ON LINE FILE MONITORING SYSTEM TO START IN RAYAGADA

Transparency and timely delivery of services in government sector is the need of the hour. To address this issue and to make the working of the district administration transparent and people friendly, Rayagada district administration plans to introduce the 'On-line File monitoring system' on its district blogpage shortly. File monitoring system as such is not a novelty, as it has been and being implemented in many other places/ offices including government offices. However in Rayagada we plan to go a step ahead and make it an online, open for all system. The files will be disposed in a chronological order , unless it is of emergent nature or of a kind that deserves out of turn disposal. Through this system anyone can see the status of the files being disposed in Rayagada Collecotorate. It is a routine to see people flocking in government offices to pursue their file disposal, which leads to all sorts of malpractices. The district administration aims at curbing these tendencies and follow a logical pattern of file disposal for the convenience of the general public. At present we are conducting trial of this system and a dummy page is added to our district blog for perusal of all. Any suggestions and comments are welcome at rayagada@gmail.com or can be sent directly to the collector Rayagada at nitinjawale1@rediffmail.com

ORISSA WIKIPEDIA PROJECT

Rayagada District administration will participate in the Orissa wikipedia project initiated by Sri. Vijay Arora, IAS-91. The project involves creating an exhaustive on-line volumes of database about details of Orissa state, which unfortunately as of date is very low. This project will consist lakhs of pages of information starting from the village level to the state and national level.
There is a growing feeling among the people of Orissa that their state is not projected in the right light. More often than not, only the negative side gets national and international coverage, when a lot of good things are also happening around. This constant negative portrayal leads the society to pessimism and worst cynicism. The Orissa wikipedia project aims at rectifying this perception of the state. There will be lot of other features that will be added to this project to cater the interests of Oriya living outside Orissa.

GUNUPUR SUB DIVISION TO GET NEW SUB COLLECTOR.

DR. MUTHUKUMAR, IAS 2008, AFTER FINISHING HIS TRAINING, WILL BE JOINING AS SUB COLLECTOR & SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE, GUNUPUR ON HIS FIRST POSTING. MR. MUTHUKUMAR BELONGS TO TAMILNADU AND HAS COMPLETED HIS PHD IN AGRICULTURE. HE WAS TRAINED IN GANJAM DISTRICT.

HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNER OF ORISSA, SRI. MURLIDHAR BHANDARE APPRAISED OF THE BIOMETRIC BASED TPDS

The team of offcials from civil supplies dept.govt. of orissa led by joint Secreatary Sri. G. C. Nayak ( who is ex-PD DRDA Rayagada) and Civil supplies officer, rayagada, Sri. Bibekananda Korkora and World Food Programme,led by Sri. B. K. Bal, IAS, met the governer of Orissa,his excellency, Sri. Murlidhar Bhandare on 23.08.2010 and appraised him about the biometric based TPDS. Among those who were present were Commissioner-cum-secretary to Governer, Sri. Parag Gupta, IAS.
One retailer from Rayagada Sri. Manoj Patnaik and 3 beneficiaries gave a live demo to the Governer on the PoS ( point of sale) device.The memebers of 4G technologies, Hyderabad , which is the firm providing the IT solutions were also present.
His excellency was highly impressed by this application of IT solutions in strenthening the PDS in the state.

HON'BLE CM VISIT TO RAYAGADA :-

'FIRST DONGARIA KONDH' GIRL PASSES MATRICULATION EXAM. FELICITATED BY HON'BLE CHIEF MINISTER

Ms. Kasturi Melaka' a Dongaria Kondh' Girl passed Marticulation Exam this year. She is the first girl from the Dongaria Kandha community, a primitive tribal group, to pass the matriculation exam. She was guided by the 'Dongaria Kandha Development Agency' ( DKDA) Chatikona ( which is a micro project under ITDA ), particularly its Special officer, Sri. Sahu, to pursue high school studies at Baliguda, Kandhamal district. She was felicitated by Hon'ble CM, Sri. Naveen Patnaik during visit to Rayagada on 18/08/2010. Ms. Melaka aspires to be an asset to her community. She is already a role model to not only the girls, but also for her entire community.

