Port Blair, March 29: Shri D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) Andaman and Nicobar State Organising Committee met the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration today (29.03.2023) at Secretariat and discussed with him various issues concerning the islanders. In a letter submitted to the Chief Secretary, he urged the Administration to stop the process of recruitment of teachers on contract basis against the vacant posts in the Education Department.

Referring to the two advertisements appeared in The Daily Telegrams recently inviting applications for filling up of certain number of posts, Shri Ayyappan said that nearly 1000 posts of teachers are lying vacant and no effective step has been taken by the authorities to fill up these posts over the years. Now, the Education Department has come up with the proposal for filling up some of these posts on contract basis.  Shri Ayyappan urged the Chief Secretary to fill up all the vacant posts of teachers on regular basis by following the reservation criteria of ST, OBC, EWS, etc.  CPI (M) is of the view that since the number of qualified local candidates for any posts of teachers in the Education Department will be in the manageable number, there may not be any difficulty for processing the offline applications and demanded that online application should be avoided in order to prevent candidates from mainland applying for the posts of teachers in these islands which will be of great relief to the qualified local candidates.

CPI (M) Secretary also discussed with the Chief Secretary the demands of (1) Desalination of sea water to tide over the drinking water scarcity (2) filling up of vacant posts of Principals and Vice Principals (3) Early implementation of High Court order on grant of 1/30th of pay plus DA to DRMs working under the Administration and (4) Delay in promotion to the posts of Assistant Secretaries and Office Superintendents. Chief Secretary gave a patient hearing and assured appropriate favourable action on the demands raised. CPI (M) Secretary also brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary the difficulties being faced by the people for conversion of land for dwelling purpose and by local entrepreneurs.