I had long and close association with Late. Bhakta Babu, Ex-Member of A & N Islands who breathed his last on 12-06-2015 both in my official and personal capacity.
Late Manoranjan Bhakta was the most popular leader of A & N Islands who because of his sheer hard work and acceptability was consecutively elected for 7 times as Member of Parliament from A & N Islands constituency.
He will always be remembered for his simplicity, hard work, passionate hearing, mild manners, ground to earth approach, valuable service rendered to the Islanders and persuit of excellence in public life.
His politeness, sweet nature and concern for the poor were specialties of his personality. He dedicated himself for the development of the A & N Islands and his contributions are immense and numerous. He was instrumental in getting accomplished the following works performed in the departments after vigorously persuing the matter with the Administration and Government of India.
1) Acquisition of land for extension of air field at Port Blair after arranging adequate compensation as per demand of affected land owners and thus a long pending land acquisition case was finalized for extension of Air field benefitting both the Administration and the inhabitants.
2) Defence land at Attam Pahar were got surrendered from Defence Ministry for allotting house sites whose land were resumed for Air field extension.
3) Construction of ATR road from Port Blair to Diglipur by engaging Border road organisation after obtaining special permission from Government of India.
4) Construction of Austin Bridge connecting North and Middle Andaman.
5) The present huge infrastructures and man power available to the PRIs is only due to the personal efforts of Bhakta Babu and under his leadership PRIs and Administration had excellent working relation.
6) Award of works to unemployment youth co-operative socities by PRIs was started due to his initiative which provided unemployment to thousands of unemployed youths.
7) To stand Govt. servant as surety to facilitate to avail loan by unemployed youths was agreed by the Administration due to his vigorous persuasion which enabled thousands of unemployed youths to avail loan for taking self employment venture.
8) The MPLAD funds were largely utilized for construction of Aganwadi buildings which helped to provide suitable accommodation to children attending the Aganwadi centers besides Community Hall and Playgrounds for rural community.
9) Kalpong Hydro-electric project was sanctioned and completed due to his hard work
His contribution for development of A & N Islands are many but I narrated only a few work concerning the departments related and headed by me while I was in service.
His services and contribution rendered for the welfare of the Islanders deserve recognisation posthumously
