Sri Vijaya Puram, October 24: Fairness in electoral reservations and persistent gaps in healthcare, road connectivity and essential services in North and Middle Andaman have been raised by TSG Bhasker, Chairman of the Campaign Committee of the Andaman and Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC), in separate representations to the Election Commissioner for Union Territories and the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
In his representation to the Election Commissioner, Bhasker urged the authorities to adopt a fair, transparent and rational mechanism for reservation of seats in the forthcoming Municipal and Panchayat elections. He raised concerns over the proposed lottery system and requested that the election history of individual wards and Panchayats be considered before the draw of lots scheduled for October 28, 2026.
Bhasker argued that relying solely on a lottery without examining past election records may not always ensure equitable rotation of reserved seats. He pointed out that some constituencies have elected male candidates for two or more consecutive terms but may not necessarily receive priority under the proposed system, while other constituencies with different representation histories could be selected.
He proposed that wards and Panchayats where male candidates have been elected for two or more consecutive terms be given priority for reservation. He also suggested that constituencies remaining in the general category for two consecutive terms should automatically be considered for reservation in the subsequent cycle.
Bhasker said the reservation mechanism should provide equitable opportunities across constituencies rather than depend solely on the outcome of a lottery.
In a separate letter to the Chief Secretary, Bhasker highlighted a series of concerns affecting healthcare facilities, road infrastructure, transport connectivity and access to essential services in North and Middle Andaman.
Healthcare facilities at Diglipur featured prominently in his representation. Bhasker stated that the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Diglipur lacks essential diagnostic facilities, including blood testing, forcing patients to travel to Sri Vijaya Puram for investigations.
He called for CT scan and X-ray facilities at all CHCs, along with the appointment of qualified technicians, and recommended MRI facilities at district health centres. He also raised concerns over the non-functional generator at CHC Diglipur, stating that frequent power cuts were affecting patient care and hospital operations. He urged the administration to repair or replace the generator immediately to ensure an uninterrupted power supply.
The representation also sought regular visits by specialists to CHC Diglipur, Dr. R.P. Hospital at Mayabunder and CHC Rangat, particularly by gynaecologists. Bhasker said pregnant women are often compelled to travel to Sri Vijaya Puram for routine consultations and follow-up examinations, adding to their expenses and requiring difficult road and boat journeys.
Drawing attention to the condition of PHC Kishorinagar, he cited damaged walls and ceilings, leaking roofs and shortages of essential medicines and medical equipment. He called for a comprehensive inspection of primary health centres across North and Middle Andaman to assess infrastructure requirements.
Road connectivity was another major concern. Bhasker described NH-4 as a vital lifeline for residents of the two regions and expressed concern over its condition across several stretches. He urged the Chief Secretary to take up the matter with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to expedite pending works.
He also called for regular inter-island boat services with adequate passenger capacity to provide reliable transport alternatives for residents.
Highlighting the condition of village roads, Bhasker said deteriorating stretches were making daily travel difficult for patients, schoolchildren, employees and other commuters. He sought a comprehensive inspection by the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD) and adequate funding for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to improve rural roads.
The letter further raised concerns about the growing dependence on online systems for essential services, including fertiliser procurement, Fair Price Shop transactions and ship ticket bookings. Bhasker said poor internet connectivity, frequent power cuts and limited digital literacy were creating difficulties for villagers, who sometimes travel long distances only to find that online servers are not functioning.
He urged the administration to retain offline and counter-based facilities alongside digital systems so that residents are not denied essential services because of technical failures or connectivity problems.
Bhasker has urged the Chief Secretary to intervene personally and issue directions to the departments concerned to address the issues on a priority basis. The representations raise questions concerning both electoral representation and the delivery of essential public services, particularly for residents who depend on limited healthcare and transport facilities across the geographically dispersed islands.
