IIM Odisha - Politics of Land Selection

Which part of Odisha will host Odisha IIM as proposed by MHRD, Govt. of India? It seems there is lot of politics going on for the last selections. 

Is the Biju Janata Dal Government playing politics over selection of land for the proposed Indian Institute of Management in Odisha to keep the people of different regions in good humour and throwing the ball to Centre’s court? The answer seems to be in the affirmative.

Even though the Centre had asked the State to suggest “two to three” suitable locations for the purpose, it has so far asked as many as six District Collectors to identify land for the proposed educational institution to keep the people of different regions happy for the time being.

While the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) on Tuesday asked the District Collectors of Khurda, Cuttack, Ganjam and Sambalpur to identify suitable locations by September 10, the organisation on Wednesday wrote to the District Collectors of Sundergarh and Koraput asking them to identify land suitable for the establishment of the IIM.

According to political analysts, the State government has asked six Collectors to identify 200 acres of land for the IIM in view of the growing demand by the people living in Rourkela, Sambalpur, Jeypore and Berhampur who were opposed to the establishment of the proposed IIM near Bhubaneswar.

It is clear that by suggesting land in as many as six districts the BJD government was trying to save itself from criticism because it was the Union Human Resource Development Department that would take a final view on the issue and select one location for the B-School.

A politically smart move has been adopted by the State government as people from different regions, led by their elected representatives, had approached Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to highlight their demand that the proposed IIM be established in their region.

Union Human Resource Development Department secretary Ashok Thakur had asked Odisha Chief Secretary in July last week to suggest suitable locations free of cost and free from all encumbrances. The location identified should have necessary physical and social infrastructure which includes good roads, rail and air connectivity, Mr. Thakur had said.

Interestingly, the BJD government in its previous term had written to the Centre to consider two regions — Western and Southern — for the establishment of a permanent Bench of the Orissa High Court after demand in this regard was made by lawyers in several areas across the State.

On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders too were indulging in similar political gimmicks by extending support to the people’s demand for the new IIM near different towns.

Model Schools in all 314 Blocks in Odisha

The Odisha government is making constructive efforts towards augmenting the education quality at the school level. In its bid to upgrade standard of Odisha students, the state government today decided to open model schools in all the 314 blocks on the pattern of central schools, official sources said.

Under the centrally sponsored model school scheme, these schools will be set up under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode in all 314 blocks of the state on the pattern of central schools that aims at up-gradation of standard of Odisha students.

Besides English and Odia, the students would be imparted education in Hindi and Sanskrit languages, the minister said adding that the model schools will be run through a special society similar to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) that runs central schools, he added.

This was decided at a high level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here. "The state government will spend Rs 190 crore this fiscal for the purpose of construction of 162 model schools," school and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra told reporters today.

Stating that 50 per cent of seats in such model schools will be reserved for the girl students, Mishra said arrangements were being made to construct ladies hostels close to the schools.

Apart from this, each school in Odisha will have green fencing and kitchen garden at their school premises, the Minister said. He suggested that the School Health programme should be integrated with Red Cross for conduct of blood grouping tests at school level.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary of School and Mass Education Department Smt Usha Padhee proposed that JRC counsellors of each school should ensure proper hand wash before mid-day meal. Besides, she also stressed on creattion of Eco-Club in the schools.

Chief Minister Patnaik has also directed the school and mass education department to create a separate cadre for the faculty members. Besides usual courses, the model schools would have provision for vocational training.

The model schools would have classes from standard VI to XII, the minister said. Hopefully, these model schools will set a trend among other government schools already in a pathetic conditions to model themselves in the line of these model schools.

Child labour problem in Odisha - 21 Minors Rescued from Mumbai

The problem of human trafficking in various forms is not new in Odisha, a state that is considered one of the poorest in India. Many poor from several parts of the state leave Odisha every year searching for jobs. While many of them get low paying jobs at various parts of India, but many other falls in the hands of human traffickers who cheat these helpless poor to do various  activities in violation of labor laws. 

While poor women from Odisha have been reported to forcibly brought into prostitution trade, but the most often reported issues are one related to labor rights  violations involving child laborer. In the recent past, there are several cases invloving children from Odisha who are are forced to work as bonded laborer in many factories of South and Western Indian states. 

Despite this, Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha is yet to come up with a plan about how to solve this acute problem involving the lives of many kids.

Following is another such problem involving child labor reported by The Hindu.

Twenty one minor labourers from Odisha, facing physical and mental torture, have been rescued in Mumbai this past week. Twenty of them are girls.

A team from Odisha, consisting of police officers and child right activists, has reached Mumbai to take them back home. Speaking to The Hindu from Mumbai, a member of Gajapati district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and member of the team, Bhagyalaxmi Nayak, said all the rescued have been kept in a child care home.

