I am Back in BJP: Bishnu Pada Ray

VOL: 35 | ISSUE: 23 | FRIDAY | 6 JANUARY 2012

I am Back in BJP: Bishnu Pada Ray

The long lost love between the State BJP and Bishnu Pada Ray is almost over. Speaking to LOA, Bishnu said that he is back in the party and will remain BJP MP. According to a communiqué received from the National President, Bishnu’s request to rejoin the party has been accepted.

Homage Paid to

Comrade HN Parial

The body of Comrade HN Parial, Former Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist), A&N State Committee who died on Jan 5 was cremated on 7th Jan 2012 at Port Blair. Earlier, in the day, his body was kept at the State Committee Office, Shaheed Bhawan at Anarkali to enable leaders of various political parties, trade union and Govt. Employees Organisations pay their homage to the departed leader.

 Meanwhile, condolences have poured in from different sections of the society on the death of HN Parial. The President, Pradesh Congress Committee, Kuldeep Rai Sharma and other senior leaders of Congress Party have mourned the demise of HN Parial, renowned Trade Union Leader, ex-Councilor, Pradesh Parishad.

  The Communist Party of India (Marxist), A&N State Committee has condoled the death of Comrade HN Parial, former Secretary of the State Committee on Jan 5. In a condolence message, the Secretary State Committee, B. Chandrachoodan described HN Parial as one of the important leaders of CPI(M) Party in A&N Islands.

  Meanwhile, the Centre of Trade Unions, A&N State Committee and the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association have also condoled the death of HN Parial, communications received here said.

Maruti Suzuki Lucky Draw

Winners Announced

Agency House, the dealers for Maruti Suzuki has announced the winners of the first phase of the Luck Draw - Maruti ka Sizer. The Draw was held on 8th Jan 2012 at ITF Grounds in front of a crowd of 5000 people.

Fathima Bibi (Coupon No. 3785)from Calicut won the Maruti 800 and Adam Ali (Coupon No 5845)from Buniyadabad won Maruti Alto car. The final phase of the draw will be held on 11th Jan 2012 at ITF Grounds, in which four cars and 20 consolation prozes are on stake.

EDITORIAL: Ring in the New

VOL: 35 | ISSUE: 23 | FRIDAY | 6 JANUARY 2012

EDITORIAL

Ring in the New

Standing at the threshold of a new year it is customary to take stock of gains and losses of the year gone by. We would like to take up such an exercise. A little more detailed studies would follow not so much for bringing accusations and mudslinging but to determine our strength and weaknesses so that necessary course corrections are made to learn from the past and move ahead into the future. 

We are in January. A change of guard at the top of the helms is expected this year. Rumour mills are working overtime predicting auspicious dates as well as names. However, the Island politicians were never seen as desperate as the Lieutenant Governor to retain their position and chair.

On the political front, Bishnu is back in BJP and the short-lived honeymoon with TMC is over. If BJP had its Jan Chetna Yatra, Congress had its 7th Political Conference. Otherwise, at state level, both the major parties were not seen addressing any policy issues of the Islands and rather concentrated more on highlighting civic issues, which its city and local units could have done. Smaller parties remained in hibernation and shall continue till 2014, when new combinations and permutations will be formed for the Loksabha polls.

On our sunrise sectors, all these have to move out of the official files, meetings and seminars to the ground. We have been hearing about it for much long. Now is the time to watch it delivering the goods. Tourism definitely needs a separate corporation to manage it keeping in view that it benefits the Islands in general and promotes employment opportunities in a large scale.

The department of fisheries and its new found mascot Tuna Mission needs to be revisited with a pragmatic mindset.

Knee-jerk actions, stereotype plans and programmes, dispirited officials have to make way for dynamism that would transform these departments into real workhorses capable of realising the dreams of an economic resurgence of the islands.

Economic resurgence! Nobody talks about it. Least of all the politicians! These islands luxuriate on doles from the centre. It has gone on for much too long. We are sitting on immeasurable marine wealth that beckons exploitation. Agriculture is a virgin area so to say. Imaginative plans have to be drawn up. People have grown apathetic to agriculture. They have to be reassured that agriculture by itself could be a paying proposition; one can lead a luxurious life on a 5-acre plot. Seeing is believing! There is no dearth of such success stories.

There are other developmental issue too, connectivity for instance. In an island system, water transport occupies the prime position. It is in shambles; a new vessel has joined the crippled fleet, but not pressed into service. Nicobar district is getting alienated because of a faulty shipping system. Shipping sector is running at a colossal loss. It can't go on. We are yet to hear about the integrated transport corporation for the Islands.

Criticisms are not meant to denigrate or run down the administration but to energize it to do better. The media, the fourth estate is as much part of the democratic set up as the other three arms. It also works towards the same end - welfare of the people. It is not always possible for the authorities to feel the pulse of the people through official reports and briefings.  Media fills that gap - to give a feel of the realities on the ground. Not that the medium itself is always above board. Sections of the media too might have its own agenda and vested interests. But going through a cross-section, one can remove the grain from the chaff and find the pulse of the people.

The people of the territory are beholden to the Lt. Governor for their present welfare and future security. If he fails; the people fail, the projects fail and the future gets frozen for a time till someone else de-freezes it. It is therefore, the vested interest of the people to ensure that the administrator succeeds.

We have been reporting negative stories but with a positive outlook. Our endeavour has been and shall remain to make these islands a better place to live. With malice towards none!

Let us hope the year 2012 brings happy tidings for all of us.  

PAUPER’S LOG: Spineless!

VOL: 35 | ISSUE: 23 | FRIDAY | 6 JANUARY 2012

PAUPER’S LOG

Spineless!

By Abu Arsh

The Editorial team discussion at LOA led to an opinion that the Protester bit is to be carried over a wee bit; delve into reasons that prevent our Islands society to face up against any atrocity. More often than not the only reaction people offer is a feeble discontent and a lot of sulking later on. Most of the different forms of atrocities are short lived in public memory. Thy neighbour's problem is his own and we as well won't poke our noses in their affairs. There are issues galore and we don't have time to form a public opinion on them. It's obvious that a select few who benefit from such policies wouldn't have anything to complain. The majorities of us, whose opportunities are snatched owing to such policies, either don't have any vague idea about its consequences or are callous. From an over charged, substandard commodity and adulterated food items at our markets, non-deliverance of small change back to us in public transport tariffs or other services, non-adherence to citizen's charter in govt. institutions, demand of bribes in essential services by the govt. employees to big policy decisions we seldom raise our voices. This gives a wrong message to our tormenters and exploiters who believe it's their birth right to do what they deem fit. Big promises are made and broken in no time with regards to people's welfare. No person big or small worries about the consequences of his misdeeds, as our Islands is a morally dead people territory with its inhabitants lacking soul or conscience in the face of oppression.

