Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 23 September 2025
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has strongly criticised the Administration for what he termed as “grave neglect” in the conduct of District Planning Committee (DPC) meetings across all three districts of the Union Territory.
The MP expressed deep anguish that the South Andaman DPC, scheduled between 22–24 September, was boycotted by members after draft plan books were provided only on 20th September — just a day before the meeting, instead of the mandated 10 days. The Action Taken Report of the previous DPC was also not supplied. Similar lapses, he said, occurred in North & Middle Andaman, where plan books were handed over a day before the meeting, and in Nicobar, where neither plan books nor action taken reports were made available despite the DPC being scheduled for 29–30 September.
Mr. Ray reminded that under the Administration’s own notification dated 3rd September 2002, draft plans must be submitted to Zilla Parishads by June each year, followed by timely notices, publication, and submission of the finalized plan to the Lt. Governor by October for onward transmission to the Ministry of Home Affairs. “These established rules have been blatantly ignored, undermining the rights of Panchayati Raj Institutions and making a mockery of democratic procedures,” he said.
The MP pointed out that despite clear directions from the Chief Secretary in a coordination meeting on 12th August to complete all DPCs before 31st August, and circulars issued by the planning department on 24th July and 14th August, officials failed to comply. He alleged that the Lt. Governor too did not take corrective action, leading to a “complete breakdown of leadership and supervision.”
“This is not just negligence; it is a deliberate attempt to weaken the faith of islanders in democratic institutions and tarnish the image of the Modi Government in these strategically important islands,” Mr. Ray stated. He said the boycott of the South Andaman DPC by PRI members was a direct outcome of repeated violations, lack of time for deliberations, and non-submission of key reports.
As the lone MP representing the three backward districts of the Islands, Mr. Ray urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene. He called for:
- Strict adherence to rules and procedures in the conduct of DPCs.
- Extension of the deadline for submission of RE 2025–26 and BE 2026–27 proposals.
- Fixing accountability on erring officers and initiating corrective measures to restore credibility.
Mr. Ray appealed for stronger supervision and regular review of the Administration in the absence of a Legislative Assembly.
