Details

Denis Giles

28 May 2020

Created: 28 May 2020

Last Updated: 28 May 2020

Hits: 3351

To

Mr. Chetan B Sanghi, IAS

The Chief Secretary

A & N Administration

Port Blair.

Copy to :

The Editor

Andaman Chronicle,

Dear Sir,

The biggest impediment to Digital Andaman and most other initiatives of the Administration and even the Govt. of India appears to be B.S.N.L in Andamans.

I came to Andamans in 1967. Even in those days the biggest problems were water, telephones, electricity & shipping. Every year, the LG’s earlier (CC) Republic Day Address etc. will testify to these.

I could not access the Republic /Independence Day address/statements of CS/LG/CC for these years as there were not available with The Daily Telegram office and I did not keep copies .

The same tradition still continues even after fifty years. Earlier, telephones were the problem. Now telephone broadband, mobile internet and even landlines are all problems.

Since it is customary to hold the Head of the Department responsible, I suggest that the CGM, BSNL should be held accountable.

I admit that it is difficult for a person in authority to suddenly do this without admitting that the initial appointment itself was wrong. In a hierarchical organization every person rises to his own level of incompetence, the only alternative is to “kick him upstairs”.  May be promote him to Principal Chief General Manager and post him to planning or the central registry.

I have four land lines that show low voltage and 5 BSNL mobile phones. All land lines are non-ops from 19^th May 2020 onwards.  Mobile network is non-ops most of the times even Whatsapps and even text messages fail.  Such a total failure is unprecedented even in A&N Islands.

Now under lock down, most Offices are working with one third of the staff.  Rest are working from home (?) even in absence of internet, telephone and mobiles.

Bank transactions are most affected, no wonder, in case non-ops internet, money deposited in cash or purchase made by Debit/Credit cards etc. 

Businessmen are unable to pay the GST, IT and TDS etc. in a time bound manner keep on paying penalty and interest in default. Even in Digital India of which the islands are a part of, despite the Govt. monopolies like BSNL and the Electricity Department.  I strongly believe that there is some scope of improvement.

SAMIR ACHARYA

Secretary, Society for Andaman & Nicobar Ecology

Details

Denis Giles

09 December 2019

Created: 09 December 2019

Last Updated: 09 December 2019

Hits: 3640

This is to bring to your notice the poor standard of First Aid and medical care administered by the Hospital on 12^th November 2019.

My son Evan Nazareth works as a Marine Biologist in the Andaman Islands. While on fieldwork on Little Andaman he met with an accident. He slipped and fell on a rock. In the process, he hit his chin heavily on a rock. The local coast guard medical officer sutured his wound and suggested he visit a doctor as soon a possible and have an X-ray done to check for any jaw fractures. The Coast Guard performed as they are trained to without any charges.

The next day Evan returned to the Port Blair by boat. On arriving at Port Blair he visited the GB Pant Hospital at around 5 PM. There he was examined by a Dr. Mina Nasir and Dr. Jai Wiswas at the emergency room and was told to take rest as all was well and he had not suffered any fractures. He was also told X ray shots were not required. They based their diagnosis only on external appearance.

Feeling that something was not right, he flew back to Mumbai on the 13^th Nov. After tests and consulting a local physician, it was noted that his mandible was fractured in three places. A seven and a half hour surgery was performed on him, shortly after and three plates fitted to stabilize the Jaw. Evan is now recuperating and will be at home and off work for the next eight weeks.

Sir, I would like the hospital to investigate their department and find out how the Jaw fracture was not detected, although there was misalignment and my son Evan was asked to only take rest and let it heal naturally.

I am sure the problem does not lie only in these two doctors but with the entire system at the hospital.

The Indian Government spends a lot of money to offer medical care to all its citizens obviously your hospital is not using its funds correctly. Nothing can be done to improve Evans condition but please ensure that other patients are not treated in a similar manner in the future.

Further, I see in your website in Specialty Structure that you have listed Orthopaedics as one of your Specialties. Why then was my son not given basic care he deserved when he visited you?

How many local residents have faced a similar fate? In Evan’s case, he was lucky he had means to return to Mumbai for further care.

Capt. Mark Nazareth

9969723603