Times of India, July 17, 2013
BHAWANIPATNA: Ahead of the gram sabhas to decide the fate of bauxite mining in Niyamgiri hills, the Kalahandi district administration has received only four fresh claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
The Supreme Court had directed the state government to invite fresh claims under FRA within six weeks of the notification for gram sabhas.
Accordingly, the government had issued a notice on June 5 and publicized about it in the local language at villages where gram sabhas are to be conducted, sources said.
"There was no claim from Tadijhola. We have received one claim each from Kunakadu, Phuldumer, Palbori and Ijurpa villages under Trilochanpur gram panchayat. The gram sabhaswill discuss the claims in the presence of a district judge," said Collector (Kalahandi) GovindaChandra Sethi.
Sethi said the district administration has duly publicized the impending gram sabhas in the five villages. The proceedings of gram sabhas will be video recorded.
The quorum requires minimum 50% attendance for the sabha with one-third women participants.
The administration, however, did not disclose the nature of the claims made by the tribals. Sources said the claims mostly pertain to forest produce in the Niyamgiri hills.
They have reportedly claimed that they live in and around the hills and survive on the forest produce.
In Kalahandi district, the gram sabha will be first conducted on July 23 and subsequently on July 24, 25, 29 and 30.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Officials to walk up to 32 km to hold palli sabha at Niyamgiri
Business Standard, July 15, 2013
The locations of the villages in the districts of Rayagada and Kalahandi are such that there is no alternative other than to walk a minimum 6 km and maximum 32 km in a day to conduct meetings, the officials said
With the dates for holding gram sabha meetings in Niyamgiri Hillslope villages approaching to decide the fate of the proposed bauxitemining for Vedanta, the assigned government officials are worried a lot about the lack of road communication and Maoist presence in the area.
The locations of the villages in the districts of Rayagada and Kalahandi are such that there is no alternative other than to walk a minimum 6 km and maximum 32 km in a day to conduct meetings, the officials said.
The Rayagada district administration has already issued notification for holding 'palli sabha' in hill slope villages of Serkapali, Kesarpadi, Batudi, Khambasi and Jarapa on July 18, 22, 27, August 13 and 19 respectively.
August 1 and 7 have been fixed for holding palli sabha at Lamba and Lakhapadar villages respectively.
The meetings for five other villages would be conducted by officials of Kalahandi district.
To reach at the first set of five villages, vehicular communication from Rayagada is available till Panimunda via Muniguda. The officers would have to cover 6 km to 32 km to and from through the hilly terrain by foot to approach the villages.
The journey to the other two villages in the district would involve a trek of 18 km and 30 km under similar circumstances as vehicular communication from Rayagada existed only till Parcelli, they said.
The locations of the villages in the districts of Rayagada and Kalahandi are such that there is no alternative other than to walk a minimum 6 km and maximum 32 km in a day to conduct meetings, the officials said
With the dates for holding gram sabha meetings in Niyamgiri Hillslope villages approaching to decide the fate of the proposed bauxitemining for Vedanta, the assigned government officials are worried a lot about the lack of road communication and Maoist presence in the area.
The locations of the villages in the districts of Rayagada and Kalahandi are such that there is no alternative other than to walk a minimum 6 km and maximum 32 km in a day to conduct meetings, the officials said.
The Rayagada district administration has already issued notification for holding 'palli sabha' in hill slope villages of Serkapali, Kesarpadi, Batudi, Khambasi and Jarapa on July 18, 22, 27, August 13 and 19 respectively.
August 1 and 7 have been fixed for holding palli sabha at Lamba and Lakhapadar villages respectively.
The meetings for five other villages would be conducted by officials of Kalahandi district.
To reach at the first set of five villages, vehicular communication from Rayagada is available till Panimunda via Muniguda. The officers would have to cover 6 km to 32 km to and from through the hilly terrain by foot to approach the villages.
The journey to the other two villages in the district would involve a trek of 18 km and 30 km under similar circumstances as vehicular communication from Rayagada existed only till Parcelli, they said.
Ten collectors, six secretaries transferred
Times of India, July 16, 2013
BHUBANESWAR: Two weeks after Jugal Mohapatra took over as the chief secretary, 10 district collectors and six department secretaries in the state were transferred on Monday.
The state government notified new postings for 29 IAS officers, with Vipin Saxena appointed ashome secretary, replacing U N Behera, who took over as additional chief secretary (finance) recently.
Khurda collector Roopa Mishra was made the project director, NRHM and MD of Odisha Medical Corporation. Jharsuguda collector Niranjan Sahoo would replace her. Guha Poonam Kumar will succeed Sahoo in Jharsuguda. Sundargarh collector Roopa Roshan Sahoo will be Dhenkanal collector. V Jaya Kumar will join as Nuapada collector, while Kandhamal collector B S Poonia take over as Sundargarh collector and B Parameswaran as Balasore collector.
Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya will be new Kalahandi collector, N Thirumala Nayak the Kandhamal collector, D Prasanth K Reddy as Balangir collector, Shyam Sundar Nayak as Deogarh collector.
Sangram Kesari Mishra was made the principal secretary (public grievances and pension administration), while steel and mines secretary Rajesh Verma was shifted to agriculture. C J Venugopal will be secretary (rural development). Gudey Srinivas will take over as secretary, steel and mines.
D N Gupta will be the commissioner (consolidation).
BHUBANESWAR: Two weeks after Jugal Mohapatra took over as the chief secretary, 10 district collectors and six department secretaries in the state were transferred on Monday.
The state government notified new postings for 29 IAS officers, with Vipin Saxena appointed ashome secretary, replacing U N Behera, who took over as additional chief secretary (finance) recently.
Khurda collector Roopa Mishra was made the project director, NRHM and MD of Odisha Medical Corporation. Jharsuguda collector Niranjan Sahoo would replace her. Guha Poonam Kumar will succeed Sahoo in Jharsuguda. Sundargarh collector Roopa Roshan Sahoo will be Dhenkanal collector. V Jaya Kumar will join as Nuapada collector, while Kandhamal collector B S Poonia take over as Sundargarh collector and B Parameswaran as Balasore collector.
Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya will be new Kalahandi collector, N Thirumala Nayak the Kandhamal collector, D Prasanth K Reddy as Balangir collector, Shyam Sundar Nayak as Deogarh collector.
Sangram Kesari Mishra was made the principal secretary (public grievances and pension administration), while steel and mines secretary Rajesh Verma was shifted to agriculture. C J Venugopal will be secretary (rural development). Gudey Srinivas will take over as secretary, steel and mines.
D N Gupta will be the commissioner (consolidation).
Monday, July 15, 2013
Niyamgiri Mining: Last date for villagers’ claims ends
The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), July 15, 2013
The last date for the State Government to receive claims from the people of villages in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, where gram sabha are scheduled to be held to determine bauxite mining from Niyamgiri, expired on Sunday even as differences over the issue continue.
As per the April 18 Supreme Court judgment, the State Government had set July 14 as the last date for receiving claims of the locals regarding the project.
According to sources, more than 100 individual and collective claims have been received from the people of seven villages of Rayagada district where gram sabha will be held as per the decision of the State Government.
Claims have also been received by Kalahandi district administration from five villages where the gram sabha will be held.
The claims are mostly about religious belief of the local tribals and problem of displacement.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) had criticised the State Government for holding the gram sabha only in 12 villages instead of 112 to decide on bauxite mining. The Dongiria Kondhs belonging to Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti (NSS) had also announced that they would organise gram sabhas in all the 112 villages.
The State Government has decided to hold gram sabhas in seven villages of Rayagada district from July 18 to August 19 and five villages in Kalahandi district from July 23 to 30.
The MoTA, in a letter to the Chief Secretary, had said that limiting the gram sabha to only a dozen villages would not be in line with Supreme Court order and the directions issued by the Ministry under Section 12 of Forest Rights Act (FRA).
The list of villages where rights of forest dwellers are guaranteed under FRA or where cultural and religious rights are likely to be affected cannot be arbitrarily decided by the State Government, the letter had stated.
“It is to be decided by the people (palli sabha) where claims would be filed in a transparent manner so that no gram sabha with a legitimate claim is left out of the process. This is in line with para 59 of the apex court judgment,” it stated.
Justifying its decision, the State Government had said that the Centre was free to approach the Supreme Court over its decision to select only 12 villages to hold gram sabhas.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Medical college in Kalahandi gets MCI nod for MBBS course
Times of India, July 13, 2013
BHUBANESWAR: Sardar Rajas Medical College and Hospital (SRMCH) at Jaring in Kalahandidistrict will start MBBS course for the first time this year, after receiving a go-ahead from theMedical Council of India (MCI). The college will have 100 seats.
With this, the number of MBBS seats in the state has gone up by 100, raising the total number to 1,150. The MCI had recently granted permission to increase the intake capacity of government-run SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, from 150 to 250.
"Students for the Kalahandi college will be admitted through the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) counselling from among the NEET-UG qualifiers," health secretary Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra said. The counselling is scheduled to begin on July 21.
Western Odisha Development Council had initiated the process to set up the medial college in 2004. The college is being run by Selvam Educational and Charitable Trust of Tamil Nadu. The state governmenthad provided Rs 10 crore and 25-acre land to the trust to open the medical college, which has a 300-bed hospital.
