ACCI Delegation Meets HM: Demands Investment in Infrastructure

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 25 | 27 JAN 2012

ACCI Delegation Meets HM:

Demands Investment in Infrastructure

By Staff Reporter

The Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry also met the Home Minister, P Chidambaram and submitted a memorandum highlighting various issues faced by the trade industry.

It requested the Home Minister to keep Andaman Trunk road open and develop it as the road provides connectivity to Northern group of Islands. It also requested that to protect the tribals as well as for environmentally sustainable development, Buffer Zone needs to be reduced to 8 mtrs from the existing 5 kms.

On Coastal Regulatory Zone, the representation said that some of the clauses of Island Protection Zone are extremely stringent which includes increasing the No Development Zone from 50 mtrs to as much as 500 mtrs in certain cases. It said that the notification was prepared without considering the objections and inputs from Andaman and Nicobar Administration, let alone discussion with the stake-holders and general public. The Chamber felt that continuation of IPZ would be extremely detrimental to the development of the Islands, especially the tourism sector which is one of the thrust areas of Government of India. The Chamber strongly opposed the IPZ and requested to immediately withdraw/repeal the notification.

The Chamber has also requested for substantial investments in airports, ports, roads, bridges, power, water, public transport especially in shipping by the Governemnt for providing a right platform to the private sector to invest.

ACCI has also demanded to make substantive changes and reforms in the archaic Andaman and Nicobar Islands Land Revenue and Land Reforms Regulation, 1966 in consonance with the present day requirements to provide a right climate for investments. It has also requested to do away with the present sale permission, ownership of land, purchase/sale of flats in buildings.

Highlighting the plight of construction industry, ACCI has demanded to prepare long term policies and put in place to ensure that atleast quarry products and timber from the forest department required for internal consumption are made available in the Islands.

The Chamber has also requested to reconsider the Restricted Area Permit and Work Permit for foreigners, which is presently 30 days, which under current circumstances to promote tourism should be increased to a minimum of 90 days. Further long term RAPs need to be given for foreigners being employed in the Islands in certain areas like Adventure sports, scuba diving and game fishing.

It also requested to improve air connectivity and establish international air connectivity with South East Asia not only for promotion of tourism but to provide relief to the people of the Islands from exorbitant airfare being charged by the airlines. It also suggested to advice the Civil Aviation Ministry to make Route Dispersal Guidelines making it mandatory for all airlines to operate to the Islands.

The representation said that agriculture is not remunerative sector in the Islands and hence, there is a need to allow diversion of land for commercial, industrial and housing projects. It felt that this will accelerate the flow of investments by the private sector. Saying that currently diversion of land is not only restrictive but time consuming, it demanded the Administration to put in place a fast track procedure for allowing diversion of land for bona fide projects that will go a long way in encouraging investment and generating employment.

Andaman Chamber of Commerce has also demanded for establishment of Legislative Assembly/Pradesh Council in order to have a better democratic decision making process.

PC in Political Mode

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 25 | 27 JAN 2012

PC in Political Mode

By Staff Reporter

P Chidambaram, Home  Minister surprised everyone by switching on to political mode and showering promises, playing to the gallery at the meeting organized by the State Congress Committee at Gandhi Bhawan premises on 21 January.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands have recorded a growth of 10 percent, said P Chidambaram addressing Congress workers at Gandhi Bhawan Complex. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which lies 1200 kms away from India is as much a part of India as any other state, he said. It is the duty of the Centre to look after the needs of the 3.9 lakh population here. He said that ANI has always received special attention of the Central Government led by United Progressive Alliance led by Sonia Gandhi.

P Chidambaram praised the memorandum submitted by the Congress State President and  said that he doesn’t have to go through all the representations and memorandums submitted by various political parties and organisations, as the representation of Congress has covered all issues.

On the 2004 tsunami, he said that the first challenge was to rebuild the areas hit by the disastrous tsunami and as Finance Minister during that time; Chidambaram said that sufficient fund was allocated by the Centre. Expressing satisfaction over completion of rehabilitation work, he said that except carpeting of 4.8 km road and distribution of compensation package to the farmers whose lands are submerged, tsunami rehabilitation programme has been fully completed.

He also promised that the plan size for the Islands will be increased by 30% and about Rs 1400 crores will be allocated next year onwards.

Taking a dig on the present Member of Parliament, he said that no one is happy with the sitting MP and he does not command any support. Congratulating the state Congress party over their victory in all Panchayati Raj and Local Self Government Bodies, he said that there is a small gap, which the party should fill in the 2014 General Elections.

Speaking about the performance of the Party in various states going to polls soon, he said that out of 5 states, Congress is in a comfortable position in 4 states.

On Compensation for Tsunami affected farmers, he said that he is aware of the issue and fund has already been provided to the ANI Admn. He said that 95% of the affected farmers are willing to accept the financial compensation package and the party should work to convince the remaining so that the fund can be disbursed before 31st March 2012. He also assured that the Government has no plans for acquisition of the submerged land.

On the issue of Andaman Trunk Road and Buffer Zone, he said that both are complicated issues and will have to be dealt legally in Supreme Court. However, he said that the Government has gone on appeal. He also assured that the Buffer Zone Regulations will be amended once again.

On ATR, he also said that some NGOs are demanding closure of the road, however, the lives of lakhs of settlers will be affected. He said that the interest of the 3.9 Lakh population as well as the tribals are paramount for Government of India and Congress Party.

