Four Colleges Lose CPE Funds of UGC

The New Indian Express, Jan 17, 2015

BHUBANESWAR: The delay on the part of autonomous colleges in upgrading their National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) grade and accreditation has cost them dearly including losing the College with Potential for Excellence (CPE) funds from the University Grants Commission (UGC).

These institutions - Rama Devi Women’s College at Bhubaneswar, Gangadhar Meher College at Sambalpur, SCS College in Puri and Government College at Kalahandi - will not enjoy the CPE status benefits for a period of five years now.

Though they had received funds to the extent of `75 lakh to `1.5 crore in the first phase, the UGC has now refused to grant them second phase funds under the scheme which is aimed at promoting one per cent of India’s autonomous and affiliated colleges as world-class centres of excellence. The UGC had introduced the scheme in its 10th Plan period and awarded a financial grant ranging from `35 lakh to `two crore to the selected institutions for undertaking specialised research, academic improvement and developing infrastructure.

In Odisha, 12 colleges under two universities had secured the CPE status in the 10th Plan and it held for five years.

While the GM College and Kalahandi Government College were identified as CPE in 2004-05 and the status had been extended upto end of 11th Plan period, RD Women’s College and SCS College got the status in 2009-10.

The ambitious multi-crore project is currently in its second phase of implementation and the UGC expects to complete the project with one more phase.

In August last year, UGC had called for proposals from the four colleges for second phase funding. In December, a standing committee on CPE processed the proposals and rejected them on the basis of lack of quality certification by NAAC.

Apparently, one of the main eligibility criteria for the status is a score of more than 3.5 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) in its NAAC grade along with innovative programmes, improved university examination results and student support services. However, all the four colleges do not have valid NAAC grades as of now.

Sources in the UGC said colleges as CPE were expected to innovate in the fields of governance, framing of the curriculum, teaching methodologies and assessment system. However, during evaluation of their proposals, the colleges were found lacking in ‘innovation’ and ‘academic relevance’.

Principal, Kalahandi Government College, Loknath Sahu and his Rama Devi College counterpart, Chitrangada Samanta Singhar admitted to the NAAC shortcoming.

Samanta Singhar informed that the NAAC team will be visiting the campus on January 21 for reviewing re-accreditation proposal.

Ghumura Utsav-2015 Takes off on A Colourful Note

The New Indian Express, Jan 16, 2015

BHAWANIPATNA: The mega annual cultural event of Kalahandi district - Kalahandi Utsav Ghumura-2015 - began on a colourful note on Wednesday. Organised by Zilla Sanskruti Parishad at the Lal Bahadur stadium here, it will continue till January 17. The Utsav is being simultaneously organised at Bhawanipatna and Dharamgarh.

The Utsav offers a platform to showcase the art, culture, music, drama, literature and handicrafts of the district. Folk dances of different districts of Odisha  and neighbouring States like Jharkhand, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh will be staged during  the event.

Artistes perform a folk dance during the Kalahandi Utsav Ghumura-2015 in Bhawanipatna on Thursday | EXPRESS PHOTO

As a part of the inaugural ceremony, ‘mashals’ were brought from Manikeswari temples at Thuamul Rampur and Bhawanipatna, Shiva temples at Sapsilet and Mohangiri, Budharaja temple at Ampani, Dukri temples at Talgud and Urladani to the stadium by artistes. The festival was then inaugurated by Urban Development Minister Puspendra Singhdeo. The inaugural event was marked by folk dances of Kalahandi like ‘Ghumura’, ‘Banabadi’, ‘Dandari’ and ‘Madal’.

Besides, a Pallishree Mela, KBK Craft Mela, Krushak Mela and Handloom and Handicraft Mela are being organised.    At Bhawanipatna, it has been planned to organise a ‘Kabi Sammelani’ and seminar on ‘Indravati - The Lifeline of Kalahandi’ and KBK-level volleyball tournament during the festival. Earlier, archery and boating competitions were organised for tribals at Mahulpatna.

At Dharamgarh, the main attraction of the festival is the stage that has been prepared depicting the heritage of Shiva Peetha Belkhandi and other tourist attractions of the district.

Among others, Collector Bijaya Ketan Upadhyaya, MLAs Dibya Shankar Mishra and Anama Nayak, Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh Binit Bharadwaj, his Bhawanipatna counterpart Sukanta Tripathy and Chairman of Bhawanipatna Municipality Aditya Nanda spoke.

Kalahandi Utsav was initiated by former Collector of Kalahandi PK Jena in 1996. It was organised at sub-division level at Dharamgarh by former Sub-Collector V Karthikeya Pandian in 2003.

UPGRADE B’PATNA COLLEGE TO VARSITY, CM URGED

The Pioneer, Jan 9, 2015

Non-resident Odia (NRO) Prof Digambara Patra of the American University of Beirut, Lebanon,  who is also local of Kalahandi district, has urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for step to upgrade the Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna to a cluster university.

