Award for Andaman Bank
The Andaman & Nicobar State Cooperative Bank Ltd has been selected as the Best Performing Cooperative Bank in India by the National Federation of State Cooperative Banks (NAFSCOB) for the year 2016-17 under the “Overall Performance” category. The financial institution is run by the locals on cooperative bank model. It is reported to be having highest turnover among the banks in Andaman.
Lankan Tamil settlers left in lurch
Not many know that Andaman and Nicobar islands have Sri Lankan Tamils who are settled in remote Katchal Island. Old-timers say after an agreement between Lal Bahadur Shastri, the then Indian Prime Minister, and Bhandernayke, the then Lankan President, in 1976, the Indian origin Tamils were settled in Little Andaman and at Shoal Bay under South Andaman District. All of these settlers were allotted two hectares of land under a scheme. Forty-eight families settled in Katchal Island were allotted only 0.5 hectare land. Andaman and Nicobar MP Bishnu Pada Ray has requested the Centre to allot 1.5 hectare land to 48 families in Kamorta.
Boat operators warn of chakka jam
The Baratang Tourist Fiber Boat Owner’s Association has threatened to go for ‘Chakka Jam’ (strike) at Baratang Islands of Middle Andaman on August 4 to protest the administration’s move of putting a cap on number of tourists arrival at Baratang Island. There were reports that the administration wants to keep the entry ceiling somewhere around 420. Baratang Islands is known for breathtaking limestone caves and also for Mud Volcano and Parrot Island. During the peak season, nearly 1,500 tourists visit the Island daily. Local economy is heavily dependent on tourists.
Recognition for film on Mahatma Gandhi
The film ‘Gandhi the Mahatma’, produced and directed by Naresh Chander Lal, has got a special jury award at 1st Jharkhand International Film Festival. The feature film was shot by Timmanna Hegde and edited by Peter Gundra. Pawan Kumar Sharma is Creative Supervisor. Apart from its shooting at various picturesque places of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the film was also shot at Gandhi Ashram Seva Gram (Wardha). Though in his life Gandhiji never visited Andamans, the Director has shown him visiting the islands after his death, on his birth anniversary and interacting with a group of four children in various locations of the islands.
Sanjib Kumar Roy
Our correspondent in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
laurelsforsanjib@gmail.com