Expressing happiness over the improvement of Jarawa tribe, he said that after 2001, Jarawa population has increased by 50% and they are getting the benefits of modern medicine and other facilities. He also said that we should allow Jarawas to mainstream at their own pace.

On the issue of connectivity, he said that despite huge subsidy in Shipping services, the journey is not comfortable. He said that more aircrafts should ply to the Islands, which will make the fare affordable. On subsidizing airfare, he assured that he is looking into the issue.

On Education and Health, he said that there are not enough seats, although aspirations are very high. Medical colleges with private participation are the only solution to the issue.

He also assured that a special meeting of all concerned ministries will be convened to look into the various issues raised by the party. He also said that most of the decisions would be taken before the month of April as he is planning another visit in April, when he would visit North and Middle Andaman District.

Earlier, Kuldeep Rai Sharma welcomed P Chidambaram and also highlighted various issues of the Islands and submitted a memorandum.

PC in Home Minister Mode

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 25 | 27 JAN 2012

PC in Home Minister Mode

By Staff Reporter

Ban on Recruitments:

"There is a general restriction as per the guidelines on employment but there is no general ban on creating posts. We are creating new posts for the Directorate of Disaster Management for Andaman and Nicobar Islands," said P Chidambaram, speaking to the press at Raj Niwas on 23rd Jan 2012.

NPR and Aadhar Controversy:

On the controversy around Aadhar and NPR, he said that NPR is mandated by an Act, mandatory for residents of India and issued by Registrar General of India. He said that there is no dispute with Aadhar and we support Aadhar. The only contention is about the authority of capturing bio-metric data.

No Influx in the Islands:

The issue of population influx and the demand for implementation of Inner Line Permit, which features in many representations made to the Home Minister has been laid to rest with P Chidambaram refuting the issue saying that as per Census 2011, there is only gradual growth of population in the Islands and there is no influx of population. Hence, he felt that there is no need for implementation of Inner Line Permit.

On ATR and Buffer Zone:

The Supreme Court has ordered closure of two stretches of Andaman Trunk Road - 43 kms and 13 kms, which will divide the road into three bits. Various suggestions are made by different organisations. However, in the light of the case in subjudice, it won't be prudent to make a comment on this issue. He further said that no feasibility study has been conducted for an alternate route. On Buffer Zone, he said that the Regulation was made as per the requirement of protection of Jarawa tribe. Since the matter is in court, I will not comment on it.

On Mainstreaming of Jarawas:

Mainstreaming is a complex issue and is misunderstood. Jarawas are a very old tribe. If the Jarawas want something, its for them to decide. The Government of India's policy is that Jarawas should decide their own pace and it may take many years. He also said that nothing will be imposed upon them by the Govt.

On Alternative Land for Tsunami-affected Farmers:

As there is acute shortage of revenue land, and about 95% of land is under forest cover and other similar categories, it won't be possible to provide alternative land to the tsunami affected farmers. As Tsunami was a natural disaster, it is the obligation of the Government to provide compensation. P Chidambaram said that an overwhelming majority of the affected farmers are willing to accept the compensation package of Rs 9.39 lakhs per hectare, he appealed all political parties through the media to convince the remaining farmers and take the compensation. He also assured that the government has no plans of acquisition of the submerged land.

On Soaring Airfare:

P Chidambaram made it very clear that airfares are fixed by the airlines and government has no control over it. He also said that there is subsidy on ship tickets between Island-Mainland sector. However, he said that if the number of flights increases the fares will naturally come down. On stretcher patients' airfare he said that it is also decided by the airlines. It doesn't matter whether UPA or NDA is in power.

On CSC and Privatisation:

He said that Common Service Centre (CSC) is a project of Ministry of IT and part of e-governance and is run on PPP mode, and it has nothing to do with privatisation. With no. of CSCs it would provide employment to the people of the Islands.

On Assembly for the Islands

Home Minister P Chidambaram said that at present there is no proposal for an Assembly for the Islands.

On Lokayukta for Union Territories:

Let a strong Lokpal Bill be passed by the Government and the government will think about the authority for the Union Territories.

On Container Trans-shipment Port in Campbell Bay:

He said that it is just an idea, which needs vigorous study. Such projects require thousands of crores of rupees and should require careful study.

On Medical College for the Islands:

He said that there are lots of issues which are being sorted out for medical college in the Islands.

He also spoke about the proposed Food Security Act and the proposal for free ration to police personnel.

Quest for Kalapathar

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 25 | 27 JAN 2012

Quest for Kalapathar

By Francis N Xavier

Giant trees rose on either side of the narrow trail as it snaked through the tropical forest forming a thick canopy overhead. Huge lianas hung down from their branches like pythons.  A few rays of sunlight filtered through the dense foliage.  There was a chill in the air although it was midday.  Everything was eerily silent except for an occasional shrill call of a parrot or the drumming of a woodpecker.  The trail seemed endless as it dipped and rose and again dipped into the evergreen forest.

I have trekked up Mount Harriet many times.  Once it was to escort a British High Commissioner to India, who wanted to witness the sunset from the peak, just like Lord Mayo, the Viceroy of India, who was killed by a convict on his way down.  A notice announced that a trail led down to 'Kala Pathar' or Black Rock. Another went down to Madhuban, the place where the Forest Department elephants went to school.    But I never went beyond the bungalow at the top.

When Prof. Clare Anderson, Professor of History in the University of Leicester told me that she was looking for some 'graffiti' on Kala Pathar I was not interested. How could some graffiti, written more than a hundred years ago, be still there on a rock! But that would be a nice trek, and an opportunity to watch some rare birds. We set out in the morning. Along came Zubair Ahmed, my journalist friend.

