‘Web, social media can create 15000 jobs in Odisha in 3-yrs’

BHUBANESWAR: “The web and social media has the potential to generate more than 15,000 direct jobs over a period of three years in the State,” said founder member of the Janata Vikas Manch (JVM) Sai Prasan here on Saturday. 

Addressing the participants at a workshop on ‘Web and Social Media for Social Sector’ organised by the JVM, Prasan said that the penetration of computers and the internet connectivity is very poor in the State. “The high load-shedding and the frequent fluctuation of the electricity is a major hurdle in the regular use of internet which is hampering the growth of web and social media in the state,” Prasan said.

He also urged the State Government to provide a good environment for the expansion of web and social media which will help the Odia youth to develop and get jobs in the sector. “If all the Government departments and non-governmental organisations open their own websites, hundreds of youths will get job easily,” said Prasan, adding, “The Chief Minister should direct all the State Ministers, departmental heads, University vice-chancellors, professional institutions and others to have their own organisational website within six months.”

Sai Prasan said that the web and social media tools would connect Odisha with the global world and it would also help the State to build a positive image in the world over. 

During the workshop, the participants have been trained on how to ensure a good and effective website. They have been educated on the use of Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and mobile apps like Whats App as a tool for the advocacy or social cause.

Among others, former Information Commissioner Jagadananda, RTI activist Pradeep Pradhan, students and social activists attended the one-day workshop.

Community farming empowers women in tribal areas

BHUBANESWAR: Community farming has shown a way of livelihood of women in the State in general and tribal areas in particular. It has created a platform to empower women in the tribal dominated districts. This model in agriculture sector has made the women folk more confident and self-reliant than before. 

It was an observation by the experts during a State-level conclave organised by the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD) here on Friday. The experts outlined the necessary of agricultural development in the State by giving due importance to the women in the sector. 

According to 2011 census, the women constitute major proportion of agricultural workforce in Odisha that is 37 per cent out of total 62 per cent of State’s population active in agriculture sector. As per the figures mentioned in the Agriculture Census of India, out of the total female agricultural workforce in the State 74.7 per cent belong to the marginal category with a total of 41.2 per cent of land holdings. 

With a small land holding in hilly areas, women didn’t want to do farming by spending money and labour. When the CYSD persuaded the women to do community farming in a group combining their small land holdings and workforce, the women folk took initiative in the sector and succeeded in the field. 

Women farmers like Laxmi Khila of Dadhiapadar under Boipariguda block in Koraput district, Sabitri Bhue and Lalita Bhue of Hemgiri block in Sundargarh district, Manmodi Gadba of Dasmantpur block in Koraput district and others attending the conclave shared their experiences and success stories with other women farmers. 

The experts like Women's Cooperative Development Corporation Chairman Srimayee Mishra, CYSD chairman PK Mishra, former Information Commissioner Jagadananda, CRRI senior scientist Dr Meera Kar, Deputy Director of Agriculture Aparthy Sethi, Deputy Director of Horticulture Gayatri Padhi and activist Jagdish Pradhan lauded the women farmer’s achievement and advised them how to excel in their field.

In the conclave, two books, Ananya and Darpan were released by the experts.                 

DFID, UKaid visit vending zones in Odisha's capital city

BHUBANESWAR: Representatives of international and national organisations on Friday visited the vending zones here to take firsthand experience about the model to rehabilitate small roadside vendors in the city.

Representative of United Kingdom (UK)-based Department for International Development (DFID) Kunal Singh, SNPUPR’s Khalibulla, UKaid’s deputy programme manager Radhika Singh, Rajeev Awas Yojana (RAY) official HK Tripathy and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) official Santosh Praharaj at first visited the fruit vending zone at Ram Mandir Square here. 

The delegates discussed several issues about electricity connection to the vending zones, BMC’s cooperation in providing basic facilities to the vending zones and other issues related to the vendors. They also asked the costumers about the vending zones and sought opinion from them for its development. 

Finally the representatives discussed about 20 minutes with members of the All Orissa Roadside Vendors’ Association (AORVA) led by its president Pratap Sahu. The association members Dhirendra Kumar Swain, Sudarshan Prusty, Bipin Bihari Das and others told the representatives about the problems faced by the vendors and also informed them about 17 upcoming vending zones in the city.     

Early neonatal death a concern in Nuapada, Kandhamal

BHUBANESWAR: “Out of the total neonatal deaths, around 85 per cent of neonatal in Nuapada and 50 per cent in Kandhamal district usually die in the first week of birth,” said a study conducted by Save the Children. 

Unveiling the report here on Friday, Save the Children State program manager Sasanka Kumar Padhi stated that out of 28 neonatal deaths during 2012 in Boden block of Nuapada district more than 50 per cent of births occurred at Community Health Centres (CHCs). Similarly in Phiringia block of Kandhamal district, out of 12 neonatal deaths during 2012, five babies were delivered in CHCs, but all of them died at home later. 

Neonatal die within a week due to inability of the public health facility to stabilise the neonates, discharge before 48 hours due to non availability of doctor and baby subjected to ‘jhaad-phoonk’ at home, he added.       

“Government schemes and programmes should be more children centric. School Management Committees should ensure active participation of children. Perspective of children should reflect in every matter related to children,” said Padhi.

The study recommended that ANMs and ASHAs must be trained into resuscitation and stabilisation procedures, so that they can save lives of newborns at least up to the time they reach well-equipped health facility. There is an urgent need to educate health care providers as well as the families about various aspects of post natal care. Hospital staff must be asked to ensure recommended 48-hour post natal stay and educate families about care that should be offered to mother and newborn for a period of 28 days, it added.

Among others, State Family Welfare department Director Dr Nirmala Kumari Dei, AMS Director Dr A K Dwivedi, Save the Children’s team members including Prasann Thatte, Pradeep Kr Mishra and Santanu Chakraborty shared their views in the report unveiling ceremony.

BJP seeks jobs for youths

BHUBANESWAR: The BJP on Thursday hailed the decision of the State Government to increase the retirement age of its employees from 58 years to 60 and demanded creation of opportunities for the unemployed youths in the State. 

Issuing a Press release, party spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said that the State Government has crossed the limit and openly violated the rules by taking the decision outside the Assembly which is in session. 

Sharma also alleged that the Government took the decision while model code of conduct for the urban local body (ULB) polls in Balangir district is already in force.