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Mar 09, 2007

CPM leaders too are soft targets of Naxalites

Naxalites determined to create Muktanchal in the bordering areas of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa while targeting the JMM leaders have also made CPM leaders their soft targets.

About 20 CPM leaders and 'influential' cadres living in villages spread across Jharkhand and West Bengal borders have fallen prey to Naxalite bullets since September 2005. In the last assembly polls in West Bengal, the Maoists used all kinds of pressure tactics to prevent the CPM leaders from participating in election campaign, killed some of the CPI leaders and cadres and even prevented CPM voters in their strongholds from casting their ballots.

Prominent CPM leaders killed along Jharkhand-Bengal border since September 2005 include Ravi Kar, Bhola Mahato, Kartik Mahato, Anandmayee Kar, Kamal Mahato, Mahendra Mahato and Ravi Das. The casualties from the JMM side include Sunil Mahto, Dhiren Mahto, Santosh Mahato, Prabhakar Mahato (All JMM leaders and sympathisers), Sahdev Khatri and Devraj Rai, Sunil Mahato's bodyguards. The Maoists have also looted in all six INSA rifles, four from Jharkhand and two from Bengal territory.

The bordering West Bengal districts of Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore and Ghatsila, Dalbhumgarh and Chakulia blocks of Jharkhand are the worst affected areas on the border. The West Bengal government has already acknowledged the 5000 square kilometer area stretching from Raniband in Bandwan to Binpur in West Midnapore districts as 'Red Zone' and declared 70 per cent polling booths in this area has been declared highly sensitive. The Maoists now desperately plan to declare it as Muktanchal (Free Zone), where they literally run a parallel government.

According to Kartik Mahato, resident of Narsinghpur in Jharkhand territory, his relatives in West Bengal often get threat letters from the Maoists to disassociate themselves from the CPM or else face death. "With the killing of Sunil Mahto, the Maoists have also begun targeting the JMM leaders," Kartik said.

Jharkhand police, however, has long been ignoring the gravity of Naxalite menace in the area till March 4 last when the Maoists gunned down Jamshedpur MP, Sunil Mahto. "The terrains on the borders are rough and inaccessible. The Bengal government has constructed several pickets to keep the pressure on the Naxalites. But we do not have any pickets in our territory. Still we have been ensuring minimum damage to our leaders and civilians from Naxalites," said Ghatsila SDPO, Sailendra Burnwal.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1947224,000900030001.htm

Schools flout JET norms in pay-scale

Ranchi, March 8: Jharkhand Education Tribunal (JET) notwithstanding, majority of private schools in the state are exploiting teachers despite charging hefty fees from students.

According to the CBSE norms, an untrained primary school teacher should begin with a gross monthly salary of Rs 6,788, while a trained teacher should get Rs 9,820, let alone secondary and Plus II teachers, who are entitled to much better pay-scales.

Private schools are required to give salary to teachers according to laid down pay scales by the respective state governments, but even reputed private schools in Jharkhand hardly give Rs 5,000 to untrained teachers, while less than 6,500 to trained primary teachers.

Even the prestigious DAV group of schools does not give prescribed DA, while not giving HRA to its teachers at all. Besides, it takes written as well as interview from serving untrained teachers, who get BEd degrees mainly to get prescribed pay scale.

A teacher of DAV group of schools in Ranchi said she is teaching for the past six years, but hardly gets gross salary of Rs 5,500 a month despite having a BEd degree. Untrained teachers get Rs 5,000, while trained get less than Rs 7,500 gross monthly salary, she added.

On condition of anonymity, another teacher said employees, who dare to speak against management, are ruthlessly transferred to rural areas.

An untrained teacher of Bridgeford School said she got Rs 5,000 a month. "Our school gives only 15 per cent DA, but it should be called a decent salary as many of my friends working for other private schools are getting Rs 2000 to Rs 2,500 a month," she said.

Jharkhand regional director of DAV group of schools L.R. Saini claimed their salary structure is slightly different and they give DA according to the financial condition of the particular school.

Saini said only the basic salary is compulsory and it was not binding on schools to give stipulated DA and HRA. He said they do not give HRA to teachers and claimed schools in urban areas give full DA.

Allahabad regional office of CBSE said schools pledge to give prescribed salary at the time of seeking affiliation and they are bound to give full dues. "We will take action, if we get complaints," said an assistant secretary of the council.

A senior HRD official said most of the private schools exploit their teachers since they only claim on paper to be giving prescribed pay scales.

