Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address what he described as critical concerns of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In a meeting held in Parliament on Thursday, Ray pressed for urgent measures on employment, infrastructure, and connectivity, submitting a detailed memorandum to the Prime Minister for immediate consideration.
The MP emphasised the need for a domicile law in the Islands, proposing 100 percent job reservation for local residents. He also called for an increase in the upper age limit for recruitment to 40 years for islanders, citing the example of Ladakh Union Territory where similar provisions have been implemented. According to Ray, such steps are vital to safeguard employment opportunities for the youth of the Islands, who often face limited job options due to geographical constraints and smaller market size.
The issue of budget allocation was another key demand raised during the meeting. At present, only ₹162 crore has been allocated under the Capital Head for 40 departments, an amount Ray described as grossly inadequate. He argued that the current funding falls short of meeting urgent needs across critical sectors such as roads, electricity, water supply, healthcare, Panchayati Raj institutions, and urban development. The MP sought a substantial increase in allocation, contending that without enhanced capital investment, infrastructure growth in the Union Territory will continue to lag behind other parts of the country.
Road connectivity also featured prominently in his submission. Ray urged the Prime Minister to approve relaxation of population ratio norms under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV). Given the dispersed and sparsely populated nature of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, he argued, applying uniform population thresholds for road projects disadvantages the region and leaves remote communities without vital connectivity. He insisted that customised criteria were needed for the Islands to ensure equitable development.
In his memorandum, Ray highlighted that these demands were not mere administrative requests but urgent corrective measures necessary for the long-term welfare of the people. He stressed that the Union Territory must be brought on par with the mainland in terms of opportunity and development, pointing out that its residents face unique challenges due to distance, resource constraints, and high dependence on central support.
The MP has previously submitted multiple letters to the Union Government outlining the same issues, but by meeting the Prime Minister directly, he signalled the urgency of immediate intervention. The memorandums referenced in his representation included earlier submissions made in July this year, covering job reservations, recruitment age relaxation, and budget allocation concerns. His reiteration of these points in person reflects growing pressure to secure commitments from the Centre.
For Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the question of domicile law and job reservation has been debated for years, with youth organisations and civil society groups consistently demanding protective legislation. Without such measures, local candidates are at a disadvantage compared to mainland applicants in both government and private sector recruitment. Similarly, the call for enhanced budget allocation echoes recurring demands from island administrations, who often cite infrastructure deficits as the main bottleneck for development.
Ray’s intervention also brings renewed attention to rural connectivity, particularly in far-flung islands where communities remain cut off due to inadequate roads. PMGSY, designed to provide all-weather rural road connectivity, has often been flagged as difficult to implement in the Islands under current norms. By seeking relaxation of population ratio thresholds, the MP has sought to tailor national schemes to the Islands’ geographical realities.
The meeting in New Delhi marks one of Ray’s most direct appeals to the Prime Minister in recent months, consolidating his earlier written submissions into a single detailed memorandum. While no immediate commitments were announced, the submission places the spotlight on Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ long-standing concerns of employment security, infrastructure gaps, and equitable access to central development schemes.
For the Islands, where aspirations for greater autonomy in employment and stronger financial support from the Centre remain high, the outcomes of this representation will be watched closely in the coming months.
