ANDAMAN SHEEKHA

The True Mirror of A & N Islands

AATO Members Shine at TTF Gujarat (07-09 August 2024), Gear Up for Upcoming Events across the State

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Port Blair, Aug 11: The Andaman Association of Tour Operators (AATO) is delighted to announce the successful participation of its members in the Travel & Tourism Fair (TTF) held in Gujarat from August 7 to 9, 2024. This premier event brought together prominent stakeholders from the travel and tourism industry, providing AATO members with an excellent platform to showcase the unique attractions and experiences of the Andaman Islands.
Building on the success at TTF Gujarat, AATO members are now gearing up to participate in several upcoming tourism events across other parts of the state. These events are crucial for engaging with potential travelers, tour operators, and stakeholders from Gujarat, further solidifying the strong connection between the region and the Andaman Islands.
Mr. M. Vinod, President of AATO, highlighted the importance of Gujarat as a key market for Andaman tourism, stating, “Gujarat is one of the top regions from which we receive a significant number of tourists. Our participation in these events allows us to connect directly with potential visitors, understand their preferences, and offer tailored experiences that exceed their expectations. We are committed to fostering strong relationships with the people of Gujarat and ensuring their visit to the Andaman Islands is truly memorable.”
As AATO continues its efforts to promote the Andaman Islands as a premier tourist destination, these events in Gujarat will play a vital role in attracting more visitors to explore the pristine beaches, rich cultural heritage, and adventure opportunities the islands offer.
AATO remains dedicated to enhancing the tourism experience for all visitors and will continue to participate in such events to ensure the Andaman Islands remain a top choice for travelers from across India.

 

AATO Hosts Capacity Building Course for Tourism Stakeholders in Collaboration with Vidya Yuva Kendra Foundation and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

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Port Blair, Aug 11: The Andaman Association of Tour Operators (AATO) is pleased to announce the successful commencement of a comprehensive capacity-building course for tourism stakeholders, organized in collaboration with the Vidya Yuva Kendra Foundation and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The training programme is being held from August 10 to 13, 2024, in Port Blair, with the aim of enhancing the skills and knowledge of local tourism professionals.
The programme was inaugurated by Mr. M. Vinod, President of AATO, who highlighted the critical importance of continuous training and development for tourism stakeholders in the Andaman Islands. “The tourism industry is the backbone of our local economy, and it is essential that our stakeholders are equipped with the latest knowledge and best practices to provide exceptional experiences to our visitors. This training programme is a significant step towards achieving that goal,” Mr. M. Vinod stated during the inaugural session.
The inaugural event was attended by key AATO members, including Mr. Navedh, Saha Vice President, Mr. Saikat Biswas, Joint Secretary, Mr. Selvaraj, Treasurer, and Mr. Krishna, Saha Senior Executive Committee Member, all of whom underscored the association’s commitment to the professional development of its members.
More than 40 tourism stakeholders from across the Andaman Islands are actively participating in this four-day programme. The training includes interactive sessions and workshops designed to enhance understanding of sustainable tourism practices, customer service excellence, and effective management strategies.
AATO remains dedicated to the continuous improvement of the tourism sector in the region, and this training programme is one of many initiatives aimed at empowering local stakeholders and promoting sustainable tourism in the Andaman Islands.

CPI (M) Polit Bureau Demands Chairperson of SEBI Step Aside Amid Allegations by Hindenburg Research

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Port Blair, Aug 11: Hindenburg Research which had earlier exposed the stock price manipulation by the Adani group of companies has now leveled serious charges against the Chairperson of the Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Madhabi Puri Buch. It has cited documents to show that Ms Buch and her husband held stakes in the same offshore funds which were utilized by Vinod Adani to invest in Adani companies.
A press release from CPI(M) today said that Given these serious charges against the head of the regulatory authority, it is necessary that the Chairperson step aside till a proper investigation is conducted.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI (M) reiterates its demand that the entire affair of the stock market manipulation of shares of the Adani group be probed by setting up a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

A&N Administration Signs MoU with Wadhwani Foundation to Enhance Public Services through Emerging Technologies