The Tunisian fruit seller's self-immolation bid, who laid the foundation for Arab Spring revolution was not about daily tormenting by authorities about his weighing equipment but about human dignity. There is a limit to tolerance to any sort of injustice in a citizen. Ours is a society with its roots in the colonial era. Our parents and great parents didn't protest as they were suffering from colonial hangover. Opportunities then were aplenty and their rights were considered as a favour from the authorities. The third or the fourth generation of the Islanders too have had enough of gross mismanagement or detached governance from its policy makers, custodian of laws, service providers and even our public representatives. Majority of the islanders are in some way or the other connected to the Administration by way of Govt. jobs. Raising voices for unjust treatment and vague policies would mean trouble from the tormenters. There are instances where just movements for justice and equality have been stalled with utmost of ease by applying pressure tactics in the form of serious consequences, manipulations or outright lure. People occupying high pedestal in the Administration or even ones with monopoly in the market control us. Political parties will never be non-partisan. Their initiation of a protest is based on the nature of an issue, if it's populist then there will be a Photo finish fight to the line amongst them. For them it's an arm twisting exercise to control officials for personal favours and waivers at the cost of the public. There is no place to get justice apart from God, who when delivers shakes the mighty and strong.

Our future generation faces a prospect of trying times ahead. Severe resource crunch, no job security, low standards of living, no representation in decision making, downward spiraling moral values and loads of frustration will be their fate. Stemming this rot has to start right now. We cannot let it all slip away. Why would we not be consulted for our welfare? Why wouldn't we raise our voices when public exchequer is drained by way of procuring worthless things and exorbitant expenditures on facilities for common public? Why would we not demand greater transparency and accountability from all concerned? Our islands which are geographically detached from the seat of power at New Delhi have to wake up very soon. We need to make decisions here and interpret all the Flagship rudderless programmes of the government as per local conditions. We cannot let ourselves being taken for granted this long. Strong non-political forums need to evolve in the Islands taking up issues of public interest. There is no dearth of leaders without followers in these Islands and we should be wary of them. Let's wake up to be Kingmakers who'll chart their own course for human dignity and prosperity in our present and tomorrow.

Faithfully Yours

VOL: 35 | ISSUE: 23 | FRIDAY | 6 JANUARY 2012

Faithfully Yours

By Debkumar Bhadra

The masterpiece article in the Light of Andamans, Vol 35, Issue 22, dated 16 Dec 2011, titled "The Administration : A collective portrait" traces the predicament faced by A&N Administration (called family) bare and nude. It is ironic that though part of Indian democracy, governance in these islands is "one way" affair; as if those outside the family neither have brains capable of analysing things nor have a heart which could bleed when hurt. Consequently the head of the family castled in the make believe world put up by the subordinate members of the family is unable to take a view considerate to the needs, expectations and aspirations of the islanders.

I still remember the days when the head of the family had to tour the North and Middle Andamans only to assure the islanders that their concerns on ATR and Buffer Zone will be taken care of. He said "…Buffer Zone will not cause inconvenience…there will be no displacement in this count…" The promise was repeated in the coveted 2011 Republic Day message delivered in the august presence of the members of the family and heard in every nook and corner of the islands.

Yet in reality, what happened is a sharp contrast and unbelievingly contradicts to what had been promised by the head of the family - The Buffer Zone Notification is still in vogue and the fear among the Islanders looming large. The existing ATR convoy which was inadequate and considered a hurdle in the free movement of Islanders has been reduced to 4 from 8, making movement of goods, services, essential commodities and the Islanders across ATR even more harrowing. To add insult to the injury, heavy goods vehicles are let loose ahead of passenger cars and light motor vehicles in the revised convoy system.

The Islanders may not tell but the dark clouds cast over the lifeline of North and Middle Andamans (I mean ATR) and the fear of losing whatever little they have, at the hands of their own government is giving nightmares to the Islanders. All due to inept handling of island specific issues by one or the other member of the family. Further the unholy nexus, the underlying rift and lack of mutual cooperation is adding to the woes of the Islanders whose life is already in shambles.

It is true, time and again the family had failed to take up matters in right perspective leading to decisions which score fairly on administrative grounds yet falls flat on social parameters. But the minions in the Administration are not to be blamed for this. If at all they get a chance, matters are dealt faithfully as per the likes (or dislikes) of members sitting higher in the family tree.

Moreover the family lacks understanding of each other's presence and their role vis-à-vis development of these Islands, its unique environment, primitive tribes and non-tribal Islanders. That is why despite the family setup working perfectly they end up creating dissent among the Islanders.

Probably the family is in need of a messiah; who could see things from an Islander's perspective. Such a messiah can be no one better than the head of the family himself. But the point is who is reading this post!!!

COVER STORY: Mainland-based Artistes Unsolved Puzzle

VOL: 35 | ISSUE: 23 | FRIDAY | 6 JANUARY 2012

COVER STORY:

Mainland-based Artistes

Unsolved Puzzle

The issue of bringing artistes from mainland has raised many questions - Why was the proposal dropped, if there was no foul-play? Why no action against the perpetrators? How come ANIIDCO was directed to pay for the ITF expense? Why is there no transparent process of hiring artistes?

By Zubair Ahmed

The Island Tourism Festival has a history of controversies. This year too, it was mired in a series of noise and uproar. The contract to bring mainland-based popular artistes is the piece of cake which everyone wants a bite from. With an amount of about Rs 50 Lakhs spent every year, the process of getting the artistes is very much ambiguous and the Islands always get mediocre artistes. This year, in the inaugural speech, the Lieutenant Governor surprised everyone by saying that the local artistes are no more inferior to their mainland counterparts - a revelation indeed!

Was this status update achieved in a fortnight? When the decision to bring artistes through a favoured channel proved precarious, there was no other way but to praise the talent of local artistes.

When the Administration knows that Island Tourism Festival is an annual affair and the issue of bollywood-based artistes needs to be sorted out, why does the Administration wait for the eleventh-hour to initiate the process? Moreover, every year, all rules for engaging event management groups are flouted and only those who are potentially close to the Director or a coterie, which is in charge, gets the chance. Since many years, no tenders were floated or bids invited.

From selection of the artistes to choice of the event management group, vested interests and a coterie plays a major role.  Since last three years, Marvellous Creations were bringing artistes, that too without any tender. Even Rahul Entertainment, an Event Management company had been approaching the department since 2006. In 2009, with some political recommendation as well as the mercy of the Director, Rahul Entertainment along with Marvellous Creations brought artistes. The selection criteria remained a very close secret.

