The Third Meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) was held on Friday, 26th August at NUSI Conference Hall, NUSI Bhavan in Goa.

One of the unexpected turns it took however was a decision on the resignation of Abdulgani Y Serang, NUSI General Secretary cum Treasurer. The Executive Committee agreed with a lot of reluctance to honour Serang’s request to them to accept his resignation.

While agreeing to the resignation, the NUSI Executive Committee unanimously agreed to tap the services, experience, and association of Serang in his capacity as NUSI Advisor, with effect from 1st September.

The NUSI Executive Committee then unanimously co-opted Milind Kandalgaonkar as the new NUSI General Secretary cum Treasurer. Kandalgaonkar has 18 years of seafaring experience, including time as a Bosun, and has been associated with NUSI for the last two decades.

Louis Gomes was co-opted as the new NUSI Vice President. He has 21 years of seafaring experience and has been with NUSI for more than a decade, including as an ITF Inspector.

Sunil Nair, NUSI Assistant General Secretary, and Suresh Solanki, NUSI Organizing Secretary will continue in their respective positions.

Commenting on his resignation, Serang said, “I have put in nearly four decades in NUSI and now I think it’s time to step aside so that the new leadership can take over.

“I have been planning to resign for the past two years, but I could not because of some commitments which I had to deliver, like some National and International agreements, which were delayed due to the pandemic. Otherwise, this would have happened two years back itself.

“Since my colleagues were not wanting me to do so, it was suggested for me to at least take a position as an Advisor, which I have agreed to.”

4 DECADES OF SERVICE TO NUSI

Abdulgani Y. Serang joined NUSI in 1983 at a very young age immediately after the demise of his father Yakub M. Serang, ex-NUSI Assistant General Secretary. He continued his college studies and graduated while working at NUSI.

Being the great-grandson of NUSI Founder Mohamed Ebrahim Serang, proving his dedication, compassion, and confidence, including his fighting spirit for the cause of the seafarers and their families in particular and the Indian shipping fraternity in general, remained an ingrained quality of Serang in his service of nearly four decades.

After the demise of Dr. Leo Barnes in 2001, Serang was unanimously elected the General Secretary cum Treasurer, a post which he held till his resignation now at the age of 55 years.

He has represented NUSI and the Indian seafarers in various statutory, national, and international bodies, including the National Shipping Board, Member of the Court – Indian Maritime University, Executive Board Member – ITF, NUSI/ITF Trust for Indian Seafarers, ITF Seafarers Trust – the UK; and Delegate at ILO & IMO.

NUSI has redefined trade unionism with its strong and fair approach and Union Social Responsibility (USR), embarking on unprecedented welfare and training facilities for the benefit of not just the seafarers but also their family members including retired, deceased, medically unfit seafarers, and particularly the widows of seafarers.

The NUSI Executive Committee also nominated Salim Zagade and S. Kalaikovan as the two new NUSI Assistant Secretaries respectively. Maksood Khan, NUSI Assistant Secretary will continue in his position. L. Dillibabu was nominated as International Inspectorate. All other positions remain unchanged.

A NUSI release stated: “The entire TEAM NUSI will continue with renewed zeal and confidence. All current welfare and training schemes will continue and we await the new ones which will be introduced soon.”

Marex Media