With the latest addition, the total number of undergraduate medical seats under OJEE went up to 850, while the number of colleges is now six. The institutes are SCB, having 250 seats, 150 each in VSS Medical College and MKCG Medical College, 100 seats at each of Hi-Tech Group's medical colleges in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, besides 100 seats in SRMCH.
The other MBBS seats include 100 each at AIIMS and private institutions Kalinga Institute of Medical Science (KIMS) and Institute of Medical Sciences and Sum Hospital, which admit students through their own entrance examinations.
BHUBANESWAR: Sardar Rajas Medical College and Hospital (SRMCH) at Jaring in Kalahandidistrict will start MBBS course for the first time this year, after receiving a go-ahead from theMedical Council of India (MCI). The college will have 100 seats.
With this, the number of MBBS seats in the state has gone up by 100, raising the total number to 1,150. The MCI had recently granted permission to increase the intake capacity of government-run SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, from 150 to 250.
"Students for the Kalahandi college will be admitted through the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) counselling from among the NEET-UG qualifiers," health secretary Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra said. The counselling is scheduled to begin on July 21.
Western Odisha Development Council had initiated the process to set up the medial college in 2004. The college is being run by Selvam Educational and Charitable Trust of Tamil Nadu. The state governmenthad provided Rs 10 crore and 25-acre land to the trust to open the medical college, which has a 300-bed hospital.
With the latest addition, the total number of undergraduate medical seats under OJEE went up to 850, while the number of colleges is now six. The institutes are SCB, having 250 seats, 150 each in VSS Medical College and MKCG Medical College, 100 seats at each of Hi-Tech Group's medical colleges in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, besides 100 seats in SRMCH.
The other MBBS seats include 100 each at AIIMS and private institutions Kalinga Institute of Medical Science (KIMS) and Institute of Medical Sciences and Sum Hospital, which admit students through their own entrance examinations.
Friday, July 12, 2013
MCI approves 100 MBBS seats for new medical college at Bhawanipatna
Note: I am personally very glad to know that though I had received some positive information through Prof. G B Behera, who had informed my brother. In 2011 when I and A K Nanda sir met WODC official at Bhubaneswar in their office with Pradiptakumar Naik dada (former minister) for this college they had promised that it will start in 2012, rather late than never.
Shared by Sri Sujit Meher in FB
Orissareporter, July 12, 2013
Shared by Sri Sujit Meher in FB
Orissareporter, July 12, 2013
Bhubaneswar: Medical Council of India (MCI) has approved 100 MBBS seats for newly set up medical college at Bhawanipatna.
Sardar Raja Medical College, a college set up through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, at Jaring (Bhawanipatna) can now admit MBBS students in the current academic year.
By the approval of MCI, the State’s intake capacity for admitting students into MBBS seats has increased to 850. Recently, MCI had approved increase of 100 more seats in SCB Medical College in Cuttack.
Vedanta restarts Lanjigarh refinery
Business Standard, July 12, 2013
Refinery operations resumed Thursday at 930 hours, the captive power plant was put on stream first
Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL) has restarted its 1-million-tonne alumina refinery at Lanjigarh, Odisha, after a gap of seven months. The refinery has been revived with bauxite sourced from Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat and will operate at 60 per cent capacity.
Refinery operations resumed on Thursday at 9:30 am and at first, thecaptive power plant was put on stream. "We have started the operations of the alumina refinery. We have to run it at 60 per cent capacity and we will stabilise it gradually,” said Mukesh Kumar, president and chief operating officer. To operate at full capacity, VAL needs 300,000 tonnes of bauxite every month.
The refinery has shut since December 5 as bauxite supplies dried up. Since then, the company had been making efforts to obtain bauxite from alternative sources. Earlier, VAL had urged the state government to expedite processing of pending applications of Odisha Mining Corp Ltd (OMC), especially bauxite leases under non-forest areas.
These applications are either at PL (prospecting licence) or ML (mining lease) stages.
The small bauxite deposits where OMC has applied for ML are Maliparbat, Karnopodikonda, Ballada, Kakrimali, Hatimali and Majhingamali in Koraput district, Kisunmali in Kalahandi district and Choranimaribhata-A, Choranmaribhata-B, Siadimala-east and Siadimali-west in Rayagada district. These applications are pending at various levels.
VAL was also looking at bauxite supplies from group firm Bharat Aluminium Co’s Kawardah bauxite mines in Chhattisgarh. The mine promised 120,000 tonnes of bauxite supplies every month. But transportation of bauxite from these mines has been held up due to royalty issues on which a case is pending in the Chhattisgarh High Court.
