THELIGHTOFANDAMANS

Water Crisis: Beyond the Obvious!

2020-05-10T22:15:00.000-07:00

Water Crisis: Beyond the Obvious!

By Zubair Ahmed

Rain seems to be back. With the sky overcast and with a spatter of rains, there is a sense of respite in the air that the acute water crisis, the Island territory is facing may pass soon. The South West monsoon is on schedule, hopefully!

This sense of relief that rain brings along usually makes the Island Administration to forget and withdraw into its shell, as if nothing happened. However, blame game and rhetoric about dream projects that would have sailed the Islands through the crisis keeps everyone busy for a while.

The year 2020 won’t be remembered just as the year of Corona by the Islanders. It also inflicted upon them the severest of water crisis, the worst in two decades.

Looking back, the north-east monsoon has been failing with frightening regularity from 2001, plunging the islands into severe crisis intermittently, and now right from day one of the year 2020.

Water crisis always made headlines when it hit Port Blair urban area. However, it was equally harsh in rural South Andaman with water being supplied once in a week. A unique feature added this year!

The extreme and desperate measures like transporting water from Little Andaman to Port Blair by a passenger ship, and plying tankers from Port Blair to rural areas like Namunaghar are unprecedented.

The Islands on an average receives 3000 mm rain. Two major water projects – raising the height of Dhanikhari reservoir by five metres, and commissioning of Kamsarat Nallah earthen dam in Wimberly Gunj should have solved the water crisis in both Port Blair urban area and major villages of rural areas of South Andaman respectively in such dire times when monsoon failed. However, both the projects couldn’t save the district from the imminent crisis.

What came as a rescue was the lockdown due to the Corona pandemic. Before the nationwide lockdown was declared from March 25, the Islands was already under shutdown with govt and private offices, educational institutions, hotels, restaurants, resorts and even places of tourism closed. There were no floating population with movement strictly restricted. Even, all construction work was stopped during the peak of the working season. It eased the demand of water especially in Port Blair, or else, it would have created chaos and mayhem on unparalleled scale. Blaming failure of monsoon or measures like transporting water from far-flung Islands wouldn’t have sufficed to overcome the crisis. The strict lockdown also helped in keeping the frustrated residents locked up in their homes, allaying all kind of protests.

Surprisingly, it all seems to be a replay of events from 2001, when the situation had turned even worse. The desperate measures resorted to also seems to be same as during the dawn of the new millennium, which didn’t augur well for the Islands.

In 2001, it had turned into an emergency. Schools were closed and the government employees were encouraged to go on leave. Water, for the first time was carted by barges from Rutland and distributed through tankers. There was total chaos and mayhem in the town. And in a knee jerk action the Port Blair Municipal Council undertook urgent repair and restoration of discarded wells. Tankers had field day transporting water from one corner of the island to another. The main sources of supply were the perennial streams and nallahs running along the road from Calicut to Kodiaghat.

There were fervent parleys and revived interests on various water related projects in pipeline. Major projects like raising the height of Dhanikhari Dam, Rutland, Flat Bay Freshwater Lake and Kamsarat Nallah earthen dam became hot topics of discussion.

And as soon as the skies opened up and rained, the proposals and projects were also put on the backburner. Water crisis followed perennially every year after tsunami, and renewed interests on the projects too.

The scenario would have been worst, if there was no lockdown, and all normal activities were on. Tourism sector would have added to the woes. The steps taken now to mitigate the crisis wouldn’t have helped much.

After a decade of conception, the height of Dhanikhari Dam was raised by 5 metres and completed in 2014. Meanwhile the demand had gone up. But, the elated statement that it would solve water problem in Port Blair city for another 25 years came as a surprise, as it didn’t. Such skewed up projections were quite misleading. The crisis continued unabated.

In rural South Andaman, the work on Kamsarat (Commissariat) Nallah dam in Wimberly Gunj also commenced and was completed in record time during the period of Lt Gen A K Singh. Despite its completion, the surrounding villages still face acute water crisis. Water is supplied once in a week in the villages surrounding the dam.

That says much about the ambitious projects, and the perpetual neglect of untapped water sources in and around the villages in the rural areas. There are such a large number of projects in the pipeline that the pipeline itself is choked!

Rutland has been garnering all the attention since decades.

The ALHW had come up with a proposal that envisages construction of weirs at nine nallahs, connecting these to a large reservoir at Purana Dera, the old operating base of ATI and pumping that water through a submarine pipe in McPherson Strait to Bada Balu, Landfall Point in South Andaman Island. From there it would be pumped into the Dhanikhari Dam for further transmission, treatment and distribution. A massive job projected to cost more than Rs 100 crores. Had this project reached completion, it would have made another 7 million litres available to the grid during January-February and 3 million during the worst period in April.

The project took off, but got mired in controversies and corruption charges. A crisis of confidence somewhere within the hierarchy about technical competence in laying submarine pipeline connecting Rutland and Phongi Balu made all the efforts go in vain.

However, the Chief Secretary has announced that the project will be revisited and completed before next summer.

In Port Blair town, daily water supply is still a far-fetched dream even during rainy season.

The long delay between conception of project and actual commissioning is a reason why all projections and planning go haywire. Hence, instead of working on one project, multiple options need to be explored concurrently.

Of late, there has been excessive focus on beautification and creating tourism centric projects. There was extensive coverage on a four-lane Marina connecting Minnie Bay with Hathitapu and Dundas Point, which would be an ambitious addition in tourism infrastructure. But many wouldn’t know that the marina was just one spin-off of the Flat Bay Freshwater Lake project.

Flat Bay Fresh Water Project, the most ambitious one was developed taking into consideration the long term demand of water in the year 2050. According to the projections drawn up by the Andaman and Lakshadweep Harbour Works, the demand for drinking water in 2050 would be of the order of 105 million litres per day taking into account the present pattern of population growth.

The project would have connected the Crown Point at the back of Minnie Bay in Port Blair to Mithakhari in South Andaman. There would be a 1540 metre main embankment, 2725 metres of secondary embankment and a 750 metre long RCC barrage between Crown Point and Mithakhari.

Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works was hired in late nineties to conduct a survey and come up with a detailed project report. Extensive surveys and studies were conducted in consultation with reputed agencies like Water & Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) India, Central Water Power & Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, Danish Hydraulic Institute, Denmark, IIT Delhi and Chennai and HR Wallingford, UK.

But the project got bogged down with the Environment Ministry since about 40 hectares of mangrove would be affected by the project.

There were some reservations about viability of the project in the minds of intellectuals, scientific community and naturally, amongst the environmentalists. One simple reason was that there was only one example of turning the part of a creek into a fresh water lake or reservoir - Plover Core Water Supply Scheme in Hong Kong.

What we hear now is only about the Marina, which was in fact an offshoot of the freshwater lake project.

When policymakers lose track and grope, priorities get skewed. Instead of focusing on providing essential infrastructure and fulfil basic needs, they see opportunities in creek tourism overlooking the perennial streams like Koila Nallah in Mannarghat.

The Koila Nallah Water Supply and Minor Irrigation Scheme at Mannarghat, South Andaman has an approved capacity to supply 1250 lakh litres of drinking water to the residents of Mannarghat, Malapuram and Wright Myo apart from irrigation. The preliminary report was prepared in 1988 and the Geological Survey of India had conducted a study too.

Mithakhari Nallah Water Supply and Minor Irrigation Scheme at Mithakhari village in South Andaman have the capacity to supply 6000 lakh litres of drinking water to Mithakhari and the adjoining villages.

Indira Nallah Project at Maymyo village for an estimated 15 lakh litres a day is a classic case of neglect at the hands of those who manage the water supply schemes for the people of this territory. The scheme was conceived sometimes in eighties. A sum of about Rs 10 crore was sanctioned in 1995, the foundation stone was laid by Vakkom Purushothaman, the then Lt. Governor with great fanfare on September 14, 1995.

Rural areas can fend for themselves in most of the cases. There is no dearth of untapped water sources across rural South Andaman. Simple methods can be adopted to conserve the rain water, recharge ground water and harvest it through processes based on traditional wisdom. Small check dams, planting shady trees along the perennial nallahs and keeping it clean from dumping waste, digging wells near the check dams on seasonal nallahs would solve the problem of most of the rural villages. In Mithakhari, small gravel pits on river beds are providing water to clusters of families in this season too.

Addition of facilities to increase existing storage capacity also needs to be taken up near the existing check dams and weirs. But, the major issue would be inter-departmental coordination.

Coordination and involvement of local bodies like Panchayats in water sector will help in finding enduring solutions rather than knee jerk actions like transportation of water from far-flung islands. An order passed in 2015 abolished allocation of funds to Panchayats in water sector. However, the order also gave options to Panchayats to come up with projects without any fund constraints. But, the Panchayats find it difficult to get no objection from APWD and Forest Department.

Most of the intricacies involved in water management can be sorted out only if it gets unflinching attention. Water can’t be just a section of Public Works Department, if a comprehensive approach has to be evolved for the entire territory.

The territory would need a full-fledged water authority for policy framework, planning and execution of water projects. Lack of synergy between departments and institutions has severely affected or delayed many projects, which can be overcome, if a separate agency is constituted. Survey, study, identification and augmentation of water sources, grid management and subsequent works can be carried out throughout the year.

The onus of conserving non-existent water is always forced upon the Islanders. Recently, a diktat was issued to construct or add rainwater harvesting structures to existing buildings, both in rural and urban areas. Rainwater harvesting like solar energy is a good proposition. But, it becomes viable and practical, only if it’s done at large scale, especially in a tropical Island territory.

The year 2020 has exposed us to many challenges. All the years lost in pushing ambitious tourism projects including the ones NITI Aayog promotes needs to be reviewed in the light of present crisis. Without water management, not only tourism, but lives of the Islanders too will be poorly affected.

The indiscriminate earth-cutting, pulling down hillocks and clearing green spaces will destroy the ecology completely, thus making lives unbearable. There has to be a fine balance between ecology and development with a paradigm shift in our approach.

There is sufficient water for the needs of the Islands, which requires proper management. However, it can only be stretched to an extent, the Islands can take in.

We can feel good, cheer and applaud the efforts of transporting water from far-flung Islands by passenger ships to mitigate the present crisis at Port Blair. But, can we envisage a situation, where water was airlifted to Maldives from India six years ago!

PM Visit: Rhetoric is Enough!

2018-11-15T18:52:00.000-08:00

PM Visit: Rhetoric is Enough!

By Zubair Ahmed

Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised for a visit to Andaman and Nicobar Islands next month. Many records will be created and many others broken. Many firsts will be added to the history of the Islands. A 150-ft high flagmast will come up at a location on Port Blair coast commemorating the ‘first’ tri-colour flown by Netaji Subash Chandra Bose on 30^th Dec 1943, while the Islands was under the occupation of Japanese forces. The tri-colour will have Gandhian Charkha instead of the 24-spoke Chakra on it.

Going by the current trend in our country, presently caught in the frenzy of renaming places, a few new names will be attributed to new found Islands. The Andaman Administration had sought suggestions from the public for names. A few enlightened citizens have already suggested names of prominent citizens who contributed to the social milieu in various capacities. Names need not be about persons. It can be about events, incidents that are etched in the memory of the Islands. There are enough names in the Islands itself, and there seems to be no need to look outward for it. But, nobody can speculate what’s in the mind of the rulers.

Of late, after the right wing coalition, NDA came into power; the fervor of jingoism has been blown to such an extent, that every word or deed is measured on the scale of an overblown balloon of nationalism. With 2019 approaching fast, there is an urgency of over-pumping the sentiments to harvest maximum benefit out of it. Yogi Adhityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh is on a name-changing spree. The demand of a relative of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose to rename the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as Shaheed and Swaraj Dweep is the latest one. There is no doubt; the MP will surely fail a quiz on the Islands, especially on the ‘Swaraj’ part of it, if he is put through one.

Appropriation of people, places and also events to inflate nationalistic fervor and take undue political advantage of the same without any change on the ground realities is the ‘latest’ national trend. It also helps in deflecting attention from the real issues. Big press releases and huge advertisements boasting unprecedented development on all fronts doesn’t really show up on the ground. One of the recent write-ups, a PR exercise in the government-run bulletin of Andaman and Nicobar Islands goes micro-level bragging the state of kilometers of urban and rural roads. Whether the roads, rural or urban, are smooth as the reams of newsprint printed upon is another issue. The common man is bombarded with proposals and plans, instead of completed projects. News about proposals to switch from fossil-fuel based power to eco-friendly power generation is repeated on a daily basis.

Many projects and schemes of the central government have no serious consequence on the Islands. Appropriating such schemes and showing it as achievements doesn’t change anything on the ground except earning brownies. For example, Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao was one such scheme, which was dear for some governmental agencies as well as NGOs to glass case their existence. There is no unusual change taking place, but going gaga over normal developmental activities is something, which is a new tendency. Nobody can clearly point out what is so ‘smart’ about Port Blair city, which ranks somewhere on the national scale. The rainwater which used to clog the city drains a decade ago still clogs and inundates the bazaar without any obvious change. Taking credit for the yet to land undersea fibre-optic cable, which started its journey a decade ago is no solace for the bandwidth-deprived digital service consumers who are overloaded by digital and online services launched every month. The perennial streams flowing from the tropical forests quench our thirst. It’s our inability to even tap those sources properly, but there is no scarcity in announcing new schemes and projects instead of executing them.

People have stopped ruing the inter-island ship connectivity. They are shown shipyards where new ships are under construction every year.

The government of the day seems to be in a competition in defining and redefining the adjectives - biggest, largest, tallest and first. Tallest statue of Sardar Patel on one hand in Gujarat, the Andaman Islands is going to witness a gala of superfluous changes and developments with the proposed visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi next month, who is supposed to hoist the flag commemorating the first Indian national flag being hoisted by Netaji Subash Chandra Bose on 30 Dec 1943. Erection of a 150-ft tall flag mask near to the coast of Port Blair town is one of the major events being planned. Whether the post will withstand the wind pressure of Andaman Sea is of course a technical issue, not a political or administrative one.

The recent revelation that the Islands archipelago contains not 540 but 836 Islands, including rocks, islets etc in itself is seen as a great achievement by the present dispensation. Earlier, out of 540 Islands, only 150 were named Islands. Other Islands remained un-named and it did not create any national or international embarrassment. Now, the Andaman Administration has sought suggestions from the public for 20 un-named Islands. Naming and renaming itself are ideological appropriation, symbolizing political goals. There has been a row every time naming and renaming of Islands were raised by various quarters. There is also a convenient method to renaming, where Havelock Island is excluded for the reason that the Island already features on the world tourism map. The exclusion is obviously not a nationalistic decision, but a market-driven one. There was a demand by a BJP MP in Rajya Sabha in 2017 to rename Havelock Island which is named after the British General Henry Havelock who fought the Indian patriots in 1857. The BJP MP, L Ganeshan had cited it to be an insult to the freedom fighters that the Island had been named after an East India Company General. A list of names of persons, who fought the British for different causes, including independence from the foreign yoke, is always suggested. Those who seek such cosmetic changes conveniently forget that almost all Islands once belonged to the aboriginal tribes and had their own original names. But, every name change signifies a social, cultural or political struggle for control.

In fact, nobody disregards the contribution of the freedom fighters, who fought the British and other foreign powers including the Japanese, and it’s not a matter of contest on who stands on top of the ladder. But, when one enters the Cellular Jail, the focus is on one person named Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who was imprisoned in the jail like many other hundreds of political prisoners and later released after he submitted a mercy petition. There is no evidence or documentary proof that the last cell on the first floor being assigned as Savarkar’s cell is truly the one where he was lodged. It’s the convenience that the cell provides for various reasons like the Sound and Light Show and its content that the cell is appropriately chosen.

To quote Prof Satadru Sen, in his epitome: “Disciplining Punishment”, he wrote:

“Thus, the structure of the prison both anticipated resistance from inmates, and provided for countermeasures. It is significant that the countermeasure suggested in this particular case involved moving disorderly prisoners central to the watchtower. The tower was the literal and metaphoric embodiment of the regime’s power within the Cellular Jail. The closer the prisoner had to the tower, the more secure was the regime’s control over him.”

Netaji Subash Chandra Bose is the second great revolutionary leader being appropriated by the present power, which gives them sufficient leverage to encash on various counts. His visit to the Islands during the Japanese occupation, as the Supremo of Azad Hind Fauz, an ally of Japan in its fight against the British, needs to be relooked from various angles. The Islands, which was under the occupation of British forces was abandoned by the British before the Japanese landed. The Islanders weren’t too cozy about Japanese occupation as they were accustomed to the ways of the British. In fact, a colony had already come up with mundane activities going on uninterrupted. While David Barrie, the notorious jailor was tormenting the revolutionaries inside the Cellular Jail, his daughter, a soft-spoken woman was teaching the local kids English in a school nearby.

When Netaji visited the Islands and hoisted a national flag declaring the territory free from the British rule, the Islands were virtually under the occupation of another foreign power, the Japanese. The dummy administrator from the Azad Hind Fauj appointed by the Japanese was nothing but eyewash, which the Islanders vouch for. The Japanese had their share of torture for the Islanders. The jail which used to lodge anti-British prisoners become home for anti-Japanese prisoners, who were Indians too. Netaji wasn’t taken to that part of the jail by the Japanese, where the Islanders were imprisoned. Today, when we find modern allies, we try to connect it with history and appropriate them according to convenience. Why should one have myopic view of foreign occupation by various forces? In fact, when Japan fell to the Allied Forces, and surrendered to the British, the people in the Islands lined up along the coast to welcome the British force back.

It isn’t yet out in the open whether the Administration has any plans to rename the Islands. But, there were marathon meetings on renaming Islands a couple of months back, it seems the proposal was later dropped for reasons unknown. In fact, the Islands have always been in the middle of such naming-renaming riddle, which seems to give a high for some.

The whole exercise of naming Islands and erection of 150-ft tall flag mast and hoisting of the tri-colour national flag with a Gandhian weaving charkha instead of the 24-spoke chakra on it have no real significance to the lives of common man, except being a political symbolic gesture.

In the election year, everyone will take this opportunity to attract some limelight. The internecine warfare inside the BJP between the President and the Member of Parliament is talk of the town. The State president of the party won’t leave any stone unturned to undermine his counterpart, whereas the Member of the Parliament has already locked horned with both his adversaries in the party as well the Lt Governor over trivial matters. What holds in surprise for both of them will be exciting to watch.

