Shipping, aviation may get own cadre

The government is contemplating a special cadre for the civil aviation and maritime sectors.

The government is examining the possibility of creating a special cadre to serve posts in the civil aviation and maritime sectors on the lines of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS).

When reviewing the role of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Kaw Committee in its report suggested that the Ministry of Civil Aviation should introduce an Indian Civil Aviation Service (ICAS).

The Ministry of Shipping (MoS) is similarly exploring the creation of a special cadre "� the Indian Maritime Service (IMS) "� for better mercantile marine administration.

"It is high time to create a separate cadre for shipping and aviation. Over 95 per cent of the export-import trade is moved by sea and the remaining by air. These two sectors are highly-specialised areas and demand timely-delivery of supply chain management (SCM) solutions," says a shipping industry analyst.

Though the prime responsibility of civil servants is executing decisions irrespective of departments, the civil aviation and maritime administrations need specialised personnel, adds the analyst.

"ICAS should be created as a central service for DGCA personnel. It should have relevant cadre policies for recruitment, promotion, time-scale-based automatic pay scale upgradations, personal promotions depending on the vacancy availability in the higher post and cadre structure as in case of any other relevant central service," M K Kaw, the chairman of the committee, observes.

The ICAS conditions should include a reward system, induction training and regular training thereafter at home and abroad to maintain a pool of technically-proficient and trained manpower competing with the best internationally.

Such a service would ensure induction of well-qualified and competent officers to handle the responsibilities as envisaged in the enhanced role and functions of the DGCA.

What does this mean to candidates aspiring to take up jobs in civil aviation sector? "The government has drawn up a detailed plan to develop 400 airports in the next 10 years. Interestingly, the sector is witnessing a huge shortage in this specialised sector. Salaries are expected to hit the roof in the wake of the civil aviation boom. Increasing private participation will further hike salaries in coming days," says an analyst.

Industry analysts also point out that major- and non-major ports needs specialised people who have exposure to respecitve sectors.

"Persons who are assuming charge of ports or shipping take some time to learn the technicalities of the sector and by the time they gain knowledge, it may the time to leave to another department, which is different from the earlier one," says a port official who did not wished to be named.

"With more ships calling at Indian ports and more terminals coming across the country, India will need plenty of manpower in all sectors of mercantile marine administration. The strict measures implemented by International Maritime Organisation (IMO) into shipping sector also prompts maritime industry to have people with technical expertise," he adds.