Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has sought central financial assistance of ₹144.61 crore to revive 79 stalled development projects targeting minority-concentrated areas across the island territory.
The request was made during a meeting at Parliament House with Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju. South Andaman Zilla Parishad Adhyaksha Prakash Adhikari was also present. Ray highlighted that several development proposals, though cleared at the local and administrative level, remain stalled due to funding constraints faced by the Union Territory Administration.
According to details shared during the meeting, the proposed projects cover key sectors such as healthcare, education, skill development, sports infrastructure, solar energy and women-centric facilities. The projects are planned across five identified blocks, Ferrargunj, Rangat, Mayabunder, Car Nicobar and Nancowry, areas identified for intervention under minority development planning.
Minority communities in Andaman and Nicobar
Under the Ministry of Minority Affairs’ framework, minorities are defined nationally as Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis. In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Christians and Muslims constitute the primary minority communities for the purpose of schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK).
According to Census data, Christians account for over one-fifth of the islands’ population, while Muslims form a smaller but significant proportion. PMJVK focuses on improving infrastructure and socio-economic indicators in areas where these minority populations are concentrated. Indigenous tribal communities, while facing separate developmental challenges, are covered under different constitutional and welfare frameworks and are not beneficiaries under PMJVK.
Ray informed the Union Minister that the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, following recommendations and approval by the State Level Committee, had completed all procedural requirements and uploaded detailed proposals for all 79 projects on the Ministry of Minority Affairs’ portal on November 24, 2025.
He pointed out that the Union Territory is currently facing an acute shortage of funds under the capital head of its annual budget, largely due to reduced allocations. This has limited the administration’s ability to undertake new development works using its own resources.
In this context, central assistance under PMJVK has been projected as the only viable route to move the projects forward. Ray noted that this is the first time the Andaman and Nicobar Administration has submitted proposals under the PMJVK framework, reflecting both the scale of the requirement and the administration’s increasing dependence on centrally sponsored schemes to bridge development gaps.
Officials familiar with the proposals said the projects are designed to create durable public infrastructure and strengthen social services, with an emphasis on long-term outcomes rather than short-term welfare measures. The interventions are expected to improve access to healthcare and education, enhance skill-building opportunities, promote renewable energy adoption and create dedicated support spaces for women in minority-concentrated areas.
Responding to the representations, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju assured that the proposals submitted by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration would be examined and considered in accordance with the scheme’s guidelines.
The development assumes significance as the islands continue to face structural challenges arising from geographic isolation, limited fiscal flexibility and higher infrastructure costs. With constrained capital expenditure capacity at the Union Territory level, the Centre’s decision on the funding request is expected to determine how quickly these long-pending projects move from proposal stage to execution across multiple island blocks.
