Hon'ble Lt. Governor launches Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign in A&N Islands

   The Hon'ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Dr. Dinesh Sharma today launched the Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 in A&N Islands at a function held at the Govt. Girls Senior Secondary School auditorium by lighting the traditional lamp. Hon'ble Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Gyanesh Bharti, IAS, Chairperson, SVPMC, Smt. M. Vasantha, Pramukh, Panchayat Samiti, Sri Vijaya Puram, Ms Champa Das, senior officers of A&N Administration, students and others were present on the occasion.

    The theme of this year's campaign is "Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat", which underlines the role of collective participation and shared responsibility in advancing the goal of a clean and developed India.

   Addressing the gathering, the Hon'ble Lt. Governor called for collective efforts to transform the Andaman and Nicobar Islands into "Shreshtha Andaman" as part of the vision of "Shreshtha Bharat."

   Speaking on the significance of Vishwakarma Jayanti, the Hon'ble Lt. Governor said that Lord Vishwakarma is revered as the divine architect, creator and inventor, and is worshipped to remove obstacles that may arise in development and construction works. He said that the occasion provides an opportunity for people belonging to different communities, religions and regions to come together and pray for the overall development of the Islands.

    Presenting a broad vision for the development of the Islands, the Hon'ble Lt. Governor emphasised the need to address water shortages, ensure reliable electricity supply, strengthen transportation infrastructure and introduce affordable flight services. He also stressed the need to provide better facilities and livelihood opportunities for local fishermen and to develop high-quality healthcare facilities, including advanced treatment for serious diseases such as heart ailments and cancer.

    The Hon'ble Lt. Governor said that roads should be constructed on time and to the highest standards. He called for strengthening public confidence in elected representatives, officers and institutions through transparent and honest systems of functioning. He identified the creation of a corruption-free Administration as one of the important commitments associated with the occasion.

   Emphasising the importance of education, the Hon'ble Lt. Governor said that opportunities for higher education in the Islands should be expanded so that students do not have to leave the Islands for pursuing high-quality courses and research. He also highlighted the need to create adequate employment opportunities and to give priority to local residents in employment. He further stressed the importance of ensuring fairness and stability in matters relating to employment, land allotment and infrastructure development.

    Referring to the Swachhata Pledge, the Hon'ble Lt. Governor said that cleanliness is directly linked to health and forms the foundation of sustainable development. Recalling Mahatma Gandhi's emphasis on cleanliness and his practice of leading by example, he said that the Swachh Bharat Mission has demonstrated the wide-ranging benefits of cleanliness and sanitation for public health.

   Ahead of World Tourism Day on September 27, the Hon'ble Lt. Governor called for active community participation in maintaining cleanliness at tourist destinations. He also urged people to participate in tree plantation under the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" initiative on October 2 and appealed to citizens to take a pledge not to litter and to prevent others from littering.

    He also emphasised the need to provide practical cleanliness education in schools, covering principles such as waste segregation, reduction, reuse and recycling, along with composting.

    Referring to the water shortage prevailing in some areas of the Islands, where water supply is reportedly available only once in six days, the Hon'ble Lt. Governor said that an immediate solution could not be assured at present. However, he assured that sincere and continuous efforts would be made to resolve the issue.

   The Hon'ble Lt. Governor said that he had reviewed the functioning of various administrative departments and identified areas requiring improvement. He stated that the Administration would seek support from various Central Ministries for development projects. These include better hospital equipment through the Ministry of Health; improved and affordable transportation through the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Ministry of Civil Aviation; modern boats and cold-storage facilities for fishermen through the Ministry of Fisheries; and hydropower and renewable energy projects through the Ministry of Power.