Thursday, March 17, 2011

New PDS Cards to be distributed from First April

                      Finally, Govt has agreed to replace the mutilated old PDS cards distributed to BPL, APL and AAY families. It is an opportunity to address all issues arising related to PDS cards like improper distribution, lost cards and left out beneficiaries. It has also been decided  that the Rs 2 rice will not be distributed in KBK areas to privileged APL  class who are filling income tax return or are working with state govt.,central Govt ,Bank,PSU or Cooperative sector. Persons who own four wheelers or have been retired from govt job and are drawing pension above Rs 5000 will also be excluded from the famous Rs 2 rice benefit. This gives leverage to include all left out families from this scheme. Elaborate arrangements are being made to distribute the PDS cards in most efficient manner involving PRIs and NGOs from First April. The new cards will be water proof and the beneficiaries have to pay nominal cost for getting the cards. All details pertaining to distributed cards retailer wise would be made available in each Panchyat office and on the website as well.

Job fair in Koraput

       In order to address the problem of unemployment particularly among low educated youth a two Day Job fair was organized in Koraput at Jeypore in collaboration with Employment Mission, Govt of Orissa. It was meant for unemployed youth of Koraput , Malkangiri and Nabrangpur. 12th March was reserved for Malkangiri-Nabrangpur and 13th for Koraput. Massive turn out was observed on both days. District Administrations had made arrangements for the transport of candidates from each block. All arrangement including the lunch was made to encourage the smooth participation. Nearly 22000 candidates took advantage of the fair and registered themselves for the Job Fair. 35 Companies participated in the job fair from various parts of the country. They were from BPO, Manufacturing , Pharmaceuticals, Textile, Construction and Security Guard. Administration facilitated between the job seekers and the job givers. The idea was to expose the candidates to the changing needs of the job market and improve their knowledge about all aspects of job market. Totally 8092 candidates were offered jobs by the visiting 35 companies spreading over two days. The highlight being WIPRO and GENPACT selecting few candidates.

      In addition to this efforts are also being made to send tribal youth in Army and other paramilitary forces. Recently 100 candidates were given orientation for seven days about the selection procedure in Army. Twenty-five of them got selected subsequently in Army recruitment rally. Now also around 305 candidates will be trained from 21st March so that they can face recruitment drives for CRPF, BSF, ITBP confidently in near future

Saturday, January 8, 2011

PARAB @ Narayanpatna

                It is for the first time since last one and half year that the small dingy village called Narayanpatna was breathing freely. Starting from small children to old person was on the street celebrating their own PARAB. It was the occasion they were probably waiting to come out of the unnatural atmosphere of fear and depression.


              It all started with the celebration of GP level PARAB in all but two Panchayats on 1st and 2nd January. The attendance and participation of people was huge and unexpected. This encouraged the organizers to organize the Block level PARAB with more involvement. Hon. MP koraput and MLA Laxmipur attended the second day celebration. All school and college going students actively participated in quizzes, debates, song and dance competitions. Over 10 departments participated in erecting their stall highlighting all their activities and programes. Health camp was also organized for two days. Forest right, GKP and other pattas were also distributed on the occasion.

               Finally, the icing on the cake was the performance of dance troupes who came all the way from various panchayats. Their performances were breathtaking and very exciting. All of them were looking as original and natural as if they were performing in their own village. The crowd of 5000 enjoyed the DEMASA and forgot themselves in the PARAB fervor.

               In order to address all issues pertaining to land in the area a new initiative was proposed whereby on the 5th of every month Collector, Sub-Collector and Tahsildar along with a legal team would hold a “Land Adalat (Jami Adalat)” whereby all land related issues will get registered and necessary action would be initiated by appropriate authority. The preceding month’s cases would be followed in next months seating.

Thus, the PARAB raised new hopes, gave people an opportunity to come out from their shell and gave new ray of hope for better tomorrow.