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Port Blair, Aug 09: In a progressive move aligned with the Government of India’s vision of integrating emerging technologies to elevate public service delivery, the Andaman & Nicobar Administration has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Wadhwani Foundation, a renowned non-profit organization dedicated to economic development through technology and innovation. The signing ceremony took place today, marking a significant milestone in the UT Administration’s efforts to modernize and enhance its services.
The MoU was formally signed between the Secretary (IT) of A&N Administration and the Chief Executive Officer of Wadhwani Foundation, representing the Skills Development Network (SDN), Bengaluru, Karnataka, which serves as the Implementing Partner of Wadhwani Foundation. The event was graced by the Chief Secretary of A&N Administration, Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS and other senior officials.
The Chief Secretary of A&N Administration expressed his gratitude to the Wadhwani Foundation for their support and collaboration in integrating these transformative technologies with the e-Governance initiatives of the UT Administration. He commended the Foundation’s efforts in formalizing this partnership and emphasized the importance of analyzing the dataset compiled for the Berojgar Mukt Bharat Scheme. He urged the Wadhwani Foundation to assist in bridging data gaps using AI and other technologies, aiming to achieve the goal of a Berojgar Mukt Andaman.
Additionally, the Chief Secretary suggested incorporating the skilling of students and Job Seakers of the Islands in emerging technologies as part of this collaboration. By adding this component to the MoU, the youth of A&N Islands will have the opportunity to gain valuable skills, start businesses in technology-driven sectors, and secure better employment opportunities in leading companies across the country.
This collaboration aims to upskill the Administration’s workforce in crucial areas such as data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, drones, and blockchain technology. The adoption of these cutting-edge technologies is anticipated to significantly improve the delivery of public services and the evaluation of policy impacts. Various e-Governance initiatives across Departments like Social Welfare, Education, SOVTECH, and the Registrar of Birth & Death will be revamped by integrating AI and other technologies through this partnership.
During the event, Shri Sudhir Aggarwal, Director-Digital Transformation, Shri Sunil Dahiya, Executive Vice President-Wadhwani Skilling, and Dr. R.K. Gupta, Chief Technology Officer-Wadhwani Government Digital Transformation, delivered an insightful presentation on the potential sectors where the A&N Administration could leverage AI and emerging technologies to enhance public service delivery.
This strategic partnership between the A&N Administration and the Wadhwani Foundation is poised to equip Government employees and Island residents with essential skills and enable the effective implementation of emerging technologies in various domains. The initiative is expected to lead to more efficient, innovative, and citizen-centric public service delivery.

Assistant Commissioner Diglipur Assures Compensation for Fire Victims Near Subhashgram Fish Market

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Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Aug 09: The Assistant Commissioner, Diglipur Mr. Aditya Kumar Asthana, (DANICS) accompanied by circle Patwari Mr. Loknath visited the site of the fire accident close to Subhashgram Fish Market in the afternoon yesterday.
According to a local news channel, the Assistant Commissioner talked to the affected persons who lost their goods and personal belongings in the fire accident yesterday morning. Talking to the channel, Mr. Aditya Kumar Asthana said that compensation will be extended to the families affected by the fire as per NDRF norms. The AC also said that all possible assistance would be reportedly extended to the victims.
When asked if the compensation to the fire victims of Sitanagar Electricity Barrack given yet, Mr. Aditya Kumar Asthana said that the compensation list was reportedly framed as per NDRF norms for the victims of the Sita Nagar fire incident and it has already been reportedly submitted by the administration, and is awaiting approval, he said.

Jhumurr Socio-Cultural Society Hosts Spellbinding Musical Tribute to Legendary Singer Kishore Kumar

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Vikramaditya
Port Blair, August 09: The Jhumurr Socio-Cultural Society organized a mesmerizing musical evening titled “Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas – A Tribute to the Versatile Singing Legend Shri. Kishore Kumar” on the occasion of his birth anniversary at the Rooftop Banquet (Mehfil) of Hotel Driftwood, Haddo on 4th August 2024. The event, which began at 5:45 PM, was a grand success, leaving the audience enthralled with an evening filled with soul-stirring melodies.
The evening commenced with a floral tribute and cake cutting ceremony in honour of the legendary singer Shri. Kishore Kumar. The event brought together some of the finest voices in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, each one paying a heartfelt tribute to the musical genius.
The lineup of singers, including Shri. Md. Nisar, Shri. Shailender Singh, Shri. Anant Ram, Shri. Rajesh Ghosh, Shri. Aktar Hussain, Shri. Raj, Shri. Rajesh Anand, Shri. Ujjwal Dhali, Shri. Ashees Poddar, Shri.Abdul Rasheed, Shri.Ashok Kumar, and Shri. Hasan Shah captivated the audience with their renditions of Kishore Kumar’s timeless classics. Female singers Mrs. Ananya Karak, Mrs. Parvati Anil, Mrs. Arunima, Ms. Salma also delivered remarkable performances that kept the audience spellbound throughout the evening.
The President of Jhumurr Socio-Cultural Society, Smt. Rama Roy, along with General Secretary Smt. Sonali Podder, and Joint Secretary Shri Biswajit Das, expressed their gratitude to the audience and the singers for making the event a memorable one. The Creative Director and Convenor of the show, Shri. Ashees Poddar, who also performed, was lauded for his efforts in conceptualizing and designing the program.
Eminent guests, including Smt. & Shri. K. Mummy, Smt. Zubaida Begum, Smt. Komal Anand, Smt. Monidipa Mukherjee, Shri. Sanjib Roy, Shri. Denis Guiles, and Smt. Sumita Sanyal, graced the event with their presence, adding to the charm of the evening.
The event was flawlessly coordinated by Shri. Raj, guiding the audience through a journey of nostalgia and reverence for Kishore Kumar’s extraordinary legacy.

