Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 29 November 2024
A training program was organized by the Department of Fisheries, A & N Administration, in collaboration with Tejas Networks and the Zonal Fisheries Office, at the District Office conference hall, North & Middle Andaman (N&MA). This initiative, part of the national rollout of the Vessel Communication and Support System projects by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, aimed to train Master Trainers on the application and maintenance of transponders.
The program was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner of N&MA, Mr. Dilkhush Meena, IAS, who addressed the gathering of Master Trainers and local fishermen. In his address, Mr. Meena emphasized the importance of transponders in ensuring the safety of fishermen at sea. He praised the efforts of Tejas Networks and the Zonal Fisheries Office for organizing the event and highlighted the vital role of this technology in safeguarding lives.
The session was conducted by Mr. Shrikant Rao, Senior Manager at Tejas Networks, who elaborated on the significance of transponders and their benefits for multiple stakeholders, including the Department of Fisheries, fishermen, boat owners, and maritime agencies. He explained that transponders allow fishermen to send SOS signals in case of emergencies such as medical assistance, fire accidents, engine malfunctions, or man-overboard situations. In turn, maritime agencies can use these devices to send weather alerts, such as warnings about cyclones, heavy rains, or high tides, to fishermen at sea, advising them to move to safer locations.
Key features of the transponders include two-way communication, SOS signals, Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) data, and weather alerts. A video demonstration on the installation of transponders was also shown to the participants, offering practical insights into the system’s application.
The program was coordinated by Mr. Tapan Kr. Biswas, Assistant Director of Fisheries, N&M Andaman District, who expressed his gratitude to the Deputy Commissioner for motivating the participants and ensuring the success of the training.