Active participation by elected representatives of PBMC in fight against COVID-19

Frontline Field Heroes (Sanitary workers) deployed for sanitation in all Wards

Port Blair, Apr 16

  In order to prevent the outbreak of COVID-19 in Port Blair City, the PBMC has taken the following initiatives with the active participation of Elected Representatives:

·      Disinfection Service:-

* Sanitary workers are frontline workers who are working round the clock with Personal Protection Equipments (PPE) such as mask, hand gloves, hand sanitizers, etc and are deployed for sanitation in their respective Municipal Wards.

* It is worth to mention that sanitation services covers all 24 Wards including Quarantine Homes/Hotels/Guest Houses. These Frontline Field Heroes are deployed for sanitization at large footfall areas including quarantine areas such as Bathu basti, Junglighat, Mohanpura, Ratnam Market, Dignabad, Round Basti, Sisty Nagar and Atlanta Point.

* PBMC has retrofitted water tanker into Mobile Spraying Machine to disinfect areas at large.

·      Water crisis:-

* PBMC has started Water Distribution through Tankers by transporting water from Hutbay through M.V.Campbell Bay vessel. It has augmented 300 tonnes of water to the existing distribution System.

* Another 350 tonnes of water is being transported from Rutland by M.V.Kalapani Vessel.

·      Rejuvenating existing wells:-

* In ward No. 14, the work of rejuvenating the existing wells was taken up in the presence of Shri N.K. Udhaya Kumar, Chairperson, PBMC and Shri B. Eswar Rao, Councillor, Ward No. 14. The above process will start in all the 24 wards.

·      Empowering Self Help Group:-

* Self Help Groups is one of the key pillars in National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM). In collaboration with the Andaman Chamber of Commerce, Self Help Groups have been instrumental in making 5000 nos. of face masks.

   The PBMC has once again appealed to the general public to maintain social distancing, stay calm and stay at home.

Limited ferry trips forces commuters to violate social distancing

DSS should increase the number of ferries between Chatham and Bambooflat

TMI Bureau

Port Blair, April 15: The A&N Administration is putting its best efforts to contain COVID-19 in these islands. Especially, the concerted efforts of the Chief Secretary combined with the coordination of various administrative secretaries and the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman and Andaman & Nicobar Police in particular, Andaman & Nicobar Islands remains a safe place against the outbreak scare.

But, the administration require to check itself about the functioning of DSS ferries between Chatham and Bambooflat, through which the dialysis and other patients, health workers, police staff and labours and other government staffs are use to travel in boats/ vehicle ferries on daily basis to attend their entrusted duties. 

According to reliable sources, during the lockdown period DSS is arranged ferry service for staff who are on essential duty to ply between Chatham and Bambooflat, as per schedule in the morning at 7 am (vehicle ferry and boat, each), 8 am (one vehicle ferry), and at 9 am (vehicle ferry and boat, each) total 5 trips, and in the evening at 5 pm (vehicle ferry and boat, each), and last boat at 6 pm (vehicle ferry and boat, each) total 4 trips. Due to paucity of ferry boats and vehicle ferries, passengers jostle with each other to find a place on board. Amidst this rush, they forget the social distancing norms in place.

Moreover, the presence of Tally clerk and police personnel at Barricade is used to monitor the passage of commuters at Bambooflat jetty, but, the absence of same monitoring system at Chatham jetty is become a cause of concern.

Consequently, many dialysis and other patients, frontline health workers, police staff and other government staff in hundreds fears that, due to paucity of ferry boats and vehicle ferries, passengers jostle with each other to find a place on board. Amidst this rush, they forget the social distancing norms in place. It might aggravate the situation even a single passenger has any symptom of disease.

Therefore, the Directorate of Shipping may increase the number of ferry boats to Bambooflat so as to enable the commuters to follow the social distancing norms flawlessly.

Citizen Corner 16/04/2020

* We can say, by the praiseworthy treatment by Doctors at GB Pant Hospital, the recovery or discharge rate of COVID-19 infected patients in the A&N Islands is 100%. So, doesn't need to worry, but, the cause of concern is its fast transmission, which is in people's hands.

