Friday, October 17, 2008
Food insecurity reaches crisis point
Sanjeev K Patro
First Published : 16 Oct 2008 10:00:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 16 Oct 2008 11:27:55 AM IST
BHUBANESWAR: The severe food insecurity gripping Orissa for decades has scaled new heights this year, thanks to an abnormal rise in prices of food items coupled with a devastating flood affecting 60 percent of the districts.
Orissa sought 2,454 cr, gets only 98 cr
Express News Service
First Published : 17 Oct 2008 07:55:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 17 Oct 2008 10:43:30 AM IST
BHUBANESWAR: The step-motherly treatment meted out to Orissa by the Centre became evident from the paltry flood assistance released from the National Calamity Contigency Fund (NCCF).Bihar, Assam and Orissa witnessed floods during the recent past.
While Bihar has got Rs 1,000 crore from the NCCF, Assam received Rs 300 crore. Orissa has been given only Rs 98 crore. What is disheartening is that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced assistance of Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 300 for Bihar and Assan while he visited the flood-affected areas of those States.
When Home Minister Shivraj Patil visited the flood-affected areas of Orissa, he had announced an assistance of Rs 500 crore.
This is not the first time the Centre’s announcement of flood relief for Orissa did not match the release of funds. After Manmohan Singh visited the flood-affected areas last time, he had announced an assistance of Rs 200 crore. But the State received only Rs 25 crore. Though Orissa experienced the worst floods in decades this time, the Prime Minister and Congress president Sonia Gandhi did not visit the affected areas. Both, however, visited Bihar. The State Government had submitted a memorandum during Patil’s visit seeking an assistance of Rs 2,454.35 crore.
The Centre is, however, yet to depute a team to assess the damage.
Express News Service
First Published : 17 Oct 2008 07:55:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 17 Oct 2008 10:43:30 AM IST
BHUBANESWAR: The step-motherly treatment meted out to Orissa by the Centre became evident from the paltry flood assistance released from the National Calamity Contigency Fund (NCCF).Bihar, Assam and Orissa witnessed floods during the recent past.
While Bihar has got Rs 1,000 crore from the NCCF, Assam received Rs 300 crore. Orissa has been given only Rs 98 crore. What is disheartening is that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced assistance of Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 300 for Bihar and Assan while he visited the flood-affected areas of those States.
When Home Minister Shivraj Patil visited the flood-affected areas of Orissa, he had announced an assistance of Rs 500 crore.
This is not the first time the Centre’s announcement of flood relief for Orissa did not match the release of funds. After Manmohan Singh visited the flood-affected areas last time, he had announced an assistance of Rs 200 crore. But the State received only Rs 25 crore. Though Orissa experienced the worst floods in decades this time, the Prime Minister and Congress president Sonia Gandhi did not visit the affected areas. Both, however, visited Bihar. The State Government had submitted a memorandum during Patil’s visit seeking an assistance of Rs 2,454.35 crore.
The Centre is, however, yet to depute a team to assess the damage.
Tata Steel donates Rs 5 cr to flood-hit Bihar, Orissa
Wed. October 15, 2008; Posted: 08:39 PM
New Delhi, Oct 15, 2008 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- TATLY | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Country's largest private steel company Tata Steel today said it has donated a combined sum of Rs 5 crore towards relief and rehabilitation work to the flood affected states of Bihar and Orissa, among other contributions.
Wed. October 15, 2008; Posted: 08:39 PM
New Delhi, Oct 15, 2008 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- TATLY | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Country's largest private steel company Tata Steel today said it has donated a combined sum of Rs 5 crore towards relief and rehabilitation work to the flood affected states of Bihar and Orissa, among other contributions.
Flood victims limp back to normal
Statesman News Service
KENDRAPARA, Oct. 16: People have begun picking up the threads of their life almost a month after flood ripped apart village after village in this coastal district.
The flood affected continue to nurture optimism and hope.
"Assured of help, people have begun their routine struggle for bread and butter," narrated an official in charge of flood-damage restoration measures.
Four-year-old Bhabani cries inconsolably pleading with his septuagenarian grand father for fried ‘vada’ from the village market.
The toddler's shrill cries die down as Rajkishore Sahu distracts his attention to recent fury of flood.
The child knows little about flood and its trails of destruction. But soon he turns silent paying heed to what his grand father narrates on how the swirling waters gushed into the house …and so on.
