ANDAMAN SHEEKHA

The True Mirror of A & N Islands

Sixteen posts lying vacant in Coop Department

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Port Blair, Jan 17: Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture, food processing, Industries and Parliamentary Affairs has informed the Member of Parliament that for various Administrative reasons, total 16 posts are lying vacant in Coop Department, which includes Asst. registrar – 1, Inspector of Co op. Societies – 8, Sub – Inspector of co op Societies – 4., group D.
Earlier, Mr. B.P Ray, Member of Parliament raised in Parliament vide unstarred question No.3193 dated 13/12/2011 about the shortage of staff in A & N Co- Operative Department. He wanted to know the total strength of the co.op Department, the shortage of staff, if shortage the details and reasons for shortage and the steps taken by the Govt to fill up the vacant posts.

 

Did M V Vasanta Vanish in thin air?

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Port Blair, Jan 17: Mr. R Mohan had written letters to Lt Governor, ANI, Chief Secretary,A & N Administration and Smti Sushma Swaraj, MP etc on the issue of missing of MV Vasanta on the way to Hutbay to which Smti Sushma Swaraj, MP and leader of opposition had requested the Minister of Home Affairs to get the trace of the ill-fated vessel.
The reply of Mr. SM Krishna, Minister of External Affairs to Mr. Jullapally Ramachandran, Minister of State for Home Affairs has said that according to Indian Embassy in Myanmar the case of the missing vessel MV Vasanta had been taken up with the Govt of Myanmar on 15. 09. 99 and a reply had been received on 24.09.99 from the Myanmar Govt stating that the said vessel had not reached Myanmar territorial water.
Subsequently, the case had been again taken up with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ,Govt of Myanmar on three occasions during the year 2000 and a similar negative reply had been received on 10.05.2000.
As the CBI had investigated the case, the Ministry had advised the Mission to request the Myanmar Govt to re-investigate the case. The Myanmar Govt was again approached , which replied on 14.07.2003 that the case had been re-investigated and according to the records no personnel of the said vessel had been detained in Myanmar.
The matter had been again taken up with the Myanmar Govt on 20.04.2005 and 28.07. 2005, for taking up the case again, following directions from the Honble High Court of Kolkata. The Myanmar Govt was reminded on 6.10.2005 to which they responded on 14.10.2005 reiterating their earlier stand that there was no record on confiscation of the said vessel or detention of the crew.
The matter was again taken up with the Myanmar Government on 07.08.09 with a reminder on 24.11.09. The Government of Myanmar replied on 08.12.09 that the said vessel had not got drifted in to Myanmar territorial water. This was intimated to the CBI on 11.12.09.
“The response of the Govt of Myanmar has repeatedly been the same. Therefore, in the absence of any new fact that could be presented to them, it appears unlikely that their response would be different,” the Minister’s letter said.
On receipt of this letter duly forwarded by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Mullappally Ramachandran, Mr. R Mohan, the State President, BJP has again wrote back to the Minister of State for Home affairs expressing his utmost surprise as to how a vessel can be vanished on the way to Hutbay and requested to do all possible searches and give financial help to the family members of the said ill-fated vessel.

DGP lauds efforts of Traffic unit of A & N Police

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Port Blair, Jan 17: The Traffic Branch at Port Blair has carried out considerable hard work during the past year, and has gained the appreciation of the press and in the eyes of the public. According to report in past year, a total of 537 drivers were found intoxicated while driving a vehicle. They were arrested, their vehicles seized, challans sent to the Court and their names have been recommended for cancellation of driving license to the State Transport Authority. 1,304 drivers were challaned for dangerous driving; 898 for over-speeding; 2,018 for obstructive parking; 2,782 challans were issued for driving two-wheelers without helmets; 1,259 STS and Auto drivers were detected without uniform; 264 persons were not using seatbelts; 381 were using mobile phones; 495 vehicles were challaned for tinted glass; 1,557 were challaned for stop line or traffic signal violations; 1,349 were without driving licenses while driving; 146 Autorikshas were detected with meters that were not working; 1,105 defective number plates have been detected. The DGP in a press release today said that as against 21,388 challans in 2010, a total of 27,499 challans were booked in 2011. The fine amount realized has gone up from Rs. 45,89,000 to Rs. 61,92,000 rupees. Enforcement by executing 27,499 challans, is a tremendous achievement considering that the population of our islands is under 4,00,000 individuals. The Traffic Police regulates 30 schools every day to ensure parking and child pedestrian safety. Many functions on Republic Day and Independence Day were organised. The roadside market at Aberdeen on these two occasions has also been regulated. There are also numerous other occasions such as Durga Pooja and Vishwakarma Pooja when long processions come on the roads. Two new pre-paid booths had been set up at Gandhi Statue and at Phoenix Bay gate and almost 3,000 tourists and members of the public have availed this facility.