He has made this demand after steps are afoot to upgrade the Khallikote Autonomous College, Brahmapur to a cluster university under RUSHA scheme and RD Women’s Autonomous College in Bhubaneswar was made a Women’s University. Also steps are on for according the status of university to the GM Autonomous College at Sambalpur. Besides, there is budget proposal to set up an open university in Sambalpur.

Patra said that as per earlier recommendation by the Higher Education Task Force, other colleges especially those which are far away from traditional universities, should have been seriously considered. As per task force’s recommendation, the Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna falls in this category and should have been also upgraded to a State University in the same line as the three colleges at Brahmapur, Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar, he said.

A university at Bhawanipatna holds a lot of significance for the KBK region because for practical purpose. The local students and people of KBK suffer while travelling to universities at Burla or  Brahmapur due to long distance and poor communication. Besides as a location, Bhawanipatna has several advantages. It is a central town among the KBK districts. Most importantly, the performance of the Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna has been outstanding over the years.

It is one of the first three colleges in Odisha which received Potential Centre of Excellence from the UGC, along with GM Autonomous College at Sambalpur and Ravenshaw College at Cuttack in Odisha, he said.

The Ravenshaw College has been already made a university. The GM College is likely to be upgraded to a university soon. Except these three colleges, the colleges which have received PEC status in Odisha from UGC are Khallikote Autonomous College and Fakir Mohan Autonomous College Baleswar. The Fakir Mohan University was established and the Khallikote Autonomous College is being made a cluster university. The only college having PEC status in Odisha and left over to be upgraded is the Government Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna. This is when the Higher Education Task Force has recommended for its upgradation, he added.

Sweet Victories of a Dance Missionary

The New Indian Express, Jan 10, 2015

Odissi dancer Madhulita Mohapatra believes in democratising art. In the land of Bharatnatyam, she has been sowing the seeds of Odissi with great care. In her mission to propagate Odissi in Karnataka, underprivileged children have been her focus area and she teaches them free of cost.

Starting with just five students five years ago, her dance school Nrityantar today has 500 Odissi learners. In recent years, Madhulita has opened four branches of Nrityantar in Bengaluru. Some of her best students come from families of tailors, plumbers and sweepers.

Five years back when Kalahandi-born Madhulita moved from Odisha to Karnataka after her marriage, Odissi was limited to Nrityagram, the famed dance gurukul set up by Odissi exponent, the late Protima Bedi, on the outskirts of Bengaluru in Hasserghatta.

“Having learnt Odissi from great gurus such as Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, Guru Aruna Mohanty and Guru Pabitra Kumar Pradhan, I wanted to share my art form with the people of Bengaluru,” says Madhulita. “Within the Silicon city though, classical dance strictly meant Bharatnatyam. Hence, I decided to focus on children to propagate Odissi as they would never hesitate to learn something new,” says Madhulita, who is counted among the finest Odissi dancers in national and international fora.

In 2009, when she set up her dance school Nrityantar in Kasturi Nagar, Madhulita found eager students from among the girls in the neighbourhood. But it was quite a task to convince their parents who thought Odissi was a waste of time, recalls the dancer.

The initial hiccups were no deterrent for Madhulita, who subsequently went to government primary schools where students showed interest in learning the dance which provided a break from their monotonous school routine.

“Besides, these schools cannot afford to hire dance teachers to train students unlike their rich private counterparts,” she says.

“When I first visited government schools to teach Odissi, students asked me if it was Bharatnatyam because that was the only classical dance form they knew. But once the training started, they picked up the nuances of Odissi quickly,” says Madhulita, who learnt Kannada to be able to teach the students the vocabulary and repertoire of Odissi.

Madhulita trains students from Class III to Class VII and if she finds talented students interested in learning Odissi further, she brings them to Nrityantar for specialised training.

At present, she teaches Odissi to 200 students at six government schools twice a week. The rest of the days, she juggles public performances and dance workshops at Nrityantar.

Madhulita and senior dancers trained by her at Nrityantar have now started working with a handful of private schools in the city with the idea of including classical dance as an integral part of the school curriculum.

Nrityantar’s annual festival Naman, which Madhulita conceptualised in 2010, is yet another endeavour to popularise Odissi.

“It is a humble initiative to bring together and showcase varied styles and schools of Odissi dance. Naman, meaning salutation, is a tribute to all the Odissi Gurus for their invaluable contribution to the growth and popularisation of this elegant art form,” she says.

From a modest beginning, Naman has become a part of Bengaluru’s cultural calendar today. Besides, Nrityantar’s Odissi troupe is the most sought after classical dance ensemble in Karnataka.

“As the name suggests, Nrityantar, was formed with an objective of bringing positive change through dance and the change, with respect to Odissi, is visible now,” she beams.

Her constant efforts in popularising Odissi has also given birth to an audience for the dance form in Bengaluru.

“I am only fulfilling my Gurus’ wishes of spreading the beauty of Odissi everywhere,” says Madhulita, who is also adept at Sambalpuri folk dance.

