John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, September 25: The shortage of girls’ hostel accommodation for students of remote Islands in prominent colleges like JNRM and ANCOL at Port Blair has emerged as a pressing issue, forcing many eligible students to seek lodging outside the college premises, which poses security concerns and financial burdens.

Andaman Sheekha Daily investigated the matter and found that a solution to this problem is available due to Administrative delay, the students and their parents are forced to undergo mental agony since the last few years.

College authorities of ANCOL and JNRM are willing to adjust as much as possible to allot hostels to new students but they are also helpless. Over the past few years, this issue has been repeatedly brought to the attention of political leaders and the Administration. Concerns have also been raised by concerned parents and students alike.

A parent shared their perspective, highlighting the ordeal faced by a large number of college students, especially girls, who are denied hostel accommodation. This issue is particularly distressing for students hailing from far-flung islands. Additionally, an almost constructed 125-bed hostel building inside JNRM Girls’ Hostel campus remains unused as construction work is in its final stages.

Students who fail to secure hostel accommodation are compelled to look for lodging outside, where landlords charge exorbitant rates. Security becomes a major concern in these circumstances, leading to an increased risk of dropouts and adversely affecting academic performance.

It is urgently requested that the Andaman Administration expedite the opening of the newly built girls’ hostel at ANCOL. The completion of this facility would alleviate the accommodation crisis for the remaining students. Additionally, the proposal to convert some abandoned government buildings into temporary hostels for college students has been suggested as an interim solution until new hostel blocks are constructed.

Contacted by Andaman Sheekha, college authorities at JNRM confirmed that the 125-bed new hostel building is in its final stages of completion. Furthermore, repairs for two older buildings are approximately 10% away from completion. These projects had experienced delays due to fund shortages. Recent information indicates that funds will be sanctioned within two months, enabling the completion of pending work and the provision of hostel facilities to needy students.

Similarly, sources said that in ANCOL a 100-bed new hostel building, initially estimated at 6.5 crores, had faced cost overruns due to its geographical location and hilly terrain. The revised cost estimate reached a total of 8 crores. While 3.8 crores were initially provided by the Central Government, further funding was halted for unspecified reasons. The UT Administration has been approached for the remaining 1.7 crores required to complete the construction. Recent updates suggest that funding will be approved shortly, allowing for the finalization of the remaining work. Presently, around 84% of the work has already been completed.

Port Blair, Sep 25: Mr. Naresh Chander Lal, Padma Shri Awardee, Andaman & Nicobar Islands today called on the Hon’ble President of India, Smti. Droupadi Murmu at Rastrapati Bhawan New Delhi, and presented her, all works done by Mr. Lal during last 6 years and 10 months while working as Ambassador Swachh Bharat Mission Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

 

Port Blair, Sept 24: The Member of Parliament, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, was honored with an invitation to speak at the prestigious India Habitat Centre (IHC) in New Delhi. The event focused on shedding light on the rich culture and pressing issues of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a region known for its natural beauty and vibrant communities.

India Habitat Centre, renowned for promoting environmental awareness and fostering cultural and social development, played host to this engaging discourse. The Mission of India Habitat Centre is to bring a holistic approach to problem solving in areas of environmental and regional planning, energy efficiency, appropriate technology options, transport and communication, lifestyle choices, socio-cultural linkages and information technology. Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma’s impassioned speech captivated the audience, drawing them into the heart of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Sharma painted a vivid picture of the islands’ indigenous communities, including the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarwa, and Sentinelese. He celebrated their traditions of honesty and simplicity, leaving the audience awestruck.

The MP’s lyrical description of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with their lush green forests, vibrant nature, and enriched marine life, evoked a sense of poetry and reverence among the attendees.

Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma went on to highlight the islands’ need for improved healthcare facilities. He shared the plight of islanders who have to travel over 1200 kilometers to Chennai for specialist medical care. The audience responded with empathy and supported the MP’s advocacy for the establishment of a super-specialty hospital.

