Andaman and Nicobar AdministrationDirectorate of IP&T

Information & Publicity Division

Port Blair 21 September, 2015.

Press Release

NSB holds its 126th meeting at Port Blair-LG delivers inaugural address

Port Blair, Sep. 21: The National Shipping Board (NSB), a statutory body under the Merchant Shipping Act 1958 held its 126th meeting at Port Blair on 21.09.2015. The NSB is an advisory body and is mandated to advise the Central Government on matter related to Indian Shipping, including the development their of, and on such other matters arising out of the Merchant Shipping Act, as the Central Government may refer to it for advise. The Chairman of the NSB Dr. Vishwapati Trivedi, IAS (Retd.), erstwhile Union Secretary Shipping through a personal invite had requested the Lt. Governor and the Chief Secretary to attend the meeting as special invitees and deliver an address especially with regards to the Shipping scenario in the A&N Islands.

The Lt. Governor whilst delivering the inaugural address highlighted the strategic importance of the Islands and the vast potential for Shipping and Tourism activities in the Islands. He emphasized that the A&N Islands due to their strategic location can play a vital role in the nation’s engagement with the South East Asia and Asia Specific. He also informed the NSB about the various initiatives taken by the A&N Administration in the recent past to augment the Shipping and Port sectors including the Ship Acquisition Plan consisting of acquisition of 25 new ships and the augmentation of berthing and port facilities across the Islands. The Lt. Governor observed that area around Port Blair could provide an Ideal location for setting up of a Free Port and informed the NSB that this issue is being examined by the Administration. The Administration is making all endeavors to ensure safety, economy and comfort for the passengers, who travel in ships. At the same time, priority is being given to augment ship repair facilities like extension of existing Dry-dock and setting up of a new ship repair facility. While he thanked the Shipping Corporation of India for extending technical and other supports, he requested that the operational availability of ships managed by them should be improved.

A detailed presentation on the operations and challenges in the A&N Islands was later made to the NSB by the Secretary Shipping, A&N Administration. Issues such as setting up of a suitable Maritime Institutes and Training Facilities, as also credible Ship Repair Facilities in the A&N Islands were flagged to the NSB for consideration. The Chairman of the board thanked the Lt. Governor and the A&N Administration for giving them an insight into the shipping activities in the A&N Islands and also for providing all the support for conduct of the 126th meeting, of the Board, a communication from the Secretary (Shipping) said here today.

Class XII School toppers-2015 felicitatedAdministration committed to provide

quality education in schools: LG

Port Blair, Sep. 21: The Lt Governor, Lt Gen A K Singh (Retd), today felicitated the first five toppers of Class XII in the Science, Commerce, Humanities and Vocational Streams for the year-2015. At a function organized at Raj Niwas today, the Lt Governor gave away the medals and certificates of merit to the 1st five toppers of each stream. He also presented the Late Ajay Mathew Memorial Gold Medal to Kumar Priyesh Kumar Jain, the topper of AISSCE-2015 (Science Stream), who scored 97.2% marks. The Lt Governor also presented cash award of Rs 10,000/- from the Education Department and Rs 20,000/- from Andaman Chamber of Commerce & Industries (ACCI) to Kumari Sumi Oommen, a visually challenged student of the Govt. Girls SS School, Port Blair for her splendid performance in AISSCE-2015. She had scored 92.8 % marks. Trophies were also presented to the best Administration/private schools. Smt Rupa Ray, Chief Secretary, former Chairpersons, Chairperson (SWAB), senior officers of the Administration and parents & students were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor congratulated all the meritorious students for their hard work and excellent results and lauded the efforts of the teachers and the parents for the outstanding results achieved by the students. He had special words of appreciation for the girl students, who have done exceptionally well in the class XII examination-2015. Stating that the A&N Islands has done remarkably well in the education sector, he said that still a lot remains to be done. There are a few things on which we need to focus, the main being accountability and responsibility of the education and teaching staff. He said 95% of the teaching staff are very committed and dedicated, the remaining few percent need to also focus on their students, so that the overall quality of education improves further.

Turning to the quality of education, he said there is a need to focus on quality of education and this cannot be achieved by the Education Department alone. The role of the faculty becomes crucial. The aim is not to just produce toppers but to provide quality to every student. Only then, can we feel satisfied. “Every child progresses according to his /her own capabilities and this potential needs to be harnessed. We have to encourage students to have the motivation, discipline and also the commitment to excel”, the LG observed. He further added that in order to improve the quality of

education in schools, the Department of Education has initiated several steps. These initiatives have to be supported by the parents, faculty, and the Principals of the schools.

Referring to the progress witnessed in the higher education sector in the last two years, he said about 720 students have got admitted in ANCOL in the last two years. A Community College will start shortly, which will have 90 students. 70 seats have been increased in JNRM and 40 seats in Govt College, Mayabunder, besides 100 seats in the Medical College. The Administration is duty bound to provide every student the opportunity they deserve. He further said that the Education Department has provided a lot of employment opportunities in the last two years. 429 posts of teachers, which were lying vacant for the last many years were filled. 88 more seats have been notified and 123 posts will be notified shortly.

