Infosys to fund mid day meal for Kandhamal Dist

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BHUBANESWAR: IT major Infosys today said it would invest Rs 500 crore in Orissa for setting up an SEZ in IT and ITeS sectors and take care of children's mid-day-meal scheme and healthcare services. "We have proposed to set up an IT SEZ in Bhubaneswar. The project will require 50 acres of land", T V Mohandas Pai, Director HR, ER and administration and member of board of Infosys, told reporters here. Pai who along with prominent cardiac surgeon Dr Devi Shetty and employment planner Manish Agarwal, met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here, said they made a presentation before the government outlining their development plan for IT sector and allied service in the state. Pai who had been funding mid-day meal for 10,000 school children in Nayagarh district, also agreed to extend the programme to Gajapati and Kandhamal districts, official sources said. Besides, 30,000 children in Puri district were also getting midday meal in Puri district. "We have been spending Rs 6.50 per child to provide quality food," Pai said pointing out that Infosys had spent Rs 5.5 crore towards its corporate social responsibility. Shetty, who had been providing health care service to BPO staff, urged Patnaik to allot five-seven acres of land in the city for setting up a 1,000-bed heart hospital. As the city was gradually becoming a IT hub of Eastern India with almost all major players opening their development centres, employees required quality heath service, Shetty said. "We have also requestedthe state government to help Shetty set up a heart hospital here", Pai told reporters.

2,50,000 lt capacity reservoir inaugurated

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PHULBANI: A reservoir having 2,50,000 liters capacity, built with Rs 133.35 crore, was inaugurated by Minister for Rural Development Biswabhusan Harichandan.With this reservoir, people of 11 of 13 wards under this NAC would get clean drinking water. Urban Development Minister K.V. Singhdeo was present.Later, Singhdeo inaugurated a bridge over the river Khadga near Balliguda-Nuagaon. The bridge has cost Rs 4.72 crore.

Balliguda range forester suspendedTuesday

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May 27 2008 09:35 IST
PHULBANI: Forester of Junagaon kendu leaf section under Balliguda range of Kandhamal kendu leaf division, Durga Madhab Padhy, has been suspended for embezzling funds meant for kendu leaf binding workers.Following allegations by two labourers in Gochapada that the forester had misappropriated their wages he was transferred to Junagaon section under Balliguda range.After committing a similar offence here a show-cause was issued to him. When he failed to return the misappropriated funds, he was suspended.

PNB will open branch at phulbani

PNB opens its 58th branch at Raygada
BS Reporter / Bhubaneswar May 26, 2008, 19:38 IST
The public sector bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB), opened its 58th branch at Raygada. Satyabrata Sahoo, revenue divisional commissioner, southern division, inaugurated the branch.
The bank, which opened a branch at Christian Hospital in Berhampur recently, will open branches at Phulbani, Bhawanipatna, Bolangir and Daringbari.
It has already obtained the licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for opening branches in these locations.
The bank also plans to open a farmers training centre to cater to the training requirements of the farmers of the state.The farmers will be provided free training in this centre.
It is in talks with the Orissa government for geting land for the proposed centre B P Sharma, head, Orissa circle was present during the inauguration.

Kandhamal need for a healing Touch

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DR. PRASANNA MISHRA

KHANDAMAL NEED FOR A HEALING TOUCH -By Dr. PRASANNA MISHRA

BlogPosted By: hindtodaynews on:4/28/2008 6:00:33 AM
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Dr. Prasanna Mishra

Kandhamal district in Orissa recently witnessed an unfortunate spree of disturbance leading to loss of human lives; destruction of thousands of homes of poor inhabitants; loss of other property of the affected families and wanton destruction of hundreds of places of worship. Thousands of families had to take shelter in forests to save lives. An incompetent state government had neither the inclination nor the ability to sense the impending disaster. While the otherwise peaceful but poverty-stricken district was burning, the Chief Minister and Ministers of his party were busy organizing a rally in Bhubaneswar to demonstrate that the party was still popular. People attending the rally were treated to lavish lunch and dinner while thousands in district were starving in jungles and suffering the severe cold.

Since the state government has been consistent in displaying its thick skin to human sufferings—be it the trauma leading to deaths of hundreds in cholera or merciless shooting of tribals protesting for a cause—it is only natural that it would soon forget those who suffered in Kandhamal disturbance and leave them to their fate.

