STAFF WRITER 11:22 HRS IST
New Delhi, Aug 9 (PTI) A committee of the Environment Ministry has given the green signal to the Vedanta Group to set up its university in over 6,000 acres of land on the Puri-Konark Marine Drive in Orissa, notwithstanding protests from locals and activists.Raising environmental concerns, locals have been protesting the state government's move to acquire land alleging that it would not only displace 22 villages but also threaten the wildlife habitat in the region."The government is offering community land to the MNC (Vedanta Group) in the name of education without keeping in mind the interests of locals."Balukanda sanctuary which is the habitat of deer and has water bodies has been offered to Vedanta on a platter," alleged Vasudev, an activist of the Vedanta Vishvidhayala Virodhi Sangarsh Samiti.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Task Force in higher education - a welcome step
Govt admits lacunae in higher education policy TNN 8 August 2009, 11:09pm IST
BHUBANESWAR: Orissa does not have a higher education policy and over 95 per cent of the department's annual budget is spent on salaries of teachers
and other university and college staff. The state government, which admitted to these facts on Saturday, decided to set up a task force to deal with the problems in higher education and come up with a concrete roadmap. "We want to revamp the higher education system and chalk out a five-year plan. We have asked vice-chancellors of all universities, technical and management institutes along with academicians for suggestions," higher education minister Debi Prasad Mishra said. "We are also planning to come up with a deliverable framework for 2020." Academicians have expressed concern over the acute shortage of teachers in the state and declining standards of students going for higher education. Vice-chancellor of Sambalpur University A K Pujari said, "Filling up of the vacant teacher's posts in colleges will solve problems of most universities. The government must provide complete autonomy to educational institutions for better functioning." Toeing a similar line, vice-chancellor of Utkal University Binayak Rath said, "The entire education system has been hit by red-tapism and negative mindset. There is an acute dearth of good and committed teachers and absolutely no atmosphere for research."Higher education secretary Madhusudan Padhi said, "The task force likely to be formed by October will be an apex body of higher education. It will prepare a plan for growth of higher education. Four sub-committees will provide suggestion for expansion, curricular concerns, governance and regulations and financing of higher education." Secretary of Orissa Private Engineering Colleges' Association (Opeca), Binod Dash said, "This is an irony that technical education comprising of engineering and management is under the purview of industries department. Acute shortage of quality teachers and no uniformity in fee structure are some of the major problems."
BHUBANESWAR: Orissa does not have a higher education policy and over 95 per cent of the department's annual budget is spent on salaries of teachers
and other university and college staff. The state government, which admitted to these facts on Saturday, decided to set up a task force to deal with the problems in higher education and come up with a concrete roadmap. "We want to revamp the higher education system and chalk out a five-year plan. We have asked vice-chancellors of all universities, technical and management institutes along with academicians for suggestions," higher education minister Debi Prasad Mishra said. "We are also planning to come up with a deliverable framework for 2020." Academicians have expressed concern over the acute shortage of teachers in the state and declining standards of students going for higher education. Vice-chancellor of Sambalpur University A K Pujari said, "Filling up of the vacant teacher's posts in colleges will solve problems of most universities. The government must provide complete autonomy to educational institutions for better functioning." Toeing a similar line, vice-chancellor of Utkal University Binayak Rath said, "The entire education system has been hit by red-tapism and negative mindset. There is an acute dearth of good and committed teachers and absolutely no atmosphere for research."Higher education secretary Madhusudan Padhi said, "The task force likely to be formed by October will be an apex body of higher education. It will prepare a plan for growth of higher education. Four sub-committees will provide suggestion for expansion, curricular concerns, governance and regulations and financing of higher education." Secretary of Orissa Private Engineering Colleges' Association (Opeca), Binod Dash said, "This is an irony that technical education comprising of engineering and management is under the purview of industries department. Acute shortage of quality teachers and no uniformity in fee structure are some of the major problems."
