In an effort to bring clarity in the functioning of the departments and enacting policies of maritime affairs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a proposal to amend the name of the Ministry of Shipping to Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The move aims to improve the implementation of the policies and operations of the ministry and strengthen water resources-based economy.
While making the announcement, PM Modi said, “In developed economies, it is the job of Shipping Ministry to look after ports, shipping and waterways. In India also Ministry of Shipping only works for these sectors. So changing the name will bring more clarity for work.”
The PM Modi-led Government of India is making efforts to capitalise India’s coastline in order to strengthen the nation’s blue economy. In one such move, while flagging off the Ro Pax ferry, PM Modi said that only after 2014 a holistic approach to develop India’s maritime sectors was adopted. “We want to make India’s maritime sector an important part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Mission,” he added.
Moreover, the PM said that the Government of India is working to develop a multi-modal logistics structure that will connect road, rail, air and shipping. Besides this, under the PM Matysa Sampada Yojana (scheme for fisheries development), the government has earmarked Rs 20,000 crore to be invested in the development of fisheries sector in the coming years, so as to fuel India’s blue economy.
