Sri Vijaya Puram, June 05: Hindu Rashtra Shakti (HRS), Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has urged the Administration to make possession of a valid Local Certificate and Islander Card mandatory for candidates applying for matric-level Group C and Non-Gazetted posts under the ongoing recruitment process announced by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration.
In a representation addressed to the Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament, the Chief Secretary, and the Assistant Secretary (AR Wing), Mr. N. K. Udhaya Kumar, State General Secretary (Organisation) of Hindu Rashtra Shakti and former Chairperson of the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council, expressed concern over the recently published recruitment notification covering approximately 1,535 vacancies across various departments of the Administration.
According to the representation, the absence of mandatory Local Certificate and Islander Card requirements has generated widespread concern among local youths and residents, who fear that the recruitment process may attract a large number of applicants from outside the Islands, thereby reducing employment opportunities for bona fide islanders.
The organization stated that unemployment continues to be a major challenge for many educated youths in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands despite their qualifications and eligibility for government service. It argued that special consideration should be given to the unique geographical conditions of the Islands, limited employment opportunities, and the dependence of local residents on government jobs for economic security and livelihood.
Hindu Rashtra Shakti further pointed out that several States and Union Territories across the country have adopted measures to safeguard local employment opportunities through various forms of preference and eligibility conditions in government recruitment. The organization urged the Administration to consider a similar approach in the interest of island residents.
The representation emphasized that government jobs created within the Islands should primarily benefit local residents and that the omission of mandatory Local Certificate and Islander Card provisions has led to disappointment and anxiety among unemployed island youths.
Seeking urgent intervention, Mr. Udhaya Kumar appealed to the Administration to issue necessary directions to the concerned authorities and incorporate Local Certificate and Islander Card requirements in the ongoing recruitment process for matric-level posts so that adequate protection and priority may be ensured for eligible island candidates.
The organization expressed hope that the Administration would take a positive decision in the larger interest of unemployed youths and residents of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
