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- Amlan Dutta
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The Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been known for its rich diverse and endemic flora and fauna, its thick and varied forest types, its coral reefs with high biodiversity indexes have been well documented for their conservation values. But there never has been a wetland of sizable importance in these islands. The only wetlands have been the numerous mangrove creeks in both Andaman and Nicobar island groups. A contiguous wetland ecosystem has never been a part of the island bio-geography.
This changed with the boxing day tsunami and the earthquake which caused it on 26th Dec 2004, tectonic forces had changed the shore profile of the islands and the invading sea which had claimed a sizable chunk of agricultural land at Sippighat and the surrounding villages of Taylorabad, Garacharma, Attam Pahad never retreated creating a wetland here in these lowlands. Spanning a vast area, these wetlands are best described as separate water bodies and marsh lands comprising of several connected blocks of different eco-types in different stages of ecological succession, some being of shallow & medium depths colonized by reeds, marshes, mangroves and mangrove associates while some are deep water blocks with breeding fish stocks. Being connected with the sea results in daily tidal flushing, bringing in nutrients and fresh fish stock to this wetlands, while fresh water inflow occurs during both the NE & SW Monsoons to this water-body making it a dynamic ecosystem.
Known as the Sippighat wetlands this site today is a rich and evolving wetland ecosystem. The current status of the Sippighat wetlands is that it stands on revenue & private land holdings. The conservation value of these wetlands can be easily judged by resident and migratory water fowl as well as raptors which have started colonizing these wetlands, its proximity to Port Blair and ease in accessibility ensure it being a must-visit birding spot in the itineraries of both amateur and serious bird watchers. This ease however also attracts local hunters who have been frequenting this site for hunting the Lesser Whistling & the endemic Andaman Teal inhabiting these wetlands.
Wetlands have very short nutrient cycles and thus are one of the most dynamic ecosystems easily colonized by biota and just as easily can become waste lands as a result of mismanagement. Being recently formed it has yet to be colonized by heronries and that day might not be far away if these wetlands are protected and managed properly.
This wetland is a potential Ramsar site being a habitat for endemic species like the Andaman Teal. It could be a good conservation success story if proper steps are taken for its management.
There is a real and urgent need to study and document the ecosystem of these wetlands so that a conservation policy can be framed for its protection and management. A well-managed Sippighat Wetlands could be a high value tourist destination, involving the local community in its protection and management would generate a sense of ownership among the community itself making it a wonderful success story creating new bench marks in conservation.
- Amlan Dutta (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Disclaimer: The views expressed are the writer’s own.
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- Bency Joy
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Bency Joy
PHd Scholar in Psychology
GSSS Sabari Jn, Rangat
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- Bency Joy
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Why we celebrate Children’s Day? Is it a mere day for celebration or there is something else behind it. Do the parents and elders in the society have to do anything with the Children’s Day celebrations? Do we elders/parents take time to be a part of our kids Children’s Day. For many parents, it is an important date and they take initiative to celebrate Children's Day by giving gifts and spend the day with them to make them feel special. Are you among one of the parent mentioned above. If not take a chance this year to be a parent of this kind and make a difference in your child’s life.
Children’s Day is a reminder to all elders and parents to renew their commitment for the welfare of the children’s. Childhood is about innocence and playfulness. It is about joy and freedom.
Childhood is perhaps the best part of anyone’s life as during this time we enjoy life to the fullest. Children’s do not know what sorrow is, they do not know the harsh realities of time and go about being happy in their own merry world.
Children’s Day is a special day that aims to celebrate childhood, the most wonderful stage in the life of a person. Celebrating Children’s Day is about giving children the right to enjoy and grow into healthy and educated citizens of the country. If parents/Elders can teach their child the value of sharing with others what they are lucky to have, then not only your child will grow into a responsible human being, but also another child who otherwise could have ended up being a delinquent, had it not been for your thoughtfulness. We cannot hide the fact that many children in India are not getting basic privilege like education. Many Children are earning money instead of playing. The true essence of Children’s Day is to understand the significance of Childhood in our lives. The values and disciplines learned as a child are responsible for the kind of adulthood one has. Thus Childhood is special and should be celebrated to remind all young and adults about Children’s right to enjoy their childhood without any boundaries and to be educated adult in the future.
It is our prime duty to provide our children’s with a safe and loving environment in which they can grow as well as giving them ample and equal opportunities through which they can take great strides and contribute to the progress of nation.
BY Bency Joy, GSSS Sabari, Rangat
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- Bency Joy
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Discipline and Education are the two major components involved in the process of any kind of teaching learning situation. The goal of Education is to help people use their minds better to think about what’s true in the world and what’s not true, what’s beautiful and what may not so qualify, what’s ethical and what’s not. For any type of learning, discipline is must and a pre requisite. Discipline in any sense should not be considered as something rigid and rude as commonly perceived by everyone.
Discipline is referred to systematic instruction given to disciples to train them as students in a craft or trade, or to follow a particular code of conduct or "order". Often, the phrase "to discipline" carries a negative connotation. This is because enforcement of order – that is, ensuring instructions are carried out – is often regulated through punishment. “The word discipline comes from the Latin word disciplina, meaning ‘teaching, learning.’ Discipline shares a common root with the word disciple: ‘one who accepts and helps to spread the teachings of another’”
Discipline may be treated as a tool required in the proper management of all aspects that are conductive for a perfect teaching learning environment. A good and nurturing environment is very much required to have a positive learning to occur. It is the prime duty of a teacher to mould his students in a positive manner so that they can excel in life with exceptional capabilities and skills. Discipline is required in every activity one indulges in since the morning to one retires for the night. Discipline is the only path which can lead an individual to a bright future.