Jharkhand educational tribunal under-secretary Kali Baitha said JET has been formed to ensure that the students, parents or teachers are not exploited, but action can be taken only, if the victims lodge cases.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070309/asp/jamshedpur/story_7493173.asp

Masses frown at power queue

Ranchi, March 8: Consumers continue to wait in long queues to pay their electricity bills despite the Jharkhand State Electricity Board's claims of having simplified the payment process.

Standing on a serpentine queue to pay an electricity bill is a nightmare for many.

Every month, Sandeep Kumar of Lalpur Chowk stands for hours in a queue to deposit electricity bills at a Kokar-based office of Ranchi circle of JSEB.

Same is the problem of R.K. Gupta of Sarjana Chowk on Main Road. Gupta sends his only staff to deposit the monthly power bills.

"It takes at least two to three hours to deposit the bill. My business is suffering due to the delay," he said.

With many banks siding away with the job of power bill collection, the residents are left with no choice but to deposit the bills standing hours in queues.

The Ranchi circle of JSEB, which has been divided into several subdivisions responsible for collection of bills in their respective areas, as of now, caters to the need of about 1.80 lakh consumers realising a monthly collection of about Rs 13.5 crore.

But when it comes to providing facilities to the public, the board miserably fails as consumers are forced to deposit the bills standing in long queues.

Earlier, several banks were roped in to deposit the electricity bills, but later they shied away from the job.

"Now only about eight branches of nationalised and private banks are accepting bills from the residents. But the situation is expected to improve in near future," said Umesh Kumar, JSEB's director (accounts and revenue).

Kumar's optimism is largely due to a recent order of state energy regulatory commission which has categorically said that the banks could charge some additional amount as energy bill collection surcharges from the consumers directly.

"The surcharge amount has not been specified. But it would be levied on the consumer and the electricity board has nothing to do with the amount," said Kumar, adding that they have sent a communiqué to all banks concerned to encourage them to involve in the process of electricity bills collection.

From next time, the consumers could have to pay some extra, if the services are to be availed through the banks, JSEB officials said.

Executive engineer of Ranchi circle A.N. Singh said they normally collect the bills from the consumer starting from the 20th day of any month to the 30th day. "We try to minimise the crowd during bill collection days and divide people into equal groups who deposit the bills at specific date. Despite that, the queues are normal phenomenon as many banks side-stepped from accepting bills from consumer," he said.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070309/asp/jamshedpur/story_7492847.asp

Mittal on prowl for XLRI pupils

- Rs 44.33-lakh offer from pharma giant Novartis for B-school student

ON A NEW HIGH

• Arcelor-Mittal: Recruits 4
• Accenture: 8
• Hewitt: 18
• McKinsey Ltd: 2
• KPMG: 4
• Ernst&Young: 7
• TSMG: 1
• Goldman Sachs: 9
• ICICI Prudential: 10

Jamshedpur, March 7: Highest salary of US$100,000 (Rs 44.33 lakh) per annum, average Rs 12.6 lakh and the lowest being one of the best at Rs 8.6 lakh, and first-time entry of Arcelor-Mittal with four offers, saw another batch of XLRI students entering the corporate corridors this weekend.

Domestic offers, too, reaching a whopping Rs 16 lakh, this year's campus recruitment process (CRP) at XLRI recorded an all time high with students bagging jobs from as many as 10 foreign companies.

The CRP, which got over this weekend, saw a drastic shift from IT and HR to finance and consulting. While 60 students out of a batch of 180 got final offers from the financial firms, about 48 bagged offers from consulting majors.

"This was a trend that started last year," said Fr Casimir Raj, director of XLRI.

With 24 per cent of the offers coming from consulting firms, Hewitt made the highest pitch with 18. Among the 10 foreign firms that knocked the XLRI door, Swiss pharma giant Novartis offered the US$100,000.

Arcelor-Mittal picked up four graduates. The other majors included Adventity, ICRA, Calyon Bank and IDFC Private Equity. "There was a steep rise from last year's three foreign offers to 10 this year, and the trend is likely to accelerate with the XLRI eyeing more of foreign jobs in the days to come," said Uday Damodaran, placement coordinator, XLRI.

ICICI Prudential and Goldman Sachs were some of the financial majors that picked up the highest number of students.

