Diglipur, Dec 23: The NGO, Butterflies supported by “CIAI for all the Children of the world” organized a street play on ‘Child marriage’ by the children of Kalipur at Durgapur, Diglipur. The Nukkad Natak was aimed at increasing awareness on Child Marriage. Highlights of the POCSO Act were enacted by the children. Role of CWC, special juvenile police unit, special court and child friendly procedures were the important features of the Nukkad Natak.
Mr. Ch. Prasanna Rao, Field Coordinator of North Andaman, Vinod lakra CDW-CES, Seema Kerketta CHO & Shyamli Das of N. Andaman also spoke on during the workshop.
Keep in Abeyance Process of Teachers Recruitment till Islanders’ Interests Protected: Islands Rights Forum
Port Blair, Dec 23: In a significant move, the Islands Rights Forum (IRF), in a communication to the Chief Secretary has demanded to keep in abeyance the process of teachers’ recruitment till a viable solution protecting the interests of the Islanders is reached.
Island Rights Forum is a federation of all major Associations, encompassing the majority of the population of the Islands belonging to all communities irrespective of caste, creed and religion. The Forum is supported by Andaman Mopla Service Organisation, Andaman Tamizhar Sangham, Andhra Association, Bengali Association of A & N Islands, Human Rights Organisation, Humane Touch, Island Born Association, Island Development Forum, Kerala Samajam, Local Born Association and Ranchi Association.
There have been objections from the part of the Islanders on allowing candidates from the mainland to appear for the posts based in the Islands and various representations have been made to the Administration, and the Lieutenant Governor had assured that the interests of the Islanders will be protected by ensuring a regulation within the legal and administrative framework.
It is learnt that the Administration is planning to finalize and release the merit list of candidates for the post of teachers very soon.
Hence, the Islands Rights Forum has requested that the process of recruitment may be kept in abeyance till a viable solution to the above issue is taken in favour of local applicants. It has also been brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary that if the list is released without a solution, it might create a vast resentment among the Islanders, which needs to be given due consideration.
‘Police-giri’ in Bollywood Style Cops break into a driver’s house in search of gamblers; verbally abuse lone lady and her daughter
Port Blair, Dec 22: In Bollywood masala movies Cop-heroes make an entry by tearing the posters apart and in Andaman and Nicobar Islands often Cops make an entry inside houses at late night tearing off the Bamboo Sheet walls of poor people.
On 19th December 2013 at R K Gram Diglipur a lady and her teenage daughter woke up to a rude shock. To their utter surprise they saw nearly 7 to 8 male police Jawans entered their house by tearing off the Bamboo Sheet walls of their house. When asked the reason behind such heinous act, the Police Jawans allegedly misbehaved with the lady and her daughter and verbally abused them.
It is believed that the Police team was looking for gamblers but instead of developing proper intelligence they broke into a house without permission that too at 10.30 pm.
According to a written complaint lodged to the Superintendent of Police of North and Middle Andaman by Mr. Deepak Biswas, the husband of the lady and owner of the house, after this incident, the family member approached Pradhan of the area and also the Samity Members.
But to his utter dismay when Mr. Deepak Biswas with a Samity Member of the area, reached Diglipur Police Station, the staffs of the station refused to lodge an FIR against those cops.
According to the Complaint even the SHO of PS Diglipur refused to register FIR and advised the victim family to compromise. This fact can be verified by examining the CCTV Camera footage of PS Diglipur, if those footages have not been deleted.
This is not a matter of punishing some cops or taking action against one particular SHO. This is matter of Justice. Those who suffered for the errant acts of Cops have full right to register a FIR against the cops. Moreover it is also about safety of lonely ladies who can easily become victims of miscreants in remote Islands.
DSS Vessels give Nightmares to Passengers Travelling in Night Sailings
Mohammed Sajid and Tarun Kartick
Port Blair, Dec 12: Passengers in the foreshore sector and the short inter island sector are facing a lot of problems because of the non-availability of bunks in vessels, which are deployed for the night sailings for these Islands.
The worst sufferers are the aged people, women and children. The ships that are deployed for the night sailings to Islands like Mayabunder, Diglipur, Hut Bay often have no bunks and just have seats for the passengers. Adding to the plight seats on some of the vessels are also not cushioned, which cause a lot of inconvenience for the passengers travelling by the night sailings.
Usually the passengers stay awake for the whole night because of the inconvenience of sleeping on seats. Women and children prefer to sleep on the floor of the ship but that gives no relaxation to them as whenever sea is rough, often sea water, food stuff floods on the floor. Things become further difficult if fellow passengers vomit on the floor.
Usually aged people prefer to travel by sea route than buses because of the comfort factor. The old aged people also prefer to travel during the night time because they opt to sleep while travelling to avoid inconvenience, but some of the vessels that are deployed in the night sailings by the DSS are giving them nightmares even before they think of travelling by them.
