Andhranews

Job courses fail to attract youth


Nellore, Sept. 28: Intermediate students show little interest in joining vocational courses introduced in 14 government colleges of the district to help them acquire skills in one trade or the other by the time they complete the course.

While there are about 1,500 seats in different trades only 650 students joined in the courses. “There is a lot of demand for skilled workers and these certificate courses are certainly useful when they approach organisations in the private or government sector for jobs,” district vocational education officer (DEVO) Jeevan Krishna said.

In a bid to attract students, the Board of Intermediate (BIE) introduced several new courses such as automobile engineering technician, catering and restaurant management, computer graphics and animation, tourism travel technique, ceramic technology, marketing and salesmanship based on recent marketing trends. Unfortunately these courses failed to impress the students, according to Mr Jeevan Krishna.

However, one of the courses in banking received unusual response in a government college at Sullurpet. More than 30 students joined in the course much to the relief of the officials concerned. Incidentally, there were no takers for the multi-purpose health worker course introduced in DK Women’s College and fashion and garment making in the government college at Venkatagiri, which is a household name for its saris.

The courses that attract students to a certain extent are computer science, desktop printing and publishing and medical lab technician apart from a few other courses, according to sources. A fee of Rs 700 was fixed for the courses and lack of qualified faculty are some reasons for students’ reluctance to join the courses, according to a lecturer.

He said that absence of latest machinery and poor maintenance for the exis-ting equipment was also deterring students from joining the courses. When asked about the condition of the equipment, DEVO Jeevan Krishna said that there was no such problem except in one or two places.

He added that they were taking steps to set right the equipment wherever necessary. With regard to faculty, he said that they were engaging professionals for training on a temporary basis. “These courses would help them to establish their own units instead of searching for jobs,” he said.

However, students feel differently. “We will join the courses if there is an assurance of a job after completion of the course,” Srinivas, a student of Nellore said. The government should review the situation and redesign courses in such a manner as to attract students, said a senior lecturer.




Start works, beneficiaries told


Nellore, Sept. 28: Beneficiaries of housing schemes under the Indiramma programme will lose the opportunity if they fail to start the construction works before the end of October.

Addressing an awareness programme organised here on Thursday for the benefit of newly-elected sarpanches, village secretaries and special officers of the Indiramma programme, collector M. Ravichandra said that 1,06,090 houses were sanctioned under the programme to provide financial assistance to construct 89,812 houses in rural areas and 16,278 houses in urban areas.

Discussions were held with bankers to provide Rs 6,000 each to members of self-help groups (SHGs) for construction of houses up to slab level in two instalments, Mr Ravichandra said. Of the 3 lakh poor women living in the district, 1.65 lakh were members of self-help groups, the collector said and invited them to make use of the welfare schemes introduced by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA).

He said that the ambitious programme would become successful if sarpanches take active part in grounding the schemes. He said that basic infrastructure like power, individual lavatories, roads, school buildings and drinking water schemes were a part of the Indiramma programme to convert villages as model villages.

The collector promised commendation certificates for officials who achieved 100 per cent grounding in housing schemes. Zilla Parishad chairman K. Govardhan Reddy advised sarpanches to ensure that the pensions sanctioned for various sections reached the needy. He also asked them to create awareness on HIV and AIDS.






Insurance for crop damage


Rajahmundry, Sept. 28: Farmers who suffered total damage of crops following incessant rains and floods in the recent past, especially from the three mandals of Katrenikona, Mummidavram and Uppalaguptam are likely to get insurance coverage for their crop loss on about 6,000 hectares in East Godavari district.

It may be mentioned that farmers who suffered loss of both agricultural and horticulture crops during the kharif last year got insurance coverage to the tune of Rs 70.11 crores. Similarly as per the norms of the National Insurance Company run by the Centre, farmers who suffered total crop loss in the district are hopeful of getting insurance coverage for their crop loss.

During the incessant rains and Godavari floods, crops were damaged on about 49,000 hectares in the district. Agricultural crops we-re damaged on about 33,000 hectares, horticulture crops on about 14,000 hectares and the remaining 2,000 hectares suffered sandcast. The district administration estimated the total crop loss to the tune of Rs 192 crores in the district.

However, proposals were prepared to provide relief in the form of input subsidy to the tune of Rs 16.71 crores to about 69,000 affected farmers, both small and big. Out of the 58 mandals in the district, crops were damaged in about 52 mandals and major loss happened at Mummidivaram, Katrenik-ona, Uppalaguptam and Ai-navilli mandals of Amalapuram division, while crops suffered damages at Devip-atnam mandal of the Agency.

The district administration has already given input subsidy to the tune of Rs 8.21 crores so far out of the total sanctioned amount of Rs 16.71 crores. The remaining amount is in the process of distribution. To help farmers recoup from the loss, the government is providing seeds of paddy, maize, pulses, gingerly and others at 50 per cent subsidy and so far agricultural auth-orities distributed 3,500 qu-intals of paddy to farmers. Input subsidy to the tune of Rs 1,875 is being given for paddy and other crops also.

