Sri Vijaya Puram, November 11: The South Andaman District Planning Committee (DPC) began a two-day exercise on November 10 to review departmental priorities and finalise the District Action Plan for 2027-28, alongside the 2026-27 action plans of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The discussions aim to consolidate sector-specific proposals and recommendations into the district’s prioritised development plans.
The meeting, chaired by P. Ummer, Adhyaksh of Zilla Parishad, South Andaman, was held at the Zilla Parishad conference hall. It covered the South Andaman district, including the revenue area of Campbell Bay.
Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray, Secretary (Planning and Finance) Hemant Kumar, members of the Zilla Parishad, councillors of the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council, and officials of the Administration attended the meeting. Pramukhs of the Panchayat Samitis of Little Andaman, Prothrapur and Ferrargunj participated as special invitees.
Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad, South Andaman, Rajanish Kumar Singh, who also serves as the ex-officio secretary of the DPC, opened the proceedings by welcoming the participants and confirming that the required quorum was present. He placed the two action-plan exercises before the committee for discussion and finalisation.
Ummer outlined the objectives and significance of the planning exercise before the committee took up departmental proposals for the 2027-28 District Action Plan.
The first day’s deliberations covered a wide range of sectors, including education, higher education institutions, sports and youth affairs, animal husbandry and veterinary services, fisheries, disaster management and social welfare. Proposals from the departments of public works, rural development and Panchayati Raj, information technology, electricity, and civil supplies and consumer affairs were also discussed.
The institutions and departments represented in the discussions included Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM), Andaman College (ANCOL), Dr B. R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT), Tagore College and Law College.
The Member of Parliament, the committee chairperson and other DPC members put forward recommendations and suggestions on the departmental proposals. The committee discussed incorporating these inputs into the respective departments’ final plans to facilitate early implementation.
The first day’s meeting concluded with a vote of thanks. The two-day exercise also covers the prioritised 2026-27 action plans of PRIs, with the committee tasked with discussing and finalising the proposed plans.