Refinery operations resumed Thursday at 930 hours, the captive power plant was put on stream first
Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL) has restarted its 1-million-tonne alumina refinery at Lanjigarh, Odisha, after a gap of seven months. The refinery has been revived with bauxite sourced from Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat and will operate at 60 per cent capacity.
Refinery operations resumed on Thursday at 9:30 am and at first, thecaptive power plant was put on stream. "We have started the operations of the alumina refinery. We have to run it at 60 per cent capacity and we will stabilise it gradually,” said Mukesh Kumar, president and chief operating officer. To operate at full capacity, VAL needs 300,000 tonnes of bauxite every month.
The refinery has shut since December 5 as bauxite supplies dried up. Since then, the company had been making efforts to obtain bauxite from alternative sources. Earlier, VAL had urged the state government to expedite processing of pending applications of Odisha Mining Corp Ltd (OMC), especially bauxite leases under non-forest areas.
These applications are either at PL (prospecting licence) or ML (mining lease) stages.
The small bauxite deposits where OMC has applied for ML are Maliparbat, Karnopodikonda, Ballada, Kakrimali, Hatimali and Majhingamali in Koraput district, Kisunmali in Kalahandi district and Choranimaribhata-A, Choranmaribhata-B, Siadimala-east and Siadimali-west in Rayagada district. These applications are pending at various levels.
VAL was also looking at bauxite supplies from group firm Bharat Aluminium Co’s Kawardah bauxite mines in Chhattisgarh. The mine promised 120,000 tonnes of bauxite supplies every month. But transportation of bauxite from these mines has been held up due to royalty issues on which a case is pending in the Chhattisgarh High Court.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Vedanta Aluminum Organized Cotton training program for Farmers
Indiaeducationdiary, July 8, 2013
Report by India Education bureau, Lanjigarh: Vedanta Aluminum Ltd, Lanjigarh in association with District Agriculture department of Kalahandi has come forward to facilitate farmers to grow cotton. Cotton has an assured market and demand and will yield handsome income on a sustainable basis. To demonstrate a cropping system in which there will be an assured farm gate price for the farmers.
Creating better livelihood opportunities for a sustainable income to the farmers of all and around the plant, Vedanta has organized a Cotton training program at Lanjigarh where about hundred of farmers joined. The training cum awareness program on Cotton cultivation was inaugurated by Mr Narayan Upadhyay, District Cotton Specialist in the presence of Koustav Ratan Kundu (Head HR-VAL) along with the farmers and Vedanta officials. Mr.Upadhyay Praised Vedanta Aluminum Ltd for doing such type of work to the farmers of this remote area under its Sustainable livelihood initiatives .His team briefly described the training on cotton field preparation, Seed treatment, Seed sowing, fertilizer & other pesticides spraying, Multi cropping and harvesting. Mock training as well as video clips has been arranged to get better knowledge about the farming to the farmers.
The program was held in collaboration with District Agriculture Department, Kalahandi (Technical Support) and Subject Matter Specialist Cotton), Kalahandi. (Cotton Seed).Cotton seeds has been providing free of cost to the farmers by Govt. agriculture department from "Subject matter specialist cotton", Bhawanipatna and VAL is providing pesticides (Admire & Bavistin ) for the treatment of cotton Seeds.
The first phase of distribution of agriculture inputs (Cotton Seeds) had taken place on the 1st week of July at Niyamagiri Vedanta Nagar (NVN) where total of 77 farmers from 14 villages with 113 acres of land have received 300 Kg Cotton seeds ,amongst which 30 farmers are project affected PAPs.
In this program the farmers of Basantapada, Harekrushnapur, Balabhadrapur, Nangalbeda, Raghunathpur, Sindhbahal, Chhatrapur and Kutingpadar received and gave thanks to Vedanta for arranging such type of the farming materials near their Village. Similarly Niharika Sahoo,Binod Rath,Basudev Majhi ,Kesab Majhi ,Punguri Majhi has participated in the program and make awareness among the farmers for the usage of pesticide and cultivation .
Monday, July 8, 2013
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Vacancies hit Kalahandi healthcare
Times of India, July 6, 2013
Bhawanipatna: There is a shortage of doctors inKalahandi district. Against the sanctioned strength of 175, 60, mostly in primary health centres (PHCs), are vacant.
Even the 165-bed Bhawanipatna district headquarters hospital has only 19 doctors, said chief district medical officer Surendra Mohapatra. He said a few doctors are unauthorized absentees, some are pursuing post-graduate studies and a few are on leave.
Mohapatra said 40 posts of nurses, 17 auxilliary nurse wives (ANMs) and 20 sweepers and attendants are also vacant in the hospital. "Due to staff shortage, doctors have to do night duty continuously for seven days. We need sufficient number of doctors and other staff to run the hospital," he said.
