Little Andaman, Mar. 8: The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Keshav Chandra IAS, today visited Onge Settlement at Dungong Creek, Little Andaman and inaugurated the Medical Sub- Centre & 6 newly built houses for the Onge Tribes. He also distributed the LPG cylinders to the tribal beneficiaries under Ujjwala Scheme. The DGP, A&N Islands, Shri Devesh Chandra Srivastva, IPS, the Secretary, Tribal Welfare, Shri Satyendra Singh Dursawat, IAS, the Director Tribal Welfare, Shri Harminder Singh, officials of Administration and Onge Chief, Shri Totoko alias Vicky and members of the Onge Tribes were present on the occasion. The houses for the Onge tribes have been built by the Andaman Public Works Department from the funds received from Ministry of Tribal Affairs under Conservation-cum-Development Plan and UT Administration under the scheme Welfare of Onge.
Addressing the gathering in Onge language, which made the entire Onge population jubilant, the Chief Secretary said that the Government of India and the A&N Administration are fully committed towards the welfare of the Onge tribes of A&N Islands. Recently, various welfare schemes for PVTGs have been launched by the Government of India under the PM JANMAN mission under which provision has been kept to provide free housing, electricity, roads, drinking water, connectivity and health facilities, the Chief Secretary said.
The Chief Secretary stated that it is an auspicious occasion as the A&N Administration is fulfilling the biggest need of Onge Tribe by providing them accommodation facilities in the form of 6 newly built houses, which will definitely prove to be a milestone in the development process. “I am very happy to know that these houses were designed by expert members in consultation with the Onge Tribe”, the Chief Secretary said. He said, the newly constructed Medical Sub-Center building has become functional which will look into the health care needs of the Onge tribes. Apart from this, all the Onge women are being provided free LPG cylinder under the Ujjwala scheme which will definitely improve their standard of living.
The Chief Secretary further said that over the past year, the Government of India and the Union Territory Administration have shown increased care and attention to the tribal community. With the launch of PM JANMAN mission, the commitment of the Administration has been renewed for the betterment of the PVTG groups of UT, the Chief Secretary said adding that in future too, the A&N Administration will continue to take steps for the overall development of the Tribal Community.
Earlier, the Chief Secretary in the presence of the DGP and other senior officials unveiled the plaque and cut the ribbon marking the inauguration of the newly built Houses. He handed over the symbolic keys to the occupants of the new houses and inspected the facilities available in the newly built houses. He also interacted with the Onge tribes and enquired about their well-being. The Chief Secretary interacted with the Doctor and nursing staff present in the Medical Sub- Centre and enquired about the facilities available.
In his welcome address, the Onge Chief, Shri Totoko alias Vicky expressed his happiness and gratitude towards UT Administration for addressing their long pending demands of housing and health facilities. He thanked the Chief Secretary for visiting Dungong Creek for the second time and inaugurating the much-needed facility of a Medical Sub- Centre and accommodation facilities for the Onge tribal Community.