THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | ISSUE 30 | 20 APRIL 2012
http://lightofandamans.blogspot.com/2012/04/cover-story-tsunami-affected-farmers\
.html
COVER STORY:

TSUNAMI-AFFECTED FARMERS:
LIES AND DAMN LIES

By Zubair Ahmed

It's very easy to say that the farmers have waited eight years. However,
in these eight years, the Islands saw three Administrators, four Chief
Secretaries, five Deputy Commissioners and countless
Commissioner-cum-Secretaries for Relief and Rehabilitation.
Simultaneously, the submerged landscape has also changed its nature into
different avatars during the last eight years. Before tsunami, it was
agricultural land, post-tsunami, it was called tsunami affected land,
later it turned to be a fishing ground brimming with fishermen and
crocodiles, now it's transforming into a mangrove groove with fresh
offshoots appearing here and there. Finally, nature-lovers and
conservationists have started to realise that the newly-formed wetlands
are turning into an abode for migratory, resident and common birds.
However, the status of the affected farmers has remained unaffected
without much to talk about. The Administration never allowed them to
shed the affix 'tsunami-affected' from their names. They are sympathised
with and everybody worth of their salt has tried to play with their
emotions. Elections were fought and won on this issue.
When the Home Minister P Chidambaram visited the Islands to take stock
of the development and progress of this territory, he proclaimed at a
public meeting at Congress Bhavan that ANI Admn has successfully
completed the Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme except carpeting of 4.8
km road and distribution of compensation package to the farmers whose
lands are submerged.
"The 2012 tsunami did not touch the shores of Andamans, as it felt
ashamed how ANI Admn had miserably failed in compensating the poor
farmers affected by the 2004 tsunami," said an aggrieved farmer
sarcastically on the attitude of ANI Admn towards the tsunami-affected
farmers of South Andaman.
Some called the day of protest a black day, others a shameful day. And,
the ANI Administration felt that a day was wasted. The Deputy
Commissioner wanted his honour not to be breached. The bureaucrats at
the highest level did not want to climb down the elite pedestal and meet
the protesting farmers. The Lieutenant Governor, who had once openly
declared his personal interest in the tsunami compensation issue,
shirked away from meeting the farmers as it seems, he himself remains
clueless and in darkness about the issue.
After a long wait and various forms of protest in the last couple of
years, assurances of various types and kinds were what the farmers got
in exchange. When the Home Minister P Chidambaram visited the Islands in
January this year, he promised twice that an amount of Rs 130 crores has
been sanctioned and will try to disburse it before 31 March 2012.
There is a deep sense of betrayal, fear and permanent sense of loss, as
the landowners, who see their submerged land and the lackadaisical
attitude of the Administration.
In fact, the Home Minister did say that the fund has been given to ANI
Admn and about 95% victims are willing to take the compensation package
and a small minority of about 5% are reluctant and his request was to
convince the remaining few. He categorically said that efforts will be
made to disburse the amount before the end of last financial year. He
even said that it would be very difficult to reopen and revise the
package at this moment and when specifically asked, assured that the
submerged land would not be acquired in lieu of the compensation amount,
as it was a natural disaster.
When the protesting farmers met Bhupinder Singh Bhalla,
Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Revenue he informed them that the amount was
only sanctioned and not allotted, and the file is in Ministry of
Finance. It is also strongly doing the rounds that the amount was diverted.
There has been lack of transparency in the ways of the administration.
First, they failed to identify sufficient alternate land, and later they
announced the amount as relief and now they are stressfully mentioning
it as compensation in lieu of submerged land.
When mourning the deaths of thousands in a ritualistic manner, precious
little has been done for the living. It has been a long game of passing
the buck and any other tool that could justify inactions. The inertia of
rest breaks only in bursts, after such protests.
Its time the Admn removes the albatross of Tsunami Relief and
Rehabilitation round its neck closes the file and the territory moves
ahead with other pressing developmental projects.
The Islanders deserve not a clarification, but immediate release of the
relief amount and surely an apology for all the lies and damn lies
perpetrated in the due course.

http://lightofandamans.blogspot.com/2012/04/in-fields-of-stewart-gunj.html

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | ISSUE 30 | 20 APRIL 2012

In the Fields of Stewart Gunj

By Debkumar Bhadra

Being born and brought up in rural South Andaman, passing alongside the
fields of Stewart Gunj had been a regular feature during my first eight
years of schooling at Govt Middle School Kanyapuram. The fields, apart
from being the rice bowl of the area, its stunning greenery on both
sides of the stretch of road passing through the fields of Stewart Gunj
(kheti raasta) used to be a visual treat. The 2004 Great Sumatra-Andaman
Earthquake and the resultant tsunami however changed the landscape of
the entire area forever. Sea water intruded from the defunct sluice gate
at Kadakachang and flooded the fields rendering it unfit for
cultivation. The present article traces this transformation of the
erstwhile fields of Stewart Gunj into its present water logged avatar.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands is considered an ecological paradise,
endowed with lush green Tropical Evergreen Rainforest Ecosystem,
Mangrove Ecosystem and biologically diverse Coral Reef Ecosystem. After
the December 2004 massive earthquake/tsunami, Wetland Ecosystem has been
added to the ecology of our islands.
According to an article, jointly authored by Mr P Rajan a PhD Scholar
and Dr P Pramod, both from SACON, the boxing day tsunami inundation of
low lying agricultural fields caused creation of wetlands at Hutbay,
Ograbraj, Sippighat and Stewart Gunj in the Andaman group of Islands.
Among these four tsunami induced wetlands, Hutbay and Stewart Gunj are
freshwater wetland whereas the other two are tidal mud flats (ENVIS
Newsletter - Sarovar Saurabh, Vol.6,2010. ISSN:0972-3153).
Since the area surrounding Stewart Gunj, Kadakachang and Wimberly Gunj
suffered subsidence; the massive earthquake triggered tsunami brought
the sea into the low lying fields. Even the road connecting Stewart Gunj
with Wimberly Gunj (Kheti rasta) came under the occupation of the sea.
The road was eventually raised about a meter which blocked surface
runoff from the surrounding areas thus resulted in creation of a
freshwater wetland on the side adjoining Bangla Pahad. Whereas the side
of the kheti rasta adjoining Kadakachang creek, a tidal mudflat came
into existence.
The changed ecology brought with it a variety of fishes, birds, reptiles
and other visitors including raptors and hunters into the area. Most
prominent and talked about being the winged visitors. A comprehensive
survey of the Stewart Gunj wetland we could recorded presence of more
than 30 bird species including Lesser Whistling Duck, Common Moorhen,
Andaman Teal, White-breasted Waterhen, Purple Swamphen, Egret, Pond
Heron, White-bellied Sea-Eagle and many more (see box for the full list).
These winged visitors are now part of the changed landscape of the area,
attracting the attention of those passing through the casuarinas lined
stretch of the road. Though there is a sign which warns presence of
Crocodile in the submerged fields, yet one can find fisher folks
scouring the waters with nets and lines, bagging the fresh stock of fish
brought in by the tides. Those with an appetite for nature could be seen
capturing the winged visitors in their splendor.
The most surprising found however was few grooves of juvenile Mangroove
species taking roots along the periphery of the elevated kheti rasta.
There were mangrove ferns and other associated mangroves spread here and
there indicating the sea is here to stay in the submerged fields of
Stewart Gunj. The area as a whole resembles an island microcosm, buzzing
with life in every form, shape, size and colour, all engaged in their
ultimate quest for survival.
But for those few farmer families whose land is it under the occupation
of sea and thronged by all kinds of opportunistic creatures, it is an
agonizing affair; the fields which used to nourish their family not only
had gone arid, it reminds them of the torment they are made to face from
day one the tragedy struck. Non payment of compensation is adding insult
to the injury inflicted by the disaster.
The latest press release (The Daily Telegrams dated 29th March, 2012)
which says “In order to give monetary compensation for the submerged
land to tsunami victims, the Lt Governor of A&N Islands will meet the
top functionaries of Home Ministry during his visit to Delhi on 30 March
(2012)” speaks volumes about the way things are being dealt. What could
be more painful than the fact that even after celebration of 7th
Anniversary of the epic disaster, payment of compensation to a handful
of those whose land got submerged not only remains unpaid, but remains
undecided as on date.
The 11th April earthquake off the west coast of Northern Sumatra
refreshed the horrors of the 2004 event. However the promptness with
which the A&N Administration responded to the current event indicates
the authorities did learn quite a few lessons. But foot dragging in the
matter relating to payment of compensation to those farmers affected by
2004 event is discounting the Administration’s effort besides casting
serious doubts over its intent!

Yes ofcourse ... I recall the United Command’s Navy Unit built a marble book
shelf for their library. Just one instance of misuse of funds. Many Nicobarese
families also bought LED TV screens with the compensation money. One wag in Port
lair told me the officers are submerged in tsunami levels of corruption
allegations!
cheers
Malini
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Malini Shankar
Freelance Environmental / Wildlife Photo Journalist /
Radio and TV Producer
# 1 / 1, (New # 3) Amrutha" Police Station Road
Basavanagudi
Bangalore 560 004
India
Tel: +91 / 80 / 26677090
Cell: +91 944 805 5645
+91 948 070 2176
mailto: mogli@...
shankar.malini@...

From: Pankaj Sekhsaria
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 7:21 PM
To: andamanicobar
Subject: [andamanicobar] Tsunami Fund was Diverted


http://lightofandamans.blogspot.com/2012/04/cover-story-tsunami-fund-was-diverte\
d.html
THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | ISSUE 30 | 20 APRIL 2012

COVER STORY:

Tsunami Fund was Diverted

It is learnt from reliable sources that the Admn had projected and
demanded an amount of about Rs 130 crores, which was insufficient for
the purpose of relief or compensation. The amount reached the Islands
and remained with the Admn for a long time. In the due course, when the
realisation dawned that the funds are insufficient and "other important"
reasons cropped up, the funds were diverted to fill the gap with due
permission from the ministry.
Moreover, the Admn could have at least released first instalment of the
compensation instead of diverting it and prolonging the process.
Instead, the funds were used for works in different departments. When
the Ministry declared Port Blair Port Trust and later stalled it, there
was shortage of funds for administrative expenses too. It is learnt that
funds were diverted to that account too. The blatant lie that funds were
not diverted will not find many takers.
The Admn is now in a quandary as it did not expect the farmers to hit
the road with the demand for immediate release of the amount. Home spun
local wisdom says that the whole process of fresh allocation and release
of fund from the ministry will take its own sweet time.
In fact the farmers have witnessed not merely collapse of justice, but
its systematic planned subversion. They have realised that it's been a
long and blind ride since 2004. The discontent and distrust among the
Islanders have started to swell and spill over on to the streets.
Is it not odd that sometime back in 2011, the Administration set off on
a weird mission giving the Islanders a choice - land or money? Whereas,
the Admn had miserably failed to either identify alternative land or
convince Central Empowered Committee (CEC), when it came to the Islands
and met the farmers that deemed forest should be de-reserved and
allotted to the farmers.
It was quite easy for the Admn to shoot a letter to Delhi saying that
there is no sufficient land and monetary compensation should be paid to
the affected, that too without doing proper homework.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Lt Gov asks Centre money for tsunami affected farmers
Published: Monday, Apr 23, 2012, 18:23 IST
Place: Port Blair | Agency: PTI
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_lt-gov-asks-centre-money-for-tsunami-affect\
ed-farmers_1679598
The Andaman and Nicobar administration on Monday said that Lt Governor
Lt Gen (retd) Bhopinder Singh has taken up with the Centre regarding
compensation to the farmers whose land were submerged under water during
the tsunami of 2004.

The Lt Governor has written several letters to the Centre and Union Home
minister to immediately sanction money so that it can be disbursed as
compensation to those farmers whose land were submerged under water in
tsunami, official sources said today.