When contacted for an official comment Mr. R. Veeriah, Deputy Director, Directorate of Shipping, informed Andaman Sheekha that they have no other choice than sending vessels with only seats in night sailing, whenever good number of vessels go for repair. “We try to replace the faulty vessel with other fit vessels so that passengers do not remain stranded in islands. If we cancel the vessel just because bunks are not there then passengers will suffer more. Only when there is shortage of vessels or when too many vessels are under repair we send vessels without bunk for night sailing. We are aware of problems being faced by public and we are trying to solve this problem soon,” Mr. Veeraiah added.
After using wooden dinghies for decades Administration terms it ‘Illegal’
DJ Venkatesh
Port Blair, Dec 17: It is a well known fact that most of the villages in Diglipur Sub Division are connected with sea and the main transportation is dinghy for general public. Open sea or creeks are only means to reach remote villages like Paschim Sagar, Jagannath Dera, Ganesh Nagar, Shyam Nagar, Kishori Nagar, Haridas Katai, Ram Nagar etc.
After the Dhani Nallah Accident the Administration has suddenly got up from deep slumber and is now terming use of wooden Dinghies as ‘illegal’ for transportation of public. But experts say that compared to fiber boats, wooden dinghies are always safer, which can accommodate many passengers with a cost of only few hundred rupees per trip. Not only this, vegetables, animals, ration items can also be easily transported in these dinghies.
Even Forest Department, Revenue Department, APWD, Electricity Department are frequently using the services of wooden dinghies for departmental use since decades. The forest department owns such dinghies in many Islands and is also using it.
Recently Diesel Generators installed in 5 remote villages of North Andaman were also transported in these Dinghies, which are called as ‘illegal’ by the administration.
During elections since 1952 the administration is using the services of wooden dinghies to send election machineries and men and materials (which becomes illegal when Administration feels) to remote places, which are not connected by road like Ganesh Nagar, Beach Dera, Shanty Nagar, Sagar Dweep, Naya Katai, Burmachad, Paschim Sagar, Haran Nallah, Talbagan, Jagannth Dera.
Licenses for Fiber boats are issued by DC with the pre certification of IRS (Indian Register of Shipping). But sadly, there is no such provision by the administration to inspect the wooden dinghies by IRS. The wooden dinghies are required to operate by using the license issued by fisheries department.
There are about 536 licensed dinghies and more than one thousand unregistered dinghies in Diglipur alone. When Andaman Sheekha contacted IRS recently, officials of IRS said that the IRS is not having technology to gauge or access the age/life of the wood used in the wooden dinghy.
Licensed Fishing boats are part of parcel of the package where family men of the fishermen also travel for day today activities. Due to lack of road services during emergency like medical utilities, these wooden dinghies play the role of life line.
Even today most of the villages are not connected by road upto the jetty. The villagers are totally dependent on these dinghies for transportation, which are the only options for their survival. Many files related to road approval through forest area languishing since decades in forest offices of Islands and Mainland. There is no justification of the administration that these are illegal. With legal modifications like soften of rules, survey of dinghy by forest authority and with proper security the admin can issue license to carry the passengers.
While issuing the fishing license there is a clause that ‘All classes of fishing vessels shall have prescribed live saving appliances while at sea’.
The registration norms should be amended to suitably for fishermen so they can easily register to carry passengers. Otherwise illegal dinghies will be always here to stay.
As per the experts, instead of promoting the fiber boats the local made log Hull (Dugout) dinghies should be promoted. There is no scarcity of the Log here in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and these dugout dinghies are sea worthy as well as cheap.
A 10 passenger fiber boat costs about 10 lakhs while about 30 passenger dugout wooden dinghy costs upto 4 lacks, for which administration can also provide subsidy. If this is done then Fishermen will be easily carry passengers, without fear, in so called ‘legal’ manner.
DSS is unable to provide boat service to these remote villages and hence Administration must relax norms for these wooden dinghies, so that remote villagers can survive.
The Dhani Nallah Incident has taught us many lessons. Of course over-crowding and taking passengers without safety gears is crime but if Administration takes a step forward, these dinghies can be made totally safe for public and legal for operators.
Won’t Tolerate any Attempt to Disrupt Law and Order Situation: LG
LG wipes tears of deceased Punyawati’s family; announces ex-gratia relief
Port Blair, Dec 10: Anger and resentment in the fishermen community after the death of fisherwoman, Punyawati, allegedly for medical negligence, subsided after the Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) A K Singh met the family of the deceased fisherwoman at Raj Niwas today and expressed his deep condolences. He also announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh to the family, assured stringent action against errant medical staff, if established, and total administrative support for the bereaved family. The Lt Governor also made it clear that the Administration won’t tolerate any attempt to disrupt law and order situation in the Islands.
