GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY CELEBRATIONS AT RAYAGADA:

On eve of "Global Handwashing Day" ( i.e. 27th October), RWSS dept. Rayagada organised awareness camp among school children at High school, Penta GP, Rayagada. This district lelvel fuction attended by DPC, Rayagada & other officers of the Rayagada district.

ENCROACHMENT REMOVAL IN RAYAGADA TOWN

As a part of the road widening of the town portion to four lane in Rayagada town, road side encroachments were removed on 25/10/10. The preparation fo rthe same had started five months back , with the district administration identifying the encroachments.
Encroachments, particularly urban road side ones are a major obstacle to development projects as urbanization is increasing in Orissa. with the increasing population there is tremendous pressure on the roads and other infrastructure. the biggest problems relating to this menace is traffic congestion and unhygienic surroundings and road side encroachers more often than not dispose their garbage in front of the shops and on the road itself. with increasing awareness among people, even the genera; public raises voices against such nuisance causing encroachments, which are brought about by land mafias in many cases.
The eviction process began early in th e morning and by dusk most of the road side encroachments were either removed or sized. The most appreciable thing in this whole process, according to the district administration, is the support and cooperation of the local people, including that from some encroachers themselves.
Along with eviction there arises an issue of rehabilitation and the district administration has expressed its willingness to go ahead with the rehabilitation plan , whatever is possible and within the purview of law.

RAYAGADA MAHOTSAV PREPARATION STARTED

The district cultural festival, which is a tradition in south Orissa, particularly undivided Koraput, will be organized in Rayagada in the second week of December tentatively.

This year the festival will be kick started from a historical, culturally or geographically important remote location in the district.the cultural troupes from different states, from other districts of Orissa and from the district will be show casing their art and culture.

The preparatory committee meeting was held in DRDA conference hall in Rayagada today and was attended by prominent citizens of Rayagada along with media persons and officials. Collector Rayagada solicited the cooperation of all the citizens from all walks of life to make this festival a success.

These type of festivals are non official and informal initiative of the people at large, supported by the district administration. These type of festival not only provide for cultural exchange and thereby leading to cultural enrichment, but also infuse a new vigour in hte society, something which can only be experienced by being in the thick of things. It precisely because of this that these kind of cultural festivals are very popular in these parts of the country.

any help from anybody in this matter will be highly appreciated by the District council of culture , headed by the Collector Rayagada.

VISIT OF PLANNING COMMISION TEAM 20.10.2010

The three member team of the planning commission comprising of Prof. Abhijit Sen (Member Orissa), Sri. L.P.Shankar Senior Advisor, Dr. Indu Patnaik, Deputy Advisor, visited Rayagada district on 20.10.2010. They accompanied by Sri. Kar , Additional secetary Planning and Coordiantion dept. Govt of Orissa.
The team visited the villages in Kashipur block that had shown cholera cases and deaths thereof. The first village to be visited was Bahardulki, in Kashupur where 4 people had died of diarhheal disease in the month of September 2010. The team intercated withe the local people about various other problems, including the availability of safe drunking water, progress of NREGS. The villagers informed the planning commision members that the biggest problem was that of the road communication. Since these villages are in the Reserve forest area, no road has been constructed. It is only after the intervention of the district administration through NREGS that ghat cutting and morrum road formation was done last year, that the area can now be reached by a vehicle. The district administration has further directed Executive Engineer Rural Works to make a project proposal for a PMGSY roads from Perpa to Bandhamandi, via Bahardulki ( 22 kms) and forward it for the approval of forest dept. The team also visited the houses of the deceased and examined the condition of the tube wells which were in running condition. There had been allegations of the tube wells being defunct and being repaired only afte the deaths, however no subsatnace was found in these allegations.
The team further visited the Siripai and Bandhamandi areas of kashipur where temporary treatment centres were set up during the cholera out break. From Bandhamandi the team entered the Kalyansinghpur block area and visited the Shikarpai PHC( N) which was an important treatment centre for diarrhea cases during the outbreak last month. The team saw two more temporary treatment centres at serigumma and Lekhapai in Kalyansinghpur block, befire reaching Rayagada.
In the evening a meeting of all line dept heads, BDOs and Tahsildars of the district was called and the Planning commision team interacted with them about the developmentL initiatives in the is district inder various state and central govt schemes.

PUJA WISHES

BEST WISHES FOR DURGA PUJA AND DASHERA FROM THE FOSM, RAYAGADA TEAM.

DIARHHEAL DISEASE CONTROL FINAL PRESENTATION

ACTION RECOMMENDED AGAINST SC/ST SCHOOL HEADMISTRESS

Rayagada district administration has recommended the suspension of Smt. Arjyabala Mohanty head mistress of the Dongasil SC/ST school in Kashipur block of Rayagada district, on charges of gross negligence and mismanagement of the funds given to the school for various beneficial schemes, because of which some boarders had left the school. Smt. Mohanty has been in the past too, draft charged and recommended for suspension by the district administration. In this particular case, infighting between headmistress and other teachers is said to have aggravated the situation.

