Port Blair, Dec 16: The Andaman and Nicobar Media Federation (ANMF) felicitated the Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma for his dedicated service to the people of this Union Territory.
The Felicitation function was organized at Hotel Ami Grace, Gurudwara Line on 15th Dec 2019 at 7.30 pm during which the Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands was honoured with Shawl by Mr. K Ganeshan, the President of ANMF and with bouquets by Ms. Roopa Lall, Treasure & Mr. R Murugeshan, Member, ANMF.
In his welcome address, the General Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Media Federation, Mr. Sanjib Kumar Roy expressed gratitude to the Member of Parliament for accepting the invitation of A & N Media Federation to felicitate him. The General Secretary also highlighted the efforts of ANMF in bringing most of the media houses under the roof of the Federation so as to raise the genuine issues relating to functioning of media at an appropriate level.
He further highlighted the measures being taken up by the ANMF for the welfare of working journalists and expressed the need provide the working journalists with insurance packages for their social security.
Addressing the gathering, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, the Member of Parliament lauded the efforts of local media and also the Andaman & Nicobar Media Federation in highlighting problems of Andaman society. He further informed about his vision of sustainable development of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. As the lone Member of Parliament from A&N Islands, he has been striving to make our islands self depended.
The MP said, once we are able to tap our own resources, we can make our islands self sufficient, without any dependency on Centre Government funds.
“These islands are already a being referred ‘Mini India’, but I can say that, our islands are a ‘Mini World’ comprising of Indian Settlers and Aboriginal Tribes who have their links from different parts of the world,” he said.
Highlighting the problems of unemployed youths, Sharma said that putting a ban on commercial vehicles is not a solution. It is the duty of the Administration to construct wider road, bridges and other infrastructures.
He however said that considering the growing population of these Islands, there must be a study to find out the carrying capacity of these Islands.
As per Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma’s perception, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands needs to be sustainably developed with sensitively towards protecting its rich natural heritage and culture.
“We have many resources to grow our economy and make our islands self-sufficient. In the tourism sector, we have vast attractions and historical places but we are still far from the desired push in tourism business. Secondly, the fisheries sector in these islands has a vast scope to support the islands economy’. In our sea we have tuna fishes, which is on all-time demand since many years in the world market, but here we haven’t been able to manage or deal with it properly,” the MP said.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Mr. S P Ellango, Secretary, ANMF, while the entire programme was hosted by Mr. Denis Giles, Secretary ANMF.
The evening was made memorable by two talented singers of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mr. P K Mohd Nawaj and Mr. Raj, who presented series of melodious songs.
A memento was presented to the Member of Parliament by the members of Andaman & Nicobar Media Federation as a token of appreciation.