Forty students made it to the FMCGs like Nokia, Colgate Palmolive, Cadbury's, Pepsi and Nestle. About seven went to retail giants like RPG and Reliance Retail. Leading recruiters in the IT sector included IBM, HP, Motorola, HCL and Sasken Communication Technologies. Some of the leading financial companies which came this year included L&T, Rabo Bank, Citi Financial and JPMS. In the banking sector it was HSBC, UTI, Deustche Bank, Standard Chartered and Citibank which made a beeline to the campus.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070308/asp/jamshedpur/story_7487933.asp

Top Bihar leaders react angrily to Raj Thackeray's statement

PATNA: Sinking their political differences, top Bihar leaders on Friday assailed Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray for his alleged anti-Bihari remarks with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar going to the extent of seeking treatment befitting an anti-national element for him.

"I feel Raj Thackeray should be treated on par with the anti-national elements waging a war against India," Kumar said while reacting to the alleged anti-Bihari remarks of Raj, the estranged nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, at an MNS function in Mumbai on Friday on completion of one year of its existence.

"I am going to speak to the Maharashtra Chief Minister seeking action that befits one charged with sedition against Raj Thackeray for his fulmination against the Biharis," Kumar, whose JD(U) heads a coalition ministry with BJP in Bihar said.

Kumar said Biharis had been contributing to creation of wealth across the country by their hard labour and, under the constitution, they were free to work for a living in any state anywhere in India.

"Biharis are not carrots and radishes, who can be broken easily. I dare Raj to throw them out and bear the consequences," Kumar said, but asked the people of Bihar not to get provoked by the MNS leader's statement.

Raj Thackeray, singing tunes similar to Bal Thackeray, had appealed to the Marathi people to introspect why immigration to Mumbai, including by Biharis, had increased.

Referring to an incident in year 2004 at Kalyan near Mumbai, where Shiv Sena workers had assaulted Biharis, Raj Thackeray had said, "I will stand by whatever happened. They cannot live here and abuse Maharashtra. If they misbehave, the will not be spared again."

Raj Thackeray's statement triggered strong reaction from BJP with Bihar's deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi seeking strong action by the Congress-led Maharashtra government against the MNS leader.

"Our government will not tolerate insult to Biharis. Our people have hugely contributed to the development of states they have made their home. Raj has become politically insignificant in Maharashtra and so he wants to disturb peace," Modi said.

Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, too, expressed concern over Raj Thackeray's statement and asked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take up the issue of security of Biharis with his counterpart in Maharashtra.

"It is for the present NDA government to ensure safety and security of Biharis in Mahashtra," she said.

http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1084018

Tata signs Singur land lease deal with Bengal government

Setting in motion the process of setting up its much-touted small car factory at Singur, Tata Motors Friday signed a 90 years' land lease agreement with the West Bengal government.

Tata Motors Vice-President (Finance) R.S. Thakur signed the agreement with West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) Managing Director Debasish Som and West Bengal Commerce and Industry Secretary Sabyasachi Sen. WBIDC had acquired the agricultural land at Singur, in Hooghly district, for Tata Motors triggering a violent protest movement by opposition parties.

'The agreement between Tata Motors, West Bengal Government and West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) for the small car project in Singur has been signed today,' a statement issued by Tata Motors corporate communications head Debasis Ray said here.

'This agreement was signed to lease out about 650 acres (of the total 997 acres of land) for 90 years to Tata Motors for their mother plant. Of this area 14.5 acres would be for a power station and 47 acres for required infrastructure by the WBIDC,' Sabyasachi Sen told reporters after signing the agreement Friday evening.

According to Sen, Rs.5 billion would be spent by the vendors for the project and the land would be divided into two parts - one for the mother plant (about 650 acres) and the other for the ancillary units.

'The total project cost is Rs.15 billion and the cars are likely to be rolled out by March 2008,' said Sen. The small cars aimed at the middle class is to cost Rs.100,000.

The deal with Tata Motors triggered a violent face-off between the government and farmers over land acquisition led by civil society groups and parties like Trinamool Congress.

http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20070309/20428.htm

McDonalds to set up base in Bengal

To invest Rs 400 cr over 3 years.

McDonald's India, one of the leading food service retailers, is looking at setting up a food processing plant in West Bengal as it expands its business in eastern India.

The company has earmarked Rs 400 crore investment over the next 3 years, of which 70 per cent would be in expansion of the brand's presence and introduction of new formats, while 30 per cent of the investment would be in the back-end operations. McDonald's has also set up a regional distribution centre in Kolkata, which would cater to the restaurants in and around the city.