* The slight spell of rain today, has raise a hope among people in islands to be freed from water crisis soon. But, the authorities must learn from these days and work towards completion of water projects in the A&N Islands.

* A&N Police is doing good job, imposed many challans, and around 1500 vehicle have been taken to custody for proper purposeless roaming on roads. No option left, but situation demand the Police to do so to control the movement during the time in search of invisible enemy of human i.e. COVID-19.

* The COVID-19 Hotspots areas in city require more attention, as they are not allowed to move in the open air. But, the door step delivery system to provide vegetables, meat/ fish, milk, etc. must be strengthened. 

* Heard, the OFC is connected to these Islands, just to need to push the button. It will be helpful for the students to study@home. Of course, there will be another challenge of recharge and packages to subscribe during this lockdown period before BSNL, but, can't keep pending this way for long, if everything is ready.

* Being at home is a tough job, but have to face it. Tensions around us, but nothing in comparison to the risk lay down before Health workers, Police staffs, transport and sanitary workers. So, stay at home and be safe, and cooperate with officials and staff stands as frontline workers against COVID-19.

Hotspot areas in South Andaman are cry for essentials

TMI Correspondent

Port Blair, April 15: The areas which are marked as Hotspots in South Andaman are facing crises for basic essentials items.

As per sources, the vehicles which are carrying essential items such as vegetable, meat / fishes, bakery, milk and eggs, etc. to deliver in the areas are roaming irregularly, that too silently and people of the respective areas are unable to acquire the service due to unknown about the vehicle schedule, as they don't know when it comes and goes in their areas.

On the other hand residents also allege that, they are not allowed to go out of their bounded areas to purchase anything, and the items which are ordered through door delivery system are undelivered even after two days of placement of orders.

Hence, the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman may pay attention to fix the residents concern over supply of essential items to the areas, especially in the Hotspot areas.

MP raise issues of islanders before Admn.

Issue No. 1: Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Member of Parliament, A&N Islands in continuation of his earlier letter dated 08.04.2020 regarding arrangements for bringing our Islanders on free of cost stranded at different States/UTs has further wrote a letter to the Hon'ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands on 15.04.2020 informing that since the lockdown period has been extended upto 3rd May, 2020 and the UT Administration don't have any data about the number of Islanders stranded in which State/UTs.  Hence, in order to collect the details of each Islander such as name, current place of stay, city, contact number etc., he suggested that the Administration may make a central database of all the stranded Islanders in different States/UTs through a control room by publishing in the news papers, Pradeshik Samachar, Social Media asking them or their relative to give the details of such individuals, so that it is easy for the Administration to make an action plan accordingly for bringing them to Port Blair from mainland free of cost.   

Issue No. 2: The Member of Parliament, A&N Islands has also wrote a letter to the Hon'ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands on 15.04.2020 informing him that a large number of poor people are residing in remote area of Revenue and forest area and they were used to visit nearest Health Centres for their health checking as and when required. However, due to imposition of lockdown since 19.03.2020 which has been now extended upto 3rd May, 2020, these peoples are facing great difficulties for their health check up and medicine etc.  Hence, he requested the Hon'ble Lt. Governor to organise health camps in the remote revenue and forest areas by deputing medical team consisting doctor with supporting staff with medicine.

Issue No.3: Besides the above said two issues, the Member of Parliament Mr. Sharma has also taken up one more matter with the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration on 15.04.2020 that few Islanders who went to Visakhapatnam for medical treatment have been stranded there and due to lockdown subsequently extended upto 3rd May, 2020, these peoples are facing financial hardships for accommodation and other expenses for food etc.   Hence, he requested the Chief Secretary to pass necessary direction to the concerned authorities to open the Guest House at Visakhapatnam for the Islanders at this time of crises as done in the other places like Chennai, Kolkatta and Delhi.

