SRI VIJAYA PURAM | OCTOBER 30, 2026 | DWEEP TULIKA | ANDAMAN NEWS

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Andaman and Nicobar Islands President Dr Arun K. Mallik has rated the recently held Janata Darshan organised by Lieutenant Governor Dr Dineshwar Sharma 7 out of 10, welcoming the revival of the public grievance programme while expressing concern that not everyone invited had an adequate opportunity to present their grievances directly.

Addressing a press briefing, Dr Mallik thanked the Lieutenant Governor for restarting the programme, which he said had remained discontinued since around 2020. He stated that he had previously requested its revival through a formal email and welcomed the decision to bring the public interaction mechanism back.

He also appreciated the invitation extended to nationally recognised political parties established in the islands, including the AAP, to participate in the programme and present their views.

Public Participation: The Main Concern

According to Dr Mallik, approximately 100 members of the public had been invited to the Janata Darshan. However, he said only a limited number reportedly got the opportunity to interact directly with the Lieutenant Governor and explain their grievances.

He observed that several attendees were dissatisfied because they could not fully express their concerns within the available time.

Mallik said he had requested the Lieutenant Governor to ensure that everyone invited to the programme gets an opportunity to be heard, rather than allowing only a few cases to receive direct attention.

He suggested limiting each session to around 50 people so that sufficient time could be given to individual grievances. Alternatively, he proposed holding the programme more frequently, including on a weekly basis.

During the briefing, he also recommended that the Lieutenant Governor consider conducting Janata Darshan at least once a month, with a manageable number of participants and adequate time for each person.

AAP Raises Illegal Construction and CRZ Concerns

Dr Mallik said he had also raised concerns about alleged illegal constructions across the islands.

He alleged that ordinary residents often face immediate demolition action over construction-related violations, whereas constructions allegedly involving wealthy and politically connected individuals do not always face similar action.

He called for scrutiny and appropriate action against such constructions, irrespective of the individuals involved.

He also raised concerns over alleged violations of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms and their implications for the islands' environment.

According to Mallik, the Lieutenant Governor advised him to submit a written representation on the issues. He said he intended to write to the Lieutenant Governor seeking action on the matters raised.

Mallik Gives Janata Darshan 7 Out of 10

When asked by a reporter to rate the Janata Darshan on a scale of 1 to 10, Dr Mallik gave it a score of 7.

Explaining the rating, he said the programme itself was a positive initiative and that he had initially considered giving it a higher score. However, he reduced the rating because of concerns over public participation.

He emphasised that the programme was meant primarily to provide ordinary residents with an opportunity to interact directly with the Lieutenant Governor and seek the resolution of their grievances.

Mallik maintained that the opportunity should not be limited to a small number of people when a much larger group has been invited.

He also praised the Lieutenant Governor for giving equal consideration to participating nationally recognised political parties and said he believed the administration was willing to hear different viewpoints.

Dweep Tulika Raises Question on Hospital Improvements and MRI Facility

During the question-and-answer session, a reporter from Dweep Tulika asked Dr Mallik what improvements he had observed in the hospital under the present administration.

Responding, Mallik said he had visited the hospital approximately two days earlier and observed changes in patient waiting arrangements. He said that previously patients had to stand in queues, whereas they were now able to sit while waiting for their turn.

He described this as an immediate improvement for patients.

However, the discussion also brought attention to the hospital's MRI facility. When the reporter raised the issue of the MRI machine being non-functional, Mallik acknowledged that the machine was not working and said efforts to repair it had been initiated.

He explained that during the Janata Darshan, administrative heads and senior officials were present and that the Lieutenant Governor was issuing instructions to concerned officials on issues raised during the programme.

Mallik's remarks indicate that, while he observed certain improvements in hospital arrangements, the MRI machine remained an unresolved concern at the time of the briefing.

The exact technical reason for the machine's non-functioning, the repair timeline and the date on which the facility will resume services were not established during the interaction.

AAP President Advises Public to Approach Departmental Authorities

Dr Mallik also supported the Lieutenant Governor's suggestion that every public grievance should not immediately be brought to the Raj Niwas.

He advised residents to first approach the concerned departmental Director or senior officer. If the matter remains unresolved, they could escalate it to the Department Secretary, Commissioner-cum-Secretary or Chief Secretary before approaching the Lieutenant Governor through Janata Darshan.

He referred to the availability of senior administrative officials for public interaction between 3 pm and 4 pm and encouraged residents to use these channels to pursue their grievances.

He said that the Lieutenant Governor appeared committed to hearing different political parties and members of the public without discrimination.

A Positive Initiative, but Public Access Remains the Test

Dr Mallik described the revival of Janata Darshan as a welcome step and expressed confidence that the administration could improve public grievance redressal.

However, his central concern remained whether everyone invited would receive sufficient time to explain their problems and interact directly with the Lieutenant Governor.

His rating of 7 out of 10 reflects this distinction: appreciation for the revival of the programme and the administrative response, alongside reservations about the extent of public participation.

The hospital MRI issue also remains an important point requiring clarification, particularly regarding the repair status and restoration of the diagnostic facility.

The effectiveness of Janata Darshan will ultimately depend not only on the number of people invited, but also on whether their grievances are heard, acted upon and followed through to resolution.

— Dweep Tulika News Desk