Andaman and Nicobar Holds First Janata Darshan for Public Grievance Redressal

The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has organised its first formal Janata Darshan at Lok Niwas, providing residents with an opportunity to present their grievances directly before Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dinesh Sharma and seek intervention from senior government officials. The programme, held on October 30, brought together more than 100 citizens, elected representatives, political party leaders and departmental officials, with discussions covering essential public services, infrastructure development and administrative reforms.

Conceived by the Lieutenant Governor, the initiative aims to strengthen citizen participation and improve administrative accountability. Residents raised concerns relating to healthcare, education, drinking water, electricity and land-related matters. Representatives of all political parties participated, while Lok Sabha MP Bishnu Pada Ray, Commissioner-cum-Secretaries Sachin Shinde and Chanchal Yadav, and other senior officials attended the programme.

During the hearing, Sharma announced Rs. 1 lakh financial assistance to a mother seeking treatment for her seriously ill son, in addition to Ayushman Bharat benefits. He also directed the Police to conduct raids following complaints about alleged narcotic activities along Seashore Road near Fishermen Village at Dairy Farm.

Addressing drinking water shortages, the administration approved the preparation of Detailed Project Reports for check dams at Guptapara and Burma Nallah, expected to create 13,000 million litres of additional storage capacity. Other announcements included a proposed 500-bed hospital costing Rs. 170 crore, a 50 MW LNG-based power plant at Hope Town by 2029 and rooftop solar installations in 11,618 households under PM Surya Ghar Yojana.

Connectivity measures include a 700-passenger, 1,300-tonne cargo vessel from Cochin Shipyard within two years, an LPG vessel by February 2027 and improved fuel storage capacity from 16 to 90 days. A 40–60 km stretch of National Highway 4 is expected to become motorable by February 2027.

The administration also announced Rs. 144.13 crore for Panchayati Raj Institutions, Rs. 18 crore for the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council, an 84-bed working women's hostel at Rangat and an old-age home at Diglipur. Tourism, healthcare, education and administrative reforms also featured in the announcements.

Importantly, Sharma directed district-level grievance hearings every 15 days or at least monthly, seeking resolution of complaints at the grassroots. The administration's existing online grievance portal will complement the initiative, while proposals for video-conferencing facilities could improve access for residents of remote islands.