Sunday, January 2, 2011

Samarthya Sibirs : a successful attempt to take different entitlements for differently abled citizens to their doorsteps

                     As all know Differently Abled people constitute around 2% of our population. They face herculean task to get themselves educated and many times being treated as burden on the family. Poverty along with disability is more difficult and painful. In order to provide all services to this section of society Govt Of Orissa has devised a concept called Samarthya Sibir wherein all the services are provided in the single window manner at their door step. Generally, camps are organized at block level at Block point and a team of doctors visit the spot constituting panel for issuing disability certificate.
               This year in koraput we made an attempt to make these camps special. We made elaborate planning by forming a Samarthya Sibir organization team headed by each BDO, MO (I/C). Sub-Collectors were assigned the tasks of overall supervision. Mapping of differently able persons was done in advance with the help of AWWs. This gave an idea about the number of DA persons with their location. Subsequently, picking points were selected from where vehicles were supposed to pick up the DA persons. So that they may not have to walk or travel at their own. Adequate volunteers were arranged for smooth management of the camps. As done in Ganjam it was decided to give unique identification number to all DA persons so that proper database can be maintained for future reference. For the first time services like SGSY and IAY were offered. Even though 3% of it is reserved for DA but they hardly get their due share unless special efforts are being taken. Proper planning was made to provide following services to the eligible beneficiaries.

• Disability certificate
• Bus concession and Rail concession
• Disability Pension under MBPY
• SGSY Individual loan to all the willing candidates who are wanting to start small enterprises for their    livelihood security
• IAY house to all the eligible candidates
• DRI loans from Banks
• SHG groups to be formed of more than five DA persons from one village/GP
• Enlisting for vocational Training by VRC and Aide et Action
                 Finally the camp was being organized successfully in 13 of the 14 blocks till date attended by thousands of DA persons giving the administration opportunity to provide them services at their doorsteps. The whole exercise was very satisfying.

         Report of Samarthya Sibir

  • Registration                                        :  7954
  • Disability Certificates issued                :  2526
  • Bus concession issued                         : 2578
  • Rail concession issued                         : 1545
  • DRI loans                                           : 131
  • SGSY (Individual)                              :  335
  • IAY                                                   :  506
  • MBPY (Disability Pensions)               :  2100
  • Vocational Training (VRC)                 : 1016
  • Vocational Training (Aide et Action)   : 381
  • SHG groups of DA formed                 : 242

                                                  Samarthya Sibir at Laxmipur
                                                      Samarthya Sibir at Lamataput


Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Tele-Monitoring of Schools started in Koraput


            After the enactment of Right to Education it has become the obligation of all stake holders to see that all school going aged children attend the schools and all concern become sensitive enough to respond to this imminent need. In order to prepare itself the administration has taken few steps to have effective monitoring and supervision of all schools in the district. Apart form the Rapid Monitoring System, each CRCC and BRCC is suppose to visit minimum 10 schools each every month. Following new initiaves are added to the already focused monitoring.

  • Tele-monitoring of schools is started whereby a database of mobile numbers of all the teachers is prepared and teachers in around 20 schools are being called everyday in order to assess his/her whereabouts. Questions are being asked about number of teachers present in the school, class wise students attendance, MDM etc. After the conversation with the teachers the mobile is asked to hand over to a student and the facts narrated by teacher are being verified from the student. Other questions pertaining to use to toilet, drinking water facility and hand washing are also being asked to the students.
With all its drawback this monitoring is likely to have some impact. The calls are generally made around 10:30 am , around 1:30 pm and 4 pm.

  • one small step in the direction to create awareness about the responsibility of parents towards education of their children on pilot basis a decision is being taken that BPL rice of the family will be withheld if they do not send their children to the school. This pilot initiative is being started from today i.e. 9th December taking all PRI members into confidence and with adequate awareness in Suku GP of Koraput Block.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Social Audit for ICDS services in Koraput

There is no second opinion that ICDS services assumes very important role in the welfare of women and children with respect to reducing malnourishment and overall improvement in the health related indicators. In order to strengthen these services the Koraput district administration has started Social Audit in ICDS on pilot basis in 14 Panchayats of the District.