Central Nod to UPA’s Six New KV Proposal in State

The New Indian Express, Jan 12, 2015

BHUBANESWAR: The Centre has given its stamp of approval to the UPA Government's decision to open 54 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) including six in Odisha and a model school in each of the block.

The new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) will be opened in Angul, Balasore, Kalahandi (Dharmagarh), Jajpur (Vyasanagar), Ganjam (Hinjilicut) and Sambalpur districts. Kalahandi district will get the first  (second) KV while the other five districts have already had Central schools.

At present, the State has 35 KVs with the State Capital having six such schools.

The 12th Plan document envisages opening of 500 new KVs. However, opening of new KV depends on viable proposals, availability of funds and approval of the competent authority, official sources said.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has sanctioned 54 new KVs at an estimated cost of `927.40 crore and this has been conveyed to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, New Delhi.

MHRD has also approved the previous Government's proposal for establishing 6,000 model schools in each block during 12th Plan period including 3,500 model schools with three-fourth funding by Centre and rest by the States.

Meanwhile, the Centre has sanctioned `3,725.60 crore funds for 2,329 model schools in 23 States.

Though the Centre had planned to set up 2,500 model schools in educational advanced districts in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, the Ministry will take a final call on the plan after a review on the matter.

Earlier, the State Government had announced to set up model schools in every block of the State. In the first phase, the Government has planned to set up such schools in seven educationally backward districts but no budgetary support has been given for this purpose.

However, the Government has made budgetary provision of `190 crore for infrastructure development of 162 schools during 2014-15. The model schools will have Classes from VI to XII and 50 per cent of the seats will be reserved for girls. Besides, there will be a girls' hostel near every school.

Utkal Alumina International Limited providing Healthcare facility to villagers in Odisha

Orissadiary, Jan 9, 2015
Report by Odisha Diary bureau, Rayagada: For people living in inaccessible pockets of Rayagada, Kalahandi and Nuapada districts, most of them belong to the scheduled tribes access to modern healthcare facilities was a distant dream. But now the situation is different.  More so after Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL), a unit of Aditya Birla Group’s Hindalco Industries Limited, began operations in the Kashipur block of Rayagada district and Thuamula Rampur block of Kalahandi district. Healthcare received a priority under Utkal Alumina’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme. The company has set up a health centre at Nuapada where four experienced doctors, three in allopathic and one in homoeopathy, are posted for rendering healthcare services to patients. Besides, specialists in gynaecology, medicine, pediatrics and surgery visit the health centre regularly and are available for consultation.  Furthermore, Utkal has been providing healthcare services to people at their doorstep in 33 villages of 3 gram panchayats at the Rampur block and 27 villages of 6 gram panchayats under the Kashipur block through two Mobile Health Units (MHUs). These MHUs conduct diagnosis, supply free medicines and raise awareness through Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities on sanitation and cleanliness, family planning, mother and child care, immunization, nutrition and Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY). During 2013-14, the MHUs conducted 360 camps at Thuamula Rampur block in which 12,694 patients from the peripheral villages were treated free of cost. Similarly, 15578 patients received treatment in 524 health camps conducted in Kashipur block.  During 2012-13, UAL chlorinated 112 tube wells, cleaned and disinfected 32 drains in 27 villages. It also organized 12 awareness camps on diarrhea, 17 on RSBY, 24 on sanitation, 36 on mother and child care, five on school health, one on family planning, 8 on malaria, 8 on role of Gaon Kalyan Samiti, 10 on role of health workers, 2 on anemia & IFA, and 3 on construction and use of temporary latrines.   “Branded medicine and healthcare facilities have reduced occurrence of diseases and dependence on quacks,” said Narayan Naik of Gopinathpur village in Kalahandi district.  Somanath Naik of Brahmanichanchara in Kalahandi district remarks that the programmes organized by Utkal Alumina have raised people’s awareness. “The continuous efforts of the Mobile Health Units  to provide healthcare facility to people have not only helped Utkal Alumina gain peoples’ confidence but also saved precious lives besides saving people’s  time and money in visiting hospitals at faraway places, thus contributing to their socio-economic development,” said Mr. Vijay Sapra, the President and Unit Head of UAIL. “We hope, in future the people living in the periphery of the plant and mines will get more and more specialized healthcare facilities. Utkal Alumina is committed to extending all possible health care services to people in these remote pockets of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts,” added Mr. Sapra.

Naveen seeks cow breeding centre in state

Times of India, Jan 13, 2015
BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday wrote a letter to Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh, requesting him to set up a National Kamdhenu Breeding Centre in Odisha. 

Naveen said, "Establishment of the centre of excellence will boost milk production and provide livelihood support to a large number of dairy farmers." 

He also pointed out that Odisha has around 1.3 crore indigenous bovine population. Of which, four indigenous cattle breeds, binjharpuri, ghumusari, khariar and motu, and two buffalo breeds, chilika and kalahandi, are registered breeds by the government of India, considering their unique traits. 

"My government is willing to provide required support to the Government of India," he added.