East Godavari Agriculture deputy director Mr I. Rama Krishna Murthy said, “We are giving input subsidy to all affected farmers subject to a maximum ceiling of two hectares of crop damage. There is no chance for any lapses in distribution of relief.”




Train engine catches fire in Bhimavaram


Bhimavaram, Sept. 28: The engine of a passenger train running from Vijayawada to Narasapuram caught fire in the early hours of Thursday. No casualties were reported in the mishap. According to the railway authorities, the eight-coach diesel train carrying about 200 passengers was to reach Bhimavaram railway station at about 6.17 am. Smoke emanated from the fourth coach of the train when it was nearing Cherukuvada railway station.

About 30 passengers were sitting in the coach attached to the engine when the snag developed. When the train was reaching Bhimavaram town station, Undi railway gateman P.P. Nageswara Rao alerted deputy station manager Reddy.

The assistant station manager alerted train driver P. Subramanyam and guard Narayana about the fire in the engine. Meanwhile, as the train was entering the station, fire personnel geared up with extinguishers and put out the fire in about two hours. The fire did not spread to other coaches and no passenger was hurt in the mishap.
Local fire officer Parthasarathi suspected short circuit to be the main reason for the fire mishap in the passenger train.

Senior railway officials who inspected the train, said that the engine had suffered partial damage due to fire and an inquiry was going to be held at Vijayawada on the reasons behind the engine catching fire.






Parties devise poll strategies


Karimnagar, Sept. 28: With the by-election to the prestigious Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency round the corner, the poll managers of the main political parties are devising strategies to woo voters.

While the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) is gearing up to press into action several cultural troupes to launch a campaign to win the election, the BJP is also planning to make use of the services of cultural troupes to wrest the crucial constituency on Telangana plank.

The TRS has drawn up plans to capitalise on the separate Telangana movement being organised by the apolitical organisations like Telangana Vidyavanthula Vedika, Rachayitala Sangham and Telangana Development Forum of the US-based NRIs besides several teachers, employees and student unions.

Some of the enthusiastic Telangana activists have already kicked off a virtual election campaign through the SMS mode. One of the messages reads – “Boggu Manadhi Neeru Manadhi Adavi Manadhi, Power Manadhi Kaavali Manaku Veera Telangana – Vote for TRS … Party Kosam Kadhu Telangana Kosam. (Land, water and forests are ours. Vote for TRS to secure power.)”

The Telangana Vidyavanthula Vedika activists took out a two-wheeler rally and staged a dharna here on Thursday demanding separate Telangana. The Congress has also begun drawing up campaign strategies to activate its various frontal organisations and launch campaign using Rajiv Chaitanya Ratham after the Dasara festivities.

The party has already launched its pre-poll campaign in the form of wall writings. Meanwhile, the Telugu Desam (TD) is all set to hit the pre-poll campaign trail coinciding with the Vijaya Dasami celebrations. The party leadership is presently engaged in hectic parleys with the senior leaders of the district to finalise a suitable candidate to defeat the political stalwarts of the TRS, the Congress and the BJP in the bypoll. The party is pinning its hopes on the division of pro-Telangana votes between the TRS and the BJP.




TRS cadre gherao Saap director


Warangal, Sept. 28: Scores of women and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) activists on Thursday roughed up Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (Saap) director Rajanala Srihari in protest against the Saap’s decision to conduct CM Cup Sports Meet during the Batukamma and Dasara festival season. The sportsmeet would begin on September 30.

The agitating activists alleged that the State government and the Saap were showing disrespect towards the Dasara and Batukamma, the flower festival celebrated by women in Telangana. Their contention is that the CM Cup sports meet for rural youth should not be organised during the festival season thus robbing the region’s sportspersons of their right to celebrate the festivals.

The protesting women activists carrying the Batukammas thronged the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here and surrounded the Saap director. Some of the irate activists pushed, jostled and roughed up the Saap director.

Though he tried to convince the agitating activists, they were not in a mood to listen to him and pushed him to the middle and a flower pot symbolising the Batukamma kept on Mr Srihari’s head. City TRS president Das-yam Vinay Bhaskar, who led the agitation, demanded the immediate resignation of Mr Srihari for his director’s post in the Saap, which showed disrespect to the Telangana region.

Hanamkonda circle-inspector J. Surender Reddy rushed to the stadium along with a huge contingent of police force to disperse the agitating crowd. Mr Srihari said that the Saap was also organising the Batukamma celebrations at various stadiums during the CM Cup event.






Centre okays Rs 258 crore


Vijayawada, Sept. 28: The Central government has cleared proposals for Rs 258.74 crores under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme for the city. A meeting of the State and the Central government officials with the Central sanction and monitoring committee reviewed the proposals submitted by municipal commissioner Natarajan Gulzar at New Delhi on Thursday.

