Port Blair, Dec 29: The Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman, Islands Development Agency, Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.) in presence of Mr. Jitendra Narain, IAS, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration launched the Janbhagidari Programme on Evaluation of schemes and Vegetable Seed Mini-Kit Distribution Programme at Community Hall, Gram Panchayat Chouldari. The Secretaries; Head of Departments; State, Block and Panchayats staff of Rural Development and Agriculture Departments were present during the event. The Self Help Group members of Ferrargunj and Prothrapur Blocks who will be participating in the evaluation drive were also present during the launch event.
On the occasion of India celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, commemorating 75 years of India’s Independence and the Government of India has curated a series of innovative programmes to celebrate the Mahotsav under the overall spirit of “Janbhagidari and Jan Andolan”.
Taking cue from the Prime Minister of India’s vision, the UT of A&N Islands has launched Janbhagidari Programme for Evaluation of Government Flagship schemes of GOI being implemented in this UT by Andaman and Nicobar Administration to ascertain that the actual benefit is reaching the last mile.
At present, 68 Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Schemes of A&N Administration are being implemented in A&N Islands wherein benefits are directly being released to the end beneficiaries either in cash (through Bank) or kind. The Administration has planned to take an initiative to evaluate the actual benefit being reached to the beneficiaries through implementation of various schemes of Government of India and UT Administration through Janbhagidari process. The objective of this process is to evaluate, ‘How effectively the benefits under the schemes are reaching up to the end beneficiary?; Whether the beneficiaries are actually benefitted by the scheme or not?; Whether the households are satisfied by the delivery mechanism of the scheme?; etc’.
The detailed analysis of Flagship Schemes of GOI and UT Administration shall be done through Janbhagidari with the support of the SHG members of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) and National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM).
During the event, the Lt. Governor has also inaugurated the programme for distribution of Vegetable Seed Mini-Kit to the Islanders to have self sustainability in food supply. Knowing the issue of insufficient food supply during the lockdown period due to outbreak of COVID-19, the Home Minister had advised the UT to start campaign for food self-sufficiency during his visit to A&N Islands. On this ground, the Administration of UT of A&N Islands has initiated the distribution of 50000 Vegetable Seeds Mini Kits procured from National Seeds Corporation, Chennai among the Islanders free of cost. Each kit comprises of 4 types of open pollinated vegetable seeds, namely Amaranthus (Marsa), Brinjal (Egg-plant), Okra (Bhindi) and Cow pea (Lobia), so that the beneficiaries can preserve the seeds for growing in the coming season.
During his address to the gathering, the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration highlighted the appreciable works being done by the members of Self Help Groups (SHG) across India. He appreciated the activities being done by the SHGs of A&N Islands such as SHE markets, catering services through GeM, sale of handicraft through GeM, sale of grounded masalas, farming activities, Sakhi Saheli Café, Social Audit of RD Programmes, Swachh Survekshan and many more. Knowing the efficient work done by the SHG members in the Islands, he encouraged them to help the Administration to conduct survey for evaluation of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and UT schemes being implemented in this UT and to check the actual benefit reaching the end beneficiaries. Also, he encouraged the SHG members to make nutri-gardens in their house with the vegetable seed mini-kits provided by the Agriculture Department to have sustainable supply of nutritional diet for their family with less dependence on market. He also directed the Education and Social Welfare Departments to take up development of nutri-garden in the School and Anganwadi compounds and use the produce for providing nutritional mid-day meal to the children.
The Secretary (RD) gave the welcome address and the Secretary (Planning) delivered vote of thanks during the event.