Undoubtedly, a Potemkein’s village will be erected soon around the spots the PM will pay a visit. The recce by various agencies to identify spots, where they presumed to be safe and away from trouble has been a norm of the day.

On a positive note, hope the Administration unlike Japanese, doesn’t treat Modi like Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, and take only to those spots of the city, where the picture is rosy with un-waterlogged roads and particularly on those stretches of urban road mentioned in the publicity article, which is without potholes, and to be specific, on the bridge connecting Haddo-Chatham. There are kilometres of potholes with a little stretch of roads splattered here and there.

A visit of any VVIP is a matter of pride for the Islands. But, aggrandizement will only bring more criticism and indifference. There is a genuine need to address the real issues – the rising unemployment, not jargons and acronyms like Standup India, Startup India, Make in India and many others. Act East Policy remains in papers and tax-financed visits. There is a serious need to look into the boundaries of the Islands, which is flawed from the day go. China can be a poll plank. If the Government of India is serious about development of the Islands, it needs serious efforts to balanced and sustainable exploitation of resources, which as of now seems a far cry. There is no dearth of rhetoric of eco-friendly development, whether it’s NITI Aayog or Island Deveopment Agency. One needs to see it happening on the ground. In short, the Islands need basic amenities that will cater to both tourists as well the local dwellers. Tourism should be a local affair, not a corporate one, which will only serve crony capitalism.

Hope the Administration rises above the Potemkein’s village and bring out real development to the Islands going beyond mere words, keeping in view the local sentiments, tribal concerns and foremost the pristine environment, in fact a god-gift.

The writer is a Island-based journalist and researcher

Alcoholism in Islands: Apocalypse Now!

2016-08-21T11:18:00.002-07:00

Alcoholism in Islands:

Apocalypse Now!

The per capita consumption of liquor in our Islands is 13 litres far ahead of the national average of 4.3 litres. The data on alcoholism and extent of liquor sales in the Islands indicate the abyss, that we are heading to. Illicit brew, hooch tragedies or tourism aren't enough justification against total prohibition anymore.

By Zubair Ahmed

The earthquake of 2004, which shook the ground beneath our feet and the killer waves of tsunami which took away many lives and razed down properties worth crores still remains etched in our memory, bringing back nightmares of the scary days and nights that followed. We mourn the death and loss. But, we are conveniently caught unaware about a more disturbing scourge shaking the very foundation of our existence. Alcoholism is devouring the Islands and the Islanders like never before. This plague does not discriminate between rich or poor, villager or townsman, young or old, rural or urban, tourist or Islander.

Last year on Teachers Day, a group of senior students of a rural school in South Andaman came up with a shocking idea. Following the footsteps of a few teachers, they came to classes to teach in fully inebriated state. They were drunk! A bunch of students from another school were found near a waterfall, again drunk!

Undoubtedly, alcoholism is stunting the overall social and economical growth making the majority of the miniscule population of the Islands addicted to this scourge. The fervor shown by those at the helm to make the bottomline of the corporation - entrusted to sell this poison - look impressive by promoting sale of liquor indicates the utter disregard or apathy towards the well being of the people. No wellness centre or seminar can compensate the enduring loss to human resource in the Islands. When the authorities were seen making calls to the bar owners demanding increase in sales pitch shows their lack of concern and skewed priorities.

The extent of damage is beyond imagination. The devil lies in the details. The Island population of 4 lakhs and a couple of lakh tourists consumed not less than 52 lakh litres of liquor in 2015-16, an increase of 2.21 lakh litres from 2014-15. ANIIDCO, the sole distributor of IMFL sold liquor for Rs 150 crores last year and made a profit of Rs 16.36 crores from liquor sales alone out of Rs 19.03 crores net profit of the Corporation. All other heads including POL, milk, steel, air ticketing and tourism activities combined made a profit of just Rs 2.66 crores.

Out of total sale of 52 lakh litres, 37.11 lakh litres of hard liquor, 15.17 lakh litres of beer and 0.39 lakh litres of Ready to Drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages were sold in 2015-16.

While South Andaman consumed 35.58 lakh litres, other Islands from Campbell Bay to N&M Andaman consumed 17.10 lakh litres.

What is astonishing is the fact that Little Andaman with no proper boat connectivity and a population less than 20,000, with no mentionable tourism footfall consumed liquor to the tune of Rs 7.17 crores while Havelock, the face of brand Andaman, the tourism paradise, registered liquor sale of Rs 7.18 crores. There are 5 bars in Little Andaman and 12 bars in Havelock.

Port Blair and surrounding areas of South Andaman with around 125 bars registered a sale of Rs 102 crores, 68% of the total liquor sales in the territory.

In outstation sales, Rangat spent Rs 12.83 crores consuming 4.58 lakh litres and Diglipur with a population of 43183 consumed 4.43 lakh litres spending Rs 12.42 crores in the year 2015-16. Mayabunder residents spent Rs 80.13 lakh consuming 2.85 lakh litres of liquor. Diglipur has 19 bars and one ANIIDCO wine shop. In Mayabunder and Rangat, there are 6 bars and one wine shop each.

Ready to Drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages have alarmingly made inroads with its consumption rising every year. From 25,034 ltrs in 2013-14 to 39,332 litres in 2015-16, there has been a steep increase of 14298 litres in two years. A lot of youngsters, especially those trying out alcoholic beverages for the first time opt for Ready-to-Drink bottled beverages with alcoholic content. This is how initiation is happening among the young generation especially school going children, eventually shifting to hard liquor. RTD seems to be socially acceptable, and preferred by youngsters and women.

According to NSSO, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Daman & Diu, Sikkim, and, Puducherry are clearly among the highest consumers of alcohol and spirits in the country.

On the WHO’s ‘Years of Life Lost’ (YLL) scale – a measure of premature mortality – alcohol attributed years of life lost puts India on a precarious 4 on a scale of 1 to 5.

While the national per capita consumption of liquor is 4.3 litres, our Islands is far ahead with 13 litres.

Its widely accepted and acknowledged that suicide deaths are on a steep rise in our Islands. The Islands figure among the top three states in suicide rates. Alcoholism overtly or covertly plays a decisive role in such deaths. In the last five years, 701 suicides were reported in the Islands. Last year, 158 cases of suicides were reported. 38% of suicide cases are either alcoholism-related or broken families or depression.

Humane Touch, a voluntary organization actively working against alcoholism in South Andaman recently conducted a survey in two wards of Bindraban panchayat. The data from the two wards of the obscure Panchayat was quite shocking. Out of 100 families surveyed, 72 families were affected by alcoholism. Out of 195 males, 111 consumed alcohol. In the last ten years, seven suicides and 15 alcohol related deaths were reported from these two wards. Out of 111 males who consumes liquor, there were 23 addicts. And, out of 100 families, 34 families are under serious financial duress due to alcoholism of the head of the family or the sole bread earner.

Peddlers buy bottles from ANIIDCO run wine shops and peddle it in villages. Police also find it difficult to check this menace as they carry bills. If one checks the number of cases registered at each police station, the highest number would be cases related with excise violations. But, do the data have any bearing on our policing? They keep filing cases against violators and still violation keeps going on. The graph never shows a declining trend in cases related with excise. Out of 3800 cases registered in 2014, 1933 cases were related to Excise Regulation, more than 50% cases!

Whenever, the issue of complete prohibition is raised, the scarecrow named hooch tragedies are cited extensively. As per data available, since independence till 2016, hardly 2000 people died in hooch tragedies in the country, whereas, our country registers more than 3 million deaths attributed to alcohol consumption alone every year as per data released by NSSO. Alcoholism is one of the leading causes of liver cirrhosis and failure. About 10 percent of strokes, tuberculosis, hypertension, and epilepsy are caused by excess alcohol consumption.

It's a farce that the Islands need liquor to sustain tourism. The figures from Rangat, Diglipur and Hutbay says a different story. The amount of alcohol consumed by the Islanders is shocking, which will have devastating long term effect on the socio-economic condition and health of the Islanders. If the trend is not arrested by bringing in total prohibition, all the efforts by the Administration and Govt of India to develop the territory would make no sense. Comparatively, the revenue from liquor makes no major financial contribution to the exchequer, but the social cost is very high with people spending more on health. Every rupee the government gets off the bottle, it loses more than Rs. 2 in terms of healthcare expenses and lost productivity. Road accidents are also on the rise with many young lives wasted due to drunken driving.

Had the hard earned money of Rs 100 crores spent on liquor by Islanders spent on families, it would have brought positive changes in their living standards.

Its high time the Administration wakes up and takes drastic steps to check this menace or the future of the Islands with an unhealthy and unproductive population looks very bleak. The logic that prohibition doesn't work is a lame excuse to continue with the status quo. For an healthy and active Andamans, prohibition seems to be the only way out, after all, prohibition is also a directive principle in our Constitution under Article 47.

When Winter Comes Calling!

2016-08-19T04:01:00.000-07:00

When Winter Comes Calling!

Au Revoir Lt Gen A K Singh, Welcome Prof. Jagdish Mukhi

By Zubair Ahmed

Setting aside all differences and prejudices, like a seasoned politician, who accepts defeat with dignity and victory with humility, its time for a balanced and impartial look at the emerging situation in the Islands after the recent change in guard.

Unlike Delhi with frequent skirmishes between the elected government and nominated Lt Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a different ball game altogether. With the Lt Governor as the Administrator and head of the territory with all powers vested upon him, the Member of Parliament is an ornamental post! And to be precise, the elected MP is like the frustrated caged fox squirrel scuttling around appearing quite busy, but flicking its tail furiously when it can't get at the nuts.

After Vakkom Purushotham, the Islands have not seen any seasoned politician as its Administrator. For a long span of time, the Islands were governed by retired army generals as Administrators. Some of them were good at administration, but failed miserably in governance. Many of them whiled away their time. But things did change with Lt Gen A K Singh. He did prove to be a good administrator with an ear to the ground. In a short span of time, many projects which had been lying dormant were revived. Many projects fructified especially in the field of education, health and aviation. These were not without opposition or its share of criticism. And some of the achievements as well as criticism were indeed blown out of proportion too. The criticism was not always out of place. A major share of it he inherited from Mr Anand Prakash, the Chief Secretary, who followed the ancient 'divide and rule' policy.

Despite all these, Lt Gen A K Singh doggedly pursued the projects at all levels and could materialize it. The Commissariat Nallah Dam, Multipurpose Indoor Stadium, Medical College, ANCOL, Chartered Flights and even the Flea Market, there are many contributions, one can keep counting in the years to come.

Meanwhile, he also drew flak for taking sides, showing favours and ignoring genuine voices. Shifting the project ANCOL from rural South Andaman to Port Blair despite objections and displeasure of many stakeholders was just one of them. While his focus on improving air connectivity is widely appreciated, neglect of the shipping sector with majority of vessels remaining non-operational during the last three years effecting services to Southern group and Middle and North Andaman cannot be ignored. Despite various long term and short term plans drawn after an extensive audit of transmission and distribution of power, the situation has worsened with frequent power cuts and interruptions.

On the social front, awareness about many social issues like alcoholism and suicide did get attention through seminars and setting up of committees, but nothing percolated to the grass-root level bringing any changes on the ground with sale of alcohol and suicide increasing manifold. He did try to bring some positive changes, but the system could not cope up with his pace.

Reconciliation had been always his forte. The bickering of Bishnu Pada Ray at various platforms including Lok Sabha could not get on the nerves of A K Singh, who maintained a dignified image in the public. Bishnu held Adalats where he sought the support of people to raise voice against the Lieutenant Governor to get him out mid-way. Sense prevailed and the Home Ministry took cognizance only after his stipulated term was over. AK Singh too invoked all gods in every heaven for furthering his stay is not a secret. The subtle turnaround by AK Singh from UPA to NDA only made things difficult for the MP. On the contrary, Vishal Jolly played the role of a ruling party.

In the last eight years, Islands witnessed two scenarios with Bishnu Pada Ray as the constant and three LGs as variables. First, it was UPA at the centre with UPA appointed LGs with BJP MP, Second, NDA at Centre with UPA appointed LG and BJP MP in the Islands. In both cases, Bishnu, the constant had been at loggerheads, either with Centre or with the LG. And, he broadly blamed the scenarios for his helplessness.

And now Bishnu cannot ask for more, and blame anybody. Everything seems to be falling into place with the third scenario - NDA at the Centre and both MP and LG from BJP! Its a rare combination and will be interesting to watch how this arrangement functions, rather how Bishnu Pada Ray gets to perform as a Member of Parliament without pointing fingers. Till now, despite increased visibility in the House and raising vital issues, the output has been negligible. With upsetting the whole administrative setup, he could not achieve anything even in the village he adopted under the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana. He had the LG to blame for all the failures. Was LG the impediment? Or the system itself where the role of MP is limited? With change in guard and the crescendo of the accompanied euphoria reaching higher and higher, it might look promising only if our MP could get his election manifesto translated into action. Many lost promises need to be reminded. Retention of tsunami affected land by the farmers is just one among them.

With a seasoned politician with ample experience as MLA and minister especially from Delhi, Prof Jagdish Mukhi, the appointed LG, realizes the constraints of an UT, and its right time for BJP as a party to push for a democratic setup for the Islands. With ample exposure of the way of bureaucrats especially DANICs and AGMUT cadre, he knows the dynamics of the system very well. But, the priorities of an Island territory needs to be spelled out very well. An Island territory cannot forget its lifeline - the shipping sector.

Alcoholism is one social scourge which needs immediate attention. A territory with less than half a million population consumed more than 5 million litres of liquor last year. There is a need to push for complete ban on liquor and arrest the downward trend in the socio-economic condition of the Islanders. The ecology and tribes give the Islands its distinctive identity, which cannot be overlooked in all developmental initiatives.

The good things that happened under the leadership of A K Singh needs to continue. The institutions and initiatives have to be sustained. While setting new goals, old projects like undersea OFC cable shouldn't be put to backburner. Moreover, maturity needs to prevail with people and institutions not targeted for their allegiances and affiliations.

When the King changes, the King's Guard and the King's Hand at King's Landing shouldn't turn whisperers.

While appreciating the good work, recourses and reorientations wherever required needs to be done.

As an Islander, we must realize our fate that we are going to confront such situations every three years. Strangeness breeds alienation and skepticism. Hope is the only constant that can take us through forward. Au revoir Lt Gen A K Singh! Lets welcome our new Administrator Prof Jagdish Mukhi.

ANIIMS: Why Robinhood Plan Boomeranged?

2016-07-18T22:34:00.002-07:00

ANIIMS: Expulsion of Tribal Students

Why Robinhood Plan Boomeranged?

By Zubair Ahmed

Indeed, all actions are based on intentions. And, the intentions might had been noble in admitting tribal students from Nicobars in the newly opened Medical College, by lowering the criteria set by Medical Council of India (MCI). But, the plan has boomeranged with the expulsion of a few ST students and the backlash from the Nicobari community.

The students belonging to Nicobari tribe scoring less than 40% marks in ANIIMS conducted entrance exam, ANIPMT were expelled after seven months on the direction of MCI, which has stirred up a hornet's nest with the Tribal Councils of Nicobar district giving a clarion call for reinstatement of the students or face boycott. The Councils had appealed Nicobari students to boycott schools from 18 July if their demand was not met. And, following the decision, around 700 tribal students did not attend schools yesterday.

After an emergency meeting called at the District headquarters, the Tribal Council has conceded to the appeal of the authorities to send their children to school on the condition that the issue will be resolved in their favour by this weekend.

Medical College was one masterstroke from the Administrator Lt Gen A K Singh and was termed a game-changer. The most ambitious project of the Administration, and it went all the way to realize it. From day one, it was a challenge for the Administrator with the elected representative and many others creating one hurdle after another. But, the college became a reality, against all odds. He knew that it wasn't possible if he went the civil administration way and on war-footing got a set of defence personnel as consultant, director and even the dean, which too created heartburn.

Without its own building, the college started functioning at Ayush complex with additions and modifications. A few other buildings around it were also occupied and tweaked to fulfill the MCI guidelines. Many more buildings - Teal House, Hornbill Nest, Dugong Guest House - were occupied, and now the Medical College in its second year is spread throughout the city. In short, the Administrator could silence all his critics by making the Medical College a reality.

The weather was conducive and the sail smooth for the medical college, but with the departure of a few trusted officials of the Administrator including Anand Prakash, the Chief Secretary, there has been a turnaround and the activities of the Medical College has come under the scanner. The autonomy enjoyed by the Dean in all matters - administrative as well as academics is also learnt to have been curtailed. It is alleged that procedures and norms were flouted from the beginning with Medical Council of India too looking the other way.

Medical College had become a prestige issue for a group of officers led by the Chief Secretary who enjoyed free-hand, and many others were sidelined, who would question overriding procedures and norms. In fact, they had no say. Similar approach of his predecessors had met the same fate during his time. What goes around, comes around!

Medical College is a boon for the Islands and a need, and its sustainability should go beyond personal ego and prestige. The way the project was arbitrarily executed had raised many eyebrows. The frequent skirmish between the specialists and the tussle over the control of the lone referral hospital had created bad blood among many. Instead of resolving the bitterness, things were swept under the carpet. Many officials who were not in the good books of Mr Anand Prakash had to face the music.

The intention to admit tribal students reducing the minimum marks criteria might have been very noble and an example of inclusiveness. But, the decision had also created bitterness among many as they felt the decision to be arbitrary and against the norms. The predicament of the expelled students and the call for boycott by the community against the expulsion, are issues with serious repercussions. Whether the Administration as a single entity would support the cause of the students or would stick to the norms set by MCI? The signs of alienation of a community from the mainstream seems to be the larger issue at hand. Moreover, bridging the various mini Islands inside the bureaucracy without fear and favour would define the fate of many ongoing developmental projects and sustainability of the newly established institutions.

The Elusive Bridge!

2016-05-06T23:29:00.001-07:00

The Elusive Bridge!

By Zubair Ahmed

Boat journeys often bring out interesting moments and conversations. Though, it might be a little different if you are traveling between Chatham and Bambooflat with every conversation beginning or ending up discussing the elusive bridge.

