Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 16 January 2021
The students of Southern Group including Little Andaman studying in various colleges across Port Blair and Mayabunder are demanding ships to return to their respective home Islands. Hundreds of such students are stuck in Port Blair after the closure of their colleges.
Higher education institutes have been closed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands till the 31st of January 2021 because of a surge in COVID-19 cases. Many students are reported to be sheltering at the homes of their guardians, whereas some students are still accommodating themselves in their respective hostels.
Some students from Mahatma Gandhi Govt. College, Mayabunder hailing from different Islands of the Southern Group have accommodated themselves in various lodges, house of their friends and are facing financial difficulties.
Students from Southern Group are in communication with each other through WhatsApp Groups and are planning to meet the officials of South Andaman District Administration on Monday and request them to arrange for a ship for the students to travel back to their homes.
@SuneelAnchipaka Sir I am a student of DBRAIT portblair and I request you behalf of all the fellow students of inder islands to kindly provide a ship for stranding students it will be a great help for us because we are facing many problems related food and shelter. Thank you sir
— Soumik Bala (@soumikbala44) January 16, 2022
While speaking to Nicobar Times, Mr. Ayush Singh a student of Dr. B.R Ambedkar Institute of Technology informed that only the students from the far-flung areas are suffering at Port Blair, whereas other students are safely staying at their homes. He added that many students are facing financial difficulties as the hostel mess is now charging more than usual fees for food (*Later the authorities of DBRAIT clarified that no extra mess fees was charged to any student and usual mess fees of Rs. 50 per day is being charged). Mr. Ayush also informed that some students of MGGC, Mayabunder are staying in lodges and are facing a lot of difficulties.
@KuldeepRaiSharma Sir I am the student of DBRAIT college in Port Blair.I request you behalf of all the fellow students of inter islands to kindly provide a ship for stranding students it will be a great help for us because we are facing many problems like food and shelter.
— Ayush Singh (@AyushSi55082619) January 16, 2022
The students are expecting that the closure of the higher education institutes may be extended because of the continuing surge in COVID-19 cases throughout the country and hence they wish to travel to their homes to stay comfortably and safely with their families.
Several other residents of Southern Group who are in Port Blair for various reasons are also eagerly waiting for ships to travel back to their homes amid the surge in COVID-19 cases. Many residents fear that more restrictions will be imposed in the Islands if the cases surge and they wish to travel back to their homes before that happens.
The demand for travel to the Southern Group of Islands is increasing every day as more and more people wish to stay safe with their families at their respective homes amid the nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases.
*Clarification has been updated in the story later on 19 January 2022.