Hindustan Times, Aug 31, 2007
DEFUNCT TUBEWELLS, food scarcity during the monsoon and the chronic absence of doctors is being blamed for the 81 cholera deaths in three Orissa districts. “Almost 80 per cent of tubewells are defunct, so people are forced to drink water from contaminated nullahs and rivers,” said Koraput MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati.
The massive scarcity of doctors has added to the death toll. Dasmantpur block, for example, has a community health centre (CHC), an area hospital and three dispensaries with a total of three doctors against the sanctioned strength of 12 to cater to a population of 74,091, spread over 558 square kilometers. Needless to say, when the health crisis struck, the doctors could not cope.
Lack of food in inaccessible areas like some villages in Kashipur block of Rayagada district is another factor responsible for the deaths. “We have nothing to eat. Sometimes, we eat mango kernels and sometimes mushrooms,” said local resident Turkuti. Bahinipati alleged the emergency feeding in Dasamantpur stopped four months ago, forcing people to eat contaminated food.
A health and sanitation awareness campaign has started with the rural water supply and sanitation department planning to put up red flags near contaminated water sources. “Red flags will be put up prominently near water sources that have not been disinfected. Green flags will be put up near water sources that have been disinfected,” said Usha Patnaik, director of health services in the state.
“Apart from 15 medical teams, village-level workers and anganwadi workers have been mobilised to bring affected persons to the nearest dispensaries and hospitals. Twenty vehicles have been engaged for this. The situation is gradually stabilising,” said Satyabrata Sahu, revenue divisional commissioner.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Low level bridge over Hati river near Junagarh
The low level bridge (as shown above) over Hati river near Junagarh has been a very serious concern for cummuters on NH 201 during rainy days since decades, despite that to construct a new high bridge over Hati river near Junagarh is pending since long.
Visit the sites for more analysis and news coverage on this issue.
Cholera spreads, KBK areas quarantined
The New Indian Express, Aug 26, 2007
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Saturday rushed medical teams and senior health officials to Rayagada as samples collected from the patients in Kashipur and Dasmantpur confirmed the presence of ‘vibrio cholera bacteria.’
The MKCG Medical, Berhampur on Friday confirmed the presence of the deadly bacteria and sought immediate steps to contain cholera from spreading.
As a precautionary measure, the Government sealed the area as unofficially over 100 deaths were reported from the two blocks and more than 2,800 people were being treated at various hospitals. Considering the gravity of the situation, 18 medical teams were rushed to the blocks.
Agriculture Minister S N Naik rushed to the area to take stock of the situation. The Government alerted all the KBK districts to take precautionary measures to prevent the disease from spreading. The affected areas have been quarantined to ensure that the disease did not assume an epidemic proportion.
All the chief district medical officers of KBK districts have been asked to mobilise doctors and medicine to the affected areas.
Official sources so far claimed that 46 people had died in Rayagada district. Neighbouring blocks in Koraput, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi districts reported diarrhoea and gastroenteritis creating panic among the tribals.
Reports of spreading of cholera have been pouring in. About 300 tribals are undergoing treatment for acute diarrhoea and vomiting in Dasmantpur block.
Rayagada Collector Bhasakar Jyoti Sharma is camping in Kashipur and Koraput Collector B K Sahu is in Dasmantpur block to monitor the situation. Ten years ago, cholera had assumed epidemic proportion at Borrigumma block in Koraput district claiming 200 lives.
More news covergare in this subject.....
The Pioneer, Aug 27, 2007
The Hindu, Aug 26, 2007
Times of India, Aug 24, 2007
The Samja, Aug 24, 2007
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Saturday rushed medical teams and senior health officials to Rayagada as samples collected from the patients in Kashipur and Dasmantpur confirmed the presence of ‘vibrio cholera bacteria.’
The MKCG Medical, Berhampur on Friday confirmed the presence of the deadly bacteria and sought immediate steps to contain cholera from spreading.
As a precautionary measure, the Government sealed the area as unofficially over 100 deaths were reported from the two blocks and more than 2,800 people were being treated at various hospitals. Considering the gravity of the situation, 18 medical teams were rushed to the blocks.
Agriculture Minister S N Naik rushed to the area to take stock of the situation. The Government alerted all the KBK districts to take precautionary measures to prevent the disease from spreading. The affected areas have been quarantined to ensure that the disease did not assume an epidemic proportion.
All the chief district medical officers of KBK districts have been asked to mobilise doctors and medicine to the affected areas.
Official sources so far claimed that 46 people had died in Rayagada district. Neighbouring blocks in Koraput, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi districts reported diarrhoea and gastroenteritis creating panic among the tribals.
Reports of spreading of cholera have been pouring in. About 300 tribals are undergoing treatment for acute diarrhoea and vomiting in Dasmantpur block.
Rayagada Collector Bhasakar Jyoti Sharma is camping in Kashipur and Koraput Collector B K Sahu is in Dasmantpur block to monitor the situation. Ten years ago, cholera had assumed epidemic proportion at Borrigumma block in Koraput district claiming 200 lives.
More news covergare in this subject.....
The Pioneer, Aug 27, 2007
The Hindu, Aug 26, 2007
Times of India, Aug 24, 2007
The Samja, Aug 24, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Rural Development Minister Interacts with over 1100 Panchayats in KBK+ through the “Gram SAT- an ISRO Satellite
PIB Press Release, Aug 21, 2007
In a unique experiment to reach out to beneficiaries directly Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Union Minister for Rural Development linked up to over 1100 Panchayats in Orissa through the “Gram SAT- An ISRO Satellite” and interacted on the rural development schemes under operation in Orissa with about 75,000 rural development functionaries/ PRIs/ villages directly.
The Ministry of Rural Development stands committed to bring about transparency and efficiency in implementation of its various schemes all over the country. As a part of this effort the Ministry has of late been initiating different proactive measures like online monitoring, social auditing, etc. In yet another measure in this direction the Ministry organized a direct interaction with the beneficiaries of Rural development schemes in Orissa spread in 30 districts, 314 blocks and 1179 Panchayats through Gram SAT.