Today, afternoon with the sun beaming its hottest rays, the little space with shade on the boat was brimming with passengers trying to evade the scorching sun. There was shade, but no escape from the humidity. Agitated with the delay in departure, a lady was seen shouting why the boat is not leaving. A guy answered the lady and also added a line about the relief the bridge would bring in.

This triggered a journey-long discussion between two friends, and I was a mute spectator to the conversation that started with a note on the bridge and finally ended up questioning our existence itself!

One of the guys said that the bridge is not economically viable, and raising his eyebrows enquired about the population of the Islands and the feasibility for such an expensive bridge. This hit the other guy so hard that he reeled out a list of questions that numbed my senses for a while.

"Do you think, the boat that you are traveling is economically viable? You pay eight rupees and the government spend more than a hundred rupees on your each trip."

"Do you think whether the water that you get through pipeline is any less expensive than the bottled water available in the market? Add the expenditure of the water section of APWD plus the hundreds of tankers carrying it from east to west and north to south, and finally landing up in your glass!"

"Do you know, when you go home, and switch on the fan, and the tariff that you pay for one unit of electricity that it consumes is nowhere economically viable."

"For that matter, you know your existence itself is not economically viable in the Islands!"

"Your every breath is maintained and sustained by Plan and Non-Plan fund from the Centre. The fresh oxygen that you inhale is no more free as all of us think. Do you have any idea about the expenditure incurred by the forest department in 'conserving' the forests?

"And, how does it matter, if the bridge is not economically viable?" he asked emphatically.

"You should also know that whether the elected representative, the state president of ruling party or for that matter, the Lieutenant Governor can't be very assertive about their demands, as what they have in their hands are nothing but begging bowls, of course, of different sizes and shapes."

So whom should you blame? he asked thumping on the fuel tank of his bike.

Yes, if you have to blame, you should blame Capt. Archibald Blair who surveyed the Islands in 1789 for finding the place suitable for penal settlement.

Yes, the blame should be on J P Walker, who landed on Chatham Island with the first batch of 200 mutineers on 10th March 1858! Had he not landed on Chatham, there would not have been a demand for bridge between Chatham and Bambooflat.

Yes, the blame should be on those British guys, who thought Chatham suitable for a saw mill, and the ones who were culpable for connecting the Island with Haddo by a causeway, which further raised hopes of the people living on the other side to have bridge connectivity.

How can you not blame the Andamanese tribe, who lost the Battle of Aberdeen fighting the Colonial forces? Had they won, there would not have the British and the settlement, and the demand for a bridge too!

How can you not blame Colonel Michael Lloyd Ferrar, Chief Commissioner, a man who lent his name to the largest Tehsil, Ferrargunj, in South Andaman? Had he not seen a vision for development of the place, there would not have so many villages contently living amidst their agricultural land and homesteads dreaming of a bridge between Bambooflat and Chatham.

Jarawas cannot be spared from the blame! Had they strongly resisted the Settlers and not remained content being pushed to one corner of the Island, the dream of Col Ferrar would have failed and there would not be a demand for a bridge later!

There was some hope still left till the Japanese occupied the Islands. The Allied Force pilots who bombed Chatham Island, failed to sink the Island keeping the hope for a bridge still alive!

After Independence, blame lies primarily on the Defence forces, who without take into account for a bridge built their harbour as well as the many ships of different sizes and heights!

How can you not blame the aircraft carriers to be built or inducted in the future? Though INS Vikrant did not come inside the harbour in 1980s, it raised the hope for INS Virat to enter the harbour later! Blame is due for the hope of the aircraft carriers entering the harbour for the hopelessness of the bridge between Chatham and Bambooflat!

You should also blame the nuclear powered submarine, which once entered the harbour. Had it anchored on the mouth of Port Blair harbour near Ross Island, tunnel could have been a possibility.

When economics, history and geography have to be blamed for the elusive bridge, how can someone point finger at the ruling dispensation in the UT or at Centre?

Maybe, they are aware about the predicament and also ashamed of their position. That's why the Administration is not coming out with any conclusive answer to the queries raised by the public about the status of the bridge, promised by Gadkariji.

When the boat reached Bambooflat, the guy who questioned the viability of the bridge suddenly changed topic and emphatically said,

"Modi is very powerful. He will surely send Sonia and Rahul behind bars in the AgustaWestland chopper deal."

Indeed a respite in the otherwise hot weather!

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Strategic Springboard for India

2016-04-27T23:05:00.001-07:00

Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

Strategic Springboard for India

By Dhan Singh*, BTech, MBA

IIT Kanpur, India

It is imperative that our country has to craft its foreign policy in such a way so as to meet the numerous challenges of the twenty-first century. The challenges that the foreign policy has to contend with include inter-continental terrorism, piracy over high seas, global gun-running syndicates and the looming threat to disruption of sea lanes of communication (SLOCs) and illegal exploitation of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) critical for the growth of the economy of our country.

Strategic location of Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

India

is strategically located in the centre of Asia and at the head of the Indian Ocean. By virtue of its geographical location, Andaman and Nicobar Islands enjoys a strategic location as the far south-easternmost part of India. Landfall Islands, the northern most island in the Andaman archipelago, is just about 20 km from Myanmar's Coco Island (which is reportedly under Chinese control) while Indira Point at the tip of Great Nicobar, the southernmost island in the Nicobar archipelago, lies about 80 km from the tip of Sumatra in Indonesia. Thus, Andaman and Nicobar Islands is located at the mouth of the Straits of Malacca which is a significant trade route through which majority of trade occurs amongst various countries over the seas.

Evolution of the Defence Architecture in Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

The evolution of Andaman and Nicobar Islands from being simply an outpost in the Indian defence architecture to becoming an important strategic base has indeed been a long-drawn one. The Indian Union set up the Indian naval base named INS Jarawa in late 1960s which had primarily amphibious ships and to protect the Islands post the Sino-Indian war of 1962.The INS Jarawa was renamed Fortress Andaman (FORTRAN) in 1981.The naval air component in the form of INS Utkrosh was established near INS Jarawa in 1985.

The paradigm shift in the defence architecture of Andaman and Nicobar Islands occurred when the first integrated theatre command of the Indian Armed Forces was set up in the form of ‘Andaman Nicobar Command (ANC)’ at Port Blair in 2001.But with the limited joint capability among the three armed forces, ANC, hitherto, has had mixed results. ANC definitely is a step forward for the eventual reorganization of armed forces of our country into integrated theatre commands which will be better suited to deal with the security challenges decisively in a holistic manner.

With the nature of warfare changing from being manpower-intensive (as during the World war periods and some decades thereafter) to more technology-centric, there is an urgent need to institute a Force Structure Commission with an aim to improve the tooth-to-tail ratio resulting in an agile and responsive defence force.

Role of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in furthering the national interests of India:

Since the foreign policy is guided by the national interests of India,viz.,securing a peaceful and an amicable external environment to ensure the sustainable development of India so as to pull out the remaining millions from poverty and to ensure equitable development inside the country. In order to achieve a conducive external and internal environment for our country’s inclusive development, securing national borders is as significant as securing the exclusive economic zones which are repository of natural resources of various kinds and protecting the SLOCs from disruption in coordination with other countries both in immediate and extended neighborhood of India.

About 90% of India’s trade and oil imports are moved by sea lanes of communications (SLOCs), the prominent one passing through the Straits of Malacca to which Andaman & Nicobar Islands have geographical proximity. As our country’s economy becomes more globally integrated, it would become more dependent on the oceans.

The re-emergence of China has led to renewed interest in the Indian Ocean. Indian Ocean has acquired a great salience not only because of the various trade routes that pass through it but also as a bridge to connect the various countries located in the Indian Ocean region through initiatives like ‘Project Mausam’ and with the help of multilateral organizations like Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). ‘Project Mausam’ (being coordinated by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts IGNCA, New Delhi) aims to revive the historic maritime, cultural and economic ties with the 39 Indian Ocean countries including China and Pakistan.

In order to secure the maritime interest of India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands acquires a significant place because it hosts the first tri-services command of our country (Andaman Nicobar Command) which aims to provide a holistic security solution to strengthen the strategic position of India in the vicinity of the all-important Malacca Strait.

Evaluation of the Security & Strategic Policy in relation to Andaman & Nicobar Islands:

In present times, jointness amongst the various arms of the defence forces is the essential component of the military doctrine of any country. This is evident in the recent reduction in the size of the People’s Liberation Army of the People’s Republic of China which has gone in for organizational restructuring of its armed forces in favor of increasing jointness and has set up Theatre Commands (to have a holistic view of the war zone) in the place of separate commands of army, navy or air force.

Recently in March 2016, Indian Navy, Army and the Indian Air Force participated in joint war game named 'Jal Prahar' in Andaman & Nicobar Islands under the aegis of Andaman Nicobar Command (ANC) where joint exercises in amphibious battlefield scenarios was practiced. Though such joint exercises which are being carried out at tactical levels are a step forward but for a leap forward in enhancing jointness amongst the three wings of Armed Forces and also the Coast Guard will happen only when there is jointness at strategic level amongst the various armed forces of our country.

The present obsession of the security establishment of our country with Pakistan has to give way to a more balanced approach to future security scenarios in which China should be given due importance in the long-term since China, the economic power that it is already, is also asserting itself militarily both in the South China sea and also in the various islands of the Indian ocean region. Andaman & Nicobar Islands becomes important because the maritime approach to South China Sea is through the Malacca Strait. Apart from being the storehouse of natural resources underneath the South China Sea, South China Sea is also important because more than 50% of India’s trade comes through the South China Sea if crude oil is excluded. Indian oil exploration companies like ONGC-Videsh has won contracts to prospect petroleum in blocks in South China Sea under the territorial jurisdiction of Vietnam. So, it would be prudent for our country to conduct joint exercises with Vietnam in the region of South China Sea (under the territorial jurisdiction of Vietnam) to protect mutual interests. India has rightly decided to stay put in Vietnam despite Chinese protests because ONGC-Videsh is prospecting in territories under the sovereign control of Vietnam from whom ONGC-Videsh had won a competitive contract. ONGC-Videsh should remain in Vietnam despite poor prospects of oil in order to maintain India's strategic interest in the South China Sea.

With the ‘Pivot to Asia’ policy of United States coming into play, US has deployed a large number of its forces and military equipment in the Asia-Pacific region which includes the Indian Ocean region. Moreover, in April 2016 US and India have concluded the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) vide which respective militaries of each country can access each other’s military bases for repair and refueling purposes. LEMOA is a step forward because it has formalized the existing arrangements of sharing of repair and refueling facilities between the militaries of US and India that had been existing earlier also. For China, it is important that India does not become the ally of US. Thus, India can use its strategic closeness to US as a bargaining chip with China to secure its national interests including an amicable settlement of the boundary dispute.

Since the trade routes converge in the Northern Indian Ocean, therefore China is primarily interested in the Northern Indian Ocean. The Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago located in the Northern Indian Ocean could thus be used as a ‘metal chain’ to block Chinese access to the Straits of Malacca, as argued by naval analyst Zhang Ming. While China is embarking on the grand plans of infrastructure development across the Indian Ocean region through its One Belt One Road (OBOR) that comprises the establishment of Maritime Silk Route through which it proposes to connect the various Indian ocean countries by developing ports (like Gwadar port in Pakistan, Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, Marau which is close to Male in Maldives), our country while being a part of the OBOR also needs to explore other strategic alternatives as it is attempting through Project Mausam by leveraging its core competencies, most notably its soft power and its age-old civilizational ties with the Indian Ocean countries. The Indian diaspora in Indian Ocean Region countries can be an added advantage that India enjoys unlike China, which is another important player in the Indian Ocean.

The way forward:

The stated policy of India is to become a net security provider in the Indian Ocean region. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands by virtue of its strategic location is well suited to become the springboard using which our country and its military, most notably its navy (which is steadily developing its blue water capability) can project power deep inside the Indian Ocean and protect India’s national interests which extends from the strait of Hormuz in West Asia to the strait of Malacca in the East. To realize India’s full strategic potential in the Indian Ocean, Indian Navy needs to fast track its efforts in building maritime capacity especially in island states that occupy critical locations in the Indian Ocean and in these efforts Andaman and Nicobar Islands can become the winning ace.

The writer from the Islands is a Research Scholar in Management Department in IIT Kanpur. He also had a seven year stint as a Commissioned Officer in Defence.

Power to the Native

2016-04-08T09:10:00.002-07:00

Power to the Native

The Jarawas in the Andamans need to be protected as well as empowered to choose their own modernity. A new, more imaginative policy framework might help.

By Zubair Ahmed

There are two thousands square miles of country teeming with food for the Jarawas and unoccupied by any human being. Why must they keep coming over to our hundred square mile settlements and keep killing our wretched convicts?

Lt. Col. Michael Lloyd Ferrar

Chief Commissioner (1921-33) Andaman Islands, writing in March 1926

The advent of the British colonialists in 1858 to set up a penal settlement in Andaman Islands posed a challenge to the tribals inhabiting the islands. The Jarawas resisted attempts to colonise their land and lives. Even after Independence, Jarawas were seen as a threat to settlers. To keep the tribe at bay, bush police forces were engaged until the Jarawas themselves realised their vulnerability and shed hostilities, and came out of the forests in 1998. The hand of friendship they extended towards the outside world has proved to be disastrous for the tribe, who lived in the forest for the last 50,000 years or more and now number around 400.

A policy of “isolation with minimal intervention” was brought into force in 2004, an important contemporary watershed. With the passage of time, and an ineffective implementation of the policy, the Jarawas remain caught between two worlds — and secure in neither.

While the murder of a Jarawa child by a fellow tribesman in Tirur and the associated legal conundrum is making headlines worldwide, one pertinent question not being dealt with is the ongoing sexual exploitation of the Jarawa women by outsiders. It obscures the fact that first, a crime has been committed by someone who breached the reserve and sexually exploited a Jarawa woman.

In all these years, the state has failed in securing the reserve against poachers, who exploit the tribe as well as prey on forest resources. More unfortunate has been the inability to sensitise the settlers living along the fringes of the Jarawa Tribal Reserve and even the islanders about the rich “human heritage” and the particular vulnerabilities of the Jarawa community. This has been an opportunity missed to rope in the large settler population of the islands as the protectors or at least well-wishers of the tribe.

In contrast, the level of illicit contact has increased manifold in all three sectors — Middle Strait and Kadamtala in Middle Andaman and Tirur in South Andaman, where several cases of sexual exploitation of women have been reported. With poachers becoming the contact points for the Jarawas, alcohol and drugs have made inroads into the reserve. Several poachers have been charged with luring the Jarawas with alcohol and food to part with forest produce.

The changed realities and the bad press the Andaman and Nicobar administration got from across the world, particularly after a video of Jarawas dancing for tourists in lieu of food surfaced in 2012, did force a re-look into the policy. A committee of experts set up in 2011 went on to make the rules, regulations and laws governing the tribal reserve more stringent to ward off “undesirable” elements. An overenthusiastic administration tied itself up in knots in creating an unrealistic 5-km buffer zone for the tribal reserve. It turned the settlers firmly against the administration and also the Jarawa community.

The appointment of anthropologist Vishvajit Pandya as the director of the Port Blair-based Andaman and Nicobar Tribal Research Institute (ANTRI) in 2013 was a significant one. Pandya not only convinced the reluctant and over-cautious administration of the islands to look beyond the existing policy framework, but he also played an important role in bringing drastic changes in the tribal welfare agency, the Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS), and in empowering and re-orienting the grassroots workers who deal with the Jarawas on a daily basis.

Earlier, the trained social workers of AAJVS, fairly competent in special tribal languages, were only meant to do the bidding of bureaucrats. Under Pandya, they went back to listening to the Jarawas and implementing policies with their informed consent. For instance, though the Jarawas preferred to be in their “traditional attire, when they are assisted by the AAJVS to move from one place to other by jeep or boat, they are keen to cover their body. It is, perhaps, a way of resisting the tourist experience and expectation of the Jarawa as a “naked exotic” people.

An educational project, ang-katha, was also implemented inside the tribal reserve for Jarawa children, primarily aiming to prepare them for a bi-cultural future, where a Jarawa child could operate in the “mainstream” but also be able to retain her own identity with pride and dignity.

Two additional points also need to be made here. The first is about the Indian media, which in the case of the islands and the Jarawas, always seems to be taking a cue from what the foreign media publishes. It needs to play a far more pro-active role, including that of a watchdog. The second is the lacuna in the local education system where there is little, if anything, about the local geography and history of the indigenous people. When what is proximate is made so alien from the very beginning, a long-term and meaningful resolution is not going to be easy to come by.

Looking at the current incident in a larger context will also help to identify that which is more important and relevant. We have miserably failed in dealing with the honour killings by khap panchayats of Haryana and the Dalit killings in Tamil Nadu despite a whole gambit of laws and constitutional protection. So, instead of discussing the honour killing by a Jarawa, a tribe that occupies a very special position due to its geographical, historical, cultural and social condition, the focus should be on a policy framework, where the Jarawas are protected from the evils of “civilization” and be allowed the time and space to decide their own future.

The writer is a Port Blair-based journalist and researcher.

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/andaman-islands-jarawas-power-to-the-native/

Out of Syllabus, Out of Mind!

2016-03-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Out of Syllabus, Out of Mind!

By Zubair Ahmed

Ask any student from Andaman and Nicobar Islands the location of Chowra or Teressa Island, and 90% would fail to answer the question. Ask them about Timbuktu or Congo, and it’s likely they will have all the details. The A&N islands are home to mountains, the sea, beaches, forests, plains and even tribal communities not found anywhere else, and yet, little of this is part of the school curriculum here.

This is not how it has always been. The British had, in fact, successfully introduced study of local geography in the islands in the early part of the 20th century itself: Jughrafia – Jazair Andaman o Nicobar, nicknamed Andaman ka Jughrafia, the geography text book written by Master Abdus Subhan in 1935 in Urdu for students of the 3rd standard.

Subhan explains in his preface of the book that the British had made the study of the geography of the islands compulsory in 1920 itself. There were no books available though there was no dearth of reports and data in English and teachers taught whatever they could, according to their own level of understanding. That was when Abdus Subhan embarked upon the onerous task of preparing a proper book for the students.