Earlier, welcoming the chief guest and others, the Principal Secretary (Education), Shri Raajiv Yaduvanshi said that the felicitation function is being organised to honour the students who have done remarkably well in their academics and also to promote qualitative education in schools. He assured the gathering that the Education Department will continue to put extra efforts to achieve better results.

The function concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Secretary-cum-Director of Education, Smt Tanvi Garg.

Army Recruitment rally from 1st to 7th November

Port Blair, Sep. 20: An Army Recruitment rally for aspiring youth of Andaman and Nicobar Islands will be organized at Port Blair from 1st to 7th November 2015. This year, the total vacancies for A & N Islands is 200. Pre-requisite training to the candidates will be provided from 23rd to 26th September 2015. The schedule of the training is 23rd September for Car Nicobar, 25th September for Diglipur and 26th September for Port Blair.

Revised tariff of Sainik Rest House, Port Blair

The tariff of Sainik Rest House at Port Blair has been revised with effect from 01.09.2015 as under:-

1. Officers : 100/- per bed/night2. JCOs : 70/- per bed/night3. NCOs/ORs : 50/- per bed/night4. War Widows & World War-II

Veterans : No charges to be

made

All Ex-Servicemen and Widows of ESM of A&N Islands may avail the facilities when they proceed to Port Blair. They are advised to produce the original Ex-Servicemen/Widow Identity Card issued by A&N Rajya Sanik Board when they wish to avail the facility. The accommodation will be allotted only for a maximum of three days for residents of South Andaman (outer islands only) and seven days for North, Middle and Nicobar Islands depending on the availability of accommodation.

Counting of votes

It is brought to the notice of All Political Parties and contesting candidates that arrangements for counting of votes for Panchayat and Municipal Election shall commence from 0800 hrs on 22nd Sep. 2015 at respective Counting Halls.

Accordingly all the counting agents shall be allowed inside the counting premises from 0730 hrs onwards.

All staff on counting duty are directed to reported to the respective Returning Officers at 0630 hrs.

No mobile phones shall be allowed inside the counting premises. Accordingly all persons authorised to enter Counting Hall premises are requested not to bring mobile phones to counting hall.

Food security to be implemented in the Isles

The Andaman and Nicobar Administration would be implementing the Food Security Act in the Islands, very soon.

In the first phase, all AAY and BPL card holders would be covered under the norms applicable under the National Food Security Legislation. Verification of the genuineness of beneficiaries would be an ongoing exercise, since the survey for BPL beneficiaries was done in 2002 and it is likely that many household/persons who were financially weak at the time of survey and received AAY/BPL ration cards in accordance with then applicable guidelines may have become financially sound with the passage of time and the economic upliftment of the family members.

According to the guidelines formulated by the Administration, all indigent persons are proposed to be covered under the ambit of food security. The guidelines specifically cover the homeless, disabled, widows, un protected children, transgender, person having annual income less than Rs.1 lakh among others similarly placed.

Heads of households that comprise members holding Government/Semi government jobs or having good established businesses of those otherwise financially sound are advised to surrender their BPL ration cards to the Card Section of the Directorate of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Port Blair for conversion to APL. In the case of residents of other Islands, the BPL/AAY ration cards can be submitted to the concerned Supply Unit for conversion.

Further, if during verification at later stage it is found that any AAY/BPL ration card holders who is not supposed to be under the category as per the guidelines is still possession AAY/BPL ration cards after this notice, ration card will be cancelled and also legal action will be taken against the card holder. General public is also requested to inform the Department of Civil Supplies about such card holder who are in possession of AAY/BPL ration card who are financially sound due to above mentioned reasons.

Information in this regard can be given to this Department at the following Toll free Helpline number 1967 and 18003453197 and landline No. 03192-232059/230337.

Targeted Public Distribution System

The Directorate of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs of this Administration committed to implement the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in the entire UT as well as to safeguard the interest of the consumers by way of enforcing various Control Orders/Regulations

framed under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.

The TPDS is functioning successfully in this UT covering almost the entire population and catering the needs of PDS item viz rice, wheat, fortified wheat flour sugar & kerosene oil through the chain of 509 number of Fair Price Shops (FPS) scattered in all far flung Islands in a time bound manner. This department ensure three months buffer stock of foodgrains in all the 12 Principal Distribution Centers (PDC) across this UT considering the vulnerability of this UT to natural calamities.

It has come to the notice of this Department that certain Common Service Centers (CSC) demanding money for issuance of various forms for obtaining ration cards whereas these forms are provided to all CSCs free of cost and it is mandated that all the services rendered through CSCs should be free of cost for which the Administration use to reimburse certain fixed amount in lieu of services.

It is further for the information that the general public can obtain all types of forms required for applying ration cards from the Civil Supplies Department and other Supply Units at free of cost besides all CSCs. It is an advisory to all the CSCs to render the services free of cost. Any such instance of demanding money from any of the citizen for providing services shall be viewed seriously and the law will take its own course.