Govt Schools Are 'Outclassed' by Private Ones in KBK Region

The New Indian Express, Jan 15, 2015

BHUBANESWAR: Private schools are drawing more and more students in the KBK districts than the government institutions. This despite tall claims by the Odisha Government of all-round development, including broad-basing education in the backward region.

According to Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2014, student enrolment in private schools has doubled in the last five years in the KBK zone.

In 2014, at least 6.92 per cent children (in the age group of 6 to 14 years) were enrolled in private schools in Kandhamal, Boudh, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Ganjam and Gajapati districts. In 2010, enrolment rate in these districts was just 3.49 per cent.

Much of the jump has taken place in the last few years. In 2013, the enrolment rate was just 3.85 per cent, which shot up to 6.92 per cent last year indicating the rate at which private schools in KBK districts are eating into government space and even catching up with the economically sound coastal and central districts, which reported a 9.47 per cent enrolment rate. The enrolment in private school in the State stands at 8.53 per cent.

Thanks to the rising enrolment, the overall share of children in private schools is rising in these districts which are dubbed “educationally backward.” If Khurda boasts of 17.2 per cent children in the age-group of 6 to 14 years in private schools, in Nuapada, the figure is 10.7 per cent. Ganjam, Gajapati and Kalahandi have more than 9 per cent children enrolled in private schools although Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur have just over 2 per cent children in such schools.

The ASER 2014, which maps academic efficiency of the students, shows that reading levels of students in  private schools is markedly higher than their government counterparts. If 82.4 per cent students in Standard-II in government schools can at least read letters, in private schools, the figure is much higher at 96.2 per cent. The same holds for students in Standard IV level.

The arithmetic ability of students in government schools too falls short of their private counterparts. If 83.5 per cent students in Standard II can recognise numbers from 1 to 9 in government schools, over 95 per cent students of private schools can do the same.

When government school students go to higher classes, this ability drops sharply and the gap between them and their private counterparts rises by almost 100 per cent. The ASER report found that just about 35.7 per cent Standard IV students in government schools can do subtraction. In private schools, the figure is 70.5 per cent.

Though private school enrolment has shown a rise in Odisha, the State remains in the bottom pool in the entire country. West Bengal and Tripura are the other two States where the overall enrolment in private schools in rural areas is below 9 per cent.

Rs 750 crore project to provide safe water in Nuapada, Kalahandi

Pragativadi, Jan 3, 2015

Bhubaneswar: The State Government has decided to launch a mega drinking water project for Nuapada and Kalahandi. These two districts are most affected by fluoride contamination. The proposed project, targeted to be completed in two years, would cost Rs 750 crore.

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has agreed in principle to provide financial assistance for the mega project under its Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) scheme. Rural Development secretary Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra told the media that in the first phase of the project, filters would be installed in tube wells in the affected districts in which the fluoride content in the water is found to be in excess. The installation of filters in these tube wells would be completed by March this year, he added.

People of 927 villages in the State are presently using drinking water having excess fluoride content. Of these 927 affected villages, 118 are in Nuapada district while the remaining 739 villages are spread over 15 districts. People of 118 villages in Khariar, Boden and Sinapali blocks in Nuapada district are becoming victims of fluorosis due to excess fluoride content in the water.

Kalahandi Utsav Ghumura 2015 Inaugurated At Habaspur

Orissadiary, Dec 25, 2014

Report by Debadatta Panda, Kalahandi: Since last 1997 Kalahandi Utsav Ghumura is organising in Kalahandi and it is the second time that the said programme is inaugurated in a rural area by the initiation of the Collector and the chairman of kalahandi Utsav committee Dr.ijaya Ketan Upadhyaya I.A.S.At first Goddess Ma Lankeswari worshipped then  lighten the flame and received by MLA, 

Collector and Sarpanch and then came to the stage with a colourful procession of Ghumura,Dandari and other folk dances and established those flamebues at the sand art done by the young artist Mr.Subodh ku Mund near Ma mauli pitha.As such Ghumura- 2015 is inagurated at Habaspur under

Junagarh Block by junagarh MLA capt.D.S.Mishra and Collector Kalahandi Dr.B.K.Upadhyaya I.A.S in presence of  Sub-collector Dharamgarh Mr.Vineet Bharadwaj I.A.S,Junagarh Tahasildar JK Prusty, BDO T.Mohanty, District culture Officer KC Mohanty, MSA President Jayanta Behera,Dist. Culture association member Harjinder Singh,Habaspur Sarpanch Mrs.Manisha Sahu and other dignitaries were also present. 

Then a inauguration meeting was held after lightening the lamp before ma Lankeswari at the stage by the guests where MLA, Collector, Subcollector Culture officer and  others on the stage. Junagarh BDO cum-Convenor Block culture committee Mr. Mohanty co-ordinated the programme.The local intellectuals demanded to give chance to the local artists and genius personalities in the said utsav and lastly BDO bound to  give chance to the Ex-Sarpanch Abhay Kumar,capt JJ kumar and ex-Sarpanch and wooden craft artisan Mr.Raghunath Panda only. 

