ANDAMAN SHEEKHA

The True Mirror of A & N Islands

Betapur Sawmill to be given a new lease of life soon: DFO

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Trinath
Betapur, May 20: Once the best Saw Mill of North and Middle Andaman the Betapur Sawmill is in pathetic shape now. According to reports the equipments of the Saw Mill have become too old and due to lack of man-power the output of the Saw Mill has gone down, causing huge problems to the people living in North and Middle Andaman.

Talking to Andaman Sheekha the DFO of Rangat Mr. Amit Anand today said that soon after his joining he came to know about the pathetic condition of the Saw Mill and soon he conducted a meeting with all his subordinate officers on last Friday, to understand the ground realities.

“We are trying to bring big cranes with the consultation of the PCCF. I hope that within one year the crane would be placed in the Saw Mill for timber dragging and placing on the sawing bench,” he said.

He said that due to lack of manpower the situation became bad in the Saw Mill but now the PCCF has given him orders to engage more labourers as DRMs so that the target could be achieved soon.

Regarding appointment of ladies in the Saw Mill he said that soon a canteen will be opened in the Saw Mill and after that all ladies will be posted in the canteen.

Up-gradation of GSS CFO Nallah can’t be considered: Education Department

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Port Blair, May 18: In response to the demands raised by PCC President for up-gradation of GSS CFO Nallah School, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, the Assistant Director of Education (Plg) has now informed that due to non availability of sanctioned posts of PGTs with the department, the proposal for upgradation of GSS CFO Nallah (EM) to Senior Secondary level cannot be considered right now but the Administration has sent a proposal for creation of 193 posts of various categories under the Education Department to the Govt of India which includes posts for upgradation of GSS CFO Nallah (EM) to Senior Secondary School also.
Sharma hoped that the people of CFO Nallah will soon get a Senior Secondary (EM) School for the local children on getting the approval of the GOI.

Secretary Education, RD & Panchayat visits North and Middle Andaman

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Port Blair, May 15: Mr. D.N. Singh, Secretary (Edn/RD/Panch) visited various places in North & Middle Andaman during 8th to 10th May, 2013. On 8/5/2013 he visited areas around Tugapur, Chainpur, Dhanapur and Lucknow and inspected various works being undertaken like Road Construction, Renovation of Community Hall etc., and ongoing MGNREGA works.

He also visited MGG College, Mayabunder and instructed the Principal, In-charge to take up the issue of construction of additional blocks for Boys and Girls Hostels on priority in view of acute shortage of accommodation.

The Secretary also held a meeting along with the DC, N&M Andaman, CEO, Zilla Parishad, N&M Andaman, Engineers and various elected representatives of different tiers of Panchayat Raj Institutes.

On 9/5/2013 a PRI meeting was taken by Lieutenant Governor in Mayabunder wherein, various issues pertaining to different departments were taken up for discussion. Hon’ble LG directed the representatives of various departments to resolve the public issues expeditiously. The Secretary thereafter, visited Gandhinagar Panchayat and Sagardweep, part of Keralapuram Panchayat and inspected the works undertaken by PRI institution. On 10/5/2013 the Secretary visited Diglipur, RK Pur, Subhash Gram, Madhupur, Laxmipur and Radhanagar Gram Panchayats. He also inspected the Primary School at Jal-Tekery.

The Secretary issued necessary instructions to all concerns to expedite the developmental works. The Secretary also held a meeting with the PRI of various tiers at APWD, Guest House, Diglipur discuss with them and issued suitable instructions to the concerned officials for resolving various issues.

Major Fire at Bakultala; One house gutted, two injured

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Abdul Majid & E Arun

Bakultala, May 09: A major house fire accident took place at Bakultala this morning. According to reports, the fire gutted one wooden house, while another wooden house also suffered heavy damages.

Three fire tenders (2 from rangat) rushed to the spot and took more than two hours to control the fire. Two persons Mr. K. Sudharshan and Ms. Raj Sulosana got minor injuries on their ear and back.

According to the Fire officials, they got the intimation at 7.40 am and they reached the spot within 5 mins.

“If we wouldn’t have reached the spot on time then the loss of property and injured could have been more.” the official said. It is believed that cause of the fire was short circuit.

The House which was reduced to ashes, belonged to Mr. R. Karunanidhi.

Sources told that the intimation regarding the fire reached to Fire Brigade late. Public had intimated Police Station about the fire instead of intimating Fire Brigade.

Indiscriminate power cuts leaves Kalighat residents high and dry

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DJ Venkatesh
Kalighat, May 08: Nearly six hour long daily power cuts at Kalighat area of Diglipur has left residents of the area high and dry. This is not only troubling general public but also causing huge loss to business owners.
Worst hit is perhaps PHC Kalighat. According to highly placed sources due to six hour long power cut it has become almost impossible to preserve crucial vaccine. Health workers fear that this six hour long power cuts may lead to damage of vaccine, which may lead to reaction in patients and even a mega disaster.
PHC Kalighat has power back up facility but only in the new building. The old building, where vaccines are kept, is not connected with the new building.
The matter was taken up with the senior officials of Electricity Department today by the Youth Congress General Secretary A & N Islands Mr. Boby. During the meeting senior officials of Electricity Department has assured to look into this matter and fix the problem as soon as possible.