An excited Prof. Clare blazed the trail. Behind her walked Zubair, stick in hand. I brought up the rear.  What appeared an easy trek in the beginning became tedious when we started climbing a steep rise.  The loneliness made it more arduous.  The frail professor walked with an easy step, but my bad knee was giving me trouble, and I started doubting the wisdom of trekking all the way to a black rock and look for some graffiti mentioned in the letter of pastor to his daughter Prof Clare had dug out in the British Library. 

Prof Clare has found in some manuscripts in the British Library a letter written by one Rev. Warneford to his daughter Maud on 4th  May 1876.  It read, "Went to the 'rock' at Mt. Harriet and cut out your name MAUD  about 4 inches long near Ms Stewart's.  Reggie's is also there and the mark of the bullet he fired from my rifle into the tree at the side of the rock".   It was clear that many British families stayed in the bungalows on the top of Mt. Harriet during the hot season.  They would explore the forest and shoot pigeons.  But a visit to the 'Rock' to cut one's name has not been mentioned anywhere in the records or the books I have read.

After what seemed an eternity a noisy group of trekkers overtook us. They were also going to Kala Pathar for a picnic.  It was great relief to have some company.  At least the rock was there, if not the graffiti.  Prof Clare increased her pace as she sensed we were approaching the rock.  A sudden shout announced that she had found what she was looking for.  " I found it! - the graffiti! - its there!", an excited Clare said. When I reached the rock a little later I couldn't believe my eyes. In front of us, was a huge black rock, worn smooth by the weather, but with not just WARNEFORD but many more names cut into its surface.      

The most prominent name was 'WARNEFORD', with the year 1876 below it.  A little above it, in a corner was inscribed 'F. BARTON'. On the other side of the rock I found two names, 'N. BALAGOOROO' and 'C. RAMANOOJOOLOO' obviously south Indian. Beyond them, where the rock face fell away into a deep chasm, was carved HMS RIFLEMAN, and a date, 1869.  Other inscriptions that didn't make any sense to me were the initial K.C.C. with the date 2-3-1885 and some Urdu words.  There might be more graffiti on the other side but it was too risky, and the more recent graffiti, in paint and chalk, covered the old ones. It appeared that part of the rock might have broken off and fallen into the chasm below.  The picnic party spoke of the Japanese using the rock to push people to their death during their occupation of the islands.

Just as we turned to go I noticed another set of initials cut deep into the rock. They were large, very neatly carved, and seemed familiar. 'F R de W'  rang a bell.  Both Prof Clare and I blurted out at the same time the full name of the person, Lt. F. R. de Wolski of the Royal Engineers, the officiating Executive Engineer of the settlement.  I was suddenly reminded of the big fight that took place between Lt. Wolski and Capt. W.B. Birch, one of the Assistant Superintendents. The epic war of demi-official letters between the two became the talk of the town in the Port Blair of 1876. 

In the stultified environment of the budding penal colony both men jockeyed for position. Birch won; Wolski was suspended for insubordination and transferred. That was a long story.  But what made Wolski come and carve his name into Kala Pathar? I wondered.  We couldn't find Maud's name. Balagooroo and Ramanoojooloo must have been some kind of petty officers. HMS Rifleman was the guard ship at Port Blair. Did the crew of the ship come up for a picnic? Several questions rose in our minds as we started walking back.  Perhaps another visit would reveal some more names.  But the thought of going up again through the leech-infested forest was not really exciting, at least for the present.   

PAUPER’S LOG: Social Speak

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 25 | 27 JAN 2012

PAUPER’S LOG

Social Speak

By Abu Arsh

Nobody can deny that Facebook has altered the landscape of social interaction, particularly among young people, we are just now starting to see solid psychological research demonstrating both the positives and the negatives, Young adults who spend more time on Facebook are better at showing "virtual empathy" to their online friends. Online social networking can help introverted adolescents learn how to socialize behind the safety of various screens, ranging from a two-inch smartphone to a 17-inch laptop. Apart from social interaction on varied issues Social Networking media like Twitter, Facebook, My space, Google+ and others have given us a medium to get to know and hear about issues as and when they happen and get into discussions offering our views on them. 

Every issue that our society faces is like a link of a chain. Each issue is connected to another, either directly or indirectly. The chain of issues in this society that we live in, the strongest links of that chain are illiteracy and ignorance. Illiteracy and ignorance is the mother of all issues as it gives birth to many other issues like poverty, unemployment, child labour, female foeticide, population burst and many more.

Of late, it is heartening to note the number of Islanders flocking to offer their views on e-groups administered by local media like The Light of Andamans, Andaman Chronicle, Andaman Sheekha on facebook and others like Andamanicobar yahoogroups or a recent entrant like our very own MP's facebook e-group. There are no holds bar opinions on issues concerning our Islands and its future. This gives an insight into the pulse of the people and good feedback to the media, officials or politicians on developmental or other issues and policies. There were days when a newspaper would perish or news would die down without any impact, despite reporting a sinister crime being committed by the officials, politician, trader or a habitual criminal. Those days are history today.

People have got voices now, especially the young; be it from the confines of their drawing room or study. The true face of a politician, a bureaucrat, an entrepreneur or an antisocial is exposed in no time. A detailed postmortem of a statement or an action takes only a few minutes after a thread is posted. Great views emerge and everybody is at a liberty to either buy it or take a walk.