To bring out the grass route level artists, genius and kin intellectuals in the district as well as to interact with others are the main objects of Kalahandi Utsav said Collector Kalahandi.MLA told the gethering that he is always with the people and work as per the demand of the locality and try to solve all the problems of the locality. opening song by the students of Saraswati Sishu Mandir of Habaspur .The wooden craft artist Mr.Raghunath Pand gihted the wooden craft to the guests. The guests provided special prizes to the wooden craft artist Mr.Raghunath Panda and young sand artist Subodh ku Mund and the prizes to the winners of the various competition held in this occasion. Retd teacher Simanchal Nag managed the stage and Educationist and social activist Mr.Dushmanta Ku Panda delivered Vote of thanks. 

The people of the locality and nearby area became glade that after 18 years of Kalahandi Utasv  a rural pocket is selected for the inauguration of Kalahandi utsav on the other hand the people dissatisfied regarding neglecting to the intellectuals, rural artists, genius and leading personality in the said programme by the convener cum Junagarh BDO and convey their dissatisfaction to the Collector Kalahandi and Junagarh MLA.

- See more at: http://www.orissadiary.com/Kalahandi/ShowDistrictNews.asp?id=55978#sthash.mnNWHgDh.dpuf

Poor quality of road construction in Odisha's Kalahandi

Orissadiary, Jan 5, 2015
Report by Rajeev Lochan Rathan; Bhubaneswar: Keeping in view of the communication development in southern Odisha the government has expedited work of road construction in rural area. But it has ignored quality control over them, resulting in poor construction of roads with potholes appearing within few days of construction. The aggressive mass grilled the construction work in charge personals in Chilipa, Dharmagarh today. After getting directives from political bosses for completing construction of roads, so that the ruling party could acquire votes in the name of development in Kalahandi for next elections. Accordingly, the AEO R & B dept. Kalahandi has directed the contractors to speed up work, so that roads could be completed before ruling party visit. Sources revealed that after receiving orders from the officers, the contractors have put in their full efforts to complete the work on time. But in this process, the quality of road construction has been fully ignored. An evident instance of this negligence is the road built from Chilipa road to Chatishagarh border. Even though the road has been built a few days ago, allegedly due to poor construction, pits have appeared on the road at many places. Not only these, joint of the two portions of roads have not been leveled properly and complete discrepancy in level of the road can be easily witnessed. At some places even the premix laid down on the road is already withering. The building of allegedly such poor quality of road has raised serious concerns from the residents in the village. According to Smt.Sukanti Sa, Zilla Parishad member Dharmagarh zone who had earlier raised the issue of poor construction of roads alleged that owing to corrupt nexus between the contractors and officers, poor roads were being built. She alleged that the corrupt nexus was playing with the taxpayers. Money which is all going in unproductive. She said an independent inquiry in this regard should be initiated.  Meanwhile, Ashish Kumar Agrawal Director of Arati Infratech Private Limited who is the incharge of the road construction refuted the allegations claiming that the roads were being built with sensor paver according to the prescribed measurement. He also asserted that they are keeping a full check over the newly built roads for ensuring judicious use of allocated money. - See more at: http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=56212#sthash.KdHEVLms.dpuf

Pranab all praise for Kalahandi ashram

Times of India, Dec 1, 2014
Bikash Khemka,TNN | Dec 1, 2014, 02.47 PM IST
BHAWANIPATNA: Confidence of tribal youth can be boosted through education, President Pranab Mukherjee said at Madanpur Rampur, 70 km from here, in Kalahandi district on Sunday. He inaugurated a newly-constructed Vivekananda Memorial Building at Ramkrishna Ashram. He had sanctioned Rs 1 crore for construction of the building when he was Union finance minister. 

He was commemorating 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananada. "I am indeed happy to have the opportunity of visiting the ashram," he said. 

Centre decided to recognize contributions of Vivekananda and a national memorial committee was established under the leadership of Prime Minister. 

"I am the chairman of the committee for the implementation of the programme and Kalahandi was chosen as one of the places to commemorate sesquicentenary of Vivekananda's birth," he said. 

Addressing a function in tribal and Maoist-hit area, Pranab cited teachings of Vivekananda and asked all to work for socially-deprived to help in nation building. 

"This region is considered backward and poverty-stricken. Members of Lok Sabha, have many times raised various issues, pertaining to the area, in parliament. What is to be done is to instill confidence in youth and that confidence can come only through education," he said. 

Voicing concern over backwardness of the area, he noted that Madanpur-Rampur region was once home to a rich and glorious civilization and forest resources, which earned it the name of 'Mahakantara' or 'Great Forest'. The president announced Rs 2 crore for development of the area. 

Pranab appreciated the work being done by the ashram for welfare of poor, especially children, living in the area. He congratulated ashram secretary, saying Swami Vairagyanandji Maharaj travelled throughout India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and spread the message of Swamiji. 

