ANDAMAN SHEEKHA

The True Mirror of A & N Islands

Baakprotima Celebrates Silver Jubilee in New Delhi with a Gathering of Literary Minds

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Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 12: Baakprotima, the only PRGI registered Bengali Little Magazine published from Andaman and Nicobar Islands celebrated its Silver Jubilee in New Delhi on Saturday, the 11th January 2025 through a get together held in the premises of Chittaranjan Bhavan, CR Park. A group of local Bengali writers attended the programme. Mr. Mrinal Maity, a column writer from Purba Medinipur and Smt. Mousumi Roy, Social Activist from Kolkata graced the occasion as Special Guests.
The programme commenced with the inaugural cum welcome speech of Mr. Shailen Saha, local Convenor of the programme as well as a New Delhi based writer. Mr. Anadiranjan Biswas, Editor, Baakprotima delivered the key note address and explained as how Baakprotima touched the 25th year of its publication.
Self-composed poems, short stories, speeches were presented by Pijush Biswas, Rita Biswas Pandey, Bisweshwar Bhattacharya, Subrata Ghosh, Mrinal Maity, Mousumi Roy, Tirthankar Biswas, Nilashish Ghosh Dastidar, Samaresh Pal, Sharbani Ranjan Kundu, Pranji Basak and Ichhamati Mousamputri.
The programme ended with vote of thanks proposed by Mr. Shailen Saha.

Shaheed Dweep Witnesses Road Improvement Inauguration by Chief Secretary

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Shaheed Dweep, Jan. 12: The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS on visit to Shaheed Dweep, inaugurated improvement of Road from Neil Kendra Bazaar to Laxmanpur, Sunset Point and improvement of road from Jetty to Sitapur today. The Secretary (Fisheries/IP&T/Art & Culture), Smt. Jyoti Kumari, IAS, officers of A&N Administration, Chief Engineer, (i/c), APWD, Shri Tej Bahadur, Pramukh, Panchayat Samiti, Prothrapur, Smt. Champa Das, ZP Member, Shri Dasarath Varma, and Pradhan, Neil Kendra, Smt. Pinkey Das were also present on the occasion.
In his address, the Chief Secretary expressed his happiness that this road improvement work has been completed in a time bound manner by APWD. He said, inauguration of any project brings immense joy among the people of an area, which, he said, indicates that the work given to an agency has been done with full dedication. He further congratulated the APWD and its engineering team for executing the project in a time bound manner despite facing numerous challenges viz. shifting men, material and machines to Shaheed Dweep. He further informed that the roads in Shaheed Dweep which needs further improvement will be taken up by APWD. The Chief Secretary informed the gathering about his first visit to Shaheed Dweep in the year 1997. He said, this Island has witnessed a sea change with good number of hotels coming up and increased tourists inflow. There is no comparison of Shaheed Dweep in terms of development then and now.
Pointing that development is important for a particular place, the Chief Secretary said, development has to be carried out in a cautious and in a balanced manner. He further mentioned that with the increase in tourist flow, the power requirement in Shaheed Dweep in future will increase. The GoI has taken a decision to replace diesel-based power generation by installing Solar Plants and Wind Energy Units in A&N Islands. He also informed the gathering about the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, a Government scheme that aims to provide free electricity to households in India. Under the scheme, households will be provided with a subsidy to install solar panels on their roofs. He said that A&N Administration is propagating this scheme and urged the PRIs to motivate the people to avail this scheme.
Earlier, the Chief Engineer, (i/c), APWD, Shri Tej Bahadur said that inauguration of the road has fulfilled the demands of the residents of Shaheed Dweep, the foundation stone for which was laid in the month of January last year.
The Chief Secretary accompanied by the senior officials of A&N Administration visited Zonal Library, Power House, Sitapur Beach, Solar Project site, Laxmanpur Beach. He also held meeting with PRIs & general public and hoteliers.

 

