Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 09 June 2025
Member of Parliament from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, has once again raised serious concerns over the administrative inefficiency arising from the dual charge held by the Deputy Commissioner (South Andaman), who also serves as the Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.
In a fresh communication addressed to the Chief Secretary of the A&N Administration, Mr. Ray reiterated the concerns he had earlier conveyed in a letter dated 22nd February 2025. He stressed that the Deputy Commissioner is already burdened with more than 20 critical responsibilities related to district administration, leaving limited scope for dedicated attention to the crucial Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
Highlighting the scale of the responsibility, the MP pointed out that the department oversees 70 Gram Panchayats, 7 Panchayat Samities, and 2 Zilla Parishads spread across the Islands. According to Mr. Ray, the current arrangement has significantly hampered the functioning of the RD Department since 2018, resulting in weak coordination, stalled development initiatives, and delays in decision-making that adversely affect rural communities.
He emphasized that effective management of RD and Panchayat affairs requires regular engagement with elected PRI members and frequent field visits to remote locations—from Campbell Bay in the south to Diglipur in the north—which are difficult to undertake under a dual-charge setup.
Amid growing dissatisfaction among PRI representatives, the MP has strongly recommended that the charge of Secretary (RD/Panchayat) be reassigned to a full-time officer. He suggested that the role be entrusted to the CEO of the Zilla Parishad (South Andaman) or another suitable IAS officer who is not already burdened with multiple roles.
Mr. Ray’s latest intervention underlines the growing demand for focused administrative leadership to ensure timely implementation of rural development projects and to strengthen grassroots governance in the Islands. (Story Based on PR)