INAUGRATION OF BIO-METRIC BASED TARGETED PDS SYSTEM IN RAYAGADA BY HON'BLE CM

18 August 2010

ORISSA CHIEF MINISTER INAUGURATES JOINT PROJECT WITH WFP ON THE BIOMETRIC REGISTRATION OF FOOD BENEFICIARIES

RAYAGADA, ORISSA – In a move designed to enhance the food security of the poorest and the neediest and to check the pilferage in PDS, the Orissa State Government and the World Food Programme (WFP) have come together to design biometric based Targeted Public Distribution system.

The project, which will make the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) more robust, was inaugurated today in Rayagada district by Honourable Chief Minister of Orissa, Mr Naveen Patnaik.

The biometric ration cards, bar-coded coupons and smart cards, the distribution of which begins today, will drastically reduce the possibility of pilferage of essential commodities. The transaction between the beneficiary and the `Fair Price Shop’ owner will be made available on the Government website which will further enhance transparency in distribution, the Chief Minister said.

“With growing hunger and shrinking resources, accurate targeting of welfare programmes is the need of the hour. We are very proud of our partnership with the Orissa Government in our joint effort to enhance the efficiency of the TPDS,” said WFP India Representative Mihoko Tamamura.

“This project will ensure food goes only to those entitled to it, and will produce savings which, I am sure, will enable the state government to reach out to many more vulnerable people who urgently need help,” she said.

The biometrics based solution would bring the desired changes in the TPDS, the Minister, Food and Civil supplies, hoped. He urged upon the civil society to access the website developed for the project and put up their feedback and suggestions for further strengthening of the system. He also requested the Chief Minister to roll out the project to other districts in the State.

The new system captures the fingerprint, face and iris as biometrics indicators and a data base is made on this , on the basis of which Smart PDS cards and coupons are made. The biometric data of more than one lakh beneficiaries across the district have now been electronically recorded.

This biometric technology has not only helped in identifying and removing ghosts cards ( cards fraudently made in name of non existant users), but has also rooted out invalid cards, which were mor ethan 8000 in number in Rayagada Municipality alone and which were in circulation and putting significant strain on the TPDS.

Based on the results of this project, it is envisaged that next year, similar initiatives may be taken up in the other districts and urban areas of the state as well.

Among others the ceremony was graced by the MP, Koraput, MLAs of the district, the Food Secretary, Mr Ashok Meena and Mr Basanta Kishore Bal and Mr Himanshu S Bal from WFP. Mr Nitin Bhanudas Jawale, Collector, Rayagada offered the vote of thanks.

BIOMETRICS BASED TARGETED PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM: FACT SHEET

Strengthening of TPDS in Rayagada District through Technology-based Solutions

Background:

• A joint WFP-GoO (Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department) initiative through an MoU signed on 17 October 2007.

• Formulated in a consultative process involving GoI, GoO, BCG and WFP, and extensive studies and ground-level analysis of TPDS in MP, AP, Karnataka and Orissa.

• Offers a feasible solution package to strengthen TPDS through technology-based solutions.

• Different technologies (sub-pilots within the pilot) to arrive at the best and the most cost-effective solution.

• World’s largest multi-modal biometric citizen ID projects involving around one million citizens.

Project components:

• Multi-modal biometric enrolment: Capture of biometrics (10 finger prints in whole of the district and, additionally, 2 iris in 3 Blocks and 1 ULB.) along with facial photographs of all citizens (including children) included in 2002 BPL survey list, and genuine cardholders though not listed in 2002 list.

• Biometric-deduplication to remove families/ individuals enrolled more than once.

• Distribution of new ration cards against biometric validation to remove shadow ownership at distribution stage.

• Smart cards with Point of Sale (PoS) devices in ration shops in Rayagada Municipality connected to the central server

• Bar-coded coupons and scanning in a high-speed scanner, with links to the server to prevent recording of off-take without beneficiary’s agreement (to be operational from October 2010)

• Capacity building of FPS owners and Government field staff on running of new system of PoS devices and coupon system.

