Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 24: The 2nd Graduation Ceremony of MBBS Batch of 2018 of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences (ANIIMS) was held at Ambedkar Auditorium here this morning. Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice Chairman, Islands Development Agency graced the occasion as the chief guest in the august presence of Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, A&N Islands, Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Smti Nandini Paliwal, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Health). The function was also attended by Secretary (Health), Shri C Arvind, Special Secretary (Health), Dr. Anil Agarwal, other senior officers of Administration, proud parents and graduating students.
Addressing the gathering, the Hon’ble Lt. Governor extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the students, their families, and the esteemed members of the Institution. He said, this occasion marks a new beginning in the lives of all the young graduates present here.
The Lt. Governor said, today’s inauguration of the new Administrative and Library Wing will further strengthen the infrastructure of the Institution. The Lt. Governor remarked that the contribution of ANIIMS and the doctors of GB Pant Hospital in the health sector of these remote Islands have been immensely valuable.
Listing the major achievements of the Institution, the Lt. Governor said, this year itself, lifesaving surgeries and major trauma surgeries performed by the Hospital and Plastic Surgeon have demonstrated the excellence of this institution in the healthcare sector. Similarly, more than 250 patients have benefited from cost-free treatment using intracardiac devices, as well as minimally invasive cancer surgeries for critical diseases. These super specialty surgeries have proven that the A&N Islands, including the graduate doctors and citizens, are equally capable of fulfilling the country’s health goals.
Lauding their years of perseverance and hard work, Hon’ble Lt. Governor said, “You have worked hard to successfully earn this degree, and now you are stepping into the challenging and highly demanding field of medicine, which requires dedication, compassion, and up-to-date knowledge. It is now time for you to selflessly dedicate yourselves to the welfare of society and humanity”. “You must understand that your actions and decisions will have a deep impact on the lives of others, and therefore, it is expected that you will care for your patients with love and empathy and responsibly fulfil your duties”, the Lt. Governor urged and reminded the graduates.
Congratulating the parents, families, and mentors present on the occasion, whose invaluable contribution has nurtured these emerging healthcare professionals, the Lt. Governor said, “Through them, you too are becoming partners in the service of the nation. You have provided these young people with education in both life and medicine, inspiring them to become skilled and compassionate healthcare providers”.
The Lt. Governor further stated that for the smooth functioning of ANIIMS, medical labs are extremely important and indispensable. In this regard, he informed that today, the Labs for Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Pathology are operating efficiently here in the Islands. Additionally, the Lt. Governor said, the A&N Administration is actively working to soon commence Post Graduation Courses at ANIIMS and expressed confidence that the PG courses in five core subjects will begin soon.
Sharing the joy and success of the graduates, the Lt. Governor remarked “I also feel a sense of pride that, for the first time, so many doctors are graduating from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, who will meet not only the healthcare needs of the islanders but also the entire country”.
Concluding his address, the Lt. Governor extended a heartfelt congratulations to the students on the beginning of this new chapter in their life. He expressed confidence that with the skills, ethics and sense of duty, these young doctors will be committed to the development, progress, and prosperity of the Islands as well as the nation, helping in realizing the dream of a ‘Healthy and Developed India’, he remarked.
The Hon’ble Lt. Governor presented Certificate of Excellence and citation to the top five graduating doctors on the occasion viz. Akshita, Kaushik, G. Hariharan Subbu, Anuj Kumar Tiwari and Javeria.
Earlier, the Hon’ble Lt. Governor declared the convocation open. He also virtually inaugurated the newly constructed Administrative Block and Library Block of ANIIMS on the occasion. The Hon’ble Lt. Governor also unveiled the annual report of the Institution.
Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Member of Parliament congratulated the graduating students and urged them to work with dedication and empathy. He also distributed certificates to the graduating students on the occasion.
Welcoming the gathering, the Director (ANIIMS), Dr. Pragya Sharma congratulated the graduating batch of 2018 and their parents on this momentous occasion. She said, this ceremony is a moment of great significance marking not only the end of an arduous academic journey but also the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the graduates.