“We have met and interacted with them. All of them want to return to their homes. They will be produced before the Mumbai CWC on Monday and we will take their custody,” said Ms Nayak.
Of the rescued, 11 are from Gajapati district, five from Kandhamal, two from Dhenkanal and one each from Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts.

All of them are from poor families. They were lured by promises of good wage and better life by some middlemen.

They were working in a packaging unit in Mumbai on monthly wages ranging from Rs. 3000 to 5000. They alleged physical and mental torture at the work place. They were working and living without any basic amenities and health care facilities.

About a month back, one of them had escaped and reached his home in Kandhamal district. The latest rescue operation was based on the information provided by him.

The racket of luring minors from remote areas of Odisha to outside the State by dubious middlemen continues. Twenty six girls, including nine minors, were rescued by Childline activists from Berhampur railway station on August 23 while they were being sent to Tamil Nadu.

On August 1, Childline activists had rescued 16 girls from the same railway station while they were being taken to outside the State.

New tourists attractions in Odisha

As many as six new tourist attractions are officially added by the High Power Selection Committee of the Odisha Tourism department today in the state tourism map. Most of these places are religious places attracting large number of tourists from within the state.

The six tourist places are Amco-Simko in Sundargarh district, Andhabara and Gotheswar Peeth in Kendrapara and Bindhyabasini, Giri Gobardhan and Baseikelagarh in Bargarh district.

The approval of the Committee came after reviewing the recommendation of the collectors of these three districts.

With this, the number of tourist places approved by the state Tourism department has gone up to 346.

Nearly 5 lakh tourists throng the Andhabara Peeth in Kendrapara district while the Gotheswar Peeth witnesses a footfall of nearly 4 lakh tourists every year. Amco-Simco in Sundargarh district is a historical site that draws a large number of tourists every year. The local residents pay homage to the 29 tribal peasants, who had sacrificed their lives during the struggle against British rule.

Bindhyabasini in Bargarh district is a religious and historical site while the Giri Gobardhan Peeth situated atop the Giri Gobardhan hill is a religious place where people worship Lord Gobardhan.

Besides, the Baseikelagarh in the district is a historical site where freedom fighter Vir Surendra Sai had waged a guerrilla war against the British along with his associates.

A large number of tourists from Chhattisgarh and other neighbouring states visit this place every year.

Odisha Wildlife - Satkosia Gorge and Tiger Reserve

The Satkosia Gorge along the river Mahanadi, passes through Angul, Boudh, Cuttack and Nayagarh districts in central Orissa and is the natural habitat for the two endangered fresh water crocodilian species, the Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and Mugger (Crocodylus palustris). In order to protect the dwindling crocodile population, the Forest Department of the Government of Orissa with technical support from the UNDP and FAO decided to start a breeding programme of crocodiles during March 1974.

As a part of this joint conservation initiative, the Gharial Research and Conservation Unit (GRACU) was started during March 1975. The GRACU had done pioneering work in crocodile conservation in India. The activities include Conservation Breeding; releasing of reared crocodiles into the wild and its rehabilitation had been some of the challenging activities carried out by the centre.

Thereafter in 1976 due to the immense biodiversity values, the dense forest lands on both sides of the river Mahanadi along the gorge was declared as the Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary. Subsequently the two adjoining sanctuaries namely the Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary and Baisipalli sanctuary were combinly and declared as Satkosia Tiger Reserve during December, 2007.

Core area of the Tiger Reserve lies within Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary. The reserve is spread over 4 districts; Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh. The tiger reserve has an area of 964 sq km with 524 sq km as core area.

Tikarpada: Enclosing the mighty Satkosia gorge where the Mahanadi plunges into the Eastern Ghats, the Tikarpada Sanctuary is a very popular sanctuary visited by tourists. The Mahanadi cuts through 22 km of the multi-hued collage of sal trees in Tikarpada, and a visit to the sanctuary is an awesome experience.

Boating, white water rafting, fish angling and treks through the lush forest are activities one can indulge in at the sanctuary. The Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre is actively conserving and breeding the endangered species of the crocodiles in the Mahanadi eco system in Tikarpada. Though tigers are rarely sighted now, the wildlife within the sanctuary includes the Indian adjutant stroke, red jungle fowl and Indian pitta.

Located at a convenient distance of 120 kms from Dhenkanal and 58 kms from Angul, tourists can proceed to Saptasajya, a scenic picnic spot. The Saptarshi and Raghunath temples in the vicinity are also frequented by tourists visiting the sanctuary.

While the forest lodge is located within the forest, you can choose to camp out in the open with the special permission of the forest office.

Access:

The main entry gate of the Tiger reserve at Pampasar, is 30 Kms from Angul. One can approach, the southern portion of the reserve from Nayagarh, which is 80 Kms from the State Capital. From Nayagarh, the Tiger reserve can be approached through the entry gate at Chhamundia, which is 60 Kms from Nayagarh. One can also approach from Angul side via Village Ogi and reach directly to Tikarpada via land route. The nearest Railway station is Angul and the nearest Airport is at Bhubaneswar.