My Dream Orissa Blog
Being an oriya and ardent fan of orissa culture, it's people and state, I thought to create a platform where we can discuss positive developments in our state. I have been going through different blogs/news report searching for orissa/bhubaneswar news and gets happy to see if there is any good news. This has been haqppenning since last 5-6 years when I was posted in mangalore in southern india. The kind of develoment I saw in south, is something I never imagined in orissa. I felt humiliated when people from other states think that orissa means floods/cyclones/poverty and on similar lines. I try to explain that its not the orissa which I am born. I try to tell the positive stories in orissa. Being there, I thought Orissa must develop and develop in such a way that it's at par or better than all other states. It's a big challenge and the things that did not happen in last 60 yrs of independence must happen now. There are various reasons for orissa being underdeveloped. Few of the reasons are 1) large tribal population 2)frequent natural calamities 3)lower industry base/agriculture being the main driver for the economy 4) lethargic attitude of people 5) central govt apathy 6) leadership issues - both at state and central level. There may be some more factors as well but these are the major ones. The compounding effect is that orissa is at the bottom of many socio economic parameters. I strongy believe that education is the key driver for the turnaround of the state. There have been positive developments in education sector for orissa lately be it setting up national level institutions like IIT, NISER, CU, WCU. These along with private universities like vedanta and Sri Sri would change the education landscape in orissa. This will help the state to prospor and supply man power for the various industries being set up here. Still, there is a long way to go. Primary and secondary education also needs focus. The school drop out rate in orissa is very high. This needs to be controled and parents need to be encouraged for good education of their children. We have been fortunate with natural resources. Till now, it has not benefited the peopl of orissa. The industries must be asked to do local employment and contribute towards society. Its a welcome step that MCL is setting up a medical collage in talcher. All industries should be asked to do similar things and invest in the education sector. East and orissa will rise with all these and emerge as the number one state in india. Thanks to our current leader Naveen Patnaik, things are going in good direction and we are all hopeful about the future.
Friday, August 7, 2009
For a picture-perfect state
For a picture-perfect state
;Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, 7 AUG: A picture is worth a thousand words, and keeping this in mind, the state government has decided to set up a permanent photo gallery in the capital city.
While paying a visit to the digital photo wing of the information and public relation department today, chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik announced that the gallery would be set up at a prominent place in Bhubaneswar.
The gallery will host exhibition during November-February every year, he added.
It will go a long way in disseminating information on freedom fighters and other great sons of the state, its culture, history and tradition, handloom and handicrafts, development activities pertaining to agriculture, irrigation etc, tribal life style and other important features of the state, Mr Patnaik hoped.
Earlier in the day, he had planted a Magnolia sapling in the office premises.
Among others, information and public relation minister Mr Prafulla Samal, secretary Mr RN Das, director Mr BP Mohanty were present during the chief minister's visit.
;Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, 7 AUG: A picture is worth a thousand words, and keeping this in mind, the state government has decided to set up a permanent photo gallery in the capital city.
While paying a visit to the digital photo wing of the information and public relation department today, chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik announced that the gallery would be set up at a prominent place in Bhubaneswar.
The gallery will host exhibition during November-February every year, he added.
It will go a long way in disseminating information on freedom fighters and other great sons of the state, its culture, history and tradition, handloom and handicrafts, development activities pertaining to agriculture, irrigation etc, tribal life style and other important features of the state, Mr Patnaik hoped.
Earlier in the day, he had planted a Magnolia sapling in the office premises.
Among others, information and public relation minister Mr Prafulla Samal, secretary Mr RN Das, director Mr BP Mohanty were present during the chief minister's visit.
Srei to roll out IPTV services in Orissa
Srei to roll out IPTV services in Orissa
BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar August 08, 2009, 0:08 IST
SREI Sahaj E-Village Limited, a subsidiary of the Kolkata-based Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited, plans to roll out IPTV (internet protocol television) services at its 20 common service centres (CSCs) in the rural areas of Orissa by the end of this year.
Among all the CSCs of SREI Sahaj E-Village Limited across the country, the IPTV service would be first launched in Orissa at its centre at Kalahandi .