Singh has written letters to the Union Home minister on April 12, 2012,
February 29, 2012, December 23, 2011 on the compensation issue.

The Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Shakti Sinha has also
me officials at all levels in the Centre for sanction of money for the
tsunami affected farmers, they said.

On April 19 Andaman and Nicobar islands MP Bishnu Pada Ray was detained
while he was staging protest along with over 200 farmers affected in the
2004 Tsunami.

Ray was held as he was heading a procession to meet Lt Governor
Bhopinder Singh to air the grievances of Tsunami victims.

Ray told media later that he will not stop the agitation until the
Lieutenant Governor gives a written assurance to provide adequate
monetary help to the Tsunami-affected farmers for their submerged land.

Where is the administration saying the funds were 'diverted' to? What's the
cover up story, or have they not come up with one yet?

On Mon, Apr 23, 2012 at 9:51 AM, Pankaj Sekhsaria <psekhsaria@...>wrote:

> **
>
>
>
>
http://lightofandamans.blogspot.com/2012/04/cover-story-tsunami-fund-was-diverte\
d.html
> THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | ISSUE 30 | 20 APRIL 2012
>
> COVER STORY:
>
> Tsunami Fund was Diverted
>
> It is learnt from reliable sources that the Admn had projected and
> demanded an amount of about Rs 130 crores, which was insufficient for
> the purpose of relief or compensation. The amount reached the Islands
> and remained with the Admn for a long time. In the due course, when the
> realisation dawned that the funds are insufficient and "other important"
> reasons cropped up, the funds were diverted to fill the gap with due
> permission from the ministry.
> Moreover, the Admn could have at least released first instalment of the
> compensation instead of diverting it and prolonging the process.
> Instead, the funds were used for works in different departments. When
> the Ministry declared Port Blair Port Trust and later stalled it, there
> was shortage of funds for administrative expenses too. It is learnt that
> funds were diverted to that account too. The blatant lie that funds were
> not diverted will not find many takers.
> The Admn is now in a quandary as it did not expect the farmers to hit
> the road with the demand for immediate release of the amount. Home spun
> local wisdom says that the whole process of fresh allocation and release
> of fund from the ministry will take its own sweet time.
> In fact the farmers have witnessed not merely collapse of justice, but
> its systematic planned subversion. They have realised that it's been a
> long and blind ride since 2004. The discontent and distrust among the
> Islanders have started to swell and spill over on to the streets.
> Is it not odd that sometime back in 2011, the Administration set off on
> a weird mission giving the Islanders a choice - land or money? Whereas,
> the Admn had miserably failed to either identify alternative land or
> convince Central Empowered Committee (CEC), when it came to the Islands
> and met the farmers that deemed forest should be de-reserved and
> allotted to the farmers.
> It was quite easy for the Admn to shoot a letter to Delhi saying that
> there is no sufficient land and monetary compensation should be paid to
> the affected, that too without doing proper homework.
>
>



--
------------------------
Ashish Fernandes

“Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are
written the pathetic words: Too late.” - Martin Luther King Jr.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

From: Forest Peoples Programme
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 7:16 PM
To: Madhusree Mukerjee
Subject: FPP E-Newsletter April 2012

Puede leer nuestro boletín de noticias en español
Lisez notre e-newsletter en français

Click here to read the PDF version of this e-newsletter



Dear Friends,

The continuous, sometimes subtle, violence of conservation and development
against indigenous peoples continues, unchecked even at the highest levels by
the most worthy-sounding agencies of the United Nations.

As this newsletter reports, the Global Environment Facility, the international
mechanism of choice for helping developing countries meet their global
obligations under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, is stumbling badly,
adopting an out-dated policy on indigenous peoples designed to ‘mitigate’
impacts rather than respect rights already affirmed by the UN. Meanwhile,
conservation organisations in Central Africa are paying lip service to a
requirement to consult with indigenous peoples, before asking for international
recognition of protected areas as UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Sites.

Now, indigenous peoples preparing for the United Nations 20th anniversary of the
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development express concern that a similar
sham will be played out in Rio de Janeiro in June, where they fear a focus on
the ‘Green Economy’ promises to do more to promote corporate ventures than
ensure respect for their human rights. All this despite the fact that it is now
nearly five years since the UN General Assembly agreed ‘minimum standards’
to protect indigenous peoples’ rights and explicitly required United Nations
bodies to ‘promote respect for and full application of the provisions of’
the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (citing Article 42).

And this is doubly anomalous when it is these same UN-derived standards that are
being, slowly but surely, applied through national and local problem-solving
processes. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of the Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples is working hard to remedy the
problems of the Teribe people of Costa Rica, who are facing forced resettlement
from their territory due to the DiquĂ­s dam.

The so-called voluntary standards of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil,
which, consistent with the UN’s human rights regime, require member companies
to respect communities’ customary rights and their right to Free, Prior and
Informed Consent (FPIC), are helping the Vai people of western Liberia to enter
into negotiations with the Malaysian transnational, Sime Darby, and seem to have
encouraged the Liberian Government to rethink a policy of development at all
costs and replace it with a rights-based approach to development. Let’s hope
that the forest peoples of the Democratic Republic of Congo, whose lands carbon
brokers are speculating on, can now ensure the same respect for their rights by
companies like Wildlife Works Carbon, which ascribe to similar principles
through the ‘Verified Carbon Standard’.

We all know that so-called sustainable development only works if people’s
rights are respected. We need joined-up-thinking by the UN to make this real.
The ‘Rio +20’ conference in June would be a good place to make this evident.

Marcus Colchester
Director




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Liberia: Agri-business expansion threatens forests and local communities’
livelihoods

Agri-business expansion in Africa is a major threat to the forests and
livelihoods of African peoples. Where governance is weak and the rights of local
communities and indigenous peoples are insecure, agricultural development is
disadvantaging local people. Awareness of the social and ecological impact of
agri-business expansion in South East Asia has led to new standards for
acceptable palm oil development. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO),
a third-party voluntary certification process, has adopted a set of Principles
and Criteria that is substantially consistent with a rights-based approach, and
which seeks to divert palm oil expansion away from primary forests and areas of
critical High Conservation Value (HCV) while prohibiting the takeover of
customary lands without communities’ Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
Increasingly, adherence to the RSPO standard is becoming a requirement for
access to the European market and major palm oil producing conglomerates seeking
to maintain market share are now members of the RSPO. Read more



Costa Rica: UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples follows-up
on progress regarding the recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples
affected by the proposed DiquĂ­s Dam
Professor James Anaya, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples, visited Costa Rica from 23-27 March 2012 on an official mission to hold
meetings with indigenous peoples’ representatives and members of communities
affected by the proposed DiquĂ­s Dam, State representatives, and UN staff. His
visit included meetings in six different indigenous territories where indigenous
peoples from Boruca, Cabagra, China Kichå, Curré, Salitre, La Casona,
TĂ©rraba, and UjarrĂĄs participated. His visit is considered by many as an
historic step towards advancing the recognition and respect of indigenous
peoples’ rights in Costa Rica. Read more



Report by CEFAID questions the validity of the consultations in Cameroon for the
World Heritage Site nomination of the Tri-National de la Sangha (TNS) protected
area

The Tri-National de la Sangha (TNS) is a protected area with a landscape
approach spanning three countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR) and
the Republic of Congo. In 2010, the three countries jointly nominated the area
as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This nomination was considered by the World
Heritage Committee in June 2011. IUCN, as the World Heritage Committee’s
Advisory Body responsible for evaluating the proposal, recommended that the
nomination of the TNS be deferred - IUCN considered a substantial revision and
subsequent full re-evaluation of the proposal necessary. Instead, the
Committee’s decision taken in June 2011 was to refer the proposal, meaning
that only some additional information (rather than a substantial revision) would
be required and that the nomination could be resubmitted in 2012. Read more



Carbon Concessions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Neglect Communities
In 2011 the private Canadian company Ecosystem Restoration Associates (ERA)
signed a management contract with the government of the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) for a former logging concession of almost 300,000 hectares that
adjoins the western reaches of Lac Mai Ndombe in Bandundu Province. Carbon
trading and the generation of carbon credits through forest preservation and
enhancement is the main objective of the ERA project. As part of our global
project targeting support to communities in REDD pilot areas, and in the DRC, in
March 2012, Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) and Cercle pour la defense de
l’environnement (CEDEN) staff travelled to the region where we held meetings
with the customary leaders from 6 communities living inside the ERA concession
area. The objective of these meetings was to find out what was happening on the
ground, and the extent to which communities were informed about goals,
objectives and modus operandi of ERA staff. Read more



Indigenous peoples call on Global Environment Facility to honour its commitments

Indigenous peoples’ organisations have long called on the Global Environment
Facility (GEF), as major global finance institution providing funding for
government environmental projects and programmes, to adopt a specific policy on
indigenous peoples in line with international standards. In October 2010, the
GEF CEO, Monique Barbut, finally announced that the GEF would develop its own
set of safeguard standards and would address the specific concerns of indigenous
peoples. After a somewhat rushed process with limited participation, in November
2011 the GEF adopted a set of minimum safeguard standards on social and
environmental assessment, involuntary resettlement, natural habitats and
indigenous peoples. However, the final minimum standards approved by the GEF
Council have been sharply criticised by indigenous peoples’ organisations for
being based on outdated World Bank policies, and for restricting the GEF
commitment to respect free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) only to those
countries that have ratified ILO Convention 169. Read more



RIO+20 Conference might promote green economy and development at the expense of
human rights and environmental justice - Parallel events will highlight demands
and contribution of Indigenous Peoples
The UN Conference on Sustainable Development - Rio+20, is aimed at ensuring full
implementation of international commitments on environment and social
development. However, there are concerns that it will neglect the urgent need to
respect indigenous peoples’ rights, traditional knowledge and self-determined
development. Read more




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------





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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

This is confirmation that the situation was reported wrongly on two
critical counts:
a) That there was no tsunami - there surely was so where is the tsunami
warning system?
b) And the Disaster and tsunami preparedness system is well in place.

One can only be grateful that this was not as big a wave as we have seen
in the past and that the areas affected were lightly populated.
pankaj



MP demands better Disaster preparedness in Campbell Island
http://andamansheekha.com/blog/?p=3321
Andaman Sheekha

Sarthak Kanjilal

Port Blair, Apr 23: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray today demanded better disaster preparedness
in Campbell Bay Islands.

Addressing a press conference the MP said demanded to construct a
lookout post on safe zone (on higher ground) at Indira Point, Gandhi
Nagar, Macca Chua, Afra Bay etc. areas of Campbell bay for the safety of
people.

“Disaster Emergency Operating Centre of Campbell Bay is on low land and
not safe. During earthquake on 11.04.2012, the entire EOC staff had left
the Centre due to panic of inflow sea water as the EOC is located hardly
one meter height from sea level,” the MP said.

The MP alleged that there was shut down of Power House at Campbell Bay
for quite a long time after the earth quake and the Siren at Rajiv Nagar
did not work.

He said that tsunami waves had hits Indira Point between 3.15 to 3.30PM
on 11.04.2012.

“During this period the Sea waves hits at Indira Point Police lookout
post and washed away the tent which was located above 20 ft. away from
high tide land and sea water entered at least 500 mtr. inside the land,”
he said.

There 5 IRBn Staff, 2 PRO, 9 Forest Staff, 1 Medical Staff total 15
persons were present and witnessed the receding and rolling back of sea
water waves and tsunami.
These staff ran about 3 to 4 km crossing crocodile infested nallahs and
reached higher ground and were later rescued by the Air Force Navy
Helicopter from Indira Point Heli Pad.

