Sarthak Kanjilal

Port Blair, November 26: Andaman & Nicobar, Bharthiya Janta Party, Observer, Yuva Morcha, Mr Umesh Khandelwal is on a visit to the islands from today.

Addressing a press conference at BJP Office today at 04:00pm, Mr Umesh Khandelwal said that he is here to spread the five revolutions (Panch Kranti) of Narendra Modi Government which are Beti Bachao Beti Padao, Make in India, Made in India, Swatch Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India etc among the people of these islands.

He said the BJP Yuva Morcha in the islands will spread all the five revolutions in all the Mandals of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

He further said that in this one and a half year the Modi Government has worked too hard and honestly and it is just a beginning.
He added that  in the near future people will see many changes in the country.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, November 26: Here is a good news for people, who have accounts in India Post. The Head Post Office, Port Blair will switch to Core Banking Solutions by next year 2016.
Speaking exclusively to Channel One News, the Assistant Superintendent of Head Post Office, Port Blair, Mr Rahul Halder said that in the coming year 2016 the Head Post Office, Port Blair will switch to Core Banking Solutions and other Sub- Post Offices in these islands will switch to CBS in phase wise.
He further said that in mainland most of the computerized Offices of India Post is already offering CBS but due to internet issues in the islands it is getting somewhat difficult to introduce Core Banking.
“After switching to Core Banking Solutions, customers will be able to do online transactions all over the country and the Head Post Office, Port Blair will also provide ATM facilities to the customers,” Mr Halder added.

DJ Venkatesh

Diglipur, Nov 24: For apathy of the authorities, a prominent school in North Andaman is on the brink of collapse posing risk to students and teachers. Constructed in the year 1958, the Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Subhashgram in Diglipur has been facing maintenance issues for long and routine mudslides near the school premises has increased the risk of building collapse that can trigger a big catastrophe in the region.
According to reports, faulty construction and use of substandard materials is alleged to be the main reason behind routine soil erosion along the school premises. The retaining wall constructed behind the school some years ago crumbled this year during heavy rains.
Moreover, the rivulet located just 3-4 feet from the school building has amplified the risk of landslide threatening the school building, which houses more than 900 students and about 50 teaching and non-teaching staff. Even the school fencing was damaged recently due to landslides.
“The building of GSSS Subashgram needs urgent attention as it has become vulnerable to landslides. Heavy rains trigger mudslides along the school premises due to the presence of a nearby rivulet. The retaining wall of the school building and fencing collapsed due to heavy rains and landslides. The reasons for the condition of the school building is primarily due to improper construction planning in a landslide-prone zone and lack of timely maintenance. The authorities concerned should immediately jump into action and embark on measures to ensure safety of the school building,” assert some residents of Subhashgram.
According to information, the Pradhan of Subhashgram Panchayat has also invited the attention of the Secretary Education towards the pressing issue. The APWD officials along with the Assistant Commissioner of Diglipur have also physical inspected the site of the school and remedial measures are likely to be taken soon for the safety of the school children and staff.

Staff Correspondent

Port Blair, Nov 23: To ensure a corruption-free society and administration, the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) here has intensified clamp downs on the corrupt and erring officials exposing underhand deals in the recent months.

The ACU succeeded in trapping several government officials and conduits and arrested corrupt official red-handed for demanding and accepting bribe for execution of government works.

The ACU mechanism to curb corruption in the lower echelons of the bureaucracy has led to arrests of some lower-rung officials like Junior Engineers, Linemans etc on charges of graft in the recent months.

But the let-down of the same reliable mechanism to catch the ‘big fishes’, who have been looting the government coffers without any fear of reprisal, is being questioned by some sections of the society.

“Soon after the administration cleared its stand on corruption and assured a corruption free government to the masses, the ACU intensified crackdowns on corrupt government officials. Several arrests of officials for demanding bribe in the past one year has regained public trust in the ACU. However, the ACU will do a great service to the citizens if it succeeds in unearths corruption from the higher levels of bureaucracy. Corrupt government officials pursue a conduit to execute their misdeeds. As such, possibility of involvement of senior level officials of the different departments of the administration cannot be ruled out. But, the ACU, in its recent crackdowns, managed to arrest only lower-level government officials. It’s understood that arrest of senior officials on charges of corruption will have political influences. But the ACU should be given a free hand for probes and efforts should be made to eliminate corruption from all levels of the government,” opined a senior citizen speaking to Andaman Sheekha.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, November 19: The new Chief Engineer of Andaman Public Works Department, Mr Mathura Prasad has said that his main motto will be to provide quality with speed in every work executed by the APWD.
In an exclusive interview to Channel One News today, Mr Mathura Das said that he will try to finish every work as early as possible but for that quality will not be compromised.
Further he said that it’s just one week that he is looking after the work of APWD and as per the recent press note of the Lt Governor he has already directed the concerned authorities like Superintendent Engineers, Executive Engineers to expedite their work.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Nov 23: Once again hundreds of candidates working in difficult and far flung areas have gone without salary for last three months.
Recently a contract worker of Andaman Nicobar AIDS Control Society had committed suicide infront of AIDS control society office to protest against delay in release of salary. The incident had invited criticism for the Administration from various sections of local society.
It seems that the Administration has not learnt any lesson from past mistakes.
At present Nearly 300 candidates of different categories are employed by the Administration under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to serve in different remote and far flung areas but sadly the administration has not given them salary since last 3 months, causing untold miseries to these youths, many of whom have to support their family with the meager salary, they get.
According to SSA Teachers whenever they contact the authorities they are told that the administration has not received fund from the Ministry, which is the reason behind such delay.
The Administration must intervene into this matter and release at least salary of two months from the administration’s budget for now so that when the actual funds come from the centre, the money can be adjusted by Administration.
Making people work for months and months without salary is a crime as it leads to depression and stress among these staffs.
The administration must understand the gravity of the situation and arrange to release of salary for this candidates immediately also the reason behind this delay in releasing the fund from centre should be investigated so that in future mistakes, if any, are not repeated. Top officers of Education Department could not be contacted for a comment immediately. Andaman Sheekha will be giving the version of Education Department in coming issue.