Addressing the beneficiaries of various rural development schemes, the field level implementers of rural development schemes, the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh told that this experiment would go a long way in taking the Government machinery to the doorsteps of the beneficiaries and mitigating their problems and issues. Dr. Singh also gave a detailed account of the financial and physical achievements of rural development schemes in Orissa in his address through the satellite. Dr. Singh informed that stern measures will be taken to stamp out any attempt at any level to deprive the beneficiaries from their rights and corruption shall not be tolerated in implementation of the rural development schemes. He urged the State Governments to ensure that benefits of the schemes are reached to the masses without any hindrances. The Minister had a face to face interaction with about 75,000 rural development functionaries/ PRIs/ villages directly. Also present in the occasion was Shri Chandra Shekhar Sahu, Union Minister of State for Rural Development. Sh. Sahu emphasized on the need of cooperation between the State and the Central Governments for effective implementation of rural development schemes.
The event which is first of its kind evoked tremendous enthusiasm and response from participants down up to the Panchayat level and nearly one lakh people were present at the Gram SAT centres. Some of the districts from where questions were asked are in the remote areas like Malkangiri, Nuapara, Kalahandi and Phulbani. This effort of the Ministry is also aimed at enhancing the awareness of the beneficiaries about their entitlement and various processes involved for getting the benefit of schemes. Through interaction, Ministry could get insight into field level problem, which shall help, in further planning and drawing up strategy in future.
Gram SAT pilot projects are being run in some select states of the country and are being utilized very effectively to reach out development messages directly to the villagers by ensuring community listening, viewing and linking up large body of villagers. In view of the high potential of this media the IEC Division of MoRD has initiated this unique experimentation. Appreciating the initiative, Dr. Singh directed to arrange for such conferences once in a month on rotational basis. The Minister shall discuss other technical options with ISRO to reach to the common masses including exploring the possibilities of creating a dedicated television and radio channel for rural development.
In a unique experiment to reach out to beneficiaries directly Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Union Minister for Rural Development linked up to over 1100 Panchayats in Orissa through the “Gram SAT- An ISRO Satellite” and interacted on the rural development schemes under operation in Orissa with about 75,000 rural development functionaries/ PRIs/ villages directly.
The Ministry of Rural Development stands committed to bring about transparency and efficiency in implementation of its various schemes all over the country. As a part of this effort the Ministry has of late been initiating different proactive measures like online monitoring, social auditing, etc. In yet another measure in this direction the Ministry organized a direct interaction with the beneficiaries of Rural development schemes in Orissa spread in 30 districts, 314 blocks and 1179 Panchayats through Gram SAT.
Addressing the beneficiaries of various rural development schemes, the field level implementers of rural development schemes, the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh told that this experiment would go a long way in taking the Government machinery to the doorsteps of the beneficiaries and mitigating their problems and issues. Dr. Singh also gave a detailed account of the financial and physical achievements of rural development schemes in Orissa in his address through the satellite. Dr. Singh informed that stern measures will be taken to stamp out any attempt at any level to deprive the beneficiaries from their rights and corruption shall not be tolerated in implementation of the rural development schemes. He urged the State Governments to ensure that benefits of the schemes are reached to the masses without any hindrances. The Minister had a face to face interaction with about 75,000 rural development functionaries/ PRIs/ villages directly. Also present in the occasion was Shri Chandra Shekhar Sahu, Union Minister of State for Rural Development. Sh. Sahu emphasized on the need of cooperation between the State and the Central Governments for effective implementation of rural development schemes.
The event which is first of its kind evoked tremendous enthusiasm and response from participants down up to the Panchayat level and nearly one lakh people were present at the Gram SAT centres. Some of the districts from where questions were asked are in the remote areas like Malkangiri, Nuapara, Kalahandi and Phulbani. This effort of the Ministry is also aimed at enhancing the awareness of the beneficiaries about their entitlement and various processes involved for getting the benefit of schemes. Through interaction, Ministry could get insight into field level problem, which shall help, in further planning and drawing up strategy in future.
Gram SAT pilot projects are being run in some select states of the country and are being utilized very effectively to reach out development messages directly to the villagers by ensuring community listening, viewing and linking up large body of villagers. In view of the high potential of this media the IEC Division of MoRD has initiated this unique experimentation. Appreciating the initiative, Dr. Singh directed to arrange for such conferences once in a month on rotational basis. The Minister shall discuss other technical options with ISRO to reach to the common masses including exploring the possibilities of creating a dedicated television and radio channel for rural development.
Energy Minister announces Rs 75 cr package for Koraput
The Pioneer, Aug 22, 2007
Pioneer News Service | Jeypore
Energy Minister and chairman of the Koraput District Planning Committee Surya Narayan Patro announced a package of Rs 75 crore under three different schemes-Biju KBK Yojana, Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) and National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) -for the district in the current financial year.
While addressing a Press conference at Koraput, Patro said the funds provided for the three schemes were exclusive of other schemes. A sum of Rs 38 crore would be spent on National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) that would help in providing employment to people for 100 days, with 60 per cent of the fund being used for payment of wages while the remaining 40 per cent being spent on purchasing of materials.
Under the Biju KBK Yojana, he said, the Government intends to spend Rs 21 crore so that each of the 14 blocks in the district receives Rs 1.5 crore for development works that would include rural electrification, communications, roads, water supply and construction of school buildings. Under the BRGF scheme, each of the blocks would get an additional amount of Rs 1 crore, 56 per cent of which would be spent in the rural areas and 44 per cent in the urban areas.
However, before the utilisation of the funds in various schemes, the local elected representatives would be consulted and a project report would be presented within the next 15 days, Patro said.
He further said that electricity would be provided to people who come under the BPL category on payment of Rs 35, which would be collected as the charge for the connection.
The Minister admitted that the reasons behind the failure of the Pradhan Mantri Gramya Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) were the strict guidelines from the Centre and the non-availability of contractors. Koraput Collector Balakrishna Sahu and Pottangi MLA Jayaram Pangi were present at the Press meet.
