The Mini India

Port Blair, June 25: The print media in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is facing an existential crisis as the digital transformation of government communication pushes traditional newspapers to the margins. Once considered the Fourth Estate of democracy, local newspapers are now on the brink of collapse, receiving little to no support from the public, local administration, or even the Central Government. Over the past decade, the NDA government has adopted a digital-first approach, promoting citizen engagement through official online portals and platforms such as Twitter / X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. These tools have facilitated direct communication between the public and various ministries, but at the cost of sidelining mainstream media, especially print. Local journalists, many of whom have devoted their lives to reporting from the grassroots, now find themselves without a viable livelihood. "We entered the field to strengthen democracy, but today, our efforts go...

TMI Bureau Sri Vijaya Puram, June 4: The people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands continue to endure significant inconvenience and financial losses due to the irregular and inadequate electricity supply provided by the Electricity Department. Despite repeated assurances and policy commitments by the Government of India, uninterrupted and quality power remains a distant dream for island residents. Electricity is vital for modern life, empowering households, businesses, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. It illuminates homes, fuels appliances, and sustains operations across all sectors. However, in South Andaman, the erratic power supply is causing widespread disruption in daily life and economic activities. "There's no fixed schedule for power cuts-day, night, midnight, early morning, evening-you name it. Hours-long blackouts are frequent, and many of our electronic appliances have been damaged. Who is responsible for compensating us for these losses?...

TMI Bureau Port Blair, April 02: A United States national has been arrested for illegally attempting to access the highly restricted North Sentinel Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. The accused, identified as Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, son of Victor Polyakov, and a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, was taken into custody following an investigation by local authorities. According to official sources, the case was registered based on a complaint filed by the Tribal Welfare Officer under PS Crime & Economic Offences FIR No. 10/25 dated March 31, 2025. The charges have been framed under Sections 14 and 14(A) of the Foreigners Act, 1946, read with paragraph 3 of the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963, along with Sections 7 and 8 of the Protection of Aboriginal Tribes (PAT) Amendment Regulation, 2012, an official press release says. Violation of Strict Restrictions North Sentinel Island is home to the Sentinelese, one of the world's last uncontac...