Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Mar 22: It is believed that, everyday on an average three people are committing suicide in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The scary numbers of suicidal deaths are so high in these Islands because alcoholism has become a fashion here and youths do not have any entertainment avenues to keep themselves busy.
On one hand top officers of A & N Administration promise to take steps for promotion of culture and sports but on the other hand the rules and regulations have been made so strict for local youths, that they get discouragement on every step, if they plan to do something by their own.
For example, if a local youth plans to organize a dance festival at Dr. B R Ambedkar Auditorium to keep hundreds of other local youths busy in constructive things, he will have to pay Rs. 25,000 as the rent for Auditorium. Not only this on each ticket sold for the show, he will have to pay 15 percent to the Administration as Entertainment Tax. If other costs for organizing such event are calculated the youth will get nothing but disappointment and unnecessary stress. In another example, if for a show a local youth sells 800 tickets at the rate of Rs. 100, he will earn Rs. 80,000 from the show but from that amount he will have to pay Rs. 25,000 to PBMC as rent for auditorium and Rs. 12,000 as entertainment tax. If payment for all artists, sound system, lighting and other stage expenses are calculated the youths will get nothing at all.
This is the reason why hardly any youth is coming forward for organizing any big event in Andamans. As a result youths never plan cultural event and try to find solace in local BARS, and end up committing suicide or other crimes.
The million dollar question here is when there is no entertainment in Andaman, why the Administration is charging Entertainment Tax from local youths?
Youths in these Islands urge the Lt. Governor to waive entertainment tax for local youths in these Islands so that they can experiment with various kind of programme and earn profit and gradually they can think of organsing bigger and bigger events. This will bless Andaman and Nicobar Islands with much needed entertainment programmes and keep youths busy in constructive things. This will also reduce number of suicides and alcoholism in Andamans.
“Atleast for next five years the Administration must promote and encourage local artists by waiving entertainment tax,” said a local youth.
Youths also request Lt. Governor to issue necessary direction to the PBMC to reduce the rent for local unemployed youths so that they could organize their shows at the heart of the city with dignity and pride.
Considering local problems, the Administration should come out with new ideas to keep local youths and people busy in culture and sports but this is sad to note that rules and regulations in Andaman and Nicobar have been made so tough that for local youths consuming alcohol remains the only option for entertainment.