• Web based interface through MIS and website to track and monitor progress online including off-take of commodities in different months

• Generation of release orders, reports and returns only through MIS.

• To be run by WFP for one year, capacity building of Government officials and take over District Administration.

• Impact assessment by an independent agency

• Two mobile biometric enrolment units at the disposal of Collector for one year for enrollment of left-out families.

• Facility for mutation in ration cards on account of death, new births and change of residence, etc,

Progress and results:

• ~ 6,000 village/ward level biometric enrolment stations set up across 2,445 villages in 11 Blocks and 41 wards in 3 ULBs, involving an average of more than 2 operations per village/ward.

• 186,663 families (89%) and 621, 020 individuals (77%) out of 210, 538 families and ~ 802, 200 individuals enrolled in 11 Blocks,

• 17, 355 families (54%) out of 32,373 enrolled in 3 urban local bodies,

• Enrolled data along with facial photographs displayed on GoO website.

• 11% families in Blocks and 46% in urban local bodies did not appear for enrolment mostly due to:

• ghost and duplicate card card-holders

• originally genuine cards (being misused) though no longer valid on account of

• transfer of cardholder from the station from where card issued,

• death of all members of the family,

• permanent migration.

• 10,092 pairs of duplicate families and 12,828 pairs of duplicate individuals identified. Number of duplicate pairs detected by types is given in the table below:

Summary of duplicates
Type of duplicate	Pairs detected
One person being head of more than one family	6741
Both spouses heading separate families	656
Family members other than spouse heading another family	2695
Both persons not heading the families	10785
Matches with same Citizen-ID in same family	1198
Matches with different Citizen-ID in same family	845
Total	22920

• 4,097 families, outside 2002 list, enrolled as additional families found not to have ration cards.

• Summary of total families, cards in circulation vs enrolment by type is given in the table below:

Block/ Urban body	Total families*	BPL cards under circu lation	BPL famil ies enrol led	AAY cards under circu lation	AAY families enrolled	Anna purna cards under circul ation	Anna purna families enroll ed	APL cards under circul ation	APL families enrol led	Number of current card holders	Number of families to get new cards
11 Blocks	210538	102551	88318	39968	31570	1308	496	38770	65050	182597	173288
3 ULBs	32373	3424	2398	3844	3003	153	28	19333	11926	26754	16541
Total	242911	105975	90716	43812	34573	1461	524	58103	76976	209351	189, 829
*Includes families listed in 2002 survey and genuine cardholders though not listed in 2002 list

* Number of families to receive new cards 189,829 as against 209,351 cards currently in circulation.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

courtesy:gowri photos studio
THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WISHES ALL THE CITIZENS A VERY HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION'S INSTRUCTIONS TO SCHOOLS ON SWINE FLU

http://nrhmorissa.gov.in/PhotoGallery.aspx

In the light of the recent spread of H1N1 ( Swine flu) infections the following instructions are issued to schools/ colleges in particular and the citizens of Rayagada district in general:
1. Avoid congregation/ mass prayers or public gathering of any kind other than in cases it is highly required.
2.Teachers should screen all children for symptoms, such as persistent fever, cough, cold and running nose. Such students should preferably be told to take rest at home till they are well. Children should be taught keep and use handkerchief during coughing and sneezing at all times.
3.Student and parents should be sensitized properly to change school dress immediately after reaching home and the habit of regular hand wash be cultivated.
4. School authorities should not close down the colleges/schools without informing the district administration as it would generate panic among the people.
5.All necessary arrangements have been made for testing and treatment in case somebody is found affected with this disease and the students and parents need to be informed about the same.
Along with these the following household mesures are recommended to prevent infection of Swine flu, people can use any of these according to their convinience:
1. Consume plenty of Vitamin C, by eating citrus friuts such as orange or their juice. the simplest and afforadable ay is to consume plenty of lemon juice.
2. Chew one or two cloves everyday or inhale clove oil number of times in a day.
3. Make a concoction ( juice) of 'Tulasi ' leaves, add honey to it and take thrice a day. This is specaially recommended for children in the age group of 1-6 years.
4. Make handwashing by soap or hand sanitisers a habit, particularly when you shake hands with people. It is a must to do so before you handle your children, when you have returned from outside.
5. The traditional practice of taking hot milk with turmeric before going to sleep is very helpful in this matter.
6. Lastly, please DO NOT PANIC!

