Vedanta University Project conducts capacity-building training programmes for local farmers

November 27th, 2009

Training programme in progress
Training programme in progress

Puri, 27-11-09: With the objective of providing practical exposure and capacity-building of local farmers for improved agricultural practices, a series of training programmes have been conducted recently by the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation under its farmers’ livelihood initiative, SAFAL (Sustainable Action for Farmers’ Livelihood). The training programmes have been conducted over a period of more than one month, between 13th October and 23rd November, with active participation of the officials of SAFAL and the two farmers’ cooperatives formed under the SAFAL initiative earlier. About 286 farmers from 12 villages in and around the Vedanta University Project site enthusiastically participated in the training programmes as per schedule. While the modality and the schedules of the training programmes were coordinated by the officials of SAFAL and the said farmers’ cooperatives, Jay Jagannath Krushak Samabaya Ltd, Chalisbatia and Baba Beleswar  Krushak  Samabaya Ltd, Chhaitana, reputed resource persons and experts in the concerned field imparted  training to the farmers.

Resource persons and experts provided intensive training to different groups of farmers belonging to different villages on cultivation of pulses like Green gram and Black gram as well as flowers like Marigold and Sunflower. Issues and problem areas like proper seeds, seed treatment, soil compatibility, soil nutrients, use of bio-fertilisers, cropping pattern, scientific inputs, nursery management, disease and pest control, crop storage and marketing were discussed threadbare with special focus on their solution. Benefits available to farmers, their Self Help Groups and Cooperatives, under National Horticulture Mission (NHM), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), etc were also discussed and farmers’ queries were answered. Explaining the objective of these training programmes, Prashanta Hota, GM, CSR & PR says, “Capacity building of farmers on identified sub sectors is a major thrust area as far as adoption of improved agricultural practices in the operational area are concerned. Given the over-all objective of significantly augmenting farmers’ family income under our SAFAL initiative, success of such training programmes are quite crucial. We are very happy with the enthusiastic response and participation of the local farmers in all our programmes.” Expressing satisfaction with the steady progress of the farmers’ livelihood initiative, SAFAL, Sanjeev Anand Zutshi , Director of Vedanta University Project says, “ At a time when the state of agriculture and the lot of farmers are a matter of great concern in Orissa as well as the country as a whole, the progress of SAFAL is quite heartening. I am sure, this initiative will not only bring about a significant improvement in the farm sector and the farmers’ income in and around our project area, but also, it will set an example for others.”

 

Resource persons and experts in different farming sub sectors like B.C. Barik, Assistant Horticulture Officer, Nimapara;  Jagabandhu Mishra, Assistant Agriculture Officer, Gop; Prakash Chandra Panda, Agri Business-cum-Extension Specialist, SAFAL; Nakula Chandra Patra, Consultant, NFSM, Puri; Bibiram Swain, Plant Protection Officer, Puri; Bikash Prusty, Assistant Agriculture Officer, Puri; M.N.Swain, Deputy Director, Agriculture, Puri; Ganesh Chandra Das, Dept. of Agriculture, Bhubaneswar; Dr Debasis Mishra, Area Manager, JK Agrigenetics, Bhubaneswar;  Ranjitav Mohanty, MD, OASIS Nurseries, Bhuaneswar and Satya Narayan Sahoo, Marketing Officer, Pioneer Seeds, Bhubaneswar  participated in the training programmes  so as to make them successful. Participating farmers were also taken on exposure visits to different agricultural fields under hybrid paddy cultivation and to OASIS Nurseries at Bhubaneswar in order to gain first-hand knowledge and experience.

 

For details, please contact:

Kishore Chandra Das

Head, Communications

9437012258

kishore.das@vedanta.edu.in

 

Ashis Kumar Acharya

Public Relations Officer

9937107444

ashis.acharya@vedanta.edu.in

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Impressive success of Vedanta University Project sponsored industrial trainees

October 27th, 2009

27-10-2009, Puri: The Vedanta University Project sponsored trainees have done exceedingly well in their 1st year term ending examination at Sri Industrial Training Centre, Patrapada, Bhubaneswar where  they are pursuing a two-year industrial training certificate course. Whereas the average mark scored by these trainees is more than 60 %, Sridhar Baral and Rajendra Sahoo have been able to top the list in the Electrician and Fitter trade, respectively, from amongst 126 students in each category. Expressing happiness about his success, Rajendra Sahoo of Chaittana village who has topped in the Fitter trade, says, “I am extremely thankful to Vedanta University Project for giving us the opportunity to pursue such a professional course. We are sure that with sincere efforts we can find good jobs and do well in life.” Sridhar Baral of Kantigorada village, who has topped in the Electrician trade, nods in agreement.

Since last year, 38 young people from the project impacted families have been sponsored by the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation for a two-year industrial training course at Sri Industrial Training Centre, Bhubaneswar.  Out of these 38 sponsored students, 19 have been admitted in the Electrician trade and the remaining 19 have been admitted in the Fitter trade. The main objective of this initiative is to equip these youths with some employment oriented technical skills so that they can find better earning opportunities. This is part of the on-going community development/empowerment initiatives of the Vedanta University project and Anil Agarwal Foundation is taking care of all expenses of these sponsored students. These students have been doing quite well in their studies and extracurricular activities, and their performance in the regular monthly examinations has been impressive also.

