Port Blair, Sept 30: The Indian Meteorological Department has forecast strong South to Southwesterly wind speed between 30 and 40 kilometer per hour gusting to 45 kilometer per hour and generally rough seas along and off Andaman and Nicobar coast under the influence of moderate to strong southwest monsoon current. Fishermen have been advised to be cautious while venturing in to the sea.

Port Blair, Sept 30: The All India Radio here bid an affectionate farewell to Ms Mumtaz Bano, who superannuated from government service on Wednesday. In 38 years of dedicated service, Ms Bano mesmerized listeners of AIR with her melodious voice and her style of presentation was hugely appreciated by the radio listeners of these Islands. She was closely associated with Children’s & women’s programme and organized invited audience programmes in almost all the Islands. As an administrator, she was instrumental in organizing many music concerts, poetic symposium etc involving eminent artists from mainland. She was accorded a grand farewell by the staff and presenters of All India Radio, who wished her happy and peaceful retired life.

Port Blair, Sept 06: The Director General of Police, Shri Rajesh Malik interacted with the Hotel owners of A&N Islands at Police Headquarters, Atlanta Point on Sept. 3. Representatives of hotel/restaurant owners of A&N Islands were enlightened about various issues such as Police verification/submission of Form-C, regulation of prepaid counter at Harbour/jetty, safety of tourists in view of crocodile attacks near Wandoor and other places, traffic & parking near tourist spots etc. The hotel owners were also sensitized to install monitors/TV, issue of safety leaflets near reception and display audio-visual clips on tourist safety in the hotels.
The Director General of Police directed all hotels to ensure submission of Form-C within 24 hours of arrival of any foreign tourist. During the meeting, the DGP stated that safety of tourists was paramount and information needed to be shared in real time with the Police. He also assured of all possible assistance to the hotel/restaurant owners for creating a safety environment for the tourists/guests visiting these Islands and stated that suggestions/views put forth by the hotel owners will be taken up for consideration and implementation.

Port Blair, Aug 13: The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, UT Mission Authority, A & N Islands is organized three day training programme for Resource persons and Master Trainers from Aug 12-14, 2015 in the conference hall of Shiksha Sadan to provide academic support to nine Block Resource Centres of the territory in implementing Learning Indicators and Learning Outcomes at Elementary stages.
Inaugurating the training, the Secretary, Education, Smt Tanvi Garg, emphasized on the role and responsibilities of teachers as facilitators to provide quality education to children in the islands. She urged the participants to develop action for effective implementation of the well defined Learning Indicators and Learning Outcomes.
During the three-day training, resource persons from DIET, SIE and Govt. Girls Senior Secondary School will address participants on subject-wise Pedagogy and Learning Indicators followed by discussion and lesson planning. About, 54 Master Trainers from nine educational zones of these islands are participating in the training. The Master Trainers will later impart training to the subject teachers of nine educational zones for effective implementation of Learning Indicators and Learning Outcomes to achieve expected level of learning at elementary stage and the curricular expectations.
Earlier, the DDE (Acad)/SPO (SSA) welcomed the gathering. The Programme Coordinator/Faculty, SIE, Dr SK Mondal presented the overview of the training programme.

Port Blair, August 08: Andaman Sarvajanik Nirman Vibhag Mazdoor Sangh (ASNVMS), with the support of Daily Rated Mazdoors working in all the Divisions of the APWD, has decided to organise a one-day strike on 11th August, 2015 demanding immediate implementation of the 1/30th pay, DA scheme and regularization of DRMs.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Engineer, Andaman Public Works Departments, Mr B. Chandrachoodan, President, ASNVMS stated that even after serving the notice for agitation, the APWD has failed to resolve any of the issues/demands mentioned in the resolutions adopted by the Union in the General Body Meeting held on 12th October, 2014.
He also said that no meeting or discussion was also held with the Union by the authorities of APWD on the basis of the said letter.
The issues mentioned in the notice was 1/30th of pay to daily rated mazdoors working in various Divisions of APWD. Mr Chandrachoodan further said that as per Govt. of India, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension (Deptt. Of Personnel & Training), Govt of India vide OM No. F. 49014/2/86-Estt © dated 7.6.1988 had introduced a scheme to grant 1/30th of pay in the minimum of the relevant scale of pay plus DA. The said OM of the Govt. of India was endorsed by the A & N Administration vide No. 69/13-88 H&R dated 19.7.1988 and again circulated during 2000 for implementation by subordinate departments under the Administration.
Further Mr Chandrachoodan also added that the said direction to grant 1/30th of pay at the relevant scale of pay plus DA was implemented in many of the departments under the Administration like IP&T, PMB, Forest Department, Transport, PBMC, etc
Mr Chandrachoodan later added that it has been noticed that despite such unambiguous directions of the Govt. of India and A & N Administration, the APWD has failed to implement the order for its daily rated employees.
The other issues mentioned in the letter dated 24th October, 2014 like (1) regularization of daily rated mazdoors of APWD (2) grant of bonus to all eligible casual workers, etc. are also found to have been not considered by the APWD so far.

Port Blair, July 17: The INCOIS Observatory, Hyderabad has forecast high waves in the range of 3.0 – 3.5 meters during 17:30 hours on 17-07-2015 to 23:30 hours of 19-07-2015 along the west coast of Andaman Islands between Ten Degree Channel to Coco Channel. Current speeds vary between 64 – 101 cm/sec. In Nicobar, high waves in the range of 3.0 – 3.5 meters is forecast during 17:30 hours on 17-07-2015 to 23:30 hours of 19-07-2015 along the west coast of Nicobar Islands between Ten Degree Channel to Great Channel. Current speeds vary between 83 – 107 cm/sec. Fishermen have been advised to be cautious while venturing into the sea. The general public is advised to take precautionary measures and in case of emergency contact the State Control Room, District Control Room and Emergency Operation Centres.

Port Blair, July 17: The Election Commission for the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will hold draw of lots for reserved seats for women in the Gram Panchayats in Little Andaman and office of the Pramukhs of Panchayat Samities in Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the forthcoming General Elections to Panchayats on 20.07.2015 in Tagore Government College of Education, Port Blair at 4 pm. Representatives of all political parties have been requested to attend the program.

Port Blair, July 3: The District Administration will organize a befitting programme on July 4, 2015 at 11 am in the National Memorial Cellular Jail in connection with foundation laying ceremony (bhoomi Pujan) of Swatantrya Jyot for Installation of Veer Savarkar Plaque, a project of Indian Oil Foundation. The Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Ram Naik will be the chief guest on the occasion. The Lt. Governor, Lt. General (retd) AK Singh and the Member of Parliament, Mr Bishnu Pada Ray, will also grace the function.

Port Blair, July 3: The Police has prosecuted as many as 64 persons for violating guidelines of the Swachha Bharat Abhiyan under sections 34(5) and 34(7) of Indian Police Act 1861 at various police stations last month.
Besides weekly drives by all Units of the Police, a cleanliness drive was also organized by the IRBn on Friday from Netaji Stadium to Carbyn’s Cove beach. The IRBn personnel marched up with banners cleaning the road and surrounding space enroute to Carbyn’s Cove spreading awareness on cleanliness.
The general public has been requested not to indulge in any act which leaves the public spaces unclean or unhygienic way. They have also been requested to undertake cleanliness drives in their localities to make Swachha Bharat Abhiyan a success.