Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 17 December 2025
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, today met Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mr. Kiren Rijiju at Parliament House and sought financial assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) for implementing key development projects in the Union Territory.
Mr. Prakash Adhikari, Adhyaksha, Zilla Parishad, South Andaman District, was also present during the meeting.
During the interaction, the MP apprised the Union Minister about the urgent requirement of Central funding for 79 development project proposals submitted by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, with a total estimated cost of ₹144.61 crore. The proposed projects span crucial sectors including health, education, skill development, sports infrastructure, solar energy and women’s centres, and are aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of minority communities.
The projects pertain to five blocks of the Islands—Ferrargunj, Rangat, Mayabunder, Car Nicobar and Nancowry—identified as priority areas for focused development under the PMJVK scheme.
Mr. Ray informed the Minister that the UT Administration, after due recommendation and approval of the State Level Committee, had uploaded complete details of all 79 projects on the Ministry of Minority Affairs’ portal on November 24, 2025, in compliance with the prescribed procedure for sanction.
Highlighting the financial constraints faced by the Administration, the MP stated that an acute shortage of funds under the Capital Head, caused by reduced budgetary allocations, had prevented the UT Administration from taking up these works on its own. In this backdrop, Central assistance under the PMJVK scheme has been sought, which currently remains the only viable source for implementing these essential development initiatives. He further noted that this is the first time such proposals have been submitted by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration under the PMJVK for consideration.
Responding to the submission, Union Minister Mr. Kiren Rijiju assured that the proposals received by the Ministry would be examined and considered positively.