Though basically a book of geography, it gave quite a lucid idea of the state of affairs in those days. There is a short account of the history of the place - a few words about the aborted first settlement in 1789, the Battle of Aberdeen, assassination of Lord Mayo, and developmental works under various chief commissioners. The geography portion is quite exhaustive and covers both the Andaman and Nicobar group of islands. It covers all the aspects that a book on geography should cover including the land, people, communication, climate, rainfall, agricultural produce, occupation of the people, industrial establishment, trades, towns and villages. The efforts of Master Abdus Subhan, at a time when technological support was non-existent, and the initiative of the colonial administration were commendable to say the least.

In independent India, the idea kept germinating every now and then, but there has been no serious attempt even after 70 years to teach the Islanders about their own Islands. Though there are a number of books written for the tourists, no concerted effort has been made to prepare a curriculum to familiarize the children about their own surroundings. And whom then can we blame if the islanders are insensitive towards the vulnerable tribes or the fragile ecology?

And even if a few books are being prepared and finalized due to efforts of a few non-governmental organizations, the implementation remains entangled in bureaucratic red-tapism.

Published in the latest issue of the Protected Area Update, April 2016

Jarawa Baby Killing: Open Letter to the Editor New York Times

2016-03-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

Jarawa Baby Killing:

Open Letter to the Editor New York Times

From Prof. Vishvajit Pandya & Dr. Madhumita Mazumdar

We write this in response to the article titled “ Baby’s killing tests India’s protection of an Aboriginal Culture” written by Ellen Barry and Hari Kumar published in the NYT on March 13, 2016.

The article’s focus on the ethical and legal conundrum arising out of the case might have been well conceived had it been backed up by deeper research and understanding. Its conclusions based on comments from various ‘stakeholders’ too don’t shed any light on the complexities of the case. In fact what the article has done is to sensationalize the issue and stoke an uninformed debate about the Indian state’s policy of protection of its Particularly Vulnerable Tribal citizens.

To avert this needless debate the authors would have done well to focus not merely on the criminal investigation report and stoke the question of Jarawa culpability in the crime but ask more pressing questions relating to the series of immediate events and the larger conditions that led to it. In other words it should have probed deeper into the role of the non-tribal offenders in the case and asked why they should have entered the Tribal Reserve, supplied alcohol to the two young Jarawa men and instigate them to abduct the baby and kill it. If we assume that the practice of eliminating illegitimate children is still pervasive among the Jarawa community, then the question would be why the Jarawa would have needed the help of non-tribal intruders to carry out the act this time? This question becomes particularly important if we go by tribal welfare records of the practice over the last decade. First of all it is clear that practice of killing illegitimate children among the Jarawas has dwindled and almost stopped as a result of relentless sensitization of the community by tribal welfare officers. Anup Kumar Mondol senior Tribal Welfare Officer in the Kadamtala region has been at the forefront of persuading Jarawas to end the practice and encourage adoption of such children by willing members of the community. His and his team’s efforts have borne heartening results and the practice of “shankhutayen” or the killing of illegitimate children has almost disappeared.

In this context the sudden ‘revival’ of “shankhutayen” in certain specific segments of the Jarawa reserve i.e. in the Tirur region (where this incident happened) has to be probed more carefully. Particularly because it has to be seen in the light of of the peculiar settler-Jarawas relations that have manifested here both in their ‘collusive’ and in their exploitative aspects. This is a troubling yet relevant question if one goes by the number of cases of poaching, illegal intrusion and sexual exploitation of Jarawa women that have been reported from this particular region over the years. There is ample reason to believe that habitual sexual offenders who are often the cause of unwanted pregnancies would have a vested interest in keeping alive a practice that has the potential to shield them from both legal and social censure. It also allows them to transfer blame onto a community that has no power to speak for itself in a court of law. In this case Subramani the prime accused was the father of the child and it is possible he instigated the killing in a cynical attempt to remove evidence of his sexual offences in the Reserve.

It would therefore be a grave mistake to make easy assumptions of culpability of the Jarawa man and bring him under the Indian state’s criminal justice system without addressing the insidious role of the offenders in this case.

In our opinion neither the assertion of cultural relativist positions on Jarawa practices, nor the mobilization of old stereotypes of the ‘savage primitive ‘ nor even the invocation of labels such as ‘human heritage’ help in making sense of the events that led to the killing of the infant. The authors should have focused not only the perceived crime but on the context behind it. To suggest that the killing of illegitimate children among Jarawas is a long held practice is not enough to assign blame on a community or assign equal culpability on the Jarawa man. Prudence dictates that such instances be understood in their own specific terms. The need of the hour therefore is to unravel the nexus and modus operandi of the prime accused in this case and to regulate further intrusions into the forest. In this context it may be useful to note that tribal welfare administration has already initiated a process of organizing young Jarawa men and sensitizing them to report cases of poaching and illegal intrusions in the Reserve Territory. But a more concerted, strong and sustained state effort must be in place for this to work effectively. The state is committed to the protection of the community and it is expected that offenders don’t get away with such impunity.

To conclude, the question of the Jarawa man’s culpability and the ethical and legal conundrum it has generated for the administration, remains a needless distraction in a case where the prime accused has still a lot to answer for. The authors of this piece would have done well if they chose to pose the problem in ways that would have shed greater light on the specificities of the case and the larger politics behind its slanted reportage in the media.

Prof Vishwajit Pandya is Professor of Anthropology at the Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology and is also the Founder and Honorary Director of the Andaman and Nicobar Tribal Research Institute (ANTRI).

Madhumita Mazumdar is Associate Professor at DAIICT.

The Nation Must Know About Andamans!

2016-02-07T02:33:00.003-08:00

The Nation Must Know About Andamans!

By Zubair Ahmed

I couldn't watch the Times Now Newshour debate on 28th Jan 2016 and 1st Feb 2016, as I don't watch television nowadays. I saw both the debates on youtube today morning. As an Andaman Islander, I am a little confused how to respond. Whether I should be happy that the tourist footfall is increasing or should be unhappy for the corporators and similar folks wasting taxpayers money shamelessly by paying visits to our Islands.

Undoubtedly, Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a dream tourism destination and also a place of pilgrimage. Even Baba Ramdev mesmerized by its beauty has imposed himself on us as our Brand Ambassador. Now, he will promote our Islands. Lighthouse tourism or Island-based Yog Tourism without Baba holding any stake in it might be the bottom-line. That's the entrepreneurial spirit!

I don't know about junkets, but I am quite sure that the parliamentarians, legislators, corporators, and even Panchayat representatives from our country know very well that October to March is the best season to study Andamans. They all come, and mostly hold a meeting with the concerned department authorities, at Megapode Nest Conference Hall with a banner depicting the purpose of their visit and then they "also" pay visit to places of tourist interest, nay, historical importance.

Most important item on any itinerary of all these committees and study groups is a visit to Havelock Island, where a postal stamp, a toilet block, a changing room, or a mobile tower is dedicated to the nation by the visiting dignitary. And its ensured that they interact with the PRI members of the Island too. Last couple of months were chock-a-block with Ministers and other dignitaries of different hues.

What prompted me to pen down this blog is not the junkets that our elected members or the bureaucrats undertake to the Islands, but the way the panelists on the channel debate was referring to the Islands. One panelist Mr Shailesh Gandhi former CIC and an RTI activist was heard yelling on top of his voice that there is nothing to study in Andamans except fish! And that too if we take a glass bottom boat and see the corals.

Yes, I do agree that the Mumbai Corporators were on a junket and their itinerary was changed top to bottom the instant they landed in Port Bair to make it appear like a study tour. In fact, a loss to the travel agent who had chalked out a perfect tour programme for the visiting corporators. They were forced to attend a few meetings here and there as an eyewash.

But to say that there is nothing to learn in Andamans is a bit an arrogant statement. I would suggest all states to send study groups to see how the Islands apart from its natural bounties have nurtured a society with a cultural mix which is in many ways a role model for the country to follow.

Our parliamentarians and legislators should learn how peaceful and tranquil the Islands are. Inspite of origins of different regions, the communal and linguistic harmony is something the Mumbai corporators need to learn from the Islands. No language or religion tries to dominate or smother others. Casteism in true sense is just a column in various forms that we get from mainland.

The day the corporators from Mumbai were in Port Blair, we heard that they filed complaint being left without any security. In fact, we felt the heat next day. While going towards Sinclairs, to have tea and vada from a small tea joint, next to the hotel, the stretch from Marina Park to Govt Press were barricaded with more policemen than joggers. When enquired a constable said that the bandobust is due to VIP movement.

One request the Islanders would like to make to these corporators is that the Islands, though located in a strategic location is the most safest and secure place in the country. Nobody cares, if a VIP takes a stroll on the road. No one will even notice them, forget harming them in any way. The sense of safety and security in the Islands is unparalleled. When you are on a visit to study, kindly don't teach us your sense of security and bandobast, which we are not used to.

Whatever, you have to learn, you may learn it from the nature here. Nature provides as well as takes care of the Islanders here. No city can afford the extent of rain that the Islands receive. And, it doesn't flood at many places not due to any artificial intervention. The topography of the Islands, and its hilly nature helps the water to drain into the sea. A few bottlenecks here and there are the contribution of mankind.

Though, the Islands faced one of the worst disasters in 2004, as of now, the level of disaster preparedness is quite high. It's a truth even acknowledged by a visiting "study team" from Japan. However, the nature of disasters the Islands probably face is still a challenge. Though, comparatively, loss of life in disasters is minimal in the Islands.

Apart from the Corporators, what the panelists can also learn from the Islands is the level of tolerance and patience of the Islanders. Their laid back lifestyle is not something which they have learned from the nature. It's gradually ingrained by the system of governance. In fact they are bureaucrat-resilient. The time they spend on jetties waiting for ferries or boats have made them patient and tolerant. Don't teach them the impatient and intolerant Mumbai local train culture.

You need to be very sure what you learn from the Islands and what you don't teach the Islanders. Take a lesson of harmonious living without any kind of discrimination and please don't teach us the poisonous tirades that you practice.

By the way, did the visiting dignitaries ever noticed, how indifferent the Islanders were about the purpose of their visit? In fact, when the Nation was busy trying to know the intention of the Mumbai corporators' visit to the Islands, the Islanders were as usual patiently waiting for ferry on the jetties totally unconcerned about the hullabaloo.

That's one thing the Nation may want to Know if they can find the time!

Education: Quantity or Quality?

2015-06-09T18:18:00.003-07:00

Education: Quantity or Quality?

Isn't it an irony that parents spend Rs 1000 per month for education in a private school, while government spends Rs 2000 per month on a child in a government school. The disintegration of education system in the Islands is directly proportional to the increase in investment in pay & perks, infrastructure, facilities, equipments and accessories. Is it systemic failure or lack of a system itself?

By Zubair Ahmed

An analysis of the three press meets by the heads of Electricity, Education and APWD would suffice to get a feel about our idea of development or achievements. When we talk about achievements, its more about quantity than quality in every sector.

Like any other department of the Admn, in education too, the number of school buildings, toilets, doors, windows, new recruitments, teaching and non-teaching staff, ayahs, peons and watchmen seems to be the focus. But, the dismal performance of govt schools in the board exams has now compelled the Administration to reflect on reasons behind the debacle.

The Administrator recently expressed concern over low pass percentage both in Class X and XII. Had we achieved 100% pass in Class X, we would have celebrated our success and started comparing it with states in Mainland conveniently overlooking the fact that even 100% is just quantity and not about quality. Will the Directorate tell us the overall average CGPA this year, even in the schools which achieved 100% results? It would be a shocking revelation!

In fact, if the Admn contemplates tweaking the system to make a turnaround, the change should begin from top to bottom. The Directorate needs an academic to run the show instead of a bureaucrat. A bureaucrat can be good in providing resources, but monitoring of academic performance is not their cup of tea. Mismanagement of resources including manpower is quite apparent everywhere. Schools with disproportionate pupil-teacher ratio is abundant in number.

The example of two schools in South Andaman District are glaring. One Govt secondary school at Jirkatang, affiliated to CBSE, has 16 students on roll with five GTTs, two PSTs one Craft Instructor and one Librarian. Three students appeared for Class X Board examinations out of which two passed and one was placed under EIOP or compartment. The teacher-student ratio is 16:9! One teacher for every 1.5 student!

The CBSE-affiliated secondary school at Mile Tilak has 30 students and 8 teachers including a PET and a Librarian. Five students appeared for Class X examinations and secured 100% pass with an average result of 6.5 CGPA. The teacher-student ratio is 30:8! A teacher for every 3.5 student!

Why not buy a fully-air-conditioned 40-seater coach with home pickup for the children with lunch from a star-hotel and admit them in a premier school at Port Blair? The per capita cost would be less than what is spent on such schools, and a fortune can be saved too.

Isn't it sheer mismanagement or eternal indecisiveness to find a solution? These are not exceptional cases. There are many such examples throughout the territory. There was a school with 16 teachers and 9 students!

There are many schools in South Andaman District where enrolment is very low due to numerous private schools that have come up. But, the sanctioned strength of staff remains same with disproportionate teacher-student ratio. Many teachers can be seen loitering around or sitting around the headmaster gossiping.

In fact, there are approximately 300 surplus teaching staff including GTT and PST in the department, without taking into account those engaged under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). The recent recruitment might have earned a brownie point, but was it need-based? The haphazard placement of teachers throughout the territory exposes the sorry state of affairs in the department. Even the official Pupil Teacher Ratio claimed to be around 15:1 is highly debatable. The no. of students studying in govt schools as projected by the Directorate is 86460, and teachers under the Directorate is 5574 which is also susceptible. In fact, no developed country, even USA can beat the record of Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) in our Islands. It runs in single digit.

A large number of media of instruction also add to the miseries of the department. The same infrastructure and faculty are needed for a small number of students. Schools were provided for small number of students again on demand, without considering the logistics and practical difficulties. Rationalization of medium, as pinpointed by the Administrator, however politically incorrect it might be, needs to be implemented.

To bring quality in education, a robust monitoring system needs to be in place. However, the department is not devoid of saner voices. They do admit that there is no accountability, no proper, timely and effective inspection of schools. Inspection by peers is hardly meaningful unless sustained and evaluated periodically.

But the question is how inspections can be carried out with the present dispensation? Principals, DEOs, Asst Directors and sometimes Directors are of same scale. The DEO acts as principal in charges of many schools in the absence of regular principals. If the climate is conducive, they may sit in Directorate as Asst Directors and in bad times may be sent back as Principals or DEOs. There is no well-defined hierarchy to bell the cat?

In 2009, the pass percentage of Class X was 57%. Thousands of students were thrown out of education system. Last year, when the results were 97%, instead of celebrating it, we rued the system saying that Class X is no more a benchmark. This year, the results seems to have rationalized. Its a wake up call to take CCE seriously in lower classes itself to prepare them for board exams, especially Class X. Dissection of average marks in different subjects will be a good way to start with to know what we were missing down the line.

Moreover, to get into the bottom of the disintegration, there needs to be a thorough understanding of the CCE pattern, which is often blamed by majority of teachers for poor performance.

Earlier, they rued that students weren't serious due to no-fail policy. Now, when the pass percentage have come down, they blame the CCE pattern itself.

In fact, CCE pattern is widely misconstrued by most of the stakeholders. It prepares the students for life rather than just higher studies. There has been no serious effort among teachers in implementing it in true spirit. Blaming it as paper-work intensive system, the focus is deflected from children failing the purpose itself.

With a little bit of tweaking here and there, its one system, which gives sufficient emphasis on overall development of the child. It is observed that there has been a drop in the capability of writing among the children due to irrational mark allocation in different tools in formative assessments in lower classes, which can be easily overcome by following a rational system giving an extra edge for pen-paper test, preparing the students for summative assessments. Problem Solving Assessment (PSA) introduced by CBSE a couple of years back seems to be far beyond the comprehension of our teachers.

There has been wide discussion of inclusion of soft skills in school curriculum, but how many teachers in our Islands have ever seen the well-researched Life Skill manuals prepared by CBSE? Do they use it in schools? How many periods are earmarked for the same? Instead of blaming the system and looking out for solutions, there is a serious need to get acquainted with the materials provided by CBSE as well as NCERT, and implement it in true sense.

The state of evidences of assessment by government schools will tell another sordid tale of affairs how much they are concerned about the students. If the Administration is serious about improving the quality of education in the govt run schools, they need to check the quality of evidences of assessment of each school. To make CCE work, periodic internal assessment of evidences need to be carried out.

A one time quality assessment test at two levels can help in getting a clear picture about the ground reality. To assess the quality of language and mathematics up to Class V and Maths and Science upto Class VIII would help in assessing the teachers, schools as well as students. Necessary inputs and outputs from the review can help in taking remedial measures.

On making the teachers responsive and accountable, the Secretary recently made a remark about carrot and stick approach. Only reward and punishment can bring meaningful change in the system. Transfers are very lucrative in the department. A lot of political as well as bureaucratic pressures are exerted on the Directorate to accommodate the ‘well connected’ teachers in the headquarters. Others manage on medical ground; true or false. Yet others come up with excuses of ailing old parents, and close relatives; some actual, some cooked up to stay in South Andaman Main Island, not even Neil, Havelock and Little Andaman. If the warning from Secretary-cum-Director that non-performers will be shown the door makes an impact, well and good. Moreover, there are no incentives for performers, who gradually feel let down by the Directorate.

While the private schools with minimal infrastructure and manpower delivers, the over pampered government schools with experienced teachers and quality infrastructure fails miserably. The govt spends around Rs 20 crores on just salary of teachers, and per head expenditure on a child comes to more than Rs 40,000/- but the output is dismal. The irony is that when a parent spends Rs 1000/- per month for education in a private school, government spends Rs 2000/- per month on a child in government school.

Sixth Pay Commission brought a windfall for the government teachers beyond their wildest dream. But in terms of output, there is hardly anything to write home about. The teaching fraternity instead of discussing the debacle in board exams would be more keener to discuss threadbare about Seventh Pay Commission and its nitty-gritty.

Its a fact that educated parents including govt teachers admit their children in private schools despite knowing that the teachers are not experienced and are not paid at par with those in govt service, but they are confident that the schools will deliver.

Its an enigma why govt schools in outer Islands, where there are no private schools too fail to perform. The enrolment is not bad. The community as stakeholders too needs to give a thought about it.

If ten percent of the time teachers spent on gossiping about their pay scale, DA and pay band is utilized to discuss about education and their students, the Administrator wouldn't have to worry about the declining quality of education in the Islands.

