Greater truth could be revealed in the alleged financial irregularities and fraud committed during implementation of the World bank aided Orissa Health System Development Project (OHSDP) if CBI was given the responsibility to probe , said Durjyadhan Majhi , Minister for Health & Family Welfare of Orissa at Koraput today . While talking to the media in the circuit house in the morning he said that while his government was vigilant in maintaining transparency in each and every process during the implementation of the project , looking at the political situation in the state and forthcoming elections in the near future , a probe by CBI would help in building a greater image of the party among the people , he added.
Later, while addressing as the chief guest in the launching ceremony of “Sahyog – Reaching the Un reached” project of LEPRA society , held in the DNK Conference hall at Koraqput , he joined the voice of Ashok Kumar Pangi , President, Koraput Zilla Parishad in demanding a medical college at Koraput . Joint ventures by organizing public-private partnership could bring the dream into reality , he added .
Adding to the successes of LEPRA Society in eradicating leprosy from the state , he said that the newly launched programme ‘Sahyog” in collaboration with LEPRA UK and European Union (EU) in Koraput , Malkangiri and Rayagada districts covering an estimated population in 16 blocks over a period of 4 years would go a long way in controlling TB and HIV infection in the region, with a focus on enhancing access to TB and HIV/AIDS services , strengthening cross referrals , promoting health seeking behaviours and community participation along with improving capacities of mainstream service providers and other stakeholders .
Loknath Acharya , Director of Health Services , Govt.of Orissa , Terry Vasey , Chief Executive and Jenny Barraclough , Chairperson of LEPRA UK also spoke . Doctors , officials from state health department and health service providers from the three districts attended the function . Sasikant Nayak , Project Coordinator , LEPRA Society , Orissa Region presided over the meeting .
(EOM)
Monday, January 21, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Sarpanchs' Association Formed
Goals of NREGA could not be fulfilled in the true spirit if the district administration does not work along with the action plans prepared in the villages , Bhagvan Muduli , Sarpanch of Podagad panchayat in Dasmantpur block of Koraput district said at Koraput today . He was at Koraput to attend the first ever seminar of the sarpanchs in the district to find opportunities to stand together under the umbrella of Orissa Adivasi Manch(OAM) .
Alleging that the sarpanchs, being from tribal communities in the district they were treated as ignorant and without having any intellect by the administration, he said that for this kind of attitude by the administration all plannings prepared in the villages were sidelined at the time of implementation by the administration . Expressing his surprise over asking the panchayats to deposit 16% royalty charges against the soil work carried out to create jobs for the jobless , he added that such measures would harm the good intentions of the scheme.
Adding to the worries of negligence , Padman Pataputia , sarpanch of Masiput panchayat in Kundura block said that the administration was not working towards the real needs of the people but was rather working to satisfy its own convenience and aspiration. Narrating on how the action plan prepared by the panchayat to develop the most backward village Denga Kusumguda was over looked by the administration while starting the work in a more developed village Goudaguda , he said that the sarpanchs were treated like beggars only to receive subsidized rice and BPL cards to distribute among masses .
Highlighting the poor administrative support that was offered to the PRI members in the district , Hari Angel , the sarpanch of Balda panchayat in Nandapur block alleged that the district administration was also keenly trying to suppress their legitimate demands whenever initiations were made to access to the legitimate rights of common masses . While the constitution had granted them as many as 29 powers, for the lack of access to information and administrative negligence most of the sarpanchs had no knowledge of more than two powers, he added .
While demanding for a hike in the monthly allowances for the sarpanchs and greater prioritisation to the post by the district administration , Mangaraj Randhari , a sarpanch from Kotpad block warned of a collective agitation against the neglecting approach of the administration towards the PRI members in the district .
Madan Kirsani , Convenor of Orissa Adivasi Manch (OAM) and Damadar Jani , President of the forum addressed the gathering . Elctions to the first body of the association of Sarpanchs was conducted under the supervision of Balaji panigrahy , Advocate and social worker from Koraput . The association thus formed had took the pledge to work towards the betterment of women & children in the district .
(EOM)
Alleging that the sarpanchs, being from tribal communities in the district they were treated as ignorant and without having any intellect by the administration, he said that for this kind of attitude by the administration all plannings prepared in the villages were sidelined at the time of implementation by the administration . Expressing his surprise over asking the panchayats to deposit 16% royalty charges against the soil work carried out to create jobs for the jobless , he added that such measures would harm the good intentions of the scheme.
Adding to the worries of negligence , Padman Pataputia , sarpanch of Masiput panchayat in Kundura block said that the administration was not working towards the real needs of the people but was rather working to satisfy its own convenience and aspiration. Narrating on how the action plan prepared by the panchayat to develop the most backward village Denga Kusumguda was over looked by the administration while starting the work in a more developed village Goudaguda , he said that the sarpanchs were treated like beggars only to receive subsidized rice and BPL cards to distribute among masses .