Stay@Home, Study@Home – by Dr.S.Ganesan (RD, IGNOU)

- Dr. S. Ganesan (RD, IGNOU)

The concept of 4-walled class room is fast changing due to extensive integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching-learning process. We all know that our home is our first school, to start the initial steps of learning process. Mother is the first teacher for a child. The 4-walled study-room at home provides a similar educational environment of a school; it is more so for university level education. The Open Learning system provides education at your door steps. But, now it is able to reach inside the study room right away. The ‘distance’ in Distance Education system has been disappearing due to computer mediated education at ‘click’ away distance. The e-mode learning platform available now is easily able to teach at a distance. Thus, the home based study is more effective and powerful for self-learning students.  The constructive use of time, during long lockdown period, is one way of improving our study habits.  Confined to 4-walls is to be made more purposeful for self development; especially, for the distance learners of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

WE LEARN                                      83% THROUGH SIGHT                       94%       11% THROUGH LISTENING                                      3.5% THROUGH SMELL                          6%       1.5% THROUGH TOUCH                                      1% THROUGH TASTE

WE REMEMBER                           20% OF WHAT WE HEAR                           30% OF WHAT WE SEE Audio-Video } 50% OF WHAT WE SEE & HEAR                          80% OF WHAT WE SAY                          90% OF WHAT WE SAY & DO

The recent announcement of alternative learning platforms through Doordarshan, cable TV, All India Radio for school children is one of the best student welfare measures by department of education.  It is a powerful educational broadcast / telecast to reach every student. Both the parents and school children will enjoy the radio-class and TV-class at home.  In other words, it is the school classroom inside the home. For some of them, it may be first experience to listen to radio-class. The Educational Radio of India-GYAN VANI - FM Radio Stations are doing this activity for all levels of education, for students, teachers & public. Now-a-days, its broadcast can be received through web-links also.  There are number of such learning platforms available now, for example: Gyandarshan – Educational TV Channel of India- (24 x 7), You Tube, Skype, Google Duo, Google Hangouts, Chat options available on various platforms, Whatsapp, Face Book, Instagram, Zoom, E-mail, E-Gyankosh from IGNOU (http://egyankosh.ac.in/), Ignou's Youtube videos (http://egyankosh.ac.in/handle/123456789/35033), IGNOU's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPageIGNOU/)

Self-motivation is highly required to learn from any virtual class room. The parents can motivate and guide, the school children, to equip for such e-learning platforms. The adult distance learners can train themselves to make use of all such teaching-learning platforms effectively.  Mentally preparing to attend such virtual class room is more important factor to gain knowledge. Keeping the pen, pencil, note-book, books, dictionary, mobile-video-recording etc. ready to use is equally important aspect for better learning environment. Some children maintain their own home-library with books, audio-video CDs also.   Setting a suitable audio volume in radio / TV set is essential to have proper listening pleasure. It also improves better concentration of students. Having seen TV as entertainment device, the shift to ‘education importing gadget’ may create small psychological adjustment problem for some students. Little orientation is required for the same. It is like, seeing the ‘father as teacher’ in a classroom.

The radio and TV  are more powerful electronic mass media suitable for educating the students at large number. Due to lockdown period, the untapped potential of such e-media is now explored for the benefit of students. Everyone will appreciate to continue such platforms, in use, forever.  Like the pre-class preparation activities, the post-class (tele-class) activities are also equally important; and are to be carried out very systematically. Otherwise, the TV class effect vanishes in volatile memory of students. Spending 30-40 minutes for reading the relevant topics will strengthen the storage process. Here the parents can play good facilitator role.  Even educated parents can supplement the topics, to enrich their children. It gives good opportunity for parents to prove their talent and command in subject / topics. Gradually the image of the parents will increase in the mind of their wards.

Having more than one cable TV channel in A & N Islands, the different classes in different medium of instruction(s) can be explored effectively. Similarly, the primary channel (medium wave) of AIR and FM channel can take-up verities of school subjects simultaneously. The simultaneous broadcast / telecast in all electronic mass media, at a time, will change the lockdown period into ‘educating period’ through    e-home study. The success of such experiments can be deeply studied by students of M.Ed., or M.A., Education or PG Diploma in Educational Technology or PG Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication. Let the parents and students jointly enjoy the indoor classroom activities, entering inside their home. Day-by-day, its effectiveness must improve in teaching-learning process. The positive impact must be our aim to use such giant media for the benefit our young students.  Academically enjoy the stay @ home, by studying @ home.

(The author is Regional Director of IGNOU, Regional Centre, Port Blair and can be reached at rcportblair@ignou.ac.in (or) 8900936718)