There are times when the righteous would have been cyber bullied by small time politicians or messiahs of offenders as being intellectuals. The Jarawa issue at a time was untouchable by many on the pretext of being anti- development. Nobody would have cared two hoots if the question papers were leaked or an official's mediocre son would have got A grades. A spoilt brat would have been caught and let off over speeding or is found with contraband grass. Environmental degradation would have gone unnoticed. A multi-crore vessel would be tethered in one corner waiting till eternity for the first lady to crack the Champagne. Hon'ble Ministers would have come and gone unnoticed and those who interact would have offered pathetic contradictions, Godfathers would have considered themselves above law. Bureaucrat's merrymaking and laid back holiday mode would be on their walls as a trophy. Selfish or self- centered individuals would offer pale justifications for their point of view. A misleading and divisive quote by an official or a politician would have gone unquestioned.

Not anymore. Every thread is retrievable if need be to set the record straight. Cyber world has become a great leveler. The young speak their mind and garner support from all quarters. Scribes have become confident and more forthright. Oppression is not tolerated. People have become very expressive and opinionated. Bluff and blabber is reprimanded and sanity restored. The islands can boast of its own social networking site too as "Community of Andamanis'. Good going indeed for an island which still has long way to go before it can come on the national radar. To be well informed is to be branded an intellectual, so be it; better than being an ignorant moron. Guys keep up the good work and scribes at media would keep clicking the 'Like' button and bell the fat cat.

EDITORIAL: Media Tribe Needs Mainstreaming

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 25 | 27 JAN 2012

EDITORIAL

Media Tribe Needs Mainstreaming

The media in the Islands have at many occasions drawn flak for its misdemeanors. The recent press meet with Home Minister P Chidamabaram reiterated the need for mainstreaming of the media tribe in the Islands. The media in the Islands are an idiosyncratic mix of small-scale politicians and retired government servants. There are very few exceptional cases, where trained and qualified journalists struggle to sustain their newspapers. Their voices get silenced in the battle cry of the politicians who come to press meets with their political and personal agenda.

The media was time and again reminded about their role by PC, when instead of questions they started discussions and suggestions. One 'scribe', a retired government servant started reading from a diary, without any introduction or question. PC interrupted him many times asking him to poise questions. On airfare and other issues, the scribes started to discuss and put forth suggestions, which were not acceptable to PC.

The media which should do their own investigations and get a grasp of issues in most cases forget their role and convert press meets into discussion forums. A question which shocked many was when a scribe complained that the Administration does not take cognizance of issues highlighted by them, which itself was self-explanatory about the quality of media we have in the Islands. No doubt, the media in the Islands looks outside to the national media and they have always felt that they are in sordid isolation.

Objective reporting and subjective analysis - both keep the news as well as the debates alive. Unfortunately, when media turns into a forum for character assassinations and a tool for self-aggrandizement, it becomes laughing stock and journalism takes a backseat.

Despite various limitations, independent media in the Islands can still bring forth many hidden stories to limelight. It can be a watchdog on various governmental schemes and projects. Instead of doing independent investigations into the fact of successful completion of Tsunami Rehabilitation Projects (TRP), it seems quite satisfied with the reports and press notes issued by the Administration.

In the absence of a democratic system of governance, media has a vital role to play in the Island territory. It could act as an opposition and dig the facts out instead of gobbling down whatever the Administration provides.

There are clear-cut variations in the format of a daily newspaper, weekly, fortnightly and monthly magazines. But, the differences are hardly visible in the format and style of journalism in the Islands.

A little bit of training in the basics of journalism would go a long way or the coming generations will also follow the beaten path, and the wish for a constructive and objective media will always remain a pipedream.

The media tribe truly deserves mainstreaming or it will remain in permanent isolation, which is not a good sign at this stage of journalism in these Islands, when demand for a democratic setup is catching pace.

Civil Rights Protection Forum Formed

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 25 | 27 JAN 2012

Civil Rights Protection
Forum Formed

By Staff Reporter

Every Citizen of the country has been bestowed with rights through the Constitution of Indian on the Republic Day in 1950.  This was the Day in fact when the Citizens became free whereas the nation was geographically freed on Independence Day.  But despite the Constitutional Rights and other privilege and rights offered by the Government to its people, the common people are deprived of the same due to vested interests of bureaucrats, politicians and other related elements.  Realizing this fact group of some like-minded people came together to form a body christened as "Civil Rights Protection Forum".  They met a number of times and after drafting its bye-laws and Memorandum of Association for its registration launched the Forum on 26th January, 2012.  Engineer T.K Krishnamooty, Dy. Chief Engineer, AHW, who is an authority on Right to Information Act in the islands as on special invitee interacted with the members and appealed to them to act truly for the underprivileged and needy citizen and to achieve the aims and objectives of the Forum.  The members vowed that 'they can and they shall bring a positive change in the Society'.

The Forum has unanimously elected Retd. Dy.S.P Nageshwar Rao as its President and Social Activist Smti. Kesar Devi as Vice President.  Basudev Dass a media person and Social activist is the General Secretary with Arvind Rai Sharma, Social activist as Joint Secretary.  The fund and cash will be taken care of by Dr. Misri Lall, CMO (SAG) (Retd.).

The Forum has people from all walks of society including engineers, doctors, businessmen, lawyers, mariners, agriculturist, bureaucrats etc.

Once registered the Forum will begin with awareness campaign all over the islands to make the citizens responsive of their Rights and duties to make an empowered citizen in the islands territory.