The projects implemented by ashram include establishment of facilities to provide education, lodging and coaching for tribal children, an innovative school, a residential training centre in agriculture and allied subjects, an old-age home, a mobile allopathy unit, a mobile homeopathy unit, an ayurvedic dispensary and a drug de-addiction centre. These initiatives, he said, will make the poor tribals self-sufficient. 

The President lauded a publication titled 'Bharat Parikrama-Kalahandi to Kashmir and Kanyakumari' brought out in Odia, saying it can help young minds understand what Vivekananda wanted to convey. 

He also unveiled a Vivekananda statue and met the ashram kids, who performed ghumra dance. 

Governor S C Jamir, Lok Sabha member Abhijit Mukherjee (Jangipur, West Bengal) and former MP Bhakta Charan Das, finance minister Pradip Amat and MP Arka Kesari Deo also spoke during the event. 

President Pranab Mukherjee for enlightening tribal youth through education

Economic Times, Nov 30, 2014
MADANPUR-RAMPUR (ODISHA): Confidence of tribal youths can be boosted through education, President Pranab Mukherjee said here today. 

Addressing a function in this tribal and Naxal-hit area, Mukherjee cited teachings of Swami Vivekananda and asked all to work for the socially-deprived to help in nation building. 

"This region is considered backward and poverty-stricken. Members of Lok Sabha representing this area have many times raised various issues pertaining to this area in Parliament. 

"What is to be done is to inject or instill confidence in youths and that confidence can come only through education," he said after inaugurating a newly constructed unit of Vivekananda memorial building at Shri Rama Krishna Ashram here. 

Voicing concern over backwardness and scarcity in this area which comes under Kalahandi district, he noted that Madanpur-Rampur region was once home to a rich and glorious civilisation and its forest resources had earned it the name of 'Mahakantara' or 'Great Forest'. 

Mukherjee appreciated the work being done by the Ashram for welfare of poor, especially children, living in the area. 

The projects implemented by Ashram include establishment of facilities to provide education, lodging and coaching for tribal children, an innovative school, a residential training centre in agriculture and allied subjects, an old age home, a mobile allopathy unit, a mobile homeopathy unit, an Ayurvedic dispensary and a drug de-addiction centre. 

These initiatives, he said, will make them self sufficient. 

"I congratulate them for their devotion and dedication," the President said. 

Mukherjee praised a publication entitled "Bharat Parikrama-Kalahandi to Kashmir and Kanyakumari" brought out in Odiya language, saying it can help young minds understand what Swami Vivekananda wanted to convey. 

Odisha Governor S C Jamir, Lok Sabha members Abhijit Mukherjee (Jangipur, West Bengal) and former Lok Sabha MP Bhakta Charan Das were among others present at the function. 

Irregularities in Kerosene Supply in Kalahandi: Letter by SACHIN KUMAR AGRAWAL

Respected Minister, Food Supply & Consumer Welfare, Govt of Odisha,

Sir,

A local oriya news daily by name "Samaja" in its Sambalpur Edition dated 30th November, has reported about "Serious Irregularities" in Kerosene Distribution through the PDS in Lanjigarh Block in Kalahandi District of Odisha.

The same news has time and again been reported by various newspapers but no step has been taken to curb it and even if some steps have been taken they seems to have no considerable impact upon the perpetrators.

I therefore request you to take this matter with utmost priority and order/advice/direct the district administration to be take immediate steps.

Let us help the needy with required Kerosene so that they do not go hungry. 

Attached the newspaper article for your easy reference and authenticity. 

Thank You.

President’s Itinerary

The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), Nov 29, 2014

BHUBANESWAR:  The State is gearing up for President Pranab Mukherjee’s two-day visit from Saturday. Mukherjee will attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya and Rama Devi Women’s College in the Capital City. At Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, he will attend the function at Utkal Mandap from 5.55 pm to 7 pm and felicitate 18 illustrious alumni of the college. On Sunday, Mukherjee will move to Kalahandi where he will inaugurate the Vivekananda memorial building at Ramakrishna Ashram in Rampur. Sources said he will then fly to Puri by helicopter to visit the 12th century Jagannath temple.

The President would reach the temple at 2.30 pm and stay there till 3 pm. “From 1 pm to 3 pm, the temple will remain out of bounds for normal visitors due to security reasons. The temple periphery has been spruced up in the wake of the President’s visit,” said Puri Collector Arvind Agarwal. Mukherjee will leave Puri for Bhubaneswar at 4.20 pm. At the Capital City, he will preside over the golden jubilee function of Rama Devi Women’s Autonomous College for an hour from 5.15 pm before returning to New Delhi at 6.35 pm.