The traffic police has identified 10 parking places in PBMC area associated with Revenue Authority, six of these are at Goalghar near Andaman Residency, Prem Nagar, in front of Delanipur School, near Carmel via Central School, near Ayush Hospital, near Office of Director Accounts. One multi-storied parking near Netaji Stadium is under construction. The recent ITF was also managed in an exemplary matter by the implementation of a one-way scheme and by regulation. Perhaps the greatest achievement of the Traffic Police has been in educating the public to observe the ‘Stop-line’ at intersections.

Tourists and visitors to the Andamans have remarked that this is the only city in the country where this phenomena is seen. The Traffic Police has also engaged the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and they have started a comprehensive study starting on 13/12/2011 to arrive at solutions and re-design intersections. “The growing prosperity of our Islands is showcased by the number of new vehicles arriving every year. In the last two years, 14,901 vehicles have been added to the roads bringing the grand total to around 75,000 vehicles.

The Dy.SP/Traffic Mr. N. Rasheed and the hundred and fourteen hard-working policemen, policewomen and Home Guards who are posted in the Traffic Police and who spend long hours standing on duty in the hot sun or pelting rain and who breathe in the exhaust of our vehicles deserve to be congratulated for their services to society,” the DGP said in a press release.

Secretary Tourism expresses gratitude

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Port Blair, Jan 16: Mr. Satish Mathur, Secretary (Tourism), A&N Administration has expressed gratitude to all departments concerned, agencies and general public in making the Island Tourism Festival-2012 successful.

The 11-day mega tourism event which began with the inauguration ceremony on 5th Jan., 2012 was culminated by the closing function on 15th Jan.2012 at ITF ground. During the course of the festival, cultural programme was organized at Netaji Stadium, Bathubasti, Wandoor, Wimberlygunj, Car Nicobar, Hut bay, Diglipur, Mayabunder, Long Island, Baratang, Havelock & Neil Island.

The Secretary (Tourism) specially thanked A&N Command, for putting up a cultural segment in the festival titled ‘Military Pageantry & tattoos’. Besides, contributions from ANIIDCO, Art & Culture Dept., Shipping Services, A&N Police, APWD, PBMC etc were also lauded.

The Police Entertainment Show was staged as a part of ITF on 14th Jan.2012 at Netaji Stadium, simultaneously Hasya Kavi Sammelan was also organized at Dr. BRAIT auditorium, and many people could not enjoy the Police Entertainment Show at Netaji Stadium.

Therefore, it has now been decided to stage the Police Entertainment show once again at ITF ground, honouring huge public demand, on 20th Jan.2012. The entry to the show is free and open to all.

The Secretary (Tourism) also thanked the local media for extensive coverage of ITF events and also contributing in making ITF 2012 a success.

Who is behind Students’ protest?

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Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Jan 16: The Boys School boundary issue has become a bone of contention between the TGCE authority and Boys’ School students.

Today nearly 100 students of Boys Senior Secondary School came out of school and protested against the boundary wall construction works of Tagore Government College, which was in progress behind the TGCE Canteen. Students, a few with iron rods in hand demanded to stop the boundary wall construction work immediately. Fuming students were also demanding removal of TGCE’s board from TGCE’s Canteen and Auditorium.

Earlier on 9th January 2012, these students had blocked roads and demanded access to the TGCE canteen and auditorium, a playground, removal of TGCE’s board from Canteen and Auditorium etc.

