About 13,000 vacant posts in different Departments will be filled up in a time bound manner: CS

Port Blair, Nov. 30: A three-day induction training programme for the newly elected representatives of A&N Islands organized by the State Panchayat Resource Centre (SPRC), Directorate of RD, PRIs & ULBs, A&N Administration under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) of Ministry of Panchayati Raj, GoI got underway today in the auditorium of DBRAIT here. The training was inaugurated by the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS by lighting the lamp.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Secretary said that for the first time such an induction programme has been devised by the A&N Administration for the benefit of the three tier–Panchayati Raj Institutions to create more awareness regarding their roles, duties and responsibilities as PRI members. He said, the training will enlighten elected PRIs on how to effectively implement various schemes of GoI for the benefit of people at grassroot level.

The Chief Secretary said that the PRIs and the Officers of A&N Administration should understand the problems of an area and work in co-ordination to solve the issues in rural areas thereby providing much relief to the rural populace. He said, we can attain number one position in implementing all the flagship programmes of the Central Govt. as the population in A&N Islands is less. It’s a golden opportunity for the PRIs as well as the officers to achieve this goal by working in unison for the betterment of the rural residents, he said.

The Chief Secretary further remarked that the Administration with its limited resources is working tirelessly to improve the road and power sector so as to provide relief to the Islanders. He mentioned that due to the collective effort of all, A&N Islands achieved the distinction of first ‘Swachh Sujal Pradesh’ in the country. Stating that Indore City in Madhya Pradesh which is continuously receiving the ‘Cleanest City of the Country Annual Award’, the Chief Secretary encouraged the Islanders to put in their mite to keep the islands spic & span, so that the Islands can also achieve this distinction in the days to come. The onus to achieve this distinction lies with the PRIs and the Officers of A&N Administration, the Chief Secretary said adding that with collective efforts, we can achieve this. The Chief Secretary informed that the shortage of Safai Karamcharis will be sorted out very soon both for the rural & urban areas. There cannot be a better achievement than making A&N Islands as the cleanest Islands of the Country, the Chief Secretary said.

The Chief Secretary said about 13,000 vacant posts in different Departments will be filled up in a time bound manner. In this series, recently, the exams were conducted to fill up the post of ‘Group C’ employees. Accordingly, till September 2023, all the 13,000 posts will be filled, so as to meet the staff shortages, he said.

Referring to his recent visit to North & Middle Andaman, the Chief Secretary said he himself saw the dilapidated condition of some of the school buildings which needed immediate attention. He said, survey and mapping of these structures has been done for taking up immediate repair work. A priority wise repairing work of school building has been prepared and the work has commenced, the Chief Secretary disclosed. The Chief Secretary also stated that the Administration is committed to the welfare of the Islanders and putting its best efforts for timely completion of various projects.

The Chief Secretary also released compendium and brochures brought out by State Panchayat Resource Centre, Department of Rural Development and Panchayat.

In her opening remarks, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary (RD/Panchayats), Smti Nandini Paliwal remarked that after the Panchayat election in A&N Islands, a large number of newly elected members were elected to the three-tier Panchayat Raj System and this training will acquaint them with the functioning of the system. She further requested the newly Elected Representatives and functionaries of Panchayats to attain more knowledge during the training and improve their capabilities so as to discharge their responsibilities effectively and efficiently. All the PRIs should familiarize themselves with schemes pertaining to Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Skill Development and Livelihood, Social Sector Schemes of Health, Education etc. so that they can ensure that these schemes percolate down to beneficiaries and bring about changes in their lives, she said.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Secretary (RD), Shri Suneel Anchipaka stated that the RD Department has organized this three day ‘Induction Training Program’ for the newly elected Representatives of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He said, the Panchayati Raj is a system of governance in which Gram Panchayat is the basic unit of Administration. The Panchayats are playing an important role in rural development in Isles. This training schedule has been structured in a systematic and scientific manner, so as to present right direction to PRIs and RD Office. Further, the sessions chalked out in this training programme will help in gaining knowledge in different fields and will also provide support to perform the designated roles and responsibilities effectively, he added. The Secretary further stated that the content of this three-day training programme has been designed based on intensive stakeholder consultations with PRI members.

In her address, the Adhyaksha, Zilla Parishad, N&M Andaman, Smti Elizabeth expressed her gratitude to the Administration and the RD Department for conducting the training for the benefit of the PRIs throughout the Islands. She said, after the training, the newly elected PRI members will be able to solve the issues of the rural areas in a more appropriate manner.

In his address, the Up- Adhyaksh, Zilla Parishad, South Andaman, Shri Abdul Basheer said, for the first time, the A&N Administration has organized such a training programme for the PRIs from Diglipur to Campbell Bay. He urged the RD Department to devise more such training programmes at regular intervals to update the knowledge of the PRIs.

The inaugural programmme concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Director, RD, Shri RS Meena.