Rudy laments absence of Indian crew on global cruise ships

Lamenting that he hardly finds any Indian crew on international cruise ships, Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy today said the Centre wants to ensure skill development and bold steps in this direction have been taken.
The Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was speaking at a function to mark the launch of Indian Navy's seventh Landing Craft Utility at GRSE shipyard here.
"We have professors of mathematics, economics, geography, botany and others but we do not have professors of plumbing, carpeting and welding. We want these professors", Rudy said.
Pointing out that he hardly finds any Indian crew in international cruises, he said the central government has started work on a big scale to ensure skill development.

According to the National Sample Survey Organisation, India has only 3.5 per cent skilled workforce, he said, adding that this does not include a majority of the skilled workforce who work at tea and rubber plantations.
"We are trying to build up a mechanism where maximum data is captured. This census will help us include our traditional and rural workforce also," Rudy said.