Celebrating National Youth Day in Honor of Swami Vivekananda’s Birth Anniversary

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Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 12: Nehru Yuva Kendra, Sri Vijaya Puram, in collaboration with the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs and SPARSA (an NGO based in Bamboo Flat), organized Srijanostov: Art for a Cause to commemorate National Youth Day and honor the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
The event was graced by Mrs. Priyanka Kumari, Director, Art and Culture, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, as the Chief Guest, and Mr. Vikram Singh, Director, Education and Sports, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, as the Guest of Honour. Both dignitaries were warmly welcomed with bouquets and shawls.
Mr. Dev Kumar Bhadra, Founder of SPARSA, was also present and addressed the gathering. He highlighted the importance of youth empowerment and the role of art in promoting social change. Several other esteemed guests and dignitaries were present to grace the occasion and lend their support to this meaningful event.
The program commenced with a Keynote Address delivered by Mr. Gopal Ch. Biswas from Nehru Yuva Kendra. His speech emphasized the “Dignity of Skill, Dignity of Art, and the Role of Youth in India’s Vision to be Vishwa Guru by 2047.” He inspired the audience to recognize the transformative power of youth and their contributions to national progress.
Srijanostov showcased the artistic talents of 10 prominent artists, each presenting unique paintings on the theme of youth empowerment. Their works captured diverse aspects of creativity, resilience, and the pivotal role of young minds in shaping the nation.
In her address, Chief Guest Mrs. Priyanka Kumari highlighted the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, urging the youth to embody his values and strive for moral and ethical growth. She stressed that developing morality among the youth is essential for a prosperous and inclusive future.
The spokesperson of the Bahai public affairs Mrs Martha A mentioned that this art event was an opportunity to learn how to draw on the power of the arts more effectively so that it can contribute to the upliftment of society. She spoke about how this art event highlighted the potential in youth and their indispensable role in social transformation. The program concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks proposed by Dr.Kavi Malar expressing gratitude to the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, collaborators, artists, and all attendees.
Srijanostov: Art for a Cause successfully brought together art, culture, and youth empowerment, reaffirming the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and fostering a sense of pride and responsibility among the younger generation.

Little Andaman Hosts Successful Block-Level Training on eGram Swaraj Portal & mAction Soft Mobile App

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Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 12: The CD Block of Little Andaman successfully organized a Block-Level Training Programme on ‘eGram Swaraj Portal & mAction Soft Mobile App’ at Panchayat Samiti Hall, Little Andaman on Jan.9. The event was conducted under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) and aimed to engage local officials, including Panchayat Secretaries & MTS.
The training was inaugurated by Mr. Belthazer, Block Development Officer (BDO) of Little Andaman, who delivered the introductory speech and Mr. Suman Halder, MIS Assistant gave an introduction on eGram Swaraj Portal.
Mr. Mohammed Arif, State Programme Manager, provided an in-depth session on eGram Swaraj Portal, mAction Soft Mobile App, Panchayat Development Plans- components, preparing pool of activities and stages & GS Nirnay App.

Chief Secretary inaugurates weeklong Vivekananda Mela at Shaheed Dweep

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Shaheed Dweep, Jan. 12:The Vivekananda Mela kicked off on an exhilarating note this evening at Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Playground, Shaheed Dweep, radiating excitement and joy across the event. Organized by Gram Panchayat, Neil Kendra, Shaheed Dweep, the Mela was inaugurated by the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, by cutting the ribbon in the presence of Secretary (Fisheries/IP&T/Art & Culture), Smt. Jyoti Kumari, IAS and officers of A&N Administration, local PRI Members, excited residents of the Island and curious visitors.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary congratulated the Mela Committee for organizing the wonderful Mela wherein all the locals and tourists could enjoy their evening. He congratulated all for the celebration of the Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and asked to follow the values and teachings of Swami Vivekananda.
Vivekananda’s life is full of values and inspiration which motivates every person, he said. He urged the younger generation to make their life more meaningful by emulating the path shown by Swamiji. The Chief Secretary through a story from the life of Swami Vivekananda motivated the children to be focused on their goal/aim and not to get distracted with the negative things around them.
The Chief Secretary appreciated the colorful cultural programmes presented by the school children, especially the dance performances of tiny tots of GSSS Shaheed Dweep.
Earlier, paying rich tributes, the Chief Secretary garlanded the portrait of Swami Vivekananda on the occasion. He also visited the Govt. Stalls set up at the Mela Ground and interacted with the officials present there.
In her welcome address, the Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Neil Kendra, Smt. Pinkey Das informed that since 1993,’Vivekananda Mela’ is organized at Shaheed Dweep involving all the people to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The Mela which was inaugurated today will continue upto January 18 during which cultural programmes and sports events will be organized for the entertainment of the general public and visitors, she added.
Colorful cultural programmes viz. folk dances of different States and speech & skit on the life of Swami Vivekananda presented by the school students of Shaheed Dweep drew loud applause from the audience. The inaugural function concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Pramukh, Panchayat Samiti, Prothrapur, Ms. Champa Das.
Soon after the inauguration, people were seen frequenting the stall put up in the Mela. During the weeklong Mela, visitors can immerse themselves in this lively atmosphere, indulging in a delightful array of delicious eatables and snacks being sold at the Mela. Those with a love for handicrafts and local merchandise will find an enticing range of unique items to explore and cherish. Various Departments of the Administration have also set up vibrant stalls that beautifully showcase their activities and remarkable achievements, drawing the attention of both islanders and tourists. The atmosphere was brimming with festivity, making it a delightful evening for everyone.
The highlight of the evening was the series of colorful cultural programmes, featuring enchanting dances and captivating performances by children, adding energy and fervor to the celebration. For those looking to indulge in some sports activities, the Mela brings an array of exciting activities to engage and energize visitors of all ages. Those visiting Shaheed Dweep can soak in the festive spirit and create memorable moments during this wonderful event.

