Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov 19: A meeting was held today (19th Nov) under the Chairmanship of Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament, in the presence of Mr. Arjun Sharma, IAS, Deputy Commissioner (DC), South Andaman, at RK pur Panchayat Hall, Little Andaman. The meeting was attended by PRI members and heads of various line departments of Little Andaman among others.
During the meeting several relevant issues pertaining to Little Andaman in particular were raised by the MP. The PRI members and the general public too put forth their grievances.
The key issues those came up for discussion during the meeting includes: 1. Permit for quarry operations. 2. Funding, functions and powers of PRIs as per PRI setup regulations. 3. Issuance of work orders to local societies. 4. Enhancement of financial powers to PRIs. 5. Repair of roads constructed under various schemes. 6. Addressing cases of land conversion. 7. Provision of water pipelines to all individual households as per govt schemes 8. Enhancing healthcare facilities and installation of ultrasound services for pregnant women and ensuring smooth functioning of sub-centers. 9. Timely supply of diesel, petrol, and LPG gas. 10. Boosting tourism initiatives in the Little Andaman. 11. Resolution of issues related to Islanders’ ID cards 12. Repair of school buildings and ensuring adequate teachers and textbooks. 13. Establishment of a mini-modern fish market for fishermen. 14. Enhancement of honorarium for PRI members. 15. Resolving underground electric line faults in tsunami shelters. 16. Increasing of ship schedules to Hut Bay and repairing of the jetty at Hut Bay. 17. Supply of DAP and urea to farmers. 18. Repair and maintenance of water dams for benefits of farmers for agriculture activities. 19. Early execution of MPLAD-funded projects. 20. Early conduct of DPC and State Plan Board meetings.
The DC gave a patient hearing and noted down the problems highlighted during the meeting.
While addressing the gathering the Deputy Commissioner assured the assemblage that the issues those come under his jurisdiction will be resolved at the earliest. Similarly, regarding issues pertaining to other departments, he told that he will coordinate with concerned departments for appropriate actions for resolution of the relevant issues.
The MP while speaking on the occasion emphasized the urgency of addressing the above said issues for the overall development of Little Andaman and for improvement of the quality of life for its residents. He also informed the local people of various steps being taken by him towards ensuring development of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He informed that during the forth coming session of Lok Sabha he will raise the issues related to merger of ANIIMS with AIMS, New Delhi. He also told that Power crisis issues, water scarcity issue, PRI fund issue among other issues will be raised by him in the Lok Sabha.
The local residents and the PRI members appreciated the initiative of the MP in inviting the DC to Little Andaman for a direct interaction with locals and make him understand the problems on the ground.
Earlier in the day, the MP visited the PHC R.K.Pur and inspected the condition of the Health Facility. He also interacted with the health staffs and patients to know about their problems.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov 18: Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament, A & N Islands, is currently on a visit to Little Andaman. During his visit he held a meeting today with the Ranchi Community members at Hut Bay APWD guest house.
During the interaction Mr. Ray informed the Ranchi Community members that the issue regarding inclusion of their community under OBC category in the Islands is actively being considered by the Central Government. He also heard the general grievances of the community people and local problems.
He also interacted with local BJP workers regarding organizational matters.
After hearing the grievances put forth by the local people he assured them that he will take up the matters at the appropriate forums to get it resolved.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov 17: The first international flight, Air Asia today landed in Veer Savarkar International Airport, Sri Vijaya Puram. They were accorded a warm reception at the arrival ceremony and were treated to a traditional dance. 156 passengers with 3 captain and 4 cabin crew arrived by Air Asia from Kuala Lumpur and 113 passengers flew from Sri Vijaya Puram to Kuala Lumpur on 16 November 2024 this maiden international flight. This momentous occasion was graced by Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice Chairman, Islands Development Agency, Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM,NM, VSM( Retd.), Member of Parliament, A&N Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Chief of Staff, A& N Command, Rear Admiral Biplab Hota, VSM, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Mr. Keshav Chandra, DGP, A&N Islands, Mr. Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, other senior officers from A&N Administration, A&N Command, Civil Aviation and tourism stakeholders.
Due to paucity of time, as there was a window of only 40 minutes between arrival and departure of the flight, function was held with limited addresses & felicitations.
While briefing the gathering, MD, Air Asia, Dato’ Captain Fareh stated that it is a proud day for Air Asia marking its maiden flight an important milestone in air connectivity for both India and Malaysia to further strengthen aviation industry, making travel affordable and sustainable. Secretary, Tourism & Civil Aviation, Mr. Vishwendra expressed happiness and pride in witnessing the initiatives and highlighted efforts taken by the Administration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, GoI. Airport Director, VSI Airport, Mr. Devendra Yadav while welcoming the dignitaries said, this day marks a historic moment in Civil Aviation sector.

Saurav Adhikary & Rabindranath Biswas
Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov. 14: The Chairperson of Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council, Mr. Sudeep Rai Sharma held Press Conference today in order to counter a rumour being spread through WhatsApp group that the Municipality is going to ask/charge Rs. 1000/- from the household for garbage collection. The Chairperson of Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council made it clear that it is merely rumour and fake news being spread about this 1000 rupees collection. Referring to a Gazette Notification which came into being in 2017.