Ambulance Driver of PHC Billyground Suspended

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Trinath
Billyground, May 07: It has been reported that the Ambulance Driver of PHC Billyground has been suspended by Director of Health Services for negligence of government duty. Andaman Sheekha had reported about the said ambulance driver a few months back, pointing out that the Driver refuses to take even serious patient to Port Blair giving different excuses.

According to reports, yesterday the Doctor Incharge of PHC Billyground directed the driver to take a referred patient, a pregnant woman to Port Blair via Andaman Trunk Road but as usual the Driver refused saying that he is undergoing treatment and is not keeping well. Eye witnesses told Andaman Sheekha that the driver not only refused to drive the ambulance but also created a scene at the Hospital.

The matter was immediately taken up with the Director of Health Services by the Doctor Incharge following which the driver was suspended for negligence of duty.

ANSCB distributes cheques to victims of Diglipur road accident

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DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, May 05: In a simple function at Gram Panchayat, Radha Nagar at Diglipur today Andaman & Nicobar State Co-operative Bank distributed Cheques to the victims of a recent road accident. The cheques each worth Rs. 2500/- to the next to the kin of each to the road accident victim, who died and Rs 1000/- to each two injured persons, were handed over by the Director, N & M Andaman District, Mr. Haren Roy .

Speaking on this occasion DGM of Andaman & Nicobar State Co-operative Bank said that this is a small gesture by the ANSCB as declared by the Chairman ANSCB Mr. Bhagat Singh while opening the Ultra Small Bank at Radha Nagar Panchayat. Vice President of ANSCB,Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma reportedly planned this function.

Mr. Uttam Kumar Saha, Pradhan, Mr. Asit Bain, Block General Secretary, Diglipur were also present during the occasion.

Patients’ woes continue: Is Administration waiting for more deaths? :::: Seven Patients at Diglipur denied Boarding by Captain of M.V Katchal

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D J Venkatesh

Diglipur, May 02:  Last week Andaman Sheekha had reported that how mismanagement in Directorate of Shipping Services had claimed life of a pre-mature baby at Diglipur Island. But instead of learning from past mistakes, the Directorate of Shipping Service is making things further difficult for public, especially patients, who are referred to Port Blair from remote Islands.

M.V Katchal was scheduled to sail for Port Blair from Diglipur on 1st May 2013. According to the sources there were seven patients waiting at the jetty without tickets to board the vessel. As tickets are always in high demand in Diglipur due to lack of ferry vessels in Port Blair- Diglipur route, it has become a trend in Diglipur that those patients, who don’t get ticket, reach the Jetty and board the ship, paying 100 percent penalty.

For these seven patients, the Shipping Counter In-charge of Diglipur, Mr. Harshit Sarkar was also ready to provide tickets to the patients, with 100 percent penalty but the Captain of the vessel reportedly did not allow those patients to board the vessel, for reasons best known to him. As stranded passengers and patients were fuming, Mr. Harshit immediately, informed the authorities about the issue over the telephone from Ariel Bay Jetty.

Among the seven patients there was also an expecting mother and all the seven patients were referred by CHC Diglipur to G.B Pant Hospital, Port Blair. Upon knowing about the incident crowd gathered at the Ariel Bay jetty along with the leaders of the Youth Congress and started agitating against DSS.

Soon Dr. Vivek Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Diglipur reached the spot and requested the Captain to halt for some time so that he can take up the matter with  the higher authorities but the Captain of the vessel did not care about anything and the vessel sailed at 9:00 PM without taking the patients.

Mr. Vivek Kumar reported this matter to Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, North and Middle Andaman. Mr. Sanjay took up the matter with the Shipping Secretary and finally the vessel came back to Ariel Bay Jetty at about 10:15 PM to take the patients onboard and after that it again sailed again for Port Blair.

According to the sources the pregnant lady delivered her child in the vessel during the sailing. The vessel however, reached Port Blair at about 9:00 AM today.

The incident shows that how insensitive the Shipping Department has become towards serious patients and general public.  This incident also shows how much ship journey is popular among public and also patients.

The shipping department after the recent incident of the death of the pre-mature infant had informed Andaman Sheekha that M.V Dering will be deployed for Diglipur and now M.V Dering is going to sail for Diglipur every Thursday at 5:00 Pm. M.V Dering has six Cabins which will be very beneficial for the patients and the senior citizens, public expects.

Mr. J. Boby, General Secretary, Youth Congress talking to Andaman Sheekha stated that “Unless the DHS resume the services of X-Ray, CT scan and sends specialized Doctors like Orthopedic & Gynecologists, the problem of referred patients will remain same for years and years.. Moreover M.V Dering sailing schedule should be properly publicized through press for awareness of the General public.”

ANDAMAN SHEEKHA IMPACT :::: Govt. Middle School, Pinaki Nagar Upgraded to Secondary Level School

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Trinath

Pinaki Nagar, May 02: The Directorate of Education Department has upgraded Govt. Middle School (English Medium), Pinaki Nagar to a Secondary School, which will now benefit hundreds of students of nearby areas, who till now used to go all the way to GSSS Sabri or CFO Nallah for Secondary Level Education in English Medium.

According to reports available with Andaman Sheekha, the school will begin functioning from the Academic session 2013-14. A letter confirming that has been already received by the PTA committee. Parents, Students and PTA Chairman Mr. Anil Das, SMC Chairman expressed their gratitude to the Secretary Education, Director of Education for upgrading the School into Secondary School.

They also expressed heartfelt gratitude to Andaman Sheekha, Daily for raising the schools problems and to motivate the parents for fighting for the rights of their children.