Port Blair, Jan 10: Shri. Vishal Jolly, National Executive Committee Member-BJP together with Shri. E.S. Rajesh District President-BJP, Nicobar District today met the Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration and raised the following issues:
Nicobar District: After recently concluding his tour to Nicobar District and after meeting with the Tribal Council office bearers, Captains and villagers at all major Islands of Nicobar District, Shri. Vishal Jolly pointed out & placed the following major issues pertaining to the district and vehemently demanded for its early redressal:
He apprised the Chief Secretary that one of the major issue due to which the entire developmental as well as routine repair as well as maintenance works under the APWD is getting stagnated in the absence of posting of a Superintending Engineer in Nicobar District. He urged that a Superintending Engineer in Nicobar District may soon be permanently posted.
He further raised the issue of COPRA procurement and pointed out that the procurement has been stopped without any justification and urged that the same be restarted without any further delay.
The issue of scarcity of water in Car Nicobar, Chowra, Terassa is deepening and urged that it should be ensured that adequate supply of water to the villagers of these Islands is regularly maintained.
Another issue pertaining to water pipeline was also placed by Shri. Jolly. He appraised the Chief Secretary that water pipelines in almost all the Islands of Nicobar District are too old and are in a rusty condition which requires urgent replacements.
Shri. Vishal Jolly further placed a specific demand of airlifting all the referred patients from the entire Andaman & Nicobar Islands (i.e. all Islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands) free of cost through Helicopter, without insisting them to purchase tickets. He urged that due to absence of health adequate infrastructures, doctors and specialists etc when the patient is being referred to Port Blair, then it becomes the State’s responsibility to make their transportation arrangements free of cost.
He further urged that all the non tribals residing in Nicobar District may be given some sort of documents so that they can avail the concession on Ships and Helicopter tickets at par with other islanders
He lastly pointed out that the septic tanks at the Permanent shelters are not at all cleaned periodically; posing serious health hazards and therefore requested that the same may be cleaned at regular intervals under Swatch Bharat Mission.
ANIIMS/Medical College: Another vital issue of regularization of contractual employees who have been working since the commencement of Medical College was also taken up and it was firmly demanded that their services should be regularized. He pointed out that these employees have served the Islanders during the world’s most deadly pandemic of COVID-19 without caring about their lives and therefore due credit of their services should be given.
Ex-Home Guards: Shri. Vishal Jolly further elaborately discussed the issue of re-employment or continuation of employment of all Home Guards whose services were not continued or discontinued. He pointed out that these Home Guards have given their major part of life working as Home Guards. Most of them are now age barred and they have rendered their respective services to the utmost satisfaction of their superiors. It was further pointed out that at this age, they cannot be insisted to face another physical test and their length of services itself determines their continued physical fitness. Furthermore, age relaxation to all may also be considered positively.
Understanding the seriousness of all the aforementioned issues, the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration has given his positive assurances and has further instructed the concerned authorities to take up and sort out these issues on priority basis.