KASHIPUR VISIT ON 12.08.2010

Right from the start of monsoons this year, Kashipur has been the focus of attention for the district administration because of its history of epidemics during this part of the year. To ensure an epidemic free seson this year, the district administration is leaving no stone unturned and for this reason Collector Rayagada and with a medical team headed by the CDMO Dr. Nayak visited Kashipur's Liligumma and Sirlihjida villages, where there had been cases of diarrhea a couple of days back.

It is a duanting task to deliver health services in an area where one has to cross numerous hills and rivers/ rivulets to reach a solitary village. Such was the case of Lilligumma and Sirlijhoda viallges that were visited today. There had been two cases each in these villages and the patients were administered IV infusions and given antibiotics to which they responded well. The work of the local Anganwadi worker and the Male Health worker has very praise worthy. It is because of their efforts that the situation was brought under control.

The district administration had decided to chlorinate all the water sources, Formal ( Tube wells/ Pipe water supply) and informal ( streams/ wells) , just before the locations where they would be put to use by the people, with the intention to sanitize the water and check the spread of water borne diseases. Accordingly Collectro Rayagada checked these 'Chlorination stations' at Lakhrisi, Talajhari and Sirlijhoda. The technique employed is very simple and innovative. A plastic bag with small perforations,containing another plastic bag of Bleaching powder is kept at a particular place, just before the habitations. the Chlorine from the plastic bags containing bleaching powder 'seeps' through the flowing water, ensuring a steady and long lasting sanitisation of water, enough to make it safe for drinking or atleast to check the spread of pathogens. This indigenous technology is the result of the knowledge and experience of years of epidemic control of the local doctors and was picked up in a big way by the district administration as part of its preparation to prevent the outbreak of any epidemic.

After having tried its best to control water borne disease, the district administration is faced with a huge challenge to control the spread of diarhhoea beacuse of unhygienic dietary habits among the tribals in interior pockets. Special measures are taken to ensure the availability of subsidized rice to people in these areas, but inspite of this people continue to consume Mandia ( which is their staple food and not rice) and a kind of gravy of Mango kernel. Both these items as such are not toxic or diarrhea causing , it the way they are prepared and stored that is the real cause of disease. Because of unduly long storage, a fungal layer develops on the inside of the pot bearing these items and these cause episodes of severe diarrhea, which at times leads to deaths. Many efforts have been made in the past and are being made even now to sensitize people of the evils of such dietary practices, but it has proved to be a tough job. The district administration is determined to take up this challenge and sensitizing the people with Audio Visual medium and with the help of street plays to give up these wring dietary practices. Cooperation from social minded individuals and organizations is solicited in this matter.

BIOMETRIC BASED TARGETED PDS FINAL PREPARATIONS.

Sri. Ashok Meena, IAS , Commissioner-cum- Secretary to Government, Food and Civil Supplies dept. visited Rayagada on 10th August 2010, to review the preparation for the kick off the Targeted Public distribution system in Rayagada on 18th August 2010 by Honourable Chief Minister, Sri. Naveen Patnaik. This project is assisted by the World Food Programme of the United Nations and Sri B. K. Bal, IAS, who is the state head of WFP is overseeing its preparation right the start, in Rayagada.
4G technologies the IT firm from Hyderabad, which is preparing the Bio metric based Smart PDS cards and bar coded Ration cards and coupons for this project, gave a presentation explaining the preparation in this matter. For the first time in the entire country all the 13 indicators of Biometric identification ( 2 eyes' iris, face and 10 fingers) will be taken for a Targeted PDS project. All the ghost cards have already been eliminated, right at the primary stage of collection of biometric data. In due course of time e-mutation of these Smart PDS cards will also be introduced.

