State changed, not their plight - The Hindu

State changed, not their plight - The Hindu

State changed, not their plight

BVS BHASKAR

Sloppy healthcare, inadequate job opportunities, high dropout rate continue to plague tribal people of four merged mandals

The plight of tribal people living in the four mandals from Khammam district which were merged with East Godavari post-bifurcation remains unaddressed and for this, they are blaming not the bureaucrats of both the States, but the monitoring system which has failed in solving their grievances.

The adverse socio-economic indicators in these mandals have shown no upward trend.

As many as 13 pregnant women have died in these mandals in the last six months and the reason is being attributed to malnutrition, negligence of medical and neonatal care. “No ANM or MPHS is visiting the villages and providing medicines to pregnant women. No lady doctor is available in any of the PHCs in the four mandals,” alleged Nagamani, project coordinator of the Agriculture and Social Development Society (ASDS), a non-government organisation which is working for the welfare of tribal people here.

Another cause of concern is prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women and the drastic fall in the blood haemoglobin content.

According to Payam Jyothi, sarpanch of Abhicharla panchayat in Koonavaram mandal, lack of supervision by the ICDS officials and other monitoring staff is one of the reasons for the deaths of pregnant women.

Mr. V. Gandhibabu, Director of Agriculture and Social Development Society (ASDS) of Rekhapalli village in V.R. Puram mandal said that the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) was also in doldrums as 16,000 beneficiaries had been sitting idle for the last six months after the mandals were merged with Rampachodavaram division. They have to complete 100 more days work before March 31.

With the Assistant Project Director posts falling vacant, the budget is yet to be prepared, which needed to be approved before March 31. Further, minimum wage difference arrears of Rs.1.5 crore are yet to be paid to around 4,000 beneficiaries who have worked in the last season.

The mandals have also cut a sorry figure on education front. The mandals have 2,000 dropouts and 16 schools are yet to be opened. The students have not got their original SSC, PG certificates as the files need to be transferred to East Godavari from Khammam.

“The students are not getting scholarships too,” said Mr. Gandhibabu.

‘ANUR will be first Smart University in the State’ - The Hindu

‘ANUR will be first Smart University in the State’

B.V.S. BHASKAR

Add cThe model of the main entrance gate of Adikavi Nannaya University designed by Therli Associates of Kakinada. —Photo: S. Rambabuaption

Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of Adikavi Nannaya University (ANUR) Prof. George Victor and Prof. E.N. Dhanunjaya Rao respectively expressed hope that their university will be the first Smart University in the State in a year or so.

The Vice-Chancellor said that Smart University concept includes well-equipped buildings including administrative block, well designed campus with connective roads and VC’s guesthouse.

He said the ANUR Smart University would comprise technology enhanced classrooms that foster opportunities for teaching and learning by integrating learning technology, such as computers, specialised software, audience response technology, assistive listening devices, networking and audio and visual capabilities. These classrooms are available for faculty in the first phase and the facility would later be extended to research scholars.

Prof. Victor said that the university saw significant changes during his tenure with the construction of own buildings in the place of rented premises from where classrooms and administration was operating.

“I handed over 96 acres of land at this place (Velugubanda village in Rajanagaram mandal, adjacent to NH) and handed over most of the buildings to the Central Public Works Department for construction,” Prof. Victor recalled. Nannaya University campus would reflect important historical monuments including Gate way of India, Mumbai, India Gate, New Delhi, Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, etc.

He said that he had been striving to bring up green eco-friendly campus. He briefed that the construction work of Central Administrative block, women hostel and men hostel is almost completed. To ensure the green campus two lakes were being dug to harvest rainwater.

After shifting of campus to Velugubanda, the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar concentrated on Academics. The five-year courses introduced in the beginning were not recognised by the UGC and no student got any jobs in the market in the first batch. “We started reforming the courses which were inconsistent to under graduate courses taught in Andhra University. We changed the syllabus according to the employability needs”, said Prof. Dhanunjaya Rao.

The pass percentage in UG Colleges affiliated to ANUR has increased from 27 to 39 per cent and Post Graduate courses from 55-60 to 80-90 per cent. A new B.Ed., College also started in ANUR Campus. It is conducting examinations to 75,000 UG students every year.

Works at AKNU’s new campus at a brisk pace - The Hindu

Works at AKNU’s new campus at a brisk pace

B.V.S. BHASKAR

The 96-acre campus of the Adikavi Nannaya University at Velugubanda village in East Godavari district is all set to become one of the knowledge centres of Andhra Pradesh.

The university, which started functioning from a rented building in 2006, has seen many teething troubles, especially the ones during land acquisitions for more than four years. It has been shifted to its own campus in the vicinity of Velugubanda village, adjacent to the National Highway in Rajanagaram mandal.