Pioneer News Service | Jeypore
Energy Minister and chairman of the Koraput District Planning Committee Surya Narayan Patro announced a package of Rs 75 crore under three different schemes-Biju KBK Yojana, Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) and National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) -for the district in the current financial year.
While addressing a Press conference at Koraput, Patro said the funds provided for the three schemes were exclusive of other schemes. A sum of Rs 38 crore would be spent on National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) that would help in providing employment to people for 100 days, with 60 per cent of the fund being used for payment of wages while the remaining 40 per cent being spent on purchasing of materials.
Under the Biju KBK Yojana, he said, the Government intends to spend Rs 21 crore so that each of the 14 blocks in the district receives Rs 1.5 crore for development works that would include rural electrification, communications, roads, water supply and construction of school buildings. Under the BRGF scheme, each of the blocks would get an additional amount of Rs 1 crore, 56 per cent of which would be spent in the rural areas and 44 per cent in the urban areas.
However, before the utilisation of the funds in various schemes, the local elected representatives would be consulted and a project report would be presented within the next 15 days, Patro said.
He further said that electricity would be provided to people who come under the BPL category on payment of Rs 35, which would be collected as the charge for the connection.
The Minister admitted that the reasons behind the failure of the Pradhan Mantri Gramya Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) were the strict guidelines from the Centre and the non-availability of contractors. Koraput Collector Balakrishna Sahu and Pottangi MLA Jayaram Pangi were present at the Press meet.
New KVs to come up in KBK+ region soon
The Pioneer, Aug 22, 2007
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar
Since the Orissa-cadre IAS officer Rangalal Jamuda joined the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) as its Commissioner, the State has been fortunate to get the elite Central Schools one after another. The latest one is KV Bhadrak.
Since its inception in 1965, the KVS had opened 29 KVs in Orissa till 2006 in 41 years. After Jamuda took over as the chief executive officer of the KVS, the State has received sanctions of eight new KVs in one year only.
To set up a KV, the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) spends Rs 2.70 crore for its infrastructure and provides an annual recurring grant of Rs 70 lakh. So, in one year time, HRD Ministry has provided at least Rs 27.20 crore to the State to raise the primary and secondary education level, which is, otherwise, in a shambles.
During this period, the KBK region has benefited the most. The tribal districts like Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Gajapati and Boudh got their KVs. With the new sanction, 23 districts will be covered by the KVS. The remaining seven districts of Nuapada, Kandhamal, Subarnapur, Deogarh, Nayagarh, Kendrapara and Jajpur are yet to be covered.
Sources say that by the end of 2008 all the districts of the State will be covered by KVS. "It is certainly a great achievement," said former Additional Chief Secretary Prasanna Kumar Patnaik.
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar
Since the Orissa-cadre IAS officer Rangalal Jamuda joined the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) as its Commissioner, the State has been fortunate to get the elite Central Schools one after another. The latest one is KV Bhadrak.
Since its inception in 1965, the KVS had opened 29 KVs in Orissa till 2006 in 41 years. After Jamuda took over as the chief executive officer of the KVS, the State has received sanctions of eight new KVs in one year only.
To set up a KV, the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) spends Rs 2.70 crore for its infrastructure and provides an annual recurring grant of Rs 70 lakh. So, in one year time, HRD Ministry has provided at least Rs 27.20 crore to the State to raise the primary and secondary education level, which is, otherwise, in a shambles.
During this period, the KBK region has benefited the most. The tribal districts like Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Gajapati and Boudh got their KVs. With the new sanction, 23 districts will be covered by the KVS. The remaining seven districts of Nuapada, Kandhamal, Subarnapur, Deogarh, Nayagarh, Kendrapara and Jajpur are yet to be covered.
Sources say that by the end of 2008 all the districts of the State will be covered by KVS. "It is certainly a great achievement," said former Additional Chief Secretary Prasanna Kumar Patnaik.
Few wonderfuly suggestion for development of Orissa including KBK region by Mr Purna Misha in his letter to Elected Officials in Orissa
Dear Elected Officials,
How long we will keep exporting low tech chaprasi, cook, gardener, brick
laying, and similar jobs from Orissa? What is our strategy to start
exporting higher or better skilled jobs from Orissa?
As Newton's third law suggests until we keep exporting low tech jobs we will
be keep importing lower skill jobs also. Once we start exporting higher
skilled jobs we will start importing higher skilled jobs also.
With all the industrialization (assuming all the MOUs are for real), where
do we have skilled people in Orissa?
I am sure you and many of the administration people are lot smarter than me
so you probably have plans to initiate many wonderful ideas back in Orissa.
Here are a few more and I am sure you will consider some of these ideas:
1. Government of India is asking the states to open quality ITIs in the
states. Orissa has taken a lead and is starting 7 new ITIs under this
program. We have many qualified students who could not afford to go to
colleges. At least open 23 more of these quality ITIs so that we have 30+
quality ITIs in the state mostly funded through the Central Government.
2. We easily find Oriya plumbers and most of them are from Pattamundai. It
is a good news that the state is starting a hi-tech plumbing institute at a
cost of Rs. 5 Crores in Pattamundai. Unfortunately the institute due to
administration reasons has opened the campus (temporary) in Cuttack. Many
of these plumber wannabees cannot afford to get the training until the
institute is relocated to Pattamundai. I will strongly urge you to take
immediate steps and relocate the institute to Pattamundai. Like this one,
let us at least open 29 more (one in each district) to help the local people
get a skill. Some of these institutes can be for imparting skill in modern
cooking, marble and other flooring, auto mechanics, plumbing, carpeting,
carpentering, etc.
3. We need at least 5 more good government engineering colleges. Except a
few in private sectors, most of the engineering colleges mushroomed in the
state are more interested in selling education than imparting education.
While the private initiative is definitely a welcome and ultimately the
competition will weed out the questionable ones, the state government's
responsibility to impart a quality technical education should be
maintained. We should get these government engineering colleges in places
like Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Bhawanipatna, Raygada, Jeypore, Angul,
Berhampur, Bhadrak. We should follow the examples of states like Kerala.