Sabahat Azim, chief executive officer, SREI Sahaj e-Village Limited said, “Our IPTV services would be first launched at the CSC at Kalahandi in Orissa by the end of this month. The content of the IPTV would focus on the local culture and traditions of the people. The IPTV service is also aimed at offering education and entertainment to the rural folks.”
IPTV is a system through which digital television service is delivered using the architecture and networking methods of the internet protocol over a packet switched network infrastructure.
Meanwhile, SREI Sahaj e-Village has tied up with DLF Pramerica Life Insurance, a 74:26 joint venture between realty firm DLF Limited and US-based Prudential Financial to offer insurance services to the rural people at the CSCs.
The insurance services would be rolled out at the company’s 200 CSCs throughout the country by the end of this month.
“Our CSCs would offer services like premium collection and uploading of policies of the individual customers. We will also organise mass awareness campaigns on the insurance products for the rural people”, said Azim.
SREI Sahaj was also planning to launch its banking services at 200 CSCs in Orissa by the end of this month.
The company has tied up leading banks like State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and HDFC Bank to enable the people in rural areas to open bank accounts at the CSCs.
SREI Sahaj has started a pilot trial of this project along with PNB at Panapur village, about 25 km from Patna.
The company’s data centres would be connected to the data centres of these banks and the people can carry out the banking transactions through the CSCs which will maintain al the records of the bank accounts.
The banking correspondents would be roped in to provide the banking services at the CSCs.
SREI Sahaj is also looking to engage the banking correspondents to disburse payments to the workers of the Centre’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).
Moreover, SREI Sahaj is planning to kick off the work of data collection on the Mid-Day Meals programme soon at its CSCs in West Bengal. Under this initiative, the company would prepare a monthly report on the status of the scheme.
The company was also aiming to roll out more services in the future like e-commerce, matrimonial services, distance education and postal services.
SREI Sahaj E-Village has lined up an investment of Rs 1,000 crore for the next five years for implementing its projects in three phases. The company has so far set up more than 11,000 CSCs across the country including 1,100 centres in Orissa.
BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar August 08, 2009, 0:08 IST
SREI Sahaj E-Village Limited, a subsidiary of the Kolkata-based Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited, plans to roll out IPTV (internet protocol television) services at its 20 common service centres (CSCs) in the rural areas of Orissa by the end of this year.
Among all the CSCs of SREI Sahaj E-Village Limited across the country, the IPTV service would be first launched in Orissa at its centre at Kalahandi .
Sabahat Azim, chief executive officer, SREI Sahaj e-Village Limited said, “Our IPTV services would be first launched at the CSC at Kalahandi in Orissa by the end of this month. The content of the IPTV would focus on the local culture and traditions of the people. The IPTV service is also aimed at offering education and entertainment to the rural folks.”
IPTV is a system through which digital television service is delivered using the architecture and networking methods of the internet protocol over a packet switched network infrastructure.
Meanwhile, SREI Sahaj e-Village has tied up with DLF Pramerica Life Insurance, a 74:26 joint venture between realty firm DLF Limited and US-based Prudential Financial to offer insurance services to the rural people at the CSCs.
The insurance services would be rolled out at the company’s 200 CSCs throughout the country by the end of this month.
“Our CSCs would offer services like premium collection and uploading of policies of the individual customers. We will also organise mass awareness campaigns on the insurance products for the rural people”, said Azim.
SREI Sahaj was also planning to launch its banking services at 200 CSCs in Orissa by the end of this month.
The company has tied up leading banks like State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and HDFC Bank to enable the people in rural areas to open bank accounts at the CSCs.
SREI Sahaj has started a pilot trial of this project along with PNB at Panapur village, about 25 km from Patna.
The company’s data centres would be connected to the data centres of these banks and the people can carry out the banking transactions through the CSCs which will maintain al the records of the bank accounts.
The banking correspondents would be roped in to provide the banking services at the CSCs.
SREI Sahaj is also looking to engage the banking correspondents to disburse payments to the workers of the Centre’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).
