The Hindu Business Line : `Resilience of Andaman people amazing'

"Both in Port Blair and in Car Nicobar, not one person was weeping. This is the spirit and fortitude of the people here. The local people's response to the situation helped the administration immensely."

Ram Kapse, Lieutenant Governor, A&N Islands

Port Blair , Feb. 12

ON December 26, within hours of the tsunami devastating the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, its Lieutenant Governor, Ram Kapse, had downloaded from the Internet literature on the tsunami, its behaviour and aftermath patterns.

In the line of media fire for not doing enough in terms of speedy action, relief and rehabilitation measures, he shrugs off the criticism saying that those who want to see negativity in any situation will always do so.

In an interview to Business Line at his home in Port Blair, the Lieutenant Governor says, "People on mainland cannot understand the challenges and difficulties of handling rescue and relief work in far-flung islands that are not connected by rail and road networks."

He adds with a smile, "On December 26, when the tsunami came, I was supposed to be at Indira Point in Campbell Bay, with an MP, architect and engineer... Had we gone, this interview might never have taken place... "

Excerpts from the interview:

What was your first response that morning?

As the jolts kept coming, I called the MP, Manoranjan Bhakta, and other officers and said: "Let's be together because we'll have to work as a team.

As we went, I found to my amazement — both in Port Blair and later in Car Nicobar — not one person was weeping. And I must have met thousands of people on the first day. This is the spirit and fortitude of the people here. The local people's response to the situation helped the administration immensely. I salute the resilience and spirit of the people.

The police tower was down and yet the police - including women police officers - were there, involved in the rescue work. The hospital was affected, but people were treated. In Car Nicobar, the PHC (primary health centre) was washed away, but started functioning from the Forest Guest house.

There was no panic. Sanjeev, a policeman, saved four people in Port Blair, and while saving the fifth, died.

I reached Car Nicobar at 4 p.m. and found 23 bodies kept in a row near the airport and all the people were waiting at the airport. Such behaviour gave courage to everybody to go about their job.

On December 27, we went there again with the UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, and the Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee. She realised that the administration needs a few days without any dignitary visits, to go about the rescue and relief work. And for five days after that we had no dignitaries coming in, which was a big help.

I told her: Propriety demands I should come with you to Port Blair but I think my presence is required here (Car Nicobar). And she said: That is good of you.

Are you happy with the pace of relief and rehabilitation work?

Whatever possible under the circumstances, we have done. From mainland, one can't imagine the logistical problems of dealing with a disaster of this magnitude in such a region... with rail and road connectivity, things are very different. Here, access is only through ships or by air.

I don't want to take credit for anything but right from day 1, shipping schedules were maintained. We had only one helicopter, but wherever Defence help was necessary, it came immediately. I am satisfied that there's been no shortfall in my duty.

So, what are the priorities now?

The people are bored and restless and want some work. We're starting tailoring classes for women and will give them work. Also, wherever physical labour is available, local people are employed on daily wages because to keep people idle at times like these can be dangerous.

Banks at Campbell Bay and other places had lost all records, but thanks to the computer backup in Port Blair, we saw to it that people were able to withdraw money. So, these decisions were indeed taken.

What about people's homes that have been totally destroyed?

We have to build about 12,000 homes; and, in Nicobar, the tribals want their houses as they were earlier. They said: Give us wood, bamboo and tools and we'll build our own houses.

But again so close to the sea?

No, they want to be a little away from the sea; and land has been identified. In Nicobar, their main livelihood and economy were connected to coconut trees, which are near the sea... but now they'll have to live a little away.

But a lot of coconut palms have also been destroyed.

Yes, over 40 per cent... and we'll even use that wood. They have been using it for years and they know how to use it.

What about restoration of their livelihood and economy?

Even women were involved in removing coconuts, converting it into copra etc, so they will be given work I told you about.

We'll have to now plan for the tribal youth... to educate them in technical, technological and vocations streams. I've spoken to the Tribal Council leaders and they immediately agreed to the starting of an ITI (Industrial Training Institute); the meeting lasted only five minutes.

Actually even in the tribal areas, the education is about 76 per cent; A&N literacy percentage is 81 per cent.

Despite the death of so many teachers, we decided that classes for children should be continued, and they were held sometimes in camps and sometimes on playgrounds, with priority for Class X and XII students who face exams.

This decision was important because when students go back to school, normalcy returns in the parents' lives more quickly. A new confidence comes in; and idle students can cause new problems.

I went to the CBSE office in Delhi three days ago and asked them to hold the examinations in two batches: in March for those who are prepared and in May for students who need more time. And they readily agreed. Whatever we could do, was done

What about the friction that is emerging between the tribals and immigrants? I spoke to immigrants from Car Nicobar who had small businesses, which have been destroyed. Now, they say they will not be allowed to return to the island.

There are several aspects to this issue. There are areas where the tribals do need non-tribals, they'll be consulted and decisions taken. There are some craft and vocations where outsiders are required. We've assured them that wherever there is work, the Nicobari will be given preference. But where skilled and unskilled workers are required, contractors will bring them and take them back. But whatever we decide will be in consultation with the Tribal Council.

And in many cases, it is not an issue of illegal immigration; traditionally outsiders were there. We will also have to create new ventures and new jobs. We'll create technical, technological and vocational ventures... saw mills is one example.

But that can result in indiscriminate felling of trees for timber...

Commercial exploitation will be allowed only in a small area, as it is necessary for economic reasons; the rest will be protected. And along with tree felling, there will also be tree harvesting, because we want to preserve the ecology.

We do have over 86 per cent of forestland. The scope for the fishery industry will be explored and expanded; after all, one-third of India's coastal area is in A&N. And the fruits here are delicious. And then, there is tourism too.

But you need some out-of-the-box and radical thinking.

Absolutely, that will be done.

What about resources? Do you have enough to restore people's homes and livelihood?

Right from day 1, we've found the entire nation behind us.

So, unlike Kashmir or the North-Eastern regions, there is no sense of alienation among the people here?

There is zero alienation. There is no conflict or clash of interest. Everybody has to stay together.

What do you feel about the compassion and generosity of Indians who have donated so spontaneously for tsunami relief?

Right from the third day, we started receiving aid from all the States. When I called the Governors of Kerala and West Bengal and the Chief Minister of Mizoram that we require bamboo... the immediate response was it will be done.

And the Cabinet resolutions were passed. Whether Central or State governments, NGOs or ordinary people, the response has been overwhelming. If we've managed, it is with this help.

People are one and here we are mini-India. Bengalis are number one, followed by Tamils, Keralites, Andhraites and also Maharashtrians; the North Indian or Hindi Bhashi people are 16 per cent.

But why has your administration got such negative media publicity?

I had begun my career in journalism after graduating in Marathi literature. I was the editor of a Marathi weekly called Jagruti and know a bit about how the media works even though journalism has changed immensely over the years.

But I don't want to comment on that. Negativity is an attitude... 100 minus 1 can be 99. But, it can also be 100 for a generous man who'll say ek galti ho gayi chchod dau (forgive one mistake), it can be zero for the utterly negative people and it can be - 1 for a sadist. This is the new arithmetic that I've learnt!

How do you see the future of the territory?

It will be a new and better A&N that will emerge after this tragedy. For tourism, this is heaven.

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