Central Government left no stone unturned in developing Mini India, but the Free and Fearless lobby in the A&N Islands poses a hurdle: Citizens

TMI Bureau

Port Blair, Nov 22: According to the government's commitment to the socio-economic development of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, sufficient funds were allocated by Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari for the development of NH-4. The maximum funds were issued to the Port Blair Municipal Council (PBMC) by then Ministry of Urban Development, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, for the Smart City Port Blair Project and the Mega Project in Great Nicobar Islands. Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Lt. Governor of A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman of Islands Development Agency, expressed his gratitude to the Hon'ble Prime Minister and Hon'ble Union Minister of Urban Development for their vision, leadership, and guidance.

However, the remaining responsibilities fall on the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) officers, who play a critical role in the administration of our country. Their duties are vast and varied, encompassing the responsibility for ensuring the efficient functioning of the government system/machinery. Ironically, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, traditionally considered a paradise, civil servants find themselves tirelessly busy and confined to their chambers, bungalows, and inter-island trips in helicopters.

Islanders can recall some of their predecessors who conducted commendable work at the ground level, preferring to reach out to the general public, representatives, and visiting vantage points and streets to interact with people, understand the ground reality, and address issues through media interactions and press conferences. The citizens of these islands express a wish for such able and efficient officers to continue serving the Andaman Islands for development, even if their tenure lapses. However, such wishes for extensions often go unanswered.

Unfortunately, after the COVID-19 pandemic, citizens have not seen IAS officers or civil servants, including heads of departments, actively addressing public issues or paying heed to the media to tackle general grievances in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Consequently, various sections of the population have been compelled to take to the streets in protest against issues such as the poor condition of NH-4, frequent power outages, particularly lengthy blackouts, extensive curtailment of water supply during summers, improper college affiliations and hostel facilities, nepotism in sports selection, mismanagement in the health department, unemployment, the presence of wine shops in villages, non-implementation of 1/3rd pay for workers, North and Middle Andaman's PRI members protest on roads and the perceived inaccessibility of Government of India's various schemes to the last mile beneficiaries in these islands.

Despite facing these challenges, islanders are obligated to pay all charges and taxes, including pollution tests for personal two-wheelers and four-wheelers. IAS officers are involved in planning and overseeing various development activities, spanning infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation programs, all aimed at improving the quality of life for the people.

The presence of dilapidated quarters in and around South Andaman has become a concern, turning into dens for anti-social elements and enabling land grabbers to encroach upon land and obtain water and electric meter connections. IAS officers are responsible for managing land records, land acquisition, and land-related issues, ensuring proper recording and maintenance, which is crucial for property rights and land use planning.

Several schemes launched by the Government of India to support entrepreneurship are criticized by some political parties for not reaching the actual and relevant beneficiaries. IAS officers bear the responsibility for executing and monitoring various government programs and initiatives, ensuring their efficient implementation and the delivery of benefits to the intended recipients.

In terms of public relations, IAS officers should act as a bridge between the government and the public. They need to interact with the public, listen to grievances, and work to address concerns. Additionally, engaging with the media to provide information on government policies and activities is a crucial aspect of their role. The public altogether claims.