Rabindranath Biswas
Kadamtala/ Diglipur, Oct 23: The residents of Katai Dera, Ward No. 04 coming under Gram Panchayat Kadamtala, Middle Andaman have decried failure of authorities to undertake repairs of a dilapidated rural road in the locality.
According to information, the connecting Rural Road from Shri Y. Kunjappan house to Bijoy Bhakta house at Ward No. 04, Katai Dera village under Gram Panchayat Kadamtala has reportedly deteriorated significantly, causing immense hardship for the residents in the area. The residents claimed that the concerned Gram Panchayat’s failure to repair the stretches of this road has sparked widespread outrage among them.
Large swathes of this rural road are lying dangerously strewn with potholes and are becoming awfully unsafe for the residents- especially for pregnant women, children and elderly, the residents lamented.
However, Andaman Sheekha Daily when posed questions to the Pradhan, GP Kadamtala, Smti Nilawati Parh to ferret out the fact and status of the road, she said that she has been putting her best efforts to carry out the repair and maintenance of the road with her perseverance as she is well aware of the hardships being endured by the residents in the area.
She has reportedly already submitted the estimate for the repair and maintenance of the road with a covering letter to the Executive Engineer (PRIs), Mayabunder, N & M Andaman for according the “Technical Sanction” (TS) to the road work, she informed. She will see that the accord of TS and floating of tender are done within the shortest possible time and repair & maintenance of the road is started soon after so that the residents in the area who had voted for her get relief from the inconveniences owing to the dilapidated condition of the road, she affirmed.

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Oct 22: The Pramukh, Panchayat Samiti Diglipur Shri Dipankar Mistry has pressed for early commencement of the Rural Road from Govt. Middle School Shantinagar to Shri Kanai lal Biswas house at Shantinagar, Ward No. 02 under Swarajgram Section.
According to information, the Rural Road from G.M. School Shantinagar to Shri Kanai Lal Biswas house at Shantinagar, Ward No. 02 under Swarajgram Section which was taken up in the year 2023-24 and 2024-25 Annual Plan by the APWD, CD, Diglipur is indispensable for the villagers residing under Gram Panchayat Gandhinagar.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, the Pramukh said that the Rural Road from G.M.S Shantinagar to Shri Kanai Lal Biswas house at Shantinagar, Ward No. 02 is in fact the last part of the road which initially started from Badur Tikrey & Gandhinagar village through Ganeshnagar and ended at the beginning point of Shantinagar village. There are three villages namely Gandhinagar, Ganeshnagar and Shantinagar under Gandhinagar Panchayat, in which 1200 people live.
People have been living in Shantinagar village since 1969 and licenses of land were issued by the Deputy Commissioner, N & M Andaman, Mayabunder during the year 2002 while Panchayati Raj system was established in this village in 2010, he further added. However, the people residing in this region have been facing severe difficulties owing to the absence of a pucca road in the village.
Mr. Dipankar Mistry who is also the Samiti Member from Gandhinagar constituency further said that the earth work of the Rural Road from G.M.S Shantinagar to Shri Kanai Lal Biswas house at Shantinagar was completed by the Panchayat Samiti, Diglipur during the year 2010 to 2015. However, owing to the paucity of funds and the stretch of the road being 2.5km in length, it was decided in the Gram Sabha Meeting that the work of the road be handed over to the CD, APWD, Diglipur. And accordingly, the relevant documents of the road in question were handed over to the Executive Engineer, CD, APWD, Diglipur at the very beginning of preparation of the estimate of the road, the Pramukh claimed.
The stretch of the road, which is about 2.5 km in length, starts from the very beginning point of Shantinagar village to the last point of the village where the land was allotted to the people under the colonization scheme by the Revenue Department. This is the road which will help connect the people of this outlying area to the Diglipur town area. About 270 to 300 people were settled near this road with land & license by the government and the residents especially school going children, elderly and medical patients have been facing severe inconveniences in using this earth road, the Pramukh said. Besides, it is the responsibility of the administration to deliver essential services like road, electricity, water etc to the people settled by the govt. of India, Mr. Mistry maintained.
The Pramukh has recently written a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration, Sri Vijaya Puram and apprised him of the plight of the residents of Shantinagar village owing to incompletion of the rural road and urged him to impress upon the concerned officials to expedite the further process of the road and accomplish it within a given timeline thereby rescuing the residents of Shantinagar village, Dipankar Mistry said.