Accommodations

1. Nature Camps

Camping facilities are available at Tikarpada and Purnakote. At Tikarpada, the camp is pitched on the middle of the breathtaking gorge along the pristine sand banks of river Mahanadi. An overnight stay is fascinating and unforgettable.

Camps have double bedded tents with toilets and water supply. Camps are run by local community groups. Visitors are advised to book the facilities in advance.

2. Reservation:

For reservations contact Ecotourism Cell, Satkosia Wildlife Division, Hakimpada, Angul, Orissa 759143, India. Phone: 08763102681 Email:dfosatkosiawl@yahoo.co.in

For reservations at the Nature camp, Tikarpada, Chhotkei, Purunakote, the Guests can sent the reservation charges in the form of a Demand Draft drawn in favour of Ecotourism Cell, payable at Angul, Orissa.

Reservations at Nature Camp, Purnakote can be made directly at the Ecotourism Cell, Satkosia Wildlife Division, Hakimpada, Angul.

Note: Guests need to produce photo identify cards (PAN card, voter ID card etc) of any of the team members during reservation. 

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is a hit in Odisha

Business Standard reported yesterday that more than 500,000 bank accounts have been opened in Odisha under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), a pet project of Prime Minister Modi. This program has been projected as the first step for a comprehensive scheme for financial inclusion. On the day of launch of the scheme, over 62,000 accounts were opened.

Jual Oram, Union minister for tribal affairs along with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who inaugurated the program said that “more than 62,720 bank accounts have been opened on the launching day and about 50 launching events are organised throughout the state,”.

The banks having operations in Odisha have overshot the target of 400,000 bank accounts allotted by the Union government to the state. More than 500,000 accounts have been opened in Odisha under the scheme, said Arun Kaul, chairman and managing director of UCO Bank. Data compiled by State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), Odisha shows that 497,623 accounts have been opened in the state till August 27 through 3,010 camps.

UCO Bank, the SLBC convenor, has opened the most number of accounts (89,720) followed by State Bank of India (SBI) with 81,276 new accounts.

Among others, Bank of India has opened 32,179 new accounts under the scheme while Indian Overseas Bank and Andhra Bank  have opened 28,744 and 24,704 accounts respectively. In toto, PSU banks have opened 431,734 accounts while private sector banks and regional rural banks under the mission mode project, have opened 4,495 accounts and 61,394 accounts respectively.

Besides bank accounts, the other benefits under the scheme includes  RuPay debit card, Rs 1 lakh accidental insurance cover and an additional Rs 30,000 life insurance cover for those opening bank accounts before January 26, 2015.

Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik assured of all support from the state government for the gigantic task of covering unbanked households.

“I wish all success in their endeavour and assure them of all help and support from the state government in achieving the goal of universal financial inclusion in the state,” he said.

The chief minister also called upon the banks for opening of brick and mortar branches in all unbanked gram panchayats of the state within the specified time frame (March 31, 2019).

The SLBC has allotted 4,597 gram panchayats to the banks with operations in the state for opening of branches by March 31. For accommodating the branches, banks will be provided Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendras free of cost for five years.

Launching the progarmme in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that though the initial target of PMJDY was to open bank accounts for 75 million families in one year, he had exhorted that the concerned officials to complete the task before January 26, 2015.  About 15 million bank accounts was opened on the day of launch of the scheme.

Supreme Court order on Coal Mines going to affect Odisha

On 25th Aug 2014 (Monday), India's Supreme Court ruled that all coal mining licences awarded between 1993 and 2010 are illegal and will now examine whether some or all 218 permits should be revoked. In the ruling, the high court said that successive governments gave rights to mine coal to state and private companies in a style that was “not fair and transparent” and without competitive bidding.

The court is also expected to rule on possible fines on firms currently holding those permits, most of which have not been developed, as mines in remote rural areas proved too costly to bring into operation.

But in the process of allocating those licences, India has become tangled in accusations of corruption and mishandling.In the past twenty years India has granted coal blocks to a range of companies in sectors such as power and steelmaking, partly to overcome fuel shortages stemming from its inefficient and state-dominated mining sector.

Coal dependent Odisha

India is one of the largest producers of coal in the world and more than half of its commercial energy needs are met by the fossil fuel. The coal-rich regions include huge swathes of eastern states like Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, and pockets in the central and southern parts of the country. 

Coal mines in Odisha are already reeling under regular protests by the local populations who are demanding compensations against the damages caused to their lifestyles due to mining activities. In Talcher area of Angul, there was a 3 days protest by locals that was brought under control after assurance by the management from the coal mining companies to compensate the people suitably. However, sources reports that still people are not happy and may go for protests soon.

Under such circumstances, state like Odisha that very much depends on the revenue for mining activities will go down for sure that will affect developmental activities in the state. This opinion by SC is definitely a headache for the naveen Patnaik government in Odisha.