“There was videography prepared through Mobile phones and converted into
a CD and the same CD of the tsunami waves etc. were given to AC-C/Bay,
Higher-up Police Officials at C/Bay and Port Blair,” he added.

The MP also demanded upgradation of PHC Campbell Bay into CHC;
re-opening of Stone quarry at Campbell Bay; re-claiming of submerged
house sites of settlers at Campbell Bay etc.

Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB Detected in Campbell Bay

http://andamanchronicle.com/content/view/5731/27/
Apr 23, 2012 at 10:12 PM

Port Blair, April 23: A male member of Shompen tribe named Kagaj died
recently after he had suffered from Tuberculosis, said the Member of
Parliament Shri Bishnu Pada Ray after he returned from Campbell Bay
today. The MP further said that another female member of the Shompen
Community named Rose, 27 has also been detected with TB. Her sputum had
tested positive and has been referred to GB Pant Hospital at Port Blair.
Skin diseases too have become common among the Shompens, he said.

The case is not only with Shompen tribe, Bishnu explains. Altogether
there are 17 cases of Tuberculosis detected in Campbell Bay. This is due
to poor health care facilities available in the area he said.

The MP explained that there are two Primary Health Centres in Campbell
Bay which is looked after by a single doctor. Even if he diagnoses any
diseases and prescribes for medicines, the medicines are not available
with the PHC. It takes almost a month to reach medicines and supply it
to the patients. Can this be digested, Bishnu commented.

He further explained that the facilities in the health centres are
weird. There is an x-ray machine but no technician has been posted in
the area for nearly 6 months. The storage room for medicines is just an
open room, with no facilities to maintain the temperature for medicines.
A fridge is available but it appeared that the fridge too suffers from
Chicken Pox, the Member of Parliament explained.

What's the great AAJVS doing?


On 4/24/12, Pankaj Sekhsaria <psekhsaria@...> wrote:
>   Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB Detected in Campbell Bay
>
> http://andamanchronicle.com/content/view/5731/27/
> Apr 23, 2012 at 10:12 PM
>
> Port Blair, April 23: A male member of Shompen tribe named Kagaj died
> recently after he had suffered from Tuberculosis, said the Member of
> Parliament Shri Bishnu Pada Ray after he returned from Campbell Bay
> today. The MP further said that another female member of the Shompen
> Community named Rose, 27 has also been detected with TB. Her sputum had
> tested positive and has been referred to GB Pant Hospital at Port Blair.
> Skin diseases too have become common among the Shompens, he said.
>
> The case is not only with Shompen tribe, Bishnu explains. Altogether
> there are 17 cases of Tuberculosis detected in Campbell Bay. This is due
> to poor health care facilities available in the area he said.
>
> The MP explained that there are two Primary Health Centres in Campbell
> Bay which is looked after by a single doctor. Even if he diagnoses any
> diseases and prescribes for medicines, the medicines are not available
> with the PHC. It takes almost a month to reach medicines and supply it
> to the patients. Can this be digested, Bishnu commented.
>
> He further explained that the facilities in the health centres are
> weird. There is an x-ray machine but no technician has been posted in
> the area for nearly 6 months. The storage room for medicines is just an
> open room, with no facilities to maintain the temperature for medicines.
> A fridge is available but it appeared that the fridge too suffers from
> Chicken Pox, the Member of Parliament explained.
>

Can an international organization like WHO step in and help out, or must
corrective action all be handled internally?

Mary Wharton
Associate Broker
Long and Foster, Realtors
7202 Old Keene Mill Road
Springfield, VA 22150
703-795-0587 Cell
703-452-3945 Office Direct
Whar10@...
Www.marywharton.lnf.com

Sent from my iPad

On Apr 24, 2012, at 2:48 AM, Pankaj Sekhsaria <psekhsaria@...> wrote:

> Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB Detected in Campbell Bay
>
> http://andamanchronicle.com/content/view/5731/27/
> Apr 23, 2012 at 10:12 PM
>
> Port Blair, April 23: A male member of Shompen tribe named Kagaj died
> recently after he had suffered from Tuberculosis, said the Member of
> Parliament Shri Bishnu Pada Ray after he returned from Campbell Bay
> today. The MP further said that another female member of the Shompen
> Community named Rose, 27 has also been detected with TB. Her sputum had
> tested positive and has been referred to GB Pant Hospital at Port Blair.
> Skin diseases too have become common among the Shompens, he said.
>
> The case is not only with Shompen tribe, Bishnu explains. Altogether
> there are 17 cases of Tuberculosis detected in Campbell Bay. This is due
> to poor health care facilities available in the area he said.
>
> The MP explained that there are two Primary Health Centres in Campbell
> Bay which is looked after by a single doctor. Even if he diagnoses any
> diseases and prescribes for medicines, the medicines are not available
> with the PHC. It takes almost a month to reach medicines and supply it
> to the patients. Can this be digested, Bishnu commented.
>
> He further explained that the facilities in the health centres are
> weird. There is an x-ray machine but no technician has been posted in
> the area for nearly 6 months. The storage room for medicines is just an
> open room, with no facilities to maintain the temperature for medicines.
> A fridge is available but it appeared that the fridge too suffers from
> Chicken Pox, the Member of Parliament explained.
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Looking back at the Jarawa video affair, I recall these actions (correct me if I
am wrong):

1. a tour operator was arrested
2. a policeman was suspended
3. local and foreign NGOs were accused of fomenting the issue for closing the
ATR
4. Orissa used the opportunity to ban foreigners from interacting with PTGs
(including the Dongria Kondh, who need the attention of the world’s press for
their survival)
5. absolutely nothing happened to the armymen who actually induced the Jarawa
women to dance and took the video that set off the fracas

Such impunity of the armed forces raise questions about the strength of Indian
democracy.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear Friends
It’s really frustrating even after 8 years there has been only a lollipop of
promises and assurances for Tsunami affected farmers. It shows red –tape sum
and inhuman nature of bureaucratic system, political leaders and Government.
 Remember the Bhopal – Gas tragedy, still after 4 decades victims has been
fighting on street for their compensation.
It is need of the day to take immediate action to settle down the life of
Tsunami affected farmers by generating alternative livelihood according to their
skill and competencies, in lieu of farming.
Sharad Pant
Development Professional
INDIA

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://lightofandamans.blogspot.com/2012/04/way-out-adv-sanjay-upadhyay.html

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | ISSUE 30 | 20 APRIL 2012

The Way Out: Adv Sanjay Upadhyay

In the 42-page report submitted by Sanjay Upadhyay, he has hinted that
the bases of the notification were not provided to the Commissioners by
the Administration. He has suggested to lay bare the file noting or the
bases of the decision making process and requested the Apex Court to
examine the reasons for disagreement as well as the reasons for
overruling those disagreements and to reach a fair decision to avoid any
arbitrariness that may or may not have crept in the decision making
process as it impacts the lives and livelihoods of over one hundred
thousand people who have been settled by the State themselves.
On the impact of Buffer Zone on the Islanders, in his report, Sanjay
Upadhyay has mentioned that there is no clarity on the extent of land
falling within the buffer zone area, since a land to land survey has not
been carried out. The owners of commercial establishments as well as
farmers residing in the areas notified as the Buffer Zone have and will
suffer heavy losses. Yet no move has yet been made to compensate them
for such losses.
Adv Sanjay has also taken cognizance of another case pending in the
Supreme Court which has not been resolved till date. He felt that the
details about the case need to be discussed since the order passed in
the matter details on the closure of the ATR. He has widely cited from
the various expert committee reports and the Shekar Singh Commission's
Report.
Citing the various narratives on Jarawas by the stakeholders, Sanjay
says that although the settlers sympathise with the plight of the
Jarawa, they also have various objections to the move of the
Administration with implementation of the Buffer Zone Notification dated
30.10.2007 as well as the recommendations on closure of the ATR as
suggested in the Shekhar Singh Commission Report. These objections, he
says that came from both settlers' perspective as well as those pursuing
commercial activities especially in the public hearing as well as the
written response.
Adv Sanajy in his report says that it is alleged that livelihoods of the
majority population of the islands would be hindered if the ATR is
closed. Connectivity and communication is only possible through the ATR
and the sea route. The sea route is mostly problematic because of
infrequent boat services and heavy monsoon season, thus people residing
in these islands are languishing. An increasing number of settlers use
the ATR as the only means for commerce and transportation. If closed, it
would lead to problems for the islanders in accessing education and
health facilities. Also, in a disaster scenario, such as earthquake,
tsunami or cyclones, the ATR is easiest to travel on. ATR is not a mere
'convenience' but a bare 'necessity' for islanders from rural South,
North and Middle Andaman. Further on, it had been alleged that funds
which have been sanctioned for the development of alternate sea route
was done so without taking into confidence the locals and members of the
PRIs.
He also mentions about their drive through the ATR without any fan fare
and like ordinary tourists. However, it is pertinent to note that the
Administration officials had taken them on second convoy and not the
first one, in which mostly tourists ply to Baratang.
As per the proposal for amendment sent to The Secretary, Ministry of
Home Affairs, Govt. of India by the Directorate of Tribal Welfare ANI
Administration in November 2011 to the PAT Regulation 'Commercial
Establishment/ Activities means any commercial establishment other than
tourist establishment which may employ more than 20 (Twenty) persons or
have annual turnover of Rupees 1 (One) crores.' Anything that does not
comply with the above shall be prohibited. This implies that anyone who
employs one less person i.e. 19 persons and whose annual income is a
rupee less than one crore would be exempted. Adv. Sanjay feels that such
criteria where only number of employees and pecuniary limit is set to
exempt or allow any activity, seems arbitrary. He suggests a more
rigorous and scientific process to be established where the restrictions
are more pragmatic based on ethnographical parameters and the real
impacts assessed due to any commercial or tourist activity.
Adv Sanjay has criticised about exemption of Govt run guest houses in
the Buffer zone. The report says that thus any private investment have
been prohibited on one hand where as the Government run guest houses
have been totally exempted giving an impression that they need no self
regulation. Given the track record of a mixed up policy on Jarawas and
other vulnerable tribes it would be unfair to make this arbitrary
classification. He has therefore recommended that every tourism or
commercial activity be it Government or private be put to strict
regulation prior to their establishment
Taking a dig on the confused Tourism Policy, Adv Sanjay says that the
tourism policy which aims to develop beach resorts, setting up of
tourism circuits and development of 36 beach sites also includes the
area in question in South Andaman. He has therefore recommended the
Andaman Administration to take a clear stand as regards their policy of
involving or not involving private players especially in the context of
tourism in the areas in and around the tribal reserve.
He has also recommended implementation of the Island Integrated
Management Plan (IIMP) in a time bound manner under the directions of
the Court and a special monitoring authority under the National Coastal
Zone Management Authority to be specifically constituted for monitoring
the development of tourism in the ANI and specially in and around the
tribal reserve.
He feels that in the current context where a one size fits all
mechanical 5 km Buffer Zone from an unclear and unsurveyed boundary of
tribal reserve would be clearly inappropriate. He has suggested an
amendment introducing a new buffer concept based on scientific rigor and
ethno graphical parameters already been proposed by the new Jarawa
Policy. He has recommended that principles already enunciated by the
Court to be adapted in the current context and to serve as a guidance to
the Administration for a more fair and transparent mechanism of
declaring a buffer zone.
He is critical about the mechanical and outright prohibition of tourism
or commercial activities citing it to be detrimental to the overall
development of the Andaman Islands in the long run as brought out by the
various submissions at the Public Hearing. In his opinion requests the
Court to put in a strong regulatory authority including a robust multi
disciplinary monitoring body to scrutinize every aspect of potential
impact of establishing tourist or commercial facilities and provide a
detailed self audit framework.
He doubts whether a new proposed amendment to the original PAT
Regulation can or should be retrospectively applied? The normal legal
position, he cites is that the notifications are prospectively
applicable. Such has been the position in all Notifications issued under
the Environment Protection Act including the EIA as well as CRZ
notifications. In view of the above, he recommends that the Buffer Zone
notification be applied prospectively and if current establishments have
to be prohibited then adequate and fair compensation be worked out.
  From the public hearing and the reading of secondary resource material,
he infers that prior to complete prohibition of commercial
establishments as well as tourism facilities, minimal or no public
consultation was done especially where a totally new concept of "buffer"
was introduced which was not hitherto present in the legal instrument.
---
http://pankaj-atcrossroads.blogspot.com
http://www.indianaturewatch.net/view_cat.php?tag=Pankaj+Sekhsaria
http://3fotosaday.blogspot.com/

