Archive for December, 2013
Memorandum submitted to CM for recognition of Kosli language
Following is a report from the Prameya:
Employment scheme; a failure in Balangir
Following is a report from TNIE:
Lalit Bhoi of Badbanki village in Turekela block in the district has decided to migrate in search of job as he is not able to get work even after applying for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Similarly, Surdas Pradhan of Bijamal village in Muribahal block feels that he would migrate if he would not be able to get work under the flagship scheme soon.
Bhoi and Pradhan are not solitary instances of poverty stricken people unable to get the benefits of MGNREGS. In fact, the MGNREGS, aimed at providing employment to rural poor, has miserably failed in the district.
According to sources, 2,72,527 households in the district have been issued job cards. Out of them, 61,339 households applied for works in 2013-14 and 47,393 households have been provided work till now.
While in the present month, 5,904 households are engaged in work, 2,086 households have completed 100 days of work. Among those who completed 100 days of work, 463 households were linked to the housing schemes like Indira Awaas Yojana. According to latest estimate, about 68.2 per cent of the budget for the scheme has been spent till now including labour payment and construction work.
The major road blocks in implementation of MNREGS are non-payment and delayed payment of wages to the labourers and shortage of field staff for preparation of muster rolls. Sources said people are not getting work during lean period. They also alleged that the officials were providing work as per their whims and caprices.
As per a conservative estimate, more than one lakh people have migrated in search of livelihood from the district to other places in and outside the State. The district has also more than 1,000 certified bonded labourers.
According to a survey of Western Odisha Migration Network (WOMN), a network of civil society organisations and academicians working in the district, more than 80,000 people from Bangomunda, Turekela, Belpara, Muribahal, Saintala and Khaprakhol blocks have already migrated.
“Balangir is a poor and migration prone district. MGNREGS has all the ingredients to address labour migration due to acute poverty and unemployment. However, to realise the same, the administration needs to identify the vulnerable people and implement MGNREGS during the lean period. But it has failed to provide timely works as well as the payments,” said Jatin Kumar Patra, an activist working on the issue.
Project Director of Balangir DRDA Pabitra Mandal said the administration is taking steps to provide work in all the revenue villages. “We are preparing plans and very soon the works will start,” he said.
Plight of the “migrant labourers” of Kalahandi and Nuapada districts
Following report is from the Sambad:
NTPC signs MoU for medical college and hospital at Sundargarh
Following is a report from TNIE:
National energy major NTPC on Friday cemented its commitment for establishing a medical college and hospital at Sundargarh by signing an MoU with the State Government.
The MoU was signed by Health Secretary PK Mohapatra and NTPC Director (HR) UP Pani in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Health Minister Damodar Rout and CMD of NTPC Arup Roy Choudhury.
The college will have 100 MBBS seats along with a 400-bed hospital. The State Government would provide 20 acre land for the purpose.
Sundargarh district administration has already identified the land close to the National Highway.
The company would invest around `350 crore with the target of completing the project by 2016 so as to enable admission of students from 2016-17 academic session.
While commending NTPC to have come forward to set up the MCH in the tribal district, the Chief Minister said it would not only cater to the health needs of the people of the region but also leverage efforts to overcome the problem of shortage of doctors.
As many as 10 seats in the Sundargarh MCH will be reserved for qualified candidates of the project displaced families and NTPC employees’ families, the Health Minister said.
The national PSU has projected an investment of `1.5 lakh crore in all projects during the 12th Plan.
The two new projects in Gajamara and Darlipalli with an envisaged 3200 MW capacity addition have made significant headway.
Three coal blocks in Dulanga, Chandabila and Kudanali Labori have been allotted to NTPC as linked mines and the company will aggressively bid for Bedabahal UMPP, CMD AR Choudhury told mediapersons.
Stating that the operational 3,460 MW capacity at TSTPS and TTPS plants at Kaniha and Talcher respectively have contributed to the power sector, Choudhury stressed the PSU’s commitment to overall development of the State.
NTPC has extended its helping hand in the rehabilitation and restoration works in the Phailin affected districts and contributed `10 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
It has also signed an MoU for light and sound system installation at Grand Road in Puri at a cost of `2.5 crore, he added.
Update on Koshali language movement: committee awaits response from MLA
Following report is from the Prameya:
Odisha plans Rs 400 cr solar power plant at Manmunda, Boudh
Following is a report from BS:
The state energy department plans to set up a 50 Mw solar power project at Manmunda in Boudh district at an investment of around Rs 400 crore.
The power plant will be set up by Green Energy Development Corporation of Odisha Ltd (GEDCOL).
The decision was taken at a high level meeting chaired by chief secretary, Jugal Kishare Mohapatra at the state secretariat where in energy secretary, Pradeep Kumar Jena outlined the broad features of the project.
It may be noted that Solar Energy Corporation of India has proposed to set up solar projects of 750 Mw in different parts of the country and GEDCOL will bid for 50 Mw project to be set up in Odisha at the proposed site.
State’s nodal land acquisition agency Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) is requested to provide the land to GEDCOL for the project.
A decision was also taken at the meeting that the generated power will be purchased by GRIDCO as per renewable power obligation.
“It has been in principle decided that the project will be implemented on PPP mode”, read an official release.
Among others, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Idco Vishal Dev, Hemant Kumar Sharma , CMD, GRIDCO, Sahadev Khatua, CMD, GEDCOL were present at the meeting.
Kosal Discussion and Development Forum 