Archives for April 6, 2025

Sri Vijaya Puram, Apr 06: The 3rd Edition of “Checkmate on Streets – Chess for Everyone” concluded with great energy and community spirit this evening at Chouldari Junction, South Andaman, drawing an enthusiastic and diverse crowd of chess lovers from the local community and beyond.
Organized as a unique street chess initiative, the event transformed the busy Chouldari junction into a lively, open-air chess arena, where enthusiasts of all ages engaged in friendly yet spirited games. The vibrant street-side atmosphere, filled with spectators, laughter, and thoughtful moves, truly brought the spirit of the game alive.
The event was formally inaugurated by Mr. Mohan Halder, Ex-Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Chouldari, who made the ceremonial first move on the giant garden chess board against Mr. Mohd. Irshad Ahmed, Assistant Director (PE/Sports), Department of Education, setting the tone for an exciting evening of chess.
The event received an overwhelming response from the local community, with participants displaying great enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and a shared love for the game. To honour their participation, all players were felicitated with gifts as a token of appreciation for their passion and commitment.
More than just a chess event, Checkmate on Streets once again proved to be a celebration of community, camaraderie, and intergenerational bonding – showcasing how the timeless game of chess continues to inspire and unite.
“Chess truly belongs everywhere – and today, it belonged to the streets of Chouldari,” echoed the sentiment of many who took part in this joyful celebration of the game.

 

Port Blair Guru Ki Rasoi, a local organization dedicated to community welfare, has successfully organized a comprehensive Awareness Programme focused on Mental Health, Drug Abuse, and Child Safety. The event was specially designed for Nodal Teachers of the School Health Programme (SHP) and Health and Wellness Ambassadors (HWAs) from the South Andaman region.

The programme aimed to equip these influential educators and community leaders with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to address these critical issues in their respective schools and communities. The event brought together key stakeholders from the education and health sectors to discuss the importance of mental health support, the growing concern of drug abuse, and the safety of children in an ever-evolving world.

Key Highlights of the Awareness Programme:
•Mental Health Awareness: Sessions focused on identifying mental health challenges among students and community members, reducing stigma, and providing resources for support.
• Drug Abuse Prevention: Experts highlighted the dangers of drug abuse, particularly among youth, and shared preventative measures and intervention strategies.
• Child Safety: The importance of creating safe environments for children was emphasized, with discussions on how to recognize and report signs of abuse or neglect.

The sessions conducted by Dr Kushal Baidya, MBBS,DNB.

It provided a platform for participants to share experiences, ask questions, and receive guidance on addressing these issues in their daily work.

Mr. Mandeep Grewal, Founder of Port Blair Guru Ki Rasoi, expressed his gratitude for the active participation of all the attendees. He emphasized, “The well-being of our children and youth is fundamental to the future of our society. By empowering our Nodal Teachers and Health and Wellness Ambassadors with the right knowledge and skills, we are taking significant steps towards building a safer and healthier community for everyone.”

The initiative was lauded by local education officers, who emphasized the need for continuous awareness campaigns and support systems within schools. It also received strong support from community members, many of whom expressed a keen interest in expanding these efforts across more regions of South Andaman.

Port Blair Guru Ki Rasoi remains committed to promoting awareness and providing support for mental health, drug abuse prevention, and child safety, with a goal to create a lasting positive impact on the well-being of the youth in the region.

 

Sri Vijaya Puram, Apr. 6: As part of ongoing efforts to promote learning, reading books and community engagement, a village library has been inaugurated in the Gram Panchayat Mithakhari, South Andaman in the first phase. The village library is poised to become a vital resource for the community, providing access to wealth of information, educational materials and recreational reading. The initiative aims to empower students, foster a love for reading and promote literacy in the region. The momentous occasion was graced by the esteemed presence of the Director of Education, Shri Vikram Singh as the chief guest.
In his address on the occasion, the Director (Education) highlighted the importance of reading and it is an excellent way to acquire knowledge and learn new concepts. He further stated that reading exposes us to wide range of words, phrases and language structure, which can help improve our vocabulary and communication skills. Sonalika Publication has donated books supporting to setup the library while the collection enrich the growth of the library. Large number of students, villagers attended the function and participated in the various activities.
Shri Mohd. Shafique, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Mithakhari, Shri S Suresh Kumar, Deputy Director of Education (Planning), Shri Anbarasan, Incharge, State Library and Ms. Pushpa Goswami of Sonalika Publishers were also present in the occasion.