 

Bye-Election Voting in Andaman Concludes with Impressive Turnout

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Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan. 12:The Bye-election for Gram Panchayat Samiti Member for Paschimsagar under Diglipur Tehsil, Member Constituency of Nabagram-1 of the Gram Panchayat Nabagram under Diglipur Tehsil and Member Constituency of Hope Town-1 of the Gram Panchayat Hope Town under Ferrargunj Tehsil respectively were held on 12/01/2025 (Sunday) from 8 AM to 5 PM. The polled materials have been kept in the identified strong rooms and the entire election process was held in a free, fair and transparent manner.

The polled percentages for the respective Gram Panchayat Members and Panchayat Samiti Member Constituencies are as under:-

Sl. No. Name of the GPM/Pradhan Constituencies Total Polled Percentage
1

 

 Gram Panchayat Member Constituency Hope Town-1 of Gram Panchayat Hope Town under Ferrargunj Tehsil.             (Seat-  General) 76.66
2

 

 Gram Panchayat Member Constituency Nabagram-1 of Gram Panchayat Nabagram under Diglipur Tehsil.       (Seat- General) 75.25
3

 

 Panchayat Samiti Member of Gram Panchayat Paschimsagar under Diglipur Tehsil.(Seat- General) 61.20

The counting of votes of the aforesaid Gram Panchayat Member shall be held on 15/01/2025 from 8 am onwards at their respective counting centre.

 

Youth Rally, Yoga, and Art Mark Swami Vivekananda’s Birth Anniversary in Andaman

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Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan. 12:The Department of Sports & Youth Affairs, A&N Administration in association with Department of Education, JNRM, NYK, SAI and Ramakrishna Mission organized a Yoga Session, a Youth Rally and a special painting event ‘Art for Cause’ today to celebrate the National Youth Day 2025 on the occasion of Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Altogether, 800 youth from various educational institutions and general public of Sri Vijaya Puram participated in various programmes.
Addressing the gathering at the main function as the chief guest at the Vivekananda Statue, JNRM, Sri Vijaya Puram, the Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, motivated the students/youth present in good numbers and urged them to move forward in a focussed manner to achieve success in whatever field they choose. He also informed the students about the epoch making speech by Swami Vivekananda at the final session of the Parliament of Religions on September 27, 1893, in Chicago, America.
On this occasion, a Yoga session was conducted from 6 am to 7.30 am at Netaji Stadium Ground followed by a Youth Rally at 8 am from Netaji Stadium. Shri Omkaratmanand, Secretary, RK Mission, Sri Vijaya Puram flagged off the Youth Rally from Netaji Stadium which culminated at Swami Vivekananda statue at JNRM. The rally started from Netaji Stadium and passed through Clock Tower – Model School- Post Office- Bengali Club- LIC Building – Gandhi Statue- Clock Tower- Narayan Chowk- Swimming Pool- Girls School- R.K. Mission and culminated at Vivekananda Statue JNRM, Sri Vijaya Puram.
In addition, a special painting event ‘Art for Cause’ was also conducted by the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs and Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK), Sri Vijaya Puram at 10 am in Andaman Club, Sri Vijaya Puram.

Dry Days Declared for Bye-election to Gram Panchayat Hope Town

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Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 12: Under the provisions of Rule 4.3 (a) 7 (a) to (e) of the Excise Policy & 9(iii) of the bar guidelines issued by the Administration vide Order No. 4192 dated 18/11/2008 respectively, the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman District has ordered the following days to be observed as “DRY DAYS” in connection with “Bye-election to Gram Panchayat Hope Town under Ferrargunj Tehsil”, South Andaman District.

Dry Day to be observed on Remarks
12.01.2025(Sunday) During the day of Polling (8 am to 5 pm)
15.01.2025(Wednesday) During the day of Counting

No liquor shops, hotels, restaurants, clubs and establishments selling/serving liquor shall be permitted to sell/serve liquor to anyone whosoever on the aforesaid days.

