73rd anniversary of our glorious Independence Day: Much has been achieved but Islanders still suffering due to remoteness and Isolation

Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Aug 14: Andaman and Nicobar Islands are all set to celebrate 73rd anniversary of our glorious Independence Day and dozens of programmes have already been arranged by Administration and private bodies to celebrate the splendid day of Independence.
Looking behind, these Islands have achieved many milestones and witnessed some major changes, especially during past few years but remoteness and isolation are still pulling these Islands behind.
While in many sectors like Education, Law and Order, Civil Supplies etc these Islands are doing better than many other states of Mainland India, but in many other sectors like telecommunication, entertainment, health, transportation, shipping etc these Islands are lagging behind.
Most importantly demands of Islanders to have some kind of legislative body like Assembly or Pradesh Council for Andaman and Nicobar Islands are not even considered or discussed in National Level. Islanders are living under the shadow of Bureaucracy and are forced to accept whatever is decided for Islanders inside AC rooms. Sadly even after having one Member of Parliament, Two Zilla Parishad Adhyakshs and dozens and dozens of other high profile PRI members, the Administration hardly consults with them before taking any major decision, as alleged by the PRI members.
Many Islands have already seen protest against ban on quarry in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, there were also protest against removal and forceful transfer of daily wages employees.
Transportation especially in Nicobar Group of Islands still remains nightmare. Weekly flight for Car Nicobar started few years back also stopped without giving any good reason to the general public. Adding to the pain most of the vessels are unseaworthy or in pathetic shape, in which public are forced to commute.
Tele-communication, despite many announcement and claims, remain one of the biggest hiccups for Islanders. Internet is another sector where Andaman is still lagging far behind Mainland India, especially when many services of Andaman are being made online.
Call it insensitive approach of decision makers or lack of leadership quality among the local leaders of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the local population has no say in the entire development process, which is snail-pace.
Islanders can only hope that in coming day these Islands will get some daring local leaders who will have courage to negotiate with the Government and bring some kind of system of local governance in which local Islanders will have a say.