In the first phase of construction, development of basic infrastructure including roads, electricity and drinking water supply has been completed in a little over two and half years.. “We are going to build the campus on the lines of Benaras Hindu University and Andhra University. It is not just about infrastructure, we are sparing no effort to make it a knowledge centre,” Prof. George Victor, Vice-Chancellor of the university said. The construction of the Academic Block with two floors has been completed and the third floor is under construction. The other structures that have already been built include an International guest house with 18 rooms (36 more are under construction), a boys hostel with 36 rooms and works for another 12 rooms in the second stage has commenced. “In all, the works are estimated to cost around Rs.22 crore and the Central Public Works Department is executing the project,” said the Vice-Chancellor. After clearing the forest, the road-laying works were undertaken and seven cross roads and three main roads have already been laid, with hundreds of trees being planted on either side of it. Further works pertaining to metal roads, drainage, pavements, surface water storage tank, rain water harvesting structures have been undertaken. According to university Registrar Dhanunjaya Rao, they have entrusted the works pertaining to architecture, designs and estimates to a private consultancy.

KG basin’s offshore block can change the face of economy: ONGC - The Hindu

KG basin’s offshore block can change the face of economy: ONGC

B.V.S. BHASKAR

The oil major ONGC is planning to develop DWN-98/2 offshore block in Krishna-Godavari Basin on fast-track which start production by 2018-19.

“The offshore block 98/2 is in KG Basin, but the landfall would be near Odalarevu village, about 20 km from Amalapuram town. Natural gas reserves in the block are likely to be abundant and will fulfil the requirements of not only Andhra Pradesh, but also the country,” said Debashis Sanyal, Executive Director and Asset Manager of Rajahmundry Asset of ONGC.

In an exclusive interview, Mr. Sanyal recalled that ONGC Chairman and Managing Director D.K. Sarraf in his recent address at an energy convention meet has announced that projects worth Rs. 22,500 crore had been approved in the last six months including DWN 98/2 block in KG Basin. Once the project is through, there would be huge volume of financial output from the offshore block for the ONGC. “It will change the face of India and also Andhra Pradesh in terms of economy,” Mr. Debashis said adding the State would be the first beneficiary once production commenced. Mr. Sanyal admitted that the production was badly affected with Nagaram GAIL pipeline blast. Production which dropped from three million cubic meters per day to 0.02 mcmpd now increased to 1.7 mcmpd. It would take another four months to reach the actual target after GAIL restores all pipelines in Nagaram and other areas in East Godavari district before June. The ED sought the immediate intervention of Krishna district Collector to release ONGC’s regular equipment which was stuck in Kondangi village.

Old-age, disabled pensioners face misery - The Hindu

Old-age, disabled pensioners face misery - The Hindu

Old-age, disabled pensioners face misery

B.V.S BHASKAR

They blame it on the govt. policy of linking biometric system with Aadhaar

Aged pensioners struggling to gain entry into Aryapuram Post Office at Gokavaram bus stand in Rajahmundry.— PHOTO. S. RAMBABU

Securing pension from a post office has become a major challenge for senior citizens and disabled persons in East Godavari district.

Though they have been facing this ordeal for last four days, the situation worsened on Saturday. The hapless pensioners blame it on the government’s policy of linking bio-metric system with the Aadhaar. Lack of basic amenities at the post offices where the pensioners wait endlessly is adding to their woes.

The Rajahmundry Postal Superintendent S.M.S.S.V. Prasad says 25,000 urban old-age and disabled pensions were allocated to the Department of Posts and they were divided among sub-post offices in the city. Mr. Prasad says he had asked the post masters to issue tokens and arrange queue for speedy disposal of the pensions.

But the Aryapuram post office, located at the busy Gokavaram bus stand, was seen crowded with pensioners for the last three days. “I can imagine the size of the crowd from the fact that the postal authorities had to deploy two constables to control the pensioners and their assistants,” says Mallikarjun, owner of a photo copy centre located opposite the post office. “I have been accompanying my 82-year-old mother to this place for the last three days. The first two days, we could not even reach the main gate of the post office. Finally today our turn came, but the officials tell us that her thumb impression (bio-metric) does not match with the one in the Aadhaar card and we have been asked to get it certified by the local corporator,” says a young man.

It is mandatory for the beneficiaries to give six copies of thumb impressions which must match with their Aadhaar cards lest they may have to get a certificate either from the local corporator or any authorised revenue official to secure their pension. “Our local corporator is away on a pilgrimage and he is expected to return only after one week and the Revenue official concerned is busy with Pushkaram works. Where do I go?” asked 71-year-old Sugunamma of Rangreejupeta.

Night landing facility at Madhurapudi airport: MP - The Hindu

Night landing facility at Madhurapudi airport: MP - The Hindu

Night landing facility at Madhurapudi airport: MP

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has given green signal for night landing facility to Madhurapudi Airport, which is about 14 km from here, according to MP M. Muralimohan.

Mr. Muralimohan told mediapersons on Friday that he got the confirmation from AAI and will hold a meeting AAI officials in this regard at the airport on Saturday.

The MP also said the fourth bridge across the river Godavari is mostly likely to be inaugurated on April 10 and contractors Gammon India private limited said the bridge will be ready March 30. However, the MP said a high-level technical committee has recommended taking up of permanent repair works of Rail-cum-Road Bridge after Pushkaramas only. “Metco company of Calcutta and IIT Chennai have given two different opinions. So, we decided to take up permanent works after pushkarams and now will lay single layer road on ad hoc basis,” he said.