Leaders various Parties visited many affected villages immediately after the state government lifted the unfortunate ban on visit of political personalities and stood behind the affected families to demonstrate their concern for their welfare. Thousands of the affected people of Kandhamal in their present state of trauma and distress are in need of a healing touch which not only would act as a balm to the fresh injury but would lift the population from the pervading environment of poverty and deprivation. There is a need to create a situation where there is compassion with competence and equity with excellence.

The district is one of the poorest in the country; but is rich in natural endowments. Spread over an area of 7654 sq kms it has a low population density of only eighty per sq km. Out of the total population of six and half lakh, only about 50,000 people live in urban centres. Penetration of electricity is modest and use of electricity can be said to be confined to a few semi urban centres. Only 23.5% of its total area is agriculturally exploited. High land suitable for horticultural activities accounts for over 82% of the agricultural land. Some areas around Daringbadi and G Udaigiri are ideal for floriculture where gladioli, tube rose and marigold can be grown throughout the year. The district offering ideal agro climatic conditions could really develop in horticulture, floriculture, and dairy and bring about employment opportunity for the entire population. Unfortunately, a holistic and sustainable development-model in these sectors has not been taken up so far. Grinding poverty therefore has been continuing for generations.

In this short narration I am making a few suggestions which hopefully some people would take note of and consider implementing.

Ministry of Defence may set up a large in-house agro-veterinary unit in the district for production and processing of fruits, milk and poultry for catering to the requirements of our armed forces. This unit should be able to provide job opportunities to many local youth and will also act as a model so that the local population takes to mixed farming on a large scale. Ministry of Home Affairs may set up a training institute for tackling insurgency. The hilly terrain of the district provides ideal locations for such a facility. This facility could be created by a central police force like the CRP. Fiscal concession like holiday on central excise for at least ten years on new industries related to pharmaceutical products; floriculture and food processing may be extended to the district.

An early visit to the district by a high level central team to look into the feasibility of introducing the measures outlined above would be desirable.


(The writer is a former secretary to Govt. of India)

Now, Sambalpur to get anti-Naxal funds

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Saturday May 3 2008 09:18 IST

Express News Service

SAMBALPUR: SAMBALPUR district, which was earlier excluded from the pilot project launched by the Centre to tackle Naxalism by providing special security related expenditure (SRE), may now have reasons to cheer.

If official reports are to be believed, the district has finally been included under the project entitling it to receive the SRE. Although 15 districts in the State had been identified as Naxal-infested and were getting SRE, six districts including Sambalpur had been excluded.

Initially, nine districts comprising Rayagada, Malkangiri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Nabarangpur,Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundargarh were enlisted to receive SRE. Later the State Government recommended the names of Sambalpur, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Jajpur and Nayagarh.

It is learnt that while the Centre is yet to consider the inclusion of all the six districts, Sambalpur has been included and this was conveyed at the meeting convened by Union Cabinet Secretary at New Delhi recently, which was also attended by State Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and the Director General of Police. The exclusion of the district was for the first time reported in this paper and the State Government was blamed for its failure to present the case of Sambalpur.

Additional funds under SRE would help the police strengthen its intelligence further besides facilitating several development projects.

Contacted Sambalpur SP Sanjay Kumar said that while he is yet to receive any communication regarding the matter, he admitted that the funds will help them improve mobility and make the force more effective to combat Naxalism.

He said that it will also help them pay 15 percent extra salary to personnel working in Naxal-prone areas, as declared by the State Government. Even the surrender policy launched for Naxals would become more lucrative, he added.

KERALA, KARNATAKA AND ORISSA GET CENTRAL ASSISTANCE UNDER SGSY


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The State Governments of Kerala, Karnataka and Orissa get a Central Assistance of Rs. 38.0838 crores from the Ministry of Rural Development under the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) during the current financial year (2008-09) as ) as release of Part Payment of first installment of Central Share for implementation of SGSY.

In Kerala Rs.4.4855 crore will be given to 11 District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) during the current year as under:

Alleppey (Alappuzha) (Rs.54.36 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 326.14 lakh-1st installment due Rs.163.06 lakh}), Ernakulam (Rs. 34.65 lakh{ Central Allocation Rs.207.88 lakh-1st installment due Rs.103.94 lakh}), Idukki [Rs. 11.99 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.71.92 lakh-1st installment due Rs.35.96 by the comptroller lakh}), Kannur (Cannanore) (Rs.42.49 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.254.96 lakh-1st installment due Rs.127.48 lakh}), Kasargod (Rs.25.38 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.152.27 lakh-1st installment due Rs.76.14 lakh}), Kollam (Rs.61.13 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.366.79 lakh-1st installment due Rs.183.40 lakh}), Palghat (Pallakad) (Rs.71.22 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.427.34 lakh-1st installment due Rs. 213.67 lakh}), Pathanamithittta (Rs.4.34 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.156.36 lakh-1st installment due Rs. 78.18 lakh}), Thiruvananthapuram (Rs.65.10 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.390.62 lakh-1st installment due Rs. 195.31 lakh}), Trichur (Thrissur) (Rs.55.33 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.331.97 lakh-1st installment due Rs. 165.99 lakh}) and Wayannad (Rs.22.56 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.135.34 lakh-1st installment due Rs. 67.67 lakh}).

27 DRDAs of Karnataka namely- Bagalkot (Rs.31.54 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 189.21 lakh-1st installment due Rs.94.61 lakh}), Bangalore [R] (Rs.48.56 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.291.35 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs.145.68 lakh}), Bangalore [U] (Rs.13.43 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.80.55 lakh-1st installment due Rs.40.28 lakh}, Belgaum (Rs.93.22 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.559.29 lakh-1st installment due Rs.279.65 lakh}, Bellary (Rs. 74.06 lakh ( Central Allocation Rs.444.38 lakh-1st instalment due Rs.222.19 lakh}), Bidar (Rs.52.49 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.314.94 lakh-1st instalment due Rs.157.47 lakh}, Bijapur (Rs.61.79 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.370.74 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs. 185.37 lakh}), Chamarajanagar (Rs.65.40 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.392.42 lakh-1st installment due Rs.196.21 lakh}), Chickmanglur (Rs. 29.70 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.178.19 lakh-1st instalment due Rs.89.10 lakh}), Chitradurga (Rs.52.76 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.316.53 lakh-1st instalment due Rs.158.26 lakh}), Dakshin Kanada (Rs.28.68 lakh{Central Allocation Rs.172.06 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs. 86.02 lakh}), Davanagere (Rs.42.58 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.255.49 lakh-1st installment due Rs.127.74 lakh}, Dharwad (Rs. 26.56 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 159.38 lakh-1st instalment due Rs.79.68 lakh}), Gadag (Rs. 42.16 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 252.97 lakh-1st installment due Rs. 126.48 lakh}), Gulbarga (Rs. 76.79 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 460.72 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs. 230.36 lakh}), Hassan (Rs. 38.49 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 230.93 lakh-1st installment due Rs. 115.46 lakh}, Haveri (Rs. 46.04 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 276.25 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 138.12 lakh}), Kadagu [Coorg] (Rs. 10.82 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 64.91 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 32.46 lakh}, Kolar (Rs. 73.17 lakh{Central Allocation Rs. 438.99 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs. 219.50 lakh}), Koppal (Rs. 66.24 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 397.45 lakh-1st installment due Rs. 198.72 lakh}), Mandya (Rs. 50.10 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 300.62 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 150.31 lakh}), Mysore (Rs. 61.07 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 366.39 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 183.20 lakh}), Raichur (Rs.62.38 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 374.29 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs. 187.14 lakh}), Shimoga (Rs. 53.06 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 318.37 lakh-1st installment due Rs. 159.19 lakh}, Tumkur (Rs. 78.65 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 471.92 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 235.96 lakh}), Udipi (Rs. 23.35 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 140.07 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 70.04 lakh}) and Uttar Kannada (Rs. 33.08 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 198.48 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 99.24 lakh}) have been allocated Rs. 13.36 crore for the current financial year.