Gold spots in Nabarangpur

The Telegraph (Kolkata), Nov 29, 2014

SUBHASHISH MOHANTY

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 28: Some good news for the state. Traces of gold have been found in the tribal-dominated Nabarangpur district, while fresh iron ore and bauxite deposits have also been discovered in various parts of the state. The state geology department stumbled on the traces of gold during one of their routine explorations, steel and mines minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick told the Assembly today. Director, geology, has already submitted a report on the findings to Mallick. The metal has been found in an area of 1,926 hectares in Nabarangpur district. Speaking about the sudden discovery of the yellow metal, Mallick said: “Traces of gold have been found at Jharigram and Seraguda in Nabarangpur district. The government has already accepted the application to issue lease for its exploration.” Sources in the mining department said Hindustan Alloy and Kaustuv Mining Smelting Private Limited had applied for exploration of gold. However, it is yet to be ascertained whether it would be commercially viable. In a related development, hundreds of people have been engaged to explore diamonds at Anabadi village under Haguda panchayat in Koraput’s Bandhugaon block, about 650 km from here. The place is also reported to have yielded a lot of cat’s eye, a semi-precious stone. A district official said businessmen from the neighbouring states, including Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, reached the place to search for diamond and other gemstones. One of the villagers, Bhaskar, 43, said: “Businessmen from other states have come here and bought the valuable stones from us.” Additional district magistrate Ekadashi Jena said: “We have informed the state geology and mining departments about the sudden discovery of valuable stones in these remote parts of the district. We have no idea about the nature of the stones.” Besides gold, Mallick’s department has confirmed that new iron ore mines have been found at Rakama–Marsuana in Keonjhar district and Khandadhar, Deungula, Sagasahi, Bandhala, Kusumdihi, Roladihi, Randa, Damur in Sundargarh district. “We have taken steps to estimate the iron reserves in the newly located areas,” said an official. The steel and mines department also confirmed that 0.45 tonnes reserve of manganese ore has been found at Mutukudur, Rangua and Kenamenta in Sundargarh district, Mallick told the Assembly today. Interestingly the state government has also stumbled on rich reserve of bauxite at new mines in Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Kandhamal and Sundargarh districts. This is good news for the government that has found it tough to hand over the Niyamgiri bauxite mines to the Vedanta for its Lanjigarh refinery plant in Kalahandi district. In Kalahandi district, the new bauxite mines have been found at Keluamala with deposits of 49 million tonnes, Krushnamali (28.3 million tonne), Samarmali and Gunupur with deposits of 21.69 million tonnes. “We have so far estimated 220.956 million tonnes of bauxite in the newly discovered bauxite mines in Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput and Kandhamal districts. As there is stiff opposition to hand over the Niyamgiri mines, we are planning to give some of the newly discovered mines to the Vedanta and other groups who are interested to set up their industries in the state,” said a senior official of the steel and mines department. Vedanta chief Anil Agarwal has met chief minister Naveen Patnaik twice in the last six months and appealed to the state government to save the plant that is running at less 30 per cent of its installed capacity. Besides gold, iron and bauxite, new gemstones and graphite mines have also been discovered in the state. While gemstones have been located in few pockets of Mayurbhanj district, graphite has been found in Angul district. “ However, the state government is yet to make an assessment of these deposits,” an official said.

IPPs invest Rs 33,000 cr on their projects in Odisha

Business Standard, Nov 23, 2014

Independent power producers (IPPs) have invested Rs 32,991 crore on their proposed coal-fired projects in Odishaafter entering into memoranda of understanding (MoU) with the state government.

Among the 28 players that have inked pacts with the state government, two have commenced commercial production. The two companies are Vedanta Group firm Sesa Sterliteand GMR Kamalanga Energy Ltd.

Sesa Sterlite has fully commissioned its 2400 Mw (4x600) power project at Bhurkamunda near Jharsuguda. The company has invested Rs 8038 crore on the plant.

GMR Kamalanga has commissioned three 350 Mw units of its proposed 1400 Mw power plant at Kamalanga in Dhenkanal district. It has invested Rs 5590 crore.

Others like Jindal India Thermal Power Ltd (JITPL), Ind-Barath Energy Utkal Ltd and Monnet Power were in the advanced stage of commissioning their projects.

The IPPs that have made substantial investments on their projects are JITPL (Rs 4564.26 crore), Monnet Power Company Ltd (Rs 4100 crore), Lanco Babandh Power Ltd (Rs 4850 crore) and Ind-Barath Energy Utkal Ltd (Rs 2954 crore).

The IPPs have a combined production capacity of 37,000 Mw. The state's share is pegged at around 6000 Mw from these projects.

Odisha is currently facing an unprecedented rise in demand for power fuelled by rural, industrial and economic development. Capacity addition of about 50,000 Mw is coming up in Odisha through state initiatives, Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPPs), NTPC and private IPPs.

Two UMPPs, each of capacity 4000 Mw are planned in the state. While the state grid will get 1300 Mw from the first UMPP at Bhedabahal near Sundargarh, the second UMPP proposed at Narla in Kalahandi district would supply 2000 Mw to the state.

NTPC is setting up two super thermal power plants in the state, each with capacity of 1600 Mw at Darlipalli in Sundargarh district and Gajamara in Dhenkanal district.

While Odisha is making all out efforts to expedite and provide necessary fill-up to the void created to meet the surging energy demand in the country, the most hindering factor for implementation of these projects is fuel security which is at stake due to the Supreme Court ruling. The apex court in its August 24 order had scrapped the licenses of 204 coal blocks allocated between 1993 and 2010.

