The Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah, chaired the sixth meeting of the Island Development Agency (IDA) held here today. The Island Development Agency reviewed the progress made towards the programme “Holistic development of islands”. For the first time in the country, under the guidance of IDA, an initiative of sustainable development in the identified Islands within scientifically-assessed carrying capacity has been taken-up. Development Plans with focus on creation of jobs for the islanders through tourism promotion as well as export of seafood and coconut-based products made in the Islands have been prepared and are being implemented in four islands of Andaman & Nicobar and five islands of Lakshadweep. In the second phase, suitable sites in 12 more islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and 5 islands in Lakshadweep have been covered.

Model tourism projects both Land-based and Water Villas were planned and bids have been invited for private sector participation.As a unique initiative, to spur investment, it was decided to obtain clearances for implementation of the planned projects up-front. All necessary clearances would be in place before bids finalization. Environment and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances have already been obtained for four exemplary tourism projects of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

For strengthening infrastructure support, projects for improving air, sea and digital connectivity are also being implemented. Port Blair and another 7 islands in Andaman & Nicobar would get digitally connected through submarine optical fibre cable by June, 2020. Better communication services would facilitate setting up of Information Technology based and other Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the islands with incentives through Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands Industrial Development Scheme (LANIDS), 2018 notified on 1st January, 2019. The proposed airports in Great Nicobar Island of Andaman & Nicobar and Minicoy Island of Lakshadweep would catalyze the development process in the region.

In the meeting, a detailed presentation was made by CEO, NITI Aayog highlighting current status of the planned projects being implemented for islanders’ benefits. The status of implementation of decisions taken in the last meeting was also highlighted in the presentation.

Shri Shah expressed satisfaction at the progress made and called upon all concerned to expedite implementation of the on-going projects for islanders’ benefits. He further advised to formulate separate policyfor maintaining a clean, green and healthy environment in the islands. In addition, he advised to implement suitable strategies for sustainable utilization of fisheries resources available in Exclusive Economic Zone around the islands. Adequate technology-based facilities need to be provided to enhance fish collection, storage, processing and export of value-added products which would provide more jobs and generate additional income for the islands.

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Shri Dharmendra Pradhan today flagged off 3121st Bulk LPG Tanker Truck and participated in the Special National Vendor Development Program on Petroleum & Steel sectors for SC/ST Entrepreneurs, organised by Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI).

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pradhan said the Government has gone beyond providing scholarships and reservations for SC/STs, and is empowering them to become entrepreneurs. “Inspired by the vision of Babasaheb, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has worked with the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Vikas to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of SC/ST community, disadvantaged sections of the society and minorities. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has envisioned that the SC/ST community should become the owners of businesses and be job creators instead of just being job seekers. Under his leadership, India is establishing a new model of affirmative action for the world.”, he said.

Speaking about Government’s various efforts towards welfare of SC/ST communities, Shri Pradhan said “Government has come up with Rs.100 lakh crore worth of National Infrastructure Pipeline. We made a plan to open 75,000 petrol pumps, out of which 20,000 have been reserved for the SC/ST brothers and sisters. Out of this, more than 17 thousand LOIs have already been given to them, and work has begun for putting up 3600 Retail Outlets.

Out of over 8cr Ujjwala connections, over 3cr. connections have been handed over to the SC/ST families”. The Minister further said that various Ministries have ensured handholding of SC/ST entrepreneurs to make Stand Up India, a success.

He said that government has simplified procedures, established policies, worked with all stakeholders to support the entrepreneurial spirit of SC/ST brothers and sisters and to ensure new entrepreneurs are not at a disadvantage. He said that the Government has ensured that PSUs procure at least 25% of their requirements from the MSMEs and banks have been targets to lend to start-ups, giving impetus to entrepreneurial spirit among the disadvantaged sections of the society.

The Minister also presented token of appreciation to Bank of Baroda, Oriental Insurance Company, Askok Leyland, Tata Motors, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd., Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. among others, for their contributions.

DICCI is apex body of SC/ST Entrepreneurs in the country with 29 state and 7 international chapters. DICCI organizes NVDP and industrial exhibitions and trade fair to showcase products manufactured by SC/ST businessmen, to leverage market access support & networking. The Special NVDP was attended by around 700 SC-ST medium and small enterprises from across the country.

Who was Tanaaji Malusare? He was a Maratha military leader and a close aide of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Hailing from the Malusare clan, Taanaji is popularly remembered for the Battle of Singhagad that took place in the year 1670.

In the battle, Taanaji fought against Udaybhan Rathore, a formidable Rajput warrior, who was put in charge of Fort Kandhana (later named Singhagad) by Jai Singh.

Battle of Singhagad, 1670: In the year 1665, the Treaty of Purandar was signed between Jai Singh and Shivaji. Amongst several demands, the treaty had required the Maratha ruler to give up Fort Kandhana to the Mughals.

After it was taken over by the Mughals, the fort was guarded by Rajput, Pathan and Arab troop guards and was said to be impenetrable. This deeply disturbed and enraged Shivaji’s mother Rajmata Jijabai. Upon knowing this, Shivaji entrusted Taanaji, the only man he could think of capable of reconquering the fort Kondhana at any cost.

Outcomes of the battle: Even though the attack by Taanaji took the Mughals by surprise, the latter nonetheless outnumbered the Marathas.

The two clashed for long. Malusare was gravely wounded in the fight and died. Enraged by the death of their general, the Marathas fought under the leadership of his brother, Suryaji Malusare, and eventually vanquished the enemy. The fort was renamed as Singhagad (lion’s fort) by Shivaji to honour Tanaji.

Important observations made by the Court: The state cannot trespass into the private property of a citizen and then claim ownership of the land in the name of ‘adverse possession’. Grabbing private land and then claiming it as its own makes the state an encroacher.

In a welfare state, right to property is a human right. A welfare state cannot be permitted to take the plea of adverse possession, which allows a trespasser i.e. a person guilty of a tort, or even a crime, to gain legal title over such property for over 12 years. The State cannot be permitted to perfect its title over the land by invoking the doctrine of adverse possession to grab the property of its own citizens.

What’s the issue? The Himachal Pradesh government forcibly took over four acres of land belonging to a person at Hamipur district to build a road in 1967. Even 52 years later, the state has failed to pay the compensation.

The appellant was wholly unaware of her rights and entitlement in law, and did not file any proceedings for compensation of the land compulsorily taken over by the state. When her petition was turned down by the High Court, the appellant moved the Supreme Court.

Right to Property: ‘Right to private property was previously a fundamental right’ under Article 31 of the Constitution. Property ceased to be a fundamental right with the 44th Constitution Amendment in 1978.

Nevertheless, Article 300A required the state to follow due procedure and authority of law to deprive a person of his or her private property. The right to property is now considered to be not only a constitutional or statutory right, but also a human right.