The MP also shared the pride of the islands, boasting a literacy rate of 86%, higher than the national average of 77%. The audience conveyed their congratulations to the people of the islands and called for the establishment of more engineering and medical colleges to further elevate education standards.

Turning the spotlight on the flourishing fishery industry, Shri Sharma acknowledged the need for modernization and increased production. He emphasized the transition from coconut farming to value-added fisheries to tap into export opportunities and enhance the prosperity of the local population.

Furthermore, the MP stressed the importance of establishing a textile hub in the islands to compete with neighboring textile industries. This would capitalize on the abundant materials flowing from India.

The discourse’s focus then shifted to tourism and its potential in the coming decades. The audience supported the MP’s advocacy for more affordable airfares to boost tourism to the islands.

In closing, the audience was left deeply impressed by the MP’s commitment to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma assured that he would continue to dedicate himself to bridging the gap between the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and mainland India, bringing the region’s unique culture, challenges, and opportunities closer to the nation’s consciousness.

 

Vikramaditya
Mayabunder, Sept 20: The residents of Mayabunder village were confronted with a persisting problem that has lingered for a substantial period – unreliable electricity. Frustrations mounted as frequent power interruptions and an unstable power supply plagued the region, leaving large number of public in distress.
The crux of the issue lay in the old electrical infrastructure of Mayabunder, with some electrical poles standing tall for over more than four decades, bearing the weight of time and wear.
The situation reached a tipping point when a massive tree fell on 17 September, casting parts of Mayabunder into a two-day blackout. Another setback occurred on 18 September when a transformer malfunctioned, once again shrouding sections of the village in darkness.
In response to the mounting discontent, Mr. Abdul Siddique, ex Pramukh of Mayabunder, along with large number of villagers organized a protest against the electricity department yesterday. The gathering was a demonstration of the residents’ dissatisfaction, with students prominently articulating their grievances and the necessity of reliable power to support their education.
Their call for intervention did not go unheard, as Deputy Commissioner Mr. Ankit Yadav (IAS), accompanied by Assistant Commissioner Mr. Ashish Joon, promptly arrived at the scene. Mr. Mahesh Lall, an Assistant Engineer from the Electricity Department, was already on-site. Mr. Abdul Siddique conveyed the challenges faced by residents, especially students who had been consistently disrupted by power outages.
In response, Mr. Ankit Yadav issued immediate directives to restore the power supply. Mr. Mahesh Lall assured that electricity would be reinstated to Mayabunder’s main bazaar area by the following day. This commitment brought a sense of relief to the predominantly student crowd. Subsequently by night power supply was restored in some areas while today power supply was restored in rest of the areas.
Mr. Abdul Siddique expressed gratitude and commended Mr. Ankit Yadav (IAS), Deputy Commissioner N&M Andaman, and Mr. Ashish Joon, Assistant Commissioner (HQ) Mayabunder, for their swift response to the pressing issue. The police, under the leadership of SHO Mayabunder Insp. PK Abdul Arif, played a crucial role in maintaining order during the peaceful protest.

 

Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Sept 18: Breaking own record, renowned chef of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Ashwar Pal Singh has truly outdone himself this Ganesh Chaturthi. Mr. Ashwar Pal Singh, the proud owner of 4 Seasons Event Management, initially announced an ambitious plan to craft a 500+ KG laddu for the festive occasion. But he and his team have taken everyone by surprise, doubling down on his promise and delivering a whopping 1009 KG Laddu – an impressive 509 KG more than his initial projection.
The mammoth laddu is currently on display at the 4 Seasons campus on VIP road, drawing large crowds. Islanders from all over have flocked to the venue since this afternoon, eager to witness Andaman’s very first and record-breaking 1009 KG Laddu.
The celebrations aren’t stopping here. A grand rally is set to be organized tomorrow, culminating in the laddu being ceremoniously handed over to the Ganesh Puja committee of the Netaji Club, Port Blair.
When asked about this culinary marvel, Mr. Singh shared with Andaman Sheekha, “We began our task with immense devotion and commitment. To our delight, we not only met but surpassed our goal, achieving the landmark of 1009 KG of Laddu.”