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Hamdulla has a strategy for the islands

Nedumbassery: To evolve a development strategy through interactions with the common man is top on the agenda of Hamdulla Sayeed, the newly elected Lok Sabha member from Lakshadweep. The strategy will cover all sectors, including fisheries, tourism, transportation, health and employment, he said here on Monday.

At a press meet, he said that emphasis would be given on improving the law-and-order situation in the islands, which had deteriorated over the past five years. “Almost every unemployed youth there has a criminal case against him. The politics of violence is hampering the region’s development,” he said.

He said he would try to change the cumbersome screening process the island residents have to go through on their arrival at the Kochi wharf. “There is no trace of terrorist-related activities on the islands. But even senior citizens and ailing persons are not spared. We need to have a healthy screening process,” he said.

Highlighting the progress achieved by Lakshadweep society in education, employment and infrastructure, he attributed it to the schemes initiated by the United Progressive Alliance government. “The Constitutional amendment, giving Scheduled Tribe status to any person born in the Indian mainland whose parents were inhabitants of the islands and who has a home there, will benefit 4,000 children, apart from the future generation,” he said.

Earlier in the day, he was accorded a rousing reception at the airport here on his arrival from Agatti.

He and several newly elected Lok Sabha members from Kerala, including P.C. Chacko, K.P. Dhanapalan, Jose K. Mani, P.T. Thomas, K.C. Venugopal, Anto Antony and M.I. Shanavas, left for Delhi.

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