4. We need at least 5 more government medical colleges. The projected
health care sector would be higher than several billions in Indian rupees
just for the state of Orissa. With the rise in consumerism and middle class
there is a demand for more medical professionals in Orissa. At the same
time, Orissa provides very little healthcare to most of her citizens who are
farther away from towns and cities.
5. Of course the government needs funding to support these additional
institutes. I propose an additional cess of 2.5% on the industrial sectors
in Orissa. As a business man, I believe the industry should support this
additional cess as hiring qualified skilled professional (and retaining the
professionals) is the biggest challenge facing the industries in India and
Orissa right now.
6. We should designate one of our senior IAS officer who has previously
worked in the Human Resources Department to be designated as the gate keeper
to coordinate to make sure we get an IIT, IIM, and one of the 14 additional
Central Universities beyond our regular quota of a Central University as
each state will get at least one. Tamilnadu and Karnataka have started
offering premium land to attract one of these additional central
university. Let us offer land in Rourkela and get this additional central
university in Rourkela. With NIT, BPUT, and a medical college, this Central
University will build a complimentary knowledge center similar to
Bhubaneswar.
7. Before we demand an additional national highway, let us make sure the
existing highways are repaired and maintained. Many of these national
highways are death traps. We cannot support a 7% year over year growth with
sub standard infrastructures. The Vijaiwada-Ranchi highway should be a
priority also.
8. Many times we have demanded speedier implementation of the rail lines
that are getting built at such a rate that if this rate is not accelerated,
there would be serious lack of communication into many of the hinterlands.
9. We need to make sure the tracks between Bhadrak to Laksmanath that is
currently under South Eastern Railway moves under East Coast Railway. The
deepest sea port in the country is getting built at Dhamara. This sea port
will be a cash cow and we must make sure that the feeder rail line from
Calcutta-Chennai mainline to Dhamara should be operational under the East
Coast Railway. In addition the state should push for the Angul-Sukinda and
Angul-Gopalpur rail line as it will be extremely profitable and in addition
to the movement of goods many underprivileged will get the benefit of modern
communication.
10. None of these measures will make a much dent unless we move a
significant percentages of our typical farmers away from paddy cultivation
to more cash corps. From my limited research, most of these farmers with
small acreage typically loose money in paddy farming. We need to implement
some of the initiatives of this government such as goat farming, fruit
orchards, jojoba farming, banana plantation, etc be pursued with a vigor.
You have all the powers to make a change and please pursue these and others
initiatives that will transform Orissa to one of the better states in India.
Regards,
-- Purna
How long we will keep exporting low tech chaprasi, cook, gardener, brick
laying, and similar jobs from Orissa? What is our strategy to start
exporting higher or better skilled jobs from Orissa?
As Newton's third law suggests until we keep exporting low tech jobs we will
be keep importing lower skill jobs also. Once we start exporting higher
skilled jobs we will start importing higher skilled jobs also.
With all the industrialization (assuming all the MOUs are for real), where
do we have skilled people in Orissa?
I am sure you and many of the administration people are lot smarter than me
so you probably have plans to initiate many wonderful ideas back in Orissa.
Here are a few more and I am sure you will consider some of these ideas:
1. Government of India is asking the states to open quality ITIs in the
states. Orissa has taken a lead and is starting 7 new ITIs under this
program. We have many qualified students who could not afford to go to
colleges. At least open 23 more of these quality ITIs so that we have 30+
quality ITIs in the state mostly funded through the Central Government.
2. We easily find Oriya plumbers and most of them are from Pattamundai. It
is a good news that the state is starting a hi-tech plumbing institute at a
cost of Rs. 5 Crores in Pattamundai. Unfortunately the institute due to
administration reasons has opened the campus (temporary) in Cuttack. Many
of these plumber wannabees cannot afford to get the training until the
institute is relocated to Pattamundai. I will strongly urge you to take
immediate steps and relocate the institute to Pattamundai. Like this one,
let us at least open 29 more (one in each district) to help the local people
get a skill. Some of these institutes can be for imparting skill in modern
cooking, marble and other flooring, auto mechanics, plumbing, carpeting,
carpentering, etc.
3. We need at least 5 more good government engineering colleges. Except a
few in private sectors, most of the engineering colleges mushroomed in the
state are more interested in selling education than imparting education.
While the private initiative is definitely a welcome and ultimately the
competition will weed out the questionable ones, the state government's
responsibility to impart a quality technical education should be
maintained. We should get these government engineering colleges in places
like Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Bhawanipatna, Raygada, Jeypore, Angul,
Berhampur, Bhadrak. We should follow the examples of states like Kerala.
4. We need at least 5 more government medical colleges. The projected
health care sector would be higher than several billions in Indian rupees
just for the state of Orissa. With the rise in consumerism and middle class
there is a demand for more medical professionals in Orissa. At the same
time, Orissa provides very little healthcare to most of her citizens who are
farther away from towns and cities.
5. Of course the government needs funding to support these additional
institutes. I propose an additional cess of 2.5% on the industrial sectors
in Orissa. As a business man, I believe the industry should support this
additional cess as hiring qualified skilled professional (and retaining the
professionals) is the biggest challenge facing the industries in India and
Orissa right now.
6. We should designate one of our senior IAS officer who has previously
worked in the Human Resources Department to be designated as the gate keeper
to coordinate to make sure we get an IIT, IIM, and one of the 14 additional
Central Universities beyond our regular quota of a Central University as
each state will get at least one. Tamilnadu and Karnataka have started
offering premium land to attract one of these additional central
university. Let us offer land in Rourkela and get this additional central
university in Rourkela. With NIT, BPUT, and a medical college, this Central
University will build a complimentary knowledge center similar to
Bhubaneswar.
7. Before we demand an additional national highway, let us make sure the
existing highways are repaired and maintained. Many of these national
highways are death traps. We cannot support a 7% year over year growth with
sub standard infrastructures. The Vijaiwada-Ranchi highway should be a
priority also.
8. Many times we have demanded speedier implementation of the rail lines
that are getting built at such a rate that if this rate is not accelerated,
there would be serious lack of communication into many of the hinterlands.
