A tour of Little Andaman by Zilla Parishad Adhyaksh Prakash Adhikari has thrown light on a range of pressing issues, from rising unemployment to inadequate infrastructure in schools, hospitals and welfare schemes. During the visit, Adhikari interacted with local residents and institutions, pointing out that delays and neglect in essential sectors were adding to the hardships of islanders.
The most urgent concern flagged was unemployment among the youth. According to the Adhyaksh, the closure of the local quarry last month has worsened the problem, cutting off a vital source of livelihood for many families. He stated that reopening the quarry would provide immediate relief by creating jobs and supporting ancillary activities linked to construction. Residents of the island echoed the need for early resumption, noting that the absence of work opportunities has left many struggling.
Attention was also drawn to the condition of anganwadi centres, which continue to operate out of small sheds or rented houses. These arrangements, the Adhyaksh observed, compromise the quality of services provided to children, including nutrition and early education. The lack of dedicated infrastructure has been a long-standing issue in rural areas of the islands, and calls have been renewed for the administration to prioritize proper buildings for these centres.
Another area of concern was tourism. Adhikari suggested that the administration should promote rural tourism in Little Andaman, leveraging its natural beauty and cultural richness to generate sustainable livelihoods. With limited industrial activity, tourism remains one of the few avenues for economic growth in the islands. Locals have often highlighted that better promotion, infrastructure and training could help Little Andaman attract more visitors while creating new income streams for residents.
Healthcare and education were identified as sectors suffering from staff shortages. Hospitals and schools in Little Andaman reportedly do not have adequate personnel, limiting their ability to serve the population. Short-staffed hospitals struggle to manage routine health services, while schools face difficulties in delivering quality education. At Hut Bay Senior Secondary School, the absence of a reverse osmosis plant was highlighted as a serious problem, with students forced to depend on unsafe drinking water. The demand for an RO system reflects broader concerns about health and sanitation facilities in institutions across the islands.
Pending welfare cases also featured in the list of grievances. Old age pension applications have reportedly remained unresolved for the past six to seven months, leaving senior citizens without a crucial support mechanism. The delay has caused frustration among beneficiaries who rely on these pensions for their basic needs. Community leaders have urged the administration to speed up the processing of such cases to ensure timely disbursement of benefits.
The tour and its findings underline the multiple layers of challenges facing Little Andaman. On one hand, unemployment is rising due to closure of traditional sources of work, while on the other, essential services such as education, healthcare, and welfare are falling short of expectations. The gaps in infrastructure, from anganwadis operating in makeshift spaces to schools without clean drinking water, point to structural neglect that requires immediate attention.
As Little Andaman grapples with these challenges, the findings of the Zilla Parishad Adhyaksh’s tour serve as a reminder of the importance of regular reviews and community engagement. For residents, the hope is that such interventions will not remain limited to highlighting problems but will translate into concrete administrative action that delivers relief and creates sustainable opportunities.