BSNL: A Love Story

2015-06-05T07:48:00.001-07:00

BSNL: A Love Story

By Zubair Ahmed

On 28th April, when I checked my BSNL broadband, I found it not working. I thought it might come back in a while. But it didn't. So like any typical Indian, I looked out, but it wasn't a power failure to see whether lights are on in my neighbour's house. So, I called one of my friends. He told me that he too had same issue with broadband. I had that sadistic satisfaction like any typical Indian. On 31st April, I thought of reporting it at the local exchange. I carried my modem too, to make sure that the issue is resolved without wasting much time. And, the TTA at the exchange was very sympathetic and got busy checking the ports and when he failed, he called his counterpart at Telephone Exchange at Port Blair, Incharge of Broadband. They did speak something and he handed over the phone to me. In a layman's language I told him all the symptoms and about the different lights blinking on my modem when there is connection and when it doesn't work.

The guy at Port Blair said something about authentication issue and 'assured' that he will resolve it. I waited for a couple of days. And finally, one day suddenly the net came and it went too suddenly, before I could even smile with satisfaction. In fact, I wanted to thank the TTA at the local exchange for resolving the issue within a week. But, before his mobile rang, my internet LED on the modem had gone. I left the issue then and there and got busy in other mundane activities.

Meanwhile, whenever I met my friends during that week, like any typical Indian, after enquiring about their wellbeing, I made it a point to ask about their broadband connection too. A few of them said, they had constipation issues, which was resolved after taking Kayam Chooran, but the broadband connection issue continued. A few of them said that connection was made, but no use without any data transfer. A few of them had authentication error, and a few of them had forgotten which LED on the modem meant what! Finally, I too resigned to my fate and looked outside for my internet needs. Fortunately, an alternate connection at my workplace was working.

Thanks to the guys at the local exchange, I could spend quality time with my family and kids without the broadband connection. Now it was the turn of my friends, who kept calling me and checking the status of my connection. They were concerned. My heart goes out for them. I had almost spend 20 days now without seeing the internet LED blink on my modem. I wasn't that emotionally attached to my modem, but that green light sometimes started blinking in my dreams too. Some connection it wanted to make.

On 25th day, I decided to give it a try again. And, my ordeal started, an emotional one.

I went to the local exchange and met the TTA. He had two pairs of cable in one hand a list of phone nos. in other hand. He looked tired. I felt bad, and in a withdrawn mood, he showed the list, and there were more than 20 phone numbers which had same problem. Was I shocked? No. The issue was getting bigger now. It was not just about my connection now. I kept wondering, why is it not getting resolved. I took my phone with an Airtel sim and made a call to DGM, BSNL.

A very compassionate voice answered me. I was happy. He was not arrogant. Explained him in detail about the problem, 25 days and 25 broadband connections. He gave a sensitive hearing and asked me to SMS my landline no. and he assured that he will look into it. And I didn't want to be selfish, so asked the guy sitting next to me and enquired about his wellbeing as well as his broadband connection. He said he faced same problem. So I messaged the DGM two numbers.

I waited till evening. There was no reply. I called the DGM and asked if I can meet him. He assured me that he has conveyed my complaint to the concerned SDE as well as JTO.

On 26th day after my first formal complaint, I made up my mind and directly reached the Telephone Bhawan opposite Bengali Club. The building bore a deserted look. I went inside and I was directed to one SDE. Very politely, he heard my complaint and when he learnt that it was about broadband, I could see a sigh of relief on his face. It was not under his jurisdiction. But as a human being, he listened and even spoke to me for a while. I didn't know I had become so confident that I could convey my technical as well as emotional issue with him. Slowly I was falling in love.

As directed by him, I reached the Telephone Exchange near Central School. It was lunch hour. I just walked in and enquired about the guy who handles broadband. After a few queries here and there, I met one guy who asked me about the issue. I enquired whether he is handling Broadband. He nodded but with a caveat. The concerned SDO had proceeded to mainland to bring his family. So he just took over that morning. I asked him if he was aware about the broadband issue in one of the exchanges. He nodded negative. I named the exchange. He couldn't place it anywhere. I knew if he can't even pronounce the name of the exchange, there is no chance he would be acquainted with the broadband problem in that exchange. So, politely I asked him, whom I should meet. He asked me to wait in the chamber next door. Some SDE will come and meet me.

Whiling away my time waiting for the SDE, I looked around. I could see a few very motivating quotes pasted on the glass partition. And, one quote which grabbed my attention defied all my sympathy and emotions for the TTA of my exchange. I had high regards for him, for whenever I visited him, I saw him working very hard meddling with cables, checking this port and that port and not even wiping sweat from his forehead.

The quote was "CUSTOMERS DON'T MEASURE YOU ON HOW HARD YOU TRIED, THEY MEASURE YOU ON WHAT YOU DELIVER."

I saw a very normal, humble looking gentleman coming out from the equipment room. I smiled and just followed him into his chamber. He too gave a patient hearing and told me that the DGM had called him. When I enquired about the progress, he gave a blank look. I was confused. I asked him if he is aware of the issue. I liked his honesty. He said he is unable to diagnose the problem.

I was nobody to suggest a solution. But as a common man, I asked if he tried replacing the ports from the faulty equipment to a functioning one, he said, he is scared that it might spoil the working one too. He then told me that he can't find any fault with the equipment. So no blaming the equipment. I asked if they tried the Electricity Dept way. He looked perplexed. I made him relaxed and told him, if they could switch off another equipment and shift the faulty ports and check it. He said no. I couldn't find any breakthrough coming from this guy. I just asked him why is the whole department so sober and demotivated. He just smiled. I wished him well and came out.

Next what? I took an auto and went straight to the new building of BSNL opposite the Fire Station. Had planned to visit the DGM, but couldn't meet him, and finally went upstairs to meet the CGM.

Another personality that impressed me. Had a bollywoodwala Bihari look. The CGM was in a relaxed mood, who appeared to be the kind whom stress can't takeover.

When he learnt that I am going to write about it, he called the DGM. One guy came with a bunch of files. Serious looks. He just sat through. All the talking was done by the CGM.

I asked why nobody gets shocked to know that the problem is 25 days old. I even asked why they are not shocked that around 25 nos. in one exchange is not working.

Looking at my face, he might have gauged the emotional trauma.

"Don't be so emotional, it happens in India. Hamare desh mein shishtem aise hee kaam karta hai." he said munching something.

When I explained my predicament, quietly he asked for my landline no. I gave it. He dialed someone and spoke for a while and said, " There is some problem with the DSLAM."

I felt relieved. Here is someone who finally cracked the mysterious puzzle. But, the relief was short lived.

Then he took me on a long ride about the origin of internet and the nascent stage of internet in the Islands, lack of bandwidth, the issues with the satellites, the OFC between Kolkata and Patna and Mumbai, Delay in transportation of equipments, and about his concern for the 5000 broadband connections. Finally, hammering the final nail, he took a huge file and started flipping it and said, "These are the proof of correspondences we are making with the ministries to solve the problem."

I just felt ashamed. What a fool I was to take such a frivolous issue of just 25 connections in one exchange for just a small delay of 29 days, not even one month. I felt that instead of becoming part of the problem, I was gradually becoming a problem, and should desist from demanding anything more.

"Sir, please delete my no. I won't mind if my problem is not resolved, but I was concerned about the other 24 nos." I told him.

"You should become a minister or a politician," he said. "If you have any problem, please come and meet me," he continued.

What a bunch of nice guys, whose doors are always open for anyone. Yes, of course, what if net is not working, you may pay a visit and chat with them, of course, offline.

An awesome experience it was. If you are too motivated, to get grounded kindly pay a visit to BSNL office and meet them from bottom to top. Any spark of motivation left in you will extinguish in no time. And if you find time do pay a visit to the CGM. Though he may not be able to help you about your connections, his sermon would be a blessing in disguise.

What I had heard about BSNL was lack of bandwidth, but the way people from top to bottom in the hierarchy functioned strengthened my conviction about their lack of motivation and zeal to redress the complaints. They are revered for their services stretching from Campbell Bay to Diglipur, but can’t say much about the quality over quantity. How can you not love such a lot?

I looked at the signal on my mobile phone, and pressed the FB app to check the notifications if I could get through, knowing well that my phone was not ten times faster than my dad's phone, and my dad's phone is neither.

After 30 days, I may be still waiting for that green LED to blink, but I am still alive, because I have never considered internet to be a lifeline.

Power - On and Off

2015-04-21T07:37:00.002-07:00

Power - On and Off

Power supply has been playing cat and mouse for quite sometime for the last two months. Constant blaming of nature's vagaries since ages is a reprehensible excuse. Acute shortage of man and material adds to the woes.

By Zubair Ahmed

If you ask why so many interruptions in power supply now, they blame it on the unexpected pre-monsoon showers. The rain was a relief from scarcity of water and the simmering heat. But it brought miseries of a different kind. Nights had turned nightmares without power. The authorities still feel the unexpected rain was the spoiler, the usual rhetoric though. Its a fact reiterated time and again that rain and power cannot co-exist peacefully in our territory. Vagaries of the nature have been an reprehensible excuse since ages. But, the overall power situation in South Andaman had gone for a toss since February this year. During last two months, that too during Board exams, power played cat and mouse.

And why is it so in Port Blair too, where the vegetation is low and with so many feeders? They blame it on relay coordination. Oops.. its the new term doing rounds. Or maybe that is what we are told to believe. The supply from different small and big power plants with different DG sets and calibrations is in itself a problem, if not properly coordinated.

Speaking with Andaman Chronicle, Mr U K Paul, SE, Electricity Department said that he is expecting a consultancy team from Chennai, who will do the survey and properly set right the relay coordination. And he is hopeful that once its done, frequent tripping of Gensets will come down reducing the downtime.

The power generation scenario in South Andaman is also not very comfortable after IPP Suryachakra Power Corporation Ltd shut down one more 5 MW Genset from its installed capacity of 20 MW. Its generating 10 MW power now. The other two Hired Power Plants (HPP) - Sudhir Ready and New Bharat contributes around 14 MW. In fact, New Bharat, which was almost written off was coaxed to run their gensets. IPP and HPPs seems to have turned constant pain in the neck for the Administration.

The department run power plants at Phoenix Bay and Chatham generates 15.8 MW. The newly installed 5 MW Genset is the only saving grace as of now. Any further disruption by IPP or HPPs would plunge the territory into darkness.

The Transmission and Distribution is one sector, where the Department has been drawing flak from all quarters. Even when power was surplus, the frequent interruptions due to poor maintenance and obsolete and worn out infrastructure had marred the reputation of the department. It forced the Administration to conduct an audit of power generation as well as transmission and distribution. The report saw light in November last year. Six months are over, and as mentioned in the report, most of the short-term work would be completed within two years.

Moreover, lack of inter-departmental coordination is quite obvious when it comes to proper maintenance of overhead as well as UG cables. The Electricity authorities blame the Forest Department for not giving sufficient corridor for laying power lines. In fact they rue the strenuous and tedious process of clearances.

The proposal to replace the overhead bare conductors with insulated cables in the Rural areas is yet to begin, and this rainy season too, blame would be on monsoon miseries. A 33 KV sea-link line Zebra- and Zebra-2 between Surya Chakra Power Plant at Bambooflat and Chatham Power House is completed which would help in power evacuation as well as optimal use of grid apart from the two line Panther-1 and Panther-2 connecting SPCL with Port Blair at Garacharma Sub-Station.

The ground staff of the department is seen working very hard, clearing vegetation, changing fuse, pruning branches of trees and their efforts are well appreciated by everyone, including the Administrator. But, what is seen is not what actually would have been the situation. There is acute shortage of man and material in the department. There are more than 65 posts of linemen lying vacant for decades now. There is shortage of JEs as well. The lines are now maintained by untrained mazdoors, and any accident would attract huge hue and cry. The department is run by skeletal staff and its quite visible in all site offices. There is no efforts to fill up the posts, which is one main reason in delivery of services. Many gensets in the department-run power plants are performing sub-optimal just for want of spare parts. The list of excuses for all shortfall in service can be attributed to shortage of manpower as well as material.

The Panel - 5 which covered a large area from Hope Town to Shoal Bay and Jirkatang with a peak requirement of 3 MW has been bifurcated with installation of a new sub-station at Bambooflat. Panel 5 has been branched off into three feeders - Feeder 1 -Hope Town, Feeder 2 - Shoal Bay and Jirkatang combined. Up to Wimberly Gunj, the UG cable is connected to SPCL directly. And, the sub-station which was due for last three years have started functioning on trial basis from last Saturday. There are a few hiccups, which needs to be overcome. But, it doesn't seem to be a major solution as the feeder which caters Shoal Bay and Jirkatang - two ends - is overhead line from Bambooflat to these areas. Any disruption in Shoal Bay would still effect Jirkatang and vice-versa. Only safe zone, as informed by the concerned authorities is up to Wimberly Gunj, which has been separated from Jirkatanag and Shoal Bay line. Ideally, a sub-station anywhere close to Wimberly Gunj would be the long term solution with three different feeders catering in three different directions.

There is a mention of more sub-stations in the audit report. That seems to be the only solution in the long run. As the thumb rule, 33KV line should not go beyond 20 kms without a sub-station at every 20 kms.

"A survey needs to be conducted to assess the requirement of sub-stations throughout the territory, which needs to be taken up urgently," U K Paul said.

The 5-MW Solar Plant as of now is more a problem than a solution with huge cloud movements throughout the year. The peak generation that too upto 3 MW during sunny days is hardly for 15-30 minutes between 11.45 am to 12.15 pm. And the sudden fluctuation affects the whole grid with pressure on other power plants. Roof-top solar panels is a good solution for individual houses, but the project is taking its own sweet time.

The 30-MW proposed LNG plant is still in MOU stage, and it seems to be one solution in the field of clean power generation. But if overhauling of transmission and distribution is deferred, nothing is going to help improve the situation.

All talks of renewable energy is quite welcome and needs appreciation. But, in a territory like Andamans, the base load cannot be left to the nature to decide, and hence diesel gensets are going to stay, and a focused vision with long-term planning is required well in advance. Or else, if we keep adding one or two small gensets every now and then on piecemeal basis, we will be accumulating more problems of diverse nature.

Disclaimer: I regret that lack of flow in this article is due to four or more power interruptions experienced in one hour.

GB Pant Hospital: Problem of Plenty?

2015-04-06T06:36:00.000-07:00

GB Pant Hospital:

Problem of Plenty?

The ANI Admn is on a rollercoaster ride with so many major projects being executed in a hurry. The do or die approach is appreciated by one and all. Meanwhile the larger interest seems to eclipse all lapses including procedures and processes. It’s pertinent that with the noble end, the means too needs to be noble and transparent.

By Zubair Ahmed

Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, the flagship of healthcare in ANI and the only referral hospital had almost shed the sobriquet of slaughterhouse, with slightly improved healthcare services despite shortage of specialists. But, the recent developments portray a very precarious picture. Mismanagement and negligence, has now become a slur, going back to the old days.

It’s quite scary that there had been 5 cases of maternal deaths in the last three months. What is plaguing the grand hospital, with the best infrastructure, claimed by many experts, visiting the Islands, doing sufficient PR for the Administration?

The whole focus of the Administration in the last one year has been on the upcoming medical college. About 85 specialists cum teaching faculties have been recruited. All of the newly recruited personnel are based in Port Blair, and majority of them in GB Pant Hospital. Though, it’s too early to comment on their performances as faculties, their services in GB Pant Hospital are not something to write home about. There is a buzz, maybe, from the old school that either the newly appointed are very old, with no hands on practice for many years lingering in administrative works or very young, fresh from college.

Maybe they will prove the critics wrong in the long run, but as far as healthcare is concerned, there can't be a teething period. It affects lives. There is sheer confusion everywhere, with so many doctors on roll, yet deficiency in services.

In the last case of alleged medical negligence, Mrs. Homakshi, 21, wife of Mr. D. Janaki Rao, resident of Haddo, lost her life. According to sources, the patient had developed hypertension, which is not uncommon, resulting in rupture of arteries leading to heavy bleeding. The family members allege that the patient did not get proper attention. They have demanded enquiry.

Five maternity deaths in a short span of three months is a serious concern, whatever the final reports say. No medical board has ever indicted any doctor for negligence or lapse in the Islands.

Andaman and Nicobar Administration is on a rollercoaster ride with so many major projects being executed in a hurry. The do or die approach is appreciated by one and all. Meanwhile the larger interest seems to eclipse all lapses including procedures and processes. It’s pertinent that with the noble end, the means too needs to be noble and transparent.

From shifting of Ayush to modifications inside the OPD section of GB Pant Hospital and the facilities spread in three or four locations are a few infrastructural requirements being carried out before the deadline is met.

To fulfill the MCI guidelines, the Administration did not even hesitate in calling back the available specialists from the District Hospital at Mayabunder, North and Middle Andaman. All the three specialists - Surgeon, Psychiatrist and the Anesthetist have been withdrawn to fill the numbers to satisfy MCI. Moreover, there are no regular doctors in any of the PHCs in Radhanagar, Tugapur or Long Island. Literally, as far as availability of doctors are concerned, there is no major difference in a PHC, CHC or District hospital.

Virtually, there is not a single specialist in a district with a population of more than one lakh. And, people there have been demanding physicians and technical staff for a long time. Ultrasound machines are lying idle for lack of operators or a gynecologist.

In Nicobar district, there is a surgeon, but without an Anesthetist. The regular transfer of doctors has not taken place since last one year.

On the one hand, GB Pant Hospital is crammed with specialists, but the authorities are still in a quagmire, unable to place them properly. The chaos is literally taking a toll on delivery of services. Grand, multi-crore buildings furnished with mosaic, tiles and glasses do not make a good health institution, it’s the delivery of healthcare that matters.

On anonymity, a specialist said that the newly recruited doctors are unable to cope with the situation independently and most of them have been tagged with the local doctors.

And even in cases of forensic investigations, still the hospital is relying on the general doctors or sending sample to mainland. In fact, when the doctors have been appointed with enormous emoluments paid every month, why can't the Administration utilize their services diligently?

During the last six months, under Dr S K Paul, it was an emergency-like situation. Expecting some plum position in the upcoming medical college, when he was asked to bend, he literally crawled.

