Archives for October 2024

I am deeply saddened to learn about the sad demise of Shri Peter Giles, retired Senior Private Secretary, A&N Administration, who left us on the morning of 1st October 2024 after battling a prolonged illness.
At the age of 80, he leaves behind a legacy of dedication and service to our Islands. His contributions to the A&N Administration will always be remembered.
As the father of Shri Denis Giles, Editor of Andaman Chronicle, he was also a pillar of strength for his family and the community. My heartfelt condolences go out to the entire Giles family during this difficult time. May God grant them the strength to bear this irreparable loss.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Kuldeep Rai Sharma,
Former Member of Parliament,
Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 01: Ms. V. K. Mariyam Bibi, Chairperson of the Social Justice Committee, Zilla Parishad South Andaman, accompanied by Mr. A. Ummer, Zilla Parishad Member Wimberlygunj, Mr. Laxmi Narayan, Samity Member, and Mrs. Rasheeda, Pradhan Hope Town, met with Mr. B. C. Sarkar, Deputy Director (Shipping).
The delegation highlighted the issues faced by the general public due to the non-availability of the passenger ferry service in the Bambooflat – Chatham sector. Commuters, particularly teachers, office staff, students, and others, have been experiencing significant hardship due to the lack of ferry services.
The delegates requested the Deputy Director to expedite the resumption of the harbour ferry service to alleviate the ongoing difficulties faced by the community. Additionally, they raised the issue of relocating the ticket counter from the passenger hall to the designated shed at Chatham Jetty for smoother operations.
In response, Mr B. C. Sarkar assured the delegates that the necessary steps will be taken at the earliest to resolve the concerns and restore the ferry service.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 01: CITU has observed 30th September, 2024 as All India Demands Day throughout the country, on the common issues and demands of contract workers/ non-permanent workers.
In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Mass Demonstration was held at 4 p.m. today (30.09.2024) in front of PBMC Office at Port Blair. Addressing the large gathering of workers, B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU A & N State Committee briefly explained the issues on which the CITU has conducted campaign and observing today as the All India Demands Day. He said that the government is going ahead in a faster way with the contractorisation of regular work. He said that in Andaman & Nicobar Islands also, the number of outsourcing and contract workers is increasing every year.
SP Kalairajan and Anand Rajan, Secretaries of CITU also addressed the gathering. A large number of workers from various unions at Port Blair attended the programme. The demands highlighted during the period are (1) Job security for all contract workers (2) Abolish Contract Raj and fixed term employment (3) Equal wage and benefits for equal work (4) Regularise all contract workers in permament/perennial jobs, etc.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 01: In a united effort to promote environmental sustainability and community involvement, Andaman Watersports Adventures (AWA), Rashtriya Life Saving Society of India (RLSSI), and Here and Beyond (HAB) Learning Pvt Ltd, in collaboration with Port Blair Municipal Council (PBMC), organized a beach cleanup at Brookshabad Beach on the 1st of October.
This collaborative event has 18 students and 2 teachers from Calcutta International School team up with 20 Safai Mitras from PBMC to clean one of our most polluted coastlines. The initiative aims to raise awareness about the critical importance of keeping our beaches clean and safeguarding the marine ecosystem.
Following the clean-up, the students will be taken to the segregation unit by PBMC where the various initiatives and efforts and procedures will be explained by an official.
The event not only focuses on environmental restoration but also seeks to educate and engage the younger generation on the importance of social responsibility and sustainability. Through hands-on participation, students will gain valuable insights into the environmental challenges facing coastal areas, and the vital role that community action plays in addressing them.
Event Details:
• Date: 1st October 2024
• Location: Brookshabad.
• Time: 2 pm onward
• Participants: 18 students and 2 teachers from Calcutta International School, 20 Safai Mitras from PBMC.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 01: On 30th September 2024, Swachhta Hi Seva, 2024 program was organized at IGNOU Regional Centre, Port Blair. The program was organized on the occasion of “SwachhtaPakhwada, 2024” and attended by Regional Centre staff, students, SafaiMitra, and participants of essay, poster making and slogan competitions.Mr. Sudeep Rai Sharma inaugurated the programme. He focused on public partnership in the Swachh Bharat Mission. He also requested the audience to support and help Safai Mitra in their work. Dr. N. Somorjit Singh, Head of Office Anthropological Survey of India, Sri Vijaya Puram delivered the keynote address. He emphasized on the cooperation between Anthropological Survey of India and IGNOU for academic excellence. He also appreciated the contribution of the National Centre for Innovation in Distance Education, IGNOU for encouraging learners to innovate.
