Port Blair, July 20: The eleventh meeting of the Inter-State Council under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi was held at New Delhi on 16th July 2016 with four specific agendas. While participating in the meeting, the Hon’ble Lt Governor, Lt Gen A K Singh (Retd) complimented the Hon’ble Prime Minister on behalf of the people of the Islands for implementing the Aadhaar scheme as identification for providing subsidies, benefits and public service.
He stated that this is a landmark project of the central Govt. which is revolutionizing the way benefits are delivered to the right persons. He shared that around 97% of people have been covered under Aadhaar, and that cash based benefits under various CSS and UT Schemes are paid to beneficiaries directly to their bank accounts under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in A & N Islands.
He stated that the target is to achieve 100 per cent Aadhaar seeding for CSS by 31st July, 2016 and that three Permanent Enrolment Centers (one in each District) have been set up for 100 per cent Aadhar enrolment and continuous up-dation.
On the education front, he stated that the quality of education in the A&N Islands is improving with focus on improving learning outcomes and incentivizing better performance. Through concerted efforts on remedial teaching and continuous monitoring and evaluation, the A & N Islands witnessed a substantial improvement in overall performance in AISSCE 2016, he said, adding that there has been vast improvement in overall pass percentage in administration’s schools from 79.53% last year to 97.31% this year. The overall pass percentage of A & N Islands is more than All India CBSE pass percentage which is 96.21%. Informing about the other innovative measures to improve quality education, he said BHARTI (Better His / Her Achievement Rating & Teaching Indicator)-a unique learning assessment system has been introduced.
A programme for promoting life skills amongst students has also been initiated. For particularly vulnerable tribal groups, special measures have been adopted, he said. Referring to the achievements made by the A&N Administration in higher education front, he stated that a number of new institutions have been opened/planned to provide basic self sufficiency in higher learning such as Medical College, ANCOL, Community College, Law and Profession College. He sought the blessings of the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Minister MHRD for a Central University for the Islands, for which the Administration plans to move a case soon.
On internal security, the Lt Governor apprised the meeting about the challenges faced by the A&N Islands on the security front. He informed that internal security is being strengthened by focusing on intelligence sharing, coordination and Police reforms and modernization. This has been made more vibrant and responsive, as a result of which poaching is remarkably reduced. As part of these measures, high level coordination between Police, Coast Guard and Andaman and Nicobar Command is maintained. He further informed that disaster preparedness is a major focus area and contingency plans for all likely contingencies have been prepared and also appreciated by the NDMA.
The Lt Governor further stated that whilst focusing on the present, we have not lost sight of the future. The Andaman and Nicobar Administration had constituted a Study Group and prepared a Development Plan-2030, which has been submitted to the Govt. Action plan is being worked out. Incidentally, NITI Aayog has asked all to prepare their 15 year long term plans and the Andamans are the first to have accomplished this task.
He further stated that keeping with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision, the A&N Islands is working with NITI Aayog for developing additional Islands and establishing a transshipment terminal/Free Port. He concluded by stating that till recently the A&N Islands used to be referred as a fortress in the Bay of Bengal, but today, with the fast pace of development in all spheres in the last two years, the A&N Islands is ready to be the Maritime Springboard for India’s Look East-Act East Policy.
In his remarks, the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi emphasized on the importance of collaborative working with the goal of good governance and development. He urged the states/UTs to make use of technology to improve efficiency of delivery. Emphasizing the need to strengthen internal security across the country, Shri Modi said states need to coordinate with each other in this direction. He said sharing of intelligence inputs is a must to strengthen internal security. The PM also stressed on community policing and CCTV coverage on a larger scale. He urged on the need to improve learning outcomes in the primary schools and outlined many innovative ideas like pairing of private and Govt schools and contribution in teaching by Govt officers, as also adopting the PURA model as outlined by late President Abdul Kalam.
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