Port Blair/ New Delhi, July 17: In what may come as a major relief to citizens, the government has decided to do away with the necessity of filing affidavits from a gazetted officer or a notary for a big chunk of government-related work and instead to promote self-attestation of documents.

It has also asked states to review the existing requirement of attaching such affidavits with various application forms and implement self-attestation of documents, said an official in the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances. “Getting an affidavit is a very cumbersome process. People have to pay Rs 100-500 for getting affidavits from a notary. Most of the gazetted officials also do not give their nod for affidavits in the absence of sufficient documents”.

“The situation is worse in villages and in remote areas. If state governments promote self-attestation it will be a boon for people,” he said.

The move is based on the recommendation of the 12th report, “citizen centric administration-the heart of governance”, of the second Administrative Reforms Commission which suggested simplifying procedures for self-certification provision.

“Taking a cue from this, some ministries or state governments have adopted the provision of self-certification of documents like marksheet, birth certificate, etc by the applicants or stakeholders instead of asking for an attested copy of the documents by a gazetted officer or filing of affidavits”.

“Under the self-attestation method, the original documents are required to be produced at the final stage,” according to an office memorandum sent to all chief secretaries of the states and union territories administrators. It said the method of self-attestation is “citizen friendly and obtaining either an attested copy or affidavit not only cost money but also involves wastage of time of the citizens and the government officials”.

It is requested to kindly review the existing requirements of attested copy or affidavit in various application forms in a phased manner and wherever possible make provision for self-certification of documents, after obtaining the approval from competent authority, said the government’s circular.

 

 

 

 Port Blair, July 16: The Lt. Governor, A&N Islands has taken serious note of news item published in the local newspaper regarding death of a patent due to insensitivity of an ambulance driver of GB Pant Hospital on 10.07.2014.

On Lt Governor’s direction, a preliminary inquiry was conducted on the incident and based on that Driver has been suspended immediately. Departmental disciplinary proceedings has also been ordered and if found guilty, strict action will be taken against the Govt. servant.

He further directed to arrange dedicated support staff for ambulance who will be available whenever an ambulance goes for bringing patients They would arrange for basic life support/First aid training for all the Drivers and the support staff. He also directed to issue similar instructions to all the Ambulances under National Ambulance Services connected by toll free No 102 in these islands.

 

Port Blair, July 14: TV 24 now will be broadcasting Special Bulletin “Andaman Har Pal” every day from 7:45 Pm to 8:00 Pm. General Public, Govt. Organizations, NGO’s and other stake holders please call on 9434288588, 9474242222 for any kind of news. TV 24 is starting a helpline for the general public, one can call or visit our office at RGT Road, Opposite Well Care Ayurvedic Hospital / Dr. Agarwal Eye Hospital from 9:00 Am to 7:00 Pm and inform us about their issues, as a responsible media channel we will verify and take up your issues with the concerned department and raise it on TV 24. One can watch TV 24 on Channel No. 376 in ACN set top box in Port Blair. It is a free to air channel and can be accessed by individuals as well as cable operators throughout the Islands. Please approach your cable operators if you do not receive TV 24 in your TV sets.

 

Port Blair, July  10: The Lt.Governor has approved that all the needy and poor students studying from class-IX to XII who to do not posses the BPL/ST certificate can also apply for free text book, provided their application is recommended by the Zilla Parishad Member/ Panchayat Samiti Members/Pradhan/Ward Councilor of PBMC and Gazetted Officer of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, certifying that parent of such student cannot afford to purchase the books and are poor.

The Lt.Governor has further directed that the school authorities will issue free text books to such students studying from Class-IX to XII even if they do not posses BPL/ST certificate but certified as above.

 

Port Blair, July  10: Power supply will remain suspended in some of the areas on 12.07.2014 from 0800 hours to 1400 hours for replacement of damaged electric pole.

The areas to be affected by power disruption are part of Prothrapur, Austinabad, part of Chakkargaon, Jail Complex, Brichgunj & Brookshabad.

 

 

 

Port Blair, July 08: The Food Safety Department of A&N Administration has sounded a note of caution to the people about the instances of addition of artificial colour in tea dust & leaves by the traders. Consuming such tea can lead to cause ulcer, liver damage, kidney failure etc. and in view of such malpractices by the traders, the Food Safety Department has now started screening of all consignments of tea arriving from mainland at Haddo Wharf and only genuine tea consignments are released from the wharf.

Addition of artificial colour in tea can be easily detected by a common man. Pure tea releases colour only when it is added in heated or boiling water, whereas artificially coloured tea shall release colour without heating the water, the Director of Health Services, Dr. SK Paul, who is also the Commissioner, Food Safety said here today. Formation of ulcer in intestine, liver damage, kidney failure are the common health hazards due to the regular consumption of adulterated tea. Some colours or dyes used for colouring the tea are carcinogenic substances which may develop cancer, the Food Safety Commissioner added.

The Food Safety Department is regularly carrying out inspection of all food business establishments including petty shops and street food vendors. During the inspection, it was observed that some tea stall operators are using adulterated/artificially coloured tea leaves/tea dusts for preparing tea. Artificially coloured tea is injurious to health and sale of such tea is prohibited under FSS Act, 2006. During this year till the month of May, artificially coloured tea leaves were seized from 32 tea vending premises and a sum of Rs.21000/- has been recovered as fine by compounding the offence.

Meanwhile, the general public have been advised to be cautious while visiting tea stalls and if any suspected tea is found, the matter may be informed to the Commissioner of Food Safety, Directorate of Health Services or call over phone no.232797, the release added.

 

Port Blair, June 26: The annual car festival (Rath Yatra) of Lord Sri Jagannath, lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will be celebrated in the Islands by Utkal Samaj in association with Rajasthan Manch on June 29, 2014 at Jagannath Temple (Rajasthan Manch), Shadipur. The mahapuja rituals of deities will begin at 9 am at the temple premises and after this the deities will be taken on a wooden chariot passing through Gandhi Park, Clock Tower, Light House Cinema, Bengali Club, Goalghar, VIP Road and back to Utkal Samaj premises.

Mahaprasad will be distributed to all the devotees after the mahapuja from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm on June 29. The return Rath Yatra (Bahuda yatra) will be held on July 7, a communication received here said.

Port Blair, June 10: Admission to class XI for Science and Commerce stream in the MES Senior Secondary School, Azad Nagar is in progress for the students who passed out from that school. The students have been advised to report for counseling by June 21, 2014, a communication received here said.