SUMMER OF CONTENTION Job reservation demands by different groups; a challenge for Administration and a threat to Andaman’s mini India image

Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, Apr 25: This summer, these Islands witnessed mega conferences and rallies by different groups, mainly demanding job reservations, which has triggered an online debate in social media.
First there was a mega conference by Pre-42 community followed by a conference of Mopla Community and now there was a huge rally at Diglipur by Settlers’ Offspring Welfare Organization (SOWO).
While in many states maximum Job Reservation for native is not a new thing, in Andaman such demands always face criticism from people of other communities, who are often supported by top officials, who fails to connect themselves with the problems of Locals and Settlers of these Islands.
It seems that such reservation demands did not go down well with the Lt. Governor himself, who clearly said that people should preserve their culture heritage but not at the expense of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He was referring to the conferences organized by Pre-42 and Mopla communities. He said that being proud Indian and Andamani must be two prominent Identities of all Islanders.
For Administration such growing pressure from different groups could be a massive challenge in near future as together with Pre-42, Mopla and SOWO there are many other organizations like IPF, BANI, Ranchi Association etc which are mainly demanding job reservation as per their own formula.
Influx of population and grabbing of jobs by Mainlanders are always a major threat for Islanders, who have virtually no connection with rest of India. On the other hand such job reservation demands by locals are a threat for the candidates of general category.
Andaman is always known Mini India and every time such demands are raised, it widens the gap between different groups of people. After each such conference, other groups respond with similar or bigger conference or rally to demonstrate their might.
Here the Million dollar question is that who will prepare the perfect job reservation formula for Andamans, which will be accepted by all other groups? Perhaps the most important question is whether such job reservation struggle will destroy, the basic fabric of these Islands?