Financial Express, June 11, 2007
RURAL ECONOMY
Centre’s social audit finds tribals hardpressed for work in Kalahandi
ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted online: Monday, June 11, 2007 at 0000 hours IST
NEW DELHI, JUN 10: There are no smiles on the faces of the poverty-stricken tribals of the infamous KBK hunger belt of Orissa. The government’s ambitious National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, being implement in the region, has turned out to be a mockery, largely benefiting the implementing authorities at the expense of poor tribals, according to a survey by Centre for Enviournment and Food Security (CEFS), conducted under the Union government’s social audit programme.
The erstwhile Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput (KBK) has been divided into six districts, namely Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nabrangpur and Rayagada. As the region was known for starvation deaths, it was declared as the region for special attention.
According to the survey, there are irregularities in entries in job cards, maintenance of muster rolls and disbursement of payments to the intended beneficiaries. CEFS conducted a survey of 100 villages in the six districts in the last two months.
Among the major findings of the CEFS report social audit has not been conducted in any of the 100 villages and the muster rolls have not been checked by the village people. In none of the villages under survey 100-day employment was given. No job cards are issued in 11 villages, no work was undertaken in 37 villages after issuance of job cards and after 16 months of the launch of the scheme. Job cards issued in 23 villages are not given to the workers, they are still in the custody of panchayat executive officers (PEOs) and junior officers.
In 25 villages under survey partial payments have been made to workers and in three village no payments have been made even after 4 to 8 months of work. In 6 villages in Kashipur block in Rayagada district work is being undertaken without issuance any job cards
“Our findings reveal a nexus between a chain of officials, from state to village levels, responsible for implementation of the scheme. Benefits are not reaching the beneficiaries," CEFS director, Parashuram Ray told FE.He said the BDO of Nandur block in Koraput district, Jyoti Rajan Mishra had instructed the PEOs not to show any muster rolls to the visiting CEFS team.
The PEO of Raisingh gram panchayat, Nagesh Choudhary has given in writing that he would not show any muster roll without the permission of the BDO. The next day when the CEFS team contacted the BDO he said that the permission from the district collector was necessary. The CEFS team even contacted the state commissioner-cum-secretary of panchayati raj, Rabindranath Dash to resolve the issue, but failed.
Ray said despite such hindrances, the CEFS team could get some interesting accounts from the people. In Maagaral village card no 2401 was issued to Hari Sisa for 59 day-work, but actually he was offered work for only 20 days.
According to the study, there are six enteries in the muster rolls in the name of Hari Sisa. Similarly job card no 2335 was issued to Mini Budi Khilo for 36-day work while he was offered work for only 8 days with three entries in the muster rolls. Balaram Sisa was issued job card no 2397 for 30-day work, but was offered work for only 5 days. Hagu Hemendru was issued job card no 2360 for 58-day work, but was offered work for only 6 days.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Health varsity on drawing-board
The New Indian Express, June 2, 2007
BHUBANESWAR: The proposal to set up a Health University is under the active consideration of the State Government.
In a written reply to a question from Utkal Keshari Parida (OGP), Minister of State for Health Duryodhan Majhi said all the medical colleges in the State would be brought under the university for better management.
The proposal to upgrade the Capital Hospital into a medical college is also under the consideration of the Government.
Replying to a separate question from Pramila Giri (BJP), the Minister ruled out appointment of homeopathic and ayurvedic doctors in place of MBBS doctors in vacant posts.
He, however, maintained that more posts of homeopathic and ayurvedic doctors would be created keeping public welfare in mind.
To a question from Haji Mohammed Khan (Ind), the Minister said the State Government has issued NOCs for establishment of three medical colleges in the private sector.
While the Nabadiganta Educational Trust will set up a hospital at Sunabeda, Selvam Educational and Charitable Trust of Tamil Nadu will establish a college at Jaring in Kalahandi district.
Shri Jagannath Educational and Health Trust will establish the third college at Balasore. Besides, the Balaji Educational and Charitable Trust (BECT), Pudducherry, has signed an MoU with the WODC for establishment of a medical college at Balangir.
The organisation has been given 25 acres free of cost. Construction of the college will start after BECT signed the lease agreement with the collector.
BHUBANESWAR: The proposal to set up a Health University is under the active consideration of the State Government.
In a written reply to a question from Utkal Keshari Parida (OGP), Minister of State for Health Duryodhan Majhi said all the medical colleges in the State would be brought under the university for better management.
The proposal to upgrade the Capital Hospital into a medical college is also under the consideration of the Government.
Replying to a separate question from Pramila Giri (BJP), the Minister ruled out appointment of homeopathic and ayurvedic doctors in place of MBBS doctors in vacant posts.
He, however, maintained that more posts of homeopathic and ayurvedic doctors would be created keeping public welfare in mind.
To a question from Haji Mohammed Khan (Ind), the Minister said the State Government has issued NOCs for establishment of three medical colleges in the private sector.
While the Nabadiganta Educational Trust will set up a hospital at Sunabeda, Selvam Educational and Charitable Trust of Tamil Nadu will establish a college at Jaring in Kalahandi district.
Shri Jagannath Educational and Health Trust will establish the third college at Balasore. Besides, the Balaji Educational and Charitable Trust (BECT), Pudducherry, has signed an MoU with the WODC for establishment of a medical college at Balangir.
The organisation has been given 25 acres free of cost. Construction of the college will start after BECT signed the lease agreement with the collector.
HSC results: Winners reveal future plans
The New Indian Express, May 30, 2007
BALASORE: Inspired by President A P J Abdul Kalam, she wants to be a scientist. ‘‘If one person labours hard, he/she will surely succeed in life.’’
This is the mantra of the first rank-holder Priyanka Das. Though always confident of securing a good position, she was not hopeful of topping the chart.
Student of Zilla High School, Balasore, she has scored 96.93 per cent marks, an all-time high in the history of HSC examinations. Priyanka wants to pursue her engineering from IIT.
The district has two more toppers. Goutam Kumar Parmanik of Bijay Kumar Academy, Soharia has secured fourth position with 95.46 percent marks and Smruti Ranjan Mallick, student of Zilla School, has secured seventh position with 95 percent marks. Both want to be doctors.
‘‘Eight hours of studying in a day and coaching classes have helped me taste success,’’ said Jyoti Ranjan Barik of Puri who stood third in the the HSC exam.
A student of Biswamber Bidyapitha, Barik wants to study in the IIT. Yet another student of the same school, Kamalesh Pattnaik, has notched the fifth position.
Pritam Abhishek of Puri Zilla School secured the ninth position. Sharing the same rank is Anshuman Badu from Jayasola High School in Raghunathpur block of Jagatsinghpur district.
Three students from Ganjam district have made it to the top 10 list. While F Naseem Ali Khan of medical campus secured sixth position, Sushree Smaraki of Nilakanthanagar Saraswati Sishu Mandir secured 10th position.
Swarup Ranjan Mishra of Saraswati Sishu Mandir at Dhiapadhal near Bhanjanagar secured seventh position. While Naseem wants to be an IIT graduate, Smaraki aims to be a doctor.
‘‘My sincerity and dedication and the support that I received from my parents and teachers helped me achieve success,’’ says Subhashree Subudhi, a student of Saraswati Vidyamandir , Bhawanipatna who has secured seventh position. Like several other toppers, she also aims to be an IITian.
‘‘Without proper diagnosis and treatment, many people die in our country. I want to save them,’’ says Pusparaj Aditi Nandan Pradhan, a student of Brajanath Badajena High School and the eight-rank holder in HSC examination. Scoring 712 out of 750 marks, this boy from Dhenkanal wants to be a doctor.
‘‘Nothing but hard work and dedication are the key behind my success,’’ said Sonali Swetapadma of Saraswati Vidya Mandir , Purbakachha .
Sonali has notched the 10th position and aspires to be a computer engineer in future.
BALASORE: Inspired by President A P J Abdul Kalam, she wants to be a scientist. ‘‘If one person labours hard, he/she will surely succeed in life.’’
This is the mantra of the first rank-holder Priyanka Das. Though always confident of securing a good position, she was not hopeful of topping the chart.
Student of Zilla High School, Balasore, she has scored 96.93 per cent marks, an all-time high in the history of HSC examinations. Priyanka wants to pursue her engineering from IIT.