People have also been requested to keep themselves away from consuming any kind of spirituous and fermented liquor/wines or display the same for sale on the above mentioned date.

This Order is applicable to IMFL vending licensees i.e. ANIIDCO, CSD Canteen, all Defence Canteen, Police Mess and all private bar licensees functioning at Ferrargunj Tehsil, South Andaman District.

 

Applications Invited for Admission to Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun for Jan 2026 Term

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Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 12: Jan Applications have been invited from Boys and Girls for admission to Class VIII in Rashtriya Indian Military College, Deharadun for Jan. 2026 term. The written examination for the admission will be held on 01 June 2025. The eligibility criterions for admission are as mentioned below:
Educational Qualification: The candidate should either be studying in Class VII or passed Class VII from any recognized school at time of admission to RIMC, i.e. on 01 Jan, 2026.
Age: The candidate should be in the age bracket of 11 ½ to 13 years as on 01 Jan 2026, i.e. they should not be born earlier than 02 Jan 2013 and not later than 01 July, 2014.
Procedure to obtain Application forms: The Prospectus-cum-Application form and Booklet of Old Question Papers can be obtained from RIMC, Garhi Cantt, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, PIN-248003 through the following methods:-
a)Online Payment: The Prospectus-cum-Application form and Booklet of Old Question Papers can be obtained by making online payment of Rs.600/- for General Candidates & Rs.555/- for SC/ST candidates on RIMC website www.rimc.gov.in (on receipt of payment, the Prospectus-Cum-Application form and Booklet of Old Question Papers will be dispatched by Speed Post only) or
b) By sending Demand Draft: The prospectus- cum-Application form and Booklet of Old Question Papers can be obtained by sending a written request with a demand draft of Rs.600/- for General Candidates & Rs.555/- for SC/ST candidates along with caste certificate in favour of “THE COMMANDANT RIMC FUND”, DRAWEE BRANCH, HDFC BANK, BALLUPUR CHOWK, DEHRADUN, (BANK CODE-1399), UTTARAKHAND. The address should be typed/ written clearly in CAPITAL LETTERS with PIN code and contact number. RIMC will not be responsible for any postal delay or loss in transit of prospectus caused by an illegible or incomplete address. The delay in part of the Postal Department is not the responsibility of RIMC.
The Application Form issued by RIMC only shall be valid. Application Forms locally printed/ photocopied and without RIMC Hologram (seal) shall not be accepted. No refund of application fee will be done under any condition.
The Documents required are:
• Birth certificate (issued by Municipal Corporation/ Gram Panchayat)
• Domicile Certificate of the candidate.
• SC/ST certificate (Where applicable)
A certificate from the Principal of the current school in which the candidate is studying with photograph attested stating that date of birth (as per school records) and the class in which candidate is studying is to be submitted in original.
Photocopy of Aadhaar Card of the Candidate (both sides) is a mandatory requirement dialing of which application will be rejected.
Two passport size photographs.
Application form should reach respective State Governments (TGCE, Sri Vijaya Puram) by 31.03.2025. The Application Form must be sent to the State Government and not to the RIMC, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

TNAI A&N UT Branch Conducts Two-Day CNE Programme on Disaster Management for Nurses

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Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 12: A two-day CNE Programme on ‘Nurses’ Preparedness and Response in Disaster Management’ was conducted by TNAI A&N UT Branch with the support of TNAI HQ in collaboration with the Directorate of Health Services and Directorate of Disaster management on Jan. 9 & 10 at Aapda Prabandhan Bhawan.
The inaugural function was graced by Director, Directorate of Disaster Management, Mrs. Priyanka Kumari and Director of Health Services, Dr. Suja Antony. This two-day workshop, attended by 30 Nurses including Nursing Officers, CHOs, PHNs and ANMs, was aimed at equipping Nurses with essential knowledge and practical skills to effectively respond to disasters and emergencies, ensuring the safety of patients and communities.
The event commenced with insightful lectures delivered by speakers from the Nursing, Health and Disaster Management fraternity, highlighting key topics such as disaster risk assessment, resource mobilization, triage systems and communication strategies during emergencies. The major highlight of the workshop was hands on training sessions on fire safety, search and rescue. A mock drill was also conducted by the Fire Safety Department, NDRF team and the Directorate of Health Services.
The event concluded with distribution of Certificates to the attendees by Mrs. Anney Ashok, President, TNAI A&N UT Branch. A notable achievement by the TNAI A&N UT Branch was the designation of being a Certified CNE provider with Credit Hours, bestowed by Tamil Nadu Nursing and Midwifery Council. The attendees of this two day CNE Workshop were awarded with 12 credit hours for the same.