The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has recognised two Panchayat leaders from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for their exceptional role in strengthening grassroots democracy and driving community-led development. At a national felicitation ceremony held in New Delhi on 14 August, Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Calicut, T Yaghambaram, and Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Nabagram, Pratima Roy, were honoured for their contributions to rural governance in the Islands. The event was part of the Independence Day 2025 celebrations, where leaders from across the country were brought together to highlight the growing importance of Panchayati Raj Institutions in shaping development.
The awards were conferred by Union Minister of Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, at a ceremony held at the Airport Authority of India Officers’ Institute. According to officials, the recognition was meant to underscore the crucial role played by elected representatives at the grassroots in implementing development initiatives, encouraging participatory decision-making, and ensuring that rural communities benefit from government schemes in a sustainable manner.
The two Pradhans from Andaman and Nicobar Islands were chosen for their initiatives that went beyond routine administration. Their work has been described as a model of effective governance that combines leadership with inclusivity, with a strong emphasis on addressing the needs of local communities. For Calicut Panchayat, leadership focused on improving essential amenities, facilitating livelihood opportunities, and ensuring that village-level institutions function with accountability. Nabagram Panchayat under Pratima Roy was recognised for integrating women-led governance practices and strengthening mechanisms for collective decision-making.
This national-level recognition is significant for the Union Territory, which often struggles with geographical isolation and resource constraints that make grassroots governance challenging. The acknowledgement of its Panchayat leaders signals the growing attention towards island-specific governance models that balance development with sustainability. For the Directorate of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies (RD, PRIs and ULBs), which congratulated the awardees, the event was also a validation of its efforts to encourage effective local self-governance. The Directorate highlighted that such honours bring visibility to the Islands’ governance practices and can motivate other Panchayats to innovate and adopt people-centric approaches.
The felicitation also comes at a time when Panchayati Raj Institutions across the country are being strengthened to implement flagship government programmes in areas such as rural infrastructure, sanitation, livelihoods, and women empowerment. The Islands, with their unique demographic and geographic realities, present different challenges in delivering services, and leadership at the Panchayat level plays a critical role in bridging these gaps.
The acknowledgement of women leadership is particularly significant in the case of Nabagram Panchayat. It reflects the emphasis on women-led governance, one of the themes the Ministry has been promoting in recent years. This emphasis aims to ensure that rural development is participatory and reflective of the needs of all sections of society. For Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where tribal, coastal, and migrant populations coexist, participatory models of governance are vital for equitable progress.
The awards not only honour individual achievements but also represent a symbolic recognition of the Islands’ Panchayat system as a whole. Local leaders here often contend with issues such as connectivity, resource scarcity, and environmental vulnerabilities, yet continue to play a pivotal role in implementing grassroots governance effectively. With the recognition in Delhi, the Islands’ Panchayats have been given a national platform that may inspire further innovation and collaboration.
