Port Blair, Feb 11: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Hon’ble Cabinet Minister, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to the examination slots/ counts from 76 slots during NEET-PG ,2023 to a minimum of 250 slots for NEET – PG , 2024 entrance examination at Port Blair Centre , Andaman and Nicobar Islands so as to enable maximum aspiring MBBS doctors to appear in the NEET- PG entrance examination locally in the Islands.

In a letter addressed to the Hon’ble Cabinet Minister, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare the Member of Parliament mentioned that from the year 2021 onwards, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Post-Graduation(NEET -PG) is being conducted at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands by National Board of Examinations under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India , for the MBBS students who wish to get admission to MD/MS/DNB post graduate and diploma medical courses in government and private colleges / institutions in India.

He added that to facilitate the first batch of MBBS doctors from the lone medical college of the Islands namely Andaman & Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences ( ANIIMS ) which happened in the year 2021, the NEET – PG examination centre at Port Blair was established. Since then the NEET-PG entrance examination is being conducted annually on a regular basis.

The Member of Parliament added that for the year 2023 , the available candidate slots / counts at NEET-PG examination centre, Port Blair was 76, which fell quite short of the students aspiring to appear in entrance examination. The students who could not get the slot at NEET-PG centre at Port Blair had to appear in the examination centres at mainland India by incurring huge expenditure on journey, boarding and lodging besides consuming many days. Several aspirants due to weak economic conditions are unable to meet the expenses involved in appearing the NEET-PG entrance examination at centres located in mainland India.

He added that since the year 2021 , two more batches of MBBS doctors have passed out from ANIIMS, Port Blair, hence the number of aspirants seeking admission to Post Graduate courses has gone three fold. The ANIIMS, Port Blair has got yearly intake strength of 114 students , therefore in last three years the cumulative strength MBBS doctors in the Islands who are intending to appear in the NEET- PG examination has increased three fold thereby taking figure upto approximately 200. Beside the pass out MBBS doctors from ANIIMS,there are appreciably large numbers of MBBS doctors serving at various far flung Islands as Medical Officers in the Primary Health Centers, Community Health Centers and District Hospitals of Health department on regular and contractual basis and also as Junior Resident doctors in ANIIMS who regularly appearing in the NEET – PG examination at examination centres in different States due to shortage of examination slots in the Port Blair Centre.

“Also there are MBBS qualified doctors having undergone their studies at the Medical Colleges in mainland India and abroad.Hence, all together the MBBS doctors in Andaman and Nicobar Islands aspiring to appear in the NEET- PG entrance examination has gone upto 250,” he added.

As regard to the infrastructure facilities required for conducting NEET -PG Online/ Computer Based Test (CBT) for around 250 candidates at Port Blair, the Member of Parliament mentioned that Computer based selection test / entrance examination of higher or similar magnitude are being conducted in Port Blair by various agencies such as Staff Selection Board etc. by pooling up of the facilities available with various government and private agencies at Port Blair.

 

Port Blair, Feb 09: Shri. Masakazu Yoshimura MD and CEO, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Regional CEO, Toyota Motor Corporation inaugurated and launched the General Technician -Toyota Technical Education programme (T-TEP) at the Dr. B R Ambedkar Institute of Technology Port Blair today 9th Feb2024. T-TEP program was introduced in India by Toyota Kirloskar Motor, along with Toyota Motor Corporation Japan, in the year 2006. T-TEP, now has a total of 65 Institutes functioning across India, imparting training on Technical skills and knowledge to enhance the employability of ITI & Polytechnic students.
Two master trainers, namely Shri. B Tiripathi Rao and Y. Rohit Rao were felicitated with the Instructor certificates by Shri. Yoshimura, on the occasion. This unique initiative also offers scholarship to the trainees who belong to economically challenged background and on this occasion 4 trainees were awarded the STAR scholarship worth Rs.50,000/- for the training. The programme was attended by Shri.Vikram Gulati , Executive Vice President and country head , Toyota Kirloskar Motors Pvt. Ltd., Shri. Arun G Nair, Project Vice President, Head East regional office Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt.Ltd, Dr. Utpal Sharma , Principal , Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute of technology Port Blair and Shri Sagar Khurana , Dealer principal Prince Toyota.
Earlier Dr. Utpal Sharma welcomes the gathering. Around 100 officials including DBRAIT officials, Toyota dealer partner staff, students and T-TEP trainees attended the launch ceremony. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been signed between Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM) and Dr B R Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT) on 08.12.2023. This training shall improve the technical skills of students apart from giving hands on experience and make them industry ready after the completion of the program.

