Spells Out Achievements of A&N Administration With Regard to Development of the Islands
Port Blair, Aug 16: The Lt. Governor, Lt Gen. (Retd.) Bhopinder Singh, PVSM, AVSM while congratulating the islanders on the occasion of the 66th Independence Day, also remembered the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country. In his ‘Independence Day’ address, the Lt. Governor made several proclamations pertaining to various development sectors, for benefit of the islanders.
He said, with the completion of the relief and rehabilitation work post tsunami, the Administration’s entire focus is on further development of the islands, the Lt. Governor said. Lauding the students of the islands for their excellent results in CBSE Examination, the Lt. Governor expressed hope that in near future our students will bring more laurels in the days to come. The Lt. Governor announced that with a view to give fillip to higher education in these islands, the Administration is launching evening classes in JNRM from his academic session, enabling maximum students attain higher education in these islands itself. Meanwhile, the Administration has also succeeded in obtaining relaxation in engineering seats from the concerned Ministry, he said. The Lt. Governor disclosed that all the students will be provided with laptop in the coming plan period for which a sum of Rs. 9 crore has been earmarked. Computer literacy programme will be introduced at elementary stage itself, he said. The Lt. Governor also informed about creation of 594 posts for effective implementation of Right to Education Act while the salaries of Part Time Primary Teachers and Ayas have been increased to Rs.7000/- and Rs.5000/- respectively. The Lt. Governor also mentioned about free bus passes in the STS busses for students of these islands. On the other hand to provide better nutrition to the students, about 43,000 children will be given boiled eggs twice a week, the Lt. Governor said.
Expressing satisfaction over the better performance of the islands in the health sector as compared to the National average, the Lt. Governor informed that under the PPP mode, two Primary Health Centers have been opened in the islands while the work for establishing the medical college is progressing rapidly.
The Lt. Governor also announced about the air subsidy for the stretcher patients which will come into effect form August 16, 2012. For availing the ambulance facility, anyone from any island can call the centralized call centre from August 16 onwards, the Lt. Governor said also mentioning that the salaries of the specialist Doctors under NRHM have been increased from Rs. 60,000 to 90,000.
The Administration proposes to increase the beds of GB Pant Hospital to 550 while a 30 bedded residential complex for psychiatric patients will come up at Garacharama, the Lt. Governor said adding that a new Health Insurance Scheme will also be launched. He also disclosed that two OPD complexes and a birth house will also come up by this year while an early intervention centre for physically changed children will also come up.
Turning to Tourism sector, the Lt. Governor Stated that all the bottle necks in this sector have been cleared and the major projects like Tourist Resort, Cannopy Walkway and Light and Sound show etc. will be completed soon. The Lt. Governor also spoke about the state heritage committee that has come into being recently aiming at identifying various heritage sites in the islands and looking after them. Meanwhile, the A&N Administration has also approached the Govt. of India for declaring Cellular Jail a National Heritage Site.
The Lt. Governor also spoke about the escalation of the IT sector of these islands as the State Wide Area Network is being established and e-prashashan applications are being developed.
The connectivity between inter-island and mainland will improve manifold with the completion of optical fiber cable project, he said.
Referring to the development in the Agriculture sector in these islands, the Lt. Governor mentioned about the coconut mission, vegetable and fruit mission, launched in Carnicobar. He also expressed happiness that Carnicobar district has been awarded best district award under MGNREGA by the Prime Minister. Likewise, fishermen of these islands are also being provided subsidies while 21 subsidiary programmes have been approved under Animal Husbandry Sector, which will benefit farmers and tribal brothers to a great extend, he said.
NABARD has also initiated steps for the welfare of the farmers. Kisan Credit Card has been simplified while ANCOFED is supporting copra farmers enabling them garner better returns. The A&N Administration has constructed three fish landing centres while environment clearance has been accorded for creating 13 more fish landed centres last month, the Lt. Governor declared adding that the work for this fishery Jetty at Junglighat is making headway while the fishermen are being given subsidy for purchase of deep freezer and ice plant.
The Lt. Governor also announced that a State Recourse Centre for ladies and Vocational Training Centre for physically changed persons will be opened under the welfare sector in these islands. A counselling centre will also be opened in Port Blair to control drug addiction and suicide, the Lt. Governor stated.
Keeping in sight of the wellbeing of North and Middle Andman, a sum of Rs. 21,58, 000/- were given to the flood effected families recently.
The Lt. Governor also spoke about the incentive package for the small and marginal enterprises under industrial sector. The Administration will provide marketing support for handicraft development while on the other hand a world class IT Park will also be created. Besides, the Administration also proposed to create an industrial estate at Diglipur for encouraging small entrepreneurs, he said.
Speaking about the problems that the Islanders faced due to shortage of power, the Lt. Governor mentioned that dependency on a single source caused such a problem. Therefore, the Administration is making all out efforts to establish containerize DG set while on the other hand, renewable energy projects & biomass projects are also being taken up to fulfill the power requirement of these islands.
To further improve the mainland and inter-island connectivity, the Administration is laying more stress on road, air and shipping infrastructure. As part of this, altogether 40 new buses have been purchased this year. Two new ships will be procured for which order has already been placed. To improve the air connectivity, one aircraft is being charted while one more seaplane is being procured on wet lease.
The Lt. Governor also declared that treated water will be provided where ever the population will touch 250 in these islands. The Administration also proposes to create Water Supply Circle to monitor water supply. The Administration is also constructing black top roads in remote areas besides the sewerage system in Port Blair is also being improved. The Lt. Governor further informed that the services AAJVS employees working in Tribal Reserved areas have been regularized.
The Lt Governor also disclosed that Industrial Training Institute (ITI) will be opened at Car Nicobar. Besides, saw mills are being modernize so that 20,000 cubic meter wood can be provided to general public. Public distribution system is also being computerized so that Smart Ration Card can be provided, he said.
The Lt. Governor further informed that the Govt. of India has been requested to increase the number of Haj pilgrims from these islands.
Turning to the contribution of PRIs towards the development of these islands, the Lt Governor informed that Harinagar Panchayat has received this year’s Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Seva Award. All the Gram Panchayats will be connected through optical fibre cable within 18 months time, he also mentioned.
Prashashan Aapke Dwar’ scheme has been started by the District Administration to provide on the spot solutions to the villages for revenue matters, the Lt Governor stated. Minor mineral rules for quarries will be notified soon so that the developmental activities do not come to a standstill. Directorate of Disaster Management is being further strengthened for which 22 new posts will be created, he said.
To improve the signal quality of Port Blair Doordarshan Kendra it has been converted in to fully digitized studio, the Lt. Governor said.
The Lt. Governor also informed that the present building of Veersavarkar International Airport will be upgraded to accommodate 1200 passengers. The Lt. Governor also congratulated Andaman Nicobar Command, Coast Guard and Police for their commendable work. He also thanked various departments of A&N Administration and Central Government for their contribution in the development of these islands. The Lt. Governor thanked the Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Members of Zilla Parishad, PBMC, PRI and local media for their cooperation and contribution in isles’ development.