Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 21 December 2022
Mr. Keshav Chandra, Chief Secretary, Andaman and Nicobar Administration has advised the Senior Officers viz. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Director General of Police, Commissioner-cum-Secretaries, Secretaries, Heads of Departments, all Field Officers (DCs/SPs/ACs/SDPOs/DFOs/Tehsildars/BDOs etc.) and all other Govt. Officers to fix the time between 3:00 Pm to 4:00 Pm on all working days for meeting the general public to redress their grievances.
In the Circular issued the Chief Secretary also mentioned that it should be ensured that no official meetings/inspections are scheduled from 3:00 to 4:00 Pm unless it is entirely unavoidable.
Many residents of the Islands have hailed the Chief Secretary for the circular advising officers to fix a time to meet the general public to redress their grievances. Further, many people have also demanded the resumption of the Public Hearing at Raj Nivas which used to be regularly conducted earlier.
Residents from various remote Islands of the Nicobar Group have demanded that Video Conferencing/Phone Conference sessions should be arranged with senior officials on demand from the residents of the remote islands during the public hearing timing. It is difficult for the residents of various Islands of Nicobar District to visit Car Nicobar and Port Blair just to meet the Senior Officials.
Earlier, Senior Officers used to meet the public between 03:00 Pm to 4:00 Pm every working day, but the practice was discontinued by most officers over time. The circular by Chief Secretary was welcomed by all sections of the society.