Port Blair, Oct 29: Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Member of Parliament, A&N Islands has informed the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands that during his visit to North & Middle Andaman from 17th to 19th October, 2020 and also during his 2 days visit to Car Nicobar on 26th & 27th October, the general public including students, patients, Sr. Citizens, tribal peoples etc expresses that they are unable to pay Rs.500/-charges for Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) fixed by the Administration due to the fact that most of them are very poor and their families are already facing great financial constrains at this crisis time of COVID due to lockdown since 25th March, 2020.
The MP further stated the factual position that due to non availability of various facilities and services in the remote Inter Islands such as medical treatment, e-services, counselling for admission of higher studies, interviews, appointment with the HoDs and other domestic works, these Inter Island peoples including Tribals are compelled to visit Port Blair frequently being the HQ for A&N Islands where such services and facilities are
available as of now.
Hence, the Member of Parliament requested the Lt. Governor to waive charges of Rs.500/-for COVID test for the inter Islands people i.e. North & Middle Andaman, Little Andaman, Swaraj Dweep, Saheed Dweep, Nicobar Group of Islands etc.