The district has two more toppers. Goutam Kumar Parmanik of Bijay Kumar Academy, Soharia has secured fourth position with 95.46 percent marks and Smruti Ranjan Mallick, student of Zilla School, has secured seventh position with 95 percent marks. Both want to be doctors.
‘‘Eight hours of studying in a day and coaching classes have helped me taste success,’’ said Jyoti Ranjan Barik of Puri who stood third in the the HSC exam.
A student of Biswamber Bidyapitha, Barik wants to study in the IIT. Yet another student of the same school, Kamalesh Pattnaik, has notched the fifth position.
Pritam Abhishek of Puri Zilla School secured the ninth position. Sharing the same rank is Anshuman Badu from Jayasola High School in Raghunathpur block of Jagatsinghpur district.
Three students from Ganjam district have made it to the top 10 list. While F Naseem Ali Khan of medical campus secured sixth position, Sushree Smaraki of Nilakanthanagar Saraswati Sishu Mandir secured 10th position.
Swarup Ranjan Mishra of Saraswati Sishu Mandir at Dhiapadhal near Bhanjanagar secured seventh position. While Naseem wants to be an IIT graduate, Smaraki aims to be a doctor.
‘‘My sincerity and dedication and the support that I received from my parents and teachers helped me achieve success,’’ says Subhashree Subudhi, a student of Saraswati Vidyamandir , Bhawanipatna who has secured seventh position. Like several other toppers, she also aims to be an IITian.
‘‘Without proper diagnosis and treatment, many people die in our country. I want to save them,’’ says Pusparaj Aditi Nandan Pradhan, a student of Brajanath Badajena High School and the eight-rank holder in HSC examination. Scoring 712 out of 750 marks, this boy from Dhenkanal wants to be a doctor.
‘‘Nothing but hard work and dedication are the key behind my success,’’ said Sonali Swetapadma of Saraswati Vidya Mandir , Purbakachha .
Sonali has notched the 10th position and aspires to be a computer engineer in future.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Knot right: SEZs affect marriages
Hindustan Times, June 5, 2007
People who reside in places where land acquisition is a raging controversy are faced with a new problem - not many are willing to marry them out of fear that their agricultural land and houses might soon be taken away.
"Social life has certainly been affected due to our agitation against Posco (a South Korean steel company). Marriages in Dhinkia panchayat have not come to a complete halt, but there has definitely been a sharp decline after the agitation was launched," said Abhaya Sahu, the chairman of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti.
Bhakata Charan Das, the convenor of Green Kalahandi which is spearheading an agitation against Vedanta Alumina Ltd, has a similar point of view.
He told the Hindustan Times, "It is for obvious reasons that eligible bachelors residing in areas where land is being acquired for industries are getting either a few or no marriage proposals at all. This has happened in the Lanjigarh area of Kalahandi too, where Vedanta is setting up an aluminum plant.”
"In rural areas, people look for stability. And generally, a family's house and agricultural land determine the kind of marriage proposals they get. If both land and houses are being taken away, then marriage proposals will dry up too,” Das added.
There is statistical evidence to back this statement.
Most Hindu marriages take place on tithis, or auspicious dates. Over 30 tithis have already passed in the first five months of 2007. Sahu, however, could recollect only two marriages during this period, while earlier at least one marriage was held on each tithi in Dhinkia and its adjoining areas.
Land and houses being dispossessed apart, there is another reason behind this reduced number — the growing number of police cases registered against the anti-Posco campaigners. For, the fear of arrest acts as a deterrent against possible matrimonial alliances.
But Sahu remains optimistic that normalcy would soon be restored in his panchayat.
“The people who live in the villages adjacent to ours have come to realise that Posco can never acquire an inch of land in Dhinkia. So, they are gradually losing the apprehension of getting their sons or daughters married in our panchayat,” he said.
People who reside in places where land acquisition is a raging controversy are faced with a new problem - not many are willing to marry them out of fear that their agricultural land and houses might soon be taken away.
"Social life has certainly been affected due to our agitation against Posco (a South Korean steel company). Marriages in Dhinkia panchayat have not come to a complete halt, but there has definitely been a sharp decline after the agitation was launched," said Abhaya Sahu, the chairman of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti.
Bhakata Charan Das, the convenor of Green Kalahandi which is spearheading an agitation against Vedanta Alumina Ltd, has a similar point of view.
He told the Hindustan Times, "It is for obvious reasons that eligible bachelors residing in areas where land is being acquired for industries are getting either a few or no marriage proposals at all. This has happened in the Lanjigarh area of Kalahandi too, where Vedanta is setting up an aluminum plant.”
"In rural areas, people look for stability. And generally, a family's house and agricultural land determine the kind of marriage proposals they get. If both land and houses are being taken away, then marriage proposals will dry up too,” Das added.
There is statistical evidence to back this statement.
Most Hindu marriages take place on tithis, or auspicious dates. Over 30 tithis have already passed in the first five months of 2007. Sahu, however, could recollect only two marriages during this period, while earlier at least one marriage was held on each tithi in Dhinkia and its adjoining areas.
Land and houses being dispossessed apart, there is another reason behind this reduced number — the growing number of police cases registered against the anti-Posco campaigners. For, the fear of arrest acts as a deterrent against possible matrimonial alliances.
But Sahu remains optimistic that normalcy would soon be restored in his panchayat.
“The people who live in the villages adjacent to ours have come to realise that Posco can never acquire an inch of land in Dhinkia. So, they are gradually losing the apprehension of getting their sons or daughters married in our panchayat,” he said.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Victims of cataract operation seek govt help or right to die
Khaleej Times, June 4, 2007
BHUBANESWAR — At least five of the 13 people, who had lost one eye each after undergoing a cataract operation at the state-run district headquarters hospital of Kalahandi, on Saturday urged the President to allow them to die.
The five persons, all above 60 years of age from Mendal village under Narla block, in a memorandum to APJ Abdul Kalam stated that they were facing difficulties after losing one eye each. The state government did not take care of them which ultimately "pushed them to a life of misery", they alleged.
The victims, including two women, submitted the memorandum to Additional District Magistrate, Kalahandi, B.K. Ojha who confirmed the receipt of it.
"They have urged to provide them with government assistance like issue of disability certificate or allow them to die," he told PTI over telephone.
Official sources said a total of 14 people, six from Narla block, four from Kesinga block, three from Jaypatna block and one from Bhawanipatna town, had undergone cataract operation at the government hospital on January 23. They were allowed to go home the next day.
However, all of them returned to the hospital with complaints of infection on their eyes. "We had to operate and remove the infected eyes of 13 people. The infection was caused due to lack of post-operation care," said Dr Bharatbandhu Panda of the hospital.
The incident, however, came to light in March after the victims lodged an FIR at Bhawanipatna police station holding the doctors and the hospital responsible for loss of their eye sight.
BHUBANESWAR — At least five of the 13 people, who had lost one eye each after undergoing a cataract operation at the state-run district headquarters hospital of Kalahandi, on Saturday urged the President to allow them to die.
The five persons, all above 60 years of age from Mendal village under Narla block, in a memorandum to APJ Abdul Kalam stated that they were facing difficulties after losing one eye each. The state government did not take care of them which ultimately "pushed them to a life of misery", they alleged.
The victims, including two women, submitted the memorandum to Additional District Magistrate, Kalahandi, B.K. Ojha who confirmed the receipt of it.
"They have urged to provide them with government assistance like issue of disability certificate or allow them to die," he told PTI over telephone.
Official sources said a total of 14 people, six from Narla block, four from Kesinga block, three from Jaypatna block and one from Bhawanipatna town, had undergone cataract operation at the government hospital on January 23. They were allowed to go home the next day.
However, all of them returned to the hospital with complaints of infection on their eyes. "We had to operate and remove the infected eyes of 13 people. The infection was caused due to lack of post-operation care," said Dr Bharatbandhu Panda of the hospital.
The incident, however, came to light in March after the victims lodged an FIR at Bhawanipatna police station holding the doctors and the hospital responsible for loss of their eye sight.
Sports complex construction hangs fire
The New Indian Express, June 4, 2007
BHAWANIPATNA: In a bid to encourage sports activities and provide a platform to raw talents, a sports complex was approved for the district by the State Government in 2004. But its construction work continues to move at a snail’s pace.
Sources said the Sports and Youth Services Department had approved Rs. 254.57 lakh for the complex and R&B, Bhawanipatna division, was made the implementing agency.