What happened this year is also very intriguing.  Rahul Entertainment once again attempted this year. But, he was kept in darkness saying that the file is under process. However, it is learnt from reliable sources that the LG's secretariat had finalized the proposal of one Mrs Ricky Bala, of R R Entertainment for an amount of Rs 56 lakhs that included fireworks too. Rahul entertainment had quoted about Rs 20 Lakhs for 1 artiste from Little Champs with a seven-member band and a manager plus Bharathy and Kapil from Comedy Circus and two other artistes. Whereas, R R Entertainment had quoted for 4 artistes from Little Champs without band and two artistes from Comedy Circus. They had also included the cost of fireworks on the inaugural day.

The Director as well as the Tourism staff too remained clueless and had to also run with the decision imposed from above.  In fact, the decision to route the payment through ANIIDCO also created a ruckus. How come ANIIDCO came into the picture? The Administration is yet to clarify on that count.

The revenue generating ventures of the Islands are being transferred to ANIIDCO to keep the revenue in the Islands itself without going to the central consolidated fund. It was an easy way out for the Administration to use the money lying with ANIIDCO. However, there are no well-defined procedures and explanations would complicate things.

The easiest thing to do was to just cancel the whole process. The million-dollar question is - was there any kind of misappropriation or illegality in the whole process? If yes, why is there no action? Cancellation is like apologizing. Was this an issue where an apology is enough? Or just cancellation is sufficient?

There is a catch in the whole issue that when local papers exposed the racket, and Bharatiya Janata Party picked up the issue, without much fuss, the administration cancelled the whole proposal, ignoring the fact that Rahul Entertainment's quote was still valid and far below the rate quoted by R R Entertainment. Why the Administration did totally drop the issue and did not give a chance to Rahul Entertainment? Why the political parties which took up the issue totally ignore Rahul Entertainment which had approached them to take up this issue? What silenced them when the Chief Secretary informed them that he will speak to Satish Mathur? Why didn't they follow up when the Director Tourism denied the report that Satish Mathur had assured them that he will speak to the artistes and bring them?Speaking to LOA, the Media Officer of BJP said that the issues will be taken up by the party soon after the ITF ends.

And, finally, no artistes are coming from mainland. The Lieutenant Governor in his inaugural address also mentioned that Palash Sen and his band "Euphoria" will be performing on 12th Jan 2012. However, from reliable sources inside the department, it is learnt that the sound system required for the band is not available in Port Blair and hence, they had asked the Administration to procure it from Chennai which will cost about Rs 12 Lakhs. Moreover, if they use the local sound system, the show will remind us about the Hariharan farce, where the whole show was a flop as he had to limit his performance to just ghazals, whereas, he is a versatile singer, as there were no proper technical support.

There is a tried and tested system of engaging performing artistes everywhere. Even in National Games and other national events, artistes are engaged. Bids are invited from Event Management Companies to quote for Grade A, B and C artistes. But, the process needs to be initiated well in advance keeping in mind the speed of file movement in the system.

COVER STORY: Stale Stalls Welcome Visitors at ITF

VOL: 35 | ISSUE: 23 | FRIDAY | 6 JANUARY 2012

COVER STORY:

Stale Stalls Welcome

Visitors at ITF

By Staff Reporter

If you wish to take a canopy walk in the deep forests of the Islands, you will need to wait another four years. But, ITF provides a shorter version. The stall of Dept of Environment and Forests provides a peek into the wild with animated sounds and feels of the jungle.

However, the tall talk about a real canopy walk will have to wait as the required quantity of the best quality Padauk is not happening. The required quantity of padauk is about 350 cubic, whci costs about Rs One and half crores in the market. The quality and the girth required is not readily available and it is learnt that only about 10 cubic of the required quantity has been procured by the Contractor.

"Why can't they use Khadi Mahuwa, which is good and long lasting timber, which can withstand any climate?" asks a Forest official. "It would be a daydream if they insist on using polished padauk for canopy walk," he said.

It is pertinent that usually, canopy walks have a rusty feel and look and is not as refined as walking on tiles. "The officers need to shed their city-mindset while planning canopy walks," said a Forest Ranger.

Most of the stalls put by various departments in ITF are half-hearted efforts, which do not say much about tourism potential of the Islands. It's high time; Administration stops the departmental stalls and allows private tour operators to do proper tourism promotion in the stalls.

COVER STORY: Island Tourism Festival: Cultural Extravaganza Begins

VOL: 35 | ISSUE: 23 | FRIDAY | 6 JANUARY 2012

COVER STORY:

Island Tourism Festival:

Cultural Extravaganza Begins

By Staff Reporter

The Island Tourism Festival had a colourful start on 5th Jan 2011, inaugurated by Lt Governor Bhopinder Singh. The one and a half hour cultural fiesta went global this time with DD Bharathi, telecasting it to more than 40 countries.

Despite plentiful of adverse complaints and criticism about popular mainland artistes, the cultural extravaganza sailed smooth with local and various cultural organizations from South, East and North Zone putting together a blend of folk dances depicting the cultural heritage and diversity of the country.

Lieutenant Governor, Bhopinder Singh, inaugurating the 16th mega cultural extravaganza said that this year, the festival is celebrated on a wider scale extending to Nicobar group too. Praising the local talents, he said that they are not less than the mainland-based artistes.

On the snail pace of development in tourism sector, he justified it saying that the Administration is deliberately going slow taking very cautious steps not disturbing the ecological balance, aspirations of local population and the sensibilities of the tribal population. Taking a dig on other states that are expeditiously creating tourism infrastructure, he said that the Admn is more concerned about the impact of tourism on environment.

Referring the aftermath of Cyclone Thane, which had hundreds of tourists stranded in different destinations, he said that a proposal will be mooted by the Administration to provide free boarding and lodging facilities to such tourists and requested the local population not to harass and exploit them and to extend all hospitality in such eventualities. He also sought the cooperation of the local population in keeping the tourism destinations and the Islands clean and tidy so that the tourists take a positive and pleasant memory with them.

He also announced that apart from ITF, food festival, film festival and another major Cultural Festival will be organized in 2012.

On the role of tourism for the economic development of the Islands, he said that the Islands do not have any major industries apart from tourism and fisheries. Hence, these sectors should emerge as the major employment providers.

On connectivity, he said that considerable number of flights has been plying between the capital and the Islands. He informed that about 2 lakh tourists visited the Islands in 2011 and the administration is determined to make these emerald Islands into one of the best tourism destinations.

The Lieutenant Governor also released four films on Island tourism.  He also praised the effort of Naresh Chandra Lal in promoting the seaplane service through a documentary.

The cultural events were an enriching experience taking the spectators on a journey through the diversity of India, with folk dances by Nicobari, Karen, Ranchi, Bengali artistes and the guest artistes from South Zone and East Zone.

Doordarshan, Port Blair Kendra in close coordination with Directorate of Art and Culture and Directorate of Tourism deserves all praise for the successful maiden telecast of the Cultural festival on the national network through DD Bharati.

