Mandaviya says number of Indian seafarers have rised to over 1.5 lakh

New Delhi, Sep 13 (PTI) Steps to increase employment opportunities in the maritime sector in India has resulted in the number of seafarers reaching to over 1.5 lakh, Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh L Mandaviya said Thursday.

He said earlier only 92,000 persons from India were engaged as seafarers.

"The number of seafarers in the country has increased by over 60,000. While only about 92, 000 people were engaged in ship-related jobs, their number has gone up to 1,56,000 now," Mandaviya told media persons here.

He said the government has taken several steps to increase employment opportunities for the youth in this sector.

The reforms include improving the seafarer's examination, he said and added that while earlier only 1-2 percent of applicants could clear the exam, with the improved curriculum the pass percentage has gone up to 10 percent.

This has resulted in more and more young people qualifying for jobs in the sector, Mandaviya said, adding that plans are to create employment opportunity for another 50,000 youths in a year as seafarers.