Rabindranath Biswas
Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 21: The commuting woes of the residents of T.V. Kullam and Dharmapur villages coming under Gram Panchayat Shivapuam owing to the damaged and closed Bailey bridge at T.V. Kullam have been plaguing them for the last couple of years.
According to information, the Bailey bridge was constructed by APWD during the year 2012 and it is the lifeline for the villagers of TV Kullam under this Gram Panchayat. Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, Shri Venkateswar Rao, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Shivapuam said that there was a demand from the residents of this area to build a bridge over Betapur Nallah since settlement.
However, the said Bailey bridge after getting severely damaged has been lying closed in state for more than 5 yrs (since 2019), the Pradhan said. The bridge was closed by APWD by welding pipes and bars across the entrance to prevent the entry of all kinds of vehicles and owing to which the residents of these villages have to take a long detour through C.F.O Nallah Bridge to transport their agricultural products and for medical emergency apart from the daily necessities, which is causing untold sufferings to the residents in the region, the Pradhan denounced.
The villagers of T.V.Kullam and Dharmapur staged protest to fulfill their long pending demand and also declared to boycott the Lok Sabha election 2024, the Pradhan said. In response, the Assistant Commissioner, Rangat, Middie Andaman held a meeting on 26.02.2024 near T.V. Kullam bridge and interacted with the villagers and assured to take necessary steps for construction of the said bailey bridge. But, unfortunately no concrete step has been taken to alleviate the problem of the villagers, the Pradhan rued.
In his recent visit to the area, the A & N Islands’ lone MP Shri Bishnupada Ray also showed much concern over the plight of the residents of this area thrown by the damaged Bailey bridge and he has written a letter addressed to the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Honourable Home Minister of India and the Honourable Lt. Governor, A & N Islands, Sri Vijaya Puram, the Pradhan further said. In his letter the Hounable MP reportedly raised the issue of the damaged bridge and its consequent hardships for the residents in this area. The Honourable MP reportedly said that this bridge is the only direct route for the villagers, and its closure has forced them to take alternate and much longer routes, leading to significant hardship, time wastage and frustration. Despite repeated representations and appeals by the villagers and elected representatives such as the Pradhan of Shivapuram followed by protest by the residents, no action has been taken by the administration to reconstruct the bridge, leaving the villagers to fend for themselves for nearly 06 years, the letter read. Furthermore, even after making several correspondences and holding protests by the villagers, neither this work has been included in the Annual Plan nor has any estimate for getting sanction been prepared so far, the Honourable MP reportedly said in his letter. As such, the villagers are deeply disheartened and feel that their genuine concerns are being ignored. The villagers expressed their disappointment over how their pleas for such a crucial infrastructure project have gone unheard and why the A & N Administration is turning a blind eye to their welfare and needs, the MP said. Making an earnest request to the Honourable Prime Minister of India for his intervention in the matter, the honourable MP has appealed to Shri Narendra Modi to issue directions to the A & N Administration for the immediate reconstruction of the T.V. Kullam bridge either in RCC or any suitable mode so the the residents of this region don’t suffer any longer, the MP’s letter further read.

