The Centre's campaign to curb black marketing effective: Paswan

PORT BLAIR: Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ramvilas Paswan today said the Centre was very effective in curbing black marketing of food items.

"To curb black marketing of food items like dal, the campaign run by the Ministry has been very effective and state governments have been strictly directed to take stern action against black marketers and hoarder," Paswan told PTI here.

The minister, on a two-day visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, appreciated the effort of the administration for turning Neil Island as the first 'smoke -free' Island in the county.

The entire households, numbering approximately 1000 in the Islands, have been given LPG connection and no firewoods or kerosene are used for cooking, he pointed out.

Paswan reiterated his demand for reservation for scheduled castes in the private sector.

Since the government departments are outsourcing jobs to private sector, the demand is that private sector should also provide reservation for scheduled castes, he asserted.

In this context, the LJP leader said, the A&N Islands administration should also provide reservation for the Scheduled Caste for employment, particularly for people who had settled here since 1950.

Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' as an effort which deserves national acclaim and appreciation, Paswan said the 'Abhiyan' set example for the people of the Nation to emulate.

He said the initiatives taken by A&N islands, particularly the city of Port Blair and tourist places like Havelock and Neil are examples of cleanliness, preservation of environment.

The Minister also appreciated the Tourism booklet 'Hello Andaman'.