Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 31 August 2025
In a bid to strengthen educational infrastructure in the remote and backward regions of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, has urged the Union Government to extend Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support for three major projects.
In separate communications to Union Ministers, Mr. Ray has sought financial assistance for setting up Atal Tinkering Labs, ICT Labs, and Solar-Powered Smart Classes across government schools in the Islands.
Proposals:
1. 50 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in Schools – Mr. Ray, in a representation to Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon’ble Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, recommended CSR support for establishing 50 ATLs across government schools, as suggested by the A&N Administration’s Education Department. The initiative, to be implemented by UNISED (ISO 9001:2005 certified and registered under NITI Aayog), aims to foster creativity, computational skills, and innovation among students.
2. 100 ICT Labs in Government Schools – The MP has also urged the Petroleum Minister to support the setting up of 100 ICT labs through Any Care Foundation. The project is designed to align with the Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India, Skill India, and Viksit Bharat 2047 by equipping students with digital literacy and modern technological skills.
3. 100 Solar-Powered Smart Classes with Joyful Learning Resource Labs (JIGYASA Programme) – In another proposal to Mr. Satish Chandra Dubey, Hon’ble Minister of State for Coal & Mines, Mr. Ray recommended CSR funding for the “JIGYASA Programme” of Any Care Foundation. The project envisions constructing 100 solar-powered smart classrooms in government schools, ensuring access to digital learning while promoting clean energy solutions in geographically isolated areas.
Highlighting the geographical remoteness and developmental challenges of the Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray stressed that these initiatives would bridge the digital divide and provide sustainable, technology-driven learning opportunities for students.
He appealed for urgent consideration and early approval of the proposals, emphasizing their transformative potential in shaping the future of education in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
