Manu Bhaker Appointed as Brand Ambassador for Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has chosen Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medalist in shooting, as their new Brand Ambassador. This announcement was made by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.

Manu Bhaker, who won two medals in the recent Summer Olympics held in Paris, comes from a marine family. Her father is a marine engineer, making this role special for her. Shri Sonowal referred to it as a “homecoming” for the “Sailor’s Daughter” and expressed pride in welcoming her as the new face of the ministry.

Key Highlights:

Shri Sonowal shared that Manu Bhaker’s success story is inspiring. She is the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals at the same games. Her journey as a champion reflects the values of punctuality, discipline, and hard work, which are key principles in the marine world. Through her role, the ministry aims to connect with young Indians, showing them the opportunities that the marine sector offers. They want to inspire the youth to contribute to India’s vision of becoming self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) by 2047, a goal set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Honoring Women Achievers in Maritime

At the event, Shri Sonowal also honored several remarkable women from the maritime and sports sectors for their important contributions to India’s growth. Some of these achievers include:

• Lt Commander Vartika Joshi, the first female skipper of the Indian crew on the INSV Tarini.
• Sonali Banerjee, the first lady marine engineer in India.
• Captain Teena Joey, General Manager at JM Baxi Group, Chennai.
• Thulasimathi Murugesan, silver medal winner in badminton at the Paris Paralympics.
• Manisha Ramadass, bronze medal winner in badminton at the Paris Paralympics.
• Rupali Raj Joshi, a surveyor at 1 STS Marine Components, Indian Registrar of Shipping.

This event was organized by the Chennai Port Authority in collaboration with the Kamarajar Port Authority, showcasing the significance of women’s contributions to the maritime sector.

Encouraging Indian Athletes

Thulasimathi Murugesan, the Paralympic silver medalist, expressed her gratitude for the continuous support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She noted how India’s athletes have improved over the years, from winning just 4 medals in Rio 2016 to securing 29 medals in the Paris Paralympics 2024. She believes the Prime Minister’s support has played a huge role in this success.

Cleanliness Drive and Tree Plantation

Shri Sonowal also participated in the “Swachata Hi Seva 2024” event, which is a national campaign for cleanliness. This event took place at Chennai Port Hospital and marked the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Over 400 employees took part in the cleanliness drive and also pledged to plant 400 saplings as part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, which means ‘one tree for mother.’ More than 500 women, including students from Indian Maritime University, AMET University, and Chennai Port Higher Secondary School, joined in the event.

The program also included the “Harnessing Nari Shakti for the Development of the Nation” initiative, which promotes the empowerment of women in various fields, including the maritime sector.

Indian Navy Commissions INS Jatayu, Strengthening Foothold In Lakshadweep Island

Key Attendees

The event saw the presence of several prominent figures, including:

• Shri TK Ramachandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
• Dr Malini V Shankar, Vice Chancellor of Indian Maritime University.
• Shri Sunil Paliwal, Chairman of Chennai Port Authority & Kamarajar Port Limited.
• Shri S Vishwanathan, Deputy Chairperson of Chennai Port Authority.
• JP Irene Canthia, Managing Director of Kamarajar Port Limited.

These leaders, along with other senior officials, gathered to celebrate this important occasion.

This event not only showcased India’s achievements in sports and maritime but also highlighted the importance of women in nation-building.