"In eastern India, we are investing Rs 100 crore and aim to set 20 restaurants in the next three years," said Vikram Bakshi, managing director, Connaught Plaza Restaurants Private Limited, one of the two joint venture partners McDonald's has in India. McDonald's would open its first outlet of eastern India in Kolkata on March 9 this year and is planning to have a total of three restaurants in Kolkata by the year-end. The outlet, with 155 seats, would be in place of Blue Fox restaurant, situated on Kolkata's Park Street.

Commenting on the new-look outlet, Bakshi said the wood and leather look of the store reflected global makeover of the food chain. "McDonalds is moving away from the fast-food outlet image and aiming to become a restaurant that was classy and comfortable, and ous stores relfect that", he said.

"Although we entered India in 1996, it took us sometime to decide on Kolkata. This is because we follow the cluster model and we needed to put up a supplier hub in eastern India that could cater to at least 15 restaurants.

Now that we have identified our business model in eastern India, we would expand in and around this region rapidly," said Bakshi. Adopting the cluster approach, the company is identifying key locations within a 500-700km radius of Kolkata for further expansion in the region.

The expansion, besides creating employment opportunities for people in the state would also be generating opportunities for local sourcing of certain agricultural products via commercial farming.

http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?leftnm=1&subLeft=1&chklogin=N&autono=277140&tab=r

Three women raped every day in Orissa last year

Friday March 9 2007
PTI

BHUBANESWAR: Three women were allegedly raped every day last year in Orissa, which has witnessed a rise of over 12 per cent in cases of violence against women, officials said.

The official said nearly three women were raped every day during 2006 while the figure was below two in the previous year, marking a 23 per cent rise in cases of rape.

A total of 985 rapes were registered in police stations across the state in 2006, while the figure for 2005 was 799, they said. While 94.7 per cent cases were detected in 2006, the figure was 92.5 per cent in 2005.

A document circulated at a two-day conference of senior police officers at Cuttack, which concluded on Thursday, said the state recorded at least 7,190 offences against women in 2006, compared to 6,391 such cases in the previous year.

There has also been a rise in other crimes affecting women, including non-dowry domestic violence, dowry-related homicide and suicides. "In fact, there has a been sharp rise in dowry-related suicide incidents in 2006. This has gone up alarmingly by 50 per cent as compared to the previous year," said a senior police official.

While 26 women committed suicide due to dowry-related causes in 2005, the number increased to 39 in 2006. The officer said 531 dowry homicide cases were registered in 2006, up from 458 in 2005

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20070309064430&Page=Q&Title=ORISSA&Topic=0

Tension in Gadchiroli — Maoists call poll boycott

Tension prevails in the tribal district of Gadchiroli, bordering Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, in the wake of "poll boycott call" given by the Naxalites of CPI (Maoist) on the eve of Zilla Parishad elections.

The Maoists have appealed to villagers to respond their call and ensure a total success. They have been making every possible effort to disrupt the elections process.

The ultra leftists on Thursday accosted a Tata Sumo jeep in which NCP workers were travelling and campaigning for the party candidate, Bandopant Mallelwar, the former president of Gadchiroli Zilla Parishad. At gunpoint, the extremists forced the NCP activists to get down from the vehicle at Kondawahi village and set the Sumo afire. They snatched two mobile sets from them. Similarly, the Maoist rebels stopped a vehicle at Karwafa in North Gadchiroli and asked the occupants of the jeep, Congress workers, at gunpoint to get down. They later took the vehicle to dense forests and set afire.

In another incident at Binagunda, just adjacent of Abujhmad of Chhattisgarh, the Naxalites attacked a police camp last evening. However, the security personnel retaliated promptly and a fierce exchange of firing from both the sides continued over two and a half hours. The district police claimed that a Naxalite was killed in the encounter. However, no dead body was found at the site.

The district administration has tightened the security arrangement in Gadchiroli on the eve of Zilla Parishad polls that is slated on March 11.