Earlier, Satish Mathur, Secretary, Tourism welcomed the gathering and R Murali, Director Tourism proposed vote of thanks. The programme was compered with all splendor by Rasheeda Iqbal, in her innate style, blended with Urdu poetry on the beauty of the Islands and its historical importance in freedom struggle.

Jarawa Sojourn Continues Unabated

VOL: 35 | ISSUE: 23 | FRIDAY | 6 JANUARY 2012

Jarawa Sojourn Continues Unabated

By Staff Reporter

A group of Jarawas from Bada Baalu made a foray into revenue villages of Tusonabad Gram Panchayat on 7th Jan at about noon. These aborginal groups popularly called as Tirur Jarawas came out of their reserve once again with life, stock and barrel. A group of young Jarawas including Alamole came out at Collinpur taking the Batak Gadda route. Alamole is the same Jarawa who was brutally attacked by three local poachers of Ferrargunj some months back deep inside the Jarawa Tribal Reserve. The Jarawa men were seen moving in a separate group and women with children in separate groups. 

As the Jarawas came well prepared for a longer period of stay near the revenue villages, they were equipped with every conceivable provision for sustenance. It makes a pretty sight to see them carry on their back packs traditional as well as modern objects bound together in a most practical manner with simple twines and threads. It appears a lot for us mere mortals but the Jarawas keep it well stacked in least possible volume so that it can be carried on their backs. The most interesting provision was packing of rice grains in 1 litre completely dry pet bottles arranged in stacks of three bottles each making a cuboid of twelve bottles neatly packed in plastic cement bags tightly wound by twines and a carrying cord made out of wild creepers. They were also equipped with raw materials to make new baskets at their new abode till they are dropped back deep in their reserve. They were also equipped with several unfinished bows and arrows and basic tools meant for hunting and fishing. Their baskets were stuffed with other provisions and ornaments. An interesting new addition was a float made out of thermocol slabs the size of a table top and tightly capped empty plastic cans. On enquiry, the Jarawas revealed to the villagers that these floats are an innovation meant for floating on the surface of water in crocodile infested creeks and nallahs which fall on their route to revenue villages. Though they are great swimmers, in order to ward off crocodiles these floats come in handy.

The most disturbing part of this visit to revenue villages is carrying of utilities and commodities which are lapped up by the settlers in barter. As in our Hindi Films where the police arrive on the scene of the crime hours after the incident, so do our Jarawa protection force and the staff of AAJVS on getting the news of Jarawa entry in the revenue villages. These Jarawas were carrying Crabs, frankincense and honey in considerable quantity. The settler villagers were seen luring these aboriginals in hordes and trying to force the Jarawas to barter these commodities for tobacco and worn out clothes or pepe- Cash. If the Jarawas don't agree on above commodities for barter the offer of Pepe is made which is increased from one pepe to two pepe and so on. Each pepe can be of rupees ten denomination to maximum rupees hundred denomination. Since arrangements for their shifting at the fringes of the revenue village at Tirur where a temporary hut is present on a hill the Jarawa group continued on foot with a AAJVS staff in tow. Along the way from Collinpur to Tirur passing the villages of Temple Myo and Herbertabad the entire commodity of need for the settlers was lapped by duping these innocent Jarawas. An interesting new item finding favour in barter is deer meat as per local villagers.  At times if these deal irks them they would as well enter any shop or house and walk away with tobacco or rice in the quantity they feel right for a mere few grams of crabs or frankincense to a bottle of honey. Before reaching the entry point of revenue village of Collinpur, the Jarawas do pluck some tender coconuts and chew a few sugarcane enroute from the plantations on the fringes of their reserves. When the Administration is busy revising the Jarawa Policy and thinking on the lines of empowering the Jarawas, the process has already began on the ground with villagers imbibing fear among them about their livelihood and the failure of the Administration in fulfilling their requirements. The pep talks by the local villagers about their rights and need for settled life and food security has a catch - enticing them into barter. This recent foray is also believed to be because of the presence of Burmese poachers at Hiren Tikrey which may come out in days ahead as the local police are trying to apprehend them based on local intelligence received by them from a group of merry makers during New Year excursion to neighbouring Islands.

While the PAT regulations are being amended and made stringent, Jarawas have started to shed all inhibitions and frequenting the villages and bartering different forest produce. The nexus is now so well established that the settlers would not need to frequent forests, when Jarawas themselves will come out with the provisions required by the settlers.

Drinking Water Supply Scheme: Sippighat Panchayat Paves the Way

VOL: 35 | ISSUE: 23 | FRIDAY | 6 JANUARY 2012

Drinking Water Supply Scheme:

Sippighat Panchayat Paves the Way

By Zubair Ahmed

Sippighat Panchayat on the periphery of Port Blair town has been in news for various reasons. In 2007, when a major water crisis loomed over South Andaman and especially Port Blair town, an ambitious water project was announced. The tsunami submerged farmland in Sippighat was planned to be converted into a sweet water lake. Landowners were notified and a compensation package announced. As usual, it also got entangled in legal intricacies.

In November 2007, Lieutenant Governor after visiting the Dhanikhari Dam on the way back stopped at Sippighat village and interacted with them and made promises he could never keep. He promised the villagers alternate land as well as handsome compensation package. Neither the land was acquired for the fresh water lake nor the affected farmers compensated on any grounds.

It is learnt that APWD, the implementing agency had transferred an amount of Rs 15,48,0000 to the Revenue Department to acquire the land. However, it ran into legal issues and the matter is lying somewhere hidden from the public eye.

However, the Gram Panchayat could not lie idle waiting for the Administration to wake up from their slumber and act on their behalf. They instead concentrated on the water supply scheme they had been running since ten years. A perennial nallah, known as Dhobi Nallah, which starts from the Quarry on the hillock owned by Surya Rao, makes way through the private land of one Muniswami, who works in the Revenue Dept and culminates in the well constructed in the Panchayat Office premise by Panchayat Samiti in 2002.

The Panchayat supplies fresh water to about 196 households benefiting more than 800 persons. It supplies about 75000 litres a day through pipelines laid and maintained by the Panchayat. It has also made it a revenue source by collecting Rs 25 from each household for the service.

The nallah needs to desilted so that the water supply is not hindered during summer, when the administration looks east and west for drinking water.

However, the catch is that the Administration, which harps on telling the panchayats to earn revenue and do more on the rural water supply front, has once again become a roadblock for this scheme.

"The perennial nallah, which exists geographically and topographically is unfortunately missing on the revenue map," says Vincent, Pradhan, Sippighat Panchayat. "If the map does not a nallah in it, how can it be desilted?" he asks. Muniswami, who owns the land through which the nallah traverse, using his connections in revenue department has been creating problems for the Panchayat. He has filed a NC FIR against the staff of the Panchayat for trespassing, when they went to desilt the nallah.

