Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Sept. 23: Mr. Abdul Siddique, Ex-Pramukh, Panchayat Samiti, Mayabunder highlighted a plethora of demands of the general public of Mayabunder in a letter which he shot to the Chief Secretary on 21st Sept 2022. According to him, the demands in the letter were major and of prime importance. He said in his letter that it is very unfortunate to say that it has been more than a decade since N& M Andaman was declared as a new District and Mayabunder was declared as the Head Quarter of the N & M Andaman District. According to the Ex-Pramukh, developmental works at other places are at a greater pace whereas the people of Mayabunder are still struggling for basic amenities in the field of health, Transport, road etc.
Outlining the shortcomings in the Dept. of Health, he said in his letter that, the existing Dr. R. P.Hospital in Mayabunder needs to be provided with all facilities which includes technical equipments along with experienced Technicians, Super Specialty Doctors, Gynaecologists, Sonologist, Radiologist,General Surgeon, Orthopedician, Neurologist, Anaesthesist and required strength of assisting staff. He also mentioned that, due to non-availability of an Orthopedic Surgeon and a Gynaecologist, critical cases are either referred to CHC, Diglipur or G.B. Pant Hospital, Port Blair. Till date no dental technician has been posted at Dr. R. P. Hospital after the transfer of the previous dental technician since many years. Similarly, it has been a number of years there is no X-Ray technician in PHC, Tugapur after the transfer of the previous X-Ray technician. Expressing his deep concern for the workers who had performed their duties as Safal Karamchari, Ayah, Ward attendant, ANM Nursing Officer on Leave Vacancy basis in Dr. R. P. Hospital Mayabunder in the year 2020 and who have not received their salary till date, Mr. Abdul Siddique requested the concerned authority to release their salaries without further delay.
The Ex-Pramukh observed that the service of M.V. Coral Queen had been the best inter-island boat service provided for the people of Mayabunder and hence he demanded that an equivalent boat may be provided on alternate days which benefits the patients especially the aged travelling to and fro for medical reasons, as all are aware of the present pathetic condition of Andaman Trunk Road.
Pointing out a number of constraints being faced by the aspirants/students appearing for competitive exams, Mr. Siddique alluded to in the letter that, for Common Recruitment Exams, Port Blair is declared as the Main Exam Centre and due to which the Candidates staying at far flung areas in North & Middle Andaman have to bear the expenses of travelling and halting at Port Blair and appearing for exams and returning back. Besides, a huge amount of money is normally spent on this undesirable tour which is unaffordable for the candidates coming from indigent families. As such, Mr. Siddique advocated an Examination Centre at Mayabunder for all Common Recruitment Exams in future, which would be beneficial for the candidates appearing from North & Middle Andaman.
Showing concerns over the exorbitant charges made by the CSCs across N & M Andaman, he recommended in his letter an E. Comer center to be introduced in the District Commissioner’s Office which will be very helpful and beneficial for the common people of N&M Andaman.
Mr. Siddique also felt that BSNL is the chief service provider in communications in N & M Andaman. But the people of this region have to face the network issues especially in using internet service and in phone calls. Phones are the basic means of communication, but BSNL’s erratic service often puts them in unspeakable trouble. There has been no permanent solution in sight till date, he observed. Due to irregular and interrupted internet services, school and college students, various government and private establishments, banks and business firms have to face the wrath of the BSNL’s erratic service as nowadays most of the work has to be done online. Hence, he also suggested in his letter to restore BSNL’s uninterrupted service in the larger interest of people of N & M Andaman.
He pointed out in his letter that, Daily Rated Mazdoors are engaged permanently in PRI Institutions and Government departments. Keeping in mind the growing concern over the rising unemployment, DRMs may kindly be engaged on rotational basis by maintaining a roster according to the educational qualification & capability of the candidate, as many educated youths are desperately seeking employment. In Pokadera Panchayat DRMs have been engaged permanently without the prior approval of competent authority, the Ex-Pramukh claimed in his letter. Though many candidates applied for consideration of their candidature as DRMs, no response has been given from the Panchayat till date, as alleged by Mr. Siddique in the letter.
According to Mr. Siddique, the approach road from medical junction to Neemtala, which connects the main road near old fire station (which minimizes the distance and benefits the general public especially it benefits the patients coming to the District Hospital that is Dr.R.P.Hospital, Mayabunder) is in rundown condition due to which the general public are facing lots of problem. The road has become horrible because of its continual damages and hence he implored the concerned authorities for immediate repair of the road in question.