Moreover, the elected representatives and those on the Naxalite hit list were alerted about possible attacks in the wake of the elections. The then Congress legislator and now a minister, Dharmaba Atram of Gadchiroli was kidnapped by the Naxalites in 90s while the Gadchiroli district Congress president, Balu Kopa Bogami was killed by the left-wing extremists in last ZP polls. The district police has already been provided Z category security to the state minister, Atram, who is from the district while the former legislator, Satyabhan Atram was provided X category security

Asked about the Maoist violence in the district on the eve of ZP polls and the election boycott call given by the CPI (Maoist), Shirish Jain, the superintendent of police (SP), claimed that it would have little impact in the district. "It will only be limited to some interior areas," he further claimed.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1947928,000900040001.htm

Activities of S.T. & S.C. Development Department and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department during the year: Orissa

2004-2005

1. The Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Development Department is the nodal Department of the State Government for the welfare of the ST & SC communities. Article 46 of the Constitution of India casts an obligation on the State to "promote, with special care, the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation" The Department is given the mandate, inter alia, to carry forward the goals enshrined in Article 46 of the Constitution. The welfare of the minorities and Other Backward Classes is also the nodal responsibility of the Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department.

2. The Department has an elaborate field formation with a District Welfare Officer in every district, Assistant District Welfare Officers in the Sub-divisions and Welfare Extension Officer in every Block. There are 21 Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) covering the Scheduled Areas for implementing tribal development programmes. In areas outside the Tribal Sub-plan areas having tribal concentration, 46 MADAs and 14 Clusters have been identified and the programme implementation in these areas is done through Blocks. 17 Micro Projects have been established for focused programme implementation for the development of the Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs). The Orissa Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation implements programmes for the development of Scheduled Castes and dispersed tribal population (DTDP) & minorities. The Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation acts as an apex organization for marketing of minor forest produce and surplus agriculture produce for the benefit of the tribals. The Orissa Backward Class Finance Development Corporation channelises loans targeted for the development of backward classes. The Department also runs a number of residential and non-residential educational institutions and hostels for the benefit of the Scheduled Tribe & Scheduled Caste students. In the SC & ST Research and Training Institute, the Department has an in-house facility for research and training and documentation related to the development of Scheduled Tribes & Scheduled Castes. The Academy of Tribal Dialect and Culture has been working for the promotion of the State's tribal dialects and culture.

3. Most of the on-going activities of the Department are sustained by budgetary support from the non-plan budget of the State Government, which was Rs.106.37 crores during 2004-05 and for 2005-06 it is proposed to be Rs.106.86 crores. The developmental programmes and projects have been implemented during the year with Special Central Assistance for the Tribal Sub-plan received from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Special Central Assistance for the Special Component Plan (SCP) received from the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Grants-in Aid received under Art.275 (1) of the Constitution, funds received under several Central Plan and Centrally Sponsored Scheme from the Ministries of Tribal Affairs and Social Justice & Empowerment, allocations under State Plan including Additional Central Assistance under the RLTAP for KBK districts.

Educational Institutions and Hostels:

4. The Department runs a number of educational institutions exclusively for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students. There are 218 residential High Schools including 55 for girls, 112 Ashram Schools, 37 Kanyashrams, 143 Residential Sevashrams and 1031 Non-Residential Sevashrams. Besides, there are 1548 Primary School Hostels (40-seated) in the TSP areas and 400 hostels for girls (40 seated) in the KBK districts. The Department also maintains 6 Special Adivasi Hostels at Bhubaneswar and one at Rourkela.

Scholarships:

6. Incentive is being given to the ST&SC boys and girls staying in hostels from classes VII to X in shape of pre-matric scholarships. During the year 2004-2005, Rs.13.68 crores has been provided as scholarship out of non-plan and Rs.23.89 crores has been provided out of plan covering 171374 students. During the year 2005-06, Rs.14.53 crores under non-plan and Rs. 19.09 crores under plan has been proposed for this purpose. Similarly to encourage the ST/SC students to take up higher education in the colleges and universities, Government provides post-matric scholarships at different rates for different courses. An amount of Rs. 11.14 crores is being spent towards post matric scholarship out of State budget and this includes the scholarship for 75642 students pursuing different courses. For the year 2005-06, Rs. 779.83 lakhs under non-plan and Rs.333.76 lakhs under plan has been proposed to meet the requirement of post matric scholarship.

Model schools :

7. During the year 2004-2005, an amount of Rs.5.41 crores upto February, 2005 has been spent towards non-recurring expenditure for construction of model school complexes. Two complexes one at Dhanghera, district Mayurbhanj and another at Bhalulata, district Sundargarh have almost reached the stage of completion whereas in another one case at Pungar, district Koraput, the school building has been completed and the school is functioning there. During 2005-06, 3 more model complexes are likely to be completed in all respects. In regard to recurring cost, an expenditure of Rs. 98.80 lakhs has been incurred during 2004-2005. It may be mentioned that during the current year, 90 teachers have been engaged after following rigorous method of selection for imparting education to the Model School students . Every year 60 students per Model School i.e. 30 ST boys and 30 ST girls are being given admission to each Model School by way of conducting entrance test. During 2005-06, an amount of Rs.2 crores has been proposed towards recurring expenditure of these model schools.