Methodology adopted for Social Audit

  • One Panchayat is selected randomly for the social audit covering all AWCs in the selected GP.
  • The initiative is being implemented through SHGs and their federations.
  • In every block two vocal, educated federation members are selected who can communicate to the rural womenfolk in their own language. A team is thus formed at Block level comprising two Federation members, one Community organizer and a Supervisor.
  • Apart from this team a nodal SHG is identified in the village where AWC is located.
  • All the Block level teams are being trained at District level and all nodal SHGs are being given orientation at block level.
  • The methodology used was very simple and assessment of the function of the ICDS center was done using pictorial method to make it more interesting and reduce all type of biases. Each service delivery was divided into three part i.e. good , average and poor. Accordingly every women present was suppose to stick a bindi in front of the services in the color box which represented good , average and poor performance.
  • In the beginning of every Social Audit all the womenfolk were briefed about the ICDS services which are being given through AWC in their locality . simultaneously, all their doubts and questions were answered by the team. After this exercise they were asked to access the performance of their center and stick a bindi as per their assessment of the service.
The whole process generated lot of enthusiasm. The audit is complete for all the 14 GPs and the data is being analyzed. After accessing the performance the same will be replicated with some modifications notices during the process.








Friday, October 22, 2010

Visit of Prof Abhjit Sen, Hon Member Planning Commission to Koraput

             Three member Planning Commission team lead by Prof Abhjit Sen with Dr L.P. Sanker , Senior Advisor and Dr Indu Patnaik Deputy Advisor as member visited Koraput on 19th oct. The visit of the team was on the background of Collera outbreak in Rayagada. The focus of the visit was accessing the preparedness and handling of epidemic situation, water and sanitation scenario and also to access the implementation of flagship programes like MGNREGA.
              On way to Pottangi the Team first visited EMRS (Ekalavya Model Residential School), Punger .The Team  visited to CHC, Pottangi observed the health infrastructure interacted with Dr. Kar, Medical Officer In charge and other staff. They also wanted to know about the mode of referral service of worst cases from CHC to other referral centers. The MO explained the team about the functioning of MHU, preparedness done in advance to tackle the outbreak of malaria, anthrax and diarrhoea in the CHC area along with the response of the health administration and periodical reviews. The team advised the MO to display the list of the medicine available on the given day for the information of the general public.
              Subsequently the team left for Maliput GP and visited a PDS shop run by a SHG. They interacted with SHG members, PEO and general public about the PDS distribution. They also visited the Sub Centre in the village and interacted with the ANM and villagers on all aspects of health services. Then the team happen to visit the village Podapadar under Pottangi block interacted with the labourers working on Podapadar to Bariameta road work under MGNREGA. They made enquiries about the wage payment and other issues pertaining to MGNREGA. They also visited the working watershed in Podapadar and interacted with Watershed Committee. They found to be satisfied with the awareness level of the villagers and the work done by PD, Watershed.
                   In the evening a brief presentation was made before the team giving greater scope for interaction. The preparedness of the district for epidemics was explained giving detail about the initiatives taken in the field of health at District level. Following main interventions  were highlighted  before the team for action at  the PC level.
1.   The District should be included in the Left Wing Extremist affected districts.
2. Being a nerve center of South Orissa a Medical College shall be established at Koraput
3. Special focus for recruiting the Tribals in Army , Navy, IAF and Para military forces shall be given
4. The vacant posts of Doctors and Para medics shall be filled up without further delay
5. Residential Education complexes on the Model of EMRS in each block of the district shall be established for imparting quality education to the tribals
6. Special emphasis on the cultivation of Coffee and spices shall be given in Koraput with processing facility and independent office of Spices Board to start in Koraput, a Cashew Research Center shall also be established in Koraput for supporting the potential in the District
7. Special emphasis on connectivity and maintenance of roads in the vast district shall be given.
             The appreciated these genuine demands and promised to take them up to the logical conclusions. Next day i.e. on 20th the team left for Rayagada.