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Feb 22, 2007

Jharkhand MLA appears for exams with son

RANCH: JMM legislator Sukhram Oraon, who dropped out of school over 20 years ago, has appeared for the matriculation examinations along with his son.

The father and son sat for the test on Wednesday, albeit in separate centres in West Singhbhum's Chaibasa, an hour's drive from Jamshedpur.

"I prepared for the examinations by reading the notes of Sunny, who is also appearing for the exams. He helped me a lot in my preparations before the exams," Oraon, who dropped out of in 1984, told reporters in Chaibasa after sitting for the first paper on Wednesday.

What prompted him to appear for the test at the age of over 40?

"I realised the importance of education only after becoming a legislator. Being a non-matriculate, I used to feel bad to give away prizes to toppers in matriculation every year," he said.

Now Oraon is optimistic that other non-matriculate politicians will be inspired by his example, and not let their age come in the way of furthering their educational skills.

Lack of education, he said, leaves one vulnerable as education and development are synonymous.

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1081439

Married women, children most anaemic in India

New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) Public health in India has immensely deteriorated over the last seven years and married women and children are the worst victims, top Unicef officials said Wednesday.

According to the National Family Health Survey-III, (NFHS-3), over 56.2 percent married women in the age group between 15 and 49 were anaemic in 2006 as against 51.8 percent in 1999.

Anaemia is a deficiency of red blood cells, which can lead to a lack of oxygen-carrying ability, causing unusual tiredness, complications in pregnancy, and many other health-related problems.

Among the states, Assam is the worst affected, with 72 percent of its married women suffering from anaemia, followed by Haryana (69.7 percent) and Jharkhand (68.4 percent).

Unicef published the NFHS-3 report jointly with the United Nations Population Fund, Britain's Department of International Development (DFID) and Avahan, an initiative of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Similarly, the report says that 79.1 percent children between the ages of three to six years in the country in 2006 were anaemic as against 74.2 percent in 1998-99.

"There is more than one reason for this development. Low social status of women, poor food quality, high cost of healthcare facilities and even some genetic problems are responsible for the problem," said Werner Schultink, chief of child health and nutrition, Unicef India.

"Prevalence of malaria in states like Assam is also responsible for this development," he added.

Talking about the condition of children, M. Babille, who heads the health division of Unicef India, said that the situation had really worsened in 16 Indian states over the last seven years.

Among the states worst hit by the blood shortage syndrome, Andhra Pradesh has 79 percent children suffering from anaemia, Rajasthan 79.8 percent and Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh over 82 percent.

As many as 63.2 percent children in the three to six year age bracket and 43.4 percent women between the 15 and 49 years age group are anaemic in Delhi.

Portraying a negative image of India's growth trajectory in the health sector, Babille said 33 percent women in the 15 to 49 years age group are underweight.

Among the states, 43 percent women in Bihar are underweight followed by Jharkhand (42.6 percent) and Chhattisgarh (41 percent). "Nearly 40 percent of children below the age of three in Maharashtra are underweight too," said the expert.

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=39554

JHARKHAND ANNUAL PLAN 2007-08 FINALIZED

The Annual Plan for Jharkhand for the year 2007-08 was finalized at a meeting, here today, between the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia and the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Shri Madhu Koda. Plan size for the current year was agreed at Rs.6676 crores.

Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Shri Ahluwalia said the State needs more focused attention on human development. Faster growth rate was desirable as State has low per capita income and large number of population was still below poverty line. Local body elections need to be organized at the earliest so that grants meant for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) could be utilized.

The State was also advised to announce its own Relief & Rehabilitation Policy as it would benefit in gaining investor's confidence. The State has to keep in mind environmental constraints while inviting private investments. Strengthening of planning set up, mission on watershed development and identification of flagship schemes for focused attention was recommended.

The Planning Commission offered full support in realization of State's Plan to integrate forestry and village development. Performance in AIBP was appreciated. Scope for tourism & industrial development needs to be optimally tapped.

