Suggests Measures for the Benefit of Islanders and to Combat COVID-19 Pandemic

Port Blair, March 28: To insure 21 days of lockdown imposed by Government to prevent spread of COVID-19 pandemic, the Member of Parliament, Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma has proposed the Chief Secretary certain measures for the benefit of general public without compromising in the guidelines promulgated by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. The MP in his letter to the Chief Secretary, Chetan B Sanghi suggested various measures which includes:

1). More number of ration shops, vegetables shops and pharmaceutical shops to be opened in the process of home delivery of items of basic needs like ration, milk, vegetables, poultry products, fishes and medicines. Also as done by other States and Union Territories like Delhi, the grocery shops, vegetable markets and pharmaceutical shops can be kept opened for 24 hours i.e. round the clock so as to avoid large gathering of people outside these shops and to maintain social distancing police may be deployed.

2). For bringing patients from home to hospital and vice versa, private SUVs can be engaged.

3). Arrangements to made to bring vegetables, milk and poultry products to market so as to ensure availability of same for consumption of people and also the producers doesn't suffer financial loss.

4). As water is becoming more and more scares attempt need to be made for bringing water from Rutland through water barges, which can subsequently be supplied through water tankers to people residing in Ferrargunj tehsil who are facing acute shortage of water. Also to ensure supply of water as per promulgated schedule restrictions on the movement of water tankers to be lifted.

5).Due to suspension of domestic flights the supply of medicines and live saving drugs has also stopped arriving at Port Blair. The local pharmaceutical shops have become depleted of face mask, sanitizers and gloves which are considered essential to protect against COVID-19 and in due course of time other medicines will also get exhausted. Hence, administration need to explore the possibility of introducing cargo flights by engaging the Defense Cargo aircrafts available with Andaman and Nicobar Command to bring medicines, medical equipment and other essential and urgently required items as there is no restrictions imposed by the Government of operation of cargo flights.

6).The administration owned Ships plying in the Mainland - Island sector to be immediately utilised for bringing essential  commodities from mainland as the stock currently available in the local market will get exhausted very soon.

7).Due care need to be given by the administration to provide items of essential needs such as LPG, ration, milk, vegetables, poultry products, fishes and medicines to people residing in Middle & North Andaman, Southern Group of Islands and at other Islands such as Saheed Dweep, Swaraj Dweep and Little Andaman as they are disadvantageous than those residing in Port Blair.

8).Now with the Government announcement made in COVID-19 relief package and commitment to provide free LPG cylinders for next three months to the Ujjwala beneficiaries and also free ration to BPL and AAY category of people, the MP suggested that the relief reaches the targeted beneficiaries at the earliest.

9).Complaint are regularly been received from the people staying in Lodges and Dharamshalas regarding non supply of food. As people from inter Islands have got stranded in the Lodges and Dharamshalas due to declaration of sudden lockdown by the Government, the administration need to consider providing food to such people as they have exhausted with the money

10). Due to sudden lockdown imposed by the Government, lot of people who have come to Port Blair from Inter Islands for medical treatment and other purpose have are stranded at Port Blair. Likewise many people who for their personal reasons have moved out of Port Blair to Inter Islands need to be deported to their respective place of stay as they have neither have place to stay nor left with money to survive at different place.

11). It is requested that the relief announced by the Government under COVID-19 Relief Package to be immediately implemented to cause relief to various sector and section of society.

12).The administration should consider providing Petrol / Diesel to facilitate movement of people in case of exigency and emergency. I understand that as of now the only major emergency is movement of seriously ill patient to medical for treatment, the MP stated.

13).Labours of various categories, Auto drivers, maid servants working in houses etc. near about ten thousand in numbers who are daily bread earners should also be paid financial relief of Rs.3000/- (three thousand rupees) to purchase ration items etc. as has been provided to construction workers by the administration

14). In view of loss of job in the rural areas, it is proposed that all households, which are registered under MGNREGA and are in possession of Job Card should be paid wages till the current restrictions remain imposed

15).Due to total restriction imposed by the administration on movement of people out of their houses, one among many problems being faced by the public is shortage of cash in hand to purchase the items daily needs and medicines, even though these being provided by the designated shops as home delivery. So in order to tackle this problem, people need to be allowed to go to Banks and ATMs for withdrawal of money for purchasing LPG, ration, milk, medicines etc. which are being delivered at their home by the designated vendors. In this regard Police need to be instructed not to stop people from going to Bank or ATM for withdrawal of money but rather ensure less people are gathered at these places and required distance is maintained by the public while drawing money. Administration/ Banks should ensure keeping hand sanitizer at ATMs for use of customers.

16). Private hospitals and dental clinics should be kept opened and patients need to be permitted to visit their regular doctors for treatment.

17). A lot of people particularly the poor people do not have android mobile phone and need to visit shop/ service provider for recharging. Due to complete restrictions imposed on movement of people out of house, most people are not able to recharge their mobile phone and have either become totally cut off from society or in due course of time will become so on completion of the validity of the voice tariff plan. Further, the most worrying aspect is that, the only means, which administration has kept open for survival of the Islanders is raising requisition through phone for availing services be it ration, medicines or visiting hospital for treatment.

Hence, I strongly make appeal to the administration to take immediate necessary steps and find out solution to this problem so as to avoid far reaching consequences arising out people losing connectivity for not being able to recharge their mobile phones and becoming isolated and incommunicable with society. To tide over the situation request can be to made to various mobile service providers operating in this Islands to extend the validity of various voice tariff plan till such time the situation get normalized.

18). Our Islands have faced many severe calamities in past such as Tsunami and therefore there are plenty of experienced people across various field who have vast experience and knowledge in handling such situations. There help can also be taken by inviting suggestions through email etc. so that the efforts being taken by the administration becomes more practically implementable and it reaches the last person in the society. 

19) It has been observed that the involvement of elected representatives of PBMC and Panchayati Raj Institutions are kept to minimum by the administration in wake of maintaining social distancing. As the elected representatives are very well aware of the ground reality and need of the people residing in their area and are exposed to situation like this, it is considered to be most appropriate for administration to encourage more participation of the elected representatives to tide over the current crisis arising out lockdown imposed in view of preventing and containing spread of COVID-19 pandemic, added the MP.