C/o Kalpavriksh
Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
908 Deccan Gym
Pune 411004
India
Tel: 020 25654239
Mob: 09423009933
Email: psekhsaria@...

http://lightofandamans.blogspot.com/2012/04/jarawa-policy-acheiving-good-purpose\
.html
THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | ISSUE 30 | 20 APRIL 2012

Jarawa Policy Achieving Good Purpose: Adv. Doabia

Adv. T S Daobia, one of the Court Commissioners appointed by the Supreme
Court seems to tow the line of the Admn in all aspects and have even
dragged the Jarawa Dance Video issue and supported the Administration
saying that it has already taken administrative disciplinary action and
the involved police personnel were punished. He further adds that the
video of the year 2008 is being re-projected.
He is all praise for the steps taken by the Admn to protect and
safeguard Jarawas, and is of the view that the policy decision of 2004
and the later expert reports were achieving good purpose. He observed
that the Jarawas appeared to be happy. However, he reiterated that there
should not be too much interference in their lives and progress should
not be at the cost of destroying the Jarawa culture. Stating that the
Jarawas were an intelligent and self-respecting tribe, he accepted the
fact that they survived all these years without any outside help but
this should not mean that they should be left to themselves. They should
be asked to express themselves and what action is to be taken should be
in accordance with their wishes.
Surprisingly, there are many interesting and intriguing suggestions
being made by T S Daobia.  He is of the view that Buffer Zone has been
created to insulate the Jarawa Reserve Area and feels it to be essential
as an indiscriminate entry in the sea adjacent to the Jarawa area would
reduce the supply of fish to the Jarawas. On the other hand, he feels
that the issue as to whether buffer zone was properly created or not is
matter on which the Court has to express its views.
On Andaman Trunk Road, he feels that the traffic is well regulated. It
moves in convoys.  He suggests separate convoy for the tourists who want
to visit the lime caves; and for those who carry and transport essential
goods. He also suggests reducing the convoys so far as passenger traffic
is concerned. According to him, till alternate route is developed or
till the sea route is made operational the Andaman Trunk Road should not
be closed as it would affect the livelihood of the settlers who have
been settled on the islands for more than 150 years now.  He feels that
any attempt to close the trunk road may lead to unemployment.  According
to both Commissioners, in the public meetings held at Baratang on 17th
February and at Pot Blair on 18th February, 2012 the feeling expressed
was that Andaman Trunk Road should not be closed.
On barter system, his observation is that there are unconfirmed rumours
that the Jarawas use the barter system, at least for honey and dhup.
They prefer to have rice.  Interestingly, T S Daobia has suggested that
the barter system should be strengthened and the services of Andaman
Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti to be put into use as these persons have
access with the Jarawas.
He also suggests strengthening of the Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti
(AAJVS) and suggests police protection for them wherever necessary.
According to him, the AAJVS staff appeared to be workers who were
dedicated to the job and they need to be given proper encouragement.
He has also advised to have proper plantations of papaya, coconut or
banana exclusively for the Jarawas and this should be done with their
consent.
As a line of communication has opened up between the Jarawas and the
Administration Doabia feels that it would be apt to use their services
for protecting the borders. It is on account of Jarawas and other tribes
that the islands have remained free from poachers. This is, however, a
matter on which policy decision has to be taken by the Government. If
possible, their knowledge or protecting the coast line can be utilized
with their consent.
As far as tourist activities are concerned Daobia feels that one doesn't
have to visit the two resorts. The two resorts are either located in the
Buffer Zone or are very close to Jarawa Reserve Area. The Jarawas keep
on moving from one area to another. The possibility of the Jarawas
visiting these resorts cannot be ruled out and, therefore, this aspect
of the matter has to be given due attention. The fact that these resorts
have set up to satisfy the curiosity of the tourist to meet Jarawas
cannot be ruled out.  There is a need to avoid too much interaction as
this has proved to be counter productive in the case of Great Andamanese
Tribes.
He also takes a dig on the media and advises that there should be
constructive reporting and the issues should not be blown out of
proportion.  He also suggests that positive steps taken by the
Administration to fulfil Jarawa policy be given due publicity.

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | ISSUE 30 | 20 APRIL 2012
http://lightofandamans.blogspot.com/2012/04/jarawa-buffer-zone-at-crossroads.htm\
l
Jarawa Buffer Zone:
At Crossroads?

By Zubair Ahmed

The contentious five-kilometre radius Buffer Zone (BZ) notified by the
Andaman and Nicobar Admn around the Jarawa Tribal Reserve had created
huge commotion and panic in about 31 villages of South and Middle
Andaman. And, in all probability doing nothing good for the Jarawas.
Moreover, it is strongly alleged that there have been differences of
opinion between the Administration as well as the Administrator on the
manner in which the draconian and impractical Buffer Zone has been notified.
In 2007, a Buffer Zone Notification was issued by the Lt. Governor of
Andaman and Nicobar Islands declaring five kms radius around the Jarawa
Reserve Area from the boundary line starting from Constance Bay in South
Andaman to Lewis Inlet Bay in the Middle Andaman as a "Buffer Zone".
Barefoot, a resort at Collinpur, was shut down by the Administration on
the basis of the Buffer Zone Notification, which was challenged in the
High Court, and the Single Bench quashed the Order, on which the ANI
Admn preferred an appeal in the Division Bench, which too was dismissed.
Doggedly, the Admn dragged the respondents to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court appointed two Court Commissioners Senior Advocate T.S.
Doabia and Adv. Sanjay Upadhyay in February 2012 to look into the issue
of implementation of the Notification.
The Commissioners made a four-day visit to the Andaman Islands
especially the Andaman Trunk Road, Baratang and met the Panchayat
leaders of Baratang, Kadamtala and neighbouring areas. They also
conducted a public hearing at Port Blair where the majority of the
participants complained that it was not well publicized and brought out
the concerns of those who could not come from affected villages due to
short notice.
The Commissioners submitted two separate reports citing various reasons
for omission of a common report. However, Adv Sanjay Upadhyay felt that
such omission would only add value to the independent thinking and views
of the Commissioners and would help the process of arriving at a fair
judgment rather than an impediment of any nature.
Although, both the reports have gone deep into the historical aspects of
the issue, it is silent about the current status of implementation of
the Buffer Zone Notification, in letter and spirit, as ordered by the
Apex Court.
There is wide resentment among the Islanders that a two-member team,
oblivious of the depth of issue are sought to make an in-depth report,
which will be heard in the Apex Court and a judgement proclaimed. There
are innumerable gaffes in one of the reports and one of the
Commissioners have even dared to suggest solutions to an issue, which
most of the anthropologists still find difficult to comment upon.

I came to know that Kagaz died of TB in GB Pant Hospital in 2009.

Zubair Ahmed
Tel: 03192 246191
Mb: +919932081771




On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 4:39 PM, Mary Wharton <whar10@...> wrote:

> **
>
>
> Can an international organization like WHO step in and help out, or must
> corrective action all be handled internally?
>
> Mary Wharton
> Associate Broker
> Long and Foster, Realtors
> 7202 Old Keene Mill Road
> Springfield, VA 22150
> 703-795-0587 Cell
> 703-452-3945 Office Direct
> Whar10@...
> Www.marywharton.lnf.com
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>
> On Apr 24, 2012, at 2:48 AM, Pankaj Sekhsaria <psekhsaria@...>
> wrote:
>
> > Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB Detected in Campbell Bay
> >
> > http://andamanchronicle.com/content/view/5731/27/
> > Apr 23, 2012 at 10:12 PM
> >
> > Port Blair, April 23: A male member of Shompen tribe named Kagaj died
> > recently after he had suffered from Tuberculosis, said the Member of
> > Parliament Shri Bishnu Pada Ray after he returned from Campbell Bay
> > today. The MP further said that another female member of the Shompen
> > Community named Rose, 27 has also been detected with TB. Her sputum had
> > tested positive and has been referred to GB Pant Hospital at Port Blair.
> > Skin diseases too have become common among the Shompens, he said.
> >
> > The case is not only with Shompen tribe, Bishnu explains. Altogether
> > there are 17 cases of Tuberculosis detected in Campbell Bay. This is due
> > to poor health care facilities available in the area he said.
> >
> > The MP explained that there are two Primary Health Centres in Campbell
> > Bay which is looked after by a single doctor. Even if he diagnoses any
> > diseases and prescribes for medicines, the medicines are not available
> > with the PHC. It takes almost a month to reach medicines and supply it
> > to the patients. Can this be digested, Bishnu commented.
> >
> > He further explained that the facilities in the health centres are
> > weird. There is an x-ray machine but no technician has been posted in
> > the area for nearly 6 months. The storage room for medicines is just an
> > open room, with no facilities to maintain the temperature for medicines.
> > A fridge is available but it appeared that the fridge too suffers from
> > Chicken Pox, the Member of Parliament explained.
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

That a healthy tribal like the Shompen should die of TB is very bad indeed.
But TB unlike cholera or typhoid is not something that can take a life
overnight. There is obviously gross negligence in the system so far as
detection, treatment and preventive measures are concerned. These islands
had no history of TB [which is a scourge of the subcontinent]. Apparently
the infection has come from "outside". It is time the island administration
take urgent steps to control the spread of the disease and also give the
best treatment available. One need not emphasise that most insular tribes
have little or no resistance to such infections from "civilised" societies.
[We are all aware of the large scale wiping out of several tribes in South
America and elsewhere since these poor fellows had no resistance to the
killer diseases brought in by the while man.]



Our Central Govt as well as the administration of the islands are fully
equipped to deal with the situation. The questions are: (1) Will they? And
(2) When will they?  We in India have a long standing relation with TB and
even today it is one of our worst killers. What needs to be done is
immediately attend to all the cases with speed and arrest the spread of the
disease. Then insist on a check of all the residents and visitors to the
islands. Make sure that the disease is checked and curbed on a war footing.



If all this is done immediately, then where is the question of engaging any
outside agency? Did we not refuse outside help during the aftermath of the
Tsunami?



Regards,

SAMEER BANERJEE

NATIONAL PARK INITIATIVE








   _____

From: andamanicobar@...
[mailto:andamanicobar@...] On Behalf Of Mary Wharton
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 4:40 PM
To: andamanicobar@...
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB
Detected in Campbell Bay





Can an international organization like WHO step in and help out, or must
corrective action all be handled internally?