ANIIMS Unveils Future Plans: New Nursing College, PG Courses, and Enhanced Medical Services

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Rabindranath Biswas
Port Blair/Diglipur, Aug 09: Dr. Pragya Sharma, Director, Andaman & Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences (ANIIMS) along with her subordinate doctors and staff held a press conference yesterday and set forth the present status and future policies in detail.
Dr. Sharma, while addressing media persons at the press meet yesterday, expounded on the ANIIMS’s current status and new policies to the media at great length. She said that the doctors are performing their duties with assiduity to provide the most effective treatment to the patients in the islands, while the staff are working shoulder to shoulder with doctors to achieve the common aim that is serving the patients with diligence. Transparency and protocols are the two top priorities which they adhere to while appointing doctors and staff in ANIIMS, she said.
ANIIMS has a number of plans afoot to further strengthen it, she said. Setting up of a College of Nursing (BSc Nursing) to be co-located with ANIIMS, applying for PG courses in multiple disciplines for the academic year 2025-26, formation of a State Allied Health Council, hiring of super-specialists are parts of the plans, while augmenting the stipend of interns from Rs 26,000 to 30,070 is in the offing she informed. At present there are 117 interns working in close coordination with doctors and are serving the patients, the Director ANIIMS, said.
Giving an account of the strength of ANIIMS, Dr. Arpita Saha, Additional Medical Superintendent said that ANIIMS has a total strength of 91 specialist doctors, including 89 specialists and two super-specialist doctors and 73 Junior Resident doctors, along with adequate number of Nursing staff. There is no dearth of sanitation and other support staff in effectively providing health care services to the people of these Islands, at the moment, she claimed. Moreover, the ANIIMS is equipped with opulent machines and equipment which have eased diagnosis, treatment of fatal/terminal diseases like cancer. Mammography machine is capable of screening of cancer, 4 D EchoCardiography is being used for detection of cardiac problems and C Arm machine is used for orthopedic, urology, gastroenterology surgeries, and other complicated surgeries, she informed. The bed strength of the casualty ward has been expanded from 10 beds to 21 beds while Biometric attendance has been implemented in order to maintain punctuality among working doctors, staff and faculty of ANIIMS. The ANIIMS has adopted the scan & share QR code solution of the National Health Authority to facilitate quick registration of patients. Hospitals, CHCs, PHC and Sub-Centres across the Islands have no shortage of medicines. The Med Board is engaged in regular monitoring while a portal for dashboard for monitoring the operational status of medical equipment has been operational for ANIIMS, Dr. Arpita Saha said.
Throwing light on the infrastructure development, Dr. Ajay Verma, Chairman, Planning Cell, ANIIMS said that the administration building of the medical college and the boy’s hostel for ANIIMS have been completed while construction of the Basic Science block is under progress.
Dr. MK. Saha, Medical Superintendent, GB Pant Hospital told the media that the AV fistula creation work has started in GB Pant Hospital. He further stated that in recent months a considerable number of major cataract and other therapeutic surgeries were performed. The patients are getting the facilities of two 2 BLS and one ACLS Ambulance and other transport ambulances, he said.
Director of Health Services, Dr. Suja Antony presented an all-embracing function, role, responsibility and coordination among DHS and ANIIMS. She said that GBPH and ANIIMS are committed to working in close coordination for the well-being of the people of these islands.
Dr. Sunil, CMO, DHS along with his colleagues replied to the questions/queries posed by the media persons.

