Friday, July 21, 2006
Tsunami Toys
By: S Binoy Raj
Port Blair, July 14: Martin is busy in playing with a new toy, brought by his father recently. His three friends have also joined him to share the excitement in the remote village road of tsunami hit Car Nicobar Island.
The toy which costs nearly one Lakh is a power tiller, given to tsunami hit people of Andaman and Nicobar under Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation package.
Martin’s father who possesses a coconut plantation does not require a power tiller for any cause moreover he never saw anything like this before in his remote village.
He was given the strange machine just because his name along with other 106 tribals people were suggested by someone in Tribal Council of Car Nicobar for issuing the same. Now his village children are making most of it by playing with it.
This is not the only such case in Andaman and Nicobar islands where relief material given by Government of India has proved to be a waste.
Around 1000 such power tillers, each costing a little less than one lakh rupees, were purchased by Andaman and Nicobar Administration with the fund allocated for tsunami relief.
“Tribal people had never asked for such machines, now when these tillers are supplied to local people, the Agriculture department is trying to teach them how to use this,” said Mr. Erick, junior field officer of Andaman’s Agriculture department in Car Nicobar.
Erick, who belongs to the same tribal community of Nicobar said many of these machines are used only for Kitchen garden as people of Nicobar survive depending upon their Coconut plantation. “Now some of them have started cultivation of vegetable and paddy too,” he added.
Surprisingly in some cases these costly machines were given to those who hardly could effort to purchase fuel. Many such tillers are already put for sale in negligible rates.
“They do not have any option left, atleast by selling these machines they would manage to purchase bread for their families. Most of them are having a thin time,” said Amit Kumar Roy, a flied worker of HELP, an NGO working in Andamans.
“It seems that Government officers have supplied these costly machines to farmers just for the sake of their duty. This is clean siphoning of taxpayers money,” Mr. Roy, who visits remote tsunami hit villages for colleting data, added.
The agriculture department however clarifies that it the Zonal committee of an area, which decide who would be the beneficiary of the package as tiller can not be given to every body in the village.
“In Nicobar it is decided by Tribal Council, similarly in Andaman region it is decided by village representatives and senior government officers,” explains Mr. Dilip , Assistant Director of Andaman Agriculture department.
But the Government of India is really cooking in gas, huge purchases were made in the name of tsunami relief by Andaman and Nicobar Administration, following recommendations of various planning committees and Ministries.
“Every thing is done according to the recommendation of Central team, damage assessment
committees and Agriculture ministry,” clarifies Mr. Janak Digal the Secretary of Agriculture in
Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
Digal explains that purchases were done as there was a demand by the local people and demands are still coming in for supply of more and more such tillers.
“Actually we got demands for tractors but it is decided in Ministry level that supplying tractors in huge number would be a costly affair as a result power tillers were purchased which meets all the demands,” Digal added.
According to the Agriculture Secretary after tsunami many expert committees had visited Andaman and Nicobar islands to assess the damage and various recommendations were made by them according to the demands of tsunami hit people and most of the decisions regarding purchase were taken in Mainland India.
But things, in reality, are not that strait. The knives were out as soon as these power tillers in huge number landed in Andaman and Nicobar islands. Many smell that many underhand dealing were made during these purchases.
According to Agriculture Department not only power tillers, around 1000 pumpset and agricultural tools and implements like spades, crow bars, pickaxes etc. were given to the farmers whose lands were under water.
Around 30,000 tonnes of neem cakes (manures) were purchased against expert advice, that lies stacked up in Car Nicobar, Kamorta, Katchal and Teressa Islands.
For all these slipshod purchases approximately 15 crore rupees were squandered within 19 months since the devastating tsunami.
After tsunami catastrophe the Government of India has approved a special package for revival of agriculture sector at a cost of Rs. 2395 million which includes repair and reconstruction of dykes, site clearance, scrapping of surface salt, application of organic matter, application of gypsum, rainwater harvesting through check dam, creation of water body-pond/well, pump sets, cropping programme, creation of drainage facility, farm implements/equipments.