The Nallah has been there since long time. However, Revenue department does not recognize it as there exist no nallah in their records. The Panchayat did approach Raj Niwas, Secretariat and the District Administration for a solution, but has drawn blank. In fact there is a 3 x 3 culvert on the road constructed by the British during the colonial regime, connected to the nallah. The facts are wide open to the eyes to see, but the revenue department has turned blind towards it. The Dhobi Nallah was in use since ages by the old inhabitants.

Saraswati Narayan, ex-Pradhan too vouches that the water supply scheme is beneficial to a large number of villagers. However, she disagrees with the Pradhan. "It might be a personal issue between the Pradhan and Muniswami. He was cooperative during my tenure, when I had asked him to surrender land for laying a hume pipe," said Sarawati.

"Such initiatives by Panchayats need whole hearted support," said Chaman Behari, an old inhabitant and a PRI member who is a disillusioned soul. "Even after seven years, we are just getting promises about compensation money, I hope we will get it after our death" he said.

The Pradhan informed that the issue has been also taken up with TKS Nair, Advisor to Prime Minister, who had visited the Islands recently. 

3077 More Persons Died of Tsunami

VOL: 35 | ISSUE: 23 | FRIDAY | 6 JANUARY 2012

3077 More Persons Died of Tsunami

By Basudev Dass

It is a rule of presumption that in absence of evidence to the contrary, a person shall be taken to be dead, when he has been absent seven years and not heard by them who would naturally have heard of him. Thus read the Section 108 of Indian Evidence Act 1872 [provided that when] the question is whether a man is alive or dead……

3077 persons officially recorded as missing on 26th December 2004 followed by the Tsunami triggered by the massive earthquake on the morning of the day, are liable to be declared as dead when questioned or demanded by the kith or kin of the deceased. They can now proceed with the activities to seek legal rights to meet their social as well as materialistic ends.

Seven years have passed on this day of 26th December 2011. All the 3077 missing persons are dead today. There may be some more persons who might have been washed away unrecorded by the massive tsunami waves that rendered more than 50,000 people of this Island territory homeless. The sea inundating a large chunk of agricultural land in South Andaman and uprooting the coconut and arecanut trees in Nicobar group of islands completely shattered the livelihood of many.

But what about those who neither went missing nor died but lost everything in the catastrophe and are forced to live as almost dead since last seven years even today! In many of the Islands in Nicobar group, the tsunami waves might even criss-crossed the land mass but surely went back to sea. But in many part of non-tribal piece of land, the sea water, riding on the tsunami waves, entered to record a permanent occupation encroaching upon 1375.30 hectare of paddy and other field crop-raising land and 806.86 hectare of plantation crop-raising land.

Many of such victims are still fighting to survive with dignity and ease while bureaucrats and politicians are making their hay during such sunshine.

Such people obviously are they or their descendants who actually had caused a metamorphosis of these islands from a bizarre 'Kalapani' to 'Mini India'. They are neither encroachers nor political leaders or bureaucrats, but, common men; who have an ache for the Islands and the Islanders. They still have the vision to make the Islands a better place to live in and are endowed with resilience to recreate their own environment in a superior way then what existed before the 'Tsunami' hit the Islands.

The statement given by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh "We shall build a 'New Andaman'. Man and Nature will co-exist in perfect harmony in the New Andaman" seems to be a distant dream still today for many tsunami victims in the islands till today. But who are these 'we'? Are they the people of these islands or the politicians and bureaucrats from NCR?

A Tale of Two Tsunamis

VOL: 35 | ISSUE: 23 | FRIDAY | 6 JANUARY 2012

A Tale of Two Tsunamis

By Basudev Dass

The Giant Tsunami waves are still in the minds of the people of these islands otherwise people have a short lived memory.  When any major event takes place, there is lot of hue and cry.  But, after some time everything is forgotten. People remember it only when they are reminded. This is the time of the year when Administration as well as the media takes a break from its routine affairs and remembers the killer Tsunami that changed the whole scenario in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the most devastating manner on the black Sunday of 26th December, 2004.

Tsunami the Onge Girl

The waves are reminded but two little Tsunamis are a forgotten lot today. A female child was born to a young couple on 28th December 2004, 48 hours after the striking of Tsunami, at Ramakrishnapur in Little Andaman Island where the Primitive Tribe - Onges were evacuated. Born to the Onge family with Inakwangeilakubegi alias Rajani the mother and Enatei alias Madan, the father, the girl child was named Tsunami.

The situation at that moment of time was approving to none even for the doctor posted there was attempting to attend to his duties under traumatic condition. The ANM Shanti Theressa Lakra did not lose her cool and attended the pre and post delivery stages of the mother and baby which had a premature delivery due to ordeal and suffering. The baby was nursed to the extent possible by Shanti till she was shifted to GB Pant Hospital, Port Blair. Shanti Theressa Lakra an Auxilliary Nurse-cum-Midwife later and rightly been awarded Padmashree for her meritorious services rendered to PTGs. The baby was possibly be rescued and airlifted to Port Blair  and alive today solely because of timely intervention of Govind Ram a local DANICS officer,  Survival of one Soul of the Vulnerable Primitive Tribe was, certainly one of the biggest achievements of the Administration but now who remembers the survivor as well as her rescuers?

Tsunami the Boy

Born on 26th December 2004 on a hill surrounded by forests, amidst screams and shrieks for life by hundreds of people in Hut Bay of Little Andaman, Tsunami Roy is a forgotten child today. A newsmaker for more than a week in National and International print and electronic media is known to none but his  parents only who call him by his nick name 'Saagar' (Ocean).

Tsunami's father Lakshmi Narayan Roy is a private labour on daily basis while his mother Namita, though a house lady has taken up 'cooking' on order against official functions. She has to abandon her activity of cooking mid day meal for schools after a couple of years as the school she has been asked to supply food now is too far from her refuge. "None of our activity is a regular source of income" said Namita but. 'But God is with us and we will succeed', she added.

Padmashree Shanti
Theressa Lakra

Recounting the morning of 26th December 2004 she narrated the harrowing tale how, in her acute labour pain, she was rescued from her house to the hill  by her husband and one of his friend braving tsunami waters, upto their waist and chest level, pushing the floating dirt and logs.  She recited the suffering she underwent while delivering her baby under open air amidst shrieks and screams in the forest. 'No food for 72 hours I could not breastfeed the baby, instead, soaked my dirty saree in rain water and moistened the lips of the baby to keep him alive'. She was amongst others who were the first to be evacuated to Port Blair on 30th December. The cause of the delay was that the capital was unaware of the extent of devastation the Little Andaman Island faced on the morning of 26th December 2004 due to Tsunami waves. Their entire concentration was in Nicobar group of Islands, mainly inhabited by tribes, which were almost washed away by the giant waves of Tsunami.

