Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 28: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has taken its Gems of India Challenge 2026 campaign to colleges across South Andaman, encouraging students to create digital content highlighting the Islands’ tourism destinations, cultural heritage and lesser-known attractions for audiences across India and abroad.
The Information, Publicity & Tourism (IP&T) Department organised a series of interactive sessions at educational institutions as part of the campaign, with officials urging young people to participate in promoting the Islands through original digital storytelling.
A seminar at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT) drew more than 500 students. Secretary (IP&T) Vinayak Chamadia urged students to explore lesser-known destinations across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and share their experiences and stories with wider audiences.
Chamadia also highlighted the role of digital platforms in presenting the Islands’ natural beauty, heritage and sustainable tourism potential, while encouraging students to act as ambassadors for the Islands through their content.
Representing the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Additional Director (Prog.) and Nodal Officer for WAVES OTT Neerja Gupta called on students to participate in the Gems of India Challenge 2026 by producing and uploading original content on the WAVES OTT platform.
The initiative, she said, would provide a platform for showcasing local talent while contributing to the wider promotion of the Islands.
The outreach continued at Tagore Government College of Education (TGCE) and Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya, where interactive sessions were held with students.
At TGCE, former Adhyaksh of ZPSA Prakash Adhikari addressed students and encouraged them to contribute to efforts to highlight the tourism, culture and heritage of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Officers from the IP&T Department also interacted with students at both institutions, focusing on the potential for creative digital content to showcase the Islands’ tourism offerings, traditions and lesser-known places.
The campaign places particular emphasis on content created by young people to present the Islands through their own stories and perspectives. Students were encouraged to use digital platforms to bring attention to destinations and cultural features that may not be widely known outside the Islands.
The sessions formed part of the Administration’s wider participation in the Gems of India Challenge 2026 campaign, with the outreach extending beyond a single institution to colleges across South Andaman.
The response from participating students indicated interest in contributing to the campaign, according to the Administration. The sessions concluded with encouragement for students to use their creative work to reach audiences across India and internationally while highlighting the tourism and cultural heritage of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