Official sources said though the state government declared there should be one gynaecologist in each block of the district, only five are engaged in 13 blocks. Out of 5, three are working in Bhawanipatna district headquarters hospital that receives at least 600 cases a month. One gynaecologist is posted at Dharmagarh and another at Kesinga. Mohapatra said Jaiptana, Madanpur-Rampur and Junagarh blocks need one gynaecologist each, adding that posting of gynaecologists in the remote Thuamul-Rampur and Lanjigarh blocks will arrest the infant mortality rate.
"One of the reasons for vacancies is that doctors and other staff are not keen to serve in remote areas. Recently, an ANM resigned in Trilochanpur village of Lanjigarh block when we asked her to stay there. We need roads, power supply and cellphone connectivity to convince people to work in interior areas," said Mohapatra.
Collector (Kalahandi) Govinda Chandra Sethi said we have appraised the state government about the staff shortage in the district hospital.
Bhawanipatna: There is a shortage of doctors inKalahandi district. Against the sanctioned strength of 175, 60, mostly in primary health centres (PHCs), are vacant.
Even the 165-bed Bhawanipatna district headquarters hospital has only 19 doctors, said chief district medical officer Surendra Mohapatra. He said a few doctors are unauthorized absentees, some are pursuing post-graduate studies and a few are on leave.
Mohapatra said 40 posts of nurses, 17 auxilliary nurse wives (ANMs) and 20 sweepers and attendants are also vacant in the hospital. "Due to staff shortage, doctors have to do night duty continuously for seven days. We need sufficient number of doctors and other staff to run the hospital," he said.
Official sources said though the state government declared there should be one gynaecologist in each block of the district, only five are engaged in 13 blocks. Out of 5, three are working in Bhawanipatna district headquarters hospital that receives at least 600 cases a month. One gynaecologist is posted at Dharmagarh and another at Kesinga. Mohapatra said Jaiptana, Madanpur-Rampur and Junagarh blocks need one gynaecologist each, adding that posting of gynaecologists in the remote Thuamul-Rampur and Lanjigarh blocks will arrest the infant mortality rate.
"One of the reasons for vacancies is that doctors and other staff are not keen to serve in remote areas. Recently, an ANM resigned in Trilochanpur village of Lanjigarh block when we asked her to stay there. We need roads, power supply and cellphone connectivity to convince people to work in interior areas," said Mohapatra.
Collector (Kalahandi) Govinda Chandra Sethi said we have appraised the state government about the staff shortage in the district hospital.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Odisha to stick to its stand on gram sabha for 12 villages
Business Standard, July 5, 2013
Will decide the fate of bauxite extraction from the ecologically sensitive hills
Will decide the fate of bauxite extraction from the ecologically sensitive hills
The Odisha government has decided to go ahead with its previous decision to hold palli sabhas in 12 villages on Niyamgiri hill slopes in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts to decide the fate of bauxite extraction from the ecologically sensitive hills.
The state government stuck to its decision after the advocate general (AG) advised to conduct gram sabhas in 12 villages, in concurrence with the views given earlier by the law department.
"The AG after an interpretation of the Supreme Court order dated April 18 has advised us to hold the gram sabhas in 12 villages. He has advised us to intimate the decision to the Union ministry of tribal affairs (MoTA) which will be done by Monday. If MoTA needs any further clarification, they can approach the apex court”, said a top government official.
Asked if the state government would seek more time from the apex court to complete gram sabha proceedings, he said, “There is no need to ask for additional time as we will be completing the gram sabha proceedings in the stipulated time. We got a certified copy of the apex court order on June 1 and decision making by the gram sabhas will complete by the end of August. The gram sabha proceedings will then be sent to the Union ministry of environment & forests (MoEF) through the state forest & environment department.”
The gram sabhas will be held in seven villages of Rayagada district and five villages in Kalahandi district. The village assembly meetings beginning at Serajpadhi village in Rayagada district on July 18 will stretch up to August 19 at Jorapa village in the same district.
"Notices have been issued to sarpanchs of all 12 villages to start gram sabh proceedings”, said state minister for SC & ST development Lal Bihari Himirika.
In Rayagada district, the gram sabhas are slated to be held at Serajpadhi, Keskapadhi, Batodi, Khambasi, Jorapa, Lamba and Lakhpadar. Similarly, the villages identified for gram sabhas in Kalahandi district include Tadijhola, Palbari, Phuldeemer, Jurpa and Kunakada.
The MoTA had recently flayed the state government for limiting gram sabahs to only 12 villages, arguing that it is not in sync with the Supreme Court (SC) order.
