Sri Vijaya Puram, October 1, 2026:

A Congress delegation led by TSG Bhasker, Chairman of the Campaign Committee of the Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC), met Lieutenant Governor Prof. (Dr.) Dinesh Sharma at Lok Niwas and submitted two memoranda raising a range of issues concerning the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The delegation included ANTCC spokesperson Tamilselvan, City Congress President Mohd. Zubair, Fishermen Congress Chairman B. Laxmi Narayan, Minority Department Chairman Saji Varghese, Youth Congress State President Diksha Dular, NSUI State President M.A. Sajid, Uttara Panchayat Pradhan Prakash Mondal, and Congress leader Eswar Rao.

Memorandum on employment, infrastructure and civic issues

The first memorandum raised demands and concerns relating to:

  • 100% job reservation for Islanders
  • Chatham–Bamboo Flat Bridge
  • Early completion of NH-4 and Middle Strait Creek Bridge
  • OBC status for the Chota Nagpuri Adivasi (Ranchi) community
  • Establishment of a Central University
  • Promotional opportunities for local officers
  • Regularisation of post-1978 encroachment lands
  • One-time relaxation for building-plan violations
  • Regular inter-island ship services
  • Sports quota in government employment
  • Filling of ST vacancies
  • High airfares
  • Drug-related concerns
  • Load shedding
  • Implementation of the Citizen Charter
  • Reduction of commercial electricity and water tariffs

Healthcare memorandum

The second memorandum focused on healthcare infrastructure and services.

The Congress delegation sought separation of ANIIMS and the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), construction of a new surgical block with 10 operating theatres, additional ICU facilities and posting of permanent doctors.

It also raised concerns over what it described as the quality of medicines and surgical equipment procured through GeM, pending payments to local medicine suppliers, and the need for an AIIMS-like institution in the Islands.

Other demands included addressing difficulties faced by patients under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and providing advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities, including MRI, PET scan and radiation facilities, at G.B. Pant Hospital.

The memorandum's healthcare concerns come amid earlier public allegations by TSG Bhasker regarding shortages of surgical consumables and medical supplies at G.B. Pant Hospital; those allegations have been reported as claims made by Bhasker and were not independently established in the available reporting. The Wave Andaman

LG assures examination of issues

According to the Congress statement, Lieutenant Governor Dinesh Sharma gave the delegation a patient hearing and assured them that the issues raised would be considered sympathetically and examined for appropriate action.

The statement does not indicate that any of the demands submitted in the memoranda were accepted or approved. No separate official statement from Lok Niwas confirming specific commitments from the meeting was located in the sources reviewed.