One of the staff, who in an emergency had to rush for surgery in a private hospital, was denied reimbursement. She was taken from GB Pant Hospital to the private hospital, as on a Sunday, the surgeon was not available. When she submitted her medical bills for reimbursement with the Directorate where she was working as a Teaching Faculty in the Nursing School, a mock medical board was set up to deny her the reimbursement. Medical reimbursement in the Islands is in itself interesting tale.

In another strange case, an X-Ray technician posted at PHC Wimberly Gunj was arrested on charges of sexual harassment four months back, and the Department is yet to provide alternative. When the Pradhan Jyoti Kindo approached Dr S K Paul, then Director, instead of a solution he blamed her for getting the guy booked.

It’s quite obvious that rift has started surfacing between the old and the new. However, it’s the Administration which needs to address the genuine concerns raised by the local doctors. Their apprehensions were taken up by Andaman and Nicobar Health Service Doctors Association.

The Association had met the Secretary Health and apprised her about the concerns. It has blamed that the Administration at no point thought it essential to discuss the modalities of opening the medical college, and the status of the senior specialists and GDMOs with PG qualification and GDMOs in general. They were kept in dark. They have also raised the issue about the transfer policy of doctors as well as other staff, once GB Pant Hospital comes under the control of the society, ANIMERS. With interviews being conducted for Jr. Resident, Sr. Resident, Asst Professors, Associate Professors and others for the medical college and all of them working at GB Pant Hospital, what would be the status of 22 sanctioned existing GDMOs of the hospital?

The Association is also apprehensive about the jumbled alterations made inside the OPD complex to accommodate the new staff, which would be disastrous in case of fire accidents or other disasters.

When the Islanders are upbeat over the developments, it’s pertinent that the Administration does not ignore the dissenting voices and accommodate genuine concerns of all stakeholders, most primarily if it affects their lives.

No 'Bar' on Renewals!

2015-03-30T05:24:00.000-07:00

No 'Bar' on Renewals!

Its March and time for renewal of bar licenses. Do we have a procedure or process, transparent enough, that checks and reassess the ground situation taking into consideration various socio-economic indicators before the license of a bar is renewed? Forget the violation of provisions in the Regulations. Its learnt that even a report from Police Station is not sought prior to renewal.

By Zubair Ahmed

We have hundreds of reasons to justify sale of liquor through the ANIIDCO outlets, as well as the hundreds of bars spread across the Islands, ruining lives, families and vitiating the social and communal life. We will cite hundreds of reasons from Jammu & Kashmir to Gujarat to of late Indira Point why prohibition is not an option at all. We shall sneer at and harp that Great Nicobar Development Committee is demanding to get the liquor shop re-opened. We shall try to convince the women, who want sale of liquor to be banned, to think about the ill-effects of illicit liquor and how dangerous it would be. We shall try to organize awareness programmes and not tell them the ill-effects of alcohol on mind and body, but tell them to be moderate. The problem with our efforts is that our conscience doesn't allow us to speak about it, as the saying goes - Don't preach what you don't practice! It's a catch-22 situation.

If one checks the number of cases registered at each police station, the highest number would be cases related with excise violations. But, do the data have any bearing on our policing? They keep filing cases against violators and still violation keeps going on. The graph never shows a declining trend in cases related with excise.

Out of 3800 cases registered in 2014, 1933 cases were related to Excise Regulation, more than 50% cases!

Recently, the police department, launched a campaign against illegal sale of liquor, involving NGOs and even conducted various programmes in Port Blair. The Police officials accepts that there is no illicit brewing of liquor, but illegal sale procured from ANIIDCO liquor shops thrive. Police in association with NGOs did try to conduct a programme for bootleggers too. In fact, instead of bootleggers, a large number of women turned out at the venue demanding ban on liquor itself. They are the victims of various atrocities committed under the influence of alcohol. A woman narrated her ordeals, where her inebriated son as well as husband creates ruckus at home. There is no denial that many of the cases of domestic violence and suicides can be attributed to this scourge. Legal or illegal, both do equal damage. Though, the police is keen on containing the illegal menace, there seems to be no solution in sight.

Humane Touch, a NGO which had launched a campaign against alcoholism in 2008 in Ferrar Gunj Tehsil with support from Police Department was quite successful in curbing the menace of illicit liquor in the whole region.

There were so many lacunae in the way cases were booked against the bootleggers. The fine amount was pittance which they willingly paid whenever they were booked. It was a very demoralizing situation after all the effort put by the police in conducting raids. After prolonged deliberations, they found a way out. Book the habitual bootleggers under 110 (G) Cr PC,. which require such person to show cause why he should not be ordered to execute a bond, with sureties, for his good behaviour for such period, not exceeding three years, as the Magistrate thinks fit.

Every habitual bootlegger, with three or more cases against them were booked under this section and produced before Sub-Divisional Magistrate, and a bond of Rs 25000/- executed. In case of violation, had to pay Rs 25000/-or get a prison term of 3 months. It worked. A few of them were jailed, which was deterrent enough.

During a recent survey by Humane Touch, they could find many bootleggers active in Hope Town selling liquor illegally. When they approached Bambooflat Police Station, they were told that cases were regularly booked against the violators after conducting raid. What shocked was the number of cases filed under 110 (G). There were more than 5 cases filed against bootleggers of the area, a few of them repeaters. But, the SDM was so soft-hearted that they were all released. Even repeaters were not taken cognizance of. What's the use of a solution, when the officials let it pass?

Bamboo Bar at Bambooflat has been a perpetual nuisance for the area. There had been protests and objections against the bar. There are about 150 excise related cases filed under PS, Bambooflat in 2015, in which there are cases related with the bar. However, when it comes to renewal of bar licenses, it is learnt that no report is sought from the Police by the District Administration.

On the one hand, we show much concern for rising trends of suicides. And in a small Island society, if we are unable to ascertain the causes, aren't we acting like ostrich. The intricate relationship between alcoholism and suicides in our Islands is not a fairy tale.

Any voice raised against this scourge is dubbed idealistic. The irony is that when voice against a bar is raised, wellwishers come out harping that the protestors are sponsored by bootleggers, and when voice is raised against bootleggers, they accuse the activists to be on the payroll of bar-owners. And, there was a time, when the district officials too enjoyed the show, when supporters of the bar-owner including politicians would throng in the District office voicing their support. In fact, the bar owner once even conducted a signature campaign and why would any alcoholic not sign? After all, prohibition is just a directive principle in our Constitution under Article 47.

Governance and Development Issues Top on Our Agenda: Vishal Jolly

2015-03-26T10:11:00.002-07:00

Governance and Development Issues Top on Our Agenda: Vishal Jolly

The Islands needs either a Legislative Assembly or a Pradesh Council with executive powers, said Vishal Jolly addressing a press conference after attending a Conference of Union Territories held under the aegis of BJP in New Delhi.

He said that a presentation was made before the national leaders, including Central Ministers highlighting major issues concerning governance and a roadmap for future development of the Islands. He also said that a memorandum has been submitted, which was well received.

On governance he said that the Islands governed by a Lieutenant Governor with a team of bureaucrats could never do justice to the place as well as the people.

"Lack of a democratic setup is quite visible in the skewed policies framed without the participation of the Islanders, as well as implementation of various projects and schemes of Government of India," he said.

Comparing the financial assistance coming from Central Government and the meager revenue generated, he blamed the existing system of governance for the state of affairs.

"The Central Government has been supporting the Islands with financial assistance to the tune of Rs 4000 crores including Plan and Non-Plan fund. However, the revenue generated is hardly Rs 240 crores per annum, just 6.25% of our expenditure," Vishal said.

In case of an Assembly or Pradesh Council, he suggested that stringent anti-defection laws needs to be enforced to prevent horse trading, which decides the fate of governments in small states, and he said that frequent changes in power system is an impediment in the long term.

On the existing three tier PRI system, he observed that in a small place it often leads to overlapping of jurisdiction causing unnecessary duplication. And he suggested replacing Zilla Parishad electoral constituency by Legislative Assembly to ensure people's participation in governance.

On Development front, he said that the Islands need to take advantage of its geographical location which straddles the maritime gateway to the Bay of Bengal. He said that the world's busiest shipping lane, Malacca Strait pass just to the South of A&N Islands. Because of the unique location of the Islands, India can dominate both the Bay of Bengal and play an important role in Indo-Pacific transit.

He put forth the idea of a Trans-shipment Port with all allied services at Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar, Southernmost tip of India, which will go a long way in harnessing the benefit from the maritime trade along Malacca Strait hardly 100 kms away.

Referring to the data provided by Nippon Maritime Centre, Singapore, he said that approximately 80,000 merchant shipping vessels carrying cargo and merchandise transit through the Strait lying close to Campbell Bay. If a trans-shipment port comes up at Campbell Bay, the shipping sector would prefer to utilize the facility which as of now is going to Hambantota Port, in Sri Lanka, taking a diversion of extra 300 miles. It is important to note that Indian transshipment in this port is 62% which in term exceeds Rupees 15 billion.

"The sea draught around Campbell Bay is more than 18 mtrs, which is the deepest in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and can draw vessels of any size and capacity," he said.

He further added that the trans-shipment port will help India strengthen its presence in the Southernmost part as a security provider from maritime piracies. as well as the competition arising from the presence of nations like China in the vicinity. It would generate revenue for the government and large-scale skilled and non-skilled employment for the local population.

Batting for an independent Shipping Corporation for the Islands, he said that Andaman and Nicobar Islands have the second largest fleet of about 85 ships after SCI, consisting of 1200-pax Mainland bound ships as well as small vessels plying within the islands. The Directorate of Shipping is unable to manage the fleet on commercial lines and has engaged Shipping Corporation of India and a private firm for technical as well as manpower management, which is a drain on the exchequer without proper monitoring affecting the services. The Andaman and Nicobar Administration is unable to hire qualified personnel due to payment constraint in the government sector. Hence, it would be advisable to have an independent Shipping Corporation for Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Out of around 85 ships, the ratio of non-operational ships are very high due to lack of proper Ship Repairing Yard. A fully equipped Dockyard would go a long way in the maintenance of existing vessels as well as a support system for the trans-shipment port too.

In tourism sector, he said that Andaman and Nicobar Islands have enormous tourism potential due to its location as well as the enchanting Islands with beautiful and virgin beaches.

He said that a good number of Yacht and Cruise liners intend to reach our shores how ever due to lengthy and distributed clearance procedures, miniscule of the yacht and cruise liners ultimately visit the Islands. Not to mention a major chunk of it goes to other locations like Phuket. He suggested that with the introduction of a Single-window Online Portal for online application and issuance of permits for Yacht and Cruise Liners, the process could be made visitor friendly, which will help in increasing tourism possibilities.

He also suggested introduction of Visa on Arrival for Tourists at Port Blair airport as well as Seaport at par with the facility extended to various other cities of our country, the quantum of foreign tourists visiting the islands will increase manifold, bringing in more foreign exchange.

Vishal Jolly said that he has placed the demand to open up more Islands for tourism.

"There are many potential Islands, which can be opened up for tourism. Many Islands, where day-time tourism can be allowed such as the 14 Islands inside the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park including Grub Island, Alexandra, Tarmugli, and Mahua Dera Islands in South Andaman," he suggested.

Demanding sufficient infrastructure, he said that many other Islands remain out of the tourism orbit due to lack of connectivity and infrastructure such as Madhuban (South Andaman), Avis Island (Middle Andaman), Ross and Smith (Diglipur) and Hut Bay (Little Andaman) and many more.

He also put forth the idea of two or three Tourism Circuits involving three or more islands wherein tourists could enjoy boat rides and Island camping like Port Blair - Havelock - Long Island - Diglipur, Port Blair - Hut Bay - Nicobar - Campbell Bay etc.

On renewal of Palm Oil Cultivation, presently abandoned, he suggested that it needs to be revived and modernised.

"Presently our country import edible oil to the tune of Rs 1 Lakh Crores, in foreign exchange. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands which also falls in the same Geographic region of South East countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, the largest producers of the World, could contribute in the sector of Red Oil Palm Cultivation,"

The existing A & N Forest Development Corporation has large area under Red Oil Palm cultivation in Little Andaman, which is in bad shape and was abandoned due to various reasons such as low yield. The employees are now depending on Government grant for salaries. It could be revived with plantation of improved and high yielding varieties of Red Oil Palm. Modern machineries, tools and techniques as in South East Asian countries could be used to revive the Red Oil Palm industry which will also generate high amount of bio-mass," he said.

He also said that the review of the recommendations of Shekhar Singh Commission is on the anvil.

"On Tourism and Fisheries, two sectors heavily dependent on seafront activities from stringent CRZ Norms, I have suggest that these two mainstay sectors need to be exempted from the norms, so that more infrastructural development comes up bringing more revenue," he said.

On the issue of tsunami affected farmers, Vishal said that soon some positive news will come from Delhi.

On Domicile issue, he informed that he has demanded to put in place Domicile Criteria for local jobs by promulgating the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Public Employment (Requirement as to Residence) Regulation and thereafter fill up the available vacancies in Govt. Departments in a time bound manner.

Apart from the above issues, Vishal said that the demand for ST status for Ranchi community has also been discussed with the leaders.

Replying to a question on exorbitant airfare in Mainland-Island sector, he said that he has spoken to the Lieutenant Governor to also involve private players for chartering flights, as Air India is unable to provide aircraft due to various reasons.

Citing the achievements of the new government, he said that Medical College, Andaman College, Chartered Flight, Revamping of Sports in the Islands were a few major steps.

Vishal also requested the Administration to simplify the procedures in Revenue department, so that common man is not unnecessarily harassed by the officials citing rules and regulations.

LG VOICES FOR THE INTEREST OF TRADITIONAL FISHERS AND SUPPORT CONSERVATION

2015-03-25T10:57:00.001-07:00

LG VOICES FOR THE INTEREST OF TRADITIONAL FISHERS AND SUPPORT CONSERVATION

In a consultative meeting recently held at New Delhi chaired by the Union Ministry of Agriculture, GOI, with regard to review of (1) Extension of fishing ban period in Indian EEZ (2) Deep sea fishing policy and (3) Draft Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Bill 2012 attended by Union Minister of Defence, Minister of State for Agriculture, various State Ministers and Senior Executives the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands affectively put forth the constrains and difficulties of local fisher community.

He appraised about the current practice of fishing ban period of 47 days towards Bottom trawling and Shark fishing in the territorial water of A&N Island. Further based upon the spawning season he advocated for shifting of ban period to July – September every year, this period also synchronizes with monsoon. For extending the ban period to 61 days as recommended, the Hon’ble Lt. Governor suggested provision of adequate compensation.

Speaking on Deep Sea fishing policy and Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Bill 2012 the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, appraised the august gathering about the fragile marine ecosystem around A&N Islands and requested for not permitting the operation of harmful fishing gears around these islands. He also informed that presently royalty is being collected for any fish or fish produce taken out of this union territory by local traders and fishing industry whereas, the Deep Sea / LOP joint venture vessels are exempted of it which is discouraging for the local fishers and the fishing industry in Andamans. He also urged the Department to consider royalty advantage for the UT even for deep sea fishing undertaken in are EEZ around the Islands.

Commenting on Draft Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Bill 2012 he pointed that the Coast Guard alone is not competent to inspect the fish catch on board deep sea fishing vessels hence, appropriate agency may also be inducted and the vessels may be asked to call at Port for regular inspection and monitoring.

In the best interest of the Union and local fisher community the Hon’ble Lt. Governor also enlightened the apex congregation that the territorial water limit in respect of A&N Islands is yet to be notified; as a consequence, the local fishers are deprived of their legitimate arena. Hence, a review of prevailing status in accordance to Laws of the Seas needs to be initiated and notified at the earliest, which is likely to extend our sovereign right substantially, benefitting the local fishers and protecting the fragile marine ecosystem around A&N Islands.

Kamsarat Nallah Dam Project: Project Stuck in Muck?

2015-03-13T08:10:00.002-07:00

Kamsarat Nallah Dam Project:

Project Stuck in Muck?

A stay order on excavation of earth on a writ petition has spooked the Kamsarat Nallah Dam Project. Will the project get delayed and miss the deadline?

By Zubair Ahmed

A resident of Wimberly Gunj files a writ petition seeking stay on the excavation work going on at Kanyapuram village for the Kamsarat Nallah Dam Project. Now, how the Administration reacts to the Court Stay Order will decide whether the project gets delayed. And whom should be blamed if the project gets stalled or delayed? Petitioner or Respondents?

The work on Kamasarat Nallah Dam Project was progressing briskly. Excavated earth being transported from a nearby area allocated by the Revenue Department. There had been objections from a resident that the heavy vehicles plying in the area is creating pollution as well as damage to his building and he had also blocked the way. No later, an alternate route was identified. And the excavation work resumed.

Till last week, a few trucks were plying that too during evening and night hours. But, of late the number of vehicles as well as frequency has increased. The knee-jerk reaction to the Court Order! A day after, the earth cutting at that particular site has stopped.

Despite hushed resentment, people know that its a necessary evil hoping that water crisis in the area will be addressed to a large extent with completion of the project. They want the project to happen at any cost.

Objections to anything good or bad is natural. That is human nature. The merits and demerits of each project gets debated. There are groups who worry that large excavation and displacement of earth will create environmental problems. And another opine that there is a price to be paid for any development. Ecology can wait!

The authorities too were upbeat about progress of work and the deadline also looked quite achievable. The project though not fully spooked, earth cutting from one particular site is stalled. Whom should be blamed?

Earth cutting in the Islands is a very sensitive issue, and a lucrative one too. There is huge demand for earth for developmental projects. Even residential projects are hindered due to non-availability of soil.

The Kamsarat Nallah Project was delayed due to the same problem last year. High level interventions were required to sort it out. However, half-hearted steps were taken to restart the project. The identified land for excavation is revenue land.

Now, the stay order by the Court will surely delay the project. APWD is not being blamed by the petitioner. Its the Revenue Dept headed by Deputy Commissioner and the Tehsildar, who are made respondents. Why is it so?

The Petitioner alleges that his adjacent land is severely damaged due to the excavation work. In the petition, he also alleges that the area is not properly demarcated showing the writ petitioner four corners of his land. He further alleges that the said land is grazing land, and cannot be utilized for any other purposes.

