Presents Agenda Points for HMAC Meeting.  Illegal Immigrants and Domicile Status Creep on Top

Port Blair, Sept. 12: A meeting of the Home Minister's Advisory Committee (HMAC) for the UT of A&N Islands is scheduled to be held under the Chairmanship of the Home Minister at New Delhi on 24.09.2018. After a sweeping statement, condemning the act of Joint Action Forum, stating it illegal and unconstitutional, the Member of Parliament, Bishnu Pada Ray finally seems to have felt the heat of 2019. Gathering appreciation from Ranchi Association and few others, the lone Member of Parliament couldn’t balance it well.

The Member of Parliament has prepared a long list of 26 recommendations and demands to be placed before the ANI Administration and the HMAC. The demands feature the need to check large scale illegal immigrants, getting domicile Law enacted, Land Ownership rights among others. Yes there are some genuine concerns regarding the promised Chatham Bambooflat Bridge and Marine Drive, which surprisingly features 7th and 8th in the list, indicating that the present heat really matters for 2019.  

Among the list of demands, suggestions prepared by the Member of Parliament are:-

1. Apprehension of large scale immigrants from neighboring countries, threat to safety and security of the strategically importance of Island Territory and to ensure greater vigilance to track such intruders and explore possibility of framing law/mechanism within the frame work of constitution to enable detection and deportation of such illegal immigrants.

2. Enactment of Law for making it mandatory for domicile of A&N Islands for the post of Group A, B, C comes under A&N Administration.

3. Grant of ownership right over the land in the UT of A&N Islands and amendment of land Regulation.

4. Acceptance of recommendation of Vivek Rae Committee so far concerned to regularization of excess land in Port Blair area without premium.

5. Resolution of issue relating to curtailment of Sugar and rice for APL category.

6. Implementation of recommendation of 4th UT Finance Commission to provide entitled fund to PRIs for roads and other infrastructures.

7. C/o of Bridge between Chatham and Bambooflat, S/Andaman.

8. C/o Andaman Marine Drive from Prem Nagar to North Bay in 2 Phases for a total project of Rs.650 Cr. for which principal approval accorded by MoRTH.

9. Resolution of boundary disputes of forest and revenue at various locations such as Shoal Bay, Mannarghat, Jirkatang, Tirur, Kamaraj Nagar etc.

10. Early establishment/operation of 10 New LPG distribution centers at various locations as per sanction.

11. Providing Solar Home Lights and water connection in the forest encroachments area where more than 8000 families residing in the said area without basic amenities, for which time will taken for their re-settlement.

12. Extension of jetty at Diglipur for berthing of mainland bound vessels.

13. C/o Andaman Bhawan at Visakhapatnam with facilities similar to the Guest houses constructed at Chennai, Kolkatta and Delhi for convenient to the Telugu community peoples and others.

14. Fixation of uniform rate of chartered flight tickets from Port Blair to Visakhapatnam at same rate of Rs.3500 fixed for Chennai and Kolkatta sector, instead of Rs.5040/-

15. Engagement of 103 dependent family members of deceased employees of PBMC on DRM/Muster Roll basis for livelihood.

16. Regularization of service 1207 DRMs working in PBMC since many years, by exempting norms after creating supernumerary posts.

17. Restoration of Compensatory Pay to the Fire Service personnel and also for grant of Ration Money to the Regular Home Guards.

18. C/o Sewerage treatment plan under JICA loan assistance.

19. Posting of Specialist Doctors from CHS Cadre at District/CHCs Hospitals with lucrative packages under NHM.

20. Introduction of Transfer Policy for NRHM staff with revision of salary.

21. One year tenure posting for Govt. Servants in the Southern Group of Islands.

22. International Air Connectivity between Port Blair and South East Asian countries and also Regional Connectivity  under UDAN scheme. 

23. Shifting/re-settlement of Srilankan repartees form Katchal Island to Non-Tribal area and also others residing in the tribal area.

24. Enhancement of Honorarium of Anganwadi/Helpers/Asha workers.

25. Old tourist boats may be allowed to operate beyond 2019 by exempting the norms keeping in view of safety and security and employment who depended upon it.

26. Extension of IV limit to ply tourist boats from Port Blair to other inter islands.   

It is hoped that Bishnu’s long list does not remain like his last election’s manifesto to lure votes. The islanders hope that HMAC meeting is serious about the issues and does not close in files after the High Level Meeting.