The agro-based economy in Marsaghai, Kendrapara, Patkura, Mahakalpada and Derabish blocks, that underwent maximMum flood damage, is in doldrums.
With hopes of good kharif yield washed away, it’s a torrid time for the farmers.
The land owners and tenant farmers are gearing up for early rabi crop cultivation. With the damaged irrigation canals yet to be repaired, there is not a drop of water in irrigation channels.
Statesman News Service
KENDRAPARA, Oct. 16: People have begun picking up the threads of their life almost a month after flood ripped apart village after village in this coastal district.
The flood affected continue to nurture optimism and hope.
"Assured of help, people have begun their routine struggle for bread and butter," narrated an official in charge of flood-damage restoration measures.
Four-year-old Bhabani cries inconsolably pleading with his septuagenarian grand father for fried ‘vada’ from the village market.
The toddler's shrill cries die down as Rajkishore Sahu distracts his attention to recent fury of flood.
The child knows little about flood and its trails of destruction. But soon he turns silent paying heed to what his grand father narrates on how the swirling waters gushed into the house …and so on.
The agro-based economy in Marsaghai, Kendrapara, Patkura, Mahakalpada and Derabish blocks, that underwent maximMum flood damage, is in doldrums.
With hopes of good kharif yield washed away, it’s a torrid time for the farmers.
The land owners and tenant farmers are gearing up for early rabi crop cultivation. With the damaged irrigation canals yet to be repaired, there is not a drop of water in irrigation channels.
Banks to extend credit for Rabi crops
BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar October 16, 2008, 0:23 IST
The banks operating in Orissa will extend credit for the coming rabi crops on a priority basis. Since the standing crops were damaged by the recent floods in 19 districts, the banks have agreed to provide credit to the farmers for cultivation of groundnut, oil seeds, pulses, vegetables during rabi season.
Monday, October 13, 2008
India seeks funds for flood relief from Oman NRIs
S.O. News service, Tuesday, 14 October 2008:
Muscat: Indian Ambassador to Oman Anil Wadhwa urged the non-resident Indian (NRI) community here to donate a day's salary to help the flood-stricken people of India, particularly in the states of Bihar, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh.
S.O. News service, Tuesday, 14 October 2008:
Muscat: Indian Ambassador to Oman Anil Wadhwa urged the non-resident Indian (NRI) community here to donate a day's salary to help the flood-stricken people of India, particularly in the states of Bihar, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh.
Rural development minister slams UPA government
Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, Oct 13: Rural development minister Mr Biswabhusan Harichandan today decried the apathetic attitude shown by the UPA government in extending assistance to flood affected districts of Orissa.
Talking to reporters after reviewing the repair and restoration work, Mr Harichandan said: “It is unfortunate that the Central government has not yet sent an official team to assess the damage caused by flood waters in 18 of the 30 districts in the state."
“Still worse is the fact that Union Home minister Mr Shivraj Patil’s declaration of Rs 500 crore assistance for relief work is yet to reach the state,” he remarked.
“Mr Patil had visited the flood affected areas on 23 September and declared an immediate assistance of Rs 500 crore but we are yet to receive the sum,” he alleged.
The minister said: “Damages caused to the roads, culverts and other rural infrastructure calls for expenditure of over Rs 420 crore. Over 1,300 breaches have taken place and 508 Prime Minister Gram Sarak Yojana roads damaged," while providing a detailed list of the damaged roads, culverts, and buildings under the rural development department.
Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, Oct 13: Rural development minister Mr Biswabhusan Harichandan today decried the apathetic attitude shown by the UPA government in extending assistance to flood affected districts of Orissa.
Talking to reporters after reviewing the repair and restoration work, Mr Harichandan said: “It is unfortunate that the Central government has not yet sent an official team to assess the damage caused by flood waters in 18 of the 30 districts in the state."
“Still worse is the fact that Union Home minister Mr Shivraj Patil’s declaration of Rs 500 crore assistance for relief work is yet to reach the state,” he remarked.
“Mr Patil had visited the flood affected areas on 23 September and declared an immediate assistance of Rs 500 crore but we are yet to receive the sum,” he alleged.
The minister said: “Damages caused to the roads, culverts and other rural infrastructure calls for expenditure of over Rs 420 crore. Over 1,300 breaches have taken place and 508 Prime Minister Gram Sarak Yojana roads damaged," while providing a detailed list of the damaged roads, culverts, and buildings under the rural development department.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)