Mary Wharton
Associate Broker
Long and Foster, Realtors
7202 Old Keene Mill Road
Springfield, VA 22150
703-795-0587 Cell
703-452-3945 Office Direct
Whar10@... <mailto:Whar10%40aol.com>
Www.marywharton.lnf.com

Sent from my iPad

On Apr 24, 2012, at 2:48 AM, Pankaj Sekhsaria <psekhsaria@...
<mailto:psekhsaria%40gmail.com> > wrote:

> Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB Detected in Campbell Bay
>
> http://andamanchronicle.com/content/view/5731/27/
> Apr 23, 2012 at 10:12 PM
>
> Port Blair, April 23: A male member of Shompen tribe named Kagaj died
> recently after he had suffered from Tuberculosis, said the Member of
> Parliament Shri Bishnu Pada Ray after he returned from Campbell Bay
> today. The MP further said that another female member of the Shompen
> Community named Rose, 27 has also been detected with TB. Her sputum had
> tested positive and has been referred to GB Pant Hospital at Port Blair.
> Skin diseases too have become common among the Shompens, he said.
>
> The case is not only with Shompen tribe, Bishnu explains. Altogether
> there are 17 cases of Tuberculosis detected in Campbell Bay. This is due
> to poor health care facilities available in the area he said.
>
> The MP explained that there are two Primary Health Centres in Campbell
> Bay which is looked after by a single doctor. Even if he diagnoses any
> diseases and prescribes for medicines, the medicines are not available
> with the PHC. It takes almost a month to reach medicines and supply it
> to the patients. Can this be digested, Bishnu commented.
>
> He further explained that the facilities in the health centres are
> weird. There is an x-ray machine but no technician has been posted in
> the area for nearly 6 months. The storage room for medicines is just an
> open room, with no facilities to maintain the temperature for medicines.
> A fridge is available but it appeared that the fridge too suffers from
> Chicken Pox, the Member of Parliament explained.
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Few months back along with a research team we had visited the Shompen area to
conduct some preliminary work and we were also informed that Kagaz, a very
significant individual had passed away and a chanel of communication with the
community was closed for ever.I would like to confirm tha Zubair's information,
like his other reporting is on spot and correct. None the less the state of
Shompens and what could be done and has not be done is a diferent and complex
matter.Vishvajit Pandya

--- On Wed, 4/25/12, zubair ahmed <zubairpbl@...> wrote:

From: zubair ahmed <zubairpbl@...>
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB
Detected in Campbell Bay
To: andamanicobar@...
Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 3:06 PM
















 









       I came to know that Kagaz died of TB in GB Pant Hospital in 2009.



Zubair Ahmed

Tel: 03192 246191

Mb: +919932081771



On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 4:39 PM, Mary Wharton <whar10@...> wrote:



> **

>

>

> Can an international organization like WHO step in and help out, or must

> corrective action all be handled internally?

>

> Mary Wharton

> Associate Broker

> Long and Foster, Realtors

> 7202 Old Keene Mill Road

> Springfield, VA 22150

> 703-795-0587 Cell

> 703-452-3945 Office Direct

> Whar10@...

> Www.marywharton.lnf.com

>

> Sent from my iPad

>

>

> On Apr 24, 2012, at 2:48 AM, Pankaj Sekhsaria <psekhsaria@...>

> wrote:

>

> > Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB Detected in Campbell Bay

> >

> > http://andamanchronicle.com/content/view/5731/27/

> > Apr 23, 2012 at 10:12 PM

> >

> > Port Blair, April 23: A male member of Shompen tribe named Kagaj died

> > recently after he had suffered from Tuberculosis, said the Member of

> > Parliament Shri Bishnu Pada Ray after he returned from Campbell Bay

> > today. The MP further said that another female member of the Shompen

> > Community named Rose, 27 has also been detected with TB. Her sputum had

> > tested positive and has been referred to GB Pant Hospital at Port Blair.

> > Skin diseases too have become common among the Shompens, he said.

> >

> > The case is not only with Shompen tribe, Bishnu explains. Altogether

> > there are 17 cases of Tuberculosis detected in Campbell Bay. This is due

> > to poor health care facilities available in the area he said.

> >

> > The MP explained that there are two Primary Health Centres in Campbell

> > Bay which is looked after by a single doctor. Even if he diagnoses any

> > diseases and prescribes for medicines, the medicines are not available

> > with the PHC. It takes almost a month to reach medicines and supply it

> > to the patients. Can this be digested, Bishnu commented.

> >

> > He further explained that the facilities in the health centres are

> > weird. There is an x-ray machine but no technician has been posted in

> > the area for nearly 6 months. The storage room for medicines is just an

> > open room, with no facilities to maintain the temperature for medicines.

> > A fridge is available but it appeared that the fridge too suffers from

> > Chicken Pox, the Member of Parliament explained.

> >

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

>

>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



























[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Yes the TB virus has not grown overnight in the deceased. It takes years to
marinate. The best way to combat it is to empower / insulate the virus by
building up resistance. It is not so much of a white man’s disease. It is so
rampant in India thanks to malnutrition. It is obvious that isolation of the
tribes does not help in building resistance. On what basis do you allude to the
victim being a healthy male? If he was really as healthy as you make him out to
be he would have had the resistance isn’t it?  As for the best services
available in the hospitals, yes indeed they are available... the question is if
the Islanders can avail of it without using influence. Unless ofcourse the
patient knows his or her rights. That is when the government doctors and nurses
will sit up and attend to the patients.

Cannot forget an incidence. I sailed back from PB to Chennai by ship and I had
checked in saying I am a physically challenged passenger and the port officials
hadn’t a clue as to how to handle a PH passenger who was insisting on her
rights! In the same ship was a passenger who had suffered severe rib fractures.
The Administration had not thought it fit to airlift him either from Rangat to
Port Blair or from Port Blair to Chennai for his treatment. Whereas the public
servants insist on flying on their inter island travel literally at the cot of
the public they are sworn to serve.
Malini
©
The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and may
be subject to legal privilege.The pictures and multimedia files attached
herewith are meant for one time publication / broadcast alongwith the articles
submitted by this journalist / photographer. Reprinting or republication in
any form calls for written permission of the photographer.
All content, and attachments with this e mail are copyright protected. This
e-mail is privileged and confidential. If you are not the
intended recipient please delete the message and notify the sender.
Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author.

Malini Shankar
Freelance Environmental / Wildlife Photo Journalist /
Radio and TV Producer
# 1 / 1, (New # 3) Amrutha" Police Station Road
Basavanagudi
Bangalore 560 004
India
Tel: +91 / 80 / 26677090
Cell: +91 944 805 5645
+91 948 070 2176
mailto: mogli@...
shankar.malini@...

From: sameer banerjee
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 5:11 PM
To: andamanicobar@...
Subject: RE: [andamanicobar] Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB
Detected in Campbell Bay


That a healthy tribal like the Shompen should die of TB is very bad indeed.
But TB unlike cholera or typhoid is not something that can take a life
overnight. There is obviously gross negligence in the system so far as
detection, treatment and preventive measures are concerned. These islands
had no history of TB [which is a scourge of the subcontinent]. Apparently
the infection has come from "outside". It is time the island administration
take urgent steps to control the spread of the disease and also give the
best treatment available. One need not emphasise that most insular tribes
have little or no resistance to such infections from "civilised" societies.
[We are all aware of the large scale wiping out of several tribes in South
America and elsewhere since these poor fellows had no resistance to the
killer diseases brought in by the while man.]

Our Central Govt as well as the administration of the islands are fully
equipped to deal with the situation. The questions are: (1) Will they? And
(2) When will they? We in India have a long standing relation with TB and
even today it is one of our worst killers. What needs to be done is
immediately attend to all the cases with speed and arrest the spread of the
disease. Then insist on a check of all the residents and visitors to the
islands. Make sure that the disease is checked and curbed on a war footing.

If all this is done immediately, then where is the question of engaging any
outside agency? Did we not refuse outside help during the aftermath of the
Tsunami?

Regards,

SAMEER BANERJEE

NATIONAL PARK INITIATIVE

_____

From: mailto:andamanicobar%40yahoogroups.co.in
[mailto:mailto:andamanicobar%40yahoogroups.co.in] On Behalf Of Mary Wharton
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 4:40 PM
To: mailto:andamanicobar%40yahoogroups.co.in
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB
Detected in Campbell Bay

Can an international organization like WHO step in and help out, or must
corrective action all be handled internally?

Mary Wharton
Associate Broker
Long and Foster, Realtors
7202 Old Keene Mill Road
Springfield, VA 22150
703-795-0587 Cell
703-452-3945 Office Direct
mailto:Whar10%40aol.com <mailto:Whar10%40aol.com>
Www.marywharton.lnf.com

Sent from my iPad

On Apr 24, 2012, at 2:48 AM, Pankaj Sekhsaria <mailto:psekhsaria%40gmail.com
<mailto:psekhsaria%40gmail.com> > wrote:

> Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB Detected in Campbell Bay
>
> http://andamanchronicle.com/content/view/5731/27/
> Apr 23, 2012 at 10:12 PM
>
> Port Blair, April 23: A male member of Shompen tribe named Kagaj died
> recently after he had suffered from Tuberculosis, said the Member of
> Parliament Shri Bishnu Pada Ray after he returned from Campbell Bay
> today. The MP further said that another female member of the Shompen
> Community named Rose, 27 has also been detected with TB. Her sputum had
> tested positive and has been referred to GB Pant Hospital at Port Blair.
> Skin diseases too have become common among the Shompens, he said.
>
> The case is not only with Shompen tribe, Bishnu explains. Altogether
> there are 17 cases of Tuberculosis detected in Campbell Bay. This is due
> to poor health care facilities available in the area he said.
>
> The MP explained that there are two Primary Health Centres in Campbell
> Bay which is looked after by a single doctor. Even if he diagnoses any
> diseases and prescribes for medicines, the medicines are not available
> with the PHC. It takes almost a month to reach medicines and supply it
> to the patients. Can this be digested, Bishnu commented.
>
> He further explained that the facilities in the health centres are
> weird. There is an x-ray machine but no technician has been posted in
> the area for nearly 6 months. The storage room for medicines is just an
> open room, with no facilities to maintain the temperature for medicines.
> A fridge is available but it appeared that the fridge too suffers from
> Chicken Pox, the Member of Parliament explained.
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Was curious.  Thanks for your answer.

Mary Wharton
Associate Broker
Long and Foster, Realtors
7202 Old Keene Mill Road
Springfield, VA 22150
703-795-0587 Cell
703-452-3945 Office Direct
Whar10@...
Www.marywharton.lnf.com

Sent from my iPad

On Apr 25, 2012, at 7:41 AM, "sameer banerjee" <savioray@...>
wrote:

> That a healthy tribal like the Shompen should die of TB is very bad indeed.
> But TB unlike cholera or typhoid is not something that can take a life
> overnight. There is obviously gross negligence in the system so far as
> detection, treatment and preventive measures are concerned. These islands
> had no history of TB [which is a scourge of the subcontinent]. Apparently
> the infection has come from "outside". It is time the island administration
> take urgent steps to control the spread of the disease and also give the
> best treatment available. One need not emphasise that most insular tribes
> have little or no resistance to such infections from "civilised" societies.
> [We are all aware of the large scale wiping out of several tribes in South
> America and elsewhere since these poor fellows had no resistance to the
> killer diseases brought in by the while man.]
>
> Our Central Govt as well as the administration of the islands are fully
> equipped to deal with the situation. The questions are: (1) Will they? And
> (2) When will they? We in India have a long standing relation with TB and
> even today it is one of our worst killers. What needs to be done is
> immediately attend to all the cases with speed and arrest the spread of the
> disease. Then insist on a check of all the residents and visitors to the
> islands. Make sure that the disease is checked and curbed on a war footing.
>
> If all this is done immediately, then where is the question of engaging any
> outside agency? Did we not refuse outside help during the aftermath of the
> Tsunami?
>
> Regards,
>
> SAMEER BANERJEE
>
> NATIONAL PARK INITIATIVE
>
> _____
>
> From: andamanicobar@...
> [mailto:andamanicobar@...] On Behalf Of Mary Wharton
> Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 4:40 PM
> To: andamanicobar@...
> Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB
> Detected in Campbell Bay
>
> Can an international organization like WHO step in and help out, or must
> corrective action all be handled internally?
>
> Mary Wharton
> Associate Broker
> Long and Foster, Realtors
> 7202 Old Keene Mill Road
> Springfield, VA 22150
> 703-795-0587 Cell
> 703-452-3945 Office Direct
> Whar10@... <mailto:Whar10%40aol.com>
> Www.marywharton.lnf.com
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Apr 24, 2012, at 2:48 AM, Pankaj Sekhsaria <psekhsaria@...
> <mailto:psekhsaria%40gmail.com> > wrote:
>
> > Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB Detected in Campbell Bay
> >
> > http://andamanchronicle.com/content/view/5731/27/
> > Apr 23, 2012 at 10:12 PM
> >
> > Port Blair, April 23: A male member of Shompen tribe named Kagaj died
> > recently after he had suffered from Tuberculosis, said the Member of
> > Parliament Shri Bishnu Pada Ray after he returned from Campbell Bay
> > today. The MP further said that another female member of the Shompen
> > Community named Rose, 27 has also been detected with TB. Her sputum had
> > tested positive and has been referred to GB Pant Hospital at Port Blair.
> > Skin diseases too have become common among the Shompens, he said.
> >
> > The case is not only with Shompen tribe, Bishnu explains. Altogether
> > there are 17 cases of Tuberculosis detected in Campbell Bay. This is due
> > to poor health care facilities available in the area he said.
> >
> > The MP explained that there are two Primary Health Centres in Campbell
> > Bay which is looked after by a single doctor. Even if he diagnoses any
> > diseases and prescribes for medicines, the medicines are not available
> > with the PHC. It takes almost a month to reach medicines and supply it
> > to the patients. Can this be digested, Bishnu commented.
> >
> > He further explained that the facilities in the health centres are
> > weird. There is an x-ray machine but no technician has been posted in
> > the area for nearly 6 months. The storage room for medicines is just an
> > open room, with no facilities to maintain the temperature for medicines.
> > A fridge is available but it appeared that the fridge too suffers from
> > Chicken Pox, the Member of Parliament explained.
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Two Earthquakes hit A & N Islands
Andaman Sheekha
http://andamansheekha.com/blog/?p=3403
Port Blair, Apr 25: Two moderate intensity tremors shook Nicobar
District of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The first earthquake measuring 5.7 was reported at 1.12 pm while the
second earthquake of 5.2 in Richter Scale, was reported at 1.20 pm this
afternoon between Little Andaman and Car Nicobar District, at a depth of
10 km.

According to Disaster Control Room Officials no injury or casualty has
been reported.

The mild earthquake went mostly unnoticed by Islanders of A & N Islands.

Meanwhile, in an official release of A & N Administration said that the
situation in Andaman & Nicobar Islands is normal though a series of
earthquakes with magnitude in the range of 4.2 to 5.8 have been detected
in the Nicobar Region over a period of a few hours, clustered around
1.00 p.m today.

“The situation in all the islands has been checked and it is found that
the situation is normal and there have been no reports of damage of any
kind. The State Control Room and the Emergency Operation Centres are
operating round the clock and the situation is being monitored,” the
release added.

Indian, Thai Navies perform joint exercise in Andaman sea
Last Updated: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 21:57
http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/indian-thai-navies-perform-joint-exercise-i\
n-andaman-sea_771709.html

Indian, Thai Navies perform joint exercise in Andaman sea Bangkok:
Indian and Thai navies have undertaken a week-long joint exercise in the
Andaman Sea to combat terrorism, piracy and arms smuggling.

The joint Coordinated Maritime Patrols (CORPAT) was represented on the
Indian side by INS Bangaram of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. The
Royal Thai Navy was represented by H T M S Khamrosin along with the
Dornier aircraft on both sides.

Indian, Thai Navies perform joint exercise in Andaman sea
Thailand's Vice Admiral Taratorn Kajitsuwan, Commander, 3rd Naval Area
Command of the Royal Thai Navy, had called on Lieutenant General Naresh
Chandra Marwah, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command, to
discuss cooperation between the two navies.

The week-long programme ended today.

Coordinated Patrolling between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy
commenced in 2005. These patrols have enhanced mutual confidence levels
between the two defence forces and have contributed to the effective
implementation of the Law of the Sea to prevent illegal activities,
sources said.

Besides joint maritime patrols, Thailand-India defence cooperation
includes regular joint exercises, officers' training at their respective
Armed Forces training institutions, exchange of visits at various
levels, regular Joint Working Group Meetings and Staff Talks.

Indian, Thai Navies perform joint exercise in Andaman sea
Indian envoy Anil Wadhwa also discussed enhancement of bilateral
relations in all fields and expanding cooperative activities between the
two armies and air forces, besides the two navies.

During Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's visit to India in
January 2012, the two sides had signed an MoU on Defence Cooperation to
further streamline and enhance bilateral defence cooperation.

PTI

Dear Malini,



Just a few corrections from a humble soul.



1.               TB is not caused or spread by a virus. It is spread by a
bacteria "mycobacterium tuberculosis". It is an infectious disease caused by
various strains of mycobacterium
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycobacterium> . It is endemic in India and
has been in our country since the days of Sushrut and Charak. It has not
been brought in by the white man. Nor has the white man become a victim of
TB because of association with us. But since the A&N islands were discovered
and colonized only recently, TB never had a chance to "visit" these islands.

2.               Unlike other bacterial diseases like cholera, typhoid, TB
is not galloping. It invades into a person and resides in his system for a
long time till the symptoms manifest. Even when the symptoms manifest, the
patient dies after prolonged illness. Today in most cases TB is curable by
proper treatment, personal hygiene and exercise. [You may have a TB patient
in your house but you'll never contract it if you take proper care of
yourself and subject yourself to regular checks and proper prophylactic
treatment.]

3.               Resistance to any disease has little to do with the health
of the individual or the clan. Sometimes even healthy people can fall prey
to a particular disease. [Malaria is the most common example. Even in the
most heavily infected areas some people simply don't contract the disease.
They seem to have an in-built "resistance" to the malarial parasite.] Most
tribes all over the world were isolated from the civilised world and hence
had not developed resistance to the civilised man's diseases. I never meant
TB when I referred to the wiping out of South American tribes. Those were
more due to viral infections - notably flu and pneumonia - which those
tribes were never exposed to. Same is the case with the tribes of the
Andamans & Nicobar. On the other hand many such tribes were resistant to
their own native diseases which the white man contracted and died due to
lack of resistance.

4.               We in India have the best of facilities for the treatment
and care of TB patients. No other disease is so fully researched and whose
treatment so universally accepted as has TB in India. But my moot questions
[directed to the administration] are: "Will they?" And "When will they?"
take the necessary and minimum steps to attend to the disease and control
its spread in a population with little resistance to TB?

5.               The attitude of the administration [rank and file] is one
of "I don't care" and it is universal. I fully agree with you when you say
that they couldn't airlift the patient to Port Blair let alone Chennai when
they themselves live off the fat of the land, fly around the world with
public money. Well are the babus of Delhi and Chennai or Mumbai doing
anything better? And the ministers for that matter and what about our
president? Building a castle for her retirement when that money could have
been better used to rehabilitate the victims of hundreds of suicides cases
in the hinterland.



I hope I've made myself clear.



Regards,

SAMEER BANERJEE



   _____

From: andamanicobar@...
[mailto:andamanicobar@...] On Behalf Of Malini Shankar
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 4:17 PM
To: andamanicobar@...
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB
Detected in Campbell Bay





Yes the TB virus has not grown overnight in the deceased. It takes years to
marinate. The best way to combat it is to empower / insulate the virus by
building up resistance. It is not so much of a white man's disease. It is so
rampant in India thanks to malnutrition. It is obvious that isolation of the
tribes does not help in building resistance. On what basis do you allude to
the victim being a healthy male? If he was really as healthy as you make him
out to be he would have had the resistance isn't it? As for the best
services available in the hospitals, yes indeed they are available... the
question is if the Islanders can avail of it without using influence. Unless
ofcourse the patient knows his or her rights. That is when the government
doctors and nurses will sit up and attend to the patients.

Cannot forget an incidence. I sailed back from PB to Chennai by ship and I
had checked in saying I am a physically challenged passenger and the port
officials hadn't a clue as to how to handle a PH passenger who was insisting
on her rights! In the same ship was a passenger who had suffered severe rib
fractures. The Administration had not thought it fit to airlift him either
from Rangat to Port Blair or from Port Blair to Chennai for his treatment.
Whereas the public servants insist on flying on their inter island travel
literally at the cot of the public they are sworn to serve.
Malini
C
The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and may
be subject to legal privilege.The pictures and multimedia files attached
herewith are meant for one time publication / broadcast alongwith the
articles
submitted by this journalist / photographer. Reprinting or republication in
any form calls for written permission of the photographer.
All content, and attachments with this e mail are copyright protected. This
e-mail is privileged and confidential. If you are not the
intended recipient please delete the message and notify the sender.
Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author.

Malini Shankar
Freelance Environmental / Wildlife Photo Journalist /
Radio and TV Producer
# 1 / 1, (New # 3) Amrutha" Police Station Road
Basavanagudi
Bangalore 560 004
India
Tel: +91 / 80 / 26677090
Cell: +91 944 805 5645
+91 948 070 2176
mailto: mogli@... <mailto:mogli%40satyam.net.in>
shankar.malini@... <mailto:shankar.malini%40gmail.com>

From: sameer banerjee
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 5:11 PM
To: andamanicobar@...
<mailto:andamanicobar%40yahoogroups.co.in>
Subject: RE: [andamanicobar] Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB
Detected in Campbell Bay

That a healthy tribal like the Shompen should die of TB is very bad indeed.
But TB unlike cholera or typhoid is not something that can take a life
overnight. There is obviously gross negligence in the system so far as
detection, treatment and preventive measures are concerned. These islands
had no history of TB [which is a scourge of the subcontinent]. Apparently
the infection has come from "outside". It is time the island administration
take urgent steps to control the spread of the disease and also give the
best treatment available. One need not emphasise that most insular tribes
have little or no resistance to such infections from "civilised" societies.
[We are all aware of the large scale wiping out of several tribes in South
America and elsewhere since these poor fellows had no resistance to the
killer diseases brought in by the while man.]

Our Central Govt as well as the administration of the islands are fully
equipped to deal with the situation. The questions are: (1) Will they? And
(2) When will they? We in India have a long standing relation with TB and
even today it is one of our worst killers. What needs to be done is
immediately attend to all the cases with speed and arrest the spread of the
disease. Then insist on a check of all the residents and visitors to the
islands. Make sure that the disease is checked and curbed on a war footing.

If all this is done immediately, then where is the question of engaging any
outside agency? Did we not refuse outside help during the aftermath of the
Tsunami?

Regards,

SAMEER BANERJEE

NATIONAL PARK INITIATIVE

_____

From: mailto:andamanicobar%40yahoogroups.co.in
[mailto:mailto:andamanicobar%40yahoogroups.co.in] On Behalf Of Mary Wharton
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 4:40 PM
To: mailto:andamanicobar%40yahoogroups.co.in
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB
Detected in Campbell Bay

Can an international organization like WHO step in and help out, or must
corrective action all be handled internally?

