Chairman of ANTCC Campaign Committee Calls for Islander Card Issuance Drive in A&N Islands

Tarun Karthick

Port Blair, 09 September 2023

Mr. TSG Bhasker, Chairman of the Campaign Committee for the Andaman and Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC), has raised an important demand for the issuance of Islander Cards to most people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Mr. Bhasker underscored the urgent must provoke the Islander Card issuance course of, which has been dormant for an prolonged interval. He emphasised that many Islanders who qualify for an Islander Card have been unable to acquire one as a result of extended hiatus within the issuance drive.

Mr. Bhasker highlighted the hostile penalties of not having Islander Cards, citing that it prevents people from accessing concessional advantages, together with subsidised charges for tickets within the Shipping Sector.

“Due to the absence of Islander Cards, many people are unable to avail the benefits they are entitled to,” acknowledged Mr. Bhasker.

In mild of those considerations, Mr. Bhasker made a fervent request to the Chief Secretary, urging the instant graduation of the Islander Card issuance drive for a minimal length of 1 month. This, he believes, will assist clear the backlog of pending purposes and allow real Islanders to accumulate their Islander Cards promptly.

Furthermore, Mr. Bhasker emphasised the significance of extending the issuance drive to inside Islands, together with Katchal, Kamorta, Teressa, and Campbell Bay. Notably, even the Nicobarese tribe residing in these areas at the moment lack entry to Islander Cards.