Buildings:

8. Buildings of different educational institutions under this Department are being maintained out of different grants available. During the year 2004-05, Rs.29 lakhs have been sanctioned for taking up repairs and maintenance of school buildings out of State plan. There is a provision for 10% grants under Article 275(1) for taking up repairs and renovation of the buildings which are primarily being used for improvement of the educational institutions. In KBK districts, renovation of primary school hostels are taken out of RLTAP funds. Under Article 275(1), grants of Rs.85 lakhs has been sanctioned to take up repairs of Special Adivasi hostels located in Bhubaneswar and Rs.1.00 lakh has been given for taking up repairs of the Special Adivasi hostel at Rourkela out of State plan during 2004-05. During 2005-06, Rs. 1.00 lakh has been proposed out of the State plan for maintenance and repairs of these buildings

Construction of Ashram Schools etc. from EFC grant:

9. Under 11th Finance Commission Award, an action plan for construction of additional rooms for 223 Ashram Schools, Kanyashrams and Sevashrams has been prepared and approved in the State Level Empowered Committee. 175 buildings have been completed upto mid February, 2005. The remaining 48 Buildings are likely to be completed by March, 2005.

IGS and Infrastructure development Schemes by ITDAs with SCA to TSP:

10.1 The Ministry of Tribal Affairs have been providing Special Central Assistance as an additionality to the Tribal Sub-Plan for carrying out programmes to assist tribal households with income generation schemes and for creation of infrastructure in the Tribal Sub-Plan areas to support economic activities. A portion of the SCA is allocated to OSFDC for implementation of Dispersed Tribal Development Programme (DTDP). A part of the SCA is being utilized for supporting the educational infrastructure created specially for the tribal children in TSP areas. Leaving these aside, the SCA funds are passed on to the ITDAs, Micro Projects and the MADA/Cluster Blocks for implementation of Income Generation Scheme (IGS) and Infrastructure Development Schemes (IDS) in the ratio of 70:30.

10.2. During the year 2004-2005, Annual Plan under SCA to TSP was prepared as per the revised guidelines of Government of India. The thrust areas were identified for the ITDAs and schemes prepared accordingly. Implementation was done by following cluster approach.

10.3. During 2004-2005, emphasis has been given on Vocational Trainings to the tribals for their income generation through self-employment. Their trainings are being organized in a professional manner through I.T.Is/Polytechnics. About 714 students have been sponsored to the I.T.Is for training in different trades. Computer training has been designed in consultation with the expert agencies to make it more job oriented and 237 tribal youths are being given these trainings. Irrigation projects have been given due thrust in tribal areas which will change the economic scenario of the tribal areas in future years to come. Technical support is being made available to the ITDAs to take up these projects in a scientific manner so that the investment brings out desired returns in terms of economic upliftment of the tribals. To develop Bee Keeping skills, tribal youth have been exposed to Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT) so that they can learn the skill from the experts in a scientific way. 270 persons have been trained in the OUAT. As a new initiative, 30 tribal youths have been selected through talent search camps who are now undergoing training for six months in 'Soura' paintings in B.K. College of Art & Crafts, Bhubaneswar. Under income generation, agriculture implements depending on the crops grown are being provided to 68 Self Help Groups for their own use and for custom hiring. In all such cases, prior demonstration-cum-training are being organised for the beneficiaries to facilitate their learning about operating the implements and also to understand the economics of operation so that it can generate viable income. In other words, 'professionalism' and 'technical exposure' are two key words which have been given emphasis to ensure that these income generating programmes bring about a change in the economic status of the tribals covered under them. For this, the Department is taking help of the best experts and agencies available and formulating the guidelines and procedures accordingly for proper and scientific implementation of the schemes. Through timely and appropriate interventions, the State Government will continue to provide hand-holding support to the beneficiaries who have so received vocational trainings by way of inclusion of suitable programmes in the Annual Plan for 2005-2006.

For the year 2005-2006, a provision of Rs.58.46 crores has been proposed under SCA to TSP.

