Andaman & Nicobar Islands Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray has once again sought urgent intervention from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), flagging a set of long-pending public issues during a meeting with the Additional Secretary (UT) in New Delhi. The MP also submitted a detailed reminder letter, urging the Ministry to extend the same priority to unresolved matters that it had accorded to earlier issues successfully addressed over the past year.
During the meeting, the MP conveyed appreciation for the Ministry’s support in clearing several long-standing demands. He highlighted that this continued responsiveness has directly benefited various communities across the Islands, strengthening public confidence in the administrative process. However, he emphasised that a significant number of citizen-centric issues remain pending and require timely redressal.
One of the key demands reiterated was the introduction of a domicile law to ensure employment opportunities for local residents based on the Local Residence Certificate, a model that has already been implemented in the Union Territory of Ladakh. The MP stressed that similar provisions would help safeguard opportunities for islanders in government recruitment processes.
He also renewed the call for fixing the upper age limit for Group-B (Non-Gazetted) and Group-C recruitment posts at 40 years, aligning it with Ladakh’s system. Currently, the UT Administration applies an upper age limit of 33 years for men and 38 years for women—standards the MP said were inconsistent with comparable Union Territory norms.
Another major push was for enhanced financial support from the Centre, including an increased UT budget under the Capital Head and a special grant of ₹5,000 crore. According to the MP, the additional funding is essential to upgrade infrastructure across rural and urban areas, including PRIs, drainage networks, bridges and municipal systems, especially as the Islands prepare for the 2027 Municipal and Panchayat elections.
The MP further pressed for the early constitution of an OBC Commission to evaluate the inclusion of several left-out communities such as Ranchi settlers, ex-servicemen settlers, Kerala settlers, Sri Lankan repatriates and fishermen settlers. The absence of a functioning commission, he noted, has stalled long-pending social justice assessments.
Another concern raised was the need to restore funds, powers and functionaries to Panchayati Raj Institutions and Municipal bodies. The MP argued that the withdrawals made by the UT Administration were in conflict with the spirit of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, which safeguard decentralised governance.
He also urged the Ministry to convene the long-overdue Advisory Meeting mandated under the 2016 Presidential notification. The meeting, which is required annually, has not taken place since 2018 despite the UT lacking its own Legislative Assembly.
Among other issues, the MP sought early approval for salary enhancement for MNREGA staff, compensation for farmers affected by sea ingress, as recommended by the Vivek Rae Committee, implementation of anti-defection provisions in municipal regulations, and a review of certain clauses in the Industrial Estate Policy 2025, which MSME units have contested.
The MP also reminded the Ministry of the UT Administration’s proposal for acquiring four passenger-cargo ships, each capable of carrying 500 passengers and 150 tons of cargo, sent to the MHA in October 2025.
According to officials present, the Additional Secretary assured the MP that all issues flagged are under active consideration and would be examined with due priority.
The MP’s office stated that he continues to pursue a methodical, result-oriented approach, raising public concerns through official correspondence, interventions in Parliament and persistent follow-up through personal meetings. This, they said, has contributed to resolving multiple public demands over the past year.
