Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov 22: Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman, Islands Development Agency today unveiled Policies related to Tourism activities & Guide to Direct Recruitment, SOP for North Cinque Island and Logo of A&N Administration in the conference hall of Raj Niwas here today.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Lt. Governor noted with appreciation that A&N Islands have done immensely well in the Rozgar Melas held from time to time by filling around 5400 posts in different Departments. At some occasion, A&N Islands stood first in the country for giving maximum number of appointment letters from a Single Centre during ‘Rozgar Mela’ conducted across the country. The Lt. Governor stated that he himself chaired the review meetings periodically regarding the recruitment process so that the entire recruitment process is completed in a time bound manner.
The Lt. Governor remarked that the most significant part of the recruitment process was that the entire process was done in an absolutely transparent manner and not a single complaint of malafide or corrupt practices has come up. The Lt. Governor congratulated the Chief Secretary and his entire team for conducting the recruitments in a time bound manner in A&N Islands.
Referring to the Tourism Policies, the Lt. Governor stated that the Tourism Department is coming up with unique & outstanding policies aimed at boosting the tourism sector in Isles. He underlined the need for proper publicity of these newly devised policies in the national and international level, so that the Islands get the maximum mileage in showcasing its tourism potential. He expressed the hope that the policies on Bird watching, Caravan Tourism, Luxury Tourism and Glamping Tourism will immensely help in attracting more tourists to these emerald Islands.
The Lt. Governor also appreciated the contributions made by the Chief Secretary in taking Islands on the path of progress.
In his address, the Chief Secretary stated that Tourism & Fisheries projects were constantly monitored during the review meetings held on every Saturday for its meaningful implementation as these two sectors have the potential to take these Islands on the path of economic development. He further stated that Tourism Department has selected 5 policies, out of which, 3 have been unveiled today and other two policies are in advanced stage which will be unveiled soon, he said.
In his opening remarks, the Secretary (Tourism), Shri Viswendra outlined the objectives and vision of the policies brought out by the Tourism Department of A&N Islands which included Policy of Development and Promotion of Luxury Tented Accommodation, Bird Watching Policy and Policy for Development and Promotion of Caravan Tourism. He also informed about the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Tourism in North Cinque Island. The purpose of framing of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Cinque Island is to ensure that operations in terms of issuing Wildlife Vessel/Ship Permit, Ship tickets, ferrying of tourists, basic amenities and facilities, environmental protection & conservation/ waste management etc. are managed efficiently, safely and sustainably.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri C. Arvind, Secretary (Perl.) gave a detailed account of the entire recruitment process and expressed his sincere gratitude towards Hon’ble Lt. Governor for providing necessary directions which has helped the A&N Administration to conduct the entire recruitment process smoothly and in a time-bound manner. He made a special mention of the Chief Secretary, Shri Keshav Chandra with whose periodic reviews and day-to-day supervision, the UT has been able to achieve the highest recruitments in a mission-mode over last two years resulting in employment opportunities for nearly 5400 unemployed youth. He also mentioned the untiring and relentless efforts and team spirit shown by the R & E Section of the Secretariat for making the entire recruitment process and this massive exercise possible in a time-bound manner with full transparency and merit-based.
Proposing the vote of thanks, the Director (Tourism), Shri Azharuddin Zahiruddin Quazi, IAS expressed his gratitude to the Lt. Governor for unveiling the Policies related to Tourism activities, Guide to Direct Recruitment and SOP of North Cinque Island and Logo of A&N Administration. The Director further stated that these initiatives represent a remarkable stride towards sustainable tourism and environmental stewardship. They not only address the growing interest in eco-tourism and experiential travel but also promise to boost the socio-economic fabric of our region while preserving its natural beauty and cultural heritage. These policies are not just initiatives—they are transformative steps toward positioning our region as a hub for responsible and innovative tourism. “We are excited about the immense potential they hold to create economic opportunities, promote local culture, and protect our invaluable natural resources”, he added.
The Logo for Andaman & Nicobar Administration which was unveiled today conveys historic legacy of A&N Islands and the essence of the Government’s thrust towards infrastructure thereby contributing towards ‘Viksit Bharat’. The Logo designed by an Island’s well known Designer, Shri Jag Jeevan Ram represents the historical legacy – Cellular Jail, Flora and Fauna of the Islands i.e. Mangroves, State Animal Dugong and Narcondam Hornbill, Infrastructures – Veer Savarkar International Airport Terminal Building, International Container Tans-shipment Terminal (ICTT) Great Nicobar, Azad Hind Fauz Setu (Uttara) connecting Gandhi Ghat & Uttara in Middle Andaman and Solar Panels representing a paradigm shift in renewable energy sources.
