Requests for taking up the Isles’ Cause at Appropriate Level

Port Blair, Feb 11: Along with rest of India, Andaman & Nicobar has also marched towards development and progress. Geographically being located far away from the mainland and preserving the fragile eco-system A & N Islands needs extra care and connectivity.

Living On The Edge (LOTE), a local based NGO registered under NITI AYOG (AN/2018/0218237) in a letter to the Member of Parliament, Shri Chirag Paswan explained that the NGO has been active in these islands since a decade for the betterment of the islanders. Many health camps, tournaments and such activities have been conducted by LOTE over the years. Giving a brief about its activities, the President LOTE, Shri Abhay Kumar expressed that these islands need few immediate steps to be done for the overall development of A & N Islands.

The points raised by the NGO includes:

Construction of Bridge connecting Bambooflat/ Hope town with Chatham for enormous reason. It was declared by Hon’ble Minister of MORTH Shri. Nitin Gadkari in a public meeting at Bambooflat during his visit to Andaman in February 2015, that construction of bridge or tunnel connecting Bambooflat with Chatham will commence soon. But till date matter is pending at the DPR stage. This matter may be expedited in time bond manner.

Setting up of Assembly or Pradesh Council for Andaman & Nicobar Is, as recommended by the Parliamentary Committee headed by Late. Sushma Swaraj in 2006.

A special package for rejuvenation of Tourism and Fisheries sector which was hit hard due to COVID pandemic.

Complete revival of various types of ships & boats operating under Directorate of Shipping services. The present fleet of boats and ships are 30 to 40 years old and journey by these ships are very tiresome and painful. Especially the southern groups of islands have very few options as they totally rely on ship or helicopter for the communication.

Major thrust may be given on civil aviation sector keeping in mind the remoteness of these islands. Expansion of existing  airstrip in different islands so that at-least 50 seated flight could be operated connecting Port Blair to Diglipur, Rangat, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar and Campbell Bay. Even the feasibility for alternate civil airport within the south Andaman district may be chalked out.

A survey/ committee may be setup for reassessment of tribal area in the entire Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This is required keeping in mind the various developmental work which are implemented under Panchayati Raj system, dramatic change in the  socio-economic factor  of tribes and vast scope of development of tourism in these islands.

Harvesting of Tidal Energy along with solar energy as already initiated by GOI in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Filling up of different categories of vacant posts under Andaman & Nicobar administration. As these islands lacks major industries and factories, unemployed youth are solely dependent on govt. jobs reservation must also be ensured for the islanders by means of domicile policy. It is pertinent to mention here that several posts in different departments are vacant since long which is adversely affecting the concerned department.

Inclusion of Andaman & Nicobar Islands under the North-East development Ministry, so that special emphasis on these islands could be delivered in an effective manner.

An overhauling or major land reforms is urgently required in these islands.

The NGO requested the Member of Parliament to take up the above mentioned matter at appropriate level at personal as well as party level for the overall  development of these islands..