This Department shall mobilize the enforcement team for conducting surprise inspection/raids in the entire UT to enforce various Acts/Rules contained under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 to discourage any kind of unfair trade practices to safeguard the interest of the consumers. This Department is also a Nodal Agency for ensuring smooth functioning of District Forum & the State Commission functioning in this UT and any aggrieved consumer can lodge their complaint in the appropriate forum for Justice which shall be disposed-off within 90 days from the date of filling of the case.

It is appealed to all the general public & PDS beneficiaries that in case of any complaints in this regard, such as non receipt of PDS items, any unfair trade practice, demanding money for the services by the CSCs etc. the same may be brought to notice in writing to the Directorate of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Port Blair. They can also lodge their complaint over Toll free Phone No. 18003453197.

Press Release

After commencement of the Polling on 20th September 2015, the elaborate arrangements have been made for smooth and speedy counting of votes on 22nd September 2015 from 08:00 am onwards. The Counting of constituencies of Port Blair Panchayats

will be done at JNRM and for PBMC at Govt Girls Sr. Sec. School, while for other Panchayats it will be done at respective Tehsils. The adequate security arrangements have also been made to ensure the safety and sanctity of the process. The Counting Agents of contesting candidates will also be present at the time of counting and they are required to be present on or before 07:30 AM. The Passes have been issued to the media personnel for the coverage of the entire process.

The second round of training on counting and declaration of results have been imparted for both PBMC & Panchayat area on 21st

September 2015 at Tagore Govt. College Auditorium and DRBRAIT Auditorium respectively. The same have been conducted at respective Tehsils for their Counting Personnel.

Meanwhile the Re-polling, due to some procedural lapses by the Polling Team, at Polling Station No. 599, Ramakrishna Pur-1 under Little Andaman Tehsil has been conducted peacefully on 21st

September 2015. Total 84.13 Percent voting has been recorded in the Re-Poll.

The dry day shall be observed on 22nd September 2015 on the day of counting. All Bars, ANIIDCO outlets, Defense & Police Canteens are directed to ensure the same. If any violations are found, their license shall be cancelled.

The following instructions have been issued regarding use of mobile phones & cameras during the counting process at JNRM and Govt Girls Sr. Sec School

1. The mobile phones shall not be allowed to be taken inside the counting halls and shall not be used from anywhere else within the campus.

2. All Media Persons shall be accommodated in the media room. Use of mobile phones and other communication equipment shall be allowed from the media centre.

3. It is further clarified that nobody (not even the candidate or RO/ARO etc) except the observers appointed by the Director, Panchayat and Municipal Elections shall be allowed to carry a mobile phone inside the counting hall.

4. A Public Communication Room at both the counting hall has been earmarked for safe-keeping of the mobiles etc of the candidates and their agents/representatives to make use of their mobile phones in case of any need.

5. No camera- still or video of the media except for official recording of the entire counting process is allowed to be fixed inside any counting hall. No camera stand should therefore be allowed to be taken inside counting hall by media and journalists. Hand held cameras will be allowed to the authorized pass holders. Further, while taking audio video coverage of the counting process, with camera carried in hand or on shoulders by the media/press, under no circumstances, the actual votes recorded on an individual EVM or ballot papers is to be photographed or covered by audio visual coverage. The exact location, up to which the still and video camera of the media and press can move, shall be indicated by the Returning Officer in advance, marked by a line or a string for guidance of all concerned.

The following Traffic arrangements have been made in connection with the counting of votes on 22-09-2015 for the Panchayat and Municipal Elections-2015 to be held at two venues i.e. Girls Senior Secondary School (For Municipal Wards) and JNRM (For Port Blair Gram Panchayat) which have been declared as Counting Centres.

1. The movement of all vehicular traffic shall be restricted from 0600 Hrs on the Girls School Road in between Girls School Junction and JNRM Boys Hostel.

2. Vehicles coming from Government Press side will be diverted towards South Point and the vehicles coming from ANIIDCO and Netaji Stadium will be diverted towards Marina Park through Mahavir Singh Road.

3. Only those vehicles having valid passes for the entry inside the school premises or to be parked in front of R. K. Mission will be allowed to cross the barricades.

4. The vehicles not having any passes will be parked on both sides of Mahavir Singh Road upto Dharamshala Crossing.

5. The RGT Road will remain clear for the movement of traffic only till Girls Hostel, JNRM Junction.

The movement of vehicular traffic on ATR from Ferrargunj Junction to Ograbranch Junction will also be regulated during counting of votes on 22nd September 2015 in the following manner.

1. The movement of vehicular Traffics shall be restricted from 06:30 am to the road towards Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School

Ferrargunj from the ATR from either directions leading from Tushnabad & Ferrargunj Junction.

2. The Vehicles coming from Jirkatang shall be diverted towards Brindaban, Mathura Junction, Saitankari, Namunaghar, Mithakari and Ograbranch Junction and vehicles coming from Chouldari shall be diverted from Ograbranch Junction towards Mithakari, Namunaghar, Saitankari, Mathura Junction, Brindaban and Ferrargunj.

Additional District Magistrate South Andaman