9. We need to make sure the tracks between Bhadrak to Laksmanath that is
currently under South Eastern Railway moves under East Coast Railway. The
deepest sea port in the country is getting built at Dhamara. This sea port
will be a cash cow and we must make sure that the feeder rail line from
Calcutta-Chennai mainline to Dhamara should be operational under the East
Coast Railway. In addition the state should push for the Angul-Sukinda and
Angul-Gopalpur rail line as it will be extremely profitable and in addition
to the movement of goods many underprivileged will get the benefit of modern
communication.
10. None of these measures will make a much dent unless we move a
significant percentages of our typical farmers away from paddy cultivation
to more cash corps. From my limited research, most of these farmers with
small acreage typically loose money in paddy farming. We need to implement
some of the initiatives of this government such as goat farming, fruit
orchards, jojoba farming, banana plantation, etc be pursued with a vigor.
You have all the powers to make a change and please pursue these and others
initiatives that will transform Orissa to one of the better states in India.
Regards,
-- Purna
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Health Care Deliver Service, a Serious Concern in KBK: Rajendra Dishri
My being of Tribal - I realised very late
Orissa is one of the ten states in the country covered under the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB). According to the latest report of NNMB , Orissa continues to have second highest level of under nutrition among the ten states. When compared with the aggregate figures for chronic energy deficiency (BMI < 18.5) in adult men and women in these states the level is higher in Orissa ( Kalahandi Region). The prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED) in adult men in the state is 38.6% compared to aggregate of 37.4%, whereas the CED prevalence in the adult women is 46% against 39.3% aggregate figure16. As malnutrition is known to potentiate susceptibility to death due to infectious diseases, the high mortality rate amongst the primitive tribes may be attributed to this cause.
In spite of the tremendous advancement in the field of preventive and curative medicine worldwide and particularly coastal Orissa, the health care delivery services in Kalahandi District is defunct and primitive tribal people are still poor and need to be strengthened.
Cuttack District alone count 1431 Hospitals where as Kalahandi statistic is like below
No. of District HQ Hospital 1
No.of subdivisional Hospitals 1
No.of Primary Health Centre (PHC) 3 Block level 39 Others
No.of Mobile Health Units 13
No.of Community Health Centre (CHC) 10
No.of Other Hospitals 4
No.of Taluk Hospita 1
No.of T.B. Hospital 1
No.of Homeopathic Hospital 13
No.of Ayurvedic Hospital 13
No.of Beds in Hospitals 483
Orissa is one of the ten states in the country covered under the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB). According to the latest report of NNMB , Orissa continues to have second highest level of under nutrition among the ten states. When compared with the aggregate figures for chronic energy deficiency (BMI < 18.5) in adult men and women in these states the level is higher in Orissa ( Kalahandi Region). The prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED) in adult men in the state is 38.6% compared to aggregate of 37.4%, whereas the CED prevalence in the adult women is 46% against 39.3% aggregate figure16. As malnutrition is known to potentiate susceptibility to death due to infectious diseases, the high mortality rate amongst the primitive tribes may be attributed to this cause.
In spite of the tremendous advancement in the field of preventive and curative medicine worldwide and particularly coastal Orissa, the health care delivery services in Kalahandi District is defunct and primitive tribal people are still poor and need to be strengthened.
Cuttack District alone count 1431 Hospitals where as Kalahandi statistic is like below
No. of District HQ Hospital 1
No.of subdivisional Hospitals 1
No.of Primary Health Centre (PHC) 3 Block level 39 Others
No.of Mobile Health Units 13
No.of Community Health Centre (CHC) 10
No.of Other Hospitals 4
No.of Taluk Hospita 1
No.of T.B. Hospital 1
No.of Homeopathic Hospital 13
No.of Ayurvedic Hospital 13
No.of Beds in Hospitals 483
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Central Tribal Varsity Being Planned In Orissa
Newspostindia, Aug 13, 2007
Thousands of tribals in Orissa's poverty ridden Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput (KBK) districts may soon have access to better higher education with a central university being planned there.
The human resource development (HRD) ministry Monday said it was weighing a state government proposal to set up such a university in the region.
'Orissa being one of such states (without a central university), its request for establishment of a central university in the tribal-dominated KBK region shall receive due consideration,' Minister of State for HRD D. Purandeswari said.
'Further, a bill for setting up a central tribal university is in the process of being introduced in the current session of parliament,' Purandeswari informed the Rajya Sabha.
The proposed university shall have power to establish its regional centres in areas inhabited by tribals.
The HRD ministry had earlier said there was a proposal for setting up 16 central universities in states where there was no such university.
Several PIB releases on new central universities can be found at Orissalinks
Thousands of tribals in Orissa's poverty ridden Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput (KBK) districts may soon have access to better higher education with a central university being planned there.
The human resource development (HRD) ministry Monday said it was weighing a state government proposal to set up such a university in the region.
'Orissa being one of such states (without a central university), its request for establishment of a central university in the tribal-dominated KBK region shall receive due consideration,' Minister of State for HRD D. Purandeswari said.
'Further, a bill for setting up a central tribal university is in the process of being introduced in the current session of parliament,' Purandeswari informed the Rajya Sabha.
The proposed university shall have power to establish its regional centres in areas inhabited by tribals.
The HRD ministry had earlier said there was a proposal for setting up 16 central universities in states where there was no such university.
Several PIB releases on new central universities can be found at Orissalinks
Monday, August 13, 2007
Koshali Ekta Manch for engineering college in KBK
The Pioneer, Aug 13, 2007
Bhawanipatna: A meeting of the Koshali Ekta Manch has decided that a memorandum would be submitted on August 24 to Vedanta Alumina limited in order to establish an engineering college in Kalahandi. It was also decided that an all-party meeting would be convened on August 14 to discuss the various problems of the district. Manch leaders Jagannath Mund, Govind Chandra Rath and Padma Kishore Pujari were present at the meeting.
Bhawanipatna: A meeting of the Koshali Ekta Manch has decided that a memorandum would be submitted on August 24 to Vedanta Alumina limited in order to establish an engineering college in Kalahandi. It was also decided that an all-party meeting would be convened on August 14 to discuss the various problems of the district. Manch leaders Jagannath Mund, Govind Chandra Rath and Padma Kishore Pujari were present at the meeting.