Highlighting the poor administrative support that was offered to the PRI members in the district , Hari Angel , the sarpanch of Balda panchayat in Nandapur block alleged that the district administration was also keenly trying to suppress their legitimate demands whenever initiations were made to access to the legitimate rights of common masses . While the constitution had granted them as many as 29 powers, for the lack of access to information and administrative negligence most of the sarpanchs had no knowledge of more than two powers, he added .
While demanding for a hike in the monthly allowances for the sarpanchs and greater prioritisation to the post by the district administration , Mangaraj Randhari , a sarpanch from Kotpad block warned of a collective agitation against the neglecting approach of the administration towards the PRI members in the district .
Madan Kirsani , Convenor of Orissa Adivasi Manch (OAM) and Damadar Jani , President of the forum addressed the gathering . Elctions to the first body of the association of Sarpanchs was conducted under the supervision of Balaji panigrahy , Advocate and social worker from Koraput . The association thus formed had took the pledge to work towards the betterment of women & children in the district .
(EOM)
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
With Technical Skills Migration is not a problem
: Migration of labourers from Koraput district would not be a problem if they were capacitated with technical skills and abilities to cope up with the changing situation in a new place, said , Satyanarayan Choudhury , a social worker from Koraput . Non availability of work in the near vicinity and non availability of cultivable land in the district has been forcing men and women to far off places seeking for better jobs and living opportunities , he added. But without having any technical skills with them , very often get setbacks to their aspiration and hopes , Bimal Pattnaik , another social worker said . With a disorganized way of life , these people from the highlands of Koraput region were also not able to give education and care to their children , he added.
However successful case studies of the migrant labourers from far off Rajasthan who were working in the district for months together , could well be a living example for the district administration, Paresh Rath , a tribal researcher and proprietor of Annapurna Real Estate , at Jeypore observed . Beswaram Jat , a contract labourer from Rajasthan is one of such examples who , despite of the woes of migration was making a good deal of his life for the skill to run tractors in the field , while his 8 year old son Gajaram , along with two daughters , wife and parents stayed in his native village , Patau in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan .
Forced to migrate for lack of work in the desert districts adding to the absence of any possibilities to cultivate for the most of the year , many such labourers move out of Jodhpur , Barmer and Jaisalmer districts to distant places in search of work , Beswaram who had been coming to Koraput district for the last 10 years said . There were at least 20 persons in Koraput, Malkangiri and Nowrangpur districts taken together like him who were working day and night to develop land by leveling the land , cutting edges by adding additional tools like leveler, cutter, and heavy duty plough to their tractors .
While working for more than 12 hours every day and that too leaving their family members in the village for at least six months in a year , they have recognized the importance of each moment they spend, more than anyone else , Beswaram said . Moreover it was only for the skills they knew , that almost all of them were able to send some money to their families back in the villages out of their fairly manageable earning , Junjaram Jat , another labourers from Kudike in Rajasthan added .. While appreciating the role and importance of the age old joint family system in most of these houses , Juniram said that , none of them could have ever dared to move from place to place, if they were living in nuclear families . Now that their parents and women of the family stayed in the house they were able to offer a dignified living condition to the family members including good education for their children in the native village amidst their own tradition and culture , he added.
However successful case studies of the migrant labourers from far off Rajasthan who were working in the district for months together , could well be a living example for the district administration, Paresh Rath , a tribal researcher and proprietor of Annapurna Real Estate , at Jeypore observed . Beswaram Jat , a contract labourer from Rajasthan is one of such examples who , despite of the woes of migration was making a good deal of his life for the skill to run tractors in the field , while his 8 year old son Gajaram , along with two daughters , wife and parents stayed in his native village , Patau in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan .
Forced to migrate for lack of work in the desert districts adding to the absence of any possibilities to cultivate for the most of the year , many such labourers move out of Jodhpur , Barmer and Jaisalmer districts to distant places in search of work , Beswaram who had been coming to Koraput district for the last 10 years said . There were at least 20 persons in Koraput, Malkangiri and Nowrangpur districts taken together like him who were working day and night to develop land by leveling the land , cutting edges by adding additional tools like leveler, cutter, and heavy duty plough to their tractors .
While working for more than 12 hours every day and that too leaving their family members in the village for at least six months in a year , they have recognized the importance of each moment they spend, more than anyone else , Beswaram said . Moreover it was only for the skills they knew , that almost all of them were able to send some money to their families back in the villages out of their fairly manageable earning , Junjaram Jat , another labourers from Kudike in Rajasthan added .. While appreciating the role and importance of the age old joint family system in most of these houses , Juniram said that , none of them could have ever dared to move from place to place, if they were living in nuclear families . Now that their parents and women of the family stayed in the house they were able to offer a dignified living condition to the family members including good education for their children in the native village amidst their own tradition and culture , he added.
Lets be happy with words!
We could write more and more . Lets share our thoughts and writings here as we feel and involve .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)