Port Blair, Nov. 26: The Chief Secretary, Shri Anand Prakash along with a team of key Secretaries and other senior officers undertook a tour to Neil and Havelock Islands from 24th to 25th November 2015. They first operated the Mini Secretariat at Neil Island and held meeting with the PRIs and public in the APWD Guest House on Nov. 24. Thereafter the team, led by the Chief Secretary reached Havelock and held meeting with the PRIs, public and Senior Officers of various local Departments in the Convention Centre, Dolphin Resort. The issues raised during the meetings at Neil and Havelock Islands were mainly regarding shipping services, tourism, agriculture, electricity, APWD roads, drinking water, Revenue Deptt related matters, providing timber by the Forest Deptt., Fisheries, Health, Education, Transport, Banking Sector, BSNL, ANIIDCO etc.
Shri N.K. Sharma, Secretary (Home, Civil Aviation, RD/PRIs) who is the Nodal Secretary of this tour informed the gathering at both the places that this tour was part of the efforts of the Administration to provide a responsive and people friendly administration to the people of the islands. He further mentioned that the Secretaries and HoDs have been instructed by the Hon’ble Lt. Governor and the Chief Secretary to gear up for this and to make all efforts to settle maximum local issues on the spot while major issues which may require further examination shall be dealt with in time bound manner from Headquarter, Port Blair.
Concluding the meetings, Shri N.K. Sharma also informed about the importance of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes namely; Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) and Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) in particular and urged that with the people’s support, the Administration would be able to achieve the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) which is the flagship scheme launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, and to get Neil and Havelock Islands an open defection free (ODF) Islands. He also assured the gathering that the issues raised and discussed in the meetings would be taken to the logical end in time bound manner by the concerned Administrative Secretaries.
Shri N.K.Sharma also informed that the visit was very meaningful and successful and the PRIs at Neil and Havelock Islands have expressed their hearty thanks to the visiting team under the Chief Secretary.
