Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, May 05: Block Congress Diglipur held a public meeting yesterday here. Mr. Mahadev Gain, Zilla Parishad Up-Adhyaksh, N & M Andaman led a scathing attack on the administration against the recent Circular/Order issued by the Director RD/panchayat in pertinence of the curtailment of power of the Pradhans of the Gram Panchayats within its purview.
According to Mr. Gain, the Pradhans will now have to work under the respective Panchayat Secretaries and the BDOs. Bereft of powers, the Pradhans will not be able engage DRMs, grant leaves etc, he lamented. He further alleged that it is an attempt to undermine the power of the Pradhans and undeniably the Pradhans will not be able to deliver on their promises or live upto the expectations of the people.
Echoing the same tune, Mr. Samar Paul, Block General Secretary also criticized the administration’s Order which, in his opinion, only will leave the PRIs in a demoralized state. Sounding aggressive, Mr. Mahadev Gain said that if this Order isn’t immediately rescinded, the INC will be compelled to hold a massive and widespread agitation in all over A & N Islands on 10th of this month. Mr. Samar Paul further alleged that the service rendered by the revenue functionaries of the Tehsil Office Diglipur is quite unsatisfactory and urges the local administration to look into the matter so that the common man especially the senior citizens aren’t harassed in any way. INC’s State OBC Chairman Mr. Sushil Mondal told about the rundown condition of the road especially from Ramnagar to Kalipur while the extension of Stone Quarry Permit/Tender has been shelved for months together, he alleged. He also demanded for a Port at Diglipur and urged the administration to take initiatives in the direction so as to early operate the airport at Shibpur, Diglipur.
Mr. Madai Murshid, District President (INC), N & M Andaman, excoriating the Order of the Director RD/panchayat, appealed to the PRIs and the populace of entire Diglipur to join the protest against this undemocratic Order. Mr. Murshid also said that it has been three years since the diversion & sub-division of land was not done and as a result, the public are suffering a lot.
He also highlighted the issue of earth-cutting permission which is of much rigmarole and the general public are falling prey to the delaying tactics, he alleged. Mr. P.R. Singaram, Pradhan Gram Panchayat Subhashgram, said in his address, that he has undertaken a number of developmental works which will be accomplished by him within his tenure and will continue to work and devote time to live upto the expectations of the people of Subhashgram. BCC Diglipur President, Mr. Sunil Pramanick, criticized the failures of BJP led Govt. and pointed out that the govt. has failed to deliver especially on employment creation and checking price rise on essential commodities. He further said that, both the MP of A & N Islands Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma and INC State President Mr. Rangolal Halder who are on their mettle are working hard to create jobs for the unemployed youths of A & N Islands.