Indian at 60: Backward KBK is still a serious concern for the nation
Outlook, Aug 11, 2007
We Clicked. They Clicked
At the stroke of the midnight hour, as the world slept, a thousand flashbulbs popped to capture that moment which was to become the most defining one in the history of independent India...
Bishwadeep Moitra
Special Issue: India At 60
At the stroke of the midnight hour, as the world slept, a thousand flashbulbs popped to capture that moment which was to become the most defining one in the history of independent India. The next morning, August 15, 1947, India and the world woke up to pictures of Pandit Nehru taking over the reins from the Empire. An ancient civilisation was giving birth to the world's largest democracy. For photographers around the world, India was at the time the most fertile ground for news and documentary filming.
Partition had uprooted nearly 14 million people from either side of the newly created border between India and Pakistan.
[Any lensman worth his salt would have shots of Kalahandi, Dharavi and widows of Vrindavan.]
The stories of people desperately fleeing from the wrath of sectarian violence; the stories from the resettlement colonies that housed the new citizens of India; the stories of riots and wreckages; the stories of survival against the most severe odds, were captured
more vividly in stills than in words.
The independence movement had brought mega-personalities to the fore and the world press clicked away with extraordinary interest and vigour. Nehru was perhaps the most photogenic of these leaders and his portraits adorned covers of leading magazines around the world. A transforming nation was witnessing people’s movements across her landscape and the images captured on the lenses of thousands of cameras illustrated the mood of her people. As the years rolled, Nehru’s vision of a modern India moved from the drawing board to bricks and mortar; a new class of confident and self-reliant Indians came out of years of slavery and subjugation, yet the demons of poverty, hunger and caste discrimination would not go away. Disasters, man-made and natural, would thwart India’s dream repeatedly, and would give an image-hungry world a glimpse of our darkest recesses.
The world still looked at India as a mystic land crippled with poverty. Pictures from India the world saw were of starvation deaths, of famines, of floods, of violent riots, of destruction. Once in a while, a mystic man would pop up, uttering some mumbo-jumbo, or a debauched royal would pose with his wealth to seek the world’s attention. Any photographer worth his salt would have in his portfolio pictures of starving families in Kalahandi, or the miseries of Dharavi’s migrant labour or the destitute widows of Vrindavan. India was Destination Misery for the world press.
Six decades, fourteen general elections, economic liberalisation, the emergence of a confident new Indian middle class, the IT revolution...we have come a long way. And so has the way the world likes to look at us. Photographs are still clicked of the grieving families of farmers who have committed suicide by consuming pesticides in Andhra Pradesh.... But also clicked is a portfolio of an Indian tycoon with half a dozen global companies on his shopping list. Every time the camera captures a portrait of a family feeding on mango kernels in Bolangir, Orissa, it also trains its eye on the family that had created a thousand millionaires in its company in Bangalore. If the lives of the Vrindavan widows are documented on film, so also are of those members of the ‘only for women’ Salsa Dance School in neighbouring Mathura.
The two Indias trudge along. We live a pitiable existence in the slums but we also have moved to modern urban homes. There is not enough to feed all of us yet we are on the verge of a veritable boom in the hospitality industry. We still cannot guarantee the life of a newborn girl child, yet we could sneak in a woman president. India will continue to be in the most-favoured list of destinations for the lens-people of the world. Because, in India, for whatever is true, the opposite is also true.
In the following pages we have tried to essay India’s journey since her independence. Some of the pictures we have selected are iconic, others are lesser-seen photographs. They all tell our story poignantly.
We Clicked. They Clicked
At the stroke of the midnight hour, as the world slept, a thousand flashbulbs popped to capture that moment which was to become the most defining one in the history of independent India...
Bishwadeep Moitra
Special Issue: India At 60
At the stroke of the midnight hour, as the world slept, a thousand flashbulbs popped to capture that moment which was to become the most defining one in the history of independent India. The next morning, August 15, 1947, India and the world woke up to pictures of Pandit Nehru taking over the reins from the Empire. An ancient civilisation was giving birth to the world's largest democracy. For photographers around the world, India was at the time the most fertile ground for news and documentary filming.
Partition had uprooted nearly 14 million people from either side of the newly created border between India and Pakistan.
[Any lensman worth his salt would have shots of Kalahandi, Dharavi and widows of Vrindavan.]
The stories of people desperately fleeing from the wrath of sectarian violence; the stories from the resettlement colonies that housed the new citizens of India; the stories of riots and wreckages; the stories of survival against the most severe odds, were captured
more vividly in stills than in words.
The independence movement had brought mega-personalities to the fore and the world press clicked away with extraordinary interest and vigour. Nehru was perhaps the most photogenic of these leaders and his portraits adorned covers of leading magazines around the world. A transforming nation was witnessing people’s movements across her landscape and the images captured on the lenses of thousands of cameras illustrated the mood of her people. As the years rolled, Nehru’s vision of a modern India moved from the drawing board to bricks and mortar; a new class of confident and self-reliant Indians came out of years of slavery and subjugation, yet the demons of poverty, hunger and caste discrimination would not go away. Disasters, man-made and natural, would thwart India’s dream repeatedly, and would give an image-hungry world a glimpse of our darkest recesses.
The world still looked at India as a mystic land crippled with poverty. Pictures from India the world saw were of starvation deaths, of famines, of floods, of violent riots, of destruction. Once in a while, a mystic man would pop up, uttering some mumbo-jumbo, or a debauched royal would pose with his wealth to seek the world’s attention. Any photographer worth his salt would have in his portfolio pictures of starving families in Kalahandi, or the miseries of Dharavi’s migrant labour or the destitute widows of Vrindavan. India was Destination Misery for the world press.