This is just a small fraction, blown off, from the big amount which was sanctioned for tsunami relief, it would be interesting to watch what all are in the cards.It is not over until the fat lady sings.
Port Blair, July 14: Martin is busy in playing with a new toy, brought by his father recently. His three friends have also joined him to share the excitement in the remote village road of tsunami hit Car Nicobar Island.
The toy which costs nearly one Lakh is a power tiller, given to tsunami hit people of Andaman and Nicobar under Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation package.
Martin’s father who possesses a coconut plantation does not require a power tiller for any cause moreover he never saw anything like this before in his remote village.
He was given the strange machine just because his name along with other 106 tribals people were suggested by someone in Tribal Council of Car Nicobar for issuing the same. Now his village children are making most of it by playing with it.
This is not the only such case in Andaman and Nicobar islands where relief material given by Government of India has proved to be a waste.
Around 1000 such power tillers, each costing a little less than one lakh rupees, were purchased by Andaman and Nicobar Administration with the fund allocated for tsunami relief.
“Tribal people had never asked for such machines, now when these tillers are supplied to local people, the Agriculture department is trying to teach them how to use this,” said Mr. Erick, junior field officer of Andaman’s Agriculture department in Car Nicobar.
Erick, who belongs to the same tribal community of Nicobar said many of these machines are used only for Kitchen garden as people of Nicobar survive depending upon their Coconut plantation. “Now some of them have started cultivation of vegetable and paddy too,” he added.
Surprisingly in some cases these costly machines were given to those who hardly could effort to purchase fuel. Many such tillers are already put for sale in negligible rates.
“They do not have any option left, atleast by selling these machines they would manage to purchase bread for their families. Most of them are having a thin time,” said Amit Kumar Roy, a flied worker of HELP, an NGO working in Andamans.
“It seems that Government officers have supplied these costly machines to farmers just for the sake of their duty. This is clean siphoning of taxpayers money,” Mr. Roy, who visits remote tsunami hit villages for colleting data, added.
The agriculture department however clarifies that it the Zonal committee of an area, which decide who would be the beneficiary of the package as tiller can not be given to every body in the village.
“In Nicobar it is decided by Tribal Council, similarly in Andaman region it is decided by village representatives and senior government officers,” explains Mr. Dilip , Assistant Director of Andaman Agriculture department.
But the Government of India is really cooking in gas, huge purchases were made in the name of tsunami relief by Andaman and Nicobar Administration, following recommendations of various planning committees and Ministries.
“Every thing is done according to the recommendation of Central team, damage assessment
committees and Agriculture ministry,” clarifies Mr. Janak Digal the Secretary of Agriculture in
Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
Digal explains that purchases were done as there was a demand by the local people and demands are still coming in for supply of more and more such tillers.
“Actually we got demands for tractors but it is decided in Ministry level that supplying tractors in huge number would be a costly affair as a result power tillers were purchased which meets all the demands,” Digal added.
According to the Agriculture Secretary after tsunami many expert committees had visited Andaman and Nicobar islands to assess the damage and various recommendations were made by them according to the demands of tsunami hit people and most of the decisions regarding purchase were taken in Mainland India.
But things, in reality, are not that strait. The knives were out as soon as these power tillers in huge number landed in Andaman and Nicobar islands. Many smell that many underhand dealing were made during these purchases.
According to Agriculture Department not only power tillers, around 1000 pumpset and agricultural tools and implements like spades, crow bars, pickaxes etc. were given to the farmers whose lands were under water.
Around 30,000 tonnes of neem cakes (manures) were purchased against expert advice, that lies stacked up in Car Nicobar, Kamorta, Katchal and Teressa Islands.
For all these slipshod purchases approximately 15 crore rupees were squandered within 19 months since the devastating tsunami.
After tsunami catastrophe the Government of India has approved a special package for revival of agriculture sector at a cost of Rs. 2395 million which includes repair and reconstruction of dykes, site clearance, scrapping of surface salt, application of organic matter, application of gypsum, rainwater harvesting through check dam, creation of water body-pond/well, pump sets, cropping programme, creation of drainage facility, farm implements/equipments.