ANIIMS Receives Approval for 114 MBBS Seats for 2024-25 Academic Year

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Port Blair, Aug 09:  The Andaman & Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences (ANIIMS), Port Blair has been approved 114 MBBS seats by  National Medical Commission for the academic year 2024-25.

NEET UG-2024 qualified students will be admitted through All India quota counseling and state quota counseling. Out of total approved 114 seats, 17 seats of All India quota will be filled by online counseling by Medical counseling Committee (MCC), and rest of the 97 seats will be admitted under state quota (10 EWS plus 87 Category seat).

The Applications will be invited from NEET UG-2024 eligible candidates for admission to ANIIMS, the applicants can apply through common Admission online Portal (www.college admission.andaman.gov.in).

Only NEET UG-2024 qualified students from Andaman and Nicobar Islands can apply for above mentioned 97 seats of state quota. Remaining 17 seats of All India quota will be filled by online counseling by Medical counseling Committee (MCC).

The tentative timeline for the Admission process is as follows:-

 

Event Date and day
Declaration of NEET -2024 result by National Testing Agency, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India  04.07.2024
Submission of duly filled Online Application form starts on  14.08.2024 (from 10.00am onwards )
Last date for Submission on Online Application form  20.08.2024 (till 5.00pm)
 Publication of Provisional Merit List  21.08.2024  (till 5.00pm)
 Appeal &Grievance  22.08.2024 (till 5.00pm)
 Declaration of Merit list  23.08.2024
 01st Round of Counseling &Verification of Documents  27th &  28th August ,2024 from 9.00am onwards
Verification of Joined Candidates Data by Institutes sharing of data by MCC  30th August,2024 to 31st August,2024
 02nd  Round of Counseling &Verification of Documents  17th September ,2024 from 9.00am onwards
Verification of Joined Candidates Data by Institutes sharing of data by MCC 21st September,2024 to 22nd  September,2024
Mop up round of Counseling (if required) 14th October ,2024
Last date of cancellation of Admission with refund of fees 30th October ,2024

For queries, if any, candidates can contact Admission cell of ANIIMS (03192-230258). For detailed information, candidates may refer to the prospectus in ANIIMS website http://andsswl.and.nic.in/aniims.

The Director General of Police, Mr. Devesh Chandra Srivastva, IPS, A&N Islands, unveils New Logo for Forensic Science Laboratory, A&N Islands

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Port Blair, Aug 09: The Director General of Police (DGP), Andaman and Nicobar Islands, proudly unveiled the new logo for the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Andaman & Nicobar Islands, on 9th August, 2024 at conference Hall, Police Headquarters. The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior Police officials, including the Inspector General of Police (ANI), Mrs. Sindhu Pillai A, IPS, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Intel),Deputy Inspector General of Police (HQ), Deputy Inspector General of Police (Armed Police Unit), Superintendent of Police (CID), Superintendent of Police (HQ), Superintendent of Police (SAD), Assistant Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Deputy Superintendent of Police (CID), and other notable members of the Police Department.
The newly unveiled logo designed by Mr. Jag Jeevan Ram, embodies the FSL’s commitment to excellence and innovation in forensic science. The design reflects the laboratory’s dedication to advancing forensic techniques and upholding high standards in criminal investigations.
Director General of Police Mr. Devesh Chandra Srivastva, IPS, emphasized the FSL’s significant achievements and ongoing progress. He highlighted that the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is the first Union Territory in the country to implement e-forensics and adopt a paperless system, setting a benchmark for technological advancement among Union Territories.
During the ceremony, DGP Mr. Devesh Chandra Srivastva, IPS also introduced newly designed T-shirts featuring the new logo of FSL, symbolizing the laboratory’s growth and future advancements.

TSG Charitable Foundation offers refreshments to Chota Nagpuri Adivasis during World Adivasi Day Rally

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Port Blair, Aug 09: In a major show of sectarian harmony and brotherhood, the TSG Charitable Foundation today distributed refreshments among hundreds of Chota Nagpuri Adivasis who took part in the mass procession organized by Ranchi Association on the occasion of International Day of World Indigenous People’s (Vishwa Adivasi Diwas).
On the direction of Mr. TSG Bhasker, Chairman, TSG Charitable Foundation, a stall was installed in front of Gandhi Bhawan, Port Blair, where the volunteers served refreshments to the rally-goers while they passed by Gandhi Bhawan.
The occasion sent an excellent message to the society, presenting an unified image of the Islands.