Moreover, SREI Sahaj is planning to kick off the work of data collection on the Mid-Day Meals programme soon at its CSCs in West Bengal. Under this initiative, the company would prepare a monthly report on the status of the scheme.
The company was also aiming to roll out more services in the future like e-commerce, matrimonial services, distance education and postal services.
SREI Sahaj E-Village has lined up an investment of Rs 1,000 crore for the next five years for implementing its projects in three phases. The company has so far set up more than 11,000 CSCs across the country including 1,100 centres in Orissa.
Zensar Technologies to open campus in orissa
Zensar Technologies, the Rs 900 crore RPG Group’s software services company, expects Rs 200 crore from its domestic business this fiscal, up from Rs 40 crore last year. In an interview with PRADIPTA MUKHERJEE, Vice-Chairman and CEO Ganesh Natarajan says the company is on an expansion and hiring mode, defying the freeze in the industry. Excerpts:
Zensar was incurring losses for a while. What is the situation now?
Over the last three years, we had invested close to Rs 7 crore in our business process outsourcing (BPO) and technology and services businesses. Our BPO business was incurring losses of Rs 10 crore, because it takes time to break even. Right now, all our businesses have turned profitable and we have seen a 35 per cent year-on-year growth.
What are your growth projections?
We expect a 10-12 per cent revenue increase and 20 per cent increase in profits this fiscal. In 2008-09, we posted revenue of Rs 908 crore and a profit of Rs 86 crore.
Currently 68 per cent of our revenues come from offshoring deals, BPO business makes for 5 per cent, while 28 per cent of our revenues come from enterprise services.
We are also aiming at 10 per cent of our revenues from India. Currently, 98 per cent of our turnover is from exports. Last year, our domestic business was around Rs 40 crore, but this year we are targeting Rs 200 crore. This is possible because while our export revenue continues to be hit by the global recession, domestic business has been picking up.
Is Zensar expanding in terms of manpower and infrastructure?
We are looking at recruiting a total of 350 people this fiscal, of which 200 would be campus recruits. Last fiscal, we recruited around 550 people. We are hiring less this year compared to the last one, because attrition in our organisation has come down from 18 per cent earlier to 1.8 per cent right now.
Our immediate infrastructure expansion includes setting up a 4-acre campus in Orissa this fiscal for an investment of Rs 20-25 crore, which would become our second biggest campus after Pune. We would be employing close to 2,500 people in Orissa, while our Pune campus employs 3,000 people.
How would you achieve the revenue growth you expect?
Our focus areas this year would be hosted solutions, business intelligence, procurement and supply chain solutions and insurance. Another focus area this year would be on the education and healthcare space, since these sectors are recession-proof. For instance, we have bagged a Rs 5-6 crore education project in the first phase, in Jammu & Kashmir. The project involves digitally connecting three campuses in the state, which would also help satellite education, among other things.
We are also looking at spending Rs 100 crore into acquisitions that would help us double our revenues. We are looking at companies in the knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) and remote infrastructure space, with a turnover of around Rs 100 crore.
Also, we have inked the single largest deal of over $17 million with a significant insurance company in the US. At present, Zensar has an order book of over Rs 200 crore.
Are you hiring more locally?
Currently, we have 14 offices and 4,700 employees globally, of which 400 are non-Indians. Our aim is to have 10-12 per cent of our total employees to be locally employed, due to dependence on local language and requirements.
Are export markets improving?
With an uncertain global market, we are looking for more business in emerging markets in India, China, South Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Japan, Singapore and Australia. Around 40 per cent of our business should come from these countries in 5-10 years. At present, 59 per cent of the business comes from the US, 30 per cent from Europe and the rest from other parts of the world. From January-March 2009, there was not much business but it has begun picking up now.
Zensar was incurring losses for a while. What is the situation now?
Over the last three years, we had invested close to Rs 7 crore in our business process outsourcing (BPO) and technology and services businesses. Our BPO business was incurring losses of Rs 10 crore, because it takes time to break even. Right now, all our businesses have turned profitable and we have seen a 35 per cent year-on-year growth.