The project, near Kusadangar, included an outdoor stadium with eight-lane track, football, volleyball and basketball fields, a tennis court, multigym hall, category II swimming pool, indoor hall and 100-bed sports hostel.
According to R&B department sources, out of Rs. 254.57 lakh, only Rs. 74 lakh has been released in phases till now by the Sports Department. If the funds are released at this rate, it may take several years to complete the complex and in the process, the cost of construction would go up manifold.
R & B , Bhawanipatna division, executive engineer A K Badpanda said the estimate was prepared at 2003 prices basing on which the administrative approval was accorded. Now with the rise in the price of materials and labour, the rate schedule has been revised thrice and the project cost will be accordingly increased by 30 percent of the original estimate.
The revised estimate has been submitted for administrative approval. But he maintained that the progress of the work is satisfactory.
A compound wall for the complex is essential. Since the project does not include, the district administration will take care of it for which a separate estimate of Rs. 45 lakh has been prepared by PWD (R&B).
BHAWANIPATNA: In a bid to encourage sports activities and provide a platform to raw talents, a sports complex was approved for the district by the State Government in 2004. But its construction work continues to move at a snail’s pace.
Sources said the Sports and Youth Services Department had approved Rs. 254.57 lakh for the complex and R&B, Bhawanipatna division, was made the implementing agency.
The project, near Kusadangar, included an outdoor stadium with eight-lane track, football, volleyball and basketball fields, a tennis court, multigym hall, category II swimming pool, indoor hall and 100-bed sports hostel.
According to R&B department sources, out of Rs. 254.57 lakh, only Rs. 74 lakh has been released in phases till now by the Sports Department. If the funds are released at this rate, it may take several years to complete the complex and in the process, the cost of construction would go up manifold.
R & B , Bhawanipatna division, executive engineer A K Badpanda said the estimate was prepared at 2003 prices basing on which the administrative approval was accorded. Now with the rise in the price of materials and labour, the rate schedule has been revised thrice and the project cost will be accordingly increased by 30 percent of the original estimate.
The revised estimate has been submitted for administrative approval. But he maintained that the progress of the work is satisfactory.
A compound wall for the complex is essential. Since the project does not include, the district administration will take care of it for which a separate estimate of Rs. 45 lakh has been prepared by PWD (R&B).
Friday, June 1, 2007
Orissa family hoping for miracle to retrieve dead son
Daily News, June 1, 2007
Bhejapadar (Orissa), May 31: An Orissa family that lost its son to a snake bite a few days ago is trying hard to revive his dead body with the help of sorcery.
The incident happened last week in the Bhejapadar Village of Orissa's Kalahandi district, when Arun, a young child, went into the jungle to collect firewood. He was bitten by some poisonous snake and died on the spot. His family took his body to the doctor who declared him dead on arrival.
The relatives buried the body in the jungle and left for home. But three days later Arun's mother claimed to have seen an image of her son with a snake standing near his grave, as if protecting the child.
She interpreted the dream as something that indicated the child cannot die and was prematurely accepted as dead. She started believing that her deceased son could be retrieved. But led by illiteracy and superstition, the mother along with her husband approached a local witchcraft hunter for help.
"We believe in the Ojha (or, the witchcraft practitioner) and have taken the body out of the grave for him. We want him to exorcise it and bring it back to life," said Bibhisan Majhi, the dead boy's father.
"He has been exorcising for the last two days and I am sitting beside my son waiting for him to come back to life," said
According to the witchcraft practitioner, the revival of the dead is possible by treating the snake bite.
"Somebody in Arun's family had a dream after his death. That time his body had already been buried for three days. The family came to me and I told them I would try and treat him. They took out the body from the grave and I have been trying to treat it since then," said Natabara Sahu, the witchcraft practitioner.
Sahu has been trying to treat the snake bite for over two days. He is still optimistic about the dead child's recovery.
Bhejapadar (Orissa), May 31: An Orissa family that lost its son to a snake bite a few days ago is trying hard to revive his dead body with the help of sorcery.
The incident happened last week in the Bhejapadar Village of Orissa's Kalahandi district, when Arun, a young child, went into the jungle to collect firewood. He was bitten by some poisonous snake and died on the spot. His family took his body to the doctor who declared him dead on arrival.
The relatives buried the body in the jungle and left for home. But three days later Arun's mother claimed to have seen an image of her son with a snake standing near his grave, as if protecting the child.
She interpreted the dream as something that indicated the child cannot die and was prematurely accepted as dead. She started believing that her deceased son could be retrieved. But led by illiteracy and superstition, the mother along with her husband approached a local witchcraft hunter for help.
"We believe in the Ojha (or, the witchcraft practitioner) and have taken the body out of the grave for him. We want him to exorcise it and bring it back to life," said Bibhisan Majhi, the dead boy's father.
"He has been exorcising for the last two days and I am sitting beside my son waiting for him to come back to life," said
According to the witchcraft practitioner, the revival of the dead is possible by treating the snake bite.
"Somebody in Arun's family had a dream after his death. That time his body had already been buried for three days. The family came to me and I told them I would try and treat him. They took out the body from the grave and I have been trying to treat it since then," said Natabara Sahu, the witchcraft practitioner.
Sahu has been trying to treat the snake bite for over two days. He is still optimistic about the dead child's recovery.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Classrooms are humming again
Financial Express, May 30, 2007
As the UPA completes 3 years, we probe the efficacy of its big-spend programmes
BIPIN CHANDRAN
KALAHANDI, ORISSA: Here’s the ninth part of a series on how the government’s big-ticket programmes have impacted the hinterland, filed by our reporters from across the country.
When Kalahandi’s education instructors tried to enroll 11-year-old scheduled tribe boy Nrudananda Dandasena in a local school some years back, his father had objected saying the distance his son had to walk to attend classes was too much. But, five years along, a school serving mid-day meals has come up near Nrudananda’s home. But he is still grazing cattle and helping his father in the field.
The story is similar for over five lakh children in Orissa. But the scenario may change soon for the better as Naveen Patnaik’s government is striving to reach education to all, especially in the impoverished areas.
As part of its plans to ensure that all students are enrolled in schools, the state government has created an online database of all the 98 lakh children between the 1-14 years age group. The database has helped the education authorities to start projects and programmes targeted at specific regions or even schools. Authorities are finding success in their endeavour, in snatches though. Of the total 61lakh children in the age group of 6 years to 14 years, about 55 lakh students have been enrolled in schools.
The state government wants to use Sarva Sikhya Abhiyan to enroll all children between 6-14 years of age in schools—an attempt, many say, has failed.
But nothing is hunky dory. To make matters worse, students enroll and drop out after obtaining scholarships, a problem which is acute in districts like Kalahandi. Moreover, attendance is as low as 30 to 50% in most schools and the school dropout rate is as high as 50%, according to various estimates.
“There are school dropouts. But it varies from school to school. Some have a higher percentage. We realise that dropping out of schools is a bigger problem than getting students enrolled. We are taking steps to ensure that students stay in schools,” said a state education department official. The government has started various schemes, including distribution of free uniforms to ensure that the student dropout rate comes down. But, a large part of these uniforms find their way to nearby markets.
Another major problem is the difficulty in finding teachers. As a result, more prosperous places like Paradip has excess teachers. For example, a government school in Paradip with about 300 students has 14 teachers and 9 classrooms, while the one in nearby Sijur has 250 students, no classrooms and just one teacher.
Shiksha Sahayaks, who help in recruiting students, are hired on a temporary basis initially, which is seen as a major dissuading factor for many to take up the job. Moreover, with most of the schools facing shortage of teachers, Shiksha Sahayaks also double up as teachers. In addition, the monthly pay for Shiksha Sahayaks is Rs 2,000, lower than the Rs 6,000-Rs 7,000 earned by a regular schoolteacher.
As the UPA completes 3 years, we probe the efficacy of its big-spend programmes
BIPIN CHANDRAN
KALAHANDI, ORISSA: Here’s the ninth part of a series on how the government’s big-ticket programmes have impacted the hinterland, filed by our reporters from across the country.
When Kalahandi’s education instructors tried to enroll 11-year-old scheduled tribe boy Nrudananda Dandasena in a local school some years back, his father had objected saying the distance his son had to walk to attend classes was too much. But, five years along, a school serving mid-day meals has come up near Nrudananda’s home. But he is still grazing cattle and helping his father in the field.