Interacting with a delegation of the fisher folks from South Andaman, the Lt. Governor informed that the Post Mortem Examination of Late Punyawati has been conducted in the presence of a Doctor from INHS Dhanvantri. The PME proceedings have been video-graphed and an inquiry is underway. Action will be taken against Doctors or paramedical staff of the hospital, if negligence of any sort, is established after the inquiry, he affirmed. The Administration has granted ex-gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh for the youngest daughter of the deceased, 17 year old V. Swati in the form of a fixed deposit in her name. On the demand for a regular government job, the Lt Governor, while expressing complete empathy with the bereaved family, made it clear that the Administration is not empowered to bestow jobs in such cases, more importantly when the girl is a minor. The Administration will make efforts to give her a job on daily rated basis after she attains 18 years of age and all guidance will be provided to help her secure a regular job in the Administration.
Meanwhile, talking with this Correspondent, the eldest daughter of late Punyawati, V. Kumari has assured that after the death of her mother, she will take care of the family. “It was a great feeling to meet the Lt Governor and after his assurance that the Administration will extend full support to our family, we are satisfied now”, she said.
Referring to the angry protests that followed after the demise of Puniyawati, the Lt. Governor cautioned the community to guard against disruptive behavior. “While every citizen has right to express their issues through peaceful agitations, protests that lead to damage of government property will not be accepted. The Administration is committed to serve the people of the Islands and take up cases on merit and logic but such unruly agitations will serve no purpose,” he said adding that the Police have been asked to take stern action against those elements, who damaged government property in the city.
On the fisher’s complaint of ill-treatment by the staff of GB Pant Hospital, the Lt. Governor asked the Principal Secretary (Health) and the Director of Health Services to conduct counselling sessions for doctors and Nursing staff. “The medical staff should infuse a sense of compassion towards patients so that the perception about discrimination is eliminated,” he said.
The Lt Governor also issued direction for constitution of a Committee for review of compensation schemes for fishermen affected by natural disasters. The Committee under the Chief Secretary and Secretary (Fisheries), will review the existing GoI Regulations on compensation and will submit its recommendations. The Deputy Commissioner (South Andaman) was directed to process the case for grant of compensation to the family of the missing fisherman.
Police urges public not to park vehicles along road sides during Andaman Marathon
Port Blair, Nov 21: The Andaman Chamber of Commerce is going to organize Andaman Marathon 2013 race on 24 November. The Marathon race has been divided in two categories i.e. Half Marathon and 10 K. The Half Marathon will start at 0515 Hrs. and 10 K run will start at 0520 hrs from the National Memorial, Port Blair. The route of the races will be as under:
Half Marathon : Cellular Jail-Khan Jn.- Water Sports Complex- Dharsmsala- Girls School- Corbyn’s Cove Beach- Corbyn’s Chowk- Austinabad- Phattergudda Jn.- Prothrapur Jn- Bhatubasti- Dollygunj- School- Dairy Farm – Junglighat Goalghar –Prem Nagar- Delanipur- Phoenix Bay – Light House- Syndicate Bank- Power House – Dss Gate-Marine Hall- Mohanpur- Gandhi Statue- Ratnam Market-Clock Tower –Narayan Chowk-Dharamsala – Marina Park- Netaji Stadium 2nd Gate.
10 K: Cellular Jail-Khan Jn-Water Sports Complex- Dharamsala- Narayan Chowk- Chock Tower- Model School- Post Office- Bengali Club-Middle Point-Goal Ghar Prem Nagar- Delanipur- Teal House- Van Sadan-Van Vikas – Chatham PS Jn- Foreshore Road-Phoenix Bay Power House-Marine Hall-Mohanpura-Gandhi Statue-Ratham Market Clock-Tower- Narayan Chowk-Dharamsala-Marina Park Netaji Stadium 2nd Gate.
Apart from the above, a “Run for Fun” will also be flagged off at 0525 hrs. from the same venue which will be concluded at Netaji Stadium. The routes will be Khan Jn. – Water Sports Complex- Dharamsala Jn- Girls School Crossing- Scout Hut Jn. and Main entrance gate of Netaji Stadium.
Both races (Half Marathon and 10 k) will conclude at Netaji Stadium. The Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, shall flag off the Runs and give away prizes. A large number of runners are going to participate in both races as well large public are also expected to come out to witness and enjoy the event.
All members of the public and vehicle drivers/owners are requested to extend their co-operation by not parking their vehicles on road sides in the routes of the rate and take care to keep the road free for smooth conduct of the races.
