Port Blair, Feb 22:  Mr. B.P Ray, Member of Parliament, Andaman and Nicobar Islands in his letter addressed to the President of India has informed him about problems that the viIIagers of Gopal Nagar-II (Elezebeth Bay) and Nariya Tlkry (Banda NaIIah-II) under Diglipur Tehsil, North & Middle Andaman District which he came to his notice recently during his visit to the above mentioned places.

He also placed several demands before him on behalf of the residents of Gopal Nagar-II (Elezebeth Bay) and Nariya Tlkry (Banda NaIIah-II) which included Opening of two Sub Centers by the Health Department one each at Naraya Tirky (Banda NaIIah-lI) and other at Gopal Nagar-II, Mr. Ray further informed that at  present the patients are taken to the hospitals passing through the open Sea which are most of the times in rough conditions and many patients have also expired on their way to the hospital. He also demanded for providing Drinking water facilities, Opening Police Check Posts at North Side of Gopal Nagar for attaining safety and security for the viIIagers and for the safeguarding of their fishing dinghys. MP further demanded for providing Solar Home Lights to the residents of Nariya Tirky viIIage as provided in Gopal Nagar-II viIIage.

Mr. Ray also informed the President about the pathetic condition of the Primary School with kacha floor and no drinking water, toilet facilities and also demanded that Administration should provide some tins and some chairs for the school. Mr. Ray concluded his letter by informing the President that no Work under MNEREGA has been carried out in Gopal Nagar-II (Elezebeth Bay) and Nariya Tirky (Banda NaIIah-II) and requested him to intervene into the matter and help the viIIagers to attain basic needs as soon as possible.

Port Blair, Feb 22: Dr. D. Jagannatha Raju, Director, Dr. C. H. Venugopal Reddy, Associate Professor, Dr. K. Madhu Babu, Associate Professor, faculties of Extension Education Institute, Hyderabad were on visit to Diglipur on 22nd February 2013 for the third party monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of Centrally Sponsored scheme support to State extension programmes for Extension reforms in respect of ATMA, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The team visited Durgapur village in the field of Mrs. Shreemati Thete, to witness the ongoing Five days Training programme on Mushroom Cultivation. The team interacted with the participants of training programme and expressed satisfaction on the farmers’ interest in the training programme. Dr. D. Jagannatha Raju, Director insisted to provide more training programmes in other sectors like handicrafts, floriculture, vegetable cultivation etc. for poor & marginal farmers.

The training programme on Mushroom Cultivation was started on 20-2-2013, inaugurated by Mr. Neelu Mazumder, the Pradhan, Shibpur Gram Panchayat in the presence of Mr. Ramesh Kumar, Deputy Project Director, ATMA and officials of Agriculture Department. In the inaugural address Mr. address Mr. Neelu the Chief Guest urged the participants to take maximum benefit of the programme and also appreciated efforts taken by agriculture department for conducting such programme in remote areas.

Later Mr. Ramesh Kumar, DPD ATMA briefed about the importance of Mashroom and its scope and potential in earning as additional income for farmers. Smti. Shakila Nawaz, Agriculture Officer, Smti. Agriculture Department are imparting practical training on various technical aspects of Mushroom Cultivation. Ms.Biji,BTM and Mr. Loknath, SMS coordinated the whole training programme, which will conclude on 24th February 2013.

DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Feb 17: The lone MP of Andaman & Nicobar Islands laid a foundation stone at controversial APWD land where last year villagers and political leaders protested and called a Bandh in Diglipur Island, after the District Administration removed an Idol from a ‘temporary’ worship place. During the protest Sec 144 was imposed but later the deadlock ended after compromise.

The community hall will be built under MPLAD scheme with an estimate cost of 28 Lakhs.

Port Blair, Feb 17: Bye elections to fill up the vacancies in Panchayati Raj Institutions were held today (17-02-2013) from 0800 hrs to 1600 hrs. Elections were held for the Gram Panchayat Member Constituency of Lucknow-1 of Rampur Gram Panchayat under Mayabunder Tehsil and Gram Panchayat Member Constituency of Long Island-7 of Long Island Gram Panchayat under Rangat Tehsil. The entire polling process was held in a free, fair and peaceful manner. At Lucknow-1, Rampur Gram Panchayat the polling percentage was 66.30% and at Long Island-7, Long Island Gram Panchayat the polling percentage was 63.58%.

The Counting of votes of these constituencies shall be held at Designated Locations on 19th February, 2013.