Six decades, fourteen general elections, economic liberalisation, the emergence of a confident new Indian middle class, the IT revolution...we have come a long way. And so has the way the world likes to look at us. Photographs are still clicked of the grieving families of farmers who have committed suicide by consuming pesticides in Andhra Pradesh.... But also clicked is a portfolio of an Indian tycoon with half a dozen global companies on his shopping list. Every time the camera captures a portrait of a family feeding on mango kernels in Bolangir, Orissa, it also trains its eye on the family that had created a thousand millionaires in its company in Bangalore. If the lives of the Vrindavan widows are documented on film, so also are of those members of the ‘only for women’ Salsa Dance School in neighbouring Mathura.
The two Indias trudge along. We live a pitiable existence in the slums but we also have moved to modern urban homes. There is not enough to feed all of us yet we are on the verge of a veritable boom in the hospitality industry. We still cannot guarantee the life of a newborn girl child, yet we could sneak in a woman president. India will continue to be in the most-favoured list of destinations for the lens-people of the world. Because, in India, for whatever is true, the opposite is also true.
In the following pages we have tried to essay India’s journey since her independence. Some of the pictures we have selected are iconic, others are lesser-seen photographs. They all tell our story poignantly.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Docs working in KBK, other areas get pay hike
The Pioneer, Aug 8, 2007
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar
... incentives applicable for a year; subject to review
In order to boost the morale of doctors working in the KBK and non-KBK areas, the State Government hiked remuneration of contractual doctors. A notification to this effect was issued on Tuesday.
Henceforth, contractual doctors posted against vacant posts of Asst Surgeons in the KBK districts and in the districts of Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati will get Rs 18,000 per month and Non-KBK districts, will get Rs 12,000. It may be noted that due to shortage of required number of doctors in the state, contractual appointments are being given to the retired doctors, private doctors and fresh medical graduates at a consolidated remuneration of Rs 12,000 in KBK and Rs 10,000 in non-KBK districts.
The remuneration of retired doctors, private doctors having postgraduate qualification to be appointed on contract basis against the vacant posts of Specialists at District Headquarter Hospitals and Sub Divisional Hospitals in KBK and Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati districts will be Rs 20,000.
The retired and private doctors having PG qualification to be appointed on contractual basis against the vacant posts of Specialists in the periphery hospitals (other than District Headquarters Hospitals and Sub-Divisional Hospitals) in the KBK and Boudh, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts will get a remuneration of Rs 25,000. The doctors having Post Graduate qualification to be appointed on contractual basis against the vacant posts of Specialists in the District Headquarter Hospitals and Sub-Divisional Hospitals of Non-KBK districts will get remuneration of Rs 15,000.
The doctors having PG qualifications to be appointed on contractual basis against the vacant posts of specialists in the periphery hospital (other than District Headquarter Hospitals and Sub-Divisional Hospitals) in the Non-KBK districts will get remuneration of Rs 20,000.
The doctors having PG qualification in Anaesthesiology, Radiology to be posted on contractual basis against the vacant post of Specialists in Anaesthesiology, Radiology in the District Headquarter Hospitals and Sub-Divisional Hospitals in the state will be given remuneration of Rs 25,000.
The contractual doctors posted against the vacant post of assistant surgeon, specialists are to be designated as 'consultant physician' and 'consultant specialists'. The Rogi Kalyan Samiti of the hospital concerned will monitor the attendance and performance of such contractual doctors. The contractual doctors will be called as consultant physician or consultant specialist.
Tathya.in also reported on it.
Comment: It seems the state government is taking few steps towards solving the long time required health problems in KBK plus region. But this step has not been very beneficial for last 2 years basically due to severe shortage of medical doctors in Orissa. So the state government should make sure that all proposed medical collges in the KBK region should be established in an early date. The government should catalyse in getting Medical Council of India (MCI) approval for all those private medical colleges coming to this region in a fastest possible time. The hospital attached with these medical collges would also benefit the local KBK plus people.
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar
... incentives applicable for a year; subject to review
In order to boost the morale of doctors working in the KBK and non-KBK areas, the State Government hiked remuneration of contractual doctors. A notification to this effect was issued on Tuesday.
Henceforth, contractual doctors posted against vacant posts of Asst Surgeons in the KBK districts and in the districts of Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati will get Rs 18,000 per month and Non-KBK districts, will get Rs 12,000. It may be noted that due to shortage of required number of doctors in the state, contractual appointments are being given to the retired doctors, private doctors and fresh medical graduates at a consolidated remuneration of Rs 12,000 in KBK and Rs 10,000 in non-KBK districts.
The remuneration of retired doctors, private doctors having postgraduate qualification to be appointed on contract basis against the vacant posts of Specialists at District Headquarter Hospitals and Sub Divisional Hospitals in KBK and Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati districts will be Rs 20,000.
The retired and private doctors having PG qualification to be appointed on contractual basis against the vacant posts of Specialists in the periphery hospitals (other than District Headquarters Hospitals and Sub-Divisional Hospitals) in the KBK and Boudh, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts will get a remuneration of Rs 25,000. The doctors having Post Graduate qualification to be appointed on contractual basis against the vacant posts of Specialists in the District Headquarter Hospitals and Sub-Divisional Hospitals of Non-KBK districts will get remuneration of Rs 15,000.
The doctors having PG qualifications to be appointed on contractual basis against the vacant posts of specialists in the periphery hospital (other than District Headquarter Hospitals and Sub-Divisional Hospitals) in the Non-KBK districts will get remuneration of Rs 20,000.
The doctors having PG qualification in Anaesthesiology, Radiology to be posted on contractual basis against the vacant post of Specialists in Anaesthesiology, Radiology in the District Headquarter Hospitals and Sub-Divisional Hospitals in the state will be given remuneration of Rs 25,000.
The contractual doctors posted against the vacant post of assistant surgeon, specialists are to be designated as 'consultant physician' and 'consultant specialists'. The Rogi Kalyan Samiti of the hospital concerned will monitor the attendance and performance of such contractual doctors. The contractual doctors will be called as consultant physician or consultant specialist.
Tathya.in also reported on it.
