Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 15 March 2024
A comprehensive three-week orientation program for newly recruited Fisheries Inspectors and Fisheries Field Assistants commenced on February 14, 2024, at the Fisheries Training Centre in Marine Hill. The inauguration of the training program was overseen by Mr. Vishwendra, Secretary of Fisheries.
Addressing the participants, Secretary Vishwendra commended the Department for organising a meticulously planned training module covering all facets of Fisheries and Aquaculture pertinent to the A&N Islands. He emphasized the significance of equipping field functionaries with the necessary skills for enhancing their efficacy in field operations. Additionally, he proposed the inclusion of swimming courses in the curriculum to bolster the capabilities of personnel involved in Mariculture, marine ornamental fisheries, and the management of fish landing centres.
Mr. Vikram Singh, the Director of Fisheries, outlined the training’s focus on practical field activities and attachments to various sections within the Department and Fisheries Institutes. This initiative, he highlighted, marks the first of its kind by the Department aimed at nurturing a versatile workforce capable of handling diverse responsibilities within the Fisheries Department.
The training program encompasses a one-week theoretical session, hands-on attachment training at various fisheries offices and sections, as well as exposure visits to fisheries institutes across the Islands, along with an overview of assets established under the PMMSY schemes.
A total of 02 Fisheries Inspectors and 11 Fisheries Field Assistants are actively participating in this comprehensive training program. Dr. K. Gopal, Joint Director of Fisheries, stressed the importance of such initiatives for enhancing human resources and intensifying extension activities within the Department.
The orientation program signifies a concerted effort by the Fisheries Department to empower its workforce with the requisite skills and knowledge essential for bolstering the fisheries sector’s contribution to the Island economy. With a focus on practical training and exposure, the participants are poised to emerge as proficient professionals capable of driving positive change within the sector.