The 18th Electric Power Survey of Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has forecast the peak demand of 5322 Mw and annual energy requirement of 33113 million units (MU) for Odisha for 2015-16. The peak power demand is expected to rise to 6749 Mw and annual energy requirement to 52566 MU for 2021-22 for the state.

Letter of Sachin Kumar Agrawal to Ministry of Panchayati Raj on Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra

Respected Minister,

Ministry of Panchayati Raj, GOI.

It was 20^th August 2009 when the then Union Panchayati Raj Minister Dr. C.P.Joshi,  during a Workshop on NREGA announced that every  Gram Panchayat across the country will have a Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra. In the same workshop the minister outlined the importance of the Sewa Kendra by mentioning it as a single window for information relating to NREGA. Moving a step further, the guest of honour of the workshop, Shri Rahul Gandhi unveiled the design model of the proposed Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra.

Crores of rupees are being allocated by the said ministry for the construction of these Sewa Kendras. However no importance is given to monitor whether these Kendras are functioning properly or not. 

Through this letter of mine I would like to bring to your kind notice about such a Sewa Kendra in the Kalahandi District of Odisha which was constructed four years back in 2009-2010 but is yet to get inaugurated. The said Sewa Kendra lies in the Mahaling Gram Panchayat under the Golamunda Block (Kalahandi District, Odisha). I came to know about this Sewa Kendra from a local news daily “Sambad” articulated on 21^st November 2014 in its Sambalpur Edition. 

I request you to take the matter and demand an explaination from the concerned authorities at the district and the state level about such a negligence. Also order the authority concerned to make necessary arrangements for its opening and efficient functioning. 

I as a responsible citizen brought this matter to your knowledge and hope that you as a representative of the people will take this issue  as seriously as I did and exercise your responsibility and accountability towards people.

I could not find the email address of Honourable Minister in your website and hence sending the email to your address. Also, I am attaching the  news article for your easy understanding of the matter and authenticity of my claim.

Thank You Sir.

Sachin Kumar Agrawal,

Dharamgarh, Kalahandi, Odisha

Contact Number: 9861965410

Email: sachinagrawal3064@gmail.com

BPUT to Complete Video Conferencing by Dec

The New Indian Express, Nov 12, 2014

BHUBANESWAR: The video conferencing network being established by Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) is all set to become operational by the first week of December.

The technical university had come up with a proposal to link Governor’s Office, Employment and Technical Education and Training (ETET) Department and BPUT’s camp office in Bhubaneswar with their headquarters in Rourkela, through video conferencing.

The network will also include the five constituent colleges; College of Engineering and Technology (CET), Government College of Engineering (Keonjhar), Government College of Engineering (Bhawanipatna), Parala Maharaja Engineering College (Berhampur). All colleges are affiliated to BPUT.

The decision was taken with an aim to boost communication between different stakeholders of technical education in the State. Currently, any communication between the University and Government is carried out manually. It involves BPUT officials travelling from their headquarters in Rourkela to ETET Department in Bhubaneswar to complete any official communication.

The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has been given the responsibility of installing the video conferencing network. BPUT Registrar Mihir Nayak said the hardware for the network has already been installed in constituent colleges, ETET Department, Governor’s Office and BPUT’s camp office in Bhubaneswar. The NIC officials are now developing the software that will link the entire network. After first phase installation, BPUT will connect private colleges to the video conferencing network in the second phase.

Kalahandi Targets Rabi Crop in 2.6L Hectares

The New Indian Express, Nov 10, 2014

BHAWANIPATNA:  Agriculture department of Kalahandi district has targeted to cover 2.6 lakh hectares (ha) for rabi crops in 2014-15. Of the total area, about 1,12,300 ha has irrigation facilities.

During preparation of annual agriculture plan for 2014-15 rabi season recently, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Kalahandi circle informed that out of total irrigated areas in the district, Indravati Irrigation Project covers 67,461 ha. Farmers in the tail end of irrigation canals have been sensitised to adopt short duration crops particularly non-paddy crops.

The thrust has been given on cultivation of pulses, summer paddy and oilseed crops during the season. Around 1,19,760 ha will be covered under pulses including Moong (yellow gram) in 47,000 ha, Kulthi (horse gram) in 23,848 ha, Biri (black gram) in 17,440 ha and Chana (Bengal gram) in 14,500 ha. Summer paddy will be cultivated in 65,000 ha mostly in the Indravati irrigated pockets.

Similarly, oilseed is targeted to be cultivated in 33,062 ha in the district. Of the total area, 11,941 ha will be covered by mustard, 10,556 ha by groundnut, 2,400 ha by linseed and 4,465 ha by sunflower. Onion will be cultivated in 5,205 ha.

According to department sources, due to above normal rainfall during July and August and heavy rainfall in September in most parts of the district, the residual moisture condition as well as water level in several irrigation reservoirs have reported improvement. Farmers will get good result in terms of coverage and production of pulses and oilseeds, the sources added.