The Chief Minister briefed the Commission on Tenth Plan performance and targets for the Eleventh Plan. He said the focus was on weaker section of society. Two lakh beneficiaries were included in social security and 108 residential schools for SC & ST were set up. Minor irrigation was on priority. 74339 hectares of irrigation capacity were created and 43956 hectares of lost potentials restored. 5824 primary schools were up-graded to upper primary level.

He said during the Eleventh Plan the State would pursue a growth target of 9.8 per cent. This would include agriculture growth rate of 6.3 per cent, industry 12 per cent and services 8 per cent. Thrust areas for the Plan would be agriculture, minor irrigation, energy, roads, education, and health and skill development. Infrastructure development through PPP would get priority.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=24965

Cabinet to open up coal mine auction

New Delhi, Feb. 21: The Union cabinet is likely to allow steel mills and power plants to participate in the auction of coal mines. It is also expected to clear a new mineral policy, which may set norms for foreign direct investment (FDI) in minerals.

Coal bearing land is now allocated to steel mills and power plants by the Centre, but the transparency in such allocations is often questioned. The note, which is being piloted by the coal ministry, says competitive bidding will be based on technical, physical as well as financial parameters.

Part of the money from the auction will be earmarked for rehabilitation and community development projects in the coal bearing areas, which are mostly on tribal land.

This has been done because of the spate of tribal unrest seen in Jharkhand and Orissa over land acquisition.

To help in "informed decision making", no block will be allocated "unless it is explored in detail and an assessment of quality and quantity of extractable coal reserves made". The cost of this exploration will be recovered from the successful bidder.

Under the new bidding system, penalties will be slapped for not developing the coal mines. The competition among bidders will be in terms of production sharing. This means that those who offer the highest production share to the state will get the mine.

Successful bidders will have to give a bank guarantee equal to three years of the production share. If the mine is not developed in time, these guarantees would be encashed and the leases cancelled.

The note also moots the idea that part of the money generated from the competitive bidding will be placed in a special fund used to help develop the forest and tribal areas where these coal blocks are located.

Economic strategists in the finance ministry and Planning Commission, who are behind the move, say they are pressing for these reforms as they fear a huge demand-supply gap in the coal sector could put paid to the country's overall energy plans.

At present, about 60 per cent of the country's total energy requirement is met by coal. Coal-based power generation accounts for around 70 per cent of the total power generation in India. The coal demand in the country is expected to increase several times within the next few years because of burgeoning demand from power, steel and cement sectors.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070222/asp/business/story_7425352.asp

Kingsize produce draws crowds to Jharkhand agri fair

Ranchi, Feb 21 (IANS) A 17 kg hen, a 30 kg pumpkin and an 11 kg cabbage are the star attractions at the ongoing Agritech Fair 2007 here.

In the three-day fair that began Monday, farmers flaunted their kingsize agricultural products, especially vegetables. But the main crowd puller is a 17 kg hen.

'The hen is making me feel proud. Everyone visiting the fair praises my hen and ask me the secret behind her good health,' said Akash Kumar, the proud owner of the hen.

Asked what he fed his hen, Kumar said: 'Initially I was giving her a normal diet but now she consumes what three hens take in a day.'

Ram Jatan, a farmer, has come here to exhibit his 11 kg cabbage. Awadesh Kumar, another farmer, has come with a 30 kg pumpkin.

There are many other large-sized agricultural products that are attracting curious onlookers. Among them are also a potato weighing two kg and an eight kg cauliflower.

However, experts participating in the fair have expressed concern over foodgrain production in the state. Jharkhand has a requirement of 4.6 million tonnes of foodgrains but produces only 2.2 million tonnes, less than half the consumption.

'Jharkhand farmers should promote organic farming. Due to geographical reasons, only 10 percent of the state is irrigated through the canal system. Farmers should also form self-help groups and also avail benefits of government schemes,' said Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Nalin Soren, who inaugurated the fair.

Jharkhand produces a large amount of green vegetables as well. According to informed sources, the central government has consented to setting up an agri export zone in the state.

Under this zone, Jharkhand will export peas and French beans. Ten blocks of three districts have been selected to supply these two produces to the export zone from where they will be exported to foreign countries.

