A day marked by diverse engagements at Raj Niwas highlighted the Andaman and Nicobar Administration’s ongoing focus on health, creativity, and professional capacity building. Lieutenant Governor Admiral DK Joshi, who also serves as Vice-Chairman of the Islands Development Agency, presided over a series of events ranging from a health-focused Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by the State Bank of India (SBI) to the launch of a locally authored book and an interactive session with Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers undergoing training.
The day began with a ceremony organized by the State Bank of India under its CSR initiatives, where the bank adopted 50 tuberculosis (TB) patients under the “Nikshay Mitra Initiative” of the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. A replica cheque was presented to the Directorate of Health Services to provide one year of nutritional support to the adopted patients. The initiative underscores the shared responsibility of institutions in strengthening India’s campaign to eliminate TB by 2025.
During the event, SBI also handed over a handheld digital X-ray machine to enhance TB screening and diagnostic capabilities in the islands’ remote communities. This mobile diagnostic tool is expected to significantly improve early detection among vulnerable populations living in areas where access to traditional healthcare infrastructure remains limited. The ceremony further saw the donation and flagging off of a new ambulance for the Primary Health Centre at Campbell Bay, aimed at strengthening emergency and referral services in the southernmost part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Lieutenant Governor lauded the role of institutional partnerships in expanding the scope of healthcare delivery across geographically dispersed islands. The CSR-driven initiative by SBI is seen as an important example of collaboration between financial institutions and the Administration in addressing public health challenges and improving medical accessibility.
Later in the day, the Lieutenant Governor launched a book titled Passion to Prowess – The Journey of a Logo Designer from Andaman & Nicobar Islands authored by Jag Jeevan Ram, Administrative Officer at ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Sri Vijaya Puram. The author, who has previously received the LG’s Commendation Award, is known for designing several emblematic logos for the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Police, and Command, as well as the commemorative Rs. 75 coin marking the 75th anniversary of the first hoisting of the Tricolour by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in 1943. The book chronicles his creative journey from the islands to national recognition, showcasing the artistic talent and design potential emerging from the region.
The day concluded with an interactive session at Raj Niwas involving a group of 30 IFS officers from batches 1991 to 2021 who are visiting the islands for a week-long compulsory training course on “Natural Resource Management and Conflict Resolution Skills for Forests Management.” The officers, representing different states and union territories, are in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to study the region’s unique biodiversity, conservation challenges, and community engagement practices.
During the interaction, discussions focused on forest management strategies suited to island ecosystems, conflict mitigation in protected areas, and the integration of local community participation in conservation efforts. The session also provided a platform for sharing field experiences and exploring collaborative approaches for sustainable natural resource governance.
The series of events reflected a broad spectrum of governance priorities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, healthcare outreach, creative recognition, and capacity building. From corporate collaboration in healthcare to nurturing local talent and strengthening the skill base of India’s forest management cadre, the engagements at Raj Niwas captured the multi-dimensional development narrative unfolding across the archipelago.
