Port Blair, Dec. 4: After his recent visit to Great Nicobar, D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee has taken up various issues pertaining to the people of Great Nicobar, with the Lt. Governor, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
In a letter sent to the Lt. Governor, CPI (M) State Secretary has demanded to establish an Industrial Training Institute at Campbell Bay as candidates of this far flung island have no opportunity to pursue any vocational/job-oriented course. Since parents of these candidates belong to poorer categories, they are unable to send their children for undergoing ITI courses, etc. at Port Blair or on the mainland.
Ayyappan has further requested the Lt Governor to post sufficient number of Specialist Doctors to Campbell Bay as a special case being the most backward and far-flung area of the union territory. He stated that people belonging to lower strata of society in Great Nicobar are unable to seek medical treatment at Port Blair or on the mainland.
The CPI (M) Secretary further said that the Great Nicobar is an ideal place for tourism development in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. In order to attract tourists to Great Nicobar, sufficient and frequent ship service from Port Blair is essential for which MV Nalanda/ Sindhu type boats are required. Indira Point, Galathea beaches etc. can be developed as tourist attractions. Gandhi Nagar beach will definitely be a tourist spot if developed properly. This will provide livelihood to hundreds of people in Great Nicobar, he said. The CPI (M) requested the Lt Governor to explore the possibility of developing Great Nicobar as a tourist spot on a phased manner by providing frequent ship connectivity from Port Blair to Campbell Bay and back.
He brought to the notice of the Lt. Governor the difficulties being faced by the farmers of Great Nicobar. CPI (M) Secretary said that the announcement made by the central government and A&N Administration about the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for copra is not being implemented in Great Nicobar. The copra is not being procured by any agency. Farmers are forced to sell their coconut at throw away prices to certain private companies established in Great Nicobar. ANCOFED, being the nodal agency for procurement of copra in A&N Islands, has failed to procure copra from the farmers of Great Nicobar. Ayyappan said that even if the copra is procured at Great Nicobar after the required checking, the same will again be put to checking at Port Blair and the copra can be rejected during such second checking. CPI (M) demanded that ANCOFED may be directed to procure copra from the farmers of Great Nicobar villages and also to desist from harassing farmers on one reason or other.
He also brought to the notice of the Lt Governor the issues like allotment of permanent shelters to remaining settlers, to re-start computer training centre at Campbell Bay, availability of essential items in sufficient quantity at Great Nicobar, etc.