Bambooflat-Chatham Bridge: Demand Intensifies

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 25 | 27 JAN 2012

Bambooflat-Chatham Bridge: Demand Intensifies

By Staff Reporter

The demand for a bridge connecting Bambooflat with Chatham was a common point in most of the memoranda submitted to the Home Minister. It was part of the agenda of all major political parties and Pachayati Raj Institutions. Bambooflat Bridge Forum, a group strongly pursuing the matter at various levels has been approaching political parties and others to take up the issue.

In a representation addressed to the Home Minister, the Bambooflat Bridge Forum as well as Humane Touch has highlighted the plight of about 15000 commuters who depend on the erratic and insufficient ferry service to commute between Bambooflat and Port Blair.

Port Blair, the capital city is the hub of all citizen centric services like the lone referral GB Pant Hospital, A&N Administration Secretariat, LG/CS/Deputy Commissioners Office, Civil Courts, Directorates of all Offices, Schools, Colleges, Polytechnic, ITI, Business Establishments, Shops, Sports facilities etc and that a good number of people form the rural South Andaman i.e, Ferrargunj Tehsil need to visit Port Blair to avail one or the other services, including employment on daily basis.

The representation said that Ferrargunj Tehsil is the second most populated after Port Blair Tehsil of South Andaman district.  About 15000 passengers - comprising students, office-goers, patients, Industrial workers - and more than a thousand vehicles, both two-wheelers and four wheelers commute between Bambooflat and Chatham.

In a joint representation by Humane Touch, it blamed the Andaman & Nicobar administration, which has miserably failed to cater to the need and requirements of these passengers. In the name of augmenting the vehicle ferry services, the Directorate of Shipping Services has procured a number of boats, which has not been put into services due to reasons best known to the authorities. The boat service is frequently disrupted due to technical snag in the boats which currently ply on this route, thus causing irreparable loss of time to the citizens.

With time, there has been enormous increase in the numbers of passengers and Vehicles as well.  The ferry services operated by Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) with subsidized rate could hardly meet the demands of the increased commuters.  Capacity wise the ferries are inadequate and routinely irregular.  The commuters waste precious time waiting for their turn to get accommodated in ferry and cross over to Chatham.  Parents especially those of school going children are forced to migrate to Port Blair so that their child's precious time is not wasted waiting for ferry which they could concentrate on studies.  Often patients referred to GB Pant for specialized treatment could be seen gasping for life, waiting for the ferry.

It also blamed that DSS has badly failed to deliver the service for which they are in place. Moreover, there is no scope for putting additional ferries in the route as there is only one Jetty on each side.  There is one ferry almost every half an hour during the peak time.  Given the windy conditions and passenger ferries apart from vehicle ferry plying in the route, existing jetties are already saturated leaving no scope for introduction of additional ferry in between. On many occasion, the ferries hover for want of berthing place.

The Forum strongly advocated that there is no alternative left but to construct a bridge connecting Bambooflat to Chatham. It also felt that construction of a bridge will solve the problem faced by the rural South Andaman once and for all. It also believes that this move will in-turn prove beneficial in many ways.

Quoting the Supreme Court verdict for the closure of ATR from Jirkatang to Middle Strait and the alternate proposed ATR via Shoal Bay, the forum has demanded for a bridge which will serve as the main life line for North- Middle Andaman in this context if the Bridge connecting Bambooflat- Chatham is built.

 The bridge, it believes will provide seamless connectivity and prove to be a life line for the entire population residing in the rural South Andaman including those who are referred from Rangat, Mayabunder or Diglipur area for specialized treatment at GB Pant Hospital Port Blair, thereby raising the quality of life.

On the tourism front, the forum highlighted that the locations like Mount Harriet, North Bay and the lesser known Shoal Bay could be promoted thereby increasing employment potential and the tourism industry will get the much needed boost in rural South Andaman as well.

The bridge would also motivate population to migrate to the rural South Andaman, which will help in decongesting the already chocked Port Blair city, the memorandum said.

Huge revenue spent on procurement, maintenance and operational cost on large fleet of boats and revenue loss due to enormous amount of subsidy being rendered to commuters. The whole loss incurring as on date could be a revenue generator if a bridge comes to existence in the said route. The cost incurred for construction of such bridge could be retrieved by imposing toll-tax as being followed in mainland.

Such a bridge could last for at-least 100 to 150 years as compared to boats/ships  each of which  costs crores of rupees and runs on enormous amount of  HSD, stock of which is ever depleting and is certain to dry up sooner or later.

The forum has already approached the Administration to seriously look into the imminent need of the rural population and sought their intervention to initiate a study without further delay. Political parties like Congress and BJP and Adhyaksh, Zilla Parishad, South Andaman has also raised this issue.

COVER STORY: Jarawa Dance Video: ARMY PERSONNEL INVOLVED

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 ISSUE 24 | 13 JAN 2012

COVER STORY

Jarawa Dance Video

ARMY PERSONNEL INVOLVED

By Zubair Ahmed

The Jarawa dance video, which created hue and cry in the international and national media and forced the Government of India and Andaman and Nicobar Administration to order a probe, was actually shot by a group of army personnel.

In an independent investigation by LOA, it has come to the fore that police and ground staff of Andaman Aadim Janjathi Vikas Samithi (AAJVS) were not aware as the video was shot after the last convoy left Middle Strait.

Contrary to the statements released to the media by the Administration, the video was shot three years back on 6th  November 2008, in which two vehicles - a truck and a gypsy belonging to army were involved. In a release, S B Deol, DGP had said that the video was 10 years old and there were no cop in the video. He had also pointed out that a man with camouflaged uniform was visible in the media. However, he did not mention anyrole of defence personnel.

