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LG Congratulates RMRC for its Achievements and For Being a Blessing In Disguise for the Islanders
Port Blair, May 17: The Biosafety level – 3 Laboratories set up by the Regional Medical Research Centre, Port Blair was today formally inaugurated by the Lt. Governor of the islands, Lt. General (Retd.) Bhopinder Singh at the centre premises at Dollygunj.
Addressing the gathering soon after the inauguration, the Lt. Governor expressed that it is a matter of extreme pleasure that RMRC has come up with a Bio Safety Lab, Level 3 in Port Blair. ‘It is a significant milestone for RMRC and I’m sure that these facilities would provide much needed medical data as regards to the various emerging and re-emerging infections”, he said.
“As we are aware that we do not have the necessary diagnostic medical infrastructure to diagnose diseases like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Bird Flu, Swine Flu and many such infectious diseases. The delay caused in diagnosing and identifying the diseases on the mainland sometimes resulted in mortality and therefore setting up of Bio Safety Level 3 Lab in Port Blair would not only provide necessary medical backup for the islands but would also provide a safe working environment for the laboratory personnel, researchers, medical doctors, veterinary doctors who work on different aspects of the diseases such as development of diagnostics and identification of the disease, understanding the environmental issues and assisting in development of new drugs, vaccines and the pathogens responsible for the diseases”.
Apprising the gathering about the geographical challenges as regards to the location of the islands and connectivity between the islands separated by large stretches of deep sea and rough weather condition, the LG said that it is always a big challenge for the Administration to reach proper medical care in all the islands coupled with the shortage of Specialists, Super Specialists visiting our islands.
Expressing his gratitude to the RMRC for setting up these facilities, the Lt. Governor said that it would give us a great sense of relief, build our confidence and raise the morale of the islanders by timely detection and diagnosis to enable the medical department to contain the outbreak of such diseases and its spread to other islands.
“I understand that this centre had identified what was locally referred to as Andaman Fewer, a very dreadful disease of the islands in the past as Leptospirosis. I also learnt that WHO has recognised the Centre and designated RMRC as the collaborating centre for diagnosis, research, reference and training in Leptospirosis with one of the terms of reference to establish Reference Laboratories in South East Asian Countries. The WHO has also nominated the Director of RMRC as the member of the Leptospira Project Active Governing Reference Group. The centre has also established National Monitoring Bureau for accessing the health and inclusion of status with reference to diabetes, hypertension and accessing lipid profiles of the residence of A&N Islands, which is a matter of pride”, said the LG.
Wishing all success to the Centre, the LG expressed his gratitude to Dr. V. M. Katoch and Dr. P. Vijayachari for setting up such an important and much needed laboratory in a short span of time. He also congratulated the Director and his team of scientists and research scholars for upgrading the status of the Research Laboratory for the people of the islands.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Vishwa Mohan Katoch, Secretary, Dept. of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI and Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research said that this is the 30th year of RMRC’s existence in the islands. It started with two-three shops at Aberdeen Bazar. The centre started working on Leptospirosis, which was a cause of concern not only in the islands but in the entire country. Today RMRC, Port Blair has become a National Reference Laboratory for Leptospirosis and we are proud about it.
The RMRC now has also started concentrating on non-communicable diseases, starting from Nicobar Group of Islands and moving into the Andaman Group, he said.
Earlier Dr. P. Vijayachari, Director, RMRC (ICMR), Port Blair welcomed the gathering and explained about the Biosafety Level -3 Laboratories and the achievements of RMRC over the years. A short film on RMRC’s activities produced by the Door Darshan Kendra, Port Blair was also screened on the occasion.
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Port Blair, May 16: Shri Sudhir Singh Yadav, IPS has joined the Andaman and Nicobar Administration on May 15th 2013 and has taken over the charge of Director General of Police, A&N Islands. He is 1985 batch IPS officer of AGMU Cadre.
After his Master of Science in Geography followed by degree in Journalism and Mass Communication he joined Indian Police Service in the year 1985. Prior to his posting, to these Islands as DGP, he has also served in A & N Islands as DIG (Law & Order) from 9th October 2000 to 6th October 2003. He has vast experience in Law Enforcement, Investigation of Crime, Intelligence gathering & Surveillance and Management of resources (Men & Material).
