DC (SA) flags off IEC Van as part of ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ in South Andaman District
Port Blair, Nov. 20: The Govt. of India is committed to ensure that benefits of flagship schemes reach the targeted beneficiaries in a time bound manner. With this aim, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness through outreach activities to achieve saturation of schemes named ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ is planned. The Yatra was launched on 15th Nov., 2023 on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas by flagging off IEC Vans. On the same line, the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra started in A&N Islands by the Hon’ble Lt Governor on 15th Nov., 2023 from Campbell Bay Block of Nicobar District.
Today, the ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY)’ Campaign has commenced by Flagging Off of the IEC Van for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra by Smt. Veditha Reddy, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman district in the presence of Shri Anand Vardhan Mishra, Assistant Commissioner (Settlement)/ Nodal Officer VBSY, South Andaman; Shri Rajenderpal, BDO (Ferrargunj)/ Day Nodal Officer VBSY; Officers of Rural Development and PBMC. The Van was flagged off from the DC Office this morning with a wonderful band performance by students of Govt. Sr. Sec Boy’s School, Port Blair.
The Van was taken to the first venue of the VBSY Campaign at Gram Panchayat Calicut with car and bike rally from the Prothrapur Block Office. The Van reached Gram Panchayat Calicut Community Hall and was welcomed with shower of flowers by the Up-Pradhan of the Gram Panchayat Calicut along with other PRI members, villagers and Panchayat Secretary.
Shri Anand Vardhan Mishra, Assistant Commissioner (Settlement)/ Nodal Officer VBSY, South Andaman was the chief guest for the occasion with Shri Waiokpam Punshiba Singh, IAS as guest of honour. Shri Anand Vardhan Mishra briefed the gathering regarding the Central Government's welfare schemes and policies and need for its effective implementation among the beneficiaries. He administered ‘Sankalp Pledge’ to the gathering.
In the program, various Departments such as Rural Development, Industries, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Fisheries, Revenue, NABARD, A & N Cooperative Bank, State Bank of India, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Health, Social Welfare etc participated and set up stalls to create awareness about their schemes among the rural public. Registration of villagers was done under various schemes and nearly 250 villagers got registered during the program. Beneficiaries of all Departments shared their stories under ‘Meri Kahani Meri Zubani’ to motivate the other villagers to avail benefit under the schemes. Cultural programmes were organised by the students of Govt. Sr. Sec. School Calicut. The Dance Nritya Academy, Junglighat and SHG members of Calicut village performed a musical skit under ‘Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke’. A Health Camp was also organized by the Health Department wherein the chief guest, officials and villagers got their health screening done. The successful beneficiaries of various Departments were felicitated by the dignitaries.
Subsequently, after completion of program at Gram Panchayat Calicut, the Van proceeded to Gram Panchayat Beodnabad in the evening wherein Smt. Veditha Reddy, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman was the chief guest for the programme with Shri. Azharuddin Zahiruddin Quazi, IAS, SDM, South Andaman and Shri Anand Vardhan Mishra, Assistant Commissioner (Settlement), South Andaman as guests of honour. On the arrival of Van at Gram Panchayat Office of Beodnabad, the Pradhan Gram Panchayat along with other PRI members welcomed the van. Videos on ‘Viksit Bharat’ shared by the GoI was shown to the gathering and Sankalp Pledge was also taken.
While addressing the gathering, the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman explained the importance of the Yatra as an effective mode to reach out to the general public and make them aware about various Welfare Schemes of Central Government, so that its benefits could be availed by all unreached persons. She distributed Property Card to the beneficiaries of SWAMITVA scheme. The other dignitaries distributed the Soil Health Cards to the beneficiaries of Agriculture Department.
In the programme held at GP Calicut, various Departments namely Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Industries, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Fisheries, Revenue, NABARD, Department of Postal Services, A & N Cooperative Bank, State Bank of India and Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs participated in the program to create awareness about their schemes. More than 200 villagers witnessed the program. The successful beneficiaries of all Departments shared their stories under ‘Meri Kahani Meri Zubani’ to motivate the villagers. Various cultural programmes were organised by the school students, SHG members and Dance Nritya Academy, Junglighat.