The Court Order, however, sensing the urgency of the petition, says that the Administration has already started excavating the 'land of the petitioner'. And that, till 20th March status quo as of date, as regards nature, character and possession of the property in dispute should be maintained by the parties.

The copy of the Order had not reached the RCD Division of APWD according to sources.

Its quite obvious that lack of inter-departmental coordination is one core reason why so many developmental projects are affected. It takes more time to sort out issues between departments. The Revenue Department should have carried out all necessary modalities before handing over the site for excavation. Most of the time, they rely on Google map to identify and pin a location. Its same with our master plans too. Many a big project is juxtaposed on residential areas.

In this instant case, there are other issues too, where the petitioner has reasons to celebrate. The same group had launched a marathon agitation against a few officials of RCD alleging corruption and foul-play. In fact, extension of the tenure of Chief Engineer was also one among them. Though, the agitation did not get the mileage or support from the public, they had been keeping an eye over all activities surrounding RCD. Sometimes, the quality of construction of road was questioned, and sometimes they blamed foul play in off-loading construction materials meant for Kamsarat Nallah Project at Haddo or Chatham instead of Hope Town. But this one was masterstroke. One opportunity to hit their adversary, and it seems to have hit the bull's eye as of now.

This episode also shows how lack of a little care and concern while handling issues create problem. Had the issues raised by the group during the agitation given an ear by the Administration, it would not have blown to such proportion, where a major project is getting delayed.

The merits and demerits of the petition will be decided by the Court, but the project is adversely affected by this move. And, Revenue Department as well as APWD have many lessons to learn from this episode. When they search for suitable land for excavation, they need to ensure that the land is clear from all encumbrances and also does not poise pollution. Lack of proper groundwork is quite visible in this specific episode. Why demarcation of land is such a cumbersome procedure?

Certainly, The issue will be sorted out once the Court commences, and the work may also resume. But the archaic procedures of revenue department will be the only impediment, a solace for the petitioner.

And, not the least, the Administrator, who often comment on the Island mindset gets another opportunity to reiterate what he keeps saying - Whenever I try to take one step ahead, there are people who try to pull five steps backward!

MOEF to Review Shekar Singh Commission Recommendations: Vishal Jolly

2015-03-09T06:02:00.000-07:00

MOEF to Review Shekar Singh Commission Recommendations: Vishal Jolly

By Zubair Ahmed

BJP State Unit has demanded the Ministry of Environment and Forests to review the Recommendations of Shekar Singh Commission endorsed by the Supreme Court in to-to, which was due after ten years of its coming into effect.

Speaking to media, Vishal Jolly, State President said that a delegation comprising party functionaries visited Delhi for follow-up of various promises made by Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping during his visit to the Islands.

Expressing satisfaction, he said that the Minister had already issued directions to all Ministries to look into the demands of the Islanders raised at various platforms during his visit.

On Shekar Singh Commission's recommendations, Vishal Jolly informed that the delegation met Shri Prakash Javdekar, Union Minister of Environment and Forests and requested to review it as per the clause in the recommendations.

The Union Minister assured that the Ministry will initiate the process of review within a week.

"The Government was supposed to review it after ten years, although twelve years has already elapsed after the Supreme Court Order came into effect," he added.

"Once its reviewed and the sanctions on timber and sand extraction lifted, opportunities for livelihood will open up for the Islanders. Wood-based industries like saw mills and furniture units will come up providing employment opportunities for the Islanders.," Vishal said.

He also said that procurement of minor non-timber produce like Bamboo and Cane will create livelihood options for the Islanders.

He also mentioned about the letter Nitin Gadkari wrote to the Home Minister requesting to address the issues of Pradesh Council and Tsunami affected farmers.

Vishal Jolly informed that the National President of BJP will be holding a meeting of all functionaries of Union Territories on 18 March 2015 to examine the distinctive issues of UTs which are different from the states. He appealed the Islanders to submit in writing before 15 March suggestions pertaining to the Islands to be taken up in the meeting.

He said that the party will take up all major issues, especially a trans-shipment port in Campbell Bay, Extending the facility of on arrival Visa to Port Blair for foreign tourists and Opening of Indian Consulate at Phuket and Bali.

To facilitate and ease visit of yachts and cruise liners to the Islanders, Vishal said that they have already sought the Lieutenant Governor to open an online portal for receiving applications, processing and issuing necessary permits within a week or fortnight.

Vishal Jolly informed that the delegation also met the Union Minister of Agriculture and demanded development of fisheries sector in the Islands. The Minister had directed a member of National Fisheries Development Board to visit the Islands and explore the possibilities.

"The Ministry on the recommendation of the member has already sanctioned an amount of Rs 1.5 crores to build Fish markets at Dugnabad and Junglighat," he informed.

The Ministry has further approved the proposal to start a Fish Mill to process fish waste and produce fish feed, Ice Plants and Cold Storages either through public private participation or cooperatives, two 50-tonne Carrier boats with deep freezer facility to transport fish from Diglipur, Campbell Bay and Little Andaman to Port Blair, and installation of more Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD), which were extensively damaged after Cyclone Lehar.

Vishal Jolly also informed that the party has demanded to exempt fish-related activities like Fish Processing Plant, Ice Plants and Storage Units from CRZ Regulations.

Gadkari writes to Home Minister Advocating Pradesh Council for ANI

2015-03-09T06:00:00.003-07:00

Gadkari writes to Home Minister Advocating Pradesh Council for ANI

Shri Nitin Gadkari in a letter to the Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has requested to look into the erstwhile governance system of Pradesh Council for Andaman and Nicobar Islands to ensure people's participation in the governance. he has also requested to the Home Minister to consider necessary decision to return the land surrendered by tsunami affected farmers.

After his visit to the Islands to review various development projects of the ministry, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping has sought the intervention of the Home Ministry to consider the demands of the Islanders.

In his letter he mentioned that earlier there was a governing body like Pradesh Council which used to work as a good platform for interaction of people with the government/council responsible for governance of the area. However, this mechanism was abolished and as a result people were deprived of this platform where they could interact and discuss the important issues concerning them.

"It was much desired that this decision of earlier regime should be reviewed and this system of Council should be revised with more participation and authority for its members as it will prove to be beneficial to the people. In the absence of legislative assembly, it is very much necessary to have some democratic platform to ensure people's participation in the governance," he wrote in his letter to Rajnath Singh.

On another crucial issue which was brought to his notice by the Islanders, Gadkari wrote about the plight of farmers affected by Tsunami which ravaged the area a few years ago.

"Though the government then provided them relief after eight long years of wait for the damages they incurred. But their land was taken over by the government in token of this relief. This action by the last government has totally taken away their only means of livelihood and they are forced to live a life with hands-to-mouth situation," he wrote.

Gadkari further mentioned that this decision of the last government needs to be reviewed and their land may be given back to the farmers for bringing back their only means of livelihood. He asked the Government to consider necessary decision in this regard for the benefit of tsunami-affected poor farmers.

This was briefed by Vishal Jolly, State President, BJP in a press conference after his return from New Delhi.

Renewable Energy Sources to Replace Diesel-based Power: TERI Submits Feasibility Report

2014-11-29T07:12:00.001-08:00

Renewable Energy Sources to Replace Diesel-based Power

TERI Submits Feasibility Report

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has completed a feasibility study of 6 Islands - North Andaman, Middle Andaman, South Andaman, Little Andaman, Baratang and Car Nicobar to explore the possibility of shifting from Diesel based power generation to sustainable and economically feasible renewable energy sources.

A presentation was given to the Lt. Governor on 28th November’2014 on the feasibility study report by Sr. Fellow Ujjwal Bhattacharjee of TERI in presence of senior officers of Administration and engineers of Electricity Department.

On the direction of Lieutenant Governor, the Electricity Department had engaged The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI) to conduct a feasibility study in two phases to explore the potential in 6 Islands of A&N to phase out diesel based power supply.

According to the Feasibility Study Report, North Andaman can meet its 100% energy requirements from renewable sources i.e. from the existing hydro plant and further supported by rooftop and ground mounted Solar power plants.

In South Andaman, Port Blair alone has a potential of at least 3 MW Rooftop Solar Power by utilizing the roofs of existing commercial and government buildings. There is reasonable wind power potential in Collinpur, South Andaman but the existing road which is very narrow and has sharp bends will be a bottleneck for shifting the wind turbine blades to the site. A separate study has to be made after receipt of the exact size of turbine blades for shifting of wind turbine to the site through the existing road.

In the existing 5 MW Solar Power Plant at Garacharma, a 3 MW energy storage for 1 Hour at a cost of Rs. 6-10 Crores can arrest the present intermittency problem in the Solar power output due to cloud passage.

Car Nicobar has the potential for a 2.4 MW biomass power plant which will save about 2500 KL diesel worth Rs. 15 Crores annually.

A total of 8 MW Rooftop Solar Power can be established on the roofs of existing commercial and government buildings in these six islands. The investment required will be about Rs. 80 Crores and by which we will save at least 6000 Kilo Liters of diesel worth Rs. 40 Crores annually. The investment in biomass and solar power plants will be paid back in two years.

After the presentation the Lt. Governor directed both Electricity Department and TERI to prepare an actionable plan for phase-wise implementation/execution of the findings of feasibility study report.

Ujjwal Bhattacharjee further informed that a team of Sr. Scientists of TERI will conduct a workshop in the 2nd week of December to educate the engineers of Electricity Department about exploitation of renewable energy for replacement diesel based power generation.

Lieutenant Governor has directed TERI to invite the media to attend this workshop for wider dissemination about renewable energy prospects for A&N Islands.

Interview: Lt Gen A K Singh, Lieutenant Governor | Shedding the Shroud of Secrecy

2014-11-16T07:41:00.000-08:00

Interview: Lt Gen A K Singh, Lieutenant Governor

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Shedding the

Shroud of Secrecy

By Zubair Ahmed

After taking charge as Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 16 months back, Lt Gen (Retd) A K Singh, has brought a sea-change in the approach of the Administration breaking the shroud of secrecy around everything. Departing from the '"ignore and be secure" attitude of various Administrators that the Union Territory has seen, Lt Gen A K Singh is more visible, vocal, responsive and accessible. In a long chat on various issues lingering around for quite sometime, the Lieutenant Governor clears the perceptions and apprehensions of the Islanders. He delves in-depth into almost all issues including his idea about the Islands and the way ahead.

What is your idea of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and its significance to the nation?

Andaman and Nicobar Islands are as much an integral part of India as any part of the mainland, notwithstanding the fact that they are 1200 kilometres away. The territory has a historical connection that goes back many centuries. It is also deeply rooted in our freedom struggle.

The territory has a great strategic location. The Islands straddle the maritime gateway to the Bay of Bengal. The world’s busiest shipping lanes pass just to the South of us. Because of the unique location of the Islands, India can dominate both the Bay of Bengal and play an important role in Indo-Pacific transit. Recognizing this, the nation has located the first tri-service operational command in these Islands.

Of late, there is an idea that the Islands rather than a Strategic Post can act as a Springboard for economic engagement with South-east Asia and beyond. Does this sentiment resonate in the Centre or is it a voice emanating from the Islands?

Yes, there is a difference in India’s position today. With these Islands as its base, India can be both a net security provider in the region as well as act as a catalyst in the economic engagement with the countries in the Southeast Asia and beyond. I think the time has come, where we have to also explore the advantages that Andaman and Nicobar Islands offer us. And I am happy to state that this fact is now being appreciated by the Central government too.

In today’s globalised economy, national security is an outcome not just of creation of military assets, but is also dependent upon economic dynamism.

The location of the Island enables India to play an important role in the region to extend assistance to our neighborhood in crisis such as the earthquake cum tsunami of 2004, as also deal with maritime security threats such as piracy and terrorism.

The concept is understood and articulated very well, but translating it into action is the real challenge.

Will this initiative be driven from Andamans or Centre?

I think, the initial drive has to be from the Islands with full support from the Centre. We have to play the role of a catalyst and once the platform is set, major initiatives will happen at the behest of Govt of India, which has the capability. I have great faith that in the next five to ten years, we will see a changed Andaman Islands keeping intact our ecological and tribal concerns.

As I mentioned, the real challenge is translating this concept into action. We are lagging behind in communication as well as connectivity. You may find, some slow but sure steps are being taken in this direction. I hope by next year, we will have reasonable bandwidth that might help us overcome the existing satellite based problems.

It is also heartening that all our initiatives have been approved by the Centre. Our thrust this year has been on both transport connectivity and communications infrastructure. For the later, we have obtained a special allocation from Govt of India for hiring transponders from ISRO/abroad.

Moreover, Government of India has accepted and earmarked Rs 1700/- crores for laying the undersea cable. And when that happens, the Islands will be ready to take off. And the purpose is to make Andaman and Nicobar Islands fully economically self-developed so that all other activities can start.

We are also looking at more international flights landing here, and restarting connectivity between Port Blair and Phuket in collaboration with Andaman Chamber of Commerce.

The Australian mission, which recently paid a visit to the Islands were very forthcoming in engagement in the field of fisheries and skill development.

In the last ten years, our diplomatic relations with the littoral countries were at the worst. And China was successfully setting up the string of pearls. And now, the Ministry of Home Affairs have rejected the proposal of Andamans being part of the Vanilla chain of Islands. Does this bode well for the Islands?

There is a change in our foreign policy now. The recent visit of our Prime Minister to Japan, interaction with China and now to Myanmar manifests the change.

There are two corridors in our engagement with Southeast Asia - air/ship corridor and the Northeast corridor. And when infrastructure, connectivity and communication develop here, Andaman and Nicobar will become a natural corridor for engagement.

On Andamans being not part of the Vanilla chain of Islands, it’s the decision of Govt of India and we support that decision. These are issues of strategic nature to be decided by the Govt of India. I think, it won’t be proper for me to comment on what the aim of this initiative is.

It seems there is an underlying principle that the Islands will remain a Defence fortress. If we accept that fact, why can’t we have a roadmap keeping in view the limitations, without expressing so much excitement and hope?

Excitement and hope has to be there. It’s a wrong notion that we are a Defence fortress. I don’t think India is scared of anybody. There was a time; when we lacked the capability of monitoring these 572 Islands spread in 750 kms. Today, we have a tri-services operational command, which may not be fully endowed with. However, the plan is in place. The problems that we face here are peace-time threats – poaching, illegal fishing etc.

India

’s stature today is of a different nature. Except for lingering problems across the Line of Control or Line of Actual Control in Pakistan and China, we hope that in due course, that too will get resolved. But, in Andaman and Nicobar, there is no dispute or conflict. We are fully committed to develop the Islands.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands comprises of Ecology, Tribes, Strategic Outpost, Settlers, Tourism & Development. There have been conflicts between different factors. Recent example is the spat between Tribals in Kamorta with Defence regarding land. It’s going on for a long time now.

There are basic inherent issues that exist sometimes. And, Andaman and Nicobar Admn is fully conscious and committed to resolve such conflicts. Mostly, issues arise because of wrong perceptions. The Administration’s objective is to clear those perceptions.

In the Kamorta issue, the tribals has been assured that their lives and their way of passage is fully protected and the Defence setup in Kamorta is there to provide them security and not detrimental to them. I can’t see any inherent conflict here. It was an issue of mishandling at local level.

I personally visited the place, and spoke to their leaders. And, the Chief Secretary and DGP were also flown immediately and the situation was brought under control. We have also told the Defence to handle this issue with more sensitivity unlike done in the past. The people should feel secure and not threatened as the Defence belongs to every one of us. In my view, the Kamorta issue is just a perception.

There is no conflict between Tribals and Defence. The Defence requires land for infrastructure development, as part of their larger plan. And, we also need to realize that Defence has not denied use of their facilities to the civilians. The airstrips in Port Blair and Car Nicobar belongs to the Defence, and its being used for civilian purposes. Wherever it's possible there has to be sharing of resources without prejudice to the Defence.

The land requirements of Defence will be met by the Andaman Administration and they have to keep those needs to what actually is required rather than base it on authorization. An army unit is authorized so many acres of land, and the same method of authorization cannot be applied in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as we are land deficient.

Coast Guard is also separately demanding land in Kamorta. They have been informed to share the land with Navy.

Is there a mediation going on between the Tribals and Defence to break the deadlock?

There is no question of mediation, as we already have a civil-military liaison, which is a formalized affair.

LG's Advisory Council seems to be an esteemed body with good representation. But, don't you think the Admn is approaching issues with a closed and prejudiced mind? Most of the decisions are already taken and the representatives become just bystanders without much say? For eg. ANCOL, AYUSH etc...

The LG’s Advisory Council has been re-activated after 3 years and attempt has been made to broad base it by including representatives from all stakeholder groups. I agree that the Council does not have mandatory powers. However, issues which have far reaching consequences for the Islands are being placed before the Council.

I think the impression that stakeholders are ignored is wrong. Even in the case of sports, there were two views.

The Admn wanted to merge sports with education department, for easy management. But the overwhelming sense of the Advisory Council was against merger, and to empower and reinforce Sports Department.. And, based on the opinion of the majority in the Council, we changed the view.

In some other Administrative as well as legal issues, we have to abide by the rules and laws in force. We cannot base our decisions on majority view.

On Ayush, clear instruction was given that the hospital should not be shifted to any temporary location, against the wishes of the stakeholders. But, the Ayush personnel themselves wanted it to be shifted for a larger benefit.

Secondly, I have directed to make the present Ayush to be better than the earlier location. I also want a group of eminent persons, and media persons to visit the Ayush building and offer their suggestions. Moreover, I have directed that an hourly bus shuttle service to be started between Ayush and GB Pant Hospital from 9 am to 5 pm.

But on some issues like the Andaman College, there was a general feeling that we could have looked at rural area. The students overwhelmingly wanted it in Port Blair. I did not go by this argument too.

The final decision to locate the college at Chakkargaon was based on the opinion by APWD that building cannot be completed by next academic session. The land at different locations examined by the Admn were either not meeting the mandatory land requirements or had CRZ issues requiring more than 5 months to clear. And, there was an ultimatum from Pondicherry University to withdraw the affiliation, if we do not have the next batch.

We are committed to develop all areas with equal focus including North Andaman and Campbell Bay. There are many projects in the pipeline. We are in an advance stage for setting up of a community college in rural Andaman. We are also planning to reactivate the process of bringing a NIT, which we want to establish in South Andaman. I reiterate that the impression that LG's Advisory Council is just a rubber stamp is wrong.