LOA has identified the Jarawa women and girls featuring in the video, which was shot at a place about 8 kms from Jirkatang, known as Chowdhary Gumai. There were six Jarawa women including a pregnant lady, who was shown fully naked. Thadul (16 years) daughter of Thadang, Ecnchobecha (14) d/o Thadang, Cheddatokula (35) wife of Whaydom and Aninja (13) d/o Whaydom featured in the video. Enepowaiele (21) w/o Mahe was 7-8 months pregnant when the video was shot. She gave birth to a baby girl Wane on 6 February 2009.

The army personnel traveling in a military truck had waited for the last convoy to pass from Middle Strait and with special permission traveled on the road. It has also come to light that Jarawas mostly belonging to Tirur sector has a Chadda (Jarawa Hut) very close to the place.

Jarawas, still a nomadic community travel from Tirur to Kadamtala and back frequently. They use the temporary chaddas on the way.

The Jarawas in Kadamtala and Middle Strait were able to identify the Jarawa women featuring in the video and the place where it took place.

Enepowaiele, the pregnant woman in the video, who is 24 years now has confirmed to a reliable source about the incident and involvement of army personnel.

However, this does not vindicate the police force present at Middle Strait who allowed the military truck to pass after the last convoy had departed from Middle Strait. The thumb rule is not to allow anybody except AAJVS, Police and Forest personnel dealing with the protection and welfare of Jarawas of specific territorial jurisdiction. This raises a serious question how army personnel, who were on a tour to Baratang could stop inside the Reserve and shoot the video exploiting the vulnerability of a tribe who are at crossroads, unaware of the dangers it poses to their life and culture.

The story about the video published by The Guardian/Observer, London was later picked by the national media and highlighted the plight of the Jarawas.

Soon after the expose by news channels, Shakti Sinha, Chief Secretary, ANI Admn had rebutted the episode saying that over the past decade, the population of the Jarawas has increased for the first time since they first came into contact with the outside world 150 years ago.  He also said that a Tribal Reserve has been increased from 847 sq kms to 1028 sq kms.

Speaking to a news channel, Prof Shekhar Singh said that the Lieutenant Governor and the Administration should be put on dock on the issue of contempt of court as the Administration has kept the Andaman Trunk Road open even after the Supreme Court's Order of May 2002.

The issue has also created a ruckus among the politicians and the settler communities who blamed foul play in the timing of the video saying that it was intentionally done to close Andaman Trunk Road, which they claim to be a lifeline.

EDITORIAL: Jarawas in Limelight

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 ISSUE 24 | 13 JAN 2012

EDITORIAL

Jarawas in Limelight

Andaman and Nicobar Islands attract media glare for two reasons - Tsunami and Jarawas. On 6th evening when the debate on Jarawa video was broadcast on a news channel, the breaking news was about a 7.5 M earthquake in Sumatra and a warning for a local tsunami. Fortunately, the tsunami warning was soon withdrawn. But, the Jarawa dance video issue caught the attention of the whole nation.

Although this was not the first such video of the Jarawas, this became the video, which is being investigated now.

As reported in our cover story, Jarawas have told that the perpetrators of this crime were army personnel, it would be prudent to record the statement of Jarawas and there is a precedent of Jarawas recording their statement as in the case of Tirur in 2008, in which the authorities conducted the court proceedings in Jarawa Reserve so that the Jarawas version could also be brought to the notice.

The controversy once again brought Andaman Trunk Road to the centre-stage with experts associated with Andaman tribals advocating for closure of road, as the ANI Admn has been buying time not implementing the Supreme Court Order of May 2002.

The Administration had to immediately get into firefighting mode, but could not contain the flare up. The Central government too tried damage control. The irony is that the A&N Administration and the Govt of India work in different layers. Only the lowest layer knows the ground reality but they do not have any voice in the decision making. The middle level is an opportunistic one that works solely to butter its bread. The upper layer is migratory one that concerns itself only during the brief period of stay in the islands. And nobody wants to shoulder the responsibility of framing a policy for the Jarawas.

Widespread ignorance about the state of Jarawas gave everyone a chance to speak on the subject and the majority of them were seen suggesting mainstreaming of Jarawas.

This controversy gave politicians like Bishnu Pada Ray an opportunity to start a new campaign creating panic among the settlers trying to convince the Islanders that the Govt of India is keen on closing Andaman Trunk Road and he also challenged the bureaucrats of ANI Admn for a televised debate.

Bharatiya Janta Party too jumped into the fray and condemned the incident and has come out openly in support of Andaman Trunk Road and also announced agitation if the road is closed.

Congress party is silent on the issue and has not made its stand clear yet.

The whole focus of the issue has diverted with the discussion on the video clip, whereas, Jarawas in Tirur needs immediate attention as the level of interaction with the villagers have increased. There are complaints of rampant violation of PAT Regulations. Settlers venture into the Reserve for hunting and to extract forest resources.

Exploitation of Jarawas had made the Administration to sit and revise the PAT regulations making the punishment very stringent and exemplary. The increase in Buffer Zone was another controversial step taken by the Administration to protect the Jarawas. Both issues are criticized by the PRIs as well as Politicians.

Exemplary punishment in one instance will send a clear message that the Administration is serious in protecting the huma heritage known as Jarawas. But, do the administration have the willpower to pursue the case, if the army personnel are identified, who perpetrated the heinous crime, as it would create huge embarrassment and also rift between the civil administration and the defence, the holy cow?

Why MoRD Team Visited Jarawa Tribes at Tirur?

