Port Blair, November 27: Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) A. K. Singh has said that Cooperatives can play a vital role in bringing socio-economic progress and prosperity to the people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. What is needed is exploitation of this sector to its full potential. The greatest advantage of the Cooperative movement is without being discriminated, anybody can be part of this movement, he said and added that Cooperative sector is very vital and relevant to these Islands. The Lt Governor was addressing a seminar on ‘Cooperative for Inclusive and Sustainable Development’ at BRAIT auditorium, Pahargoan, organized as part of the 60th All India Cooperative Week Celebration-2013, here today.
The Lt Governor hoisted the Cooperative flag and saw the exhibits displayed by various Self Help Groups in the lawns of the auditorium. He also distributed prizes to the winners of various competitions organized to mark the Cooperative week celebrations and gave away prizes to the best Self Help Groups and best Cooperators. Cheques of the loans sanctioned by the A&N State Cooperative Bank Ltd. were also disbursed to some of the SHGs on the occasion. He thanked the Chairman, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma for having organised the event and enabling him to interact with the Self Help Groups.
Calling more and more people to form Self Help Groups to take up self employment ventures, he said it is impossible for the government to provide jobs to each and every individual. It is, therefore, necessary that more people should come forward to form SHGs and Cooperative societies and assured full support of the Administration to them. “Our focus must be to encourage the spirit of free enterprise among the youth in the Islands”, he said. He noted with appreciation that despite cyclone ‘Lehar’ striking Port Blair and unleashing its full fury, people in large number had turned out to attend the function. “This shows the spirit of the Islands and the spirit of Port Blair”, he said. Expressing his concern with the response of the civil society during the recent cyclone, the Lt Governor said that NGOs and other groups/societies should come forward and take bigger responsibilities in the relief and rescue operations during such contingencies.
On the issue of involvement of SHGs in disaster relief and operations, the Lt Governor asked the Chief Secretary to work out some arrangement to identify and involve the Self Help Groups and other local groups and utilize their services for relief and rescue works at the village level. On the issue of waiving off the loan of Consumer Cooperative Society Ltd, the Lt Governor said that the matter will be looked into by the Administration.
Referring to some of the important agenda points to be discussed during the LG’s Advisory Council meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow, the Lt Governor said one of the most important issue which will be discussed in the meeting is the education policy. “Our education policy should focus on extending quality education to our children”, he said, and added that “our Islands are the only place in the country where schooling is in five languages in government schools”. The whole system of education has to be seriously re-considered in consultation with the parents and other citizens and the focus should be what is best for the students and their future prospects, he said. On the rumors that mainland candidates will take away the jobs of teachers, being recruited by the Education Department currently, the Lt. Governor said that in all recruitments, the interest of the candidates of the Islands would be protected.
“I am fully conscious of the fact that there are limited employment opportunities for the youth of the Islands and I assure you that the interest of our youth would be protected and a viable solution be worked out”, he said. “The recruitment will be held in a fair, judicious and transparent manner”, he said and added that “if required, I will even knock the door of the Prime Minister and top leaders of the country and urge them to look at our special circumstances. Underscoring the need for keeping the city clean and beautiful, he said it is the duty of every citizen of the Islands to keep the surroundings neat and clean and not throw plastic bottles and garbage in open and drains and nallahs. Directions were issued to PBMC to take up a drive to keep the city beautiful and also impose fine on people throwing garbage on roads & drains and in the sea.
Earlier, on way his way to BRAIT, a group of women affected by the recent cyclone met the Lt Governor on roadside near Dollygunj junction. The Lt Governor heard them and issued directions to the SDM to immediately arrange ration items including drinking water and Kerosene oil at least for three 3 days. Directions were also issued to SDM to assess the damages to their houses so that suitable compensation can be given to these families. Further, the Chief Secretary was asked to get assessment by APWD to ascertain as to why the area got flooded and initiate preventive measures.
In his brief address on the occasion, Mr. R. K. Thanvi, DGM, NABARD said that compared to other States of the country, Cooperatives in the Islands are doing remarkably well. He said NABARD, through the A&N State Cooperative Bank is implementing various schemes for the welfare of the people, poor and farmers in particular.
Student of Kendriya Vidyalaya-II, Port Blair presented a colourful Rajasthani folk dance on the occasion. Earlier, welcoming the chief guest and others, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Chairman, A&N State Cooperative Union said that the seminar was part of the 60th All India Cooperative Week-2013, celebration. The focus this year was to educate people of far-flung and remote places about the how Cooperative can bring socio-economic changes in their lives. He also highlighted the conditions of the CCS Ltd. and sought help from the Administration in revamping the CCS Ltd.
The function concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Mr. K. Murgan, Chief General Manager, A&N State Cooperative Bank Ltd., Port Blair.
