Immediately after my assumption of the office of the Lt. Governor of these Islands, I had made a commitment to the people of A & N Islands to improve the medical facilities here, including upgradation of the infrastructure so that the people of these Islands do not suffer and have to go to the mainland for their treatment, incurring huge expenditure. As part of this commitment, I had issued directions for immediate upgradation of certain facilities, and also had the Administration organise medical camps.
However, we need to accept that one of the major challenges plaguing us is the absence of Specialists and Super-Specialists and the attendant facilities available here. There was a unanimous view amongst the medical fraternity here that a solution to this challenge would be to set up a Medical College at Port Blair, which would cater to all these facilities. As a part of our commitment towards this cause, we have taken some concrete steps and shall continue with our efforts to see that the Medical College is set up by next year. No doubt, it is going to be a very difficult and uphill task, yet I must say that no task is impossible to achieve if we are determined and go an about with meaningful steps in the right direction.
It really pains me to see that such large numbers or our people, particularly from the poor sections, have to travel to the mainland for medical assistance. The financial assistance from the Lt. Governor’s Relief Fund provides a little help in this regard and I fully empathise with the plight of the common man in his suffering for want of proper medical facilities. It is the bounden duty of the Government to take all steps to provide such medical facilities and we shall endeavour to establish this Medical College.
We must have to accept that such a huge task will be accompanied by a little discomfort to some, arising out of temporary rearrangements, but we have to accept this for the larger interests of our people. I request the cooperation of all sections of the people in our endeavour to set up the medical college. Therefore, I have requested the Chief Secretary to hold this Press Conference to inform you all of the intention of our Administration and, through you, the people of A & N Islands.