The indomitable spirited parents are not leaving any stone unturned to survive and give better available education to Tsunami Roy and his elder brother in Little Andaman. This is despite the fact that the family did not get any assistance from any corner. Not even a Tsunami Shelter out of 1966 permanent Shelters in Little Andaman accommodating about 6000 persons.

In fact Roys had committed a blunder of not able to bear the brunt of trauma and fear after the harrowing 72 hours with their weak baby and malnourished mother. Accepting an offer of opportunity from the administration they were also allured to go to mainland to a distant family. Idea was to recover mentally and physically. And when they returned, everything was over. Permanent shelters as well as other facilities were rendered to only those who stayed in temporary shelters. And Roys are not entitled for any assistance including a roof over their heads.

EDITORIAL Fresh Wave of Privatisation

The Light of Andamans - VOL 35 | ISSUE 22 | 16 DEC 2011

EDITORIAL

Fresh Wave of Privatisation

The Andaman Public Works Department gradually stalled recruitment of labour force and the works slipped into the contractors' kitties. Teachers are now recruited under Sarva Shikshya Abhyan. Doctors under NRHM, contract slaves under DRDA and NREGA, Power generation went Surya Chakra way at an enormous cost to the exchequer. Now, most of the services are shifted to Common Service Centres run by private vendors. Most of the tourism property was to go to private operators. It is also learnt that very soon the shipping sector will have boats on wet lease manned, maintained and operated by private operators. The subsidy will sustain all these services.

At first look, the Common Service Centre looks the best bet for the common man who is pushed, insulted and looked down on by the Revenue department, Electricity department and any other place he visits to pay his bill or get a piece of paper. The feeling one gets when one visits a Food World or Reliance Mall, is of a king. He can pick whatever he wants without a scornful look from the grocery shop owner. A simple consumer will like to take a 200 gram nicely sliced and packed cauliflower than the one available at the dirty street corner vegetable vendor. It feels good when you put yourself in the position of a consumer. But, we are not just consumers. We have family and there are kids who are growing, who too need to find a job to sustain their lives.

Unfortunately, it won't be the same for the coming generations who will not have the purchasing power that we have today, thanks to Sixth Pay Commission. A small comparison of the salary structure of a clerk working in a private firm and the government sector will reveal the disparity. The Administration comes out with a minimum wage structure every year. But, why can't they pay the same scale to a government servant, if they think that the meager wage can sustain a family?

The person sitting behind the counter at a Common Service Centre will not be earning more than Rs 200 a day, whereas a government clerk sitting behind the counter at electricity department will be earning more than Rs 500 a day. A labour working with APWD earns about Rs 15000 a month whereas a labourer working under a contractor does not earn more than Rs 6000 a month.

The Government sector was and is the only reasonable employment provider in this Islands, which is now going the privatization way. Our Islands might be the only territory where professional degree holders work as constables, peons and clerks. Educated unemployment is at the rise. Everyone eyes a government job as their ultimate goal in life. It promises them a well-paid, secure and easy life ahead. However, the new mantra of the Administration is privatization in a subtle way that is sugar-coated.

With more unemployment in the government sector, a large workforce will be available in the market to work on cheap wages, which will naturally affect the economy and standard of living of the Islands. We should understand that the process threatens the foundations of the modern welfare state, if not of democracy itself. If we put aside the emotions and take a cold, hard look at privatization to date, what could we say about privatization's impact on the economy? Has it transformed the productive capacity of the economies where it has been implemented or merely transferred ownership of the choicest pieces from the public to the private sector?

Its time we open our eyes and foresee the dangers ahead and stop this wave of privatization which is more dangerous than the largest wave we have experienced in our lifetime - the tsunami.

PAUPER’S LOG - The Protestor

The Light of Andamans - VOL 35 | ISSUE 22 | 16 DEC 2011

PAUPER’S LOG

The Protestor

 By Abu Arsh

People in Andaman and Nicobar Islands suffer from acquired ignorance to all forms of oppression. Any whimsical policy decision, lack of facilities, poor governance, rampant corruption and a million other issues inflicted on them by the Kleptocrats (new term!) has no effect on their self-respect or dignity. We are unmindful of the frustration this will have on our future generations and how it'll transcend into them being jobless, resource less and opportunity less demons. There is not a semblance of protest anywhere apart from a Periasamy episode, the bridge forum or the Sarva Shiksha duped contract teachers, which got suppressed or entangled into complexities for their propagators on false charges. It is ironical to find that "The Protester" is a global phenomenon this year and we have none in our backyard. We are not talking about protest with political agendas; incited and sponsored by politicians, it's their bread and butter for some cheap publicity but people's movement on the streets for change.

Time magazine has named "The Protester" as its 2011 person of the year last week - the title it gives out annually for the person or thing deemed to have influenced the news agenda most during the year. Time defines the Person of the Year as someone who, for better or for worse, influences the events of the year.

Time Editor Rick Stengel said in a statement "Is there a global tipping point for frustration? Everywhere, it seems, people said they'd had enough,"

"They dissented; they demanded; they did not despair, even when the answers came back in a cloud of tear gas or a hail of bullets. They literally embodied the idea that individual action can bring collective, colossal change," he said.

On almost every continent, 2011 has seen an almost unprecedented rise in both peaceful and sometimes violent unrest and dissent. Protesters in a lengthening list of countries including Israel, India, Chile, China, Britain, Spain and the United States all increasingly link their actions explicitly to the popular revolutions that have shaken up the Middle East.

 "No one could have known that when a Tunisian fruit vendor set himself on fire in a public square, it would incite protests that would topple dictators and start a global wave of dissent. In 2011, protesters didn't just voice their complaints; they changed the world."

Tawakkul Karman, only 32, mother of the Yemen revolution and joint winner of this year's Nobel peace prize is a journalist who has bravely fought against the corrupt regime of dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh - and has endured imprisonment and assassination attempts as a result. Her peaceful methods and fierce dignity make her a symbol of a neglected but inspiring uprising.

A blogger commented - 'The protester? The only ones to come out of it with any credit were those involved in the Arab Spring who really brought about necessary change. In Greece the people wanted something for nothing and weren't prepared to accept measures to tackle debt, while in the West the majority of Occupy protests quickly moved away from their original goal - to highlight corruption in big banks on Wall Street - to outright anti-capitalism protests made up by a few hundred people out of populations of millions which as time went on lost momentum and broke up. They got more coverage than they deserved and in a year from now, certainly by the end of the decade, will be forgotten about'.

Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement, has been named among the top 10 news stories of 2011 by Time magazine. -Rajendra Singh, water conservationist says- Anna Hazare's movement was more of a media driven protest and hence it does not come as a surprise that the Time magazine featured him among the 'People Who Mattered' story in its issue. I have huge respect for Anna as he led the protest in a peaceful manner by involving the youth. But the agenda of the protest is very superficial. However, taking Anna's humble background into consideration, it is a huge achievement for him that he could lead a protest of this stature.

