Port Blair, Aug 03: Highlighting the most crucial issue of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Prime Minister of India to extend 100% job reservation for the domiciles of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in public appointments for jobs meant for the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the fashion similar to the decision taken in respect of the newly created Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of India, dated 2nd August 2021, the Member of Parliament mentioned that such a decision will ensure timely filling up of more 7500 vacancies under the Andaman & Nicobar Administration.
He added in his letter that lack of sufficient employment opportunities especially in the light of high literacy rate in the Islands has resulted in growing challenges of unemployment. In absence of major private industries in the Islands and uncertainty prevailing in the tourism sector, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and departments under the Central Government are major and most reliable source of providing employment to the Islanders throughout the Islands’ territory. Now the candidates from other States and Union Territories applying and securing employment in the Group ‘C’ and Group ‘B’ (Non-Gazetted) jobs of Andaman and Nicobar Administration has further aggravated the problem of unemployment for the residents of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The Member of Parliament mentioned that he has already proposed a private member bill titled “The reservation of post in Government establishments of Andaman & Nicobar Islands” on 31st October 2019 but due to no private members business being taken up, it is pending introduction and is listed on 6th August 2021.
He pointed out that with the introduction of invitation of web-based online application for filling up of vacancies in the government departments of Andaman and Nicobar Administration, it was found that large number of candidates from mainland applies for such vacancies, who by virtue of having undergone better coaching and other facilities for competitive examination in the mainland excel better than the Islanders who are totally lacking in such facilities in the islands.
The MP also referred the very recent decision of the Central Government to extend 100% job reservation in public appointments to the local residents of the newly created Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and that of Ladakh in their respective Union Territories despite scrapping of Articles 370 and 35A from the State of Jammu and Kashmir which granted special status and special privileges to the residents. For the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir the reservation has been implemented by an order of MHA issued on April 3, 2020, which provides protection to the domiciles of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir to “any post” in the government including senior level positions in Group A and Group B category. Also similar order for public appointments in Union Territory of Ladakh is issued through it’s Lieutenant Governor on 08.06.2021 stating that “No person shall be qualified for appointment to the service unless the person is a resident of Union Territory of Ladakh.”
On the basis of above order, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma requested the Prime Minister to extend 100% job reservation for the domiciles of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in public appointments for jobs meant for the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the fashion similar to the decision taken in respect of the newly created Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