The story is similar for over five lakh children in Orissa. But the scenario may change soon for the better as Naveen Patnaik’s government is striving to reach education to all, especially in the impoverished areas.
As part of its plans to ensure that all students are enrolled in schools, the state government has created an online database of all the 98 lakh children between the 1-14 years age group. The database has helped the education authorities to start projects and programmes targeted at specific regions or even schools. Authorities are finding success in their endeavour, in snatches though. Of the total 61lakh children in the age group of 6 years to 14 years, about 55 lakh students have been enrolled in schools.
The state government wants to use Sarva Sikhya Abhiyan to enroll all children between 6-14 years of age in schools—an attempt, many say, has failed.
But nothing is hunky dory. To make matters worse, students enroll and drop out after obtaining scholarships, a problem which is acute in districts like Kalahandi. Moreover, attendance is as low as 30 to 50% in most schools and the school dropout rate is as high as 50%, according to various estimates.
“There are school dropouts. But it varies from school to school. Some have a higher percentage. We realise that dropping out of schools is a bigger problem than getting students enrolled. We are taking steps to ensure that students stay in schools,” said a state education department official. The government has started various schemes, including distribution of free uniforms to ensure that the student dropout rate comes down. But, a large part of these uniforms find their way to nearby markets.
Another major problem is the difficulty in finding teachers. As a result, more prosperous places like Paradip has excess teachers. For example, a government school in Paradip with about 300 students has 14 teachers and 9 classrooms, while the one in nearby Sijur has 250 students, no classrooms and just one teacher.
Shiksha Sahayaks, who help in recruiting students, are hired on a temporary basis initially, which is seen as a major dissuading factor for many to take up the job. Moreover, with most of the schools facing shortage of teachers, Shiksha Sahayaks also double up as teachers. In addition, the monthly pay for Shiksha Sahayaks is Rs 2,000, lower than the Rs 6,000-Rs 7,000 earned by a regular schoolteacher.
Prize for fruition of a dream
The Statesman, May 30, 2007
Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, May 29: “Service to mankind is service to God” has been her motto. She is Subasini Jena (38), a female health worker in the remote Kodomeri sub-centre of the backward Nuapada district.
This simple, humble and down-to-earth health worker has turned out to be perhaps the first ever from the state to bag the prestigious Florence Nightangle National Award-2007” on the eve of International Nurse Day on 12 May. In a proud moment of her life, she received the award from the President, APJ Abdul Kalam, for her outstanding performance in Immunisation and Family Welfare Service. She was one of the 17 awardees from 16 states. Her dream had been to serve the poor and downtrodden strata of the society and this dream could materialise after completing the Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM) course at Baripada.
Talking to The Statesman, she recalled her initial days as the health worker, when there was no proper transportation or communication and she had to walk miles to cover 40 villages assigned to her.
All her 17 years of service has been in undivided Kalahandi district, one of the most backward and undeveloped districts of western Orissa, where she had served in Beltukuri sub-centre, Nuapada (14 years), Lanjigada sub-centre, Kalahandi (three years).
Most importantly, her proud husband, Mr Gobardhan Joshi, is also in the same profession and is working, along with her as a male health worker in the same Kodomeri sub-centre. And this couple is entrusted with the task of looking after the health needs of more than 8,000 people of eight villages under the sub-centre.
They mainly deal with pulse polio campaign Filaria eradication and TB control programme. They also attend home calls in delivery cases. When asked about her inspiration, she names Mother Tersa and Florence Nightangle and she attributes her success to her husband and her two children, Suranjika and Samresh. She also acknowledges the contributions of Dr SP Satpathy, the present medical officer and Dr BB Jagat, the former medical officer and the present CDMO, Nuapada, for encouraging her.
Today, the health minister and senior officers organised a function here to felicitate Subasini Jena.
Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, May 29: “Service to mankind is service to God” has been her motto. She is Subasini Jena (38), a female health worker in the remote Kodomeri sub-centre of the backward Nuapada district.
This simple, humble and down-to-earth health worker has turned out to be perhaps the first ever from the state to bag the prestigious Florence Nightangle National Award-2007” on the eve of International Nurse Day on 12 May. In a proud moment of her life, she received the award from the President, APJ Abdul Kalam, for her outstanding performance in Immunisation and Family Welfare Service. She was one of the 17 awardees from 16 states. Her dream had been to serve the poor and downtrodden strata of the society and this dream could materialise after completing the Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM) course at Baripada.
Talking to The Statesman, she recalled her initial days as the health worker, when there was no proper transportation or communication and she had to walk miles to cover 40 villages assigned to her.
All her 17 years of service has been in undivided Kalahandi district, one of the most backward and undeveloped districts of western Orissa, where she had served in Beltukuri sub-centre, Nuapada (14 years), Lanjigada sub-centre, Kalahandi (three years).
Most importantly, her proud husband, Mr Gobardhan Joshi, is also in the same profession and is working, along with her as a male health worker in the same Kodomeri sub-centre. And this couple is entrusted with the task of looking after the health needs of more than 8,000 people of eight villages under the sub-centre.
They mainly deal with pulse polio campaign Filaria eradication and TB control programme. They also attend home calls in delivery cases. When asked about her inspiration, she names Mother Tersa and Florence Nightangle and she attributes her success to her husband and her two children, Suranjika and Samresh. She also acknowledges the contributions of Dr SP Satpathy, the present medical officer and Dr BB Jagat, the former medical officer and the present CDMO, Nuapada, for encouraging her.
Today, the health minister and senior officers organised a function here to felicitate Subasini Jena.
Raids reveal irregularities in NREGS
The New Indian Express, May 29, 2007
MALKANGIRI: Irregularities in the ongoing National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) works in Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi districts came to light after surprise raids were conducted by the vigilance sleuths in these districts on Saturday.
The raids were conducted on the directions of Jeypore Vigilance SP Bishnu Charan Das. “Irregularities in Kuhurakote-Palas road construction work under Jharigaon block, non-payment of Rs 55 a day to the labourers and obtaining thumb impression from labourers who can sign were observed during investigation in the Nabarangpur district,” the Vigilance SP said.
The road is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 5 lakh and is a departmental one but during investigation, it was revealed that the work was allotted to one contractor Khaga Nayak.
Further, the contractor instead of paying daily wages to the labourers, is getting the work done on contract basis,” he added.
Similarly, irregularities have been detected in the ongoing tank renovation work at Gunthaguda village under Pujariput gram panchayat of Jeypore block in Koraput. During the raids, muster roll, payment register and list of labourers were not found at the spot. Though details like the mode and nature of payment should be reflected as per the NREGS norms, nothing was mentioned in the register, vigilance sources said.
In Rayagada, the vigilance team detected irregularities in NREGS road construction work from Adapatiguda to Dumaguda under K.Maligaon gram panchayat. During the raid, only seven labourers were present at the construction spot against 10 as mentioned in the muster roll, the SP said.
Irregularities were also detected in a road renovation work from NH- 270 to Amalpalli under Madanpur Rampur block in Kalahandi district. Cases have been registered.
MALKANGIRI: Irregularities in the ongoing National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) works in Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi districts came to light after surprise raids were conducted by the vigilance sleuths in these districts on Saturday.
The raids were conducted on the directions of Jeypore Vigilance SP Bishnu Charan Das. “Irregularities in Kuhurakote-Palas road construction work under Jharigaon block, non-payment of Rs 55 a day to the labourers and obtaining thumb impression from labourers who can sign were observed during investigation in the Nabarangpur district,” the Vigilance SP said.
The road is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 5 lakh and is a departmental one but during investigation, it was revealed that the work was allotted to one contractor Khaga Nayak.
Further, the contractor instead of paying daily wages to the labourers, is getting the work done on contract basis,” he added.
Similarly, irregularities have been detected in the ongoing tank renovation work at Gunthaguda village under Pujariput gram panchayat of Jeypore block in Koraput. During the raids, muster roll, payment register and list of labourers were not found at the spot. Though details like the mode and nature of payment should be reflected as per the NREGS norms, nothing was mentioned in the register, vigilance sources said.
In Rayagada, the vigilance team detected irregularities in NREGS road construction work from Adapatiguda to Dumaguda under K.Maligaon gram panchayat. During the raid, only seven labourers were present at the construction spot against 10 as mentioned in the muster roll, the SP said.