This is just a small fraction, blown off, from the big amount which was sanctioned for tsunami relief, it would be interesting to watch what all are in the cards.It is not over until the fat lady sings.
Construction of permanent shelters begins in Tsunami hit Indian Islands
Port Blair, July 16 (UNI) The construction of permanent shelters for the tsunami affected people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has paced up with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding with five Non Governmental Organisations, Officer in-charge of Andaman’s Information and Publicity Division V K Mishra said here today.
Caritas India working with Catholic Relief Services has signed a MoU for construction of 480 permanent shelters at South Andaman and Little Andaman.
Mata Amritanandmayi Math has signed the MoU for construction of 100 shelters at Bambooflat area of South Andaman.
Though Care India has pledged to build 954 shelters in South Andaman and Little Andaman, they have signed the MoU only for construction of 286 shelters in South Andaman.
Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) have signed the MoU for constructing 572 shelters for the tsunami hit Island at Car Nicobar, whereas another NGO, Hindustani Covenant Church has signed the MoU for 152 shelters in South Andamans, Mishra added.
“These efforts would be supplementing the efforts of the Andaman Public Works Department who would be constructing 139 shelters in South Andaman and the Central Public Works Department, who has been entrusted with the responsibility to construct 7317 shelters at Little Andaman and the far flung Islands of Teressa, Katchal, Kamorta, Nancowry, Bambooka, Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar, besides Car Nicobar,” he added.
Both agencies have started the work despite difficult terrain and weather conditions. In all the Andaman and Nicobar Administration plans to construct 9714 permanent shelters for the victims of the Dec 26 tsunami in 2004.
“The permanent shelters would be stilted and non stilted constructions. Keeping with the traditions and requirements of the Nicobari population, all construction in Car Nicobar will be on stilts with steel frames and timber walling” Mishra said.
The non tribal areas will witness non stilted constructions. The shelter sites would also be having metalled roads in the complex and other facilities.
Ancillary buildings such as schools, sub centres, anganwadis, community halls, play ground etc are also part of the project.
The December 26 2004 tsunami rendered 9000 families homeless across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The killer waves unleashed a series of destruction in the Nicobar Group of Islands killing more than 3800 people great loss Government and private property.
UNI
Caritas India working with Catholic Relief Services has signed a MoU for construction of 480 permanent shelters at South Andaman and Little Andaman.
Mata Amritanandmayi Math has signed the MoU for construction of 100 shelters at Bambooflat area of South Andaman.
Though Care India has pledged to build 954 shelters in South Andaman and Little Andaman, they have signed the MoU only for construction of 286 shelters in South Andaman.
Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) have signed the MoU for constructing 572 shelters for the tsunami hit Island at Car Nicobar, whereas another NGO, Hindustani Covenant Church has signed the MoU for 152 shelters in South Andamans, Mishra added.
“These efforts would be supplementing the efforts of the Andaman Public Works Department who would be constructing 139 shelters in South Andaman and the Central Public Works Department, who has been entrusted with the responsibility to construct 7317 shelters at Little Andaman and the far flung Islands of Teressa, Katchal, Kamorta, Nancowry, Bambooka, Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar, besides Car Nicobar,” he added.
Both agencies have started the work despite difficult terrain and weather conditions. In all the Andaman and Nicobar Administration plans to construct 9714 permanent shelters for the victims of the Dec 26 tsunami in 2004.
“The permanent shelters would be stilted and non stilted constructions. Keeping with the traditions and requirements of the Nicobari population, all construction in Car Nicobar will be on stilts with steel frames and timber walling” Mishra said.
The non tribal areas will witness non stilted constructions. The shelter sites would also be having metalled roads in the complex and other facilities.
Ancillary buildings such as schools, sub centres, anganwadis, community halls, play ground etc are also part of the project.
The December 26 2004 tsunami rendered 9000 families homeless across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The killer waves unleashed a series of destruction in the Nicobar Group of Islands killing more than 3800 people great loss Government and private property.
UNI
Mumbai Blast put Andaman in high alert: 20 Bangladeshi Nationals arrested
PORT BLAIR, India: 20 Bangladeshi Nationals were arrested in Andaman and Nicobar islands during security review in connection with the Mumbai serial bomb blast.
