Archives for March 4, 2025

Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar 04: CPI (M) Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee expresses deep grief at the passing away of Comrade Sobha Mazumdar, former President of the All India Democratic Women’s Association, A & N State Committee and CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee Member at CHC, Rangat today (4.3.2025) afternoon. She was 73 years.
A resident of Nimbutala, Rangat, Com. Sobha Mazumdar was Pradhan of Nimbutala Gram Panchayat and Member of Home Minister’s Advisory Committee (HMAC). She was a committed leader and was in the forefront of various movements of AIDWA and CPI(M). She has been keeping away from political activities for the last few years on health grounds. CPI (M) remembers her invaluable contribution in organizing the people under the banner of the party in Middle Andaman during the 1980s and 1990s. She remained unmarried. Her funeral will be conducted on 5.3.2025 at Nimbutala.
CPI (M) pays rich homage to her memory and conveys its deepest condolences to the bereaved family members.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar. 4: A two-day workshop is being organized by the State Institute of Education (SIE), Sri Vijaya Puram, in collaboration with PARAKH, NCERT, New Delhi at the Government Model Senior Secondary School Auditorium, Aberdeen Bazaar which focuses on the effective implementation of the Holistic Progress Card (HPC) across schools in the Union Territory.
The event was inaugurated today by the Principal, State Institute of Education. The importance of adopting the Holistic Progress Card (HPC) in its true spirit across schools was emphasised.
The Holistic Progress Card (HPC) is designed to align assessments with competency-based learning, a key mandate of the National Education Policy. Notably, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are among the few States and Union Territories where NCERT-designed HPCs are utilized up to the secondary stage. To ensure smooth implementation, the Samagra Shiksha unit of the Education Department has provided hard copies of HPCs to all schools.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Indrani Bhaduri, CEO of PARAKH, NCERT, New Delhi, elaborated on PARAKH’s nationwide initiatives in fostering competency-based education. She emphasized that NEP 2020 prioritizes formative assessments, shifting learning responsibility beyond teachers to include students, peers, and parents. She also highlighted the need for assessments to incorporate a diverse range of tools and techniques, ensuring equal focus on all domains of learning, not just cognitive skills—an approach fully integrated into the Holistic Progress Card framework.
Dr. Vivek Gupta and Dr. Krishna Saxena from NCERT, along with two resource persons from SIE, are leading the two-day workshop. The workshop aims to equip teachers with the necessary skills and understanding to effectively implement the Holistic Progress Card system, providing a more comprehensive assessment of students’ learning and development in line with the new educational framework. These trained teachers will further train all teachers of their Cluster Resource Centers (CRC), thus targeting 100% coverage across the Islands.
This workshop marks a significant step toward strengthening competency-based education in the Union Territory, equipping teachers with the knowledge and tools to implement HPCs effectively across all grades. The inaugural function concluded with a vote of thanks by Shri Shaji Thomas, Faculty, SIE.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar. 4: In exercise of powers conferred under the M.V. Act 1988 (Act No.59 of 1988) read with Administration’s Notification No./2008/F.No.32-95/2008-TR, dated 10th March, 2008, the District Magistrate, South Andaman has notified for the information of all concerned that the link road in front of Invent Public School, Prothrapur is very narrow and not sufficient for two-way traffic. In the interest of public safety and road efficiency, and taking into account the explicit recommendation of the Traffic Branch, this stretch has been declared as ‘One Way’.

 

Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar. 4: Hon’ble Justice Soumen Sen and Hon’ble Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury, Judges of the Calcutta High Court shall be sitting/holding Circuit Court at Port Blair on and from 10.03.2025 to 24.03.2025 (both days inclusive).

Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar. 4: Livestock traditionally plays a crucial role in the lives of the tribal community in these Islands. The Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS) supports livestock activities in tribal areas through its various schemes. Recently under the Poultry, Piggery and Goat Development Scheme the Department distributed pig and backyard poultry Govt. Poultry Farm, Campbell Bay to the Shompen Tribes of Great Nicobar Islands on 100 percent subsidy. The distribution was effected in the presence of BDO Campbell Bay and the In-charge AAJVS at Campbell Bay.
Earlier during February 2025, an outreach was established with the efforts of the Department to Trinket Bay and Lawful Bay. Animal Health Care and Veterinary Services were provided and backyard poultry birds were also distributed. An awareness on good Animal Husbandry Practices was also given to the Shompen Tribe population on the occasion.

 

Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar 04: The State Institute of Education (SIE), Sri Vijayapuram, in collaboration with PARAKH, NCERT, New Delhi, is conducting a two-day workshop on March 4–5, 2025, at the Government Model Senior Secondary School Auditorium, Aberdeen Bazar. The workshop focuses on the effective implementation of the Holistic Progress Card (HPC) across schools in the Union Territory.
The event was inaugurated by the Principal, State Institute of Education. Emphasizing the importance of adopting the Holistic Progress Card (HPC) in its true spirit across schools, it was highlighted that the Union Territory introduced HPC at the foundational stage in 2023–24, now extended up to Class X. The need for teachers to understand curricular goals, competencies, and innovative pedagogies under NEP 2020 was also stressed.
The Holistic Progress Card (HPC) is designed to align assessments with competency-based learning, a key mandate of the National Education Policy. Notably, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are among the few states and Union Territories where NCERT-designed HPCs are utilized up to the secondary stage. To ensure smooth implementation, the Samagra Shiksha unit of the Education Department has provided hard copies of HPCs to all schools.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Indrani Bhaduri, CEO of PARAKH, NCERT, New Delhi, elaborated on PARAKH’s nationwide initiatives in fostering competency-based education. She emphasized that NEP 2020 prioritizes formative assessments, shifting learning responsibility beyond teachers to include students, peers, and parents. She also highlighted the need for assessments to incorporate a diverse range of tools and techniques, ensuring equal focus on all domains of learning, not just cognitive skills—an approach fully integrated into the Holistic Progress Card framework.
Dr. Vivek Gupta and Dr. Krishna Saxena from NCERT, along with two resource persons from SIE, are leading the two-day workshop. The workshop aims to equip teachers with the necessary skills and understanding to effectively implement the Holistic Progress Card system, providing a more comprehensive assessment of students’ learning and development in line with the new educational framework. These trained teachers will further train all teachers of their Cluster Resource Centers (CRC), thus targeting 100% coverage across the islands.
This workshop marks a significant step toward strengthening competency-based education in the Union Territory, equipping teachers with the knowledge and tools to implement HPCs effectively across all grades. The inaugural function concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Shaji Thomas, Faculty, SIE.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar. 4: Providing Government services at the doorsteps of citizen have always been at the forefront of A&N Administration’s vision. Transport Department apart from providing public transport services in the UT also undertakes various registration and driving license services. It has issued licenses to Motor Driving Schools to impart training in driving of motor vehicles for different class of vehicles. At present, 36 private motor driving schools are operating in South Andaman and N & M Andaman but none in Nicobar District. Observing that no motor driving school is operating in the southern group of Islands, Chief Secretary, A & N Administration directed Transport Department to take necessary action for imparting skill development training to particularly the local youths of Nicobar District in various Technical Trades including imparting driving skills.
Complying with the directions, Transport Department has established the first Motor Driving School which is owned by the Government within the premises of STS Unit Car Nicobar to provide training in driving LMV& HMV class of vehicles.
The new Motor Driving School was virtually inaugurated by the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, today in the presence of all senior Officers of Andaman & Nicobar Administration and Tribal leaders of Car Nicobar.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Secretary emphasized on the need for extending all the benefits covered in various programs of the Government to all the residents of the Islands. Opening of a Driving School will not only allow the local residents, especially the tribal, males as well as females to learn correct method of motor vehicle driving but also give them an additional employment opportunity and empower them. It was directed to ensure coverage of maximum number of tribal youths for development of their driving skills by making the training affordable.
Prior to the inauguration, a brief on the necessity for the School and process of establishment of the Driving School was given by the Transport Department through a short video. It was also informed that no new infrastructure has been created for this in the establishment of the School but it was done with the available infrastructure and resources.
This Motor Driving School has been equipped with classrooms, simulator, sign boards, spare parts, dual control vehicles, equipments, tools etc as per the norms provided in the Central Motor Vehicle Laws. The training will be imparted by the Motor Vehicle Inspector and senior drivers posted at STS Unit Car Nicobar.
The Department has started receiving good number of requests from the local residents for obtaining training on driving of motor vehicles and the enthusiasm shows that the applications are bound to surge in future. In another activity related to skilling of local youths, Transport Department has already engaged three local youths of Car Nicobar under the Apprenticeship program in the field of Motor Mechanic and auto Electrician and they have started taking the training in Car Nicobar Workshop of Transport Department. More eligible youths will be covered under the program.
A local level program was also organized in the premises of STS Unit Car Nicobar where the plaque of the Driving School was unveiled by the Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar District in the presence of Tribal Captains and local residents.
Local tribal leaders have also expressed their gratitude for establishing the driving school in Car Nicobar as it will allow the locals to learn driving in their localities and they do not have to move out to other places for this purpose. This Motor Driving School will immensely benefit the local tribal youths aspiring to obtain driving license as earlier they were forced to visit Sri Vijaya Puram causing heavy financial burden owing to the additional cost of fooding and lodging apart from the driving school fee. The un-employed youths and especially the tribal community will now have an opportunity of self-employment by way of gaining various life skills and empowering themselves. They can also become eligible for recruitment to the posts of various Government jobs by acquiring these skills.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar. 4: The Department of Sports and Youth Affairs is going to celebrate Women’s Day on Mar. 8 at Netaji Stadium Complex, Sri Vijaya Puram.  In this connection, the Department will be organizing various sports competitions for women (Govt. Servant and general public) as per detail given below:

S.No	Age Group	Events
1.	Above 18 yrs to Below 40 yrs	5 A side Football, Volleyball, Badminton (Doubles), Cycling, Athletics (100 mts sprint & 4×100 mts relay and Shot put) and Sack race
2.	Above 41yrs to Below 60 yrs	Walking Race, Spoon Marble race, Reverse Walking and Passing the Ball.
3.	Exclusive for women above 18 years	Chess and Tug of War

All the interested women have been requested to register their names to Dr. S. Usha Rani, PET, Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Netaji Stadium, Sri Vijaya Puram Mobile No. 9531929184 on or before Mar. 7.