He has served in Delhi Police as DCP on various important assignments including DCP (Provisioning & Logistics), DCP (North District) & (South District), Anti Corruption, Special Branch etc. He has also served as Additional Commissioner of Police (PM Security), Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime against Women) & Joint Commissioner (Northern Range) in Delhi Police. Before joining in A&N Police as DGP, he was working as Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) & (Vigilance) and Nodal Officer for Crime against Women and children in Delhi. In recognition of his services he was conferred with President Police Medal for Meritorious Service while he was posted as Joint Commissioner of Police, Delhi.
All the correspondences pertaining to DGP may be addressed to.- DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, POLICE HEADQUARTERS, ATLANTA POINT, ABERDEEN BAZAR (POST), PORT BLAIR - 744104.
His official telephone numbers are 230216, 230262 (Fax).
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All social welfare schemes are being implemented across the Islands effectively: LG
Port Blair, May 15: A two-day National level conference of Chairpersons of State Social Welfare Boards was organised by the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) in collaboration of the A&N State Social Welfare Board (A&NSSWB) at Megapode Nest here today. The Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) Bhopinder Singh, PVSM, AVSM inaugurated the conference in the presence of the First Lady of the Islands, Smt Bhawanee Singh. Chairpersons of Social Welfare Boards of 26 States and Union Territories of the country are participating in this conference.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Lt Governor expressed happiness that a National level conference is being organised in the Islands and added that the conference will come out with good suggestions on vital social issues which will benefit the country in general and our Islands as well. He further stated that all the Central Social Welfare Schemes are being implemented satisfactorily through the Social Welfare Department and the State Social Welfare Board across the Islands by reaching out to people living even in the remotest Islands. He had special words of appreciation for Smt Ratna Kannan, Chairperson, A&N SSWB for her deep understanding of the social problems of the Islands and her untiring efforts.
Giving a brief description of the Islands, he stated that the A&N Islands is the only place in the world where the most primitive aboriginal tribes and the modern civilization live side by side in a most cordial and peaceful environment within their own respective areas. Describing the Islands an example of “Unity in Diversity”, the Lt Governor stated that people from all religions and regions live here in perfect peace and harmony, speak one language i.e. Hindustani and celebrate all festivals with traditional gaiety and fervour. “Our islands have the greatest historical monument of the country’s freedom struggle-the Cellular Jail, which was at one time the abode of the freedom fighters whose unparalleled sacrifices brought us freedom from the colonial powers. These Islands are the most sacred place and not “Kalapani” as people used to call it. It is the most ‘pavitrapani’ of our country”, he stated.
Referring to the progress and development made by the Islands in the social sectors, he stated that the high literacy rate and good health index is an indicator that the Islands is doing well in the literacy and health sectors. The literacy rate of the Islands is 86.27% compared to the national figure of 74.04%. The child sex ratio is 966 against the national average of 914. The infant mortality ratio is 19 per thousand live births which is much lower than the national figure of 44. The maternal mortality ratio has been reduced to 35 per lakh in the Islands while the country’s ratio stands at 212. He further stated that all the social security schemes are being implemented to cover elderly persons, destitute women, widows and physically challenged in the most effective manner. The Administration has decided to extend a monthly financial assistance of Rs.2000/- per month to the socially and economically weaker sections and the quantum of assistance may perhaps be the highest in the country, he stated.
Describing alcoholism and suicides as the two social challenges of the Islands, he stated that the problem has emerged due to various social reasons. However, the Administration is fully aware of these social challenges and has taken up many remedial measures to address them on priority, he stated.
In his address, the Chief Secretary, Shri Anand Prakash stated that the Social Welfare Board here has done remarkably well by implementing various social welfare schemes to provide benefits to the women and children and other sections of the society. As human development largely depends on the social welfare activities, the various welfare schemes implemented by the Board here will go a long way in the social development of the Islands, he said.
In her key note address, the Chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board, Smt Prema Cariappa stated that the National level conference have been organised to take stock of the achievements of the past years and to determine the further course of action keeping in mind the development that are taking places and new challenges that are emerging. This conference will provide opportunities to the participating Chairpersons of Social Welfare Boards of different States to share their experience and give suggestions for better implementation of the social welfare schemes.
Earlier, welcoming the chief guest and others, the Chairperson, A&N State Social Welfare Board, Smt Ratna Kannan highlighted the activities of the A&N Social Welfare Board taken-up for the benefit and up-liftment of the weaker sections of the society, women and children in particular. The inaugural function concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Shri S.K. Jha, Executive Director, CSEB, New Delhi.