Irregularities were also detected in a road renovation work from NH- 270 to Amalpalli under Madanpur Rampur block in Kalahandi district. Cases have been registered.
Complexes sans tourists
The New Indian Express, May 29, 2007
BHAWANIPATNA: To boost tourism in Kalahandi, the State Government had initiated construction of two tourist complexes in the district - one at Beheraguda on the outskirts of Bhawanipatna and the other at Thuamul Rampur in 1992. While one complex is yet to see the light of the day, the other is in a shambles today.
In fact, the Beheraguda tourist complex has been marred by controversies ever since it received administrative approval 15 years back. The then chief minister Biju Patnaik had allocated funds to the tune of Rs. 31 lakh for the construction of the complex with additional allotment of Rs. 10 lakh for area development. The foundation stone was laid on September 5, 1992.
Although the tender was floated by PWD, R&B division and the work was allotted to a contractor, the latter did not proceed after the work got completed up to the plinth level. Subsequently, the tender was cancelled.
Out of the total estimated cost, Rs. 27 lakh is still lying unspent with the State Public Works Department since 1994-95. Meanwhile, the half-completed work has also deteriorated and no new contractors are ready to take up the unfinished work.
Sources in the Tourism Department said the issue of non-completion of the complex has been repeatedly raised by the department and compliance and utilisation certificates for the fund allotted have also been sought from the Works Department but there is no response.
At present, the Public Works Department, Bhawanipatna division, is preparing a revised estimate to the tune of about Rs. 70 lakh even though Rs. 27 lakh sanctioned initially remains unutilised.
Executive engineer Asit Kumar Badpanda said on receipt of administrative approval and allotment of funds as per the revised estimate, work will be resumed.
Meanwhile, though the tourist complex at Thuamul Rampur saw the light of the day, water supply and electrification work could not be executed. At present, the shutters, doors, windows and interior fittings have been either damaged or stolen. The Works Department is yet to submit a revised estimate and is asking for Rs. 37.76 lakh more.
BHAWANIPATNA: To boost tourism in Kalahandi, the State Government had initiated construction of two tourist complexes in the district - one at Beheraguda on the outskirts of Bhawanipatna and the other at Thuamul Rampur in 1992. While one complex is yet to see the light of the day, the other is in a shambles today.
In fact, the Beheraguda tourist complex has been marred by controversies ever since it received administrative approval 15 years back. The then chief minister Biju Patnaik had allocated funds to the tune of Rs. 31 lakh for the construction of the complex with additional allotment of Rs. 10 lakh for area development. The foundation stone was laid on September 5, 1992.
Although the tender was floated by PWD, R&B division and the work was allotted to a contractor, the latter did not proceed after the work got completed up to the plinth level. Subsequently, the tender was cancelled.
Out of the total estimated cost, Rs. 27 lakh is still lying unspent with the State Public Works Department since 1994-95. Meanwhile, the half-completed work has also deteriorated and no new contractors are ready to take up the unfinished work.
Sources in the Tourism Department said the issue of non-completion of the complex has been repeatedly raised by the department and compliance and utilisation certificates for the fund allotted have also been sought from the Works Department but there is no response.
At present, the Public Works Department, Bhawanipatna division, is preparing a revised estimate to the tune of about Rs. 70 lakh even though Rs. 27 lakh sanctioned initially remains unutilised.
Executive engineer Asit Kumar Badpanda said on receipt of administrative approval and allotment of funds as per the revised estimate, work will be resumed.
Meanwhile, though the tourist complex at Thuamul Rampur saw the light of the day, water supply and electrification work could not be executed. At present, the shutters, doors, windows and interior fittings have been either damaged or stolen. The Works Department is yet to submit a revised estimate and is asking for Rs. 37.76 lakh more.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Heat wave warning in parts of Orissa
The Hindu, May 25, 2007
Bhubaneswar, May 24 (PTI): With day temperatures rising in most places, the Meteorological office here today issued a heat wave warning for several parts of Orissa.
"Heat wave conditions are likely to prevail in some parts of Orissa during the next 48 hours," the Met office bulletin said.
This is the second such warning from the weather office during this summer.
Sizzling heat has prevailed in the western and southern districts with maximum temperatures soaring beyond 40 degree Celsius.
While Malkangiri recorded the highest temperature of 44.5 degrees C yesterday, it was 42.6 in Balangir, 41.2 in Titilagarh, 41.8 in Sambalpur, 41.1 in Sundargarh, 41 in Bhawanipatna and 40 degree C in Jharsuguda.
Hirakud, which is located next to the massive Hirakud reservoir, recorded 42.1 degrees C.
The capital city registered 40 degrees Celsius during the day while neighbouring Cuttack recorded 40.5 degrees C, the weather office said.
Bhubaneswar, May 24 (PTI): With day temperatures rising in most places, the Meteorological office here today issued a heat wave warning for several parts of Orissa.
"Heat wave conditions are likely to prevail in some parts of Orissa during the next 48 hours," the Met office bulletin said.
This is the second such warning from the weather office during this summer.
Sizzling heat has prevailed in the western and southern districts with maximum temperatures soaring beyond 40 degree Celsius.
While Malkangiri recorded the highest temperature of 44.5 degrees C yesterday, it was 42.6 in Balangir, 41.2 in Titilagarh, 41.8 in Sambalpur, 41.1 in Sundargarh, 41 in Bhawanipatna and 40 degree C in Jharsuguda.
Hirakud, which is located next to the massive Hirakud reservoir, recorded 42.1 degrees C.
The capital city registered 40 degrees Celsius during the day while neighbouring Cuttack recorded 40.5 degrees C, the weather office said.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana a rebuff to Centre
The Pioneer, May 24, 2007
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar
*10,000 villages to be electrified in five years
*State to provide Rs 1,000 cr from own resources
In a rebuff to the UPA Government's apathetic attitude towards Orissa, the State Government announced the Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana to take up rural electrification, on Wednesday.
Echoing Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's earlier remark, Energy Minister Surya Narayan Patro said, "We will not beg for funds from the Centre to carry out the rural electrification scheme. The State Government would fund this programme from its own resources," he said.
In this connection, Chief Minister Patnaik on Wednesday held a marathon meeting of officials of the Energy and Finance Departments and other coordinating agencies to chalk out the plan. "Under the Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana, around 10,000 villages will be electrified in a span of five years. Earlier, these villages were meant to be covered under the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyut Yojana," said Patnaik.
Later, briefing the media about the ambitious programme, Patro said the scheme would be immediately undertaken and covered under the 11th FiveYear Plan.
Lambasting the Centre for not providing funds to take up rural electrification programme, Patro said there would not be any fund constraints in the implementation of this programme. "A whopping Rs 1,000 crore would be spent under this scheme," he said, adding that a special programme would be taken up to identify the villages.
The District Electricity Committee (DEC) would be entrusted with carrying out the rural electrification programme. The District Collector would be given overall charge. He would ensure to the Government that rural electrification programme is carried out smoothly." District Collectors would be held directly responsible if the proposed programme is not implemented properly," said Patro.
He further said that District Collectors would convene the meetings of the distribution companies and directly discuss the issues with them. Views of the MLA and local representatives would be given due consideration while taking up the programme.
As per the plan, the Government would entrust the transmission of power to the Orissa Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL). OPTCL would be given the responsibility to execute the programme which it would monitor and supervise .The State Government would provide a Rs 550-crore bank guarantee to OPTCL. Against this bank guarantee, it could take loans from various financial institutions and invest the fund in the Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana.
New substations would be set up at Banei, Bouda, Akusinga, Aandapur, Nuapada, Bhawanipatna, Dabugaon, Chandpur and Padampur. A 400 KV line from IB to Mearmundali and a 220 KV line from Bargarh to Balangir would be erected.
It may be noted that despite the State Government's repeated requests, the Centre had not released funds for all the districts under the RGGVY to take up rural electrification. Out of the Centre's Rs 5,000 crore under the scheme, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar received Rs 4,500 crore, while all other States shared the rest Rs 500 crore among themselves. Orissa has received funds only for two districts. This after Chief Minister Patnaik had taken up the issue with the Centre several times.
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar
*10,000 villages to be electrified in five years
*State to provide Rs 1,000 cr from own resources
In a rebuff to the UPA Government's apathetic attitude towards Orissa, the State Government announced the Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana to take up rural electrification, on Wednesday.