Amit Halder & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 20: The ongoing power crisis has pushed the residents of Chouldari to their limits. Over the past few months, frequent and extended power cuts have caused widespread frustration and disruption to daily life. However, things took a dramatic turn yesterday evening when the village experienced yet another power outage, this time lasting from the early morning hours.
By mid-day, the residents, including local Panchayat members, could no longer contain their frustration. By 10 PM they staged a dharna (sit-in protest) near Port Mout, Krishna Mandir area, blocking the ATR Road, which is a major artery connecting the village.
The protest attracted the attention of local law enforcement, and several officers were dispatched to the scene. The villagers were adamant that their demands for stable electricity be addressed.
Speaking to several frustrated villagers during the protest, it became clear that this wasn’t an isolated incident. Power cuts have become the norm in Chouldari, affecting not just daily household activities but also businesses and essential services.
One of the local Panchayat members expressed his frustration, saying, “Every time there’s a power cut, people call us, and it’s impossible to get any answers from the authorities. We are forced to bear the brunt of the public’s anger.”
The power cuts have also affected students, as this is exam season, and the lack of electricity severely hampers their ability to study. One of the local leaders pointed out, “It’s not just about the inconvenience; it’s about the future of our children who cannot even prepare for their exams because of these constant outages.”
As per sources, yesterday’s protest was primarily a result of a scheduled tree-cutting operation that led to a prolonged power cut. Though the authorities had informed the villagers about the maintenance work, the restoration was delayed, causing tensions to escalate.
As per report the protest which started at around 10.00 PM yesterday ended at around 3.00 AM this morning.
One local Panchayat member explained, “The power was finally restored in the evening, but it shouldn’t have taken a protest for this to happen. This issue has been going on for a long time, and the authorities need to address it more seriously.”
Chouldari’s ongoing electricity crisis is a symptom of a larger problem in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Despite being a small Union Territory, the region has some of the highest electricity tariffs in the country, yet the quality of service remains poor. Residents in several other parts of the islands face similar issues, and there seems to be no concrete solution in sight.
The local residents, who have grown increasingly frustrated, feel that the administration’s promises to resolve these issues have fallen on deaf ears. “If things continue this way, we might have to resort to even larger protests,” warned one of the protesters.

 

Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 18: Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman, Islands Development Agency on visit to New Delhi called on Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, Hon’ble Minister of Power and extended invitation to visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The Hon’ble Lt. Governor requested for fast tracking issues related to Power sector in the Islands viz. developing power infrastructure in Great Nicobar Islands, setting up of 50 MW LNG Mega Power Plant Project under Clean Energy in Sri Vijaya Puram and resolution of HVDC Link project as the alternate/additional source of power to realize the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister.

Rabindranath Biswas
Jirkatang, Oct 15: The Water ATM installed at Jirkatang Check-post under Gram Panchayat Ferrargunj under Shyama Prasad Mukherjee RURBAN Mission is reportedly lying dysfunctional.
As per report, the Water ATM installed at Jirkatang Check-post under Gram Panchayat Ferrargunj under Shyama Prasad Mukherjee RURBAN Mission inaugurated on 03/12/2020. This innovative public utility project was begun during the COVID-19 pandemic period by the Administration with much fanfare with officials asserting that passengers, tourists and motorists would then have access to pure, RO water at public places. Four years are going to elapse and the Water ATM is defunct. Commuters and tourists who pass by this water ATM say this kiosk is useless and simply occupies road space. Another person was heard saying, “If you are thirsty, don’t stop near the water ATM because it’s not going to dispense water,”. Passengers travelling on the South Andaman and N & M Andaman route, tourists and motorists are meant to have access to a glass of clean water from the Water ATM installed at Jirkatang Check Post but unfortunately it is lying defunct; and the concerned agency ought to be maintaining the public utility, said a group of passengers. “It has become a grey area since no one is taking care of maintenance” opined others.
Locals casually said the water ATM has fallen into disrepair, has damaged parts or developed other glitches, but they couldn’t say since when the Water ATM is exactly not functioning. Similar situations can be witnessed in various other villages and in Sri Vijaya Puram city area where dozens and dozens of such water ATMs were installed in the past, but hardly a few are functional.
The Andaman Sheekha Daily when posed questions to the Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Ferrargunj and wanted to know more on the defunct water ATM, the Pradhan said that the issue of water ATMs came up in a recent meeting in which the Director, RD, PRIs & ULBs gave instructions to the concerned Executive Engineer, PRI to get the water ATMs repaired and made functional. He further said that the water ATM was installed during the COVID-19 pandemic period by an agency from Haryana and when the Panchayat was functional under the Special Officer and the Panchayat is now facing severe problems owing to paucity of funds. However, other sources said that the necessary estimate for the repair of the water ATM has been sent for approval.
Meanwhile, the Andaman Sheekha Daily made several attempts to establish contact with concerned officials and the higher authority in order to get further information/status of the defunct water ATM, but no official was available to make a comment on the matter.
In past various prominent citizens had demanded for CBI inquiry in this entire purchase process of water ATMs for Sri Vijaya Puram city and other villages but till now not even a departmental inquiry has been ordered by Administration.