Instances of irresponsible behaviour on the part of teachers has been on rise and without exemplary action against such erring teachers, who have at times have brought shame to the teaching fraternity, the situation is unlikely to improve. The citizens of Rayagada district have expressed grave concern over this issue and requested the intervention of the district collector in this matter.

Mean while Rayagada Collector has instructed PA, ITDA and DWO Rayagada to go to the school and sort out the matter.

PRO INDUSTRIALIZATION RALLY OF DONGARIA KONDHS

( The below two articles and the pictures are the intellectual property of Sri. Ganesh Behera and are published with his permission.)

Dongrias Appeal to the Prime Minister
Monday, August 30, 2010

Bissam Cuttack: Rally by Kurli Bikash Parishad
The Dongria Kondh Tribes inhabiting the remote Niyamgiri Hills which has been hitting the National as well as International headlines; first for the proposed mining lease of the Orissa Mining Corporation and now for the cancellation of the same by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India based on incorrect facts. Attached with this blog is a Photograph of the memorandum signed and faxed by the Dongria Brethren to the Prime Minister of India requesting the cancellation of the decision pronounced by the MoEF, GoI with regards to denying Niyamgiri to be mined being provided to the Tahasildar. This letter justifies the fact that the Tribes are in support of the Corporate Houses’s initiatives for development and growth in the region through industrialization, infrastructural development, health initiatives, sustainable livelihood programmes and education initiatives for the localites. It is also the reflection of the fact that over all these years, it was being misinterpreted by the Civil Society as well as the Political establishment that the Dongria Kondhs had no aspirations for development and continued to lead a life of poverty and disgrace. Amongst the prominent community members handing over a copy of the memorandum to the Tahasildar were Tunia Jekasika, Nabaghana Wadakka, Purna Takiri, Suresh Wadakka, Daddi Hikakka etc.


Monday, September 01, 2010

Muniguda: Rally by Dangaria Bikash Parishad
The Dongria Kondh Tribes of Muniguda site inhabiting the remote Niyamgiri Hills which has been hitting the National as well as International headlines;Now the people came forward on the


Leadership of Saranga Kadraka EX-MLA,Drika kadraka-President of Dangaria Bikash Parishad with the tribal people to oppose the cancellation of the Phase 2 clearance by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India based on incorrect facts. Attached with this blog is a Photograph of the memorandum signed and faxed by the Dongria People to the Prime Minister of India requesting the cancellation of the decision pronounced by the MoEF, GoI with regards to denying Niyamgiri to be mined being provided to the BDO ,Muniguda . This letter justifies the fact that the Tribes are in support of the Corporate Houses’s initiatives for development and growth in the region through industrialization, infrastructural development, health initiatives, sustainable livelihood programmes and education initiatives for the localities. It is also the reflection of the fact that over all these years, it was being misinterpreted by the Civil Society as well as the Political establishment that the Dongria Kondhs had no aspirations for development and continued to lead a life of poverty and disgrace. Amongst the prominent community members handing over a copy of the memorandum to the BDO are Ex MLA-Saranga Kadraka,President-Drika Kadraka,Ranga Kadraka,Dambaru Palkia,Binayak Naik,Raghu Takri,Prakash Jalaka,Uday Goud etc from all the community.

Jetendra Jakaka ,the 1st BCA student of Dongaria community who was moving last time with Rahul Gandhi at Ijurupa said that they need development. They need education,Livelihood,infrastructure . Towards development of his area mines is necessary.At beginning he and people were misguided by the Ngo fellows such as Amnesty Internationals,Survival international,Action aid.He has also gone to Nalco and saw all the development of people .Then he convinced and came forwards to make the area developed.As per him Vedanta Aluminum Ltd is a big company who has also working CSR activities for the tribals in the peripheral.CSR department has taken the Education, Health,Livelihood,infrastructure projects in a very good manner. The company is doing very good work by Mobile Health Unit, Leaf plate making ,Tribal orchard for the tribal’s , Free Computer Literacy center, Drinking water for dongarias, Solar light for villages,Roads ,Community centers, giving study facility for 15 dongaria students.GI sheet for dongarias, various Cultural functions.