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/116841.php/Kingsize-produce-draws-crowds-to-
Jharkhand-agri-fair

Chiria mines feud may see out-of-court settlement

An end to the logjam on Chiria mines might be in sight. A joint determination of the real estate requirements of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) in Chiria mines will be done by the Jharkhand government and the Union steel ministry.

The Chiria mines have been a bone of contention between SAIL and private steel producers, including Mittal Steel, the world's largest steel producer, for a while.

These companies had said the iron ore deposits were much more than SAIL required and should, therefore, be parcelled out among other steel companies. SAIL has countered this by saying that it plans to raise steel capacity in Jharkhand and needs deposits to feed it.

Fed up at the impasse over Chiria mines, the Prime Minister's Office convened a meeting of officers from the state government and the Union steel and mines ministry on February 19.

Though more meetings are to be held, the PMO has asked the parties involved to work towards an out-of-court settlement on a matter that is under litigation.

While the requirements of SAIL are important, the PMO is conscious of the need of the state government to find the requisite private sector players to develop the mines. The state government's condition is that value addition must be done in the state.

The meeting was attended by Union steel and mines secretaries and the state government's chief secretary and secretaries of steel and mines in the state.

http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.
php?leftnm=3&subLeft=1&chklogin=N&autono=275489&tab=r

Bihar villages forgotten in eco boom

Patna: Travel to rural Bihar and Jharkhand, and you can't miss one of these. No, It's not merely a rural gathering, but a 10-day long cattle fair right on the Jharkhand-Bihar highway.

A school premise is the venue for the event and people from over 40 villages have travelled for for almost two days to camp here.

They say they have come to the fair from far off villages to buy and sell things. They also add that they have progresses as a community with things like better roads and access to telephones.

In sharp contrast to this fair of cattle traders is rural tribal Bihar and sadly one does not need to look too far from the highway to see villages which have never seen power, drinking water facilities or healthcare.

What's worse is that the villagers in such villages have no jobs to speak of. They don't have basic amenities like organised colonies and hand pumps for water. They say that no one asks them what they need and that the Government or any authority has never come forward to help them or their children.

Little wonder then that many from rural Bihar escape to cities and towns in neighbouring states to find ways to sustain themselves.

A large part of rural Bihar is still waiting for better infrastructure facilities, more employment opportunities, and for the big Indian economic boom to reach it.

And until that boom touches their lives starvation and poverty will rule to ensure their plight worsens.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/bihar-villages-forgotten-in-eco-boom/34128-7.html

Centre clears Salim Group's FDI for West Bengal

New Delhi, Feb. 22 (PTI): The Centre today cleared a 500 million dollar (Rs 2,250 crore) worth Foreign Direct Investment proposal from Indonesia-based Salim and Ciputra groups for developing infrastructure projects, including SEZs in West Bengal.

The proposal of the Salim and Ciputra groups-promoted New Kolkata International Development Private Limited (NKID) was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

"The CCEA has approved the broad proposal since it involved FDI inflows exceeding Rs 600 crores. The exact nature of investment would depend on the agreement between the investors and the state government," Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after the CCEA meeting.

The project, approved on the recommendations of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board, would have an Indian equity partner as well, Chidambaram said. The Salim group would have 40 per cent stake in the joint venture company.

NKID has entered into an agreement with the West Bengal government and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation Ltd for developing infrastructure projects comprising townships, housing, special economic zones and industrial parks among others.

The approval would be subject to certain guidelines governing FDI, the Finance Minister said.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200702221552.htm

Popular mood in West Bengal is pro-industry: CPM

KOLKATA: The CPM on Tuesday claimed the party was receiving positive response from the people of West Bengal with regard to the government's drive to industrialise the state.

At the same time, the party has also decided to launch a state-wide campaign in favour of the government's industrialisation drive. It has also urged its rank and file to highlight development activities being carried out by the state government.

The two-day state committee meeting of the party which concluded on Tuesday, asked all civic bodies and panchayats run by it to complete pending civic work on time and carry out such jobs more effectively.

