There was a closed door discussion recently on the need to educate our youths on current career prospects. It was agreed that our youths are aware of present potentials but it was wondered whether there should not be any codified initiative and information – a sort of ready reckoner — to help them in their decision making.

It was unanimously accepted that our youngsters are fully aware of the prospects in jobs in the seas and ships and are doing well. It was also agreed that their activities in the sea are now global and spread over different international companies. It was also accepted that they could not have made such mark if they had not been skillful and capable.

During the 20th century we have diversified and have moved into new pastures –. Business, trading, engineering, constructions, agriculture, mining, and banking.

We have moved to neighbouring countries especially to Sri Lanka and made our mark in business. Business stalwarts like Ayya Thambi D’Mel (pls. refer an earlier article by Alexander), Miguel Fernando and I.X. Pereira are examples. After liberation of Ceylon from British many of our ancestors were sent back to their native places like Tuticorin, Vembar, Kamuthy, Manappad etc. This influx resulted in many of them to look for business and jobs which other communities were doing.

During the second half of the 20th century they moved into other careers: Merchants, Teachers, some even into Indian Armed Forces & Civil Services and some into Merchant Navy etc. Out of these the most preferred calling was Merchant shipping. Even today many of our youths prefer this line which gives opportunity in ships as Cadets, Officers, Fitters, Deck Engineers etc. but it is a sad fact that very few have reached the position of “Captain”.

During the last 50 years “Education” became the important factor amongst our youth   and as a result more Graduates and Post Graduates emerged in the scene.  Many school teachers, college teachers, government officials, customs officials, bank officials were noticed in the community. With more and more people moving into interior lands from sea coast they were subjected to more exposures of other communities, and endowed with native skills they quickly adopted themselves to new environs and started excelling in new fields.

The new educational concessions given when we were categorized as most backward class benefitted our youth further. Many became engineers and doctors. Many entered government services. Many became lawyers.

Yet one has to bemoan that our youngsters have not moved into IIT or research organizations in the number that we would want them to be. It is also to be rued that though there are many lawyers and doctors we are yet to find them in top slots. Though they are doing well in private sectors they do not adorn the top slots. There is some thing amiss in us which we should ponder.

It’s a good sign that education has uplifted most of our youth, thanks to the initiatives taken up by the state government and central government. Have these opportunities and career prospects reached to all our youths in every family in all our village is a million dollar question.

I can see that even today many of our talented youths are being pushed to fishing whilst pursuing their schooling. Many who complete their schools have an inclination to get into a ship in whatever role they can afford. For them getting into a merchant ship is a high salaried job irrespective of the stress and strain that they have to undergo.

As one belonging to the community, I have high regards to fishing or getting into ships. The intention of this article is to spread the unlimited career opportunities available    for today’s youth. We need to move ahead and set steps in many of the unexplored areas.
I would like to highlight some of the unexplored areas:

Central Government:

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts following examination to get posts in Central Government:

• Civil Services Examinations
• Indian Forest Service examination (IFS)
• Engineering Services Examination
• Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS)
• National Defence Academy Examination (NDA)
• Naval Academy Examination
• Combined Medical Services Examination
• Special Class Railway Apprentices examinations.
• Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination
• Combined Geoscientist and Geologist Examination
• Central Armed Police Forces(Assistant Commandant) Examination

Civil Services:

The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a nationwide competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to various Civil Services of the Government of India, including

• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
• Indian Police Service (IPS)
• Indian Revenue Service (IRS)

The examination is the toughest examination in India with success rate of 0.1%-0.3%.

Defence

• Indian Armed Forces
• • Indian Army
  • Indian Air Force
  • Indian Navy

Officers to these 3 defence services are selected through UPSC’s NDA/CDS etc.

• Research Establishments under Ministry of Defence

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

DRDO includes research establishments such as NSTL (Naval Science and Technological Laboratory), CVRDE (Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment) etc.

• Paramilitary
• • Coast Guard
  • Assam Rifles
  • Special Frontier Force

• The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) refers to uniform nomenclature of five security forces in India under the authority of Ministry of Home Affairs. They are:
• Border Security Force (BSF)
• Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
• Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
• Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
•  Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

Public sector undertakings (Government of India)

Some of the PSU companies which are highly regarded and awarded the status of Maharatna and Navratna are:

• Coal India Ltd.
• Indian Oil Corporation
• NTPC Ltd.
• Steel Authority of India Ltd.
• GAIL (India) Ltd.
• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
• Bharat Heavy Electricals
• Bharat Petroleum Corporation
• Hindustan Aeronautics
• Hindustan Petroleum Corporation
• National Aluminium Company Ltd.
• Neyveli Lignite Corporation
• Container Corporation of India
• Shipping Corporation of India

Public sector banks are familiar to us

State Government

TNPSC caters to all administrative services of Tamilnadu government. Examinations are conducted (Group 1 to 4) to fill up various administrative jobs of the Tamilnadu government.

Private Sector

Private sector throws innumerable opportunities. I will not be able to list down all the jobs offered in the private sector.

I have tried to highlight the administrative services wherein our footprint is insignificant. Our youths (male / female) spread across Tamilnadu should decide on their career and then act accordingly. The above mentioned services are applicable for both male and female. We recommend all our youths to look into such openings and get themselves acquainted.

I can understand that many of our youths will be devoid of Internet in their villages or may not be aware of our “Globalparavar” website. I would request viewers of this article to spread awareness of our portal. Even if our youths are not able to view this portal the message should reach them. I kindly request all readers to spread this information.

The purpose of this article is to encourage our youths to move into different services. We are more capable and talented to do beyond what we are currently doing. Kindly get in touch with the right people to know more on what can be done.