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” within the conduct of District Planning Committee (DPC) conferences throughout 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 had been supplied solely on twentieth September — only a day earlier than the assembly, as a substitute of the mandated 10 days. The Action Taken Report of the earlier DPC was additionally not equipped. Similar lapses, he mentioned, occurred in North & Middle Andaman, the place plan books had been handed over a day earlier than the assembly, and in Nicobar, the place neither plan books nor motion taken stories had been made accessible regardless of the DPC being scheduled for 29–30 September.
Mr. Ray reminded that beneath the Administration’s personal notification dated third September 2002, draft plans should be submitted to Zilla Parishads by June every year, adopted by well timed 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 mentioned.
The MP identified that regardless of clear instructions from the Chief Secretary in a coordination assembly on twelfth August to finish all DPCs earlier than thirty first August, and circulars issued by the planning division on twenty fourth July and 14th August, officers did not comply. He alleged that the Lt. Governor too didn’t take corrective motion, resulting in 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 acknowledged. He mentioned the boycott of the South Andaman DPC by PRI members was a direct end result of repeated violations, lack of time for deliberations, and non-submission of key stories.
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 known as for:
- Strict adherence to guidelines and procedures within 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 revive credibility.
Mr. Ray appealed for stronger supervision and common assessment of the Administration within the absence of a Legislative Assembly.