My understanding about the problem here is that the reason behind many pending projects are the shroud of secrecy around it and lack of a platform for people to express their feelings. Once, they get a chance to express themselves, things look clear.

In the medical college issue too, the response is tremendous. For a post of Dean, we have more than 10 candidates. For forty posts of specialists, we got 269 applications.

In the absence of a democratic setup in policy making, the onus is on bureaucracy to frame policies as well as take decisions. There is rampant indecisiveness among them, blaming incompetence as well as lack of expertise in various sectors. Isn't the past baggage of the bureaucracy the root cause of pessimism and negativity in the Islands?

No, I think it is a generational issue. The present generation, unlike the old is positive. And, its not just applicable to Andamans, its a pan-Indian phenomenon. Its quite obvious in Andamans as its a small place. The ethos of the old generation was "Let me not lose" - a very defensive mindset. But the present generation is - I can, I shall and I will.

I can speak of my tenure only. When I joined the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, I attempted to analyse the reason why some of the sectors were in a limbo - either the required projects had not been conceived or the projects had not taken off. I think there was a diffidence regarding sharing details of various aspects related to projects with the public. I attempted to break through this shroud of secrecy and bring in some transparency by sharing the details with all the stakeholders. This becomes especially important for long term projects.

As far as the bureaucracy is concerned, the same people who work here works in Delhi too. Bureaucracy like any other section of the society, is a mixed bag. We have officials who are highly motivated, self-driven and outstanding but we have also officials who need cajoling and pushing. Let me however add, that working in the environment prevalent here is challenging and we must give credit where it is due.

In the last 16 months, there is a change in attitude. I am driving it as it is possibly my style. I don't have the patience to wait for the file to circumvent and reach me. I am driving myself in fifth gear. And from neutral, they have come up to third gear. They too will reach their high point when there is passion, and they connect to the job in a desirable manner.

I can assure you that at the senior level, there is no corruption. Maybe, you can blame for lack of passion for addressing the issues of the public. It all starts top down top first. There is passivity because of lack of infrastructure and opportunities.

However, I feel that self-correction is needed even by the media on some issues. One is the streak of negativism that prevails in the reporting. Surely, something good must be happening. It is important to recognize and highlight the good work being done. This will boost the morale of both the public as well as those doing good work.

There are many announcements made by you at different occasions specially related with infrastructural deficiencies. - In construction of roads, you ordered for a technical evaluation for long-lasting roads, in a meeting at Kanyapuram, you made APWD commit to make a children's park operational within a month. But in most of the cases, there is no follow up. Don't you feel that the monitory mechanism is unable to catch up with your announcements?

As a Lieutenant Governor, my aim is to allow the administrative chain to function and monitor itself. However, key projects are monitored at both in the Raj Niwas and at the level of the Chief Secretary.

As you have pointed out, monitoring mechanism might be lagging at times. At senior level, monitoring needs to be there, which is sometimes missing. I have been telling why everything has to be done by the Lieutenant Governor.

An Officer on Special Duty has been appointed in the Raj Niwas specifically for this purpose. Now, I will seriously look into this and put in place a proper monitoring system, so that all announcements made are honored. As far as the technical evaluation of road construction is concerned, one sitting was held and now it needs to be taken forward.

What is the status of Bambooflat-Chatham bridge?

The Bambooflat Chatham bridge is an essential requirement of the Islands, especially people of rural South Andaman. The cost of the project is going to be very high. it is not possible to support this bridge from the Andaman and Nicobar plan fund. Therefore, it has to be taken up under Central assistance like the undersea cable. The feasibility report itself was coming to Rs 10 crores. If we don't get a firm affirmation from the Centre, the amount spent would be a colossal waste.

The matter is seriously being pursued and I already had a meeting with Cabinet Minister Nitin Gadkariji.

Till now, the issue of the bridge was of emotional nature. Economics doesn't work on emotional principles. From an emotional desire, we have already brought it into the centre stage up to the Ministry level.

Although, the economics does not suggest a bridge if we look at the number of people, and the Centre only funds bridges where National Highways are involved. We have apprised the Minister that in the long run, we can shorten the route of Andaman Trunk Road and take this route and reduce the distance by many kilometers. And we have also informed him that in the Islands, there is only one National Highway and we cannot apply the same logic here.

The Minister has also discussed it with his Secretary and asked to look into low-cost technology for the bridge. Both options of tunnel as well as bridge is being looked into. Eventually, a bridge or tunnel will come. As the issue is being examined we need to take the Centre along. And it will be my endeavor to get this bridge. I am of the belief that in a year or so, we will get a firm approval from the Centre.

We have acute shortage of land for developmental works. And the resources are also scarce and limited. Isn't it wise to implement Inner Line Permit to overcome such predicaments before its late? Are you opposed to the idea of Inner Line Permit?

I am not opposed to the concept of Inner Line Permit. It was discussed at length in the LG's Advisory Council. There are two issues - illegal migration of foreigners and Indians visiting the Islands and settling here. Indians have no restrictions except in tribal reserve areas. There are historical reasons for migration. People migrate for natural betterment of their lives. We are seriously looking into illegal migration of foreigners and police is on the job.

Now there is the question of carrying capacity. In the last officially stated position there is no problem with the population and is sustainable as of now.

I feel that moving in the direction of Inner Line Permit or restricting entry of Indians needs to be with caution and care. Ministry of Home Affairs had their reservations too on this issue. As we know the original inhabitants of this place are the indigenous tribes. And the descendents of freedom fighters, and later people from various parts of the country have been settling here periodically. How philosophically can one who settled in the Islands in 1994 justify restriction of somebody coming here in 2014?

Secondly, a committee is appointed under the Chief Secretary with the MP and other leaders of political parties as members to sit together with all facts and figures and see how we have to take it forward, if at all we require it. We have to go about it in a very methodical manner and based on the report of the Committee, a decision will be taken.

I personally feel that the case should be based on facts rather than emotions. It is same as the case, where everybody had a perception that 90% of jobs will be taken by non-Islanders. I had a clear idea in my mind. If more than 20% of jobs had gone away from the Islands, I would have cancelled the recruitment process.

On rampant encroachment in various forms

I would like to unequivocally state that encroachment is no longer acceptable. regardless of what may have happened in the past, when the Islands were still developing, there is absolutely no justification for any kind of encroachment of public land under the present circumstances. I would like to make it clear to all that encroachment of land will be treated as a criminal offense. Cases of earlier encroachments will be treated in accordance with various rules and regulations and judgments of the Supreme Court.

The land in our Islands is divided into four zones. There are sufficient land in rural areas like Dollygunj, Beodnabad and Bambooflat, which comes under the CRZ -III zone. Why can't we take initiatives to convert it into Notified Developed Zone so that we don't have to be in a fix when we need land for developmental projects?

I don't think we have looked into this issue seriously. There is merit in this suggestion, and we have to take some serious initiative so that more land is available for future projects.

Why is Andaman still a bad investment destination? Private sector is apprehensive as we can see the inordinate delay in Taj project at Havelock, CG Earth at Long Island and Soma Project in Neil Island still hanging fire. Is it because of stringent laws or bureaucratic red-tapism?

A major focus area has been to revive the spirit of free enterprise in these Islands. People are now feeling confident and coming forward to look for investment opportunities or starting individual enterprises. Tourism has to be the mainstay of economy in the Islands. The vision is to promote sustainable tourism in a unique and eco-friendly manner keeping in view the fragile ecology and indigeneous tribes. We intend to position Andamans as a uninque brand of its own.

Yes, its a fact that there are challenging circumstances for private enterprises. They have to comply with various environmental, coastal regulation and Island Protection Zone related stipulations. The issue of delay in various projects might be related with the environmental regulations.

But, if there is an agreement between two parties, they need to honour it and comply with the laws in force.

Now, if somebody buys agricultural land without it being converted into commercial, how can someone blame for the delay?

I am very sure that with improvement in infrastructure, things will change. And, with the present infrastructure, we can easily accommodate another one and a half lakh tourists, that too if we extend it during off-season, when airfare and hotel fares are also low.

What about exploitation of marine resources and what is the status of Tuna Mission?

We are reviving and looking into this aspect too. As I told you, the Australian mission was forthcoming in the fisheries sector. They are also deliberating in starting food processing units and training with local collaborators. We need to also promote local entrepreneurs to sustain it.

There is so much talk about the experts being involved in the ANTRI project. Of late, its alleged that the bureaucrats are overshadowing the experts even in policy decisions. There is disgruntlement and resentment among the experts, who feels neglected and sidelined.

The Administration and the people of the Islands are conscious about the welfare of the indigenous communities of the Islands and all possible measures are being taken for the welfare and protection of the tribal population. All issues of the tribes are being handled with due care and attention in consultation with Anthropologists and other subject experts.

But, one thing needs to be cleared. We are responsible as well as accountable for our tribes. If a decision or policy fizzles out, the Administration is answerable. And, experts won't be held responsible. Hence, its mandatory for us to be cautious in every step concerned with the tribes.

The Andaman and Nicobar Tribal Research and Training Institute (ANTRI) has been set up to carry out research based on the questions which may arise in the field and to suggest research driven welfare policy in consultation with the communities for whom such policies are being framed. A conference on the theme 'Thinking Futures: The PVTGs of the A&N Islands" is being organised in the first week of December 2014, wherein experts and researchers of repute will deliberate on the measures and offer their views.

There is severe shortage of research driven and well trained ground staff working among the tribes. Moreover it looks like hydra-headed with so many commands - ANTRI - Tribal Welfare Director - Secretary Tribal - AAJVS - Executive Secretary etc..

I have already informed them to have proper coordination between various agencies and make the work more harmonious. We are aware of the shortage of staff and will surely look into it.

The recent Jarawa documentary by foreign filmmakers exposed the vulnerability of the Jarawa Tribal Reserve. Your take.

The recent incident of some foreign tourists venturing into the Jarawa Tribal Reserve and making documentary on the community has been seriously viewed by the Admn. Criminal complaint has been filed and legal notice issued to immediately remove all illegal material from the website and social media, which has been complied with.

I have also directed that the Police Forces, Forest, AAJVS/Tribal Welfare, Fisheries, Coast Guard and Indian Navy should work in a coordinated manner to ensure the security of Jarawa Tribal Reserve area in general and the Western Coast of Andaman Island in particular.

You have changed the way of functioning of the Administration. Are you satisfied with the pace of development?

While it would not be appropriate to comment on our achievements since that is for the people to say, I would like to state that right from day one, I have committed myself to bring about transparency in all dealings in the Admn., besides making it responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people of the Islands. I am reasonably satisfied in this regard, though more remains to be done.

All issues and projects that have been pending for decades have been galvanized, including welfare aspects. One can say without hesitation that a new vibrancy has been introduced in the way governance is being delivered in the Islands. Anyone is welcome to come and see for themselves, or offer positive suggestions for betterment.

Highlights: Audit of Power Transmission and Distribution

2014-11-10T10:00:00.002-08:00

Highlights: Audit of Power Transmission and Distribution

Feeder Control Room at Bambooflat ready for commissioning by the end of November 2014.
A 33 KV sea-link line between Surya Chakra Power Plant at Bambooflat and Chatham Power House by December 2014.
Proposes to replace the overhead bare conductors with insulated cables in the Rural areas.
Establish 02 sub-stations in South Andaman.
In Havelock NTPC will install a 3 MW Power Plant in 2015.
In North & Middle Andaman, a 33 KV Double Circuit exclusive transmission line on towers will be established from Kadamtala to Diglipur with sub-stations at 10 locations.
Indoor and Outdoor Circuit Breakers of some power houses will also be replaced.
The total cost to carry out the works proposed in the Long term measure will be approximately Rs. 300.00 Crores for which provision will be kept in the Annual Plan of 2015-16 and 2016-17.
The projects are expected to be completed within next two years.
Electricity Department is meeting out the parameters of the “Standard of Performance” laid down by JERC for repair and restoration of power supply.
The minimum time to restore the power supply in-case of fuse failure laid down by JERC is 04 Hrs. in Urban area and 08 Hrs. in Rural areas.
Power supply availability in all the 19 major inhabited Islands is about 95% on an average in a month which is better than all other parts of India.
The per unit cost of power generation and transmitting it to the consumer end is Rs. 24.70 whereas the average realization from the general public is Rs.4.49 only, one of the highest subsidized rates of power in India.
Lt. Governor has already given direction to all the Govt. Departments to reduce their power consumption by 10%.
Process of establishing a LNG Based Power Plant at South Andaman for providing environmental friendly, clean and low cost power to the general public.
The Administration is also striving hard to establish number of Renewable Energy projects like Solar and Wind Energy Power Plants.

ANI Admn Makes Audit of Power Transmission and Distribution Public

2014-11-10T08:58:00.003-08:00

ANI Admn Makes Audit of Power Transmission and Distribution Public

LG directs Electricity Deptt. to be more Responsive to Public

Port Blair, Nov. 10: With a view to ensuring uninterrupted power supply by augmenting the electricity generation, the Electricity Department has come out with an action plan. According to an official press release, the action plan would consist of both short & long term remedial measures. As for addressing immediate problem, while a Feeder Control Room is ready for commissioning by the end of this month, a 33 KV sea link lines between Surya Chakra Power Plant at Bambooflat and Chatham Power House will become operational by December, 2014.

A presentation was made on 05.11.2014 to Hon’ble Lt. Governor by the Secretary (Power) in presence of Chief Secretary & Other Senior Officers of Administration regarding the report of Audit of Transmission & Distribution System. In the presentation, the entire scenario of electricity generation was explained threadbare by the Department.

Power Generation in A&N Islands is a “Stand alone system” i.e. the Electricity System set up to generate power and distribute electricity in a specified area without connection to the grid. Moreover, the electricity distribution system in A&N Islands cannot be compared to the grid of mainland as the “Grid” is a high voltage back bone system of interconnected transmission lines, sub-station and generating plants.

The highest voltage level in A&N Islands is 33 Kilo Volts (KV) which comes under distribution network and the transmission network starts from 66 KV onwards as per Standard Electrical Practice. The power is transmitted to the consumers through 4734 Kms. HT & LT distribution line and distributed through 889 Distribution Transformers.

Due to the peculiar geographical location of A&N Islands, during both South West and North East Monsoon season’s inclement weather, heavy rain and high wind pressure are observed. During such weather conditions, faults and damages in the overhead T&D system, is unavoidable. In the absence of a grid, the magnitude of the fault current due to any fault in the system collapses the complete generation sources.

However, the impact of same could be reduced by adopting preventive measures and strengthening & up-gradation of the system.
As per the Audit Report the major faults prone zones are Rural South Andaman area, Kadamtala to Rangat, Rangat to Mayabunder and Mayabunder to Diglipur and the causes of power interruptions are the majority of distribution system comprises of overhead lines with bare conductor passing through thick vegetation and forest; most of the overhead lines of aluminum conductor have corroded due to oxidation and ageing and due to heavy rains and high speed wind, the branches & trees falls on these lines.

According to the release, the Long term measure aims at improving the power supply reliability the Electricity Department which proposes to replace the overhead bare conductors with insulated cables in the Rural areas and establish 02 sub-stations in South Andaman. In Havelock NTPC will install a 3 MW Power Plant in 2015. In North & Middle Andaman, a 33 KV Double Circuit exclusive transmission line on towers will be established from Kadamtala to Diglipur with sub-stations at 10 locations. Indoor and Outdoor Circuit Breakers of some power houses will also be replaced. The total cost to carry out the works proposed in the Long term measure will be approximately Rs. 300.00 Crores for which provision will be kept in the Annual Plan of 2015-16 and 2016-17.

The Ministry of Power will be requested for providing assistance for said proposed schemes. Some of the said projects are expected to be completed within next two years.

The Department also felt it necessary to clarify its stands in the pretext of a report in a section of the local press, on 4th November 2014, that in spite of having limited resources, the Electricity Department is meeting out the parameters of the “Standard of Performance” laid down by JERC for repair and restoration of power supply. The minimum time to restore the power supply in-case of fuse failure laid down by JERC is 04 Hrs. in Urban area and 08 Hrs. in Rural areas. It is also a fact that the power supply availability in all the 19 major inhabited Islands is about 95% on an average in a month which is better than all other parts of India.

It would not be out of place to mention here that maintenance of smooth power supply is due to the hard work and commitment of the Engineers, Staff of Electricity Department and proper monitoring by Senior Officers. The power interruptions are being restored within the time limit specified by the JERC despite of several difficulties, hurdles and adverse weather conditions that too in dense forest areas.

The Lt. Governor during the presentation has appreciated the efforts of Electricity Department for maintaining regular power supply to the public with its limited resources and in adverse weather conditions. He also appreciated the action plan of the audit report conducted by the department. It is also a fact that the power which is made available to the general public of these islands is highly subsidized. The per unit cost of power generation and transmitting it to the consumer end is Rs. 24.70 whereas the average realization from the general public is Rs.4.49 only. This is again one of the highest subsidized rates of power in

India

The release further says that since, the major portion of budget is spent on generation of electricity by diesel, so there is a pressing need that each and every consumer to conserve electricity by reducing their consumption in a duty bound manner. In this regard, initiation has been taken by Lt. Governor himself by reducing the power consumption of Raj Niwas by 22.6% in a period April to October, 2014 as compared to previous year.

Meanwhile, the Lt. Governor has already given direction to all the Govt. Departments to reduce their power consumption by 10%. Each department has been asked to strictly follow and monitor their power consumption on regular basis. However, these instructions are not applicable to the essential services like Hospitals, Cold Storage etc.

The A&N Administration is also in process of establishing a LNG Based Power Plant at South Andaman for providing environmental friendly, clean and low cost power to the general public. Besides this the Administration is also striving hard to establish number of Renewable Energy projects like Solar and Wind Energy Power Plants.

The Lt. Governor has further directed during the presentation that any power cuts may be publicized through various print, audio and visual media. The Helpline numbers may also be published again for information of general public. He also directed that the normal timing in case of disruption of power supply may be informed to Superintending Engineer, Electricity Department and Secretary (Power). In case of any major power breakdown, the Chief Secretary also to be informed on priority. Conclusively, the Lt. Governor also directed the department to be more responsive and responsible to the general public, the press release added.