Port Blair, Feb 06: A public meeting at Bhatubasti Junction was organized in the evening of 04.02.2017 by the Prothrapur Block Committee of the Pradesh Congress as a part of ongoing nationwide champagne launched by the All India Congress Committee to expose Mr. Modi and his government of the negative effect of demonetization on the Indian economy and the government’s failure in extending any kind of benefits to the citizen of India from the much publicized demonetization of high value currency. The meeting was attended by Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma, President, PCC¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬, senior leaders of Pradesh Congress Committee, District Congress Committee, Mahila Congress, Congress Seva Dal, Youth Congress, City Congress Committee, INTUC, Congress workers and general public in large number.
The speakers laid emphasis on failure of Mr. Modi and his government in fulfilling the aspiration of the people of India in terms of as employment generation, checking price rise and inflation, industrial growth, cross border terrorism, much hyped “Make in India” programme and particularly failure in bringing back black money of Indian industrialists, businessman and high profile personalities from the foreign bank within 100 days of governance . As a face saving measures Mr. Modi tried to seek refuge by demonetization of high value Indian currency ,so that the attention of people gets diverted from the real social causes of suffering being faced by common man and poor mass of India. The common and poor masses were forced to queue for hours in front of Banks and ATMs in distress losing time and lives for none of their mistake. In absence of proper planning for execution of demonetization of high value currency, the government within the demonetization period of 50 days had to change several stances as regard to implementation of the scheme imposing hardship on the people belonging to all section of society. Even after completion of over 50 days since demonetization, the sufferings of the people hasn’t eased as most of the ATMs are still dispensing only high denomination currency of Rs.2000/- and Rs.500/- which poor and common people find difficult to spend. The difficulty is further aggravated because of inadequacy of bank branches and ATMs in remote areas / villages. Due to very less POS machine and poor Internet connectivity in Andaman & Nicobar islands cashless transaction has become quite a difficult proposition and the national and international tourists are the worst sufferers.
On local front, Shri. Sharma while addressing the gathering condemned the inaction of the BJP party and the authorities concerned on various issues which are severely influencing the lives of the islanders. Unemployment of youth being the major concern still more than 4000 odd posts are lying vacant in various government department of A&N Administration. He referred to dilapidated and deteriorating condition of Andaman Trunk Road now named as NH223 particularly due to change of guard from APWD to NHIDCL. Poor coordination between the Directorate of Health Services and Andaman & Nicobar Islands Medical Education and Research Society (ANIMERS) which is giving rise to poor health care delivery system in the G.B.Pant Hospital resulting in alarming increase in death rate. Inadequate numbers of Doctors, nurses and paramedical staff in Directorate of Health Services. Deteriorating condition of electric power supply causing frequent and long power cuts throughout the Islands. Inadequate ships in foreshore and inter island sector. Ever increasing tariff for various services being provided by BSNL, regardless of consumers very severely affected by drastically poor internet connectivity coupled with poor mobile phone communication network in terms of coverage area, signal strength and frequent call drops.
Shri Sharma strongly condemned the move of the BJP ruled PBMC in enforcing revised property tax system with much hiked rates and said the levy of same is bound to inflict enormous financial burden on the house and building owners who are already suppressed with very high cost of living. Levy of parking charges by PBMC from the parking lots mostly developed by the APWD out of the fund allocated by the A&N Administration is again a malicious idea of PBMC aimed to financially abuse the Islanders with the only objective of collecting more money from the people which will be ultimately utilized by the Council in infructuous spending. Rather than controlling price rise the inactiveness of the local BJP outfit and the MP have resulted in substantial increase in the rates of the essential commodities such as Kerosene, rice, sugar etc. provided under Fair Price Distribution System.
Referring to the Union Budget 2017 Shri Sharma said, despite the workers getting affected due to demonetization, especially those in the unorganized sector there is no mention of welfare activity in the Budget. Shri Sharma said as per available statistics, as many as 2.5 lakhs units in unorganized sector were closed and real estate sector was badly affected where a large number of workers got unemployed. But the working class is disappointed due to no mention about any scheme or relief for them in the budget despite huge deposits in the banks after demonetization. There is no mention of any relief such as hike in wages for Anganwadi, mid –day meal and other social scheme for workers. As regard to Central Government Employee it is over seven months since announcement of implementation Central Seventh Pay Commission, but the government in its budget miserably failed to announce hike in allowances for the central government employees. Also, the Union Budget 2017 did not announced any increase in the minimum wages for the government employees and daily wage earners which is overdue since long as being one of their major electoral promises made during 2014 general election champagne.
He said, the BJP government at Center and all local bodies in the Islands which are of BJP have miserably failed in delivering good to the people and asked Islanders to draw parallel between the Congress led UPA government era and the present ruling of BJP lead NDA government. Shri. Sharma said if situation is not found improving and Islanders’ suffering are not properly tackled and resolved, Congress party shall launch vigorous agitation throughout the Islands for the welfare of the Islanders. Other senior leaders Smti Shanta Singh, Shri K Muthu, Shri P.K Halder,Shri AR Manickam, Shri Mohd. Ali Ms Mariyam Bibi, Shri Noor Islam, Shri Tamil Selvam, Shri Arvind Rai Sharma, Smti Neela Devi also spoke on the occasion. Smti Zubiada Begum coordinated the meeting.