Another blog post said- Interesting that aside from Tawakkul and Chile's Camila Vallejo, the year of protest didn't really produce many figureheads. This probably goes to show that they were mass spontaneous movements, potent despite being leaderless.

Can we ever dream of protesting against sustained molestation of our self-respect and dignity ever in these islands? Can we be the Change?

YOUR | SPACE - Youth and Drugs

The Light of Andamans - VOL 35 | ISSUE 22 | 16 DEC 2011

YOUR | SPACE

Youth and Drugs

Things like Charas, Ganja and beer are very much familiar to the youngsters of our islands. 'COREX' a cough syrup that can be easily bought from any medical shop is taken in large amount not to cure disease but to take pleasure out of the drugs that the syrup consists.

By Yasmeen Shabnam

We say that the future of India is in the hands of the youth of our country but we never bother to see that the youth of our country is in hands of drugs. Every 9 out of 10 youngster of our country is addicted to drugs. One of the major reasons of this issue is the adaptation of western culture.  We all are aware of the fact that our present generation is busy listening western music and wearing western cloths but now they have taken one more major step to adopt drugs in their life.  Today these youngsters are fascinated towards drugs and think that it's a "COOL" attitude. They think that it releases stress and gives pleasure. It just starts with a cigarette and keeps on increasing to various things. In every institution, may it be a school or college you can find a group of youngsters indulged in this business. It starts with one addicted person and slowly it turns the whole institution into a mess.

If we talk about our islands, we too are not left behind. Things like Charas, Ganja and beer are very much familiar to the youngsters of our islands. 'COREX' a cough syrup that can be easily bought from any medical shop is taken in large amount not to cure disease but to take pleasure of the drugs that the syrup consists. Not only the boys but also the girls are equally addicted to drugs in our islands. You can find students inhaling 'fluid' which is used for correction. These practices have really increased in our islands and have become the reason for the increase of crime.

Serious steps should be taken against it by adapting various methods such as by setting an Anti-Drugs Squad in every institution to control drugs amongst students. The medical stores should not be allowed to supply drugs without prescription from doctors. The drug dealers should be caught and given strict punishment. The addicted persons should be given special medical treatment. Remember, drugs is something that can ruin your entire life and the time when you will realize about your loss it would be too late. So be far from such practices and also raise your voice if you see any such practice around you.  Your future and the future of our country are in your hands so lead it in the right way.

The writer is a student of DBRAIT

COVER STORY: The Administration: A Collective Portrait

The Light of Andamans - VOL 35 | ISSUE 22 | 16 DEC 2011

COVER STORY

The Administration

A Collective Portrait

The chaotic state of affairs in the ANI family is a fact that everybody understands but nobody admits in the corridors of power.  ANI Admn is a close family, well guarded and protected. Exposes of corruption does not attract punitive action here. A collective portrait of the family.

By Zubair Ahmed

ANI Administration is a family, a close family and a well protected family with a Sicilian way of life. You may make any number of complaints against the family members. Media can expose any number of corruption cases with evidence. Punitive actions will not be taken. Just things will be set right internally. Even every corrective action is guarded as a family secret. Here heads never roll. The fact is that the Admn does not believe in threats and theatrics; they're calm, cool, collected and calculating. They know what they're capable of; why broadcast every action to the heavens when silent guerilla tactics work even better and in favour of the family.

Whether it's the supply of sub-standard medicine, wide-scale corruption in procurement of expensive spares in Directorate of Shipping, Manipulated quarry licenses issued by the District Administration, Mass squandering of forest resources at Havelock, Contradictory statements and stand on ATR and Buffer Zone, Lease of Govt owned guest houses to private parties, Lease of Islands for peanuts, Common Service Centres operated by private owners or any other decision taken within the family, which the gullible Islanders are not aware of. The family knows everything that happens under its nose. But, it will only side with the family.

It's not very true that everything is fine in the family. Family feuds have started to crop up. There are visible rifts everywhere - between the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Secretary and between Member of Parliament and the LG.

Lieutenant Governor Bhopinder Singh will be completing his 5 years as the Tenth Administrator of ANI after he took charge on 29 December 2006. A collective portrait of the incumbent Lieutenant Governor and his administration in the last five years is like a pot-boiler and edge of the seat thriller. With four Chief Secretaries, the experience has been varying. Shumsher K Sheriff had rather an unpleasant exit from the Islands. Cherring Targey was side-lined by a coterie. Vivek Rae did not get into the fist fight and had his own way. And now, with Shakti Sinha, contradictory decisions on various issues are coming out. Three out of four Consigliores were not in tune with the wishes and style of functioning of the LG. 

It all started the day the LG addressed the crowd at ITF grounds soon after he assumed charges. LG Bhopinder Singh took a dig on the Member of Parliament and even the Chief Secretary. He tried to outshine the Member of Parliament by saying that when the hearts of the Islanders glow, the gloom of Island Tourism Festival doesn't matter.

On the evening of 29 December 2006, LG Bhopinder, addressing the media, had said that nothing will be imposed from above. "I don't believe in operating from the office alone. I would be touring extensively" Bhopinder Singh had said. He would like to keep his ears to the earth so that he would feel the rumblings inside. That way, he believed, he would be able to serve the people better and meet their hopes and aspirations in a more positive and effective way. He assured that he would work in close cooperation with the stakeholders and nothing would be imposed from above.

On media he had said, "Media are the eyes and ears of the people. Media persons have a tremendous role to reflect the concerns of the people" he had said. He would maintain a healthy relation with the media and would have frequent interaction with it to disseminate information and get the feedback as well, he had said.

In the last five years, many things have happened on the ground. Much water has flown down the Kalpong since. The islands have taken giant strides in almost all the areas of development. It might have been laconic, lopsided, but strides nevertheless. But post tsunami period offered a golden opportunity to turn the islands into a modern, progressive and prosperous territory. Much of the advantage is lost in the last five years.

Growing unemployment, shrinking job market, increasing influx and associated problems are formidable ones. The sunrise areas like fisheries, tourism and high-value agriculture are yet to take off in its literal sense. Moreover, there has been wide disgruntlement inside the family and outside.

TAKE EVERYTHING PERSONALLY

Shumsher K Sheriff was the Chief Secretary when the incumbent LG took charge. He had earlier worked with Bhopinder Singh in Rashtrapati Bhavan. The relationship between them was not very cordial, it is learnt. It had a direct impact on the Administration. Sheriff left the Islands in the most unpleasant way.

Soon after three months of his departure, Cherring Targey also felt the inner rumblings of the Administration and had planned to leave. However, he remained here till his superannuation. Sincerity, dedication and commitment do not visit an administration where chief secretaries are humiliated, where the senior secretaries are ignored, the bureaucracy as whole demoralized and the subordinate officers and employees dissatisfied. 