Some of our greatest fears as parents, teachers and mentors that surround discipline is that how much is enough? How harsh is too harsh? Am I helping, or somehow making things worse? Psychological researches suggest that being successful with discipline means looking at discipline as teaching, and not as a punishment. Discipline is not about getting students to do what a teacher/mentor want them to do. That's what dictators do, and a teacher/mentor is not a dictator. Discipline is providing an environment in which positive teaching and positive learning can occur simultaneously. Discipline is not a control from the outside; it's an order from within. Nature is the best mirror of perfect discipline to all of us. The earth, the sun, the moon and other planets are governed by certain laws to maintain perfect harmony and beauty. Any deviation from these set rules, will spell an utter disaster in nature.
Discipline is necessary for both the teacher and the taught in a teaching learning atmosphere. A good teacher has a great responsibility of keeping a high image of his personality in the society. He can't do it unless he maintains an intellectual and more discipline of a high order. No student will obey and respect an indisciplined teacher, however high may be his knowledge. Similarly only a serious and self disciplined student achieves something worth in the life. Students who are not disciplined, just wander here and there, waste away their precious time and energy in useless activities and later on repent in life. They soon learnt that there is no shortcut to success and it is only through consistent hard work and self discipline that they can achieve their objective in life.
Discipline is not only desirable but indispensable. Absence of discipline in teaching learning atmosphere means decay. To prevent decay, discipline has to be imposed. Discipline is essential for the success and development of a child and It is the only key to success. A teacher/mentor should be able to shape and mold the young minds of students' with discipline and an approach to remind them of how important they are to the society and that their future will depend how they adjust to different situations. When the teachers in ancient India taught their students, it was their trust and belief in the teachers and the discipline shown by the students that learning was possible even through the word of mouth. The core values still remain in the modern days, although more technicalities have permeated the manner in which students learn nowadays.
Our present system of Education stresses much for value based education, but the absence of discipline is seen everywhere which will fetch only bitter consequences. It depends on all of us to think that where we are going …Whether in the right or wrong path.
Bency Joy
GSSS SABARI
PhD scholar in Psychology
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- Bency Joy
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The “Joy of Giving week” is a “Festival of Philanthropy” that aims to become a part of Indian ethics with the week celebrated every year covering Gandhi Jayanthi. The week engages people through “acts of giving” i.e money, time, resources and skills.
Now a days in most of the TV channels we can notice an advertisement in which a boy gave away his lollipop to his underprivileged counterpart. It is really a touching one. Recently a rural school boy from our Islands was helped by his classmates (Vitala Public School, HopeTown) by generating a huge amount is a touching example of “giving”. Giving is not only for the rich and giving is not only about money. Giving can be in terms of spending time or other forms also. Research shows that people spending time and helping others makes them happy. Opportunities to give and help others are everywhere. If we just look around us, someone somewhere needs our help in some form. Someone needs to know that they are loved. Someone is struggling financially and there is something we can do to help if even a little. Someone may simply needs a hug or wants to be just heard.
Giving, taking, earning etc are human impulses, and we wouldn’t be human without them. We live in a beautiful planet. Having been bestowed by the universe with the powers of logical thinking and emotional nurturing, it is as humans not just our duty, but our honor to be able to preserve this abundance and being ‘giving’. Everyone seeks joy in their ecosystem- be it animals, birds, fishes or us. So why not use our ‘power’ to thrive in our environment while letting others do so in theirs. We often get gripped in “Futility thinking" which plays a very vital role in our decisions. Giving money to help the poor is, we say, just drop in the ocean. We focus on those we cannot save rather than on those we can. One more aspect also affects our mindsets which the psychologists calls as the bystander effect—if I hear someone calling for help, and I am the only one around, I am more likely to help than if there is someone else with me who also hears the call but does nothing. Unfortunately, when it comes to our world of giving, there are many who do nothing. Subtle shifts could help us to overcome our psychological barriers to giving. Just as seeing other bystanders not helping makes us less likely to help, so knowing that others are giving makes us more likely to give. The more people talk about what they give, the more we can expect others to give or even pledge.
It might cost us time, money, stepping out of our comfort zone or sacrificing our needs, but rewards of giving are priceless. When we give, we reap the joy of seeing a bright smile, laughter, tears, joy and gratitude. Giving is one of the best ways to share our joys, love and gratitude. The Holy Bible says that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
You too can make the “Joy of Giving week 2011” a memorable one in your life. It is not important what is given, how much is given, to whom it is given- what is important is giving! Everyone could have a different definition of ‘giving’. If you can say like this, I ‘gave’ today by smiling and being polite to a person inspite of rudeness. These acts of yours will definately brightened a moment in someone’s life. ‘Giving’ can be as simple as this . Just ponder upon that when was the last time you gave someone a gift, compliment, your time or anything? How did it make you feel? Think and decide. It’s time to do your bit and spread the Joy of giving.
Bency Joy
PhD Scholar in Psychology