MR. CHAIRMAN ; The question is: Legislative Assembly A demand was also made by the Members of this House, a number of times, that Andaman ‘That leave be granted to withdraw the Bill to & Nicobar also be given the Statehood provide for free and compulsory education upto higher secondary level to all children The demand was made when this House throughout the country and for matters unanimously passed the Delhi State Bill An assurance connected therewith.*' was given when the matter was raised by us. particularly by the Member representing Andaman & The motion was adopted Nicobar Islands for the last six terms. Shri Manoranjan DR. T. SUBBARAMI REDDY : I withdraw the Bill. Bhakta. At that time, we were assured that Andaman & Nicobar .Islands would also be given the Statehood. That was in the year 1991. when elections were held [Translation] in Delhi, the Assembly was constituted and a State Government was formed in Delhi. It is functioning for MR. CHAIRMAN Now the Minister for the last three years. But the people of Andaman & parliamentary affairs and the Minister for Home are Nicobar Islands are yet to get a Statehood or an present here in the House A few moments back when Assembly the hon ble Deputy Speaker was in the Chair. Shri Ganga Charan Rajput had made a special mention and he had Why are we asking Statehood tor Andaman & raised this issue. Now. if you have to say anything else, Nicobar Islands? It is not only for a Legislative Assembly you may say. but it is the experience of the people after the Predesh Council started functioning since 1 981 Their experience THE MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS is that there is no proper representation of the people; AND MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI SRIKANTA JENA) : the voice of the people, the demand of the peopjfe/the At that time I was not present in the House. The issue, aspirations of the people and the desire of the people which he had raised shall be brought to the notice of of Andaman & Nicobar Islands are not properly attended the hon ble Home Minister and he might take any action to . '* if he so desired. I congratulate the hon. Speaker, who took the 16.58 hrs. initiative, when he was Minister of State for Home. He took the initiative, at least, to give a little representation GOVERNMENT OF UNION TERRITORY OF so that adequate power to the Pradesh Council was ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS BILL given. At that time, we were told that this is not the final thing; that this was a step towards a Legislative SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA (Bankura) : I beg to Assembly. move : Fifteen years have already lapsed since the Pradesh That the Bill to provide for the creation of a Legislative Assembly for the Union Territory Council was set up- when this House and the people of of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and for Andaman & Nicobar Islands were told by the matters connected therewith or incidental Government of India that the Pradesh Council is not the thereto, be taken into consideration final thing. It is a step fo have State Assembly in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. 16.59 hrs. Since 1981 when the Pradesh Council started (Mr Deputy-Speaker in the Chair) functioning, till now the demand of the people remains unheeded. It remains urvheeded for the last 15 years. Sir, today I have moved this Bill for the fulfilment of It is because Andaman and Nicobar Islands are far aspiration and desire o the people of Andaman and away from the main-land. It is because it takes several Nicobar group of Islands. In 1947. our country achieved hours to reach the Andamans through sea. That is why, Independence, Every year we observe Independence I made a proposal on the floor of the House to have a Day. This year we are observing the 50th year of the leeway with Andaman so as to bring those islands Constituent Assembly. But after 49 years of closer to the main land I made this proposal arid a Independence, the aspiration and desire of the people of Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands, where there number of Members also supported my proposal. From this feeling, the Feeling of Alienation must be there. are 38 big. medium and small Islands, have not yet been fulfilled. To achieve that, some mechanism has to be worked out and for that closer Centre-State relations have to be 17.00 hrs. developed. To have closer Centre-State relations, a Sir. a number of times in this very House, a demand mechanism has to be developed For this, there must was voiced by the various sections of the people that be a State Assembly like Delhi. Pondicherry and Like Andaman & Nicobar Islands should also have a other small States like Goa. Now what is the population? As per the 1991 Committee - have made a number of recommendations. census, the population of the Andaman and Nicobar They have recommended that Statehood should be group of islands has already crossed three lakhs given to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They have although the capacity is 2.75 lakhs. It is because the gone into the problems faced by this Union Territory. people are migrating from the main land. That is the They also come to the conclusion that unless the State problem. Now I am told that the capacity is seven lakhs. Assembly is given some powers, the problems faced by So there is still capacity. But I have seen in one of the the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands cannot be reports that the capacity is 2.75 lakhs. solved easily. Why is it that there is a demand for a State I would like to quote from the recommendations Assembly9 What is the experience of the Pradesh made by the Estimates Committee. 1992-93 Council9 How is the Pradesh Council functioning? What “In order to make Legislature/Pradesh is the power delegated to the Pradesh Council? The Councils effective, the Committee desire that Pradesh Council is there. It also meet twice or thrice a the powers may be delegated to these bodies year. The hon Member from that island, Shri Manoranjan in a far liberal manner that has been done Bhakta is the ex-officio Member of it. Does this Pradesh hithertofore. They also recommend that in Council really have any power? It has not power. It is the case of a difference of opinion between just a Pradesh Council and it cannot pass a resolution the Lt. Governor and the Legislative/Pradesh even without the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor. Council, the views of the elected That is the position of the Pradesh Council. The members representatives should prevail except in are elected directly by the people. There are five matters concerning national security, law and members in the Pradesh Council. They enjoy facilities order and such like important areas. For this like the State Deputy Minister of State. The member of purpose, necessary amendments in the the Pradesh Council have facilities but they do not Government of Union Territories Act should have any power They cannot pass a simple resolution also be effected." to stave off other functions. Now, there is no question of any difference. The The Lieutenant Governor has to approve the question is that unless the Lt. Governor desires nothing Resolution before passing it. The Annual Plan allocation can be brought in the Pradesh Council.- Unless it is for this group of Islands is Rs. 600 crore. The experience approved by the Lt. Governor nothing can be brought of the people of the Islands is that this amount is also out Even a resolution cannot be passed by the Pradesh not reaching the grass-root level. The planning, Council. Even for consideration of a resolution the development and utilisation of the money allocated to approval of the Lt. Governor is required. So, the Pradesh the Islands are not done properly at all Now. after the Council has no power. Panchayati Raj Act, three-tier local bodies have been constituted. In another paragraph in the same Report, the Estimates Committee have stated and I quote In my bill. I have not asked for powers equal to the other major State Assemblies,.. (Interruptions) “The Committee are dismayed to find that even though Executive Councillors/ SHRI MANORANJAN BHAKTA (Andaman and Counsellors have been appointed in various Nicobar Islands) : Why not? Why should only limited Union Territories in most cases either no files powers ge given? are routed through them or these are routed SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : Now they have no .in a very lackadaisical manner. The powers. They will start with limited powers. Later on, we Committee desire the Ministry of Home can ask for more powers like those enjoyed by the Affairs to issue clear instructions to Members of the Delhi Assembly ...(Interruptions). We Administration in all the Union Territories to cannot say that they have no experience. For example, ensure routing of all files to be submitted* by for the last more than ten years, the Pradesh Council the Lt. Governors through the respective is functioning without any powers. I have suggested in Executive Concillors/Counsellors except my Bill that with limited powers, identical to that of the where such files relating to reserve subjects Delhi State Legislature of similar to the Legislative which are submitted direct. The Committee Assembly can be given to the Andaman and Nicobar would like it to be ensured that no deviation Islands. from this instruction is permitted" The issue was discussed in various fora and by I do not know whether, even after submission of various Committees.