Vivek Rae did not get into a direct conflict with the Administrator. However, he had his own way. The case of lease of tourism property in Neil Island was a bone of contention between the two. He made his stand clear by noting that the benchmark was far below. However, the Administrator had his way. A Deputy Commissioner was planted and the file was through. Now, the rift is showing. It is learnt that the Deputy Commissioner is also being replaced.

BURN ALL THE BRIDGES

The Member of Parliament is the bridge that connects the Admn with the people. The MP got the least recognition and regard from the Admn. Member of Parliament is not a competitor to Lieutenant Governor.  A quick look into the questions raised by the MP in the Parliament reveals a lot about the divide. The LG has always tried to bypass all channels and get connected with the common public, a strategy which has failed utterly. In a recent press conference MP blamed the Administrator for keeping the Islanders in darkness about Andaman Trunk Road. He has been raising many issues, which the family does not care.

DON'T EVER TAKE SIDES AGAINST THE FAMILY

It's an unwritten code of conduct in the Andaman and Nicobar Admn.  Even if things are going wrong, and a coterie is working against the written policies of the department, it will not be tolerated if you speak against it or try to reset it. You will be bullied, transferred, stripped off the portfolios you hold. The family is sometimes extended, for convenience - with new members enlisted. And, they are very important part of the family. Tourism department has a written policy now. The Chief Secretary wants the guest houses owned by the Admn to be leased out - of course, to the extended members, as he believes that helping fellow brothers is profitable in every sense, personally and bottom line. The Lieutenant Governor on the other hand takes very emotional decisions - The guest houses shall remain with the Administration. The employees are happy. Another brownie point earned by the Administrator. Is there a small conflict of interest? Is it a dispute over the policy? The policy is a printed document, which was well appreciated in the capital and also won accolades.  It says that the role of the department will be of a facilitator rather than a tourism operator.

Abraham Varickamakal, Secretary of Tourism one fine morning was stripped off tourism portfolio. It went to Satish Mathur, who is the PS to LG. The boss or the second-in-command knows that when the situation reaches an impasse, it's time for the unexpected move that shows you can hurt your opponents in personal ways that they cannot expect, let alone imagine: a calculated overreaction that shows your opponents in the family that their actions have consequences.

Binay Bhushan, who left the Islands, has joined Delhi Tourism as General Manager and any guesses who the Managing Director is? G G Saxena, who was here as Tourism Secretary, when most of the consultancies for the tourism projects were initiated. God save Delhi Tourism! The family has diversified and expanded.

Now M N Murali, Director of Industries have been entrusted the huge responsibility of Tourism too. Of course, you might ask what the status of Industries department is. It can't go downhill anymore. The tourism department is also not going uphill either.

ALWAYS FORGET WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT

The extension of Buffer Zone to 5 kms was the contribution of present Administrator. It is widely known that a resort in Collinpur was the target. However, it boomeranged. Now, the same Administration wants the Buffer Zone to be a toned and filtered one, which does not affect the Settler community residing in the fringes of Jarawa Reserve. Jarawa issue is a very sensitive issue at Centre. Sonia Gandhi, National Advisory Council, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and even the MHA have strongly advocated a soft corner for the Jarawas, which has become an impediment for the Administration to take an unambiguous stand. The Administration seems to be caught between the deep sea and the devil.

The ANI Admn too does not want to close the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR). An alternate route has been advised by many. The Administration does not have the willpower to execute it. There is no dearth of surveys and studies by committees and sub-committees, groups and sub-groups on this issue. The route via Bambooflat and Shoal Bay was also a matter of study. It never took any concrete shape.

THE AXE THAT DOESN'T WORK

About 24.791 cubic metre of Sawn timber including Padauk, Superior Hardwood, Teak, Minor Forest Produces (Bamboo and Cane) worth Rs 13 Lakhs was seized at Havelock. Such huge quantity of seizure by the Police department has exposed the nexus between forest officials and the poachers. Four accused were arrested. But, the bigger question still remains unanswered. What were the forest officials doing when such a large quantity of timber was poached from the forests? Why is the Administration not initiating any action against the Divisional Forest Officer or the Ranger? Was there no negligence of duty? Simply, the family members need to be protected, whatever they do or don’t do.

NEVER HURT YOUR BRETHREN

From reliable sources, we have gathered information that the Directorate of Shipping Services has got all the Crankshafts replaced by the Vendor, who had supplied used and defective ones. The huge difference in the price of the Digital Microwave Frequency Counter, which was procured without any market survey is also being realized by the Directorate. All these happened after the misappropriation and corruption was reported in the media. But, once again those involved in this issue has been let off. Here too, the family members are protected. That's the way the family functions!

BLACKMAIL OR BLACKLIST?

The work of refit repairs, survey and certification of MV Panighat was awarded to a firm Dweep Engg Works by the Directorate of Shipping Services on 27 April 2010. The work was required to be completed within a period of 120 days. The firm failed to maintain the schedule after the first stage. After taking the vessel on slipway, the progress of the firm became very slow. The first stage payment of Rs 480777/- was released to the firm and a show cause notice was issued on 24 Nov 2010 to which the firm did not respond. Once again, a show cause notice was issued seeking explanation on 29 Jan 2011. The firm once again did not respond.  On 4 March 2011, a letter was once again issued informing that the Directorate proposed to terminate the contract agreement and debar the firm from future participation in any tenders and blacklist it. Even after two months of issuing the letter, the directorate did not receive any response.

Due to delay in the work and overstay on the slipway, financial loss to the tune of Rs 822800/- was to be recovered and it was proposed to cancel the contract agreement.

The Blacklist Order was signed by the Director vide Order No. 01 dated 20 June 2011. It is learnt from reliable sources in the Directorate that the Order was given to the firm without any mention in the records. What conspired afterwards is still a mystery. The copy of the order that LOA has in possession was signed by the Director. When contacted, Capt Seshasai told LOA that the letter was never issued to the firm. He also said that there are people inside the department who are sabotaging DSS.

When asked about the Order, he said that it was a ploy to intimidate the firm to accelerate the pace of work. Another Sicilian message from the family.

MAKE THEM AN OFFER THEY CAN'T REFUSE

A major goof-up committed by the Lieutenant Governor, when he communed a meeting of the farmers and their representatives and told them that the amount of Rs 130 crores sanctioned by the MHA was not compensation in lieu of submerged agricultural land, but relief package. However, in the IDA meeting, ministers objected to it and said that the amount was released as per the demand of ANI Admn for compensation as CEC had rejected the claim for release of forest land.

This collective portrait does not mean that the administration has nothing to its credit. But it's a fact that there are no visible and achievable targets in any sector. Moreover nepotism and favouritism rules the roost. If you are in the good books of the family, you will remain the blue-eyed boy, with the choicest postings and portfolios. However, the impact of the disconnect does hurt the sentiments of the Islanders, who have no say in matters of governance.