REPAIR OF ROADS

Taking cognizance of the grievances of the citizens of Rayagada, the district administration instructed the PWD to repair the potholes on a war footing. Accordingly PWD has started the repair of the SH-4 ( KV road town portion upto JK Pur and SH-5 ( Amlabhatta to Kalahandi border via Muniguda).
Incidentally both these roads have been taken up for widening to foru and double lane respectively. SH 4 part will be executed under the Vijaywada -Ranchi corridor project and SH5 from a special scheme for road infrastructure for naxal affected areas from Govt. Of India funding. M/S Mukambika constructions, vishakapatnam, will execute the SH4 for laning work, while GVR constructions, Chennai will be doing the double laning of SH5.

REVIEW OF HEALTH & ICDS:

The Collector Rayagada along with Chief District Medical Officer, Rayagada reviewed the functioning of the health dept. particularly its coordination with the Integrated Child Development Scheme ( ICDS) on 9th August 2010. All medical officers, DPM NRHM, DSWO, all CDPOs attended the review. Rayagada is particularly vulnerable to epidemics such as Cholera and Malaria in this timr of the year. As a part of our efforts to have an epidemic free season this year, we had number of meetings with the ground level health dept. functionaries such as Health workers and ASHA and specific instructions were given to them to prevent and combat any such probable outbreak. However inspite of this there were 3 deaths reported in Titimeri GP of Jagannathpur PHC in Gunupur sub division and 2 deaths in Bhalumaska and Siripai areas of Kashipur, due to Diarhhea. However in both these instances, the Medical team that was sent from Dist. HQ Hospital to assess the prevalence of any epidemic like situation, reported that these deaths were due to consumption of stale and contaminated food or because of other predisposing conditions. A strict vigil is maintained by the district administration to prevent any such outbreak.
From ICDS side, the major decision taken was to conduct an independent survey to assess the grade 3 and 4 malnourished children, to bring forward the right nutritional status of the children in 0-6 age group. A proposal has been already sent to Women and Child Development dept. for assistance from UNICEF and the district administration will soon complete such survey.

DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IS MONITORING THE RIVER LEVELS:

Rayagada District Adminisration is closely monitoring the Bansadhara & Nagavali river water levels round the clock. Rayagada Collectorate, Emergency Section is collecting information about rainfall from Blocks and river water levels from Central Water Commission stations along the two main rivers, Vanshdhara and Nagavali . Necessary instructions given to all BDO's & Tahsildars about preparedness for any eventuality. Sub collectors have been instructed to prepare a contingency evacuation plan . However water levels are below warning levels and all measures are in place to infuse confidence among people. Civil supplies and Health Dept. are on high alert to face any situation.

CIVIL SUPPLIES CONTROL ORDER AMMENDMENT.

This matter was noticed during the trial of an EC act case, that in the Orissa Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2008 the police officers were not empowered to sieze Control commodities and this was enunciated in a judgement of the Honourable High court. The Rayagada district administration took the initiative and brought this matter to the notice of Civil supplies dept. on 16.03.2010 and finally Civil supplies dept. issued an ammendment, adding after the serial no. 27 of the 'control order' Serial 28: ''Police officers not below the rank of Inspector, within the local limits of their jurisdiction''. This provosion has empowered the police authorities in the entire state of Orissa to check the pilferage of control commodities.

'LINUX LITERACY'

Hands on training programme was conducted for the clerical staff and officers of Collectorate Rayagada. The Collector himself trained the staff and officers about how easily linux operating system can be used. Rayagada Collectorate is 100% on Open Source Linux operating system. 'Ubuntu 10.04' the latest Debian based opearting system is used.

The advantages of using Open Source Linux OS are:

1)It is free and easy to use as against Windows OS, which costs thousands of rupees.

2)It is not affected by virus and a good Linux OS such as Ubuntu will never crash. Windows OS ( even original ) is highly prone to viruses and one needs to spend extra thousands to buy anti virus programmes.

3)It is found that more often than not vendors provide pirated OS. Linux being free there is no issue of piracy.