Development of PTGs :

11. For development of PTGs, thrust is being given by the State Government on their education, health and providing them lighting facilities in their houses through non-conventional sources of energy under the Central Sector Scheme for PTGs. Incentives are being proposed for the parents/children to improve student enrolment in the schools. Through Academy of Tribal Dialect & Culture ( A.T.D.C.), training in tribal dialects will be organized for the teachers in primary schools located in PTG areas. This initiative aims at improving enrolment of PTG children in schools since the teachers so trained will be in a better position to interact with the children as well as with their parents. Under the central sector scheme of PTGs, a provision of Rs. 8 crores has been proposed during 2005-06. This is in addition to the funds under SCA to TSP which are also provided to the PTGs for their income generation and infrastructure development.

Janashree Bima Yojana:

Under the Central Sector Scheme for development of PTGs, a sum of Rs.12.50 lakh has been provided in favour of 3 Micro Projects to assist 2500 PTG families by extending insurance coverage under "Janashree Bima Yojana" of the L.I.C.

Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India:

12. During the year 2004-05 emphasis has been given on strict monitoring of the project implemented out of grants under Article 275(1). Reviews at regular intervals were conducted to expedite pace of execution of the projects. Besides, attempts were made to upgrade the skill of the engineering staff of the ITDAs. A group of 30 engineers were sent to NRM Sadguru Foundation, Dahod, Gujrat to acquaint themselves with the low cost techniques of water conservation and irrigation projects. Similarly, assistance of minor irrigation division was made available to the ITDAs for improvement of the designs and structures of irrigation projects. An expenditure of Rs. 17.67 crores has been incurred during 2004-05 up to 31st January, 2005 out of grants under Article 275(1) excluding expenditure on construction of model schools. During 2005-06, a budget provision of Rs.28.27 crores has been proposed including provision for Model schools.

Implementation of Income Generating Scheme by O.S.F.D.C.:

13.1 Th e Orissa Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Development Finance Corporation (OSFDC) has been subsidizing bank linked Income Generating Scheme (IGS) for SC families with Special Central Assistance (SCA) for Special Component Plan (SCP) received from Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. Besides this, Community Land Based Schemes for groups of S.C. beneficiaries are implemented with 100% subsidy given from the S.C.A. The OSFDC also receives funds out of SCA to the TSP under the Dispersed Tribal Development Programme (DTDP) from which similar bank linked income generating schemes and community land based schemes are provided for the dispersed tribal population. The OSFDC also implements the Central sector National Scheme for Liberation & Rehabilitation of Scavengers (NSLRS).

13.2. During the year 2004-05, SCA for SCP has been received from Govt. of India to the tune of Rs.345.70 lakhs. Rs. 338.20 lakhs has been released to the OSFDC. Upto December 2005, the Corporation has assisted 1314 SC beneficiaries with bank linked income generating scheme and 156 ST beneficiaries for IGS schemes under the DTDP programme. Under NSLRS, the Corporation has assisted 113 families for undertaking income-generating activities.

High Unit Cost loan schemes implemented by OSFDC:

14.1. The OSFDC has been financing SCs, STs, Safai Karmacharis to take up small enterprises by extending soft loans refinanced by the National Finance Development Corporations for SCs, STs and Safai Karmachari respectively. By December 2005, the Corporation has extended loans amounting to Rs. 6.97 lakhs and subsidy of 0.80 lakhs to 13 Safai Karmacharies.

Minority Loan Scheme :

14.2. The Orissa Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Finance Cooperative Corporation Limited is implementing various economic development schemes for upliftment of poor people belonging to minority communities. During the year 2004-05, 32 beneficiaries have been given loan assistance to the tune of Rs. 30.12 lakhs

High Unit Cost Loan Scheme financed by Orissa BackwardClasses Finance Development Corporation:

15. The O.B.C.F.D.C. has been channelising credit extended by the National Backward Classes Finance Development Corporation for providing loans to O.B.C. beneficiaries for taking up high unit cost income generating activities and enterprises. During the year 2004-05, a sum of Rs. 107.77 lakhs was provided in the budget. 59 persons of OBC category are being given loan assistance to the tune of Rs. 40.39 lakh.

