Sri Vijaya Puram, June 22: BJP national spokesperson and author Tuhin Sinha linked the growth of locally driven enterprises and community-led initiatives in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of the Orange Economy, while also pushing back against recent criticism by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that economic development in India is increasingly benefiting only a handful of large business groups.
Speaking at the Andaman Ideas Summit 2026, Sinha said island-based initiatives that create value through creativity, communication, innovation and local participation reflect the broader principles underpinning the Orange Economy and demonstrate how local communities can become active participants in economic growth.
“First of all, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to The Wave Andaman on successfully completing nearly one year of operations. I have witnessed this journey from the very beginning,” Sinha said.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s emphasis on the Orange Economy, he said the platform represented an example of how local communities can take ownership of development narratives.
“As I have often said, Prime Minister Modi frequently speaks about the Orange Economy. The Wave Andaman is a living example of that vision, where local people have taken the lead,” Sinha said.
Without naming specific comments in detail, Sinha said recent allegations that economic growth under the current government was being concentrated in the hands of a few large corporate groups ignored the emergence of thousands of local and community-led enterprises across the country.
He argued that initiatives such as The Wave Andaman demonstrated how entrepreneurship, innovation and economic opportunity were increasingly being created at the grassroots level.
According to Sinha, the Orange Economy model is built around empowering individuals, creators, local businesses, innovators and communities rather than relying exclusively on large industrial investments.
The Orange Economy broadly refers to economic activity generated through creativity, culture, media, innovation, intellectual property and digital content. The concept has gained prominence globally as governments increasingly seek to leverage creative industries to generate employment, foster entrepreneurship and preserve cultural identity.
Sinha said examples emerging from regions such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands illustrated how innovation and enterprise can flourish outside traditional economic centres and contribute to broader national development.
His remarks came as The Wave Andaman completed one year of operations. Founded as a digital platform focused on issues and developments concerning the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it has emerged as a growing forum for discussions on governance, development, tourism, environment, culture and strategic affairs.
Over the past year, the platform has expanded its digital footprint significantly. According to data shared by the organisation, it now attracts more than 60,000 monthly visitors, has built a cumulative readership exceeding three lakh users and recorded Instagram reach of over two million.
Sinha’s comments highlighted the increasing recognition being accorded to locally driven media and digital initiatives as contributors to the broader creative economy. He said such platforms play an important role in ensuring that ideas, concerns and aspirations emerging from geographically remote regions receive wider visibility and engagement.
As policymakers, industry leaders and stakeholders gathered to discuss the future of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sinha’s remarks reinforced the view that community-led entrepreneurship, creative enterprise and local innovation can become important pillars of economic development and social progress.