Winners of Poster making and Slogan Competition were felicitated with medals and certificates. Prof. (Dr.) Sunil Jacob, Regional Director, Dr. Sudarshan Raja, ARD, and Dr. Uday Kumar ARD Regional Centre, Port Blair and Dr. Satya Prakash, Assistant Professor, JNRM, Port Blair also spoke at the Meeting. Mr. Deepankar Das from Diglipur was also felicitated on the occasion for receiving the Indian patent.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 01: The Regional Station, Minicoy, of ICAR-CIARI, Sri Vijayapuram, conducted an “Awareness Programme on Organic Farming and Input Distribution under the Scheduled Tribe Component (STC)” for the welfare of farmers in Minicoy on 27th September 2024. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Gladston Y. and Dr. Ajina S. M., scientists at ICAR-CIARI, Regional Station, Minicoy, interacted with the farmers and highlighted the status of organic farming in the Lakshadweep Islands.The farmers gained knowledge about integrated pest management, biofertilizer production and its application and organic agriculture. A demonstration on the use of yellow sticky traps, nano urea, and their application in organic farming was also conducted. Mr. Arif M.I., Senior Technician, provided technical guidance to the participants in ‘Mahl’ (the local language).A total of 37 farmers participated in the programme. Inputs such as nano urea and yellow sticky traps were distributed to 23 male and 10 female farmers in the presence of Mr. Tajul Hassan from the Department of Agriculture. The overall conduct of the programme was coordinated by Dr. R. Kiruba Sankar, Nodal Officer for Lakshadweep, under the chairmanship of Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, Director of ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 01: A “Skill Development Training on Scientific Backyard Poultry Farming for Rural Livelihood” was organized by ICAR-KVK, Nimbudera, in collaboration with the Division of Animal Science, ICAR-CIARI, Sri Viyaya Puram, as part of the 100-day Action Plan in the North and Middle Andaman districts from 24th to 28th September 2024. The training sessions were held at Nimbudera, Mayabunder, and Diglipur, with the aim of empowering rural farmers by equipping them with advanced poultry farming skills to enhance their livelihood opportunities. The program was inaugurated by Mr. P. R. Singaram, Gram Pradhan of Subhashgram Gram Panchayat, Diglipur, who encouraged participants to make the most of the opportunity. He highlighted the economic benefits of backyard poultry farming and assured his support for participants’ future entrepreneurial endeavors. He also stressed the importance of integrating poultry farming with other agricultural practices to achieve sustainable benefits. Dr. T. Sujatha, Principal Scientist at ICAR CIARI, provided insights into scientific poultry farming, emphasizing low-cost shelters, general management, and the significance of balanced feed. She explained how to manage common poultry diseases, zoonosis prevention, vaccination, and biosecurity measures, while also sharing ethno-veterinary medicinal practices essential for the rural context.
Dr. Bhojne Nagnath, Senior Veterinary Officer from Diglipur, and Dr. Sunita Roy, Senior Veterinary Officer from Billiground, discussed various government schemes under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS) aimed at promoting livestock development and supporting rural farmers through improved veterinary care and livestock integration. Dr. Sharath S. Yeligar, Scientist in Agricultural Economics at ICAR CIARI, educated farmers on the fundamentals of market economics and supply chain management, empowering them to maximize profits from their poultry ventures.Dr. V. Damodaran, Senior Scientist and Head of ICAR-KVK Nimbudera, highlighted the immense potential of backyard poultry farming in the North and Middle Andaman regions. He urged farmers and farm women to adopt modern poultry practices, including improved breeds, advanced feeding systems, and efficient disease management, to ensure higher productivity. He also encouraged the use of poultry manure for vermicomposting, promoting organic agriculture and increased farm income. Mr. Yatharth Sharma, SMS (Home Science), presented a session on post-harvest processing and value addition of poultry products, addressing the rising market demand for processed poultry items. He highlighted the nutritional benefits of consuming poultry products rich in essential nutrients, especially for pregnant and lactating women, which play a crucial role in children’s growth and preventing malnutrition during early development stages. Mr. Subam Debroy, SMS (Aquaculture), provided a comprehensive overview of integrated poultry farming practices, explaining how poultry farming can be combined with fish culture and other agricultural activities to optimize resources and increase farm income.