Special programmes under RLTAP for KBK districts:

16. During the year 2004-2005, the scheme "Skill Upgradation of ST/SC youths through Vocational Training" was implemented for the first time. 458 youths have been sent to the I.T.Is/Polytechnics for vocational training in different trades like plumber, Mechanic, Auto electricals and electronics, repair of, electrical & electronic appliances, Driver-cum-mechanic (LMV) & (HMV), Dress making, House wiring, Masonry etc. Construction of rural market complexes was taken up and improvement of primary school hostels was made under the scheme of development of educational infrastructure. Spill over amount under interior area connectivity programme was utilized to complete 32 projects. To promote female literacy in KBK districts, an amount of Rs.5.20 crores has been utilized. During 2004-2005, an amount of Rs.1193.15 lakhs has been spent on these activities upto mid February, 2005 including spill over amount. During 2005-06, an amount of Rs.9 crore has been proposed.

Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe Research & Training Institute (SCSTRTI):

17. The Institute, during the year 2004-05 has completed the following publications viz. (i) Reprint of "Tribes of Orissa" (ii) "Adivasi" Journals Vol - 42 and 43 for 2002-03 (iii) "Adivasi" Journal Vol - 44 (iv) Collection and sale of Minor Forest Produce- A Socio Structural Economic Analysis. The Institute has also conducted the following training programmes viz. (1) Capsule Training Programme for Village Working Committee Members of Grain Banks. (2) PESA Act, Tribal Empowerment and their development. (3) Human Development in Tribal areas and Role of Women (4) Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and development of Displaced Tribals. It has prepared caste status studies of 13 castes and the Review Profile of 7 I.T.D.A.s.

Tribal Development Co-Operative Corporation Ltd. (TDCC):

18. During the year 2004-2005, a grant of Rs.30 lakhs has been channalised through TDCC for Tassar & Silk Cooperative Federation (SERIFED) for the purpose of procurement, processing & marketing of tassar cocoons through their primary cooperatives. During 2004-2005, TDCC has transacted business of Rs. 59.15 lakhs with minor forest produce and agricultural produce. Managerial subsidy of Rs.15 lakhs is being provided to TDCC in addition to Rs.50 lakhs as assistance for trade in minor forest produce operation. For the year 2005-06, a provision of Rs. 15 lakhs has been kept towards managerial subsidy to TDCC.

Academy of Tribal Dialects & Culture (ATDC):

19. The Academy of Tribal Dialects and Culture established by the S.T. & S.C. Development Department has been functioning since 1979 with the objective of preservation, promotion and promulgation of tribal language and culture of Orissa. During the year the Academy published its Annual Souvenir 'BANAJA-05' as special volume on Tribal Dance and Music and felicitated 10 tribal talents during the Annual Adivasi Exhibition 2005. It also organized tribal cultural programmes during the Exhibition. The Academy played a vital part in selection of Soura youths for imparting training in Soura paintings. Various forms of Soura paintings as a live demonstration were displayed during the Annual Adivasi Exhibition 2005 for which a Soura Art Gallery was made. It has also undertaken ethnographic study of little known tribals of the State. The Academy has published the translated version of Orissa Regulation 2 of 1956 in 14 different tribal languages for distribution.

Externally Aided Projects (EAP):

Orissa Tribal Empowerment & Livelihoods Programme (OTELP):

20. Orissa Tribal Empowerment & Livelihoods Programme (OTELP) has been launched on 2 nd October, 2004. It has an outlay of Rs.430 crores and is a DFID-IFAD-WFP assisted project. The programme aims at empowerment of tribals, providing them livelihood support and food security through watershed mode approach. In the first phase, ten blocks in 4 districts namely Koraput, Kandhamal, Kalahandi & Gajapati are being covered. The programme is being implemented through NGOs who have already been given the schedule of activities to be completed within a particular time frame. At present base line survey in the villages is going on through participatory approach.

During the year 2004-05, an amount of Rs. 83 lakhs has been spent upto end of January, 2005.

Other Activities:

21.1. For the first time, 18 O.W.S. Class-II officers have been recruited directly through Orissa Public Service Commission. They have been given one month institutional training at Bhubaneswar and now they are undergoing 8 weeks training in the field.

21.2. Annual Adivasi Exhibition was held from 26th January, 2005 to 1st. February, 2005 at the State headquarters. An amount of Rs. 4.00 lakhs has been spent and for the year 2005-06, a provision of Rs. 4.00 lakhs has been proposed.

21.3. The success story of this year's Annual Exhibition is that the trainees who are undergoing training in the B.K. College of Art & Crafts, Bhubaneswar could sell their paintings worth Rs.13,000/-.

21.4. The meeting of the Tribes Advisory Council was held on 10th September, 2004 to discuss various important matters relating to tribal welfare.

http://orissagov.nic.in/stsc/ActivitiesReport2004-05.htm

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