Chief Secretary, ANI Inaugurates Newly Constructed Panchayat Bhawan at Wandoor Village

Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 23: Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, inaugurated the newly constructed Panchayat Bhawan at Wandoor village in a ceremony attended by senior officials and local residents. Accompanying the Chief Secretary were Mr. Arjun Sharma, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman; Mr. Prijith Rekh, Chief Engineer, APWD; and Mr. Thej Bahadur, Superintending Engineer, APWD.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar emphasized the pivotal role of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in grassroots governance and rural development. He highlighted the importance of proactive participation by Panchayats in identifying and addressing the needs of the community, ensuring effective implementation of government schemes, and promoting transparency and accountability.
The Chief Secretary stated that the Panchayat Bhawan is a significant step towards strengthening decentralized governance and bringing administration closer to the people. He urged the Panchayat members to utilize the new facility to foster inclusive development, address local grievances effectively and serve as a hub for community engagement and empowerment.
He further stressed the importance of Panchayats in enabling participatory planning and implementation of schemes related to rural infrastructure, sanitation, health, education, and livelihood generation. The Chief Secretary also encouraged local bodies to leverage technology for better service delivery and data-driven decision-making and underlined the critical role of PRIs in fostering sustainable development at the grassroots level. He assured the Administration’s full support in capacity-building initiatives and ensuring resources for effective functioning of the Panchayats.
The new Panchayat Bhawan, constructed by the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD), features modern amenities designed to improve efficiency and accessibility of the Panchayat administration. With the inauguration of this state-of-the-art facility, the Wandoor Panchayat is set to play a more dynamic role in enhancing the quality of life for residents and contributing to the socio-economic growth of the region.