“All of them entered Andaman via Air Deccan flight from Kolkata. Initial investigation shows all of them had entered these islands in search of Job but further investigations are on,” Jaspal Singh the Superintendent of Andaman Police told reporters in Port Blair.
14 of them were arrested late Sunday night and 6 were arrested earlier this week after the Mumbai Bomb Blast.
Andaman and Nicobar police is now leaving no stone unturned to gather more information about these 20 people. Criminal background is also being verified for a clear picture.
“We are taking no chances,” Singh said.
The security of the Andaman and Nicobar islands has been stiffened in view of the serial bomb blast in Mumbai. Extra security personnel have been deployed by the Andaman and Nicobar Police in areas like airport and sea ports.
“In addition, watch is also been kept on people arriving from mainland India, every shady visitor is under our scanner,” Singh added.
Andaman and Nicobar islands are a restricted area for foreigners and one has to get Restricted Area Permit from Indian Authority before landing in Andaman.
All these 20 Bangladeshi Nationals were found without Restricted Area Permit and many of them had not declared them foreigners and sneaked into India. According to Police they all are labourers who were brought by contractors for building construction work in tsunami hit Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
“Last month also some Bangladeshi Nationals were arrested in Andaman but it seems there is no security threat from them. Our intelligence report also indicates this,” Singh added.
Though the islands do not face direct threat from the terrorist outfits working against the country, the security in this remote Indian archipelago has been tightened as precautionary measures, police said.
“We are working hard to regularly analyze the threat perception of these islands, which is considered as soft target,” Singh said.
Earlier on June 6, An Air Deccan flight from Port Blair had to make an emergency landing in Kolkata following a call that said a bomb had been placed on board. It, however, turned out to be a hoax.
Andaman and Nicobar is a chain of 572 small islands situated in Bay of Bengal, which were ravaged by tsunami waves in 2004 December. These islands are regularly invaded by poachers from South East Asian Country.
A Chinese base in “Coco Island” situated near Andaman is another long felt security threat, security experts believe.
Source: Local Dailies in Port Blair
“All of them entered Andaman via Air Deccan flight from Kolkata. Initial investigation shows all of them had entered these islands in search of Job but further investigations are on,” Jaspal Singh the Superintendent of Andaman Police told reporters in Port Blair.
14 of them were arrested late Sunday night and 6 were arrested earlier this week after the Mumbai Bomb Blast.
Andaman and Nicobar police is now leaving no stone unturned to gather more information about these 20 people. Criminal background is also being verified for a clear picture.
“We are taking no chances,” Singh said.
The security of the Andaman and Nicobar islands has been stiffened in view of the serial bomb blast in Mumbai. Extra security personnel have been deployed by the Andaman and Nicobar Police in areas like airport and sea ports.
“In addition, watch is also been kept on people arriving from mainland India, every shady visitor is under our scanner,” Singh added.
Andaman and Nicobar islands are a restricted area for foreigners and one has to get Restricted Area Permit from Indian Authority before landing in Andaman.
All these 20 Bangladeshi Nationals were found without Restricted Area Permit and many of them had not declared them foreigners and sneaked into India. According to Police they all are labourers who were brought by contractors for building construction work in tsunami hit Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
“Last month also some Bangladeshi Nationals were arrested in Andaman but it seems there is no security threat from them. Our intelligence report also indicates this,” Singh added.
Though the islands do not face direct threat from the terrorist outfits working against the country, the security in this remote Indian archipelago has been tightened as precautionary measures, police said.
“We are working hard to regularly analyze the threat perception of these islands, which is considered as soft target,” Singh said.
Earlier on June 6, An Air Deccan flight from Port Blair had to make an emergency landing in Kolkata following a call that said a bomb had been placed on board. It, however, turned out to be a hoax.
Andaman and Nicobar is a chain of 572 small islands situated in Bay of Bengal, which were ravaged by tsunami waves in 2004 December. These islands are regularly invaded by poachers from South East Asian Country.