“The list of villages where rights of forest dwellers are guaranteed under the FRA or where cultural and religious rights are likely to be affected cannot be arbitrarily decided by the state government. It is to be decided by the people (palli sabha) where claims would be filed through a transparent manner so that no genuine gram sabha who have a legitimate claim is left out of the process. This is in line with para 59 of the apex court judgement”, Vibha Puri Das, secretary, MoTA had written to the Odisha chief secretary recently.
Union tribal affairs minister V Kishore Chandra Deo also objected to limiting gram sabhas to only 12 villages pointing out that the spiritual and emotional bonding to Niyamgiri of Dongaria Kondhs is not limited to only these 12 villages. The minister had written to Odisha Governor S C Jamir, stressing on safeguarding the constitutional protection guaranteed to the tribals and inhabitants of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts which are located in Schedule V areas.
Dhyanananda Panda of Kalahandi conferred with National Youth Award 2011-12
| Three youths from Odisha conferred with National Youth Award |
Report by Rashmi r Parida, New Delhi: Three Odias conferred with National Youth Award 2011-12 today at the historic Darbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. They are namely Gangadhar Behara, M. Tejeswar, Dhyananda Panda.
Along with these three youth from Odisha President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the National Youth Award 2011-12 on 24 individuals and one organization from West Bengal. The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Jitendra Singh and several other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. It is for the first time the National Youth awards have been given by the President of India. The award consists of a silver medal, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs.40,000 for individuals and Rs.2 lakh for voluntary organisations.
It should be noted that M. Tejeswar, who hails from Boipariguda of Koraput district is an active and dynamic volunteer undertook mass plantation in his village. He has also organized many social and educational development programmes for the children and women. He also organized health check-up awareness and immunization camps for the poor. In recognition of his outstanding services to the community, M. Tejeswar. is awarded the National Youth Award for the Year 2011-12.
Gangadhar Behera who hails from Kaudiapada village of Cuttack district is a social wokerfrom Distt of Cuttak of Odisha. has dedicated himself in the field of awareness programmes, training programmes for self employment, health‘ RTl, sports, Legal aids for girls and women and environmental issues. In recognition of his outstanding services to the community, Gangadhar Behera, is awarded the National Youth Award for the Year 2011-12.
Dhyanananda Panda who hails from Mahavira Pada village of Kalahandi district is a social worker, is actively participating in many activities. During 2011-12 he has organized blood donation, youth leadership and health camps, awareness camps, seminars, days and weeks celebrations etc. He is also involved with social activities. In recognition of his outstanding services to the community Dhyananda Panda is awarded the National Youth Award for the Year 2011-12.
It may be noted that National Youth Awards, instituted in the year 1985 are conferred on youth each year who have demonstrably excelled in youth work in different fields of youth developmental activities and social service. The award carries a pure silver medal, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 40,000/- in case of individual awardee and Rs. 2.00 lakhs for voluntary organization. The selected young individuals are expected to possess leadership qualities and use them in successfully carrying out voluntary activities in the field of Youth Development. This award is a source of encouragement to the awardees, as well as an example and catalyst to others in future.
Selection of Awardees is first made at State level and then at National level. At the National level, a Screening Committee headed by the Joint Secretary scrutinizes the proposals recommended by the State Govt./UT administration at first. These screened proposals are thereafter placed before the Central Selection Committee headed either by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports or Secretary, Youth Affairs that makes the final selection of youth awardees.
The Central Selection Committee may, at its discretion, consider on merits, individuals or youth organizations not recommended by a State Government/UT, for the Award.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Gram sabhas from July 18
Times of India, July 4, 2013
HUBANESWAR/ KORAPUT/ BHAWANIPATNA: Despite Union tribal affairs minister V Kishore Chandra Deo's objections to holding of gram sabhas in 12 villages to decide mining at Niyamgiri, the state government has started finalizing the dates.
While Rayagada has decided to conduct gram sabhas in seven villages between July 18 and August 19, Kalahandi is expected to soon identify dates for five villages. "We will shortly notify the villagers about conduct of gram sabhas," said nodal officer (Kalahandi) Ramesh Behera.
On April 18, the Supreme Court order asked the state government to hold gram sabhas to decide the fate of Vedanta's plan to mine Niyamgiri.
Official sources said the process will begin at Serkapadi village underSiba Padar panchayat of Muniguda block on July 18, followed by Keskapadi (July 22), Batudi (July 27), Khambesi (August 13) andKarapar on August 19. In Kalyansinghpur block's Lamba andLakhpadar villages, gram sabhas will be conducted on August 1 and 8 respectively.
"We need at least 50% attendance to conduct a gram sabha. One-thirdof them should be women. If quorum is not achieved, the gram sabha will be cancelled and conducted later," said collector (Rayagada) Sashi Bhusan Padhi.