Echoing Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's earlier remark, Energy Minister Surya Narayan Patro said, "We will not beg for funds from the Centre to carry out the rural electrification scheme. The State Government would fund this programme from its own resources," he said.
In this connection, Chief Minister Patnaik on Wednesday held a marathon meeting of officials of the Energy and Finance Departments and other coordinating agencies to chalk out the plan. "Under the Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana, around 10,000 villages will be electrified in a span of five years. Earlier, these villages were meant to be covered under the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyut Yojana," said Patnaik.
Later, briefing the media about the ambitious programme, Patro said the scheme would be immediately undertaken and covered under the 11th FiveYear Plan.
Lambasting the Centre for not providing funds to take up rural electrification programme, Patro said there would not be any fund constraints in the implementation of this programme. "A whopping Rs 1,000 crore would be spent under this scheme," he said, adding that a special programme would be taken up to identify the villages.
The District Electricity Committee (DEC) would be entrusted with carrying out the rural electrification programme. The District Collector would be given overall charge. He would ensure to the Government that rural electrification programme is carried out smoothly." District Collectors would be held directly responsible if the proposed programme is not implemented properly," said Patro.
He further said that District Collectors would convene the meetings of the distribution companies and directly discuss the issues with them. Views of the MLA and local representatives would be given due consideration while taking up the programme.
As per the plan, the Government would entrust the transmission of power to the Orissa Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL). OPTCL would be given the responsibility to execute the programme which it would monitor and supervise .The State Government would provide a Rs 550-crore bank guarantee to OPTCL. Against this bank guarantee, it could take loans from various financial institutions and invest the fund in the Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana.
New substations would be set up at Banei, Bouda, Akusinga, Aandapur, Nuapada, Bhawanipatna, Dabugaon, Chandpur and Padampur. A 400 KV line from IB to Mearmundali and a 220 KV line from Bargarh to Balangir would be erected.
It may be noted that despite the State Government's repeated requests, the Centre had not released funds for all the districts under the RGGVY to take up rural electrification. Out of the Centre's Rs 5,000 crore under the scheme, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar received Rs 4,500 crore, while all other States shared the rest Rs 500 crore among themselves. Orissa has received funds only for two districts. This after Chief Minister Patnaik had taken up the issue with the Centre several times.
Conservancy is in the pipeline
The New Indian Express, May 23, 2007
BHUBANESWAR: The Government has decided to launch catchment treatment programme for effective conservation of land, water and vegetation to help eradicate poverty in backward areas of the State. A Catchment Area Management Society would also be formed. This will manage the programmes of different river systems of the State.
In the first phase, catchment area of Upper Indravati Multi-purpose Project has been taken up as it is under serious threat of siltation resulting in reduction of its storage capacity and life span.
Official sources said Rs 170 crore would be spent on the project over a period of seven years. Official sources had warned unless the rot is stemmed the project would lose its utility causing serious socio-economic problems in the backward areas of KBK districts.
The catchment area of Upper Indravati is spread over 2,642 sq km comprising 10 blocks of Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput and Nabarangpur districts.
The long-term objectives of the catchment treatment programme is to check forest degradation and loss of bio-diversity, ecological restoration and conservation of environment, integrated land and water management to increase the life span of the reservoir and to minimise siltation and sediment accumulation for enhanced agricultural production.
A project director would be stationed at Koraput to supervise the progress of the project and coordinate the activities of line departments.
There will be a project-level steering committee to be headed by the chief administrator, KBK, and a State-level monitoring committee to be headed by Chief Secretary. The project funds would be transacted through a society.
BHUBANESWAR: The Government has decided to launch catchment treatment programme for effective conservation of land, water and vegetation to help eradicate poverty in backward areas of the State. A Catchment Area Management Society would also be formed. This will manage the programmes of different river systems of the State.
In the first phase, catchment area of Upper Indravati Multi-purpose Project has been taken up as it is under serious threat of siltation resulting in reduction of its storage capacity and life span.
Official sources said Rs 170 crore would be spent on the project over a period of seven years. Official sources had warned unless the rot is stemmed the project would lose its utility causing serious socio-economic problems in the backward areas of KBK districts.
The catchment area of Upper Indravati is spread over 2,642 sq km comprising 10 blocks of Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput and Nabarangpur districts.
The long-term objectives of the catchment treatment programme is to check forest degradation and loss of bio-diversity, ecological restoration and conservation of environment, integrated land and water management to increase the life span of the reservoir and to minimise siltation and sediment accumulation for enhanced agricultural production.
A project director would be stationed at Koraput to supervise the progress of the project and coordinate the activities of line departments.
There will be a project-level steering committee to be headed by the chief administrator, KBK, and a State-level monitoring committee to be headed by Chief Secretary. The project funds would be transacted through a society.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Infanticide?
The Statesman, May 21, 2007
BHAWANIPATNA, May 20: A case of murder has been registered by the Nuapada police on the basis of a complaint filed by the local doctor that a new-born girl child was found dead within 15 minutes of its birth. The doctor of a government health centre said he had conducted a safe delivery and the infant was healthy. But when he returned after a break he found the child dead. It is suspected that it was a case of dispensing with the girl child. The mother, Kanak Dei, pleaded ignorance. “There were signs of bleeding from mouth and nose,”said the doctor. n SNS
BHAWANIPATNA, May 20: A case of murder has been registered by the Nuapada police on the basis of a complaint filed by the local doctor that a new-born girl child was found dead within 15 minutes of its birth. The doctor of a government health centre said he had conducted a safe delivery and the infant was healthy. But when he returned after a break he found the child dead. It is suspected that it was a case of dispensing with the girl child. The mother, Kanak Dei, pleaded ignorance. “There were signs of bleeding from mouth and nose,”said the doctor. n SNS
Project to breathe life into livestock farming
The New Indian Express, May 20, 2007
BHAWANIPATNA: Kalahandi district has a sizeable livestock population of about 87,000 sheep and 2.23 lakh goats as per a survey by the Veterinary Department.
But the livestock owners, who generally belong to economically weaker sections, are unaware of the modern infrastructure facilities and proper marketing network which reflects on their profits.
Leave aside marketing network, the livestock farmers do not even have an idea about regular vaccination. In 1992-93, the district administration had started sheep rearing with funds from the National Ram and Buck Production Programme.
A farm was also opened at Jaring, 15 km from here.
Ironically, the Directorate of Animal Husbandry ordered for closure of the farm on the grounds of high mortality rate of the sheep and lack of feasibility.
Instead, it ordered for shifting the farm to Chipilima and utilising it for bull and calf rearing. Ever since, the farm, though still running with only 77 sheep, is not getting any fund and being managed by departmental labourers.
Even the three labourers engaged there were removed since February 2002 and they are yet to receive the arrears of Rs 66,500.
Against this background, the District Veterinary Department has drawn up a project report for strengthening sheep and goat rearing in the district, empower the livestock owners, develop infrastructure and ensure a good market linkage.
A project proposal of Rs 8.3 crore has been prepared to get funding from Backward Region Grants Fund (BRGC) of the Centre.
Chief District Veterinary Officer Ramchandra Behera said the proposal to monitor Jaring sheep rearing farm was made with an aim to produce quality rams and bucks for supply to farmers in rural areas.
This will improve the genetic make-up of local stocks for higher production.
Special thrust will also be given to marketing and health of the livestock population, he added.
This proposal is under active consideration of the Government, Behera said.
If implemented, it will go a long way in improving the present status of livestock in this economically backward area, he added.
BHAWANIPATNA: Kalahandi district has a sizeable livestock population of about 87,000 sheep and 2.23 lakh goats as per a survey by the Veterinary Department.
But the livestock owners, who generally belong to economically weaker sections, are unaware of the modern infrastructure facilities and proper marketing network which reflects on their profits.
Leave aside marketing network, the livestock farmers do not even have an idea about regular vaccination. In 1992-93, the district administration had started sheep rearing with funds from the National Ram and Buck Production Programme.
A farm was also opened at Jaring, 15 km from here.
Ironically, the Directorate of Animal Husbandry ordered for closure of the farm on the grounds of high mortality rate of the sheep and lack of feasibility.
Instead, it ordered for shifting the farm to Chipilima and utilising it for bull and calf rearing. Ever since, the farm, though still running with only 77 sheep, is not getting any fund and being managed by departmental labourers.
