MP Urges Reassignment of Secretary RD/Panchayat Position from DC (South Andaman) to Enhance Governance

Tarun Karthick

Sri Vijaya Puram, 09 June 2025

Member of Parliament from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, has as soon as once more raised severe issues over the executive inefficiency arising from the twin cost held by the Deputy Commissioner (South Andaman), who additionally serves because the Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.

In a recent communication addressed to the Chief Secretary of the A&N Administration, Mr. Ray reiterated the issues he had earlier conveyed in a letter dated twenty second February 2025. He burdened that the Deputy Commissioner is already burdened with greater than 20 essential tasks associated to district administration, leaving restricted scope for devoted consideration to the essential Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

Highlighting the size of the duty, the MP identified that the division oversees 70 Gram Panchayats, 7 Panchayat Samities, and a couple of Zilla Parishads unfold throughout the Islands. According to Mr. Ray, the present association has considerably hampered the functioning of the RD Department since 2018, leading to weak coordination, stalled improvement initiatives, and delays in decision-making that adversely have an effect on rural communities.

He emphasised that efficient administration of RD and Panchayat affairs requires common engagement with elected PRI members and frequent area visits to distant places—from Campbell Bay within the south to Diglipur within the north—that are troublesome to undertake beneath a dual-charge setup.

Amid rising dissatisfaction amongst PRI representatives, the MP has strongly really useful that the cost of Secretary (RD/Panchayat) be reassigned to a full-time officer. He steered that the function be entrusted to the CEO of the Zilla Parishad (South Andaman) or one other appropriate IAS officer who shouldn’t be already burdened with a number of roles.

Mr. Ray’s newest intervention underlines the rising demand for centered administrative management to make sure well timed implementation of rural improvement tasks and to strengthen grassroots governance within the Islands. (Story Based on PR)