Lakshadweep MP writes to Satheesan, seeks Kerala’s support for healthcare and connectivity improvements

Lok Sabha MP from Lakshadweep, Muhammad Hamdullah Sayeed, wrote a letter to Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan, requesting support and cooperation in providing advanced healthcare facilities to the people of the island; Accommodation facilities to stay with them in case of emergencies and disasters; Get better ship service options from Beypore to the island and help prevent drug smuggling to Lakshadweep.

Mr. Sayeed is the president of the Lakshadweep Pradesh Congress Committee and the sole Lok Sabha representative of the union territory. Highlighting the unique and loving relationship spanning generations between the people of Lakshadweep and Kerala, Mr. Sayeed sought assistance from the State in providing timely, affordable and quality super specialty healthcare services to the people of the island.

He noted that the islanders routinely traveled to Kerala for advanced treatment (oncology, cardiology, neurology, nephrology and emergency care), mostly at government hospitals in Ernakulam, Kalamassery, Kottayam and Kozhikode, and many were experiencing serious financial difficulties.

Mr. Sayeed requested the Chief Minister to set up a dedicated helpdesk or nodal facilitation center to help coordinate admission, referral and treatment in these hospitals and ensure that the State provides adequate hospital beds and ICU capacity for Lakshadweep patients.

temporary accommodation

The letter also raised the issue of temporary accommodation for islanders (students, workers, patients and tourists) in case of floods, hurricanes and other emergencies when shipping is disrupted. Mr. Sayeed noted that most of the Lakshadweep administration’s guest houses in Kerala have been handed over to private operators and are no longer easily accessible.

Mr. Sayeed also raised the issue of connectivity between the islands and the Beypore port in Kerala, which plays a key role in transporting essential goods, food supplies and commercial cargo to the islands.

He sought Mr. Satheesan’s intervention on strengthening the port infrastructure to enable restoration of the long-discontinued Beypore-Lakshadweep cruise ship service, besides improving cargo handling, saying it was causing hardship for students, patients and senior citizens in Lakshadweep.

He requested the state to coordinate with the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Lakshadweep administration on this front.

Finally, praising Kerala for the state’s anti-narcotics campaign, Operation Toofan, Mr. Sayeed demanded that the scope of the campaign be extended to Lakshadweep as well. He said concerns have increased in recent years about attempts by drug trafficking networks to smuggle narcotics into the islands by sea.

intelligence sharing

He called for stronger intelligence sharing between the Kerala Police, Excise Department, Coastal Police and Port Authorities to dismantle smuggling networks smuggling drugs into the islands.

He also suggested that the islands be included in Kerala’s proposed port-to-port cargo and passenger connectivity initiative as it would strengthen maritime connectivity, boost tourism and trade and support wider economic development of the islands.

Mr. Sayeed expressed confidence that the new UDF government will continue Kerala’s “long-standing tradition of cooperation and support to the island community” and welcome the Prime Minister’s demands.