The program witnessed enthusiastic participation from rural farmers, self-help groups, and women’s groups, who gained practical knowledge to improve their livelihoods through scientific poultry farming. The training marked another step toward sustainable agricultural development in the North and Middle Andaman region. Earlier, Mr. Yatharth Sharma welcomed the gathering and provided an overview of the training program, which was organized under the guidance of Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, Director of ICAR-CIARI, Sri Vijaya Puram. About 77 farmers and farm women participated and benefited from the training.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 01: Directorate of Social Welfare remains dedicated to promoting a healthy and drug- free society through its innovative initiative, the Awareness cum Fitness Programme, commonly referred to as the Hasgulla Club, as part of the “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan” (Drug-Free India Campaign). The event, which took place on Saturday and Sunday from 5:30 AM to 7:00 AM, was met with enthusiastic participation from the local community, reflecting a shared commitment to fostering a healthy and drug-free society.
Hasgulla Club initiative combines physical fitness with drug awareness. Saturday sessions are led by Mr. Ravinder Rao, a teacher renowned for his expertise in the “Art of Living”. He also highlighted that laughter is the best medicine for our lives, emphasizing the positive impact of humor on overall happiness and Sunday sessions are programmed by Shihan M.S. Murgan, an expert in physical fitness and mental health. Internationally renowned as a laughter and yoga ambassador, Shihan M.S Murgan, not only shared his expertise but also taught various ways to make participants laugh. He underscored the significance of incorporating regular workouts into daily routines, emphasizing the positive impact on overall well-being and the importance of avoiding Junk foods.
Dr. Nitin Shakya, Director (Social Welfare), underscored the importance of physical well-being, encouraging community members to make yoga and meditation part of their regular routine. He emphasized that initiatives like the Hasgulla Club offer the public a valuable opportunity to enhance both their physical fitness and mental clarity, while also promoting awareness about the dangers of drug use.
The Directorate of Social Welfare invites all interested individuals to join the transformative Hasgulla Club program. Scheduled every Saturday and Sunday at Joggers Park from 5:30 AM to 7:00 AM, the program provides a unique opportunity to engage in fitness and awareness activities, contributing to a healthier and drug-free lifestyle for more information and to become a part of this empowering initiative, please contact the Nodal Officer (Prohibition), Phone:-03192-244386, 9933281717.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 01: Communist Party of India (Marxist), Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee condoles the demise of Mr. Peter Giles, retired Senior Private Secretary, A & N Administration today (1.10.2024) morning after a prolonged illness. He was 80 years old. The funeral procession will begin from his residence Libra Cottage, Brichgunj Chowk, Prothrapore, Port Blair at 11 a.m. on 2nd October, 2024. Mr. Denis Giles, Editor, Andaman Chronicle is the elder son of late Peter Giles. CPI (M) conveys its heartfelt condolences to the family members of late Peter Giles.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 01: ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (CIARI), South Andaman conducted a two days training programme on “Natural Farming Input Preparation” under 100 days action plan on 27th and 30th September 2024 at Guptapara, South Andaman. The training programme was inaugurated in the presence of Pradhan, Gupta Para, Mr. Durlab Das, Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Pr. Scientist & Head, KVK, Port Blair and other PRI members. In the inaugural address, Mr. Durlab Das emphasised on the benefits of consuming naturally grown food. Dr Y. Ramakrishna, motivated the participants to adopt natural farming practices for food production and thereby to contribute towards achieving nutritional security of the country.Mr. Thanmai Paul, Farm Manager, KVK demonstrated the preparation of Jeevamrut, Neemastra, Beejamrut and Ghana jeevamrut from locally available ingredients. Kumari Sushma, SMS, Horticulture, discussed about benefits of growing spices naturally without the use of chemical fertilizers. A total of 40 farmers and farm women participated and benefited from the training programme.The training programme was conducted under the supervision and guidance Dr.Eaknath Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.