Port Blair, July 12: The Chief Secretary, Shri Anindo Majumdar has urged NABARD to tie up with other Departments of the A&N Administration to implement meaningful rural development projects benefitting the rural masses in these Islands. NABARD has the experience and if they work in close co-ordination with Rural Development and Agriculture Departments in different projects, the rural populace will greatly benefit, observed the Chief Secretary while speaking as the chief guest on the occasion of 36th Foundation Day celebration of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), in the conference hall of NABARD Regional Office here this morning. The occasion also marked the 25th Anniversary of SHG movement in the country pioneered by NABARD.Port Blair, July 12: The Chief Secretary, Shri Anindo Majumdar has urged NABARD to tie up with other Departments of the A&N Administration to implement meaningful rural development projects benefitting the rural masses in these Islands. NABARD has the experience and if they work in close co-ordination with Rural Development and Agriculture Departments in different projects, the rural populace will greatly benefit, observed the Chief Secretary while speaking as the chief guest on the occasion of 36th Foundation Day celebration of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), in the conference hall of NABARD Regional Office here this morning. The occasion also marked the 25th Anniversary of SHG movement in the country pioneered by NABARD.
The Chief Secretary lighted the lamp and cut the ceremonial cake to mark the 36th Foundation Day of NABARD. The programme was also attended by the Secretary Agriculture, Shri Ramesh Verma, Secretary Rural Development, Shri Udit Prakash Rai, Director CIARI, Dr. S. Dam Roy, prize winner NGOs, SHGs, bankers and all officials & staff of NABARD. The Chief Secretary complimented the GM, NABARD, Shri BVS Prasad and his team, for their commendable achievements in implementing various funding schemes of NABARD and their proactive roles in supporting the Self Help Groups in A&N Islands. Pointing that NABARD is functioning in Isles for quite some time, Chief Secretary wanted that the UT Administration must work in synergy with NABARD for various developmental projects in Isles and urged NABARD GM to initiate quantum interaction with other Departments and chalk out plans for implementing rural area projects. The Chief Secretary outlined certain areas like vegetable cultivation, high value agriculture, fisheries, horticulture, skill development, etc. as the key areas of development to be focused in the Island. He also assured the support of the Administration in this regard.
Mentioning that tuna and ocean fishery is yet to take off in isles, the Chief Secretary desired that NABARD and NABCON in close co-ordination with Fisheries and CIARI can help prepare plan for deep sea fishing. Administration wants the local people to take up projects of deep sea fishing, especially tuna, he added.
Witnessing a small video, the Chief Secretary appreciated the effort of NABARD for sponsoring seven skill development programmes to KVIB & one to Social Welfare Advisory Board for ‘Divyang Saksham’- a special programme for developing skills of handicapped. The Chief Secretary also handed over awards to best-performing Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)/branches of ANSCB, who promoted SHGs. On this occasion, NABARD distributed Six Solar Copra dryers to NGOs for usage of SHG members. The Chief Secretary handed over the first such machine to Yuvashakti, an NGO to be placed at South Andaman. The other five were handed over by Shri Ramesh Verma, Secretary (Agriculture), Shri Udit Prakash Rai, Secretary (RD) and Dr. Dam Roy, Director, CIARI to Voice of Compassion, ACANI & Surabi NGOs to be placed at different locations in A&N Islands.
The General Manager, NABARD, A&N RO, Shri BVS Prasad, through a power point presentation briefed the gathering about the achievements, targets and way forward of NABARD. He further said that he along with his team have been supporting credit as well as developmental activities in the Islands, such as promotion of SHGs and JLGs, capacity building & strengthening of the cooperatives, providing marketing and technology induction in agriculture through transfer of technology/training to farmers, promotion of FPOs etc. He said that with the active support from the A&N Administration, NABARD’s dream to secure rural prosperity in the Islands would be fulfilled. At the end, the DGM NABARD, Shri H. Manoj proposed the vote of thanks.
