Vikramaditya

Port Blair, June 02: While entire country is making maximum use of low data rates of various telecom companies and reaping the benefit of Digital India, somewhere in remote villages of Andaman and Nicobar Islands students are struggling terribly even to get a 2G signal in their mobile phone, to appear in exams.

Andaman Sheekha Daily has obtained several photographs of students sitting inside jungles, seashores and even under rain, to get strong 2G or 3G signal to appear in exams.

These are the student of DBRAIT giving online practical exams during the time of pandemic from remote villages of Navin Nagar, Durgapur, Milan Gram and Karala Junction areas.

These photographs not only raises questions over the very existence of BSNL in these Islands and its technical expertise but also brings shame for entire Administration, which has failed to provide basic internet coverage in many remote villages, despite getting connection of undersea OFC, last year.

Villagers, parents complain ask that will top officers of BSNL and Administration be able to sit quietly inside their AC rooms and or enjoy sound sleep if their children had to face such problems while writing exams, if no, then why students of these Islands, living in remote villages, have to face such issues.

Network connectivity has always been one of the major problems of people living in scattered Islands and these photographs are proof that Digital Andaman is nothing more than a slogan for remote Islanders.

Youths and responsible Islanders are now waking up slowly on major issues and are able to highlight such issues in national level directly through social media and many villagers are now urging these people, to make these photographs viral, so that this matter reaches to Prime Minister of India and he realizes that how his Digital India Mission is given priority in these Islands.

Situation is not different in other remote villages of Kadamtala, Billiground and most importantly Nicobar District. There are many Islands in Nicobar District which witnesses total blackout of network coverage for several weeks.

In this age of internet this is sad and equally shameful to see that students of these Islands have to face such problems even to write an exam.

In many cases it has been found that even when the Administration is positive to provide better network connectivity in remote Islands due to technical problems from the side of BSNL, the real benefit of Digital India is not reaching to villages of far flung Islands. Hope BSNL wakes up from deep slumber and provides atleast 3G connectivity in all remote villages.

John Wilbert & Savita Kumari
Port Blair, May 26: Many minor incidents of damages and injuries have been reported across Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to falling of trees and massive branches over power cables and houses.
Several such reports have been obtained from various parts of A & N Islands like Baratang, Port Blair, Car Nicobar and Great Nicobar.
Today one cow sustained grievous injuries at Campbell Bay when a RCC electric pole collapsed on the cow. As per sources a massive tree branch reportedly fell on electric lines because of which an old RCC electric pole today collapsed at Campbell Bay but it fell on a cow at around 3.30 PM.
It was learnt that the Campbell Bay Police who were on patrolling rescued the cow with the help of fire station Campbell Bay and the cow was taken to the owner’s house, where the cow was provided treatment.

Trinath & Savita Kumari
Port Blair, March 23: The Deputy Commissioner of North and Middle Andaman, Dr. Angel Bhati Chauhan today said that the District Administration is fully geared up to face any challenges from Cyclonic weather conditions.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha the Deputy Commissioner said that as soon as district administration received the warning about the cyclonic weather, all departments were altered.
“All the dangerous trees or branches which were can damage the electricity lines were trimmed. Area wise special teams have been formed so that if any emergency is caused due to cyclonic weather the administration is able to respond within half an hour. Altogether 28 areas low lying areas have been identified, where water-logging is possible and rescue shelters have also been identified in nearby schools. Other than this, the National Highway team has been asked to remain on high alert and the strategic team has been asked to remain in 24 X 7 watch so that due to heavy rain and overflowing of any culvert, the movement of vehicles on Andaman Trunk Road, the life-line, is not hampered,” the DC added.
All fishermen have also been brought to the port with the help of police and no fisherman is on sea, everyone is safe and has been urged that not go into the sea because of rough weather, the DC NMA added.

Trinath & Savita Kumari
Billiground, May 20: Dr. Angel Bhati Chauhan, the Deputy Commissioner of North and Middle Andaman informed yesterday that the vaccination drive for 18-44 age group people has been started in North and Middle Andaman District.
In a telephonic conversation with media person the DC said that three major places CHC Diglipur, RP Hospital Mayabunder and CHC Rangat, vaccination centers have been set up for eligible beneficiaries of age group between 18-44 age group. From yesterday the N&M district Administration has started the vaccination drive in which 300 people in per slot are coming for vaccination after pre booking/registration as per Government of India’s guidelines.
“248 eligible beneficiaries got vaccinated today which is a very good response from public and I am glad that people are aware of this and following all the Covid-19 protocols and getting vaccinated”, the DC added.
However as per today’s update, till this evening 5.15 PM, 278 people of age group 18 to 44 were administered vaccine in North and Middle Andaman.
The Deputy Commissioner further pointed out that vaccination drive for 45 above age group is also going on simultaneously and around 99% of District’s population (45+ age group) has received their first dose of vaccine and further as soon as these people complete their time period of receiving second dose they will be administered second dose, as administration has sufficient vaccines for them.
Apart from this, parts of Baratang and Kadamtala area, where District Administration has found some cases were of ILI, some restrictions have been imposed in those areas regarding local movement. “We have ensured that heart patients or any other patients who need medical help are provided with required medicines, ration items are also being provided,” the DC added.
The DC also pointed out that pension distribution which was started in the District is going well, though local Administration has received complaints from Billiground area that the beneficiaries are not being provided their pension but after enquiry, from today they have stared providing pension to eligible beneficiaries.
The DC of NMA further urged all Islanders to follow Covid-19 protocols properly. She also informed about the low pressure weather conditions in North Andaman Sea, which is expected in Islands and urged fishermen not to go in sea. “It is expected that this low pressure might develop into a cyclone and landfall will be at West Bengal or Orissa, so next coming week’s weather will be rough for which advisory has been issued that no fisherman should go into sea and if someone has left should return back at earliest. Administration is on high alert and has created shelter homes,” she added.