What are your growth projections?
We expect a 10-12 per cent revenue increase and 20 per cent increase in profits this fiscal. In 2008-09, we posted revenue of Rs 908 crore and a profit of Rs 86 crore.
Currently 68 per cent of our revenues come from offshoring deals, BPO business makes for 5 per cent, while 28 per cent of our revenues come from enterprise services.
We are also aiming at 10 per cent of our revenues from India. Currently, 98 per cent of our turnover is from exports. Last year, our domestic business was around Rs 40 crore, but this year we are targeting Rs 200 crore. This is possible because while our export revenue continues to be hit by the global recession, domestic business has been picking up.
Is Zensar expanding in terms of manpower and infrastructure?
We are looking at recruiting a total of 350 people this fiscal, of which 200 would be campus recruits. Last fiscal, we recruited around 550 people. We are hiring less this year compared to the last one, because attrition in our organisation has come down from 18 per cent earlier to 1.8 per cent right now.
Our immediate infrastructure expansion includes setting up a 4-acre campus in Orissa this fiscal for an investment of Rs 20-25 crore, which would become our second biggest campus after Pune. We would be employing close to 2,500 people in Orissa, while our Pune campus employs 3,000 people.
How would you achieve the revenue growth you expect?
Our focus areas this year would be hosted solutions, business intelligence, procurement and supply chain solutions and insurance. Another focus area this year would be on the education and healthcare space, since these sectors are recession-proof. For instance, we have bagged a Rs 5-6 crore education project in the first phase, in Jammu & Kashmir. The project involves digitally connecting three campuses in the state, which would also help satellite education, among other things.
We are also looking at spending Rs 100 crore into acquisitions that would help us double our revenues. We are looking at companies in the knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) and remote infrastructure space, with a turnover of around Rs 100 crore.
Also, we have inked the single largest deal of over $17 million with a significant insurance company in the US. At present, Zensar has an order book of over Rs 200 crore.
Are you hiring more locally?
Currently, we have 14 offices and 4,700 employees globally, of which 400 are non-Indians. Our aim is to have 10-12 per cent of our total employees to be locally employed, due to dependence on local language and requirements.
Are export markets improving?
With an uncertain global market, we are looking for more business in emerging markets in India, China, South Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Japan, Singapore and Australia. Around 40 per cent of our business should come from these countries in 5-10 years. At present, 59 per cent of the business comes from the US, 30 per cent from Europe and the rest from other parts of the world. From January-March 2009, there was not much business but it has begun picking up now.
Orissa, US universities tie up for research
Bhubaneswar, Aug 7 (IANS) Orissa’s Berhampur University has tied up with Riverside University of California for collaboration in research and faculty development.Berhampur University’s Vice-Chancellor B.K.Sahu said the agreement will allow students and faculty members from both institutions to go to the other for study and research.
The MBA department will avail of the benefit initially, he added.
Initially both the universities will hold joint academic events such as seminars. But later it will be expanded to collaborative academic research and exchange of scientific information. The agreement has been signed for five years initially, and can be extended later.
Riverside University Vice-Chancellor Raj Singh called the agreement a “win-win” situation for both universities.
“It will also help the business students from the USA as more number of companies is setting shop here. Initially we will start with exchange program which will be expanded later,” he said, adding the university was also looking for tie-ups with other Indian universities like Allahabad Agricultural University.
The MBA department will avail of the benefit initially, he added.
Initially both the universities will hold joint academic events such as seminars. But later it will be expanded to collaborative academic research and exchange of scientific information. The agreement has been signed for five years initially, and can be extended later.
Riverside University Vice-Chancellor Raj Singh called the agreement a “win-win” situation for both universities.
“It will also help the business students from the USA as more number of companies is setting shop here. Initially we will start with exchange program which will be expanded later,” he said, adding the university was also looking for tie-ups with other Indian universities like Allahabad Agricultural University.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)