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Oct 13: The roads under PMGSY-II in different areas under Gram Panchayat Ramnagar, Diglipur Sub-Division are lying in extremely deteriorated state causing severe commuting woes to the residents and vehicles in the region.
According to information, almost all the roads under PMGSY-II in different areas under Gram Panchayat Ramnagar are lying in severe bad state. Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, Mr. Mitun Das, Pradhan Gram Panchayat Ramnagar said that the condition of one of these roads has reportedly gone from bad to worse and it is unworthy even for the pedestrians, the Pradhadn decried.
On the other hand, another PMGSY-II road and which is stated to be the connecting road in the region has deteriorated to such an extent that the STS bus service and other essential services have been reportedly withdrawn from this route, the Pradhan informed. And as a result of which, the general public especially the students/senior citizens/disabled citizens are facing unspeakable hardships; they are compelled to walk for 7km daily for availing the bus service from the interior parts of the village, the Pradhan denounced.
The roads under PMGSY-II under GP Ramnagar are main village roads which were not properly maintained and repaired by any agency during the last 15 to 20 years and that’s why all these roads have reached this worst condition, the Pradhan claimed. Meanwhile, the Pradhan has written a letter addressed to Chief Engineer, Nirman Bhawan, APWD, Sri Vijaya Puram apprising him of the lamentable condition of the roads under PMGSY-II within the jurisdiction of GP Ramnagar.
Naming certain roads such as- AN03DGP06, AN03DGP10 and AN03DGP15, which were tendered and awarded to M/s REEF CONSTRUCTION, Govt. Contractor on 13th Sept. 2024, the Pradhan further urged the Chief Engineer to kindly direct the concerned agency to start all the PMGSY-II roads under GP Ramnagar in the coming dry season on priority for the welfare of the residents of the region.

 

Port Blair, Oct 13: The Durga Puja celebration in Andaman and Nicobar Islands was nothing short of spectacular this year, with a special focus on the Puja organised by Monday Jewellery at Naya Shehar, South Andaman. Organized by Shri. Manoj Naik and Shri. Pradeep Kumar Mandal, the Puja Pandal captivated thousands of visitors with its intricate design, created using paper crafts, bamboo, and other artistic materials. As word spread about the beauty of the Pandal, more and more devotees flocked to the site to witness its grandeur.
The lighting and aesthetic arrangements added to the Pandal’s charm, enchanting visitors with a magical ambiance. Thousands of devotees visited the Pandal, and despite the rain, the organizers managed to create an unforgettable experience. The Puja’s traditional theme, inspired by Bengal’s cultural roots, was appreciated by all, with special attention given to the village-style design that highlighted the use of art and craft in showcasing animals and rural life.
One unique aspect of the celebration was the personal involvement of the Shri. Mandal family, with the owner of Mandal Jewellers greeting each visitor at the gate, winning hearts with their humility and hospitality. The Puja was supported by several departments, including the fire and electricity departments, ensuring the event ran smoothly without any disruptions.
Pradeep Kumar Mandal expressed his joy over the success of this first-time event, noting how much it meant to the local community and the families involved in organizing it. He emphasized that the Puja was not just a celebration but a cultural experience meant to inspire the next generation. The organizers plan to continue this tradition annually, further enhancing the cultural heritage of the region.