However the issue was tactfully resolved for today by the SHO of PS Aberdeen, Mr. Stalin and students were sent back inside the School Campus after a short discussion. But some students told Andaman Sheekha that they would be organising another protest tomorrow morning.

Protest by students is not a new thing in A & N Islands, but the way these protests are being organised, it seems that these protested are well-orchestrated and pre-scripted. The rift between the Education Department and TGCE is an open secret but sadly to settle scores now students are being misguided by a few teachers, it seems.

The saddest part of the story was when students came out of Boys School campus and were protesting at TGCE gate, there were no teachers around the students. When Andaman Sheekha Editor entered the school to meet the Principal, it was informed that the Principal was away from School. Even his mobile phone was unreachable. Attempt to contact officials of Education Department also yielded no results as nobody picked up the phone.

Though teachers of Boys School were peeping from balcony and were silently watching students protesting on road none of the teacher stopped the students from protesting.

“Principal Sir told us that he can’t do anything but we are free to do whatever we feel like,” said one of the protesting students in present of police officers.

There are ways to solve grievances of students inside the school campus, there are thousands of trick to handle angry students but it seems that the principal of the school is unable to control students of his own school. What is the use of having a general if he fails to control his troop? Is it because the school management was unable to control the angry student or because they wanted the students to protest on road? In case of any untoward incident the innocent students would have suffered loss and also police case.

The Chief Secretary must question the Director of Education and also the Principal of TGCE for not resolving the issue, keeping safety and future of students in mind.

Sources told Andaman Sheekha that a few teachers of the school are behind the entire episode, who are allegedly instigating students to protest. There is a need to conduct a thorough inquiry in this regard.

Students are future of our nation and at any cost they should not be used as a mean to settle personal or professional scores.

Honorary Doctorate conferred upon to K. K. Yadav

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Port Blair, Jan 15: Vikramshila Hindi Vidyapith, Bhagalpur, Bihar has felicitated the young literati Mr. Krishna Kumar Yadav with Honorary Doctorate in his 16 th Conferace held in Ujjain (MP) by the Vice Chancelor of Ujjain University. This Honorary Doctorate is conferred upon him in recognition of commendable literary services, Educational qualification, writing in national & international magazines/journals and publicity of hindi.

Mr. Krishna Kumar Yadav is an officer of Indian Postal Services, serving as Director Postal Services, Andaman-Nicobar Islands, as well as an accomplished Writer, Poet, Blogger and avid thinker. With an inner self lit with creativity he is very sensitive to social problems which reflect in his literary creations as well.Inclined to writing from his student life, he has authored five books – Abhilasha (Poetry-2005), Abhivyaktiyon ke bahane (Essay-2006), India Post :150 glorious years (2006), Anubhutiyan aur Vimarsh (Essay-2007), Kranti-Yagya:1857-1947 ki gatha (2007)- at quite a young age. His Articles, Poems, Stories etc. are published over 200 eminent Magazines, Research Journals, News Papers, as well as Websites & Blogs on regular basis. Besides this, he also contributed to many reputed Collections and Books. Bal Sahitya Samiksha’ (Sept. 2007, Kanpur) and ‘Guftgu’ (March 2008, Allahabad) magazines had published special issues on his literary works. Many magazines have published his interviews.

Mr. KK Yadav is also running blogs i.e. http://www.kkyadav.blogspot.com/ (Shabd-srijan ki or) & http://dakbabu.blogspot.com/ (Dakiya dak laya), which are followed by more than 200 people and are counted among popular blogs. Apart from this, his creativity was also aired on All India Radio, Lucknow, Kanpur and Portblair. Recently his biography “Badhte charan shikhar ki or : Krishna Kumar Yadav” highlighting his literary creation was published and edited by Dr. Durgacharan Mishra, a well known writer. Truthfulness and candid approach of Mr. Yadav made him famous among the readers and brought due recognition and appreciation from literary/social institutions of high repute.