Mary Wharton
Associate Broker
Long and Foster, Realtors
7202 Old Keene Mill Road
Springfield, VA 22150
703-795-0587 Cell
703-452-3945 Office Direct
mailto:Whar10%40aol.com <mailto:Whar10%40aol.com>
Www.marywharton.lnf.com

Sent from my iPad

On Apr 24, 2012, at 2:48 AM, Pankaj Sekhsaria <mailto:psekhsaria%40gmail.com
<mailto:psekhsaria%40gmail.com> > wrote:

> Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB Detected in Campbell Bay
>
> http://andamanchronicle.com/content/view/5731/27/
> Apr 23, 2012 at 10:12 PM
>
> Port Blair, April 23: A male member of Shompen tribe named Kagaj died
> recently after he had suffered from Tuberculosis, said the Member of
> Parliament Shri Bishnu Pada Ray after he returned from Campbell Bay
> today. The MP further said that another female member of the Shompen
> Community named Rose, 27 has also been detected with TB. Her sputum had
> tested positive and has been referred to GB Pant Hospital at Port Blair.
> Skin diseases too have become common among the Shompens, he said.
>
> The case is not only with Shompen tribe, Bishnu explains. Altogether
> there are 17 cases of Tuberculosis detected in Campbell Bay. This is due
> to poor health care facilities available in the area he said.
>
> The MP explained that there are two Primary Health Centres in Campbell
> Bay which is looked after by a single doctor. Even if he diagnoses any
> diseases and prescribes for medicines, the medicines are not available
> with the PHC. It takes almost a month to reach medicines and supply it
> to the patients. Can this be digested, Bishnu commented.
>
> He further explained that the facilities in the health centres are
> weird. There is an x-ray machine but no technician has been posted in
> the area for nearly 6 months. The storage room for medicines is just an
> open room, with no facilities to maintain the temperature for medicines.
> A fridge is available but it appeared that the fridge too suffers from
> Chicken Pox, the Member of Parliament explained.
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Kagaz  died in November 2009. The MP seems to have woken up to the old but a
tragic reality  reality now.
 
Kagaz  was under treatment at GB Hospital but stopped taking medicine once he
went back to the island .It is mandatory for a TB patient to continue treatment
 for 6 months to avoid attracting drug resistant TB.NGOs and health workers
need to launch massive campaign against spread of TB virus in is;lands

--- On Thu, 26/4/12, Vishvajit Pandya <pandyav@...> wrote:


From: Vishvajit Pandya <pandyav@...>
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB
Detected in Campbell Bay
To: andamanicobar@...
Date: Thursday, 26 April, 2012, 3:58 PM



 



Few months back along with a research team we had visited the Shompen area to
conduct some preliminary work and we were also informed that Kagaz, a very
significant individual had passed away and a chanel of communication with the
community was closed for ever.I would like to confirm tha Zubair's information,
like his other reporting is on spot and correct. None the less the state of
Shompens and what could be done and has not be done is a diferent and complex
matter.Vishvajit Pandya

--- On Wed, 4/25/12, zubair ahmed <zubairpbl@...> wrote:

From: zubair ahmed <zubairpbl@...>
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB
Detected in Campbell Bay
To: andamanicobar@...
Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 3:06 PM

 

I came to know that Kagaz died of TB in GB Pant Hospital in 2009.

Zubair Ahmed

Tel: 03192 246191

Mb: +919932081771

On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 4:39 PM, Mary Wharton <whar10@...> wrote:

> **

>

>

> Can an international organization like WHO step in and help out, or must

> corrective action all be handled internally?

>

> Mary Wharton

> Associate Broker

> Long and Foster, Realtors

> 7202 Old Keene Mill Road

> Springfield, VA 22150

> 703-795-0587 Cell

> 703-452-3945 Office Direct

> Whar10@...

> Www.marywharton.lnf.com

>

> Sent from my iPad

>

>

> On Apr 24, 2012, at 2:48 AM, Pankaj Sekhsaria <psekhsaria@...>

> wrote:

>

> > Shompen Male Dies of TB, 17 More Cases of TB Detected in Campbell Bay

> >

> > http://andamanchronicle.com/content/view/5731/27/

> > Apr 23, 2012 at 10:12 PM

> >

> > Port Blair, April 23: A male member of Shompen tribe named Kagaj died

> > recently after he had suffered from Tuberculosis, said the Member of

> > Parliament Shri Bishnu Pada Ray after he returned from Campbell Bay

> > today. The MP further said that another female member of the Shompen

> > Community named Rose, 27 has also been detected with TB. Her sputum had

> > tested positive and has been referred to GB Pant Hospital at Port Blair.

> > Skin diseases too have become common among the Shompens, he said.

> >

> > The case is not only with Shompen tribe, Bishnu explains. Altogether

> > there are 17 cases of Tuberculosis detected in Campbell Bay. This is due

> > to poor health care facilities available in the area he said.

> >

> > The MP explained that there are two Primary Health Centres in Campbell

> > Bay which is looked after by a single doctor. Even if he diagnoses any

> > diseases and prescribes for medicines, the medicines are not available

> > with the PHC. It takes almost a month to reach medicines and supply it

> > to the patients. Can this be digested, Bishnu commented.

> >

> > He further explained that the facilities in the health centres are

> > weird. There is an x-ray machine but no technician has been posted in

> > the area for nearly 6 months. The storage room for medicines is just an

> > open room, with no facilities to maintain the temperature for medicines.

> > A fridge is available but it appeared that the fridge too suffers from

> > Chicken Pox, the Member of Parliament explained.

> >

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

>

>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

New PCCF and CWW Takes Over
Andaman Sheekha
http://andamansheekha.com/blog/?p=3405
Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Apr 25: Dr. Shashi Kumar has taken over as the new PCCF
(wildlife) and the Chief Wildlife Warden of Forest Department, A & N
Administration.

Dr. Kumar from 1980 batch of Indian Forest Services was posted in Goa
before this appointment. Earlier from 2001 – 2004, Dr. Kumar had worked
in the Andaman & Nicobar Island Forest & Plantation Development Cooperation.

“I like Andaman Islands very much, that’s why I came here again,
otherwise I was also having the option to go Dehradun,” he added.

Port Blair city becomes Dog’s Paradise; Islanders feel alienated
Andaman Sheekha

Dog Sterilization; Is it only in Papers?

Sarthak Kanjilal
http://andamansheekha.com/blog/?p=3407
Port Blair, Apr 25: The dog population has assumed alarming proportions
in many other parts of Port Blair city. With the issue seemingly way
down on the priority list of the PBMC, general public are left to their
own devices when it comes to save themselves from the gnashing and
growling canines.

The commuters especially two-wheeler riders have a different problem. In
many junctions, stray dogs chasing two-wheelers in a menacing manner.

Currently, the PBMC has a team of four to six dog catchers with only one
dog catching van which works in two shifts.

Talking to Andaman Sheekha the Secretary of Port Blair Municipal Council
(PBMC) Mr. Raksh Bali, IAS said that there are about 7,000 stray dogs in
Port Blair city.

“According to law after sterilization of dogs we have to leave them at
the same place from where we had picked them up. The dog sterilization
is looked after by an NGO, and for sterilizing of one dog we are paying
them Rs 450. Earlier, we used to sterilize 100 dogs in a month and now I
have told them to sterilize 200 dogs in a month,” Mr. Bali added.

Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Dr. Geeta Gladson, from ‘Friendicoes Seka’,
an NGO, which works for the dog sterilization in the islands, said that
since 2009 nearly 3900 dogs have already been sterilized.

When asked whether the dog sterilization is done only in papers,
considering the growing menace of dogs on road, Dr. Geeta Gladson
clarified that the NGO gets payment only after the Sanitary Inspectors
and Doctors from Animal Husbandry, certify the sterilization operations
by counting organs (two testicles and two ovaries of Dogs).

“We preserve the organs and only after organ counting we dispose off
those organs infront of the Sanitary Inspectors. The payments are
cleared on that basis organ counting,” she added.

Rubbishing allegations of malpractice in dog sterilisation works Dr.
Geeta the work of Sterilisation is carried out as per the norms. “Impact
will be seen after the forth year and according to me I am seeing it
from now itself, as the numbers of female dogs with puppies are very
rarely seen on the streets,” Dr. Geeta added.

Though the picture from the side of PBMC looks rosy but actually things
are terribly difficult for General Public. At night little children are
scared to step outside as gang of dogs often attack small kids. Every
junction of Port Blair city remains captured by two dozens of dogs,
which is making life difficult for common man.

Dear Subscriber,

Please find  web links of ICSF DC Weekly News Alert from 23 April  to
27 April 2012.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Lt Gov asks Centre money for tsunami
affected farmers
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_lt-gov-asks-centre-money-for-tsunami-affect\
ed-farmers_1679598

The Andaman and Nicobar administration on Monday said that Lt Governor
Lt Gen (retd) Bhopinder Singh has taken up with the Centre regarding
compensation to the farmers whose land were submerged under water
during the tsunami of 2004. The Lt Governor has written several
letters to the Centre and Union Home minister to immediately sanction
money so that it can be disbursed as compensation to those farmers
whose land were submerged under water in tsunami, official sources
said today...

Kerala: A 'sea of humanity' in support of fishermen
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-25/thiruvananthapuram/313981\
41_1_human-chain-arabian-sea-coast

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Fisheries Co-ordination Committee will
form a 'Sea of humanity' (human chain) along the coast, from
Manjeswaram in Kasaragod district to Iraiman Thurai in Kanyakumari
district, on April 28. The event is being organized to highlight the
need to protect the lives and rights of fishermen across the state.
Addressing a news conference here on Tuesday, co-ordination committee
convener T Peter said the human chain would touch 222 fishing villages
across the state...

Tamil Nadu: Fishermen to be educated on boat safety
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article3347824.ece

The Coast Guard plans to conduct community interaction with the
fishermen along the south eastern coast in the State to educate them
on the need for installing safety equipment in their fishing boats.
The decision has come at a time when the fishing boats have been
halted at different jetties as part of 45-day fishing ban. It is the
period where owners of the boats fishermen carry out annual maintenance...

Maharashtra: Ban purse seine nets fishermen to agriculture minister
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Ban-purse-seine-nets-fishermen-t\
o-agriculture-minister/Article1-844391.aspx

A delegation of fishermen from Maharashtra has requested the Union
agriculture minister Sharad Pawar to ban the `purse seine net fishing'
along the Konkan coast, which they say is depriving thousands of
fishermen of livelihood and depleting the fish stock.
"Fish stock along the state coast is facing a serious threat of
depletion due to rampant purse seine net fishing by trawlers,"
Maharashtra Fishermen Action Committee president Damodar Tandel said...

Gujarat: Fishermen seek higher grants for boats in Pak seizure
http://dailypioneer.com/nation/60056-fishermen-seek-higher-grants-for-boats-in-p\
ak-seizure.html

The fishing community in the coastal areas of Saurashtra have
petitioned the Centre to increase the compensation for their boats
which have been withheld by Pakistani security forces after being
confiscated in the high seas.  In a recent communication to the
Centre, the Porbandar based boat owners association has demanded that
the subsidy for rebuilding of the fishing boats be increased...

West Bengal: Sundarbans robbers abduct 10 fishermen for ransom
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=231643

Ten fishermen were abducted by 'forest robbers' from Baikari point of
Baro Canal of Mamundo River in the Sundarbans on Monday afternoon.The
forest robber are now demanding Tk 20,000 ransom for release of each
of them, police quoting the victims' relatives said.They have to pay
the ransom in seven days, failing which the fishermen will face 'a
dire consequence', they added.The robbers are sending messages asking
to arrange the ransom within the deadline or receive the dead bodies
after that, the victims' relatives told police...

Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan fishermen freed from custody of Somali pirates
to return home today
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_12/Apr26_1335416166CH.php

Colombo: The six Sri Lankan fishermen who were rescued by the Spanish
Navy from the custody of Somali pirates are to return to the island
today.They left Tanzania where they had been sheltered after they were
released Wednesday and they are expected to arrive at Bandaranaike
International Airport in Katunayake this morning...

Maldives: Maldives outlines maritime threats, solutions
http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25116:m\
aldives-outlines-maritime-threats-solutions&catid=109:ions&Itemid=238

The Maldives is facing a growing number of maritime threats, including
piracy, illegal fishing, human-trafficking, drug-smuggling and
gun-running. However, the archipelago is developing its ability to
protect against any threat that may reach its shores. To this end it
has established joint maritime patrols with India and is setting up a
coastal radar system and information-sharing network...

