Editorial : From Governance Failure to Hope for a Better Future

For years, the Andaman Nicobar Islands have been claimed as an epitome of good governance by the top officials of the administration. However, the ground reality is entirely different. The islands have been facing persistent issues with power and water crises, and the internal system often collapses during challenging times.
It’s high time to acknowledge the failures and work towards a better future for the people of these islands.
The power generation systems on the islands have consistently failed to produce enough electricity to meet the growing demand, resulting in a power crisis every year during the dry season.
Similarly, the water scarcity issue has been a common occurrence for most of the past years. Unfortunately, the administration has failed to formulate an efficient plan to tackle these issues, and as a result, the residents of the islands have been suffering heavily, year after year.
One of the significant problems has been the frequent change of officials every two to three years, leading to a lack of continuity in governance. This often results in officials taking their time to get acquainted with the problems, and by the time they come up with a plan, they are transferred to another location. This lack of consistency has been detrimental to the overall development of the islands.
To address the ongoing crisis, standing committees on water and power are the need of the hour. The committees must consist of prominent citizens, senior officers, and political leaders who understand the local issues and can provide effective solutions.
The committee should submit its recommendations in a time-bound manner, and if approved the administration must follow the same, even if top officials are changed.
By doing so, the authorities can follow a standardized approach to solve the water and power crisis, once and for all.
Unfortunately, the opinion and views of the general public and political leaders are never considered in the decision-making process. In the recent past in some cases, bureaucrats often implement their policies for their own reasons, leading to governance failure. This approach has resulted in the basic problem of water and power crisis remaining unresolved.
However, there is hope for a better future. The arrival of the present chief secretary has brought about positive changes in the Andaman Nicobar Administration. IAS officers under his guidance have started meeting with the public to understand the problems and work towards finding effective solutions. This initiative has given a ray of hope to the people of these islands.
Many believe that it’s time to move from governance failure to hope for a better future for the people of the Andaman Nicobar Islands. It’s high time that the administration understands the ground realities and involves the local community and political leaders in the decision-making process. By forming committees that consist of people who understand the local issues, the authorities can work towards a common goal – a continuous supply of power and water. It’s time to acknowledge the failures, take accountability, and work towards building a better future for the people of these beautiful islands.