A Solid Waste Management Bye Laws was drafted and given full shape on 16 February 2016 and it was reportedly notified by the President of India, A & N Administration and the honourable Lieutenant Governor in which the door to door garbage collection fee would be Rs. 50/- but the news of collection Rs. 1000/- from the household for garbage collection is baseless and false information being spread, the Council said.

Mr. Sharma said that every household should keep the garbage segregated, that is to say that the wet garbage should be kept separate from dry garbage before the Safai Karmachari collects the garbage from the household. And it was as per the gazette notification that those households who will not segregate the garbage at home and when the Safai Karmachari will segregate and collect the garbage then the household will have to pay Rs. 1000/- as a fine. But it is unfair that rumour is being spread through whatsapp group that the Municipality is asking Rs. 1000/- from the household for garbage collection.

The Chairperson of Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council further said that Port Blair Municipal is struggling to deliver its services to the people owing to the sheer paucity of funds. On the other hand, complaints are pouring in from 24 Ward Councils that garbage is lying dumped and not being collected. He said that the Municipal is struggling owing to the dearth of man power.

Some Safai Karmachari retired, some Safai Karmachari became aged while some Safai Karmachari are under medical treatment and under the given situation the Municipal is facing the challenges in lifting the garbage. However, since the people elected the Municipal councilors with expectation that their grievances would be rightly redressed by them and the people rightly hold expectation from their respective Municipal Councillor.

Similarly, all the 24 Municipal Councillors put their best efforts to deliver their service and come to the residents’ expectation, but in certain situations Municipal Councillors come across some unavoidable challenges which they can’t defeat or counter and in that situation they fail to deliver their services satisfactorily. Besides, Municipal Councillors are also human beings and they too have certain constraints, they said.

Every Council is plagued with the problem of street lights; but the Council was hand tied and couldn’t do anything as the street light was on tender for seven years. However, on approaching the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration, the CS, at his own risk, verbally ordered the Council to do the maintenance work of the street lights and for which the Council conveyed his gratitude to the CS.

Accordingly, the Municipal undertook to repair and maintain the street lights in municipal areas. However, the residents of the council are ignorant of all these constraints that they have to face while delivering their services to them. However, since they are humans, and error/lapses may happen from their side, and the Council requested the Media with folded hands to bring forth the lapses/irregularities of the Municipal Councillor(s) if there is/are any, the Municipal said.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov 13: Lt. Gen Gurbirpal Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Director General of National Cadet Corps (NCC), along with Cmde S Raghav, Deputy Director General of NCC, Directorate of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andaman Nicobar region on visit to A&N Islands, called on Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman, Islands Development Agency today at Raj Niwas. Discussed encouraging NCC cadets to excel particularly in water based adventure sports given that this is an Island Territory consisting of 836 Islands. There is need to identify hidden talent with potential to become great achievers in maritime & water based activities.

 

Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov 12: The Andaman & Nicobar Police proudly announces the national debut of Ladies Pipe Band at the prestigious 25th All India Police Band Competition. The event, set to take place in Shokuvi, Dimapur, Nagaland, from 16th to 22nd November 2024, will witness the participation of Bands from numerous states showcasing their exceptional talent and dedication on a national platform. This historic step marks a significant milestone, as the Ladies Pipe Band, representing the spirit and cultural heritage of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, prepares to make an indelible mark in the competition.
Formed in 2014, the Ladies Pipe Band, A&N Police initially comprised 27 volunteering female Police personnel. Over the years, the band has evolved through frequent mentorship programme from the Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC). Similarly, now in 2024, while preparing for the event, the Band received a significant boost with a six-month intensive program conducted by the First Gorkha Rifles, where a total of 24 dedicated women completed the training and enhancing their capabilities in full-band march and mastering all 14 tunes required for the competition across various instruments, including pipes, tenor drums, and bass drums.
Before proceeding to participate in the National event, the Ladies Pipe Band showcased their skill and readiness by giving a splendid display of their musical prowess at Parade Ground, Army Camp, in the presence of DGP (ANI), CoS (ANC) and other senior officers.
As the Ladies Pipe Band prepares to represent the Andaman & Nicobar Islands on a national stage, their debut symbolizes the culmination of collective efforts and dedicated training. The entire community stands united in support, confident that this talented group of women will make the Islands proud.