CPM state secretary Biman Bose has submitted a report on the progress of the party's campaign in support of the state government's industrialisation drive. The CPM state leadership has also asked party organisations not to disturb lakhs of Madhyamik examines while running the pro-industry campaign.

The two-day meeting of the party has also criticised the Congress-led UPA government over its failure to check price hike of essential commodities. The CPM will hold a nationwide protest day on February 27 to highlight the Centre's failure to check such price rise.

Meanwhile, Citu's all-India general secretary and CPM MP Chittabrata Majumdar has passed away at a Kolkata nursing home on Tuesday. He was 71 and is survived by his wife and daughter. He had also served as West Bengal cottage and small scale industry minister during the first Left Front government in 1977.

Mr Majumdar became the state committee member of the party in 1982, state secretariat member in 1986, central committee member in 1995 and got a berth in the CPM politburo in 2005.

According to agency reports, violence continued to rage at Nandigram as CPM and Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee clashed with each other early in the day. Bombs were hurled and gun shots fired at around 2 am, CPI MLA Ilias Mohammad said. However, there was no report of any casualty or injury.

The police, which have kept away from the troubled block of East Midnapore district since early January when six persons were killed in violence, made no attempt to enter the area, Ilias said. The police initially sought to set up camps

Repair of roads dug up to prevent the entry of outsiders and the police to villages, which was to have begun on Tuesday also did not take off, he said. The Monday all-party peace meeting had resolved that the police would enter Nandigram and set up camps where necessary, and roads would be repaired.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Popular_mood_in_West
_Bengal_is_pro-industry_CPM/articleshow/1647408.cms

Land first, plant later, says Posco

KOLKATA: In a move that threatens one of the biggest foreign direct investments (FDI) in the country, Posco India has decided not to draw up a definitive schedule for its $12 billion investment on a greenfield steel plant at Paradip, Orissa.

The South Korean steel major says only if it gets possession of at least 3,000 acres of the 4,000 acres sought by for putting up a 12 million tonne steel project, can it put a schedule. Construction work was scheduled to start from April 2007, but this is unlikely to be taken up as Posco is not in possession of any land.

Posco had signed an agreement with the state government in 2005 for setting up a steel unit, the country's first FDI in the steel sector. But till date no land is in possession of the company. Of the 4,000 acres required, Posco has already paid for 1,135 acres but have not been able to take possession in face of resistance from locals. The Orissa government has set up a 11-member committee to facilitate the Posco project, but land acquisition has come unstuck in face of sharp differences between political parties on a framing a comprehensive rehabilitation policy, a draft of which is still pending before the state Assembly.

Official spokesperson of Posco India said resistance to taking possession of land was largely because of lack of communication between the government and local population and benefits of the project had not been decimated effectively.

Posco officials said that following a meeting with the Orissa chief secretary on Tuesday, it had been decided that in future the government would work in conjunction with the steel major in every aspect of land acquisition, particularly in communicating rehabilitation programmes, compensations entitlements and project benefits that would accrue to the local population.

Sources said that with Orissa panchayat elections coming to an end on Wednesday, the state government would be better placed politically to check resistance in handing over the 1,135 acres of land, for which payment has been made by Posco.

But when contacted, officials in Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa Ltd (IPICOL), the nodal facilitator for industrial investment said, "political parties are encouraging encroachers at the project site who are resisting land acquisition. All the roadblocks are creations of opposition political parties and hence the delay in project implementation.

State government officials said on condition of anonymity that delays in land acquisition for Posco could derail other proposed investments in the steel sector in the state.

"Investors are attracted to Orissa by vast iron ore deposits and other conditions favourable for low cost production of steel. The 7% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) in domestic steel consumption is another factor in attracting FDI in steel. But all these can be negated by inordinate delays in land acquisition, since most investors have back up plans," officials said.

Mittal Steel too has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Orissa government for a 10-million-tonne plant entailing an investment of Rs 20,000 crore. The company has been offered a choice of locations, but stumbling blocks over land acquisition for the project too are apprehended by government officials.

