Lakshadweep, a union territory that has enjoyed peace for several decades, is being terrorized with the appointment of the new administrator, Shri Praful Patel.
Mr Patel has implemented several policies that disrupt and threaten the native community's way of life. Mr Patel's ill-advised easing of COVID restrictions has resulted in tiny Lakshadweep becoming COVID infested, whereas previously it was the only territory without COVID (0 cases in 2020).
Mr Patel has implemented and is designing multiple policies, including the Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation (LDAR) without the input of the local representatives or population. Mr Patel's proposed and implemented policies include;
- LDAR allows the government to pick any land for 'development' under its regulations; this policy leaves the island vulnerable to exploitation by major corporations and could catalyze the destruction of its unique flora and fauna through activities like mining/quarrying/highway building etc. These tiny islands (less than 5sq km) need to be protected under an environmental protection act.
- LDAR allows the government to take back land being used by the local indigenous community; 94% of the local population is Scheduled Tribes. LDAR takes India back several decades in meaningful land rights for the marginalized through its disenfranchisement.
- Mr Patel made unilateral changes to the COVID Standard Operating Procedure without consulting any academics or local representatives; this resulted in soaring COVID rates in Lakshadweep whereas previously 0 cases were reported
- The adminstration destroyed fishing sheds and tools of the local fishermen community under the Coast Guard policy, without giving them any notice or additional support to move their business elsewhere. Fishing is their primary source of income and this effectively plunges them into poverty and instability.
- Mr Patel removed the prohibition of alcohol and seeks to ban the consumption of beef/bull. This is a completely culturally insensitive policy that was implemented without consultation with local people and authorities. Mr Patel argues that he is revoking the ban on alcohol to increase tourism. Increasing tourism comes at the cost of environmental conservation and introduces problems such as pollution to these ecologically fragile islands. Alcohol consumption will also inevitably lead to an increase in crime rates in this peaceful region.
Lakshadweep's neighbour Kerala does not have a ban on beef and Gujarat has prohibited alcohol; this shows that each territory or state across India has rules and regulations to match their cultural values and heritage. Mr Patel is forcibly imposing his own values on a region whose culture he is completely ignorant of. This needs to change and administrators need to be cognizant to the needs of the population they are serving.
- Mr Patel implemented Goonda Act in a territory that reports a very low crime rate; this Act allows officials to imprison citizens for up to 1 year without trial. The necessity of this Act in such a peaceful region is questionable. Mr Patel also introduced new grounds of prosecution for vague offenses such as being a 'cruel person' and 'property grabber'. These rules could easily be misused by the authorities to curb the local population's freedom of expression and freedom to protest.
- Mr Patel approved the closing of 38 Anganwadi centres and dismissed over 190 islanders working in the education, agriculture, and government departments; No notice was given and no reason was cited for their dismissal. There are also unverified allegations that much of the available work (manual labor and technical jobs) are being outsourced to Gujarati workers at the expense of the local community. Such callous behaviour could plunge this tiny island into an economic crisis. Anganwadi centres are also the center of key health services (like maternal health care, child health care) in regions like Lakshadweep where health infrastructure is lacking.
- Mr Patel has ordered the closure of the government dairy farms across Lakshadweep. Workers have until the 31st of May to auction all animals under the supervision of a veterinarian. In addition to providing fresh milk, these farms are also a source of livelihood for many islanders. Gujarat-based Amul Corporation is set to sell their milk products in its place.
- Mr Patel has directed that Lakshadweep should no longer depend on Beypore port, Kerala, for freight transit, again without providing any rationale for this decision or consulting local elected officials. Cultural ties between Kerala and Lakshadweep is well documented and span centuries. Severing such strong cultural ties without any reason is unwarranted.
- Mr Patel has annulled several executive powers of the local panchayat across various domains including agriculture and education. The administrator has shown little regard for the voices of the local population and their elected officials. No single person should have unchecked powers of this extent.
An administrator's role in one of the Union Territories comes with immense executive powers and should be handled with care. All of the previous administrators have been civil servants who have completed IAS/IPS training. It is the people's humble request to reinstate someone with similar training and cultural sensitivity. Many of these policies are insensible and provoking. The activities of Mr Patel are authoritarian and unwarranted. Mr Patel's continued posting could result in Lakshadweep plunging into economic, communal and environmental despair.
Kindly review and repeal Mr Patel's policies, revoke the LDAR, remove Mr Patel from the Lakshadweep administration and reinstate a civil servant as the administrator once again.
Regards,
The people of Lakshadweep, India and the World
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