Lakshwadeep, just hearing the word drives us to the majestic beauty of this island. The enchanting beaches are here to blow up our minds. But this time it isn’t the beauty of islands that has brought this union territory in limelight. It’s the protest by residents of Lakshawadeep against the new administrative reforms. #Save Lakshwadeep has been trending on social media platforms but it’s not something relating to nature but government reforms.
Who is administrator of Lakshwadeep?
Praful Patel (former BJP leader) has been appointed since 2020. He is also the governor of Daman and Diu. He was former home minister in Gujarat government. He is also the administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (The newly merged union territories). A slew of arguable choices taken by Patel have conjointly ensured that India’s smallest union territory, that heretofore enjoyed pride of place on travel glossies for its tranquil beaches, spectacular sunsets, beautiful marine life and sumptuous reef, leapt to the front pages of national dailies for rising COVID cases, disruption of communal harmony and a harsh law which reminds of infamous Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), Prevention of Terrorism. Act (POTA).
What are the new administrative reforms?
The heart of the matter is the draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation 2021 (LDAR), which provides the administrator powers to relocate islanders from their property, for city planning or any developmental activity. Also, the hindrance of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA), introduced in Jan 2021, offers the govt. power to detain any individual withoutany public disclosure for a period of up to1 year. The draft bill offers arbitrary, unbridled powers to the govt. To interfere with islander’s right to possess and retain their property.
- The draft panchayat notification says a member with more than 2 kids is disqualified from being a member. “No person shall be a member of a Gram panchayat or continue as such who… has more than 2 kids,” the draft rule says. This has created panic among the residents regarding their ability to contest polls if they do not match this criterion.
- The bill isn’t the sole reason. There are alternative norms that Patel has brought in together with diluting the COVID protocols of Lakshadweep. Earlier, the quality procedure of the island needed strict quarantine of fourteen days for getting into the island. However Patel diluted the norms, now RT-PCR negative certificate is enough to enter Lakshadweep that has created tension among the islanders.
- The measures by Patel that have run into an issue embrace a ban on beef within the Muslim-dominated Lakshadweep, introduction of a Goonda Act although the rate on the islands is incredibly low.
- According to the National Crime Records Bureau (2019) report, the island had zero cases of major crimes such as rape, murder, kidnapping. The number of violent incidents reported in the island was 16 in 2019 and 13 cases related to liquor and drug-related cases According to National Crime Records Bureau data, only 121 cases of crime were registered on the islands in 2017, 86 in 2018, 186 in 2019 and 89 in 2020.
When did this start?
Ever since the bill was introduced in January, there were protests on the island against the contentious provisions of the bill. People alleged that the administrator has made these “reforms” without consulting the general public or elected officers.
What’s people’s point of view?
The people protest that the new rules and notifications were brought without consulting public leaders and elected officials and they consider it death of democracy on island. Activists and native leaders across party lines are condemning Patel’s “autocratic style” of governance. Many wrote to the Centre demanding Patel be removed from office and his proposals reviewed. Some things that were not satisfactory were the descended of island from being COVID -19 free region to developing more than 6800 cases in a year. Also the mandatory quarantine of the island for travelers was done away with within the leadership of Praful Khoda Patel. They expressed their concern that Patel’s motive was to destroy ancient life and cultural diversity of the folks of Lakshadweep.
Author Bio:
Urvi Shah is a CA Aspirant from Nagpur, Maharashtra. She is a budding writer and an avid reader. She loves to craft her imagination into words. She calls herself a wordsmith. She is an amateur writer and poet. With observation mode always on, she spends her time scribbling her thoughts in diary. She is also a beginner flautist and a bibliophile. She loves exploring and discovering herself. She considers her family as biggest inspiration for writing.
