Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal recently announced significant maritime education initiatives aimed at enhancing opportunities in the Northeast during his visit to Cotton University in Guwahati. He attended the 44th Manik Chandra Barooah Memorial National Debate Competition, engaging with student debaters from across India and Bhutan. Sonowal highlighted a collaboration between Cotton University and the National Inland Navigation Institute (NINI) in Patna, which will focus on maritime studies and student exposure programs. This partnership aims to provide youth in the Northeast with access to maritime affairs, an area historically overlooked despite the region’s rich riverine culture.
In addition, Sonowal revealed plans to establish a Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) in Guwahati under the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA). This new department will facilitate seafarer certification and safety services locally, reducing the need for aspirants to travel to distant cities. The initiative is expected to increase participation from the Northeast in the maritime and shipping sectors, which are vital to India’s economic growth.
Sonowal also paid tribute to Manik Chandra Barooah, emphasizing the enduring legacy of Cotton University in fostering intellectual and cultural development in the region. He encouraged the participating students to embrace the spirit of debate as a cornerstone of democracy, urging them to carry this ethos into their future endeavors. The Minister underscored the Northeast’s transformation from a peripheral region to a central player in India’s growth narrative, driven by new institutions and industries and the effective utilization of its abundant water resources.
