUI on Monday said it’s sought spending of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds by 12 major ports of India on strengthening the country’s maritime training infrastructure.

India has 12 major ports under the control of the central government — Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia) as a prime union of merchant navy officers, the Maritime Union of India (MUI) has sought CSR support from 12 major ports of India to strengthen the country’s maritime training infrastructure,” the MUI said during a statement.

The Lok Sabha last month passed the main Port Authorities Bill, 2020, that seeks to supply greater autonomy in decision-making to 12 major ports within the country and professionalize their governance by fixing boards.

The Bill provides that each major port”s board may use its CSR funds for providing various social benefits, including skill development. We urge these ports to spend a sizeable amount of CSR funds in upgrading maritime skills of Indian seafarers within the years to return .”

The MUI said since the main Port Authorities Bill, 2020 explicitly mentions that CSR benefits might be provided to the workers of port’s board, customers, business partners, local communities, environment and therefore the society at large, thus, the main ports of India should also offer CSR support to skilling initiatives aimed toward increasing the worldwide share of Indian seafarers, it said.

Applying to the main ports of Nehru Port, Kandla, Kolkata, Chennai, Cochin, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Mormugao, Paradip, V.O. Chidambaranar and Vishakhapatnam; the large corpus of CSR funds will convince be extremely beneficial for all seafarers residing across various states of India,” added Thakur.

The MUI also demanded that each port should invite the acceptable representation from the Indian seafaring community within the proposed composition of the Port Board which can replace the prevailing Port Trust.

The Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 mandates the inclusion of two to four independent members within the creation of every port”s board.

Shipping is one such industry wherein women constitute a really miniscule a part of the shipboard workforce, the MUI said.

It is for that very reason that the worldwide bodies like International Maritime Organization and International Transport Workers” Federation have laid such high emphasis on the inclusion of more women within the industry, it said about every one major port of India should primarily specialize in providing their CSR funds” support to Indian women keen on becoming world-class merchant navy officers,” said Thakur.

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