Odisha HRD

NTPC to make world class (100 crore) IIIT in Chhatisgarh; Orissa happy with 1.5 crore barrack by NALCO and an ITI by Arcelor-Mittal.

June 1st, 2008

The following news at  in Business Standard says that NTPC will establish a world class IIIT in Chhatisgarh. (Earlier news mention the cost of IIITs at 100 crores. See https://www.orissalinks.com/archives/1146.)

Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh said that the Chhattisgarh government would provide land for the Institute while NPTC would bear the entire cost of the project for setting up world-class IIIT in the state. "The state chief minister, Raman Singh, will select the site for the project," Ramesh said.

The experts who had set up IIITs in Hyderabad and Bangalore would be consulted for the Chhattisgarh project, the minister said. The proposal would be given final shape and the site would be finalised on June 30. Ramesh is scheduled to visit Chhattisgarh on the month-end and meet the chief minister to give final shape to the project. 

One should compare this with today’s news at http://tathya.in/story.asp?sno=1888 which says NALCO will contribute 1.4 crores towards a police barrack. Few weeks back various news reports mentioned that NALCO has spent (https://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/archives/1333) 100 crores in CSR so far over its 20 years of existence. If its CMD had any shame and any pride on Orissa he would not have touted this number as something great. But it makes sense; if Orissa is a beggar then  100 crore is a big amount to give to a beggar in 20 years.

It is unfortunate that companies like NALCO, Arcelor-Mittal, Tats Steel, etc. treat Orissa this way. But its not all their fault. Our government also acts that way. 

Our government is happy with one ITI or ITC and that seems to be  the trend in terms of what they ask.

When will Orissa government learn from its neighbors Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh?

Just to recap:

(i)   NTPC will make a 100 crore world class IIIT in Chhatisgrah.

(ii)  Bokaro Steel Plant has agreed to set up an engineering college and a medical college in Jharkhand

(iii) Central Coalfields has also agreed to set up an engineering college in Jharkhand      http://www.business-standard.com/general/storypage_test.php?&autono=284016

(iv) Orissa gets a 1.4 crore police barrack  for 1.4 crores from NALCO

(v) Orissa will get a few crore ITI from Arcelor Mittal

(vi) Orissa gets a 12 crore Math institute building from Tata Steel

(vi) A few good signs: MCL’s plan for a medical college in Talcher and Vedanta’s university plan: but who knows if they will happen and when.

I wonder if NTPC can make a 100 crore world class IIIT in Jharkhand Chhatisgarh why can not it have a similar investment in Orissa where its plants might have significantly contributed in making Talcher a hot oven.

Why can not our CM, our industry secretary, our Chief Secretary,  say in no uncertain terms that Orissa is no beggar. These  industries (NALCO,SAIL, NTPC, CIL, Arcelor-Mittal, POSCO, Tata Steel, etc.) that take and use (or plan to take and use) our minerals at throw away prices must stop thinking Orissa as a beggar to throw a few crore ITI/ITC, a 1.5 crore barrack, a  50 paisa safety pin for Orissa, etc. and start making IIITs, medical colleges, engineering colleges, establishing multiple ITI/ITCs, etc.

Why can not central minister of state Mr. Chandrasekhar Sahu go and talk to his colleague, the power minister Mr. Ramesh who announced the IIIT for Chhatisgarh to do a similar one in Orissa?

Why can not he talk to the other ministers to put pressure on NALCO and SAIL?

How come NTPC can make a IIIT in Chhatisgarh but not one in Orissa?

How come SAIL Bokaro can promise an engineering college and a medical college in Jharkhand and SAIL Raurkela can  not do a similar one in Orissa?

ps — Just as an example of how the mineral processing companies have benefited one needs to note that in the last five years the iron ore price has increased more than the price of crude oil. But has Orissa received any benefit from that?

From http://www.econstats.com/rt_ironore.htm and http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080521/jsp/business/story_9299173.jsp the iron ore prices in the last few years were as follows:  2004- $37.20/metric tonne;  2005 – $64.00; 2006 -$76.20; 2007- $83:40 ; 2008- $132.20 and now: $200.

As per as per http://www.econstats.com/fut/xeiad_em1.htm the Crude oil prices over the last five years are:  Jan 2004 -$33.16/barrel; Jan 2005- $48.25; Jan 2006- $67.86; Jan 2007-  $58.17; Jan 2008-  $91.67 and April 2008: $115.67.

Entry Filed under: Appeal to readers,From mineral resources to human resources,Learning from others