Port Blair, Feb 14: A two days Workshop on “Rights of Girls Child and future implications of Imbalanced Sex Ratio” was inaugurated by Smt. Madhuri Giri, Adhayksha, Zilla Parishad, N&M Andaman on 12th Feb’ 2013 at Auditorium of M.G.G. College, Mayabunder at 10.00 A.M. Dr. R.N. Rath, Prinicipal, M.G.G. College, Mayabunder was the guest of Honour on the occasion. Smti. Ratna Kannan, Chairperson, A&N Social Welfare Board, Port Blair welcomed the Chief Guest by presenting a shawl. A welcome song was presented by the student of M.G.G. College, Mayabunder. While addressing the participants, Smti. Ratna Kannan, Chairperson, Social Welfare Board said about the importance of Girl Child in a family and Society. She also threw light on the duties of the family towards the Girl Child.

She further addressed the senior boys/girls students of M.G.G College that gender violence is not just a crime against women it is a crime against all of humanity because it targets half of humanity. She said on National Girl Child Day, we should resolve to give our daughters the ultimate shield of protection from all evil doing. Smti. Ratna Kannan, Chairperson appreciated Dr. R.N. Rath, Principal, M.G.G. College, Mayabunder and their faculty members for their cooperation to make the programme a grand success.

A large number of final year boys/girls from different faculty and faculty members attended the workshop. Dr. R.N. Rath, Principal, M.G.G. College, Mayabunder while addressing the gathering expressed his satisfaction about the fact that the girls student constitute more than 60% of this college which is a very encouraging step and also hoped that in coming years the sex ratio will be maintained properly and efforts will be geared up to encourage the girl students to take up higher studies as a result they can bring awareness to the society of all evils.

The Chief Guest Smt. Madhuri Giri, Adhayksha, Zilla Parishad, N&M Andaman appreciated the Chairperson for organizing a befitting programme on the burning issues on “Rights of Girl Child and Future Implications of Imbalanced Sex Ratio” and explained about the purpose of the workshop. While addressing the gathering, she explained the causes of decrease of girls and women sex ratio in the country and appealed to all to work for maintaining the balance in sex-ratio and to educate children without discrimation and to avoid anti-social activities to protect the rights of Girl child and to fight against the illegal social evils. She appreciated the Social Welfare Board for taking care of needy people and for organizing such a workshop for the first time in the remote islands especially for college students.

Various colourful culture programme was presented by the girls students of M.G.G. College, Mayabunder which was appreciated by one and all.

Eminent speakers Dr. Aneesh, Medical Officer, Mayabunder, Shri. Samir, SHO, Mayabunder, Kumari Laxmi Kanta. B.A. IIIrd Yr. Economics, Shri. Selvam, Assistant Professor and Shri. Kripa Mondal, Faculty of Economics Department delivered speeches and expressed their views on the issue of “Rights of Girls Child and Future implications of imbalance Sex Ratio” which included the Rights of Girl Child for free and compulsory education, Social aspects of adolescent girls, issues and challenges, sex imbalanced in the society, Female foeticide and female infanticide, medical perspectives, Alcoholism and drug addiction and trafficking and Domestic Violence Act.

On the concluding session of the Workshop a valedictory function was also organized with interaction among the Senior students of M.G.G. College. The vote of thanks was proposed by Smti. S. Rani Pande, Secretary, A&N SWB.

 

Trinath

Rangat, Feb 13: A class XI girl of ‘Star Government School’ (name changed) of Rangat was allegedly molested by two classmates on 12 February 2013. The incident occurred at around 2.15 pm when some students of class XI were sitting idle as one of the teachers was absent.

According to the complaint lodged by the victim girl Tara (name changed) she was sitting with two other friends in the class room, when suddenly two of her classmate boys came and drove away other two girls by tingling them.

According to the victim finding no one else in class both the boys closed windows of the class room and molested her. As per the statement of the victim many other classmates also saw this, when they returned to the class. Later a complaint was lodged with the Vice Principal of the school but as the Vice Principal could not handle the situation in an unbiased manner and hence the girl and her parents lodged a complaint in PS Rangat.

Talking to Andaman Sheekha parents of the Girl alleged that the SHO of PS Rangat was not registering the case and was forcing the girl and her family member to withdraw the case. The Girl told Andaman Sheekha that the SHO of PS Aberdeen has also taken the girls’ signature in a blank paper and kept the paper with him. “When I asked why you need my signature in black paper. The SHO told me that tomorrow you will come to know,” the girl told Andaman Sheekha’s Middle Andaman correspondent.

The parents of the girl alleged that as one of the two boys, is the son of an Assistant Engineer and the other is the son of former Pradhan of the area hence the police department is reluctant to take action.

However, when cross checked a senior police officer of Middle Andaman rubbished all such allegations and told Andaman Sheekha that a FIR under section 354, 509 and 34 IPC was already lodged against both the boys. “One of the two boys is juvenile and hence we can’t arrest him. Hence intimation has been sent to the Juvenile Justice Board in this regard. The other boy is presently admitted in hospital and as soon as he will be discharged, he will be arrested by police. There is no biased approach by police department,” he said.