The municipal commissioner said that it was proposed to construct over 15,000 houses in the city as part of the rehabilitation of the dwellers on the banks of river Krishna. Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy had promised to provide housing for the dwellers on the river-bed during the recent floods to the river.

Accordingly, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation officials prepared a plan to provide houses to 15,000 families, which will also include removal and rehabilitation of the families on the road margins which have been taken up for widening.

The Central Sanction and Monitoring Committee had accepted the proposal and sanctioned Rs 198 crores for the houses out of the total of Rs 258.74 crores. In the housing programme, out of Rs 198 crores, the Central government will give Rs 129.37 crores while the State will share Rs 30.37 crores and the beneficiaries will have to bare Rs 19.80 crores.

The remaining amount will be arranged through banks as each of the 15,000 houses would cost Rs 1.32 lakhs. Mr Gulzar said that Rs 60.74 crores will be spent on roads, drains, underground drainage system, drinking water, improving facilities in schools, hospitals and community halls.

The officials have identified the roads and the areas that would get a facelift besides schools and community halls that require additional facilities. Drinking water will be provided to the areas which are not covered by the water distribution network of the VMC.




Guntur loses out bio-diesel mission fund to Nalgonda


Guntur, Sept. 28: Thanks to the indifference of officials of the district water management agency, Rs. 50 lakhs allotted to the district for the implementation of the National Mission of Bio-diesel has been shifted to Nalgonda district.

The mission, sponsored by union ministry of rural development, is being implemented through the Energy and Resources Institute, a research organisation based in Delhi. It is aimed at promotion of bio-diesel.

Emphasizing the need for starting Jatropha plantations, TERI entered Andhra Pradesh and chose West Godavari district for promotion of ‘Project Green,’ a bio diesel project costing Rs 6 crore. Consequently, TERI approached officials of the DWMA in Guntur as part of the endeavour to produce 9 million litres of bio-diesel per annum in the State.

TERI apprised officials of the modalities of the project and promised funds worth Rs 50 lakh. It was suggested that jatropha could be promoted in fallow lands under Indira Prabha Programme, involving Scheduled Caste farmers. Self-help women’s groups could be roped in to develop a nursery for provision of plant material to the farmers.

There were also plans to raise jatropha as an inter-crop in coconut and oil palm plantations or as a fence around fields. However, the response from DWMA officials was tame and after waiting for more than five months, TERI has shifted the funds Nalgonda district.






Farewell to Navy chief


Visakhapatnam, Sept. 28: The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) bid farewell to the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Arun Prakash, at a colourful ceremonial parade held at INS Circars parade ground here on Thursday. The Admiral will be retiring next month.

The Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Sureesh Mehta received the Navy chief at the Parade ground. All flag officers in station were present on the occasion. The parade consisted of 24 platoons, of which six were armed platoons and was commanded by Commander Shailendra Singh of INS Rajput.

The Admiral was presented a 50-man guard of honour on arrival. The President’s colour presented to Eastern Naval Command during the President’s Fleet Review held here in February this year was also paraded on the occasion. After the parade, Admiral Arun Prakash complimented the men for their excellent turnout and drill on the parade.

“Visakhapatnam is of special significance to me as it was here in 1965 I joined the Navy as a cadet onboard INS Tir and I’m happy to come to Visakhapatnam again,” said Arun Prakash. He further said that it was a great honour to command Indian Navy, which has highly capable officers and men whose patriotism, loyalty and enthusiasm are unmatchable.

He reminded the personnel of their responsibilities to keep the Navy strong and powerful in the years to come. Later, the Chief of Naval Staff witnessed fleet exercises at sea in which 27 ships, submarine and aircraft of the Eastern Fleet, local flotilla took part. Vice-Admiral Sureesh Mehta accompanied the Chief of Naval Staff during the exercises at sea.




DCI on drive to acquire new capacity


Visakhapatnam, Sept. 28: Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) chairman and managing director N.K. Gupta said the corporation drew up a long-term acquisition plan under which it was procuring a cutter suction dredger of 2,000 cubic metres per hour (CUM) capacity from Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai. It also placed provisional orders for chartering of two more dredgers of 5,000 CUM.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Mr Gupta said it set tender auction process in motion for procurement of 5,000 CUM capacity trailer suction hopper dredgers. “DCI rejected several requests from domestic and international ports due to shortage of dredgers. It has been a boom time for dredging globally for the last couple of years and it would last another two to three years,” said the CMD.

Mr Gupta said that DCI has dredging capacity of 798.5 lakhs cubic metres as on March 31, 2006 and during the year 2005-06 the quantity dredged under various contracts was 727.49 lakhs cubic metres. It was 91.1 per cent of the capacity as against 90.56 per cent recorded in the previous year.

Announcing the financial results, the CMD said DCI earned net profit of Rs 176.46 crores during 2005-06 and recorded a turnover of Rs 542.89 crores during the same period.