In the case of Orissa 30 DRDAs namely- Angul (Rs.53.74 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 322.42 lakh-1st installment due Rs161.21 lakh}), Balasore (Rs.117.26 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.703.56 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs.351.78 lakh}), Bargarh (Rs.80.22 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.481.33 lakh-1st installment due Rs.240.67 lakh}, Bhadrak (Rs.52.49 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.314.96 lakh-1st installment due Rs.157.48 lakh}, Bolangir (Rs. 89.12 lakh ( Central Allocation Rs. 534.74 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 267.37 lakh}), Boudh (Rs. 37.72 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 196.30 lakh-1st instalment due Rs.98.15 lakh}, Cuttak (Rs.77.35 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 464.12 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs. 232.06 lakh}), Deogarh (Rs. 19.60 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.117.60 lakh-1st installment due Rs.58.80 lakh}), Dhenkanal (Rs. 62.82 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 376.94 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 188.47 lakh}), Gajapati (Rs. 31.02 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 186.09 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 93.04 lakh}), Ganjam (Rs. 133.59 lakh{Central Allocation Rs. 801.56 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs. 400.78 lakh}), Jagatsinghpur (Rs. 41.17 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.247.03 lakh-1st installment due Rs. 123.52 lakh}), Jajpur (Rs. 77.20 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 463.18 lakh-1st instalment due Rs.231.58 lakh}), Jharsuguda (Rs. 13.76 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 82.53 lakh-1st installment due Rs. 41.26 lakh}), Kalahandi (Rs. 88.37 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 530.23 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs. 265.12 lakh}), Kendrapada (Rs. 56.38 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 338.27 lakh-1st installment due Rs. 169.14 lakh}, Keonjhar (Rs. 97.97 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 587.83 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 293.92 lakh}), Khurda (Rs. 60.14 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 360.86 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 180.42 lakh}, Koraput (Rs. 101.99 lakh{Central Allocation Rs. 611.96 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs. 305.98 lakh}), Malkangiri (Rs. 40.57 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 243.44 lakh-1st installment due Rs. 121.72 lakh}), Mayurbhenj (Rs. 170.84 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 1025.04 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 512.52 lakh}), Nabrangpur (Rs. 72.23 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 433.39 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 216.70 lakh}),Naupada (Rs. 47.66 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 285.97 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs. 142.99 lakh}), Nayagarh (Rs. 53.22 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 319.33 lakh-1st installment due Rs. 159.66 lakh}, Phulbani (Rs. 51.88 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 311.27 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 155.64 lakh}), Puri (Rs. 76.74 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 460.42 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 230.20 lakh}), Rayagada (Rs. 61.81 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 370.84 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 185.42 lakh}), Sambalppur (Rs. 41.68 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 250.07 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 125.04 lakh}), Sonepur (Rs. 35.46 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 212.75 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 106.38 lakh}) and Sundergarh (Rs. 84.66 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 507.93 lakh-1st instalment due Rs. 253.96 lakh}) have been allocated Rs. 20.2366 crore for the current financial year.

The release of funds is subject to the audit by Internal Audit of the Ministry of Rural Development. The amount should be utilized on the programme as per approved guidelines of SGSY. The funding pattern will be 75:25 by the Centre and State. The State Government should release its share within one within one month of the fate of this sanction order.

The accounts of all guarantee Institutions or Organizations shall be open to inspection by the sanctioning authority and audit both and Auditor General of India under the provision of CAG (DPC) Act 1971 and internal audit by the Principal Accounts Office of the Ministry or Department, whenever the Institution or organization is called upon to do so and a provision to this effect should invariably be incorporated in all orders sanctioning grants-in-aid.

*****

SMK/ST

Staff shortage hampers agriculture programme

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Monday May 5 2008 11:30 IST

Express News Service

PHULBANI: CULTIVATION programme in Kandhamal district has been badly hit due to largescale vacancies in the posts of field officers in the Agriculture Department and lack of irrigation facilities.

Like previous year, this year too, at the agriculture promotion meeting, it was decided to cultivate 1,27,790 hectares of land, out of which, advanced variety of paddy was to be grown in 50,000 hectares, oilseed in 14,390 hectares, dal in 12,220 hectares, spices in 15,830 hectares and vegetables in 15,700 hectares.

Considering the interest of farmers in maize cultivation, it was also decided to cultivate maize in 16,300 hectares of land. Presiding over the meeting, Collector Manish Verma emphasised on timely supply of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides besides facilitating loans to farmers.

It was also decided to grant seed and fertiliser licenses to interested farmers in the villages of the district. However, shortage of staff in the agriculture office has marred the cultivation prospects. More than 35 posts in different categories have been lying vacant.

Out of the 24 assistant agriculture officer posts, 14 are vacant and against 40 posts of village-level agriculture workers, 11 are vacant. Lack of irrigation facilities is another stumbling block. While in kharif season, only 14.90 percent of the targeted land could be covered for irrigation, in the rabi season, it came down to 5 percent only.

Meanwhile, keeping in view these problems, it has been decided to revamp the lift irrigation points, dig up 100 bore-wells, 80 irrigation wells and come up with 20 new lift irrigation points. This apart, orders have been given to repair defunct middle and minor irrigation projects before the rainy season.

The Joint Director and Deputy Director of Agriculture along with the officers of Irrigation and Co-operative department were present at the meeting.