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 ISSUE 24 | 13 JAN 2012

Why MoRD Team Visited Jarawa Tribes at Tirur?

By Staff Reporter

What was the team from Ministry of Rural Development visiting the Islands to evaluate the Best Performing District under MGNREGA doing at Tirur Chadda of Jarawas at 6.00 pm on 7th January 2012? The team led by B K Saxena, Retd Chief Secretary, Bihar, Dr Rajesh Mal, Consultant, Dr Pradeep, Dean TISS, S K Singh, Director, MoRD and Nilairanjan, Coordinator visited the Jarawa shelter (Chadda) located at Tirur.

Such excursions by visiting VIPs and Officials cannot happen without the knowledge of the concerned department and officials. For years guests of Raj Nivas too had paid visit to the Jarawa territory to watch the Jarawas. It includes visiting officials as well as guests.

Jarawas might not be a curious object for the local settlers. They venture into the reserve for plundering the resources which attract punishment under PAT regulations.

North and Middle Andaman District: Shift the Goal Post

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 ISSUE 24 | 13 JAN 2012

North and Middle Andaman District

Shift the Goal Post

Major bone of contention for the Andaman and Nicobar Administration is the closure of Andaman Trunk Road passing through the heart of Jarawa Tribal Reserve. This road is believed to be the life line of the Islands for the people of North and Middle Andaman District, which when closed would be a decision that would be anti-settler and anti development as contrived by the political class here and nodded with approval by the bureaucrats, even at the cost of contempt of court of the highest judicial body of our country for over a decade. It is common knowledge that policy makers since half a century have formulated Island development policies under total ignorance of the safeguards to be pursued for the Primitive Tribal Group's conservation. Concrete efforts in sensitizing the Panchayati Raj Institutions and settlers on Jarawa Policy have not ever been pursued. Feasibility reports on assessment of alternate viable modes of transportation are never completed in the stipulated time as per the terms and conditions laid down by the Administration. Consultants/ agencies awarded such studies are products of nepotism of the high and the mighty.

Administration for long has tried an ostrich with its head in the sand approach led by migratory bureaucrats all of which is haunting it now. The Jarawas have an uncanny knack of hogging the limelight right when we believe that its curtains for them. The young, educated, present generation of the settlers especially whose parents and grand parents were settled under various rehabilitation schemes of Government of India have started thinking out of the box. PTG's conservation as a unique World Human Heritage is of paramount importance to them. Development at the cost of total annihilation of the Jarawas is not palatable to them. They are aware that a political solution to this problem is virtually impossible without irreversible damage to the PTG's survival and further division of the civilized society on linguistic or regional lines. A judicial solution would always be just and humanitarian but its implementation has been delayed by vested interests in settling personal scores with rival politicians or business houses leading to mayhem. Crucial time has been wasted by the administration in not working simultaneously on creating infrastructure and facilities which would have caused less resentment among the settlers in the event of honouring the court orders.

With great difficulty a separate district of North and Middle Andaman was created amidst its fair share of political controversies and bureaucratic red tapism. It finally has a separate Zilla Parishad, a degree college, a judicial court, a hospital, a few ports and helipads, a small airstrip and a few other facilities but is totally dependent on Port Blair for all its basic needs. For every other eventuality its residents are to rush to Port Blair, be it proceeding to mainland for higher education or super-specialist medical treatment at metros. Traveling to Port Blair and the time it takes to reach here have at times has been a nightmare causing loss of life and lost opportunities in emergency situations due to lack of infrastructure. Traders sitting at Port Blair control their markets and cost of living are much higher for all basic commodities. There is always resentment in the settlers at being a step behind the South Andamanians.

Administration cannot continue with the ghost of closure of ATR and its infamous Buffer Zone to torment the Islanders. It has to find ways in building up the North-Middle Andamans as a self sufficient and prosperous new hub for development with direct connectivity to the mainland by developing basic infrastructure at the newly created district of North and Middle Andaman for facilitating direct business links with mainland India both by Air and Sea.   Alternate, faster Air and Sea routes and mode of transport are to be developed from Port Blair to North and Middle Andaman District. The District has to have its own FCI godowns along with IOC bunks and developing of Infrastructure for PDS, fuel and essential commodities storage and distribution. The administration should upgrade Dr. R.P. Hospital at Mayabunder as a referral hospital to the level of GB Pant Hospital. Valuable time has already been lost by the administration and its migratory bureaucracy in entangling the whole Jarawa issue into major catastrophe with the inevitable happening. The Member of Parliament and the administration speak different language on the fate of the ATR. The MP at the moment sounds realistic and also elated with the prospect of fodder for his smear campaign virtually gifted to him. On the other hand, the administration is making commitments with assurances, over the outcome of which they have no control.      

The political as well as civil society organizations based in North and Middle Andamans has to demand for equitable development of their district at par with South Andaman District. The Andaman Trunk Road remains a major roadblock for the development of the district, which some politicians in N&M Andamans want to be declared as a backward district. The focus should be to develop the Degree College at Mayabunder at par with JNRM, R P Hospital at par with GB Pant Hospital, develop the harbour and port infrastructure at Mayabunder and the airstrip at Diglipur.

The focus from closure of ATR should shift to development of North and Middle Andamans. Mayabunder should be declared a Municipality and collection of Octroi can bring much-needed revenue to the local self-government institution. Andaman Trunk Road has remained open for last decade in violation to the Supreme Court Order. It might remain open for a while but the economic situation of the district is not going to improve. The overall development of the District will make it independent and self-sufficient, and reducing its dependency on Port Blair and South Andaman, connected by the most controversial Andaman Trunk Road.