Gram sabhas in five villages, Tadijhola, Palberi, Phuldumer, Ijurpa and Kunakado, of Kalahandi are also expected by August-end. Secretary, ST and SC development Santosh Sarangi said: "The orientation programme was held in the villages of Kalahandi and those have been photographed and videographed. We would go-ahead in conducting the gram sabhas," he told TOI.
Official sources said the law department has backed the ST, SC development department's decision, but considering the Centre's criticism of the decision to limit gram sabhas to 12 villages the state government has referred the matter to the advocate general. "If the Centre is against our decision, why does it not move Supreme Court against it?" asked an officer.
HUBANESWAR/ KORAPUT/ BHAWANIPATNA: Despite Union tribal affairs minister V Kishore Chandra Deo's objections to holding of gram sabhas in 12 villages to decide mining at Niyamgiri, the state government has started finalizing the dates.
While Rayagada has decided to conduct gram sabhas in seven villages between July 18 and August 19, Kalahandi is expected to soon identify dates for five villages. "We will shortly notify the villagers about conduct of gram sabhas," said nodal officer (Kalahandi) Ramesh Behera.
On April 18, the Supreme Court order asked the state government to hold gram sabhas to decide the fate of Vedanta's plan to mine Niyamgiri.
Official sources said the process will begin at Serkapadi village underSiba Padar panchayat of Muniguda block on July 18, followed by Keskapadi (July 22), Batudi (July 27), Khambesi (August 13) andKarapar on August 19. In Kalyansinghpur block's Lamba andLakhpadar villages, gram sabhas will be conducted on August 1 and 8 respectively.
"We need at least 50% attendance to conduct a gram sabha. One-thirdof them should be women. If quorum is not achieved, the gram sabha will be cancelled and conducted later," said collector (Rayagada) Sashi Bhusan Padhi.
Gram sabhas in five villages, Tadijhola, Palberi, Phuldumer, Ijurpa and Kunakado, of Kalahandi are also expected by August-end. Secretary, ST and SC development Santosh Sarangi said: "The orientation programme was held in the villages of Kalahandi and those have been photographed and videographed. We would go-ahead in conducting the gram sabhas," he told TOI.
Official sources said the law department has backed the ST, SC development department's decision, but considering the Centre's criticism of the decision to limit gram sabhas to 12 villages the state government has referred the matter to the advocate general. "If the Centre is against our decision, why does it not move Supreme Court against it?" asked an officer.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Vedanta sources bauxite to re-start refinery in Odisha
Economic Times, July 2, 2013
BHUBANESWAR: Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL) Tuesday said it has received about 35,000 tonnes of bauxite from Gujarat to re-start its alumina refinery inOdisha'sKalahandi district at lower capacity.
"We have started getting bauxite from Gujarat. We will build a buffer stock of at least one and half lakh tones of bauxite to re-open the refinery," a senior company official told IANS.
Another shipment of the same quantity from Gujarat is also likely to reach within the next 10 days, he said.
The company had shutdown the one-million-tonne per annum alumina refinery at Lanjigarh, about 500 km from here, Dec 5 due to shortage of bauxite, the key raw material used to produce alumina.
VAL requires three lakh tonnes of bauxite per month to run the refinery at full capacity.
The official said the company is planning to re-start the plant at 60 percent capacity this week as it expects to get a regular flow of bauxite from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Gujarat.
Vedanta wants to mine bauxite from Niyamgiri Hills near its refinery but its clearances are mired in litigation.
It has also applied for several other bauxite reserves in the state, but none of them have materialised so far. It has been trying to run the plant by buying bauxite from different states.
VAL is an associate company of the London listed Vedanta Resources Plc.
BHUBANESWAR: Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL) Tuesday said it has received about 35,000 tonnes of bauxite from Gujarat to re-start its alumina refinery inOdisha'sKalahandi district at lower capacity.
"We have started getting bauxite from Gujarat. We will build a buffer stock of at least one and half lakh tones of bauxite to re-open the refinery," a senior company official told IANS.
Another shipment of the same quantity from Gujarat is also likely to reach within the next 10 days, he said.
The company had shutdown the one-million-tonne per annum alumina refinery at Lanjigarh, about 500 km from here, Dec 5 due to shortage of bauxite, the key raw material used to produce alumina.
VAL requires three lakh tonnes of bauxite per month to run the refinery at full capacity.
The official said the company is planning to re-start the plant at 60 percent capacity this week as it expects to get a regular flow of bauxite from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Gujarat.
Vedanta wants to mine bauxite from Niyamgiri Hills near its refinery but its clearances are mired in litigation.
It has also applied for several other bauxite reserves in the state, but none of them have materialised so far. It has been trying to run the plant by buying bauxite from different states.
VAL is an associate company of the London listed Vedanta Resources Plc.
