Port Blair, Apr 01: Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Member of Parliament, A&N Islands responding to the grievances being received from various corners, has taken up the following issues with the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands requesting him to consider the same as welfare measure for the Islanders in view of COVID-19 pandemic
Due to nationwide lock down on account of COVID-19, many Islanders who went to mainland for various purposes did not come back to Port Blair owing to suspension of domestic flights and ships and presently staying at our UT Administration Guest houses at Chennai, Kolkatta and Delhi. Due to prolong period of lockdown, they are facing grate financial hardship and the money available with them has been exhausted and staying with empty hands. Under these circumstances, he requested consider for waiving of room rent and free food for the Islanders staying at the Govt. Guest houses at Chennai,
Kolkatta and Delhi till date the situation is normalised.
Several students as well as worried parents informed over phone that the students who are studying in various educational institutions located at different States of India expressing various difficulties being faced due to lockdown. The students studying in the educational institutions at mainland are availing scholarships being provided by the Administration through Directorate of Education, hence all relevant details of such students are available with the Directorate of the Education. Hence, he requested that the administration to make efforts to come in touch with all such students and the educational institutions where students of our Islands are studying to know about their well being and also render assistant to ensure welfare of their stay, food, safety and health concern of students belonging to our Islands.
Like other shops, the members of Barber shops across the A&N Islands also suffered due to which their shops have been closed down since 20.03.2020. The day to day income earned by them out of their daily activities in their profession jobs is only the income for their livelihood and because of lockdown of all shops, they are facing great financial hardships for maintaining their family. Hence, he requested Honble Lt. Governor to consider the grievances of the members of the Barber’s Association for extending financial assistance by way of Ex-gratia payment @Rs.3000/- to each shop across A&N Islands similar to the financial assistance/relief granted/provided to the workers of Building and Construction sectors in A&N Islands to meet the expenses for their livelihood in this difficult time.