 

Nisharm Mohammed
Port Blair, Feb 08: Yesterday morning a large truck transporting a full load of cement met with an accident at Rangat. The incident took place around 8:30 AM when the truck, laden with cement bags, was en route from Port Blair to Diglipur.
As the truck was passing the Rangat DFO Office area, it encountered a bus approaching from the opposite direction. In response, the truck driver applied the brakes abruptly. Unfortunately, the truck skidded off the road, causing the rear axle to break.
Despite the mishap, the truck managed to remain upright, averting a potential disaster. However, the incident led to a temporary halt in traffic movement, disrupting the flow of vehicles in the area. Soon, the police arrived at the scene and established an alternate route to ease the congestion.

Port Blair, Feb 06: Today, a group of 55 Ram devotees from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands set out on a pilgrimage to the sacred Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. This pilgrimage, organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, marks the first large-scale visit from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands following the consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple, a relese from Vishwa Hindu Parishad said here today.

Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Feb 01: In an effort to promote Andaman tourism at the national and international levels, prominent figures in India, including the President of India, Prime Minister of India, and even Chief Secretary of A & N Administration, have been actively involved. However, in Andaman some actions of the Tourism Department are leaving tourists deeply upset.
As per reports, today when a large number of tourists arrived at Cellular Jail, they were shocked to find a notice outside, indicating the cancellation of the light and sound show. The Notice read “Sound and Light show cancelled due to technical reason till further notice. Refund Process by Email: onlinebookingissues@gmail.com.”
According to the tourists, there was no official from the tourism department to provide explanations or guide them through the cancellation process or refund procedures. Although it was mentioned in the cancellation notice that refunds would be processed via email, this did not satisfy most of the tourists.
Frustrated and seeking refunds, many tourists approached their respective tour operators. However, tour operators claimed to be unable to facilitate refunds, citing that, in the past three months, the tourism department had not provided refunds in similar cases. This resulted in confusion and anger among the visiting tourists, especially those who were eager to witness the light and sound show on their last day in Port Blair.
The sudden decision by the tourism department to close the light and sound show left tourists deeply upset, especially considering the significant amounts of money they had spent to reach Andaman. Tourists are now blaming tour operators, while tour operators themselves are confused and clueless about the incident.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, a tour operator expressed that guests are holding them responsible for the last-minute cancellation of the light and sound show and are demanding refunds, which they are unable to provide due to the unclear refund policy of the tourism department.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha Tour operators alleged that this is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the last three months, where the light and sound show was abruptly cancelled without providing refunds. Tourism, being one of the largest industries in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has the potential to employ thousands, but such unprofessional actions by the tourism department not only disappoint tourists but also tarnish the reputation of the entire tourism sector.
Tourists outside the jail expressed their concern to Andaman Sheekha, hoping that such last-minute cancellations would be avoided in the future. They emphasized that tourists coming to Andaman and spending significant amounts of money should not have to experience such disappointments. Officials of the Tourism Department were unavailable at Cellular Jail for a comment in this regard.

 

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Jan. 29: Mrs. Jayanti Jyothi, Up-Aadhyaksha, Zilla Parishad, N & M Andaman and Zilla Parishad Member of Kalighat, along with her supporters mounted a protest at Kalara Junction on 27th January.
According to information, the Up-Aadhyaksha along with her party (BJP) supporters and residents of the region held a dharna right on the road/NH (incomplete) at Kalara Junction and blocked the road on 27th January to press for their demand for completing an incomplete stretch of road (NH), approx. 4 km from Kalara Junction to Bamboo Tikrey which is lying reportedly in inexplicably bad condition. However, the Sub-Inspector along with other police personnel of Kalighat Police Station urged the Up-Aadhyaksha and the other demonstrators not to block the road on public interest. Mrs. Jayanti Jyothi, honouring the plea of the police officials and on consideration of public inconvenience, she freed the road and sat by the highway and continued her protest.
Mr. Rajendra Kumar BDO/Executive Magistrate, Diglipur as well as NHIDCL officials along its agency then reached the spot of agitation at around 10:00 am and met the Up-Aadhyaksha. Mrs. Jayanti Jyothi remonstrated with the officials about the deplorable condition of the incomplete stretch of road (NH) from Kalara Junction to Bamboo Tikrey which is already having a hurdle with its steepness especially at Bamboo Tikrey, while the incensed residents of the region alleged that the pipelines of a temple and a footpath in the area were reportedly badly damaged by the NHIDCL agency and that should be repaired and restored by the agency itself on priority, they demanded. In the meantime, Mrs. Suniti Halder, District President, BJP Diglipur along with her party workers reached the demonstration site to extend support in the cause.
In presence of the Executive Magistrate, the NHIDCL officials gave a written assurance that before February 15, 2024, construction of a 04 kilometer road from Kalara Junction to Bamboo Tikrey will be completed. Mrs. Jayanti Jyoti then withdrew her protest at about noon and the protesters then dispersed from the dharna site.