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Port Blair, Nov. 12: A group of unemployed trained teachers today approached Raj Niwas and other concerned authorities requesting for postponement of the present Recruitment of Teachers advertised recently by the Education Directorate. The group of unemployed teachers have tried to apprise the concerned authorities that most of aspiring candidates from the islands the teachers could not qualify the CTET.
Considering the age limit and one time relaxation granted by the Hon’ble Lt. Governor for the recruitment, the group has made a request to postpone the present recruitment till the forthcoming CTET in Feb. 2014, the result of which will be announced in March 2014.
While talking to Andaman Chronicle the Unemployed Teachers expressed their fear that since most of the candidates from the islands have failed to qualify in CTET, there are chances those candidates from mainland who cleared CTET by utilizing the best of coaching available, would grab their opportunity. They also wished to submit to the concerned authorities that the recruitment, be confined from within the Islands’ candidates.
Meanwhile the Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray told Andaman Chronicle over phone that he has already made a request to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor to constitute a State Selection Committee to select candidates for the posts announced under the A&N Administration from within the Islanders.
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Port Blair, Nov. 11: A helpdesk titled “May I help You’ started functioning in the OPD of G. B. Pant Hospital, Port Blair from today onwards. This has been done on the instance of Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) A. K. Singh, wherein he directed the Health Department to set up a central point to register requirements of critical patients.
The helpdesk will function all days from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm except on Sundays and National Holidays. The helpdesk will assist various categories of patients viz. Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (BPL cases), LG’s Relief Fund and Stretcher Case Scheme, referred to mainland hospitals for their requirements, so that they do not have to personally pursue their case. In addition, the helpdesk will also provide information on other issues like Dulari Scheme, Disability Certificate and matters relating to availability of medicines etc. The Directorate of Health Services will also distribute pamphlets on various health and health related issues from the helpdesk.
“We are happy and express our sincere gratitude to our Lt Governor for directing the health Authorities to start such an initiative for the benefit of the patients”, said an elated Ramaswamy, an outpatient after learning about the helpdesk services. "We hope the ‘helpdesk’ proves effective, as envisaged by the Lt Governor ", says 70 year-old Atul, as per a communication received from IP&T.
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By Zubair Ahmed, Port Blair, Nov. 8: Before the Kadamtala Jarawa Circus row subsided, in which four persons were booked under the provisions of ANPATR, but the mastermind of the episode, Sampad Kumar, Pradhan, Kadamtala was let off on bail, who was booked under minor charges despite his involvement, another breach has been reported from Wandoor/Tarmugli. One habitual poacher, Nitai Mondal was arrested for illegal intrusion into Jarawa Reserve and camping with Jarawas inside the Reserve. However, as usual he has also been let off on bail.
Defying all the regulations and monitoring mechanism put in place by the Administration, a local poacher Nitai Mondal, resident of Guptapara reached Chotagoja Jarawa Camp, a Jarawa Reserve on the West Coast on 3rd November with ration articles - rice, vegetable oil, sugar and tea and camped with a group of Jarawas. He camped with them and the next day took two Jarawas - Dawa and Lekhte to Bambu Nallah, where other Jarawas were camping. He stayed with them for a day and later took 5 Jarawas - Anijamu (43), Illy (25), Anjale (27), Achehane(25), and Tahe (22) to Tarmugli Island.
Nitai Mondal, who is a habitual offender, is already booked in two cases of exploitation of Jarawas.
It is learnt from reliable sources that the culprit was nabbed by a police team with the assistance of AAJVS staff. The authorities comprising police and AAJVS team were informed by Alomole and Gilad, two Jarawas based in Tirur about the illegal intrusion of Nitai Mandal. The team immediately left for Tarmugli Island along with a Jarawa Kunu on a police interceptor boat, who got in touch with the five Jarawas. On further enquiry, the five Jarawas revealed that Nitai Mandal had stayed with them for two days and had later transported them to Tarmugli Island. The statement of Jarawas were recorded on a video capturing device too.
Dr. Vishwajit Pandya, a senior Anthropologist associated with the newly formed Andaman Nicobar Tribal Research and Training Institute (ANTRI) said that the recent incidents are a setback to the efforts taken by the concerned authorities to protect the territory of Jarawas from poaching and exploitation of the vulnerable tribe. He further added that there is a serious need for cooperation from all agencies to create a consciousness to check such activities.
This incident has once again exposed the claims of the Administration how the stringent provisions of the ANPATR has been flouted with ease. Despite all the efforts of the police and AAJVS team, the police it seems could not properly build a case against the offender, in which ample evidence and witnesses were in hand. It is learnt that the key witnesses and the video evidence were also not presented before the court.
The Kadamtala episode, where the Pradhan was booked on minor charges and got bail, could have set a precedent, had he been booked under ANPATR, but the sluggish approach of the Administration has paved way for more such violations.