Sambada: BJD MP Braja Tripathy writes to PM on KBK Central University
June 22nd, 2007
Orissatv.com: Center’s decision to shift proposed tribal university to Madhya Pradesh objected – CM says it is another example of center’s negligence
Orissatv.com in its report on this topic (video) also does not mince words. Following are some excerpts from their article.
After IIT and National Institute of Science, Orissa has been deprived of another reputed institute. This time it is the Tribal University. The Centre has decided to shift it to Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik has termed it as yet another example of the Centre’s step-motherly attitude towards the state. … Time and again the state government had alleged center’s negligence towards the state. But there has been no perceptible change in centre’s attitude, rather it is worsening day by day.
June 19th, 2007
Fax campaign against repeated injustice by MHRD
Dear Readers:
I hope many of you are enraged and disgusted by this repeated injustice meted out to Orissa by the MHRD; especially now it seems that the MHRD has orchestrated hijacking of a good, sensible and extremely relevant idea proposed by our chief minister: the idea of tribal central university in the KBK region with the goal of catering to the 50% tribal population in that area and 38% tribal population across Orissa.
Often many have blamed the Orissa government for not taking timely initiatives or not coming up with innovative ideas, but this time it took the initiative, it suggested a great idea, followed up on it regularly, but the end result is same; the idea gets implemented in the home state of the minister of HRD Mr. Arjun Singh.
We must convey our displeasure, disgust, deep disappointment and anger to the central government. Please fax a letter to the PMO (fax numbers: 011-2301-8668, 2301-5470, 2301-5603, 2301-8939 ) and also fax a copy of that letter to the CMO (0674-2400100 ) and Mr. Chandrasekhar Sahu (011-23061695), the sole central minister from Orissa. After that we must follow-up with the CMO (cmo@ori.nic.in) by email and Mr. Sahu by phone (Personal Secy: 09868501233 off: 011-23792469, 23792470) and tell them to take our faxes and meet the PM and the national press with all our faxes and do a dharana until the two immediate injustices of moving an IIT in Orissa after it was announced and stealing the idea of a tribal university proposed for the KBK area are corrected. Following are some pointers and points which may help in writing your letter. I am making it short so that its easier for you to draft the letter.
Continue Reading 2 comments June 18th, 2007
Foundation For Excellence (FFE) gave 264 scholarships to students from Orissa
Foundation For Excellence (FFE) is a publicly supported non-profit organization that supports top students in India, who are from very low income families, with scholarships. Following is a blurb from their website:
FFE’s focus is to provide funds for higher education to students in India who are academically gifted and come from very low income families. Since inception, the foundation has provided over $4.35 million in over 20,900 scholarships to deserving students in the 25 states in India, over 40% of who are girls. The objective driving our programs is “No Scholar Left Behind”. We truly believe that these young people will be a significant part of a socially and economically stronger India in the near future.With the help of our donors and volunteers, we plan to keep on with our efforts until every deserving student in India gets the education that she or he deserves.
For 2006-07 they have given 264 scholarships to students from Orissa. The total worth of these scholarships is $58,000. The readers are requested to spread the word about FFE to students in need as well as to people who can volunteer or donate to FFE’s cause. Please go through FFE’s web page for more details. Few Oriyas who are very active in the three aspects of FFE (finding students, finding volunteers and finding donors) are Purna Mohanty from Northern California and Sandip Dasverma from Portland, Oregon.
One of the chief sponsors of FFE, Mr. Prabhu Goel, has recently taken steps to invest in Orissa.
1 comment June 15th, 2007
Balasore and Baripada lobbying for govt. medical colleges
Balasore and Baripada people are earnestly pursuing govt. medical colleges in their areas through various means including district level dharanas and meetings, dharanas in Bhubaneswar, signature campaign and lobbying the government through their MLAs. They are doing it in the right way. A similar approach led them to success in both locations being able to land individual universities (North Orissa University in Baripada and Fakirmohan University in Balsore). Following are excerpts from two articles in the Daily Pioneer.
Continue Reading 1 comment June 6th, 2007
Cabinet approves new scholarship scheme for tribals
From http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=28365
The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for introduction of a new Central Sector Scholarship Scheme of Top Quality Higher Education to Students belonging to Scheduled Tribes, to be implemented from 2007-08.
Continue Reading May 31st, 2007
Classrooms are humming again: Sarva Sikhya Abhiyan in Orissa still not showing progress
Financial Express probes the efficacy of big spending of UPA in last three years in primary education in the hinterland of the country.Â
It says the Orissa state government has created an online database of all the 98 lakh children between the 1-14 years age group.
It continues on saying that the Orissa state government wants to use Sarva Sikhya Abhiyan to enroll all children between 6-14 years of age in schools but this attempt, many say, has failed. But nothing is hunky dory. To make matters worse, students enroll and drop out after obtaining scholarships, a problem which is acute in districts like Kalahandi. Moreover, attendance is as low as 30 to 50% in most schools and the school dropout rate is as high as 50%, according to various estimates.
The government must choose alternative way like establishing primary school in every village which has more than 250 populations in hinterland such as KBK (where many villages are located in deep forest).Â
May 30th, 2007
Kasturaba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme
As mentioned in the PIB press release
2180 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) have been sanctioned upto March 2007, which includes 1000 new KGBVs in 2006-07. 88% of KGBVs have been operationalised. A major national evaluation conducted this year has shown that the scheme has received ‘high priority and political attention in all States and has been launched in record time with a clear commitment to reach out to out-of-school girls. The programme has been very well received by the community and has responded to diverse poverty situations including remote inaccessible locations’.
More details on this program is mentioned in another PIB release. In Orissa 49 such schools are being set up. Somehow Orissa seems to be lagging behind with respect to this scheme. Andhra Pradesh is leading in taking advantage of this scheme.
May 24th, 2007
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are CBSE board schools set up by the MHRD across India. As per their website their objective is:
* to provide good quality modern education to the talented children predominently from the rural areas, without regard to their family’s socio-economic condition.
* to ensure that all students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas attain a reasonable level of competence in three languages as envisaged in the Three Language Formula.
* to serve, in each district, as focal points for improvements in quality of school education in general through sharing of experiences and facilities.
In Orissa currently there are several such schools with the school in Cuttack as the nodal school.
Continue Reading May 22nd, 2007