Myanmar: Burmese ‘Slaves’ rescued from Thai fishing boat
http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/2908

Twenty Burmese migrants were rescued when the fishing boat they were
forced to work on was raided by the Thai authorities and human rights
activists in Chonburi Province, south of Bangkok. Kyaw Thaung, an
spokesperson for the Burmese Association in Thailand (BAT) who was
involved in the raid, said that the group was rescued at 3 am on
Friday following a tip from one of the victims...

Afghanistan: Illegal fishing in river Kabul, sher mahi severely endangered
by Mureeb Mohmand
http://tribune.com.pk/story/367816/illegal-fishing-in-river-kabul-sher-mahi-seve\
rely-endangered/

The sher mahi found in Kabul River is fast becoming endangered because
of illegal fishing in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. “People are using electric
currents produced through small generators to catch sher mahi,”
Khanatullah, a local fisherman, told The Express Tribune. This
practice kills many small fish as well, he said. “The provincial
fisheries department should take strict action to save the remaining
larvae of sher mahi from destruction...



==================================
The ICSF DC Weekly News Alert is a service provided by the ICSF
Documentation Centre on a weekly basis.
To stop receiving the complete attachment of news, please write to
icsfdcnews@...

To unsubscribe pleas e email icsfdcnews@...

International Collective in Support of Fishworkers(ICSF)
27 College Road
Chennai 600 006
India
Tel:91-44-28275303
Fax:91-44-28254457

www.icsf.net
www.icsf.org



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Nicobar Islands to become self-sufficient in animal husbandry sector
shortly: LG
Andaman Sheekha
http://andamansheekha.com/blog/?p=3479
LG inaugurates Composite Livestock Farm at Kamorta

Port Blair, Apr 27: A Composite Livestock Farm comprising of Hatchery
Unit, Poultry Unit, Goat Unit, Pig Unit and Fodder farm have been
established by the Directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services
(AH&VS) at Chota Enaka in Kamorta. The Lt. Governor, Lt Gen (Retd)
Bhopinder Singh, PVSM, AVSM today inaugurated the livestock farm by
unveiling a plaque.

Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor stated that the Composite
Livestock Farm at Kamorta will benefit almost 15,000 people of 39
villages in the six inhabited Islands of Nancowry group of Islands.
Besides ensuring easy supply of animal husbandry products like chicks,
goats and pigs to people living in this part of the Islands, the
livestock farm would also help in providing training facilities to the
beneficiaries, he added. He further stated that with the establishment
of the composite livestock farm, the transportation problem for
supplying animal husbandry inputs to Nancowry group of Islands from Port
Blair would be solved as inputs will now be made available to people of
all the surrounding villages through the transit poultry sheds at
Katchal and Teressa, he said. He further stated that a full-fledged
Composite Livestock farm will also be established at Arong Village, Car
Nicobar, which is likely to be completed by July 2012. After the
completion of all the Composite Livestock farms at Kamorta, Car Nicobar
and Campbell Bay, the entire group of Nicobar Islands will become
self-sufficient in Animal Husbandry sector, he said. He urged the people
to avail full benefit of the new facilities not only for
self-consumption but for generating employment for themselves.

Mr. A.S. Dagar, Secretary (AH&VS) in his address mentioned that this
farm was to be commissioned on 21 April 2012 by the Hon’ble Lt. Governor
in presence of Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament and Smt
Aysha Mazeed, Chairperson, Tribal Council of Nancowry, but the same was
postponed due to some unavoidable circumstances. 28 April 2012, being
World Veterinary Day, it was decided late evening on 26th April that the
same may be commissioned to mark the World Veterinary Day in the islands.

Thereafter, the Lt Governor visited Campbell Bay and held meeting with
the PRI members and local heads in the APWD Guest House and discussed
with them local pending issues and gave directions to all concerned
departments to attend to them on priority. He asked the DC (Nicobar) to
submit a report on the physical presence of all department
representatives in the Nicobar group of Islands and visit of HoDs in the
year 2012.
--
---
http://pankaj-atcrossroads.blogspot.com
http://www.indianaturewatch.net/view_cat.php?tag=Pankaj+Sekhsaria
http://3fotosaday.blogspot.com/

C/o Kalpavriksh
Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
908 Deccan Gym
Pune 411004
India
Tel: 020 25654239
Mob: 09423009933
Email: psekhsaria@...

APWD informs about Status of Water Projects to BJP
Andaman Sheekha
http://andamansheekha.com/blog/?p=3478
Port Blair, Apr 27: The State President, BJP State unit, Mr. R Mohan had
earlier requested the Chief Engineer, Andaman Public Works Department to
let the Party know whether there will be any further curtailment of
water. He also wanted to know the updated position of the Rutland Water
Project and Dhanikari Dam.

In reply, the Assistant Engineer ( Works),APWD, Mr. Jose, P. John has
now informed that there is no plan for further curtailment of water at
present. He further informed that, the Rutland Water Project has three
components and out of which two components i.e. laying of pipe in
Rutland Island and South Andaman is completed in all respect. The laying
of submarine pipeline was sanctioned for Rs. 13.89 Crores as per
estimate of NIOT. The tender was re-invited on June, 2011. The same is
rejected by the competent authority and decision has been taken to
explore possibility of inviting tender on BOOT basis.

Regarding the work related to raising of height of Dhanikari Dam, it is
expected to be completed during this financial year.

All the affected countries ought to extend their territorial waters to 500
nautical miles. This includes countries like India, Pakistan, Maldives, Sri
Lanka, B'Desh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, S'Pore and Indonesia. It will
prevent countries like Japan and China from fishing in these waters. Even
European countries should be asked to stop fishing in these territories. Any
rogue ship should be sunk and their crew left to die in those shark infested
waters.



   _____

From: andamanicobar@...
[mailto:andamanicobar@...] On Behalf Of icsf@...
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2012 4:27 PM
To: andamanicobar@...; campaign-against-czm@googlegroups.com;
csewhatsnew3@...; cuts-tradeforum@googlegroups.com;
forestrights@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [andamanicobar] ICSF DC Weekly News Alert from 23 April to 27 April
2012






Dear Subscriber,

Please find web links of ICSF DC Weekly News Alert from 23 April to
27 April 2012.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Lt Gov asks Centre money for tsunami
affected farmers
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_lt-gov-asks-centre-money-for-tsunami-af
fected-farmers_1679598

The Andaman and Nicobar administration on Monday said that Lt Governor
Lt Gen (retd) Bhopinder Singh has taken up with the Centre regarding
compensation to the farmers whose land were submerged under water
during the tsunami of 2004. The Lt Governor has written several
letters to the Centre and Union Home minister to immediately sanction
money so that it can be disbursed as compensation to those farmers
whose land were submerged under water in tsunami, official sources
said today...

Kerala: A 'sea of humanity' in support of fishermen
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-25/thiruvananthapuram/31
398141_1_human-chain-arabian-sea-coast

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Fisheries Co-ordination Committee will
form a 'Sea of humanity' (human chain) along the coast, from
Manjeswaram in Kasaragod district to Iraiman Thurai in Kanyakumari
district, on April 28. The event is being organized to highlight the
need to protect the lives and rights of fishermen across the state.
Addressing a news conference here on Tuesday, co-ordination committee
convener T Peter said the human chain would touch 222 fishing villages
across the state...

Tamil Nadu: Fishermen to be educated on boat safety
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article3347824.ece

The Coast Guard plans to conduct community interaction with the
fishermen along the south eastern coast in the State to educate them
on the need for installing safety equipment in their fishing boats.
The decision has come at a time when the fishing boats have been
halted at different jetties as part of 45-day fishing ban. It is the
period where owners of the boats fishermen carry out annual maintenance...

Maharashtra: Ban purse seine nets fishermen to agriculture minister
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Ban-purse-seine-nets-fisherm
en-to-agriculture-minister/Article1-844391.aspx

A delegation of fishermen from Maharashtra has requested the Union
agriculture minister Sharad Pawar to ban the `purse seine net fishing'
along the Konkan coast, which they say is depriving thousands of
fishermen of livelihood and depleting the fish stock.
"Fish stock along the state coast is facing a serious threat of
depletion due to rampant purse seine net fishing by trawlers,"
Maharashtra Fishermen Action Committee president Damodar Tandel said...

Gujarat: Fishermen seek higher grants for boats in Pak seizure
http://dailypioneer.com/nation/60056-fishermen-seek-higher-grants-for-boats-
in-pak-seizure.html

The fishing community in the coastal areas of Saurashtra have
petitioned the Centre to increase the compensation for their boats
which have been withheld by Pakistani security forces after being
confiscated in the high seas. In a recent communication to the
Centre, the Porbandar based boat owners association has demanded that
the subsidy for rebuilding of the fishing boats be increased...

West Bengal: Sundarbans robbers abduct 10 fishermen for ransom
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=231643

Ten fishermen were abducted by 'forest robbers' from Baikari point of
Baro Canal of Mamundo River in the Sundarbans on Monday afternoon.The
forest robber are now demanding Tk 20,000 ransom for release of each
of them, police quoting the victims' relatives said.They have to pay
the ransom in seven days, failing which the fishermen will face 'a
dire consequence', they added.The robbers are sending messages asking
to arrange the ransom within the deadline or receive the dead bodies
after that, the victims' relatives told police...

Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan fishermen freed from custody of Somali pirates
to return home today
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_12/Apr26_1335416166CH.php

Colombo: The six Sri Lankan fishermen who were rescued by the Spanish
Navy from the custody of Somali pirates are to return to the island
today.They left Tanzania where they had been sheltered after they were
released Wednesday and they are expected to arrive at Bandaranaike
International Airport in Katunayake this morning...

Maldives: Maldives outlines maritime threats, solutions
http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content
<http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25
116:maldives-outlines-maritime-threats-solutions&catid=109:ions&Itemid=238>
&view=article&id=25116:maldives-outlines-maritime-threats-solutions&catid=10
9:ions&Itemid=238

The Maldives is facing a growing number of maritime threats, including
piracy, illegal fishing, human-trafficking, drug-smuggling and
gun-running. However, the archipelago is developing its ability to
protect against any threat that may reach its shores. To this end it
has established joint maritime patrols with India and is setting up a
coastal radar system and information-sharing network...

Myanmar: Burmese 'Slaves' rescued from Thai fishing boat
http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/2908

Twenty Burmese migrants were rescued when the fishing boat they were
forced to work on was raided by the Thai authorities and human rights
activists in Chonburi Province, south of Bangkok. Kyaw Thaung, an
spokesperson for the Burmese Association in Thailand (BAT) who was
involved in the raid, said that the group was rescued at 3 am on
Friday following a tip from one of the victims...

Afghanistan: Illegal fishing in river Kabul, sher mahi severely endangered
by Mureeb Mohmand
http://tribune.com.pk/story/367816/illegal-fishing-in-river-kabul-sher-mahi-
severely-endangered/

The sher mahi found in Kabul River is fast becoming endangered because
of illegal fishing in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. "People are using electric
currents produced through small generators to catch sher mahi,"
Khanatullah, a local fisherman, told The Express Tribune. This
practice kills many small fish as well, he said. "The provincial
fisheries department should take strict action to save the remaining
larvae of sher mahi from destruction...

==================================
The ICSF DC Weekly News Alert is a service provided by the ICSF
Documentation Centre on a weekly basis.
To stop receiving the complete attachment of news, please write to
icsfdcnews@... <mailto:icsfdcnews%40gmail.com>

To unsubscribe pleas e email icsfdcnews@...
<mailto:icsfdcnews%40gmail.com>

International Collective in Support of Fishworkers(ICSF)
27 College Road
Chennai 600 006
India
Tel:91-44-28275303
Fax:91-44-28254457

www.icsf.net
www.icsf.org

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]