Mr. Muralimohan said the Railway Divisional Manager of Vijayawada during his recent visit to Rajahmundry agreed to halt all express trains at Nidadavolu, Kovvuru, Rajahmundry, Narasapuam and other places.

He also said the Railways have also agreed to illuminate Havelock Bridge during the 12-day extravaganza.

Geo Tag proposed for Pushkaram pilgrims - The Hindu

Geo Tag proposed for Pushkaram pilgrims - The Hindu

Geo Tag proposed for Pushkaram pilgrims

B.V.S. BHASKAR

The Municipal Corporation of Rajahmundry (MCR), police department and a private consultancy from Hyderabad are jointly designing an App and Geo Tag for the convenience of Godavari Pushkaram pilgrims.

At a meeting on Thursday, MCR Commissioner and Special Officer for Pushkarams J. Murali and SP S. Harikrishna and a representative of the private consultancy discussed the geo tag system, which had been introduced by the TTD in Tirumala earlier.

Tracking device

“Geo tag will be tied to each pilgrim who visits Rajahmundry and other places to take the holy dip in the Godavari during the 12-day fete. With the help of the tag, police can track any pilgrim who goes missing. The tag will be synchronised with the GPRS system,” Mr. Murali said.

Mr. Harikrishna said the App would be supported by LED display screens, which would be arranged at every 200 or 500 metres.

The cameras will capture images of vacant places from time to time to be displayed on the screens, enabling police to shift heavy crowds from one ghat to another or a vacant place.

The proposal will be submitted to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on February 16 for his approval, Mr. Murali said.

‘Tackle vision problems in children through outreach’ - The Hindu

‘Tackle vision problems in children through outreach’ - The Hindu

‘Tackle vision problems in children through outreach’

B.V.S. BHASKAR

US-based Indian ophthalmologist Dr. V.K. Raju felt that most vision-related problems in children could be solved through outreach programmes and interventions before the age of five. He said initiatives like teachers’ training in basic ophthalmology and screening by paediatricians at regular intervals were needed for rural children.

Dr. Raju said one-third of middle school children dropped out of schools owing to lack of health care and malnutrition problems in rural India, and that most surveys by WHO foresaw that the trend was set to rise in the coming years.

“Train more ophthalmologists in India. Involve teachers and NGOs in tackling paediatric health issues, particularly vision loss. Eighty per cent of learning is through vision, while 50 per cent of childhood blindness is avoidable through prevention or treatment,” he said.

Dr. Raju said diabetes and its complications would be the worst in developing nations. Diabetic blindness may become 15 times worse than cataract blindness. Most cataract blindness cases are in old people, whereas diabetic blindness can affect young individuals.”

Cases of intimidation, rape, on rise in E.G. - The Hindu

Cases of intimidation, rape, on rise in E.G. - The Hindu

Morampudi mishap: officials under fire - The Hindu

Morampudi mishap: officials under fire - The Hindu

Morampudi mishap: officials under fire

B.V.S. BHASKAR

Authorities accused of not taking precautionary measures to curb accidents

The National Highway authorities and the local units of road transport and traffic police have come under fire, after three people, including a child, died in an accident when a school bus carrying the YSRC activists hit a car and three motorcycles at Morampudi junction on the NH5 on the outskirts of Rajahmundry.

Morampudi junction is privy to many ghastly accidents in the past. A similar trend is seen at two more junctions between Kakinada and Rajahmundry. According to the records available with the traffic police, 26 major accidents occurred at Morampudi junction, killing 8 people in 2012. Sources hint at another 10 unregistered deaths too. In 2013, 11 persons lost their lives in 39 road mishaps there. Last year, the number of deaths, however, came down to nine in 24 accidents (data till October).

In various instances, motorists blame it on the faulty design of the road here. “Morampudi is considered a dangerous stretch as the construction of the Highway is faulty. The road from Bommuru (Vijayawada side) near Horlicks factory is laid at a higher level and then it plunges to a very low point till Morampudi Junction; visa vis at the other side from Lalacheruvu (Visakhapatnam side). Heavy vehicles coming at a high speed can’t see other vehicles and the there are no barricades too,” says Goli Ramarao, a medical practitioner.

A car dealer and industrialist Kantipudi Sarvarayudu, had installed CCTV cameras at the junction by spending from his own pocket, besides spending Rs.5 lakh more to donate steel barricades to traffic police. “One of the CCTV cameras installed at the junction captured the sequence of the accident. Traffic police are not using the barricades which I gave them three years ago. The RTA, traffic police and National Highways authorities must own responsibility for the accident as they have failed in taking precautionary measures at this junction,” said Mr. Sarvarayudu.

Meanwhile, Gorantla Butchaih Chowdary, who rushed to the spot, said that he would convene a meeting with the National Highway authorities, R&B officials and the Commissioner of Rajahmundry Municipal Corporation to find out a permanent solution to the problem. He favours construction of four flyovers and four more under-bridges to address the traffic bottlenecks on this stretch.