Sir Vijaya Puram, Nov 11: Rear Admiral Susheel Menon, VSM, Flag Officer, Commanding Eastern Fleet on visit to A&N Islands in connection with Indian Navy Eastern Fleet Exercises in adjoining waters of A&N Islands, called on Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman, Islands Development Agency today at Raj Niwas.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov 10: HumaneTouch, a leading NGO dedicated to social welfare and community upliftment, inaugurated its new Nagrik Seva Kendra on November 10, 2024, at 10:30 AM at its Wimberly Gunj office. The inauguration ceremony was graced by the esteemed Dr. Nitin Shakya, DANICS Director of Social Welfare, who attended as the Chief Guest. Dr. Shakya lauded the efforts of HumaneTouch and highlighted various social welfare schemes in his address, commending the NGO’s ongoing commitment to serving the community.
An independent Self-Help Group (SHG) named IZZAT SHG was also introduced at the event. IZZAT SHG has been established to support women’s empowerment and generate employment opportunities through catering services and providing homemade food. This initiative aims to foster economic independence among women in the community.
The event also honored notable figures from the Islamic Welfare Society, with M Abdul Majeed, President, and MK Mohammed, Secretary, attending as Guests of Honor. The program commenced with a welcome speech and a Presidential address from Br. Intazar Nahim, President of HumaneTouch, who offered an overview of the NGO’s numerous initiatives focused on social betterment and community support.
Br. A Abdul Aziz, Coordinator of the Nagrik Seva Kendra, outlined the wide range of essential services the center will offer. These services include assistance for scholarships under CSR funds, passport seva, and online applications for driving and learning licenses. Additionally, the center provides career counseling, support for online applications for admission and entrance exams for both state and national-level colleges and universities, and guidance on accessing a variety of social welfare schemes through the Health, Social Welfare, and Industries departments, among other services.
On behalf of HumaneTouch, Jb. M Abdul Majeed presented a memento to Dr. Nitin Sakya as a token of appreciation for his valuable support. Jb. MK Mohammed also addressed the audience, underscoring the significance of assisting the underprivileged through dedicated social work.
The gathering was further enriched by speeches from P Abdul Basheer, Pradhan Kanyapuram; VK Mariyam Bibi, Zila Parishad, Bamboo Flat; and V.D Leju, a noted social worker. Other distinguished attendees included Mr. Venkat Ram Babu, Pradhan of Wimberly Gunj; A Ummer, Zilla Parishad member of Wimberly Gunj; Deb Kumar Badra, President of Sparsh NGO; Mr. Abhay Kumar, President of LOTE NGO; and Mr. N Yousuf, President of AMSO, along with around 110 villagers who joined in celebrating the center’s inauguration.
The program concluded with a vote of thanks by Br. MK Naseerudeen, Secretary of HumaneTouch, while Br. N Yassir, Executive Member of HumaneTouch, adeptly moderated the ceremony.
The Nagrik Seva Kendra stands as a testament to HumaneTouch’s mission to support and uplift the community by ensuring access to essential welfare services, thus empowering citizens and fostering social harmony. Nagrik Seva Kendra, Opp. BSNL Office, Wimberly Gunj will be open from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM from Monday to Saturday.

Sourav Adhikari & Neeraj
Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov 08: In a press conference organised today, the Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, openly expressed his concerns on several pressing issues, ranging from governance to public health services, and Land Conversion.
Mr. Ray highlighted his recent experiences with local Administration and officials’ reluctance to respond to parliamentary queries, calling for greater transparency and adherence to official protocols. He shared that despite repeated attempts to raise questions with the administration, they have frequently failed to provide adequate responses, pointing out that responses given often misrepresent or lack clarity, especially on land conversion and authority jurisdiction issues.
A significant part of the press conference centered on the Andaman administration’s approach to essential health services. Mr. Ray cited recent cases from the island’s hospitals, where a lack of specialized care and surgical staff had reportedly led to several preventable fatalities.
He emphasized the urgent need for equipped Intensive Care Units (ICUs), surgical specialists, and adequate emergency facilities to handle complex cases, recounting several incidents where delays or insufficient care had dire consequences for patients.
Discussing land conversion policies, Mr. Ray claimed that recent statements provided to the Parliament were inaccurate, and called for immediate amendments. He pointed out the administration’s inefficiencies in implementing decisions, particularly regarding land-use projects aimed at boosting local employment and development. Highlighting procedural lapses, he expressed concern over delays in approvals which are affecting the region’s development and citizens’ welfare.
Mr. Ray urged the administration to streamline its response mechanisms to effectively address these issues. He called on the judiciary and concerned departments to take action, advocating for an improved healthcare system and accountability within the governance framework to ensure the welfare of Andaman residents.

 

Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov 08: Mr. Madhu S Nair, CMD, Cochin Shipyard Limited along with his team on visit to A&N Islands for 279th Board Meeting of Cochin Shipyard Limited at Sri Vijaya Puram called on Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman, Islands Development Agency today at Raj Niwas. Delegation apprised the Lt. Governor on the status of expeditious implementation and Operationalization of Cochin Shipyard Ltd. & Andaman & Nicobar Ship Repair Unit (CANSRU) agreement for developing A&N Islands as Regional Ship Building Repair Hub.
The Lt. Governor emphasized the need to expedite the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for modernization of Marine Dockyard and overall ship repair ecosystem in the Islands. The Lt. Governor also urged to constitute emergency repair team to handle urgent short repairs & develop ancillary industries at Sri Vijaya Puram, set up partnerships with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) & competent agencies for specialized repairs at Marine Dockyards.