Even the three labourers engaged there were removed since February 2002 and they are yet to receive the arrears of Rs 66,500.
Against this background, the District Veterinary Department has drawn up a project report for strengthening sheep and goat rearing in the district, empower the livestock owners, develop infrastructure and ensure a good market linkage.
A project proposal of Rs 8.3 crore has been prepared to get funding from Backward Region Grants Fund (BRGC) of the Centre.
Chief District Veterinary Officer Ramchandra Behera said the proposal to monitor Jaring sheep rearing farm was made with an aim to produce quality rams and bucks for supply to farmers in rural areas.
This will improve the genetic make-up of local stocks for higher production.
Special thrust will also be given to marketing and health of the livestock population, he added.
This proposal is under active consideration of the Government, Behera said.
If implemented, it will go a long way in improving the present status of livestock in this economically backward area, he added.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Vedanta earnings up 90% as production, metal prices rise
livemint, The Wall Street Journal, May 16, 2007
Chanyaporn Chanjaroen/Bloomberg
London: Vedanta Resources Plc., India’s largest producer of copper and zinc, said its fiscal second-half profit rose 90% on higher metal prices and aluminium output.
Net income gained to $486.6 million (approx. Rs1,995 crore), from $256.6 million a year earlier. The profit, calculated from full-year figures reported on Wednesday by the London-based company, was in line with the $486 million average of six analyst forecasts compiled by Bloomberg.
“Production across all the metals will be better this year,” chief executive officer Kuldip Kaura said in a conference call in London.
Expansion plans: Vedanta chairman Anil AgarwalGrowing Chinese metals demand helped the average copper price in the period rise 41% from a year earlier, while aluminium increased 24%. Vedanta, controlled by billionaire Anil Agarwal, has also increased production, expanding output at its Korba aluminium smelter in India.
Aluminium for immediate delivery on the London Metal Exchange averaged $2,721 a tonne in the six months, and copper averaged $6,522. Zinc doubled, trading at a record.
Shares of Vedanta have gained 16% this year, valuing the company at £4.07 billion ($8.08 billion). That matched the increase in the Bloomberg Europe Metals & Mining Index, which tracks 10 companies including Vedanta.
Output of aluminium rose 67% to 3,51,000 tonnes for the fiscal year, the company said on 11 April. Zinc gained 23% to 3,48,000 tonnes. Copper cathode, a finished form of the metal, rose 15% to 3,13,000 tons at Vedanta’s Indian units.
The company’s copper output in Zambia dropped 13% to 1,42,000 tonnes after a power outage and a closure caused by water pollution at its Konkola copper mines unit, the largest producer of the metal in the African nation’s copperbelt region.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization at the company’s aluminium unit more than tripled to $415.4 million in the fiscal year ended March, the biggest gain of any Vedanta unit. The zinc unit’s Ebitda more than doubled to $1.5 billion and copper rose 96% to $833.9 million.
“Economic and industrial growth in India will continue to drive double-digit growth in our commodities,” Agarwal said in the earnings statement.
Vedanta will pay a final dividend of 20 cents a share, from 14.3 cents a year earlier. Net income more than doubled to $934.2 million, or $3.05 a share, in the 12 months ended 31 March, from $373.5 million, or $1.28, a year earlier. Sales increased 76% to $6.5 billion.
Vedanta has begun the second phase of its $7.5 billion expansion programme to increase production at its copper, zinc and aluminium units to one million tonnes each. The company will start production at the Lanjigarh alumina refinery in Orissa by the end of June, it said. The unit can produce at an annual rate of 1.4 million tonnes a year.
Expansion at the Chanderiya zinc smelter, with a capacity of 170,000 tonnes a year, will be complete by the end of this year, ahead of schedule, Kaura said. Construction has begun on a 2,400MW power project in Jharsuguda with an estimated cost of $1.9 billion. Completion is expected in 2010.
Chanyaporn Chanjaroen/Bloomberg
London: Vedanta Resources Plc., India’s largest producer of copper and zinc, said its fiscal second-half profit rose 90% on higher metal prices and aluminium output.
Net income gained to $486.6 million (approx. Rs1,995 crore), from $256.6 million a year earlier. The profit, calculated from full-year figures reported on Wednesday by the London-based company, was in line with the $486 million average of six analyst forecasts compiled by Bloomberg.
“Production across all the metals will be better this year,” chief executive officer Kuldip Kaura said in a conference call in London.
Expansion plans: Vedanta chairman Anil AgarwalGrowing Chinese metals demand helped the average copper price in the period rise 41% from a year earlier, while aluminium increased 24%. Vedanta, controlled by billionaire Anil Agarwal, has also increased production, expanding output at its Korba aluminium smelter in India.
Aluminium for immediate delivery on the London Metal Exchange averaged $2,721 a tonne in the six months, and copper averaged $6,522. Zinc doubled, trading at a record.
Shares of Vedanta have gained 16% this year, valuing the company at £4.07 billion ($8.08 billion). That matched the increase in the Bloomberg Europe Metals & Mining Index, which tracks 10 companies including Vedanta.
Output of aluminium rose 67% to 3,51,000 tonnes for the fiscal year, the company said on 11 April. Zinc gained 23% to 3,48,000 tonnes. Copper cathode, a finished form of the metal, rose 15% to 3,13,000 tons at Vedanta’s Indian units.
The company’s copper output in Zambia dropped 13% to 1,42,000 tonnes after a power outage and a closure caused by water pollution at its Konkola copper mines unit, the largest producer of the metal in the African nation’s copperbelt region.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization at the company’s aluminium unit more than tripled to $415.4 million in the fiscal year ended March, the biggest gain of any Vedanta unit. The zinc unit’s Ebitda more than doubled to $1.5 billion and copper rose 96% to $833.9 million.
“Economic and industrial growth in India will continue to drive double-digit growth in our commodities,” Agarwal said in the earnings statement.
Vedanta will pay a final dividend of 20 cents a share, from 14.3 cents a year earlier. Net income more than doubled to $934.2 million, or $3.05 a share, in the 12 months ended 31 March, from $373.5 million, or $1.28, a year earlier. Sales increased 76% to $6.5 billion.
Vedanta has begun the second phase of its $7.5 billion expansion programme to increase production at its copper, zinc and aluminium units to one million tonnes each. The company will start production at the Lanjigarh alumina refinery in Orissa by the end of June, it said. The unit can produce at an annual rate of 1.4 million tonnes a year.
Expansion at the Chanderiya zinc smelter, with a capacity of 170,000 tonnes a year, will be complete by the end of this year, ahead of schedule, Kaura said. Construction has begun on a 2,400MW power project in Jharsuguda with an estimated cost of $1.9 billion. Completion is expected in 2010.
State prepares road map for WB assistance
The New Indian Express, May 18, 2007
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has sought loan assistance from the World Bank for improvement of some selected roads, where reduced carriage-way widths and pavement deterioration have resulted in capacity constraints for high volume traffic.
The project includes upgrading and widening of about 906 km road through public sector financing and development of 229 km long high- trafficked road through public-private partnership (PPP).
The road corridors to be developed through public sector financing include Jagatpur- Kendrapara-Chandbali-Bhadrak-Anandpur- Karanjia-Jashipur, Berhampur-JK Pur, Kereda-Rayagada-Muniguda- Bhawanipatna-Khariar, Aska- Bhanjanagar, Bhanjanagar-Daspalla and Daspalla-Banharpal.
Official sources said besides the above roads, for which detailed project reports are being drawn up, two more corridors - 199-km Mohana-Chandiput- R Udaygiri-Parlakhemundi-Gunupur-Bangi Road and 32-km Dhamra Port-Digochia Square on Bhadrak-Chandbali road - have been identified for feasibility study for inclusion in the project.
The projects to be undertaken under the PPP mode include the four-laning of Sambalpur-Rourkela (state highway-10) for 165- km stretch, widening of the existing single lane Joda-Bamberi Road (expressway-II) of 18-km stretch to seven-meter carriage-way and widening of the existing single-lane Koira-Tensa- Rajamunda Road.
The road works would be completed within a five year period starting from 2007.
In the first phase, Bhawanipatna-Khariar, Bhadrak-Chandbali, Bhadrak-Anandpur and Berhampur-Taptapani roads would be taken up.
