New Delhi, Feb 28 Cabinet Secretary K. M. Chandrashekhar met senior functionaries of the Government on Saturday and discussed issues relating to coastal security.

It was decided at the meeting that all vessels would be registered under a uniform coastal security system.

The meeting was attended by the Union Home Secretary, Deputy National Security Advisers, Defence Secretary, Secretary Shipping, Secretary, Fisheries, Secretary (Border Management), Secretary (West) MEA, DG NIC, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, Registrar General of India, DDG Coast Guard and other senior functionaries of Government of India.

The meeting focussed on the implementation aspects of issues relating to maritime security, uniform system for registration for fishing and other vessels, uniform system of issuance of Multipurpose National ID cards (MNIC) to fishermen, issuance of Identity Cards to the population living in the coastal villages, installation of navigational and communication equipments on the fishing vessels.

The review of the initiatives in respect of coastal security has enabled further streamlining of the implementation time-lines and in resolving cross-cutting issues.

The need for installation of navigational and communication equipments on the boats for tracking their movement was emphasised and it was decided that Nautical Advisor will work out the technical details of such equipment in consultation with Coast Guard, National Informatics Centre and ISRO.

As a part of coastal security measure, there was consensus in the meeting regarding the issue of application based Identity Cards to the fishermen and issuance of Multipurpose National Identity Cards to the population of the coastal villages.

It was also decided to constitute a group to look into the issue of inter-operability of two types of ID cards. (ANI)