Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug 31: Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has strongly recommended three major proposals to the Union Government seeking financial assistance under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to strengthen educational infrastructure in the remote and backward regions of the Islands.
50 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in Schools: In a proposal submitted to Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon’ble Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble MP has sought CSR support for setting up 50 ATLs across government schools in the Islands as suggested by the Education department of A&N Administration. This initiative, led by UNISED (ISO 9001:2005 certified and registered under NITI Aayog), will foster creativity, design thinking, computational skills, and hands-on innovation among students, thereby preparing them for future challenges.
100 ICT (Information & Communication Technology) Labs in Government Schools: Further, the Hon’ble MP has also urged Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon’ble Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, to extend CSR support for establishing 100 ICT Labs in government schools through Any Care Foundation. This project is envisioned to align with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India, Skill India, and Viksit Bharat 2047, by equipping students in the Islands with digital literacy and 21st-century skills.
100 Solar-Powered Smart Classes with Joyful Learning Resource Labs (JIGYASA Programme): In his 3d proposal, Shri Ray, Hon’ble MP has also written to Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, Hon’ble Minister of State for Coal & Mines, recommending CSR funding for the “JIGYASA Programme” proposed by the Any Care Foundation. The project aims to install solar energy-operated Smart Classes in 100 government schools in A&N Islands ensuring digital learning access while promoting clean energy solutions in geographically isolated regions.
Highlighting the geographical remoteness and developmental challenges of the Islands, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray Hon’ble MP stated that these initiatives will not only bridge the digital divide but also empower young learners with innovative, technology-driven, and sustainable educational opportunities.
Hon’ble MP has appealed for urgent consideration and early approval of these projects under CSR, emphasizing their transformative impact on the future of education in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.