Security Guard Cries Foul

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Port Blair, Jan 16: Officials of a Private Security Service, today alleged that one of its security guards was hit by one of the students of Boys School with an iron rod, during today’s protest. The issue was also reported to the SHO PS Aberdeen, who was present at the spot.

The private security guard was immediately sent for medical examination. Talking to Andaman Sheekha the owners of the private security services said that they would be lodging a police complaint soon. However, students told Andaman Sheekha that no one had hit any security guard and the security service personnel are making false allegation.

Jarawa video a conspiracy to close down ATR: BJP

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Port Blair, Jan 16: The Bharatiya Janta Party today alleged that the Jarawa Video is a conspiracy to close down Andaman Trunk Road, which is the life line of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

“In case the foreign NGO was really concern about our Jarawas, they could have given the clip to the Govt of India and Andaman and Nicobar Administration instead of showing it on National Media. Such screening of videos raises questions whether the foreign based NGO wants to close down Andaman Trunk Road,” Mr. R Mohan the President of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) said in a press release today.

The A & N State Unit of BJP also condemned telecast of Jarawa Dance Clipping on National Television, terming it a heinous act of disgracing Tribes of A & N Islands.

Mr. Mohan demanded inquiry to find out how people from ‘Observer Newspaper’ managed to collect Jarawa video clip and show the same in National media.

“We the people of these Islands respect our Tribes as our family members at the same time we cannot forget the needs of our people. The ATR is a life-line of lakhs of people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands which should not be closed under any circumstances,” Mohan added.

In a press release, the BJP’s A & N Islands State President also urged the Government to bring Jarawa into mainstream, “after all they are also human beings and they like to be in mainstream, as has been done in the cases of Great Andamanies and other tribes.”

Jayanti Natrajan replies to MP’s Parliament Question on Chatham Saw Mill

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Port Blair, Jan 16: Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament vide unstarred Parliament question No.2989 dated 12/12/2011 wanted to know whether the assurance given by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest A & N during the joint tour of the Chief Secretary and the Member of Parliament in the Chatham Saw Mill on 19/1/2011 has been fulfilled by providing the required machineries etc in the mill.

In reply, the Ministry of State for Environment and Forest Smti Jayanti Natrajan informed the MP that the replacement was proposed tobe undertaken at gantry shed, treatment plant, electrical over head travelling crane (EOT Crane), planning machine and procurement of one 60” vertical sawing machine.

She added that some machineries and equipments like thickness planer machine, multi-edger machine, diesel generator set, fire fighting equipments were procured and gentry shed was renovated.

The Minister said that for procurement 60” vertical sawing machine quotation were called for twice, but the Administration decided to get a modernization plan for Chatham Saw Mill by engaging a consultant. Accordingly tenders were called for a consultant for preparing modernization plan for Chatham Saw Mill, but none participated in the tender. Hence the machine could not be procured.
She added that Rs 70/- lakhs has been kept in Annual plan 2011-12 for procurement of machineries for the saw mill.

 

Navy Mela 2011 – 12 at Kamorta Island

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Port Blair, Jan 16: Navy Mela 2011 – 12 was held at Indira Park, Kamorta Island from 07 to 10 Jan 12. The event comprised various sports events and cultural activities which saw participation of residents of the Nancowery group of Islands. The mela began with the display by Air Force and Naval Marine commandos as they demonstrated their offensive and tactical manoeuvres. Later in the evening the Nicobarese in and around Nancowery presented various programmes showcasing their culture, traditions and heritage. The sports activities too witnessed a massive turnout in the form of participants and fans.

The volleyball teams of both men and women gave a great show of team work and sportsmanship. The individual events like badminton and table tennis unveiled the great store of talent in the Islands. The success of the mela was evident in the huge turnout of people. The various stalls at Indira park were a hit amongst the crowd.

The armed forces sensitized the public on the opportunities in the forces for the youth. Besides popular hindi feature films, various promotional movies of the defence forces were screened every evening. In his vote of thanks, Capt Raghwendra Rai, CO Kardip thanked the Assistant Commissioner Mr Meena, CTC Miss Aiysha Majid and the people of Nancowery Islands, whose participation made the event a grand success.