Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug 24: National Council Member and former State President of BJP, A&N Islands, Mr. Ajoy Bairagi, has urged the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, to take immediate and decisive action on two major issues causing hardship to Islanders—the deteriorating condition of healthcare services and the problems being faced by pickup van owners following the installation of a weighing bridge at Miletilak (Jirkatang).
Welcoming the Chief Secretary back to the Islands after nearly two decades, Mr. Bairagi said that his earlier experience as Deputy Commissioner in the Nicobar District and the erstwhile combined Andaman district gives him a deep understanding of the practical difficulties and administrative bottlenecks faced by the people of the Islands.
Mr. Bairagi highlighted the serious shortage of medicines, surgical supplies and specialist medical services at G.B. Pant Hospital, the principal referral hospital for Islanders requiring major medical treatment.
He said that patients are reportedly being asked to purchase medicines and even basic surgical materials from the market before treatment can be provided. This places an enormous financial burden on poor Islanders, particularly those who travel from remote Islands to Sri Vijaya Puram for treatment.
He further pointed out that hospitals in remote areas, from Diglipur to Campbell Bay, are also facing shortages of essential medicines. Even medicines required for patients suffering from diabetes and heart-related ailments are reportedly not consistently available.
Mr. Bairagi also expressed concern over the acute shortage of specialist doctors, particularly cardiologists and neurologists. He urged the Administration to treat the matter as a top priority and ensure timely availability of specialist services so that Islanders do not suffer or lose their lives because of delays in diagnosis and treatment.
Mr. Bairagi also raised the issue of pickup van owners, farmers and self-employed youths of North and Middle Andaman who are facing difficulties following the installation of a weighing bridge at Miletilak, Jirkatang.
He questioned the rationale behind selectively requiring small pickup vans, with carrying capacities of around 4–5 tonnes, to undergo weighing while larger commercial vehicles carrying substantially heavier loads are allegedly not subjected to similar requirements.
According to Mr. Bairagi, pickup van operators have been transporting vegetables, other perishable goods and ration items along the Andaman Trunk Road for decades. Many unemployed youths have purchased these vehicles through bank loans and depend on them for their livelihood.
He particularly objected to the reported Rs. 20,000 penalties imposed on pickup vans, describing it as excessive and placing an unfair financial burden on small operators.
Mr. Bairagi said that if weighing of vehicles is mandatory, a uniform and transparent system should be implemented across the Islands, rather than selectively enforcing the requirement at a single location. He also called for an examination of the role of the concerned authorities and private operators in the present arrangement.
Mr. Bairagi urged the Chief Secretary to intervene personally and issue appropriate directions to resolve both matters without delay.
He said that the Administration should avoid creating unnecessary difficulties for ordinary Islanders and instead focus on improving essential public services and protecting the livelihoods of small farmers, transporters and self-employed youths.
He expressed confidence that the Administration would take expeditious steps in the interest of the people of the Islands, in keeping with the principle of “Less Government and More Governance” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
