Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept 27: On the eve of World Tourism Day 2026, a Blood Donation Camp was organized by the Department of Tourism, in collaboration with the Andaman Association of Tour Operators (AATO). Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dr. Dinesh Sharma, said that blood donation is one of the greatest and most vibrant symbols of national unity and humanity.
Lt. Governor said that blood has no caste, religion, language or region. In times of crisis, the blood donated by one person can save the life of another person in need, conveying a strong message of unity, brotherhood and human compassion in society. Citing an example, he said that a person from Tamil Nadu may donate blood which could save the life of a person from Bengal. This, he said, represents the true spirit of unity in diversity that defines India. He stated that blood donation is not merely a means of saving lives, but also a powerful way of bringing hearts together and strengthening the unity of the nation.
The Lt. Governor congratulated the organizers for undertaking this humanitarian initiative and said that such blood donation camps should be organized across the Islands. He stated that in the coming times, development works in sectors including education, health, tourism and fisheries would be accelerated and completed expeditiously. He said that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands would make an important contribution towards realizing the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ envisioned by Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, with tourism playing a significant role. Every possible effort would be made to develop the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on par with the leading tourist destinations of the country. He further stated that along with the development of tourist destinations, seaplane services would be promoted and connectivity between the Islands would be further improved through the UDAN scheme. Necessary measures are also being taken to facilitate air connectivity to the Islands and address the issue of high airfares.
The Lt. Governor said that cultural programmes showcasing the local art, culture and traditions should be organized regularly at tourist destinations, enabling tourists from India and abroad to experience the rich cultural heritage of the Islands. Expansion of tourism would not only boost economic activities but also create new employment opportunities.
Appealing to the people to transform the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign into a mass movement through public participation, he urged everyone to make the cleanliness mantra given by Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi a part of their daily lives. He called upon every individual to take a pledge to keep their homes, workplaces and public places clean and contribute towards building a cleaner, beautiful and developed Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The programme was attended by Mrs. Pallavi Sarkar, Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman; Mrs. Shweta K. Sugathan, IPS, Superintendent of Police, South Andaman; Mr. M. Vinod, President; Mr. Saikat Biswas, General Secretary, AATO, members of AATO and a large number of blood donors.
