Port Blair, Dec 29: A seminar on the topic ‘Emerging New India-Role & Contribution of A&N Islands’(Saheed and Swaraj Dweep Samooh) was organized by Forum for Awareness on National Security (FANS) Port Blair Chapter in the auditorium of JNRM here this evening. The Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.) inaugurated the seminar as the chief guest by lighting the traditional oil lamp. Air Marshal (Retd), RC Bajpai, the nephew of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Mr.CK Bose, Margdarshak FANS, Mr.Indresh Kumarji the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Mr.Anindo Majumdar and a host of dignitaries from mainland and the Islands were present on the occasion.
Addressing the function, the Lt. Governor firstly welcomed the delegates of FANS who have come from mainland to participate in the important National event to be held tomorrow – the first flag hoisting of the National tri-colour by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on December 30, 1943. The Lt. Governor highlighted the strategic importance of A & N Islands in terms of national security and said that these Islands are strategically important owing to their geographical location. He said, the Islands are about 1200 nautical miles away from mainland whereas it is just 100 kilometers from South East Asian countries. The Lt. Governor said that these Islands also assume significance from the economic point of view as we have almost 1/4th of India’s coastline and have 30% of EEZ.
The Lt. Governor also informed the gathering about the development activities taken up in the last 2-3 years. He further said that the Administration has taken immediate, medium and long term measures to improve the sectors viz. power, water and connectivity. He said, captive rain water harvesting will be propagated in a big way in these islands. Rain harvesting will be made mandatory through PBMC bye-laws to harvest rain water in govt. and private buildings. This, he said will help, the citizens to use the captive rain water during the dry spells. He said the Administration will provide subsidy or financial help to the citizens for taking up the rain water harvesting project.
In the power sector, the Lt. Governor stated that the Administration is focusing on power projects through diesel, solar and gas for augmenting power generation in these Islands. The Administration is moving in this direction on a faster pace with these projects. The Lt. Governor mentioned that citizens can install roof top solar water heater, solar panels for general lighting. This will be made mandatory in all Govt. and private building through PBMC bye–laws. The Administration will also provide subsidy or financial help to the citizens for installing roof top solar projects.
Mentioning about the telecom connectivity, the Lt. Governor said that the tender for the undersea cable will be opened next month and the project will be completed by 2019. This will solve the connectivity once for all, the Lt. Governor said. He further stated that 24 modems have been ordered out of which 8 have been received. Once all the modems are installed the bandwidth will surely improve within one year’s time. The Lt. Governor informed that the road network is better in these Islands and the required maintenance of the roads is underway. He also informed about the progress being made in the shipping sector to provide better shipping facilities for the Islanders.
The Lt. Governor informed that NITI Aayog has selected five Islands for its holistic tourism development. Many development activities will be initiated under this project, the Lt. Governor added.
In his Keynote address, Mr.Indresh Kumarji, Margdarshak, FANS stressed the need for every individual to respect the motherland. Individual identity comes from the nation and nation and nationalism should not be compromised at any cost, he said. Mr.Indresh also stated that the actual Independence Day was on December 30, 1943 when Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose first hoisted the national tri-colour in these Islands. “We got partition on 15th August 1947 and not Independence”, he added. Mr.Indresh also gave a brief history about the historic landing of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose in the Islands, the first hoisting of the national tri-colour in the Islands and declaring them Shaheed and Swaraj Dweep Samooh. He urged the Lt. Governor and the senior officials to do the needful to change the name of these Islands from A&N Islands to ‘Shaheed and Swaraj Dweep Samooh’. He expressed happiness that 30th December is being celebrated in a grand manner to mark the historic hoisting of the first National Tri-Colour by the great leader.
In his address, Air Marshal (Dr) RC Bajpai (Retd) briefed about the activities of FANS and highlighted on various challenging issues pertaining to the security of the country. He informed that security plays an important role for a nation to progress. He also enlightened the gathering about the internal security challenges and the effort of the Govt. to deal with these challenges.
The function was also graced by the Adhyaksha, Zilla Parishad, South Andaman, Smt. Baby Fareeda, the Chairperson, PBMC, Mr.Indra Pal Singh, Smt. Sarla Singh, National Gen. Secy., the State President, BJP, Mr.Vishal Jolly, Chairperson, SSWB, Smti Poonam Arora, senior Officers from Civil Administration, members of the FANS team from mainland and a good number of students and general public.
Earlier, Mr.Girish Arora, President, FANS, Port Blair Chapter welcomed the gathering and the function concluded with the vote of thanks, proposed by Smt. Rupa Ray, Gen. Secretary, FANS, Port Blair Chapter.
