Exhorts Islanders to Have Faith in Themselves and March Towards Further Progress

Port Blair, Aug 19:  The Lt Governor, Lt Gen A K Singh (Retd), has extended his good wishes to the Islanders and expressed hope that the A & N Islands will progress & prosper further and reach greater heights of development & sustainable growth in the days ahead. In his farewell speech at the packed to capacity DBRAIT auditorium here this morning, the Lt. Governor expressed his sincere gratitude to all the people of Andaman & Nicobar Islands for their support in the smooth functioning of the Administration and affection towards him.

Expressing his feelings during an emotional but firm farewell speech, the Lt. Governor said “it’s an emotional moment for me and my wife as we are prepared to leave a place that we have grown to love and made our home for the last three years. Through this farewell speech, I personally want to thank the Islanders for all the affection, love, understanding, and support they have showed during my tenure here in these Islands which helped me a lot to move forward with my vision and ideas of development”. The Lt Governor informed the gathering about his becoming the Lt. Governor of these Islands after retiring as the Army Commander of Southern Army and serving the Armed Forces for 40 years. He was sworn in as the Lt. Governor of A&N Islands on July 8, 2013. “I took my appointment of Lt Governor as an opportunity to serve the nation in this part of the Country”, he said.

The Lt Governor said that for all the development works done in last three years, the credit firstly goes to the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modiji for his vision and support which gave him the courage to move forward and carry out development works benefitting the Islanders at large. “Whenever I met the Prime Minister during my visit to mainland, there was only one message from him; i.e ‘carry on your works’. “Secondly, the credit goes to the Islanders, from all walks of life including the ordinary citizens, for their support and contribution, which always inspired me to move forward. I dedicate all the development works of the last three years to the vision and blessing of the Prime Minister and the great support, love and affection of the people of these Islands”, he said. The Lt Governor also thanked the Chief Secretaries, both past and present, and their teams; who translated the ideas and vision of progress into reality.

“I am reasonably satisfied about what I could do in the last three years for these Islands; to the best of my abilities, the Lt Governor said adding that he always worked keeping in mind the aspirations of the future generations. Starting of the Medical College, ANCOL, Community College; while the Nursing College, Law College and Professional College, Trauma Care Centre, Heart Care Center; all of which will start soon, are for the benefit of A&N Islands’, he said. In the employment front, the Lt Governor said, about 4000 vacancies have been identified in different departments which will be filled phase wise, maintaining utmost transparency.

Speaking about the future of A&N Islands, the Lt. Governor urged the Islanders to have faith in themselves and to stay firm on their paths. “For the Islands to march towards a progressive society, the silent majority needs to assert a little more and through unanimity they can achieve their goals and visions”, said the Lt. Governor urging the Islanders not to derail from their vision.

Acknowledging the support and blessings of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi again, the Lt. Governor stated that the vision of Prime Minister –‘Sab ka Saath Sab ka Vikas’, which is aimed at the welfare of the society, has to be taken in positive stride and is already being implemented in its truest sense here in the Islands and should continue.

Speaking about A&N Islands’ society, the Lt. Governor said, the A&N Islands’ society is a positive society which needs to evolve itself; so that further development can take place. The Lt. Governor also mentioned about the rising number of suicide cases, which, he said needs to be tackled with utmost care.  He also called for self introspection and look beyond oneself to focus on collective growth. He also appealed all senior leaders and general public to serve the Islands with utmost clarity of mind in true spirit of unity.

Urging the young generation to be the torch bearers of tomorrow, the Lt. Governor advised them to start looking at positivity and not the negative aspects of life. He stressed that there is need for a change and to be able to change the discourse to a positive outcome, we need to be a part of it, opined the Lt. Governor.

Mentioning about Islanders’ sole dependency on the Government and the Administration for employment, the Lt. Governor called upon the Islanders to endorse the spirit of entrepreneurship. “Let us reduce our dependency on the Govt./Administration and inculcate the spirit of free enterprise and entrepreneurship”, said the Lt. Governor.

Quoting various positive sayings on life, the Lt. Governor urged the Islanders not to remain in status quo, but to change for the better and challenge the status quo as and when necessary.

Expressing his gratitude to the people of the Islands far and wide, the Lt. Governor remarked that he will continue to be the stakeholder of these Islands. “I consider myself very lucky to have been a part of these Islands for three wonderful years”, he said expressing his gratitude to the Islander for their blessings and supports extend to him in many of his endeavours.

Winding up his speech, the Lt. Governor expressed his good wishes to the new Lt. Governor of A&N Islands, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi. “I am certain that the Islands will flourish under his leadership and with the support and blessings of the Islanders, these Islands will march ahead on the path of development”, said the Lt. Governor.

The farewell programme was attended among others by the First Lady of A&N Islands, Smti Suneeti Singh, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Anindo Majumdar, Adhyaksha ZPSA, Smti Minati Biswas, Up-Adhyaksh, Shri Subir Chander, Chairperson, PBMC, Smti Sheela Singh, PCCF, Shri Negi, DGP, Shri Rajesh Malik, BJP State President, Shri Vishal Jolly, PBMC Councillors, PRIs, officers from Defence, A&N Police, political leaders, Senior officers from the Administration, academicians and students from various colleges.

Proposing the vote of thanks on the occasion, the Secretary (GA), Smti Rashmi Singh on behalf of the Islanders and the Chief Secretary A&N Administration and team conveyed best wishes to the First Lady and the Lt Governor and prayed for their good health. 

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Principal, DBRAIT, Dr. Utpal Sharma recalled the achievements made in A&N Islands under the leadership of the Lt. Governor, Lt. Gen. A.K. Singh (Retd).