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Cochin to have maritime excellence centre, ship repair facility

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Cochin, Nov 17 (IANS) In a bid to boost India’s shipping sector, Union Minister of Shipping Nitin Gadkari on Friday announced setting up of a Centre of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding (CEMS) and also laid the foundation stone for Cochin shipyard’s Rs 970-crore International Ship Repair Facility here.

As per the plan, the centre will have campuses at Vishakhapatnam and Mumbai and will provide industry-relevant skill development, equip students with employable engineering and technical skills in the port and maritime sector.

The centre — a collaboration between the Ministry of Shipping and Siemens — is also envisaged to boost government’s pet Sagarmala programme.

“It will help meet the domestic skill requirement in ship design, manufacturing and operating, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and aims to become an international nodal centre in South Asia, attracting students from neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh,” said Gadkari during the event where he also unveiled the CEMS logo.

The minister also laid foundation stone for Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CHL)’s Rs 970 crore ship repair facility, which will double the number of ships that can be repaired every year.

Stating that Cochin was all set to become a global ship repair hub, Gadkari said the facility would be built at the Cochin Port Trust where the CSL has leased out a 40-acre plot for the project.

“CSL will set up a ship lift system of size 130m x 25m with lifting capacity of 6,000 tonne and six work stations. The facility can repair up to 85 vessels, and CSL will thereby be almost doubling the number of ships that can be repaired every year,” according to a Shipping Ministry statement.

The International Ship Repair facility will be a state-of-the-art facility that can handle a major chunk of small- and medium-sized vessels plying in India.

Gadkari said the industry would also generate about 6,000 direct and indirect jobs, besides giving rise to a number of ancillary industries in the state, thus having a multiplier effect on employment and economy.

A conference, titled “Build The Ship – 2017” was also organised by the Ministry of Shipping here.

The event deliberated upon the recommendations of a study regarding the growth strategies for promotion of shipbuilding, ship design, ship repair and marine ancillaries in India.

Later Gadkari visited Munnar, where he laid the foundation stone for rehabilitation and upgradation of NH-85 from Bodimettu to Munnar to two-laned with paved shoulder.

The 42-km project has an estimated cost of Rs 380.76 crore.

–IANS
rup/nir/dg

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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.

The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.

Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.

Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.

For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.

During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.

Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.

Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .

Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.

In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.

In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.

He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.

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