The Prime Minister
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee chaired the Tenth meeting of the Island
Development Authority(IDA) at Port Blair today.
Following is the text of the
Prime Minister’s address on the occasion:
"I am very pleased
to be here with all of you for the Tenth Meeting of the Island
Development Authority. This meeting is being held soon after the
adoption of the Tenth Five Year Plan by the National Development
Council last month. This is symbolic of the special attention
that we are according to the development of our Islands as an
integral part of India’s all-sided development.
It is pleasing to
know that the IDA is meeting again in Port Blair for the first
time after its inaugural meeting in 1986. But it is not so pleasing
to know that the IDA is meeting after a gap of nearly six years.
I would like it to meet more regularly in the future. I am, however,
happy to note from the address of the Deputy Chairman, Planning
Commission, who also chairs the Standing Committee of the IDA,
that the Standing Committee has been meeting regularly.
The Islands of Andaman
& Nicobar to our east and Lakshadweep to our west are a gift
of nature to India. They are perfect manifestations of the infinite
beauty and delicate balance, which Mother Nature strikes in her
work. The lush green tropical rain forests housing priceless bio-resource;
the many unique tribes who have inhabited these islands for ages;
the treasure of living coral atolls that is one of the finest
in the world; and the sea that reminds us of India’s vastness
as well as our geographical closeness to South-East Asia on the
on one hand and Africa on the other – all these features endear
us to our Islands.
These natural strengths
have to remain as the bedrock of development strategies for these
Islands.
The Andaman &
Nicobar Islands have an honoured place in the history of India’s
Freedom Movement. The Cellular Jail in Port Blair narrates the
story of the immense sacrifices made by our indomitable freedom
fighters. The names of Veer Savarkar, Bhai Paramanand, Mahaveer
Singh and others, as also the countless unnamed patriots of India’s
First War of Independence, have made this place sacred for us.
Today we also proudly recall that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
unfurled the Tricolour here before it was raised on the mainland.
We need to take more effective steps to make successive generations
of Indians aware of this inspiring saga in Indian history.
In post-Independence
decades, Andaman & Nicobar Islands have become home to a vibrant
and industrious community, reflecting the rich linguistic and
religious diversity of our society. This too is something we cherish.
In recent times,
the importance of these Islands in India’s strategic matrix has
grown considerably. Therefore, we have established a joint Tri
Service Andaman & Nicobar Command, controlling the assets
of the three Services and the Coast Guard. This is the first ever
joint command in the country.
Because of their
historic contribution, their ecological richness and fragility,
and their distant but strategic location, we need to adopt a different
approach for our Islands’ development. The usual development plans
for the mainland cannot be super-imposed on them. We have accordingly
been encouraging innovative yet careful approaches for the development
of these islands, while keeping in mind the aspirations of islanders.
We need to always
look at the problems in their totality, with rigorous and in-depth
set of studies. In this context, I am pleased to note that the
Planning Commission has taken up the task of preparing Development
Reports for both Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep,
with a view to setting out a medium-term perspective on holistic
strategies for employment generation and accelerated development
of the Islands.
While accelerating
the pace of development, we need to be careful that we do not
cause any irreversible damage to the unique, ecological and cultural
heritage of these Islands. At the same time, clearly, we cannot
allow these Islands being kept as ‘hot house’ specimens without
allowing any constructive changes. It is the inherent right of
every human being to seek a reasonable share in the fruits of
civilization.
In this context,
I would like to briefly share with you two thoughts. One, we need
to evolve innovative and ecologically sustainable ways of promoting
Island Tourism, for which there is an immense untapped potential
both in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and in Lakshadweep. My recent
visits to Bali and Maldives have convinced me that we need to
learn from successful initiatives in this regard elsewhere in
the world. We need to take effective steps to enable more and
more mainland and foreign tourists, many of whom go to nearby
destinations in South-East Asia, to come here.
Secondly, we should
give greater thrust to such other economic activities, which will
reduce the local people’s dependence on government jobs and land-intensive
and low-yield agriculture. Two areas that can create large-scale
employment, self-employment and business opportunities are development
of fisheries and high-value horticulture and plantation crops
appropriate to the agro-climatic conditions here. For this, suitable
human resource development strategies will have to be worked out.
I am happy to note
that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Space
have taken important decisions to improve these Islands’ connectivity,
both internally and with the mainland. Pawan Hans Helicopter Service
between Port Blair and other islands will be introduced shortly.
For this, 90% subsidy on the fare will be given to islanders.
Secondly, ISRO has established telemedicine connectivity to the
Islands of Lakshadweep and Car Nicobar with the mainland. Telemedicine
connectivity between Port Blair and the mainland is already in
successful operation.
Many issues of an
administrative nature, which are of utmost concern to the islanders,
but which the IDA meetings cannot obviously accommodate, have
been resolved in the Standing Committee meetings. Further, the
multi-pronged development thrust given in the Tenth Plan through
higher outlays, closer interaction and regular monitoring is welcome.
Both the Andaman
& Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands have made considerable progress
in democratic decentralization. This is both useful and necessary,
given the wide geographical dispersion of the population residing
in these Territories. All steps in this regard deserve to be encouraged.
At the same time, in any democratic set up, Constitutional jurisdictions
need to be respected, and the various wings of governance have
to work together harmoniously for the common good.
The Island Development
Authority is a very special arrangement that has been put together
considering the special problems that the Islands are faced with.
The convening of an IDA meeting is an occasion that reinforces
the intention of the Government in working for improvement of
the lives of the people resident here. The institution of IDA
is intended to enable integrated high-level decisions to be taken
on issues of concern. I trust that it will be so in this meeting
as well.
I view this as an
opportunity of renewing our commitment to the rapid and peaceful
development of these territories and I expect the whole-hearted
cooperation of those who have assembled here in undertaking this
challenging task.
I look forward now
to hear your views and suggestions on agenda items slated for
the meeting."