Mockery of Mock Drill at Diglipur
DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Nov 13: The Directorate of Disaster Management A & N Administration in collaboration with Andaman & Nicobar Command, National Disaster Management Authority, National Disaster Response and INCOIS a Mock Exercise for the students of GSSS Diglipur on 12th Nov, 2013.
Before the drill a detailed explanation of the whole exercise was given by Mr. Gyan Singh, Assistant Director and his associates. The mock drill was conducted in presence of the Disaster Management Team, personnel from the Police Department, Fire Service, Revenue Department, APWD and the teaching staff of GSSS Diglipur.
But what a mockery it turned out to be, apart from five staffs of the Disaster Management team everyone seemed to be having a good time enjoying their life outside the comforts of their offices.
The students were instructed to evacuate the school and move towards a safer ground at Vivekanada stadium by covering their heads with their school bags. The school has only one exit and it took around 12 minutes for all the 1200 students to evacuate the two storied building constructed in 1000 Sq mt area. After majority students reached the stadium five teams of students were formed and were instructed to evacuated those, which are hurt.
During the whole exercise the no help from the teaching fraternity were taken and all the other officers also were taking the exercise for granted. The police personnel were seen controlling the traffic and the other responsible officers were seen enjoying the whole show.
The mock drill didn’t comply with any standards that had to be followed and just seemed an effort for doing something for the sake of doing. Standard Operating Protocols (SOP) need to followed while these type of mock drills to prepare the students and the employees for any situation. In a place like Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which is prone to earthquakes, these type of drills need to be taken seriously.
Standard Operation Procedure along with the evacuation route needs to be displayed in all the schools and the drill has to be performed very seriously and professionally involving all the officers and teachers.
Ghost of Attestation Still haunts Island Youths :::: Two Departments under Same Administration adopts different work cultures
D J Venkatesh
Port Blair, Nov 11: Thanks to the intervention of the Lt. Governor of A & N Islands, Lt. Gen (Retd.) A K Singh and the Member of Parliament of A & N Islands, Mr. B P Ray that this time the Education Department has allowed self attestation of testimonials in the recruitment drive initiated by the Department to fill up 422 posts of PGTs, GTTs, PSTs. Such step has come as a great relief for aspiring candidates, who, otherwise, had to run pillar to post to get their certificates attested from Gazetted Officers.
Sadly there are other departments, which still follow the colonial system of Attestation by Gazetted Officers. For example, while Education Department is demanding self attested documents, Agriculture Department is not only demanding Attested (by Gazetted Officers) documents but also attested photographs from candidates. Andaman and Nicobar Administration has strange work culture. If the Lt. Governor desires the Administration can term ‘day’ as ‘night’ and if the Lt. Governor does not pay attention in any issue, the concern department follows age old British rule, troubling general public.
When in mainland India the Central Government has already started adopting the system of Self Attestation, most of the departments in this UT Administration are still following the age old system of Attestation by Gazetted officers.
Andaman Sheekha had earlier published a document, which showed that the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances had recently issued an office memorandum in which he has urged for adopting the system of Self Certification/ Self Attestation.
Mr. Sanjay Kothari, the Secretary to the Government of India in his office memorandum has mentioned that the Second Administrative Reforms Commission in its 12th Report titled “Citizen Centric Administration – The Heart of Governance”, has recommended, adoption of self-certification provision for simplifying procedures.
He added that taking a cue from this some Ministries and State Governments have adopted the provision of self-certification of documents like marksheets, birth certificate etc. by the applicants and 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.
“You will appreciate that the above method 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 of the competent authority,” the office memorandum number No.K-11022/67/2012-AR, dated 10th May, 2013 says.
This clearly means that if the head of the state feels, he can order for making provision for self certification of documents while applying for any job or work in Administration.
Hope the new Lt. Governor who has shown exceptional courage to change many things going against the tide for public welfare, will look into this matter and withdraw the colonial system of attestation by Gazetted officers, which will be a great blessing for the people of these Islands.
Congress party congratulates Ms Reena Kumari for her excellent show at International Level
Port Blair, Oct 21: PCC President Kuldeep Rai Sharma and all leaders have congratulated Ms Reena Kumari daughter of Shri Sukra Kerketta, Mazdoor of Rubber Project at Mildera, Katchal for bringing 1 silver and 1 bronze medal in the Sr. Women 500 mtr double and single scull held at Bangalore during June 2013 and 1 silver medal in 2000 mtr in the Coxless four along with her team mates in the 19th Asian Jr. Rowing Championship held at Samarkand, Uzbekistan from 13th to 16 October, 2013.
Prior to these achievements, Ms Reena has also received bronze medal in 1000 mtr Jr. Women double scull in the 32th Jr. National Rowing Championship, Alleppey during November, 2011, 2 silver medals in 500 mtrs sprint in Coxless pairs at Tamilnadu during June 2012. Kuldeep has wished her a bright future.
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