The Façade of Mainstreaming Jarawas

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 ISSUE 24 | 13 JAN 2012

The Façade of Mainstreaming Jarawas

By Zubair Ahmed

There is a story of a disappointed man. He was blind. Everyone helped him. Whenever he had to cross the road, someone assisted him. People gave him free food and clothing. He was a satisfied man and thought how good people around him were. He wished he had eyes to see the beautiful and good people around him. One day while crossing the road, a car hit him. The car was driven by an ophthalmic surgeon. He felt bad and took the blind man to his clinic. He found out that it was a very small ailment, which had made the man blind and could be easily treated. He was operated free of cost. And he got his sight back. But, people no more helped him or gave him free food or clothing. He became a disappointed man. He now knew that the world was not as good as he thought.

Without any outside intervention, the Jarawas today lead a satisfied and content life. Whenever, there is PAT violation or breach on Andaman Trunk Road, the focus shifts to the debate on mainstreaming of Jarawas. 

The gradual inclusion or integration of the Jarawas into the mainstream society has always been the focal point of the debate about Jarawas. Last week, Tribal Affairs Minister Krishna Chandra Deo said that he is in favour of gradual inclusion. He also said that Jarawas lead a beastly life in the forests.

This is the crisis Jarawas are facing today. Their life is being debated at various forums without an iota of truth about the ground reality. How come they reached the conclusion that Jarawas lead a beastly life? If a minister who is their guardian says such frivolous things, how can one expect fair assesment in their decisions?

The debate that we are privileged and Jarawas are under-privileged is another notion which cannot be substantiated. Jarawas are a content tribe leading a peaceful life in their forests with ample food resource base. However, unrelented plundering of their resources by the poachers, local and foreign, if continues unabated, it will only help in depleting their resource base. Many incidents go unnoticed such as hunting and fishing in their territory, and when such cases are detected, politicians of all hues come to the rescue of the culprits. In the same vein, they will harp about mainstreaming of Jarawas.

An intelligent tribe which has lived for centuries in their forests is now at crossroads. Nomadic in nature, they shuttle in their forests from Lewis Inlet to Constance Bay. From Kadamtala to Tirur, travelling through the forest is not a taxing one for them. They don't need to stretch like us after a tiring journey of two-hours on Andaman Trunk Road. They are also not bedazzled by our speeding cars and boats.

It's a good sign that their population is increasing. The Administration is quite happy and vocal about it. Numbering about 400, there has been increase in their population in the last decade. The population has increased not because they started mingling, but they are still protected from the invasion of outside world, and not the other way around.

The total reserve of 1208 sq kms for 400 Jarawas is quite sufficient for hunting and gathering. The fear that their resources are depleting and they are hungry is totally unfounded.

As they don’t have permanent shelters and are not settled in a place, it would be preposterous to think about the kind of development that we have for ourselves. The case of Nicobarese is quoted frequently suggesting mainstreaming of the Jarawas. In fact, it took more than two centuries for the Nicobarese to reach the position they enjoy today. Still, there is an inner-line permit system existing. Why cannot we allow the same time-span for the Jarawas too? It is surprising that we cannot find a tailor, a barber or a blacksmith among the Nicobarese, though they need all these services to cope up with the lifestyle they have adopted from us. They are also very bad agriculturists as far as the kind of food culture they have adopted from us. They have become dependent on the outer-world for all such needs, that too after two centuries of their interaction with the outer world.

Why we are in a haste suggesting forced mainstreaming of tribe who came into contact with the outer world just a decade ago? How can we forget the case of Great Andamanese, who were the victims of forced integration?

Jarawas need to shed their nomadic nature to even think about agriculture, education and other vocations that we prefer them to adopt. Once their population increases and they feel the need to settle down and think about individual ownership, they might take up other livelihood options other than hunting, fishing and gathering.

If we look at the technology that Jarawas use for their day to day requirement, we will feel ashamed of our development and progress. We need refrigeration to keep our food fresh, whereas Jarawas keep smoking the meat under fire which is kept burning by the fat of the meat of boar to keep the flies away. They preserve the meat for more than 15 days without decay. The civilised world goes wary as soon as electricity goes off. We become cut off from our so-called mainstream. Jarawas travel by foot hundreds of miles through the dense forest without clothe on them. Rain and shine does not make them dependent on anything outside. We need winter and summer clothing to protect ourselves from the miseries of climate. We are so much dependent on different things and we call ourselves privileged and civilised.

On the contrary, Jarawas are independent without any kind of class struggle and injustice which we can just dream of. There is no hypertension, diabetes or the diseases bestowed by our lifestyle.

Assimilation of Jarawas is just a façade to continue our supremacy on a tribe which is not used to our ways of life. We forget that it's a very thin line between assimilation and annihilation. Gradual inclusion is inevitable, but can we define the timeframe? It might take 100 years or more like the Nicobarese, whom we have made dependent on us for most of their needs.

In the first instance, the focus should be on the protection of the Jarawas and their territory from both poachers and bad influence of the outside population. Once their population increase, which might take a century or more, they might be in a position to decide for themselves.

Jarawas too are aware of the cultural loss they are enduring. It is heartening to learn that the Jarawas in Kadamtala have decided themselves not to speak in Hindi language in front of their children. The road and the markets that Jarawas frequent have spoiled their language.

The unjustified haste that we show today is not in favour of Jarawas but to conceal our failure in containing our greed and the fear of losing our comfortable life. Instead of imposing our mainstream on them, let Jarawas constitute their own mainstream.