A Chinese base in “Coco Island” situated near Andaman is another long felt security threat, security experts believe.
Source: Local Dailies in Port Blair
Fear looms large in Nicobar a day after tsunami warning
Port Blair, June 18 (UNI) Fear stricken islanders of India’s Car Nicobar Island find it difficult to continue their day to day work a day after tsunami warning was issued by Andaman Administration following Indonesian mega quake.
“We won’t go for fishing for a next couple of day, it seems things are not normal here,” said Albert Robinson, a tribal fisherman of Car Nicobar.
The Andaman and Nicobar Administration also is taking no chances. Regular patrolling is being done and people are advised to stay away from the sea. Announcements are made in loud speakers.
“We are not letting anybody to go near harbour, said a police personnel on Duty near coastal areas of Car Nicobar.
Tribal people who ran away in forest and hilly areas after yesterday’s tsunami warning have returned back to their respective houses but they are very careful this time.
Schools are open but attendance is moderate.
“Every other day there is a warning or alert, its too much, we are worried about our future” said Elsie a village girl in Car Nicobar.
The officials of Car Nicobar islands are keeping a close watch around Nicobar islands as a safety measure.
“We are taking all possible precautions,” said Mrs Ankita Mishra the Deputy Commissioner of Nicobar Groups of Islands.
Giant waves of tsunami had killed more than 3800 people in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and left thousands other homeless.
UNI
“We won’t go for fishing for a next couple of day, it seems things are not normal here,” said Albert Robinson, a tribal fisherman of Car Nicobar.
The Andaman and Nicobar Administration also is taking no chances. Regular patrolling is being done and people are advised to stay away from the sea. Announcements are made in loud speakers.
“We are not letting anybody to go near harbour, said a police personnel on Duty near coastal areas of Car Nicobar.
Tribal people who ran away in forest and hilly areas after yesterday’s tsunami warning have returned back to their respective houses but they are very careful this time.
Schools are open but attendance is moderate.
“Every other day there is a warning or alert, its too much, we are worried about our future” said Elsie a village girl in Car Nicobar.
The officials of Car Nicobar islands are keeping a close watch around Nicobar islands as a safety measure.
“We are taking all possible precautions,” said Mrs Ankita Mishra the Deputy Commissioner of Nicobar Groups of Islands.
Giant waves of tsunami had killed more than 3800 people in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and left thousands other homeless.
UNI
Oxfam to launch solid waste management campaign in Andamans
Port Blair, June 22 (UNI) Oxfam in partnership with the Port Blair Municipal Council, is launching a solid waste management campaign across Andaman and Nicobar islands on July 25, 2006, sources at Oxfam informed.
Oxfam has in consultation with Toxics Link, A Delhi based non profit has worked out a solid waste management strategy for the remote Indian islands which promotes household segregation of recyclable and non recyclable waste coupled with utilization of waste for generating livelihood.
The strategy, which has been shared with the municipal council will also be extended to Panchayats and other village level institutions for future implementation.
Solid waste across the globe is being used for energy generation apart from other direct products like compost/manure.
An interschool photography contest at Port Blair marks the launch of the campaign. As a run up to the campaign a series of street plays have been organized jointly by Oxfam, Doordarshan and PBMC across the islands in June 2006.
After the tsunami disaster in 2004 hundreds of Non Governmental Organisations including Oxfam has lend their hands for the overall developments of these islands.
UNI
Oxfam has in consultation with Toxics Link, A Delhi based non profit has worked out a solid waste management strategy for the remote Indian islands which promotes household segregation of recyclable and non recyclable waste coupled with utilization of waste for generating livelihood.
The strategy, which has been shared with the municipal council will also be extended to Panchayats and other village level institutions for future implementation.
Solid waste across the globe is being used for energy generation apart from other direct products like compost/manure.
An interschool photography contest at Port Blair marks the launch of the campaign. As a run up to the campaign a series of street plays have been organized jointly by Oxfam, Doordarshan and PBMC across the islands in June 2006.
After the tsunami disaster in 2004 hundreds of Non Governmental Organisations including Oxfam has lend their hands for the overall developments of these islands.
UNI