NGO REUNITES GIRL WITH HER FAMILY

Laxmi Behera was lost at the Berhampur railway station two years back. She was 8 years old then. She landed at Therubali station in Rayagada and as she was crying, she was noticed by some one and given shelter. It is learnt that, she stayed with two families in these two years. When the activists of the local NGO named 'PREPARE' got to know of it, they embarked on the mission to trace out her family. through the network of NGOs, her family was traced back to Ganjam and the reunion was materialized in front of Collector Rayagada. DSWO, Rayagada Ms. Sanghamitra Kanungo helped in completing the formalities of identification.
countless children are lost every year for some reason or the other, but very rarely does a child is reunited with its a family. Along with being an emotional moment, it was also a moment of pride for all the public spirited individuals and organizations. Collector Rayagada personally met the family of Laxmi and the activists of 'PREPARE' and appreciated their efforts

PILFERAGE OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES FINED

Rayagada police under the able guidance of SP, Rayagada, Sri. Anoop Krishna, IPS, had in the past few months intensified its drive against illegal use of control commodities, after being empowered by the recent Control order amendment enabling Police officers not below the rank of inspector to seize illegally used control commodities. Accordingly 0n 6th August 2010, Rayagada Police in coordination with Civil supplies dept. had seized more than 20 domestic cylinders illegal;y being used for commercial purposes such as in road side dhabas and hotels.Similar raids were conducted din Chandili PS and Gunupur PS areas. One of the biggest catch was that of 140 cylinders seized from Ambadola PS area on 19th September 2010.
Accordingly cases were booked under sec 6A of EC Act and handed over to the court of Collector and District Magistrate Rayagada and trial was initiated. The court of District Magistrate Rayagada pronounced that in the 23 cases in Rayagada town area, the parties from which the domestic LPG cylinders were seized were proved guilty of contravening the provisions of the EC act and they were fined Rs. 10000/- per cylinder and further action under sec 7 of EC act was ordered.
There has been chronic shortage of LPG cylinders in Rayagada district and this efforts of Police and Civil supplies dept. will surely act as a deterrent against the rampant misuse of subsidized commodity meant for the poor and common people.

E-PEST SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME IN RAYAGADA

HOMAGE TO THE FATHER OF THE NATION

photo: courtesy Gouri studios

Sri. Yogendranath Parikh, grand son-in law of Mahatma Gandhi graced the occassion to remember the father of the nation on his anniversary in Rayagada. Sri. Parikh stressed the need to remind the values of non violence and satyagraha to the young generation, particularly in the naxal affected areas such as these. Sri. Parikh also stressed the need for Gandhian organisations to interlocute between extremists and the government.

Sri. Parikh had worked with Acharya Vinoba Bhave in the Bhoodan movement and had played an active role in Orissa for this movement.

Along with Mahatma Gandhi, another great leader, Lalbahadur Shastri, was also remembered on his birth anniversary. Children from various schools of Rayagada, participated in this function.

HON'BLE MoS, SRIKANT JENA VISITS RAYAGADA

HON'BLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR CHEMICAL AND FERTILIZERS, SRIKANT JENA VISITED RAYAGADA DISTRICT IN 30.10.2010. AFTER ALIGHTING BY PLANE IN THERUBALI AIRSTRIP IN RAYAGADA, THE MINISTER PROCEEDED TO KASHIPUR , WHERE HE ASSESSED THE DIARRHEAL DISEASE SITUATION AND THE EFFORTS TO CONTROL IT. HE ALSO REVIEWED THE AVAILABILITY OF FERTILIZERS IN RAYAGADA DISTRICT. THERE HAS BEEN AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF UREA N THIS DISTRICT, BECAUSE OF LABOUR ISSUES IN PARADIP PORT, WHERE THE STOCKED FERTILIZER WAS NOT BEING UNLOADED BECAUSE OF LABOUR DISPUTES. OF LATE SITUATION HAS IMPROVED AND A RACK HAS BEEN DISPATCHED TO RAYAGADA.
HON'BLE MINSTER LEFT RAYAGADA IN THE AFTERNOON.

ALLEGED MOLESTOR TEACHER SUSPENDED

An Asst. teacher of a SC/ST high school in the Bankili village of Kolnora block has been placed under suspension by the Collector Rayagada, pending investigation of the charges of molestation of minor school girl against him.

Government in SC/ST welfare dept has been taking a strong note of such incidents and the strongest possible action will be taken, if the charges are proved in this matter, Collector Rayagada said.

SAMARTHYA SHIBIR ( DISABILITY DETECTION CAMP) TO BE ORGANISED SOON

For the want of an orthopedics specialist in the district, the disability detection camp ( Samarthya shibir) could not be conducted in Rayagada district for last some years. with the joining of an Orthopedic specialist in District HQ hospital, the district administration without wasting anymore time has decided to conduct such camps in the coming month. Survey work has already begun and camps will be conducted immediately after the Durga puja. The district administration wants to ensure that no genuine handicapped persons are left uncovered. Necessary assistance in the form of aids and pensions form government schemes will be immediately extended to such people.