Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 16 April 2024
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Andaman and Nicobar Islands, unveiled its manifesto for the archipelago on April 15, 2024, aiming to address the pressing needs and aspirations of the islanders.
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, the BJP’s MP Candidate and a three-time former Member of Parliament, graced the occasion alongside other prominent leaders of the party.
The manifesto, claimed to be meticulously crafted after soliciting suggestions from residents across the islands, following a thorough process involving suggestion boxes stationed at 50 different locations throughout the region.
Mr. Raghunath Kulkarni, Co-Incharge, Andaman and Nicobar Islands; Mr. Sanjay Kumar Singh, In-charge, Lok Sabha Election Management Committee; Mr. L Moorthy, Convener, Lok Sabha Election Management Committee; Mr. M Vinod, Co-Incharge, Lok Sabha Election Management Committee, and Members of the State Election Manifesto Committee, including Mr. R Dev Das, Mr. Girish Arora, and Mr. Sanjay Balan, were among those present during the manifesto’s launch.
The document encompasses a range of crucial demands voiced by the islanders, including provisions for job opportunities for locals and the establishment of a Pradesh Council/State Assembly, albeit without employing specific terminology.
During the press briefing, BJP leaders affirmed their commitment to safeguarding the interests of the unemployed populace and pledged to institute a political oversight mechanism for the region’s development.
Moreover, the manifesto addresses fundamental issues concerning electricity, water, land, and other essential services, outlining a comprehensive plan to alleviate these challenges.
The detailed BJP Manifesto is provided below:
General
- Ensuring daily water supply to all – Master Plan for Water management- Creating Water Board etc. if necessary- restarting Guptapara Nallah dam as alternate to Dhanikhari dam etc- to reduce pressure on existing single dam.
- Ensure 24X7 Uninterrupted power supply across islands and bring about rational electricity charges.
- Promoting ease of living by removing all hurdles in land revenue like ownership of land, diversion, circle rate, stamp duty charges, registration of apartments and promulgating new land law incorporating the current needs\expectation of the islanders.
- To strive for inclusion of Ranchi Community (Settled in the Islands since long) for reservation and Malayalee Settlers for OBC.
- Re introducing of Islander Fare in Air Transport and increasing luggage to 25 Kgs from existing 15 Kgs.
- To recognise and declare 10th March as ‘Andaman Day’ to honour those freedom fighters who were brought to these islands for the first time on 10th March, 1858.
- Bringing law to include citizen services under it-to ensure time bound Citizen service and accountability.
- Promoting employment opportunity in the isles by building into the system measures to protect interest of the unemployed in the territory and creating more employment opportunities.
- Ensure Railway and Defence recruitment drives in the isles itself for unemployed youth of the territory.
- Modernisation of Port Infrastructure and equipments.
- To take the issue of allotments to dependent members of Settlers and Pre-42 families/regularisations (especially encroachments committed over govt land upto 2004) as recommended by Vivek Rae Committee, to its logical end.
- To accept and settle all left out Pre- 61 excess land cases as per recommendation of the Vivek Rae Committee so that the issue of settling records of all such cases is resolved, which was main aim.
- Ensure IV Act, 2021 implementation in the Islands as per the new Act and Rules, which is Key for Tourism growth and economy etc.
- Restore the powers of PRIs and Councillors of the Urban Body (PBMC) and developing political oversight mechanism.
- Introduction of PG Courses at ANIIMS.
- Proposal for establishing International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), B Pharma courses, and also evening classes in Andaman Law College.
- Establish Anganwadi Centres in each village.
- For developing rural education, opening up of more VKV ZP Schools in rural area as also increasing Model Schools from one to atleast two to three in every Tehsil by education department.
- Creating a dedicated Information Technology Directorate- special emphasis on cyber security and development of Port Blair as IT hub.
- Strive to create a committee to be headed by atleast MoS (Home) with MP and Elected heads of Zilla Parishad and members of Tribal Council- as members of the Committee to oversee implementation of CSS and Schemes of Administration.
- Modernisation of Hindu crematorium.
- Extending benefit of PM Kisan Scheme to tribal farmers not having land records.
- Issue relating to MSP for corps shall be resolved.
- Setting up modern Market infrastructure at each Tehsil/ Island.
- Setting up of Industrial Units to establish forward linkages in order to create branding for Marine Products of the isles.
- Setting up of Fish Processing Training and Fish Processing Centres.
- Crocodile menace – Crocodile Mitigation Plan prepared by Wildlife Institute of India to be implemented.
- Framing of Industrial Estate Rule after consultation from the concerned industry.
- To provide locally available raw material like sand and timber at concessional rates to islanders for bonafide domestic use.
- Modification of AYUSHMAN Bharat scheme for A & N Islands covering inter island and mainland travel expenses, as well as airfare for islanders for both patient and attender referred to mainland hospitals for treatment.
- Stretcher patients should be accommodated at fixed rate on all airline, all airlines should allow on priority.
- Setting up working women’s hostel in each Island.
South Andaman
- Construction of Marine drive and Chatham to Bambooflat Bridge.
- Increasing sub-registrar Offices to three in the District.
- Allowing registration of vehicle in Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep.
- World Class Passenger Sea Port Terminal at Shaheed Dweep.
- Early Completion of building for ANIIMS and commencing full-fledged Medical College at Dudhline.
- Setting up of PHC at Kamaraj Nagar and Namunaghar.
- Conversion of State highways to NH in Wandoor & Manjeri.
- Construction of Athletic stadium in rural area.
- Allotment of Land for graveyard for Christian Community.
- Shifting Law College in rural/ urban area and other steps to decongest Port Blair City area and to provide better infrastructure.
North and Middle Andaman
- Expediting extension of Shibpur Runway at Diglipur.
- Introduction of Fixed wing Aircraft to connect Port Blair and Diglipur.
- Ensuring NH4 in the District is re-laid at par with NH4 of South Andaman.
- Ensure that Middle Strait Bridge is completed at the earliest.
- Rural roads to connect difficult areas such as Hanspuri to Chainpur.
- Ensuring mainland passenger and Cargo Ship service at Mayabunder and Diglipur.
- Construction of a Sports Stadium and multipurpose hall for conduct of various indoor events.
- Village tourism as opportunity for self-employment.
- Quarry allotment in Baratang.
- Setting up Diploma and Bachelors Pharmacy College in the South Andaman District.
Nicobar
- Re-introduction of flight schedule for atleast twice a week to Car Nicobar.
- Introduction of Fixed Wing Aircraft to connect Port Blair, Car Nicobar and Campbell Bay.
- Runway extension at Campbell Bay.
- Assured sea connectivity (Both inter island from Port Blair and intra island within the district)
- Exemption of IT like North East States in tribal areas.
- Establishing a world class Football Stadium / Cycling velodrome to host National and International Matches.
- Circular Road of Car Nicobar to be converted as NH.
- Dredging silt at MUS Jetty and protective walls arounds the island where-ever required & developing Malacca Jetty as second jetty for use during adverse season.
- Promotion of Tribal Sports and handicrafts including canoe race in line with traditional canoe race at Kerala etc.
- Providing financial assistance to Nicobari Athletic Society as granted by Atal ji for promotion of sports.
- Repair and maintenance of Permanent Shelters allotted to Tribals by providing wood etc. in the island itself and ensuring requisite assistance.
- Compensation to Tribals if land is acquired for public purposes.
- Seting up of a Degree College in Nicobar (only District without a college in the Isles)
- Construction of concrete bridge at Kimious village damaged after tsunami.