Comment: It seems the state government is taking few steps towards solving the long time required health problems in KBK plus region. But this step has not been very beneficial for last 2 years basically due to severe shortage of medical doctors in Orissa. So the state government should make sure that all proposed medical collges in the KBK region should be established in an early date. The government should catalyse in getting Medical Council of India (MCI) approval for all those private medical colleges coming to this region in a fastest possible time. The hospital attached with these medical collges would also benefit the local KBK plus people.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Lanjigarh - Umuri Railway Project, When?
Dharitri, Aug 7, 2007
Dharitri reports that Nabarangpur district has so far been neglected in railway map. In 1990 during Mr Chandra Sekhar government a survey was carried out to start a railway project from Lanjigarh to Umuri (Jeyapore). However, the central government has been totally neglecting this project since then.
Dharitri reports that Nabarangpur district has so far been neglected in railway map. In 1990 during Mr Chandra Sekhar government a survey was carried out to start a railway project from Lanjigarh to Umuri (Jeyapore). However, the central government has been totally neglecting this project since then.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Indravati project's side-effects hit KBK people
The Pionner, Aug 2, 2007
Pioneer News Service | Bhawanipatna
Even as the major hydro-irrigation project of Upper Indravati has brought cheers to the farmers of the KBK region, its side effects are harming them more than their benefits. A leading non-resident Oriya (NRO) Digamabar Patra, who belongs to this backward region, has analysed in great details the effects of the project.
The State Government is richer by hundreds of crores rupees annually by selling power to the neighbouring State. However, the negative side effects from this project from infrastructure and health counts are creating an appalling situation for the common men. Opening of various channels to irrigate agricultural farmland has brought various deadly waterborne diseases in the form of tuberculosis, malaria, brain fever to the region directly affecting the local mass.
However, whatever health facilities are available in the region are in a state of despair. Serious staff shortage in the Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs), coupled with shortage of technical expertise as well as proper medical diagnostic instruments, has further worsened the situation.
Take the case of Dharamgarh: The total number of sanctioned doctors' posts in the Dharamgarh sub-divisional hospital is 18, but at present there are only six doctors in position. In the monsoon season, when the hospital records a higher number of patients, it finds it very difficult to cope with the situation. The Government has sanctioned an ENT specialist post in the hospital but has later coolly forgotten to post one.
Similarly, there are a half-constructed concrete buildings and a signboard of Sardar Raja Medical College at Jaring, but this private medical college is yet to be operational. Four years after its foundation stone was laid, the medical college has not yet obtained the approval of the Medical Council of India (MCI). In the absence of proper healthcare, ailing women, children, old and infirm people are suffering a lot.
The poor infrastructure brings owes to the entire rural folk. The Hati river used to be a dry one in summer before the irrigation project came into operation. So, the requirement of a permanent bridge over the river was not felt. However, after the project came into operation, now even in dry summer season the normal level of water in the river is four to six feet high as the water is diverted to the river through the Indravati dam. The people living in this part of the KBK region are, therefore, finding it difficult to cross the river.
Submergence of NH-201, one of the major routes in the region, by the overflowing Hati river water near Junagarh in rainy days has been a routine and serious concern since past decade affecting lakhs of commuters. It is also affecting road movement from Rourkela, Sambalpur, Balangir, Angul and Bhawanipatna to Jeypore, Sunabeda, Damanjodi, Nabarangpur and Koraput and vice versa.
At present, the river needs at least five more new bridges at various points. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone in 2003 for a new bridge over the river at Kalampur, but construction work is yet to start. A high-level new bridge is also required over the river near Junagarh on NH 201 over the present low-lying bridge. Despite public demand since last one decade for a new bridge over NH 201 near Junagarh, the Government has remained callous.
Pioneer News Service | Bhawanipatna
Even as the major hydro-irrigation project of Upper Indravati has brought cheers to the farmers of the KBK region, its side effects are harming them more than their benefits. A leading non-resident Oriya (NRO) Digamabar Patra, who belongs to this backward region, has analysed in great details the effects of the project.
The State Government is richer by hundreds of crores rupees annually by selling power to the neighbouring State. However, the negative side effects from this project from infrastructure and health counts are creating an appalling situation for the common men. Opening of various channels to irrigate agricultural farmland has brought various deadly waterborne diseases in the form of tuberculosis, malaria, brain fever to the region directly affecting the local mass.
However, whatever health facilities are available in the region are in a state of despair. Serious staff shortage in the Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs), coupled with shortage of technical expertise as well as proper medical diagnostic instruments, has further worsened the situation.
Take the case of Dharamgarh: The total number of sanctioned doctors' posts in the Dharamgarh sub-divisional hospital is 18, but at present there are only six doctors in position. In the monsoon season, when the hospital records a higher number of patients, it finds it very difficult to cope with the situation. The Government has sanctioned an ENT specialist post in the hospital but has later coolly forgotten to post one.
Similarly, there are a half-constructed concrete buildings and a signboard of Sardar Raja Medical College at Jaring, but this private medical college is yet to be operational. Four years after its foundation stone was laid, the medical college has not yet obtained the approval of the Medical Council of India (MCI). In the absence of proper healthcare, ailing women, children, old and infirm people are suffering a lot.
The poor infrastructure brings owes to the entire rural folk. The Hati river used to be a dry one in summer before the irrigation project came into operation. So, the requirement of a permanent bridge over the river was not felt. However, after the project came into operation, now even in dry summer season the normal level of water in the river is four to six feet high as the water is diverted to the river through the Indravati dam. The people living in this part of the KBK region are, therefore, finding it difficult to cross the river.
Submergence of NH-201, one of the major routes in the region, by the overflowing Hati river water near Junagarh in rainy days has been a routine and serious concern since past decade affecting lakhs of commuters. It is also affecting road movement from Rourkela, Sambalpur, Balangir, Angul and Bhawanipatna to Jeypore, Sunabeda, Damanjodi, Nabarangpur and Koraput and vice versa.
At present, the river needs at least five more new bridges at various points. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone in 2003 for a new bridge over the river at Kalampur, but construction work is yet to start. A high-level new bridge is also required over the river near Junagarh on NH 201 over the present low-lying bridge. Despite public demand since last one decade for a new bridge over NH 201 near Junagarh, the Government has remained callous.
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