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1081354

Tribal tunes in Orissa vanishing fast

Baripada: It may not be long before the ethnic musical instruments such as Changu, Kendera and Sukwa become extinct in the interior parts of Orissa. The implementation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, has put a stop to the manufacturing of these musical instruments made from the skins and other organs of animals and much in vogue among the various tribes.
Gurva Soren, general secretary of Mayurbhanj-based Society for Research and Development of Tribal Culture, said Santhals and other tribes are finding it difficult to have their instruments replaced ever since the Act was enforced.

Changu, for instance, is used by primitive tribes like Bathdi, Juanga and Khadias and made from the hides of monkey and deer, he said.

Since both of these endangered species are covered by the graded schedule of the Act, the manufacturer of these instruments is well nigh impossible, Soren stressed.

The Khadias, who live in dense forests, believe that tigers could be kept at bay by playing the Changu at night to the accompaniment of their traditional instrument, he pointed out. Once Changu vanishes, the tribe's cultural ethos would also disappear, rued Soren.

Then there are Kendera and Sukwa or bugle, both made from the skins of endangered species. While the first one is made from the oval-shaped hard shell of the freshwater turtle, the other is manufactured from the horns of the Indian bison or gaur. Once the bugle is blown, the sound travels for miles to fetch all members of the community either to a social do or for a hunting expedition, he indicated.

Animal hides were also used to make Dhumsas or kettle drums, Soren disclosed. Another instrument Khanjani, used mainly by the Vaishnabs and made from the hide of the Great Bengal Monitor Lizard, also comes under the graded schedule being a seriously threatened species. All these soft musical tunings will be lost when the hides of the animals are replaced with the skins of goats or cows.

Besides, the instruments would lose the sanctity and cannot be used to perform Jahira Puja, Soren added. He suggested that the sounds of these traditional tribal instruments be documented and a research on possible replacement with the hides of other unprotected animals but of course without losing the original charm.

Sonali Murmu, a tribal activist, also expressed apprehensions about the vanishing instruments made from animal hides.

http://www.kalingatimes.com/orissa_entertainment/news/20070222_Tribal_tunes_in_
Orissa_vanishing_fast.htm

Essar Steel not allowed trading in iron ore

Raipur, Feb 20 Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh Tuesday stated that Essar Steel, which has signed an agreement with the state government for setting up a steel plant, would not be allowed to use iron ore from the Bailadila mines for trading purposes.

'Essar Steel, which has a Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) with the state government for setting up a 3.2 million-tonne per annum plant in the Bastar region, can use the Bailadila iron ore only for capital use and not trading,' Singh told the state assembly during question hour.

'Following the recommendations of the Chhattisgarh government, the central government has permitted Essar to conduct prospecting work in Deposit-3 in Bailadila hills. And since the area is forested we are sending a proposal to the central government for forest clearance,' Singh said.

He said the firm had been given prospecting license for a 2,285-hectare stretch in Bailadila, which has the best quality ore.

Essar Steel signed an MoU with Chhattisgarh in July 2005 to pump in Rs.70 billion for setting up a greenfield integrated steel plant in two phases in Dantewada, one of the worst Maoist-hit districts.

The chief minister rejected the opposition Congress allegation that the government had bent rules to favour Essar. 'As many as 36 parties applied for mining lease of Bailadila deposit no-3. Of them, 35 were rejected as they do not have plans to set up units in the Bastar region or had sought direct mining lease instead of prospecting license,' Singh said.

'Essar Steel has to fulfil all conditions laid down by the government. The mining lease will not be granted to the company if it fails to set up its plant within the scheduled deadline,' he said.

On the excavation being done there by public sector National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) for export, Singh said: 'NMDC is annually excavating iron ore from Bailadila worth Rs.40 billion. The export of rare natural resources must be stopped, it's a national crime.'

Bailadila has huge quality iron ore stocks that have been divided into 14 sections. NMDC has been excavating mines in three sections, while Tata Steel, which is also setting up a steel plant in Bastar, will get raw material from Bailadila.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/32455.html

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