4)Open office suite, which is inbuilt in Linux Oerating system is a free and similar or even better the MS office.

A lot of public money can be saved by using open source operating system and open office suite for our computing needs.

DISTRICT ADMINISTRAION'S INSTRUCTIONS TO COMBAT SWINE FLU IN RAYAGADA

In the light of the recent spread of H1N1 ( Swine flu) infections the following instructions are issued to schools/ colleges in particular and the citizens of Rayagada district in general:

1. Avoid congregation/ mass prayers or public gathering of any kind other than in cases it is highly required.

2.Teachers should screen all children for symptoms, such as persistent fever, cough, cold and running nose. Such students should preferably be told to take rest at home till they are well. Children should be taught keep and use handkerchief during coughing and sneezing at all times.

3.Student and parents should be sensitized properly to change school dress immediately after reaching home and the habit of regular hand wash be cultivated.

4. School authorities should not close down the colleges/schools without informing the district administration as it would generate panic among the people.

5.All necessary arrangements have been made for testing and treatment in case somebody is found affected with this disease and the students and parents need to be informed about the same.

DISTRICT ADMINISTRAION'S INSTRUCTIONS TO COMBAT SWINE FLU IN RAYAGADA

In the light of the recent spread of H1N1 ( Swine flu) infections the following instructions are issued to schools/ colleges in particular and the citizens of Rayagada district in general:

1. Avoid congregation/ mass prayers or public gathering of any kind other than in cases it is highly required.

2.Teachers should screen all children for symptoms, such as persistent fever, cough, cold and running nose. Such students should preferably be told to take rest at home till they are well. Children should be taught keep and use handkerchief during coughing and sneezing at all times.

3.Student and parents should be sensitized properly to change school dress immediately after reaching home and the habit of regular hand wash be cultivated.

4. School authorities should not close down the colleges/schools without informing the district administration as it would generate panic among the people.

5.All necessary arrangements have been made for testing and treatment in case somebody is found affected with this disease and the students and parents need to be informed about the same.

DISTRICT ADMINISTRAION'S INSTRUCTIONS TO COMBAT SWINE FLU IN RAYAGADA

In the light of the recent spread of H1N1 ( Swine flu) infections the following instructions are issued to schools/ colleges in particular and the citizens of Rayagada district in general:

1. Avoid congregation/ mass prayers or public gathering of any kind other than in cases it is highly required.

2.Teachers should screen all children for symptoms, such as persistent fever, cough, cold and running nose. Such students should preferably be told to take rest at home till they are well. Children should be taught keep and use handkerchief during coughing and sneezing at all times.

3.Student and parents should be sensitized properly to change school dress immediately after reaching home and the habit of regular hand wash be cultivated.

4. School authorities should not close down the colleges/schools without informing the district administration as it would generate panic among the people.

5.All necessary arrangements have been made for testing and treatment in case somebody is found affected with this disease and the students and parents need to be informed about the same.

DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION TO USE 'OPEN OFFICE SUITE'

Rayagada district administration has resolved to use 'Open office' suite for its computing needs, while dispensing MS office. The decision was taken in a tender committee meeting headed by Collector Rayagada, Dr. Nitin Bhanudas Jawale, IAS, for procuring computers for Gram panchayats. While MS office 2007 costs Rs.13000 ( as was the lowest price qouted, which is nearly equal to market price), Open office is a free download of 148 MB ( latest version 3.2.1) and similar and even better than MS office. The default format for Open office word is ' .odt ' ( in MS office word it is '. doc'), but the word file can be saved in more than 20 different formats including ' .doc" ( MS office 2003 ) and '.docx' ( MS office 2007+). So is the case with Open Office Spreadsheets ( Like MS office excel) and presentation. All MS office applications open in Open office as well. The best part of Open office is that one can directly export document to 'PDF' format. A lot of governmnet money can be saved by dispensing MS office in favour of Open Office.

Also a part of its commitment to FOSS ( Free and Open Source Software) movement, the district adminisatration ( expect DRDA where Govt of India software based on windows are required to run) is using open source operating system, i.e, LINUX.