Small projects prove big support for Kalahandi farmers
The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), July 2, 2013
By
By
Small and innovative irrigation projects have proved a boon for the farmers in the hilly terrains of Kalahandi where big projects cannot be implemented.
In 1970s and ’80s, a tribal Karji Majhi of Malijubang under Lanjigarh block in Kalahandi district applying indigenous knowledge and common sense had constructed more than 20 small irrigation structures by diverting and channelising hilly streams. He diverted stream water by digging small channels and putting wooden boat like structures to facilitate water passage from one elevation to another. With this arrangement, he was able to provide irrigation facilities to the farmers of the area at a very low cost. For his activities and talent, Majhi was popularly known as illiterate tribal engineer and in 1997 he was also honoured in the Kalahandi Utsav. He is no longer alive now but his deeds are remembered. On Friday, late Karji Majhi was remembered as a hydraulic pressured diversion irrigation project constructed at a cost of ` four lakh by Sevjagat, an NGO, was inaugurated at Bengaon in Lanjigarh block.
From a height of 50 metres, the stream water has been diverted with PVC pipes and after one km, three outlets with switches have been set up. The best part of the system is that it will provide water for irrigation throughout the year to about 30 acres of land without any displacement of people or submergence of land.
Satya Pattnaik, the head of Sevajagat, said, “Such small projects are economical and eco-friendly. In Kalahandi’s hilly region particularly Thuamul Rampur, Lanjigarh and Madanpur Rampur blocks, such small projects are feasible.” During last one year, another similar project at Karengili of Lanjigarh block and two at Sulesur and Khaliamunda in Madanpur Rampur block have been implemented by the organisation. On an average, each of these projects is capable of irrigating 30 to 50 acres of land. Pattnaik said construction of six more such projects has been proposed in Lanjigarh and Madanpur Rampur blocks. The survey for the projects has already been completed. Funds from philanthropic organisations are awaited to begin the works, he added.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Tribal leader's village neglected
Times of India, July 1,, 2013
Bhawanipatna: Predominantly tribal Urladanivillage is bereft of basic amenities despite repeated reminders to authorities. The village, which is 18km from Kalahandi'sMadanpur-Rampur, bordering Kandhamal, is known for tribal leaderRindoMajhi, who laid down his life fighting the British.
Not only the village, Urladani gram panchyat (GP), having a population of around 6,000, is a picture of neglect. There are 40 villages in the GP under Madanpur-Rampur block.
The Rahul river is flowing by 15 villages, including Urladani, and the residents' only link to the outside world is a wooden log. They cross the log for their day-to-day activities and to reach the community health centre, risking their lives. As river overflows in the rainy season and inundates the log, people wait for water to recede to cross over, said resident Dhabaleswar Naik.
A permanent bridge is being constructed at a cost of Rs 8 crore, which was to be completed by June. But due to sluggish pace of construction, the completion of the bridge has plunged into uncertainty.
People of this area have been demanding a mobile tower and a police outpost since long. "BDO and tehsildar have been moved a number of times for setting up of a police outpost, but in vain," said Urladani sarpanch Mithila Patra.
"As the area is inaccessible we are facing many troubles to execute the projects. We are expecting the bridge to be completed by 2014 and after that we will expedite all our projects. We have already intimated the government to set up a mobile tower in the region," said BDO (Madanpur-Rampur) Sibananda Swain.
Bhawanipatna: Predominantly tribal Urladanivillage is bereft of basic amenities despite repeated reminders to authorities. The village, which is 18km from Kalahandi'sMadanpur-Rampur, bordering Kandhamal, is known for tribal leaderRindoMajhi, who laid down his life fighting the British.
Not only the village, Urladani gram panchyat (GP), having a population of around 6,000, is a picture of neglect. There are 40 villages in the GP under Madanpur-Rampur block.
The Rahul river is flowing by 15 villages, including Urladani, and the residents' only link to the outside world is a wooden log. They cross the log for their day-to-day activities and to reach the community health centre, risking their lives. As river overflows in the rainy season and inundates the log, people wait for water to recede to cross over, said resident Dhabaleswar Naik.
A permanent bridge is being constructed at a cost of Rs 8 crore, which was to be completed by June. But due to sluggish pace of construction, the completion of the bridge has plunged into uncertainty.
People of this area have been demanding a mobile tower and a police outpost since long. "BDO and tehsildar have been moved a number of times for setting up of a police outpost, but in vain," said Urladani sarpanch Mithila Patra.
"As the area is inaccessible we are facing many troubles to execute the projects. We are expecting the bridge to be completed by 2014 and after that we will expedite all our projects. We have already intimated the government to set up a mobile tower in the region," said BDO (Madanpur-Rampur) Sibananda Swain.
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