In the first year of implementation of the project in 2007-08, Rs 92.06 crore would be spent while in the second year the expenditure has been pegged at Rs 735.26 crore.
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has sought loan assistance from the World Bank for improvement of some selected roads, where reduced carriage-way widths and pavement deterioration have resulted in capacity constraints for high volume traffic.
The project includes upgrading and widening of about 906 km road through public sector financing and development of 229 km long high- trafficked road through public-private partnership (PPP).
The road corridors to be developed through public sector financing include Jagatpur- Kendrapara-Chandbali-Bhadrak-Anandpur- Karanjia-Jashipur, Berhampur-JK Pur, Kereda-Rayagada-Muniguda- Bhawanipatna-Khariar, Aska- Bhanjanagar, Bhanjanagar-Daspalla and Daspalla-Banharpal.
Official sources said besides the above roads, for which detailed project reports are being drawn up, two more corridors - 199-km Mohana-Chandiput- R Udaygiri-Parlakhemundi-Gunupur-Bangi Road and 32-km Dhamra Port-Digochia Square on Bhadrak-Chandbali road - have been identified for feasibility study for inclusion in the project.
The projects to be undertaken under the PPP mode include the four-laning of Sambalpur-Rourkela (state highway-10) for 165- km stretch, widening of the existing single lane Joda-Bamberi Road (expressway-II) of 18-km stretch to seven-meter carriage-way and widening of the existing single-lane Koira-Tensa- Rajamunda Road.
The road works would be completed within a five year period starting from 2007.
In the first phase, Bhawanipatna-Khariar, Bhadrak-Chandbali, Bhadrak-Anandpur and Berhampur-Taptapani roads would be taken up.
In the first year of implementation of the project in 2007-08, Rs 92.06 crore would be spent while in the second year the expenditure has been pegged at Rs 735.26 crore.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Turn at KBK for industry
Tathya.in, May 17, 2007
Bhawanipatna:16/May/2007
While Orissa is witnessing an unprecedented boom in industrial growth recently, industrial prospects of KBK area looks bleak.
Except few mineral based industries none of the other industries seems to be interested in the backward region of the state.
How ever the State Government in its Industrial Policy-2007 have announced special incentives for non-mineral based new industrial units to be located in KBK region along with Kandhamal, Gajapati and Mayurbhanj.
But this is not enough.
There are many possibilities to bring industries to this large backward cluster but it needs strong commitments by our policy makers and political leaders.
This backward region suffers major bottle neck of infrastructure.
Emphasis should be given by the state government in such a way that industrialists are convinced to invest in KBK region.
State government has already signed 43 MOUs only in the steel sector; if these are actually implemented then it is quite enough for a state like Orissa.
Therefore, now the Government of Orissa should modify a bit the exiting rule for steel industry putting a new clause that any new proposal to establish steel industry in the state will be considered only if it would be located in KBK region or other no major industries districts like Kandhamal, Gajapati or Mayurbhanj district, otherwise mining rights would not be provided.
For growth of down stream industries in KBK region NALCO, Vedanta Alumina Ltd, and Utkal Alumina Ltd should be encouraged to establish industrial park at Koraput, Bhawanipatan and Rayagada respectively rather in non-KBK region.
IRRIGATION AND HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT: Project:
KBK region has the higher potential for generating electricity through hydroelectricity project that needs construction of new dams.
However it needs huge amount of investment that the state government might not commit in a single instance, therefore private players should be encouraged to establish dam for hydroelectricity generation and irrigation purposes in this region.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY(IT) INDUSTRIES:
IT and BPO has generated huge employment in India recently.
Bhubaneswar is already emerging as an IT and ITES destination in the country.
In the next step the state government should expand these industries to other parts of the state.
There are already plan for expanding IT parks in Rourkela and Berhampur.
Keeping geographical location and future growth of KBK region in mind, the state government should establish at least three IT parks in Koraput, Bhawanipatna and Balangir for the whole region for IT, BPO and KPO industries.
Establishment of three real universities in the region would benefit these industries.
BIOTECHNOLOGY PARK:
As such KBK region has great potential for biotechnology, especially, for agricultural biotechnology, herbal biotechnology and medicinal biotechnology.
Plantation of herbal plants and agricultural biotechnology in this region would be much beneficial.
KBK region could be a very good source of ethanol from not only agriculture but also from the forest.
Mahul a locally known forest flower that is used to make local wine) could be a good source for ethanol and methanol.
Though wine is locally discouraged, nevertheless it can be used for industrial growth to export out side the country.
The export market of Indian made wine and beer is flourishing recently.
Orissa should encourage such activity by inviting major industrialists to invest in wine and food processing market.
We must explore the possibility of local made products for export market, so that it will benefit the state government to generate more tax.
And local people including those tribal people who collect Mahul from the forest for making local wine, who are paid much lesswill also be benefitted.
The region would also be a good source for bio-diesel and bio-fuel production.
Therefore, the state government should establish biotechnology parks in the three major towns such as Bhawanipatna, Koraput and Balangir to explore all the above possibilities in KBK region.
BY Dr Digambara Patra Visiting Lecturer (Department of Physics, Waseda University, Tokyo)
Bhawanipatna:16/May/2007
While Orissa is witnessing an unprecedented boom in industrial growth recently, industrial prospects of KBK area looks bleak.
Except few mineral based industries none of the other industries seems to be interested in the backward region of the state.
How ever the State Government in its Industrial Policy-2007 have announced special incentives for non-mineral based new industrial units to be located in KBK region along with Kandhamal, Gajapati and Mayurbhanj.
But this is not enough.
There are many possibilities to bring industries to this large backward cluster but it needs strong commitments by our policy makers and political leaders.
This backward region suffers major bottle neck of infrastructure.
Emphasis should be given by the state government in such a way that industrialists are convinced to invest in KBK region.
State government has already signed 43 MOUs only in the steel sector; if these are actually implemented then it is quite enough for a state like Orissa.
Therefore, now the Government of Orissa should modify a bit the exiting rule for steel industry putting a new clause that any new proposal to establish steel industry in the state will be considered only if it would be located in KBK region or other no major industries districts like Kandhamal, Gajapati or Mayurbhanj district, otherwise mining rights would not be provided.
For growth of down stream industries in KBK region NALCO, Vedanta Alumina Ltd, and Utkal Alumina Ltd should be encouraged to establish industrial park at Koraput, Bhawanipatan and Rayagada respectively rather in non-KBK region.
IRRIGATION AND HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT: Project:
KBK region has the higher potential for generating electricity through hydroelectricity project that needs construction of new dams.
However it needs huge amount of investment that the state government might not commit in a single instance, therefore private players should be encouraged to establish dam for hydroelectricity generation and irrigation purposes in this region.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY(IT) INDUSTRIES:
IT and BPO has generated huge employment in India recently.
Bhubaneswar is already emerging as an IT and ITES destination in the country.
In the next step the state government should expand these industries to other parts of the state.
There are already plan for expanding IT parks in Rourkela and Berhampur.
Keeping geographical location and future growth of KBK region in mind, the state government should establish at least three IT parks in Koraput, Bhawanipatna and Balangir for the whole region for IT, BPO and KPO industries.
Establishment of three real universities in the region would benefit these industries.
BIOTECHNOLOGY PARK:
As such KBK region has great potential for biotechnology, especially, for agricultural biotechnology, herbal biotechnology and medicinal biotechnology.
Plantation of herbal plants and agricultural biotechnology in this region would be much beneficial.
KBK region could be a very good source of ethanol from not only agriculture but also from the forest.
Mahul a locally known forest flower that is used to make local wine) could be a good source for ethanol and methanol.
Though wine is locally discouraged, nevertheless it can be used for industrial growth to export out side the country.
The export market of Indian made wine and beer is flourishing recently.
Orissa should encourage such activity by inviting major industrialists to invest in wine and food processing market.
We must explore the possibility of local made products for export market, so that it will benefit the state government to generate more tax.
And local people including those tribal people who collect Mahul from the forest for making local wine, who are paid much lesswill also be benefitted.
The region would also be a good source for bio-diesel and bio-fuel production.
Therefore, the state government should establish biotechnology parks in the three major towns such as Bhawanipatna, Koraput and Balangir to explore all the above possibilities in KBK region.
BY Dr Digambara Patra Visiting Lecturer (Department of Physics, Waseda University, Tokyo)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)