This Directorate has been receiving requests from various candidates and organisations from Minicoy Island of the Union territory of Lakshadweep for relaxation of educational qualification for admission to Pre-Sea Rating Training Course and for obtaining Continuous Discharge Certificate-cum-Seafarers' Identity Documents(DCDs), to enable them to take up a career in the Merchant Navy.

2. Geographically, Minicoy is a distant and remote island which has hardly and other avenues of employment for its inhabitants other than fishing and shipping. Moreover, the local language of the Minicoy Island is Mahal, which is the medium of instruction upto VIII standard. However, the 9th and 10th Standard examinations are conducted by the Kerala State Board in Malayalam, due to which may of the students from Minicoy find it difficult to pass 1th standard baord examination and consequently a majority of students drop out from schooling after 8th standard. Further, all natives of the Island are members of Scheduled Traibe and due to the remoteness of the locality and linguistic problems, they are hardly exposed to the outside world.

3. In the light of the foregoing circumstances and having taken into careful consideration the remote location of the Minicoy Island from the mainland and the changes in medium of instruction from Mahal to malayalem after class VIII, the Director General of Shipping is satisfied that, in the circumstances of the case, the requirement of minimum educational qualification of "Xth Standard Passed" from a recognised board for obtaining CDCs, required vide Rule 4(3)(i) fo the Merchant Shipping (CDC)Rules,21, ought to dispensed with, for the candidates who are natives of Minicoy Island. Therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by clause(1) section 456 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, on the Central Government, read with notification issued by the Government of India, vide S.O.No.3144 dated 17th December, 1960, delegating the said powers to the Director General of Shipping, the Director General of Shipping and ex-officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India, is pleased to stipulate minimum educational qualification of 'VIII standard passed' for obtaining CDCs and for admission to Pre-Sea Training Courses for Deck, Engine and Saloon Ratings, to the candidates who are natives of Minicoy Island and belong to Scheduled Tribe in relation to Union Territory of Lakshadweep, and produce a certificate, in accordance with Govt. of India, Ministry of Home Affairs letter No. BC-16014/1/82-SC & BCD-I dted 6th August 84, to the effect that he is a member of Scheduled Tribe in relation to Union Territory of Lakshadweep.

4. This order shall not apply to mainland employees working in Minicoy or in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. This order shall remain in force for a period of three years from the date of the order and shall be subject to review thereafter, depending on the need for it thereafter.

Sd/-
(D.T. Joseph)
Director General of Shipping
& ex-officio Additional Secretary
Ministry of Shipping,
Government of India