Along with the technical training and the usual extracurricular activities like sports and yoga, care is also taken to develop the personality of the students and their social consciousness, by involving them in various community welfare programmes. As the Principal of the industrial training centre says, “The idea of this training is not only to provide technical education to the students but also to develop their soft skills for an improved personality. That is why, these students are actively taking part in activities like blood donation, flood relief, etc”. As part of their training programme, the students are also sent on exposure trips to different organizations in order to gain hands-on job experience. During the last academic term, the students of Fitter Trade have visited Hirakud Power Project and the students of Electrician Trade have visited Gopalpur Port.

VUP sponsored Students in Electrical workshop

VUP sponsored Students in Electrical workshop

It may be noted here that Anil Agarwal Foundation, a not-for-profit philanthropic organization established by the Chairman of Vedanta Resources Plc, is setting up a world class, multidisciplinary University near Puri that will provide quality higher education to 100, 000 students in 95 academic disciplines. While endeavouring to build this University, the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation is also taking up various community development initiatives in the areas of health, education, livelihood, peripheral development, sports and culture, in order to enrich the life of the people residing in the vicinity. The much appreciated SAFAL (Sustainable Action for Farmers’ Livelihood) and the provision of industrial training for the youths of project impacted families, are amongst the initiatives currently undertaken in the livelihood sector. The success of Vedanta University Project sponsored industrial trainees underscores the point that given the right opportunity, people and especially the youth will be able to make good use of their talent and do well in life.

For more information, please contact:

Kishore Chandra Das

Head, Communications

Contact No. : 9437012258

E-mail id: Kishore.das@vedanta.edu.in

 

Ashis Kumar Acharya

Public Relations Officer

Contact No. : 9937107444

E-mail id: ashis.acharya@vedanta.edu.in

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Successful marketing of paddy by local farmers, under the SAFAL initiative of Vedanta University Project

September 18th, 2009

Members of the cooperative during paddy marketing

Members of the cooperative during paddy marketing

Puri, 18-9-09:

For the first time,12 farmers of Sundara village, Puri have successfully sold 144.75 quintals of paddy at their door step through an institutional process, at a total price of Rs. 1,27,439/-, setting a benchmark in paddy marketing in the area. This marketing has been done by the Jay Jagannath Krushak Samavaya Ltd, Chalisbatia, a farmers’ cooperative formed under the livelihood initiative SAFAL of Vedanta University Project, in collaboration with  MARKFED (Marketing Federation of India) and  RMC (Regulated Market Committee). The farmers could sell paddy at the Government recommended price, ranging from Rs. 845/- to Rs. 864/- per quintal depending upon quality, as against the price ranging from Rs 750/- to Rs 760/-, normally offered by the local traders. The paddy has been procured by the K.C. Rice Mill, Chandanpur.

 

 

On the spot determination of price was done by the Secretary, RMC at the village itself and he also helped in the grading of paddy, sorting and price tagging. This marketing of paddy was facilitated by Vedanta University Project under its SAFAL initiative. The main objective of this marketing was to avoid distress sale of paddy, to provide a market to the small and marginal farmers at their door step and to get them some instant income in order to meet the current farming cost of paddy (uprooting, transplantation, weeding of paddy, etc). Moreover, this exercise could make the farmers’ cooperative and their clients acquainted with the Government’s paddy procurement process. The farmers’ co-operative, Jay Jagannath Krushak Samavaya Ltd could familiarize itself with the entire process of institutional marketing like, listing of the farmer’s name and the quantity of paddy to be sold, contacting the buyer, arranging things at the paddy collection point, listing of the sale price, etc.

This marketing process has been very encouraging to all concerned. Purna Chandra Biswal of Sundara village, one of the farmers who has sold his paddy says,” For the first time we have received a good price. We were not aware of the process of selling paddy through Govt. channel and it is definitely helpful to farmers like us”. Similarly, Debraj Pradhan, a farmer of the same village and also a member of Jay Jagannath Samavaya Ltd, says, “This marketing process has given us a lot of confidence. We have learnt how to sell our farm produce at a better price”.

 It can be recalled that the main objective of the SAFAL initiative of Vedanta University Project is to increase the family income of small and marginal farmers, empower them through institutionalized community structures (farmer’s SHGs, Cooperatives, etc), facilitate their negotiation of key linkages in the value chains and thus, mainstream them. So far, 78 Farmers’ Self Help Groups (FSHGs) have been formed under this initiative comprising 1081 farmers from 20 different villages. 2 cooperatives, namely, Jaya Jagannath Krushak Samavaya Ltd and Baba Beleswar Krushak Samabaya Ltd and 3 farmers’ clubs with the support of NABARD have also been formed.

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Satisfactory Progress of livelihood initiative SAFAL, launched by the Vedanta University Project, AAF

September 2nd, 2009

SAFAL review meeting in progress

SAFAL review meeting in progress

Puri, 2-9-09: “We are lagging behind states like Gujurat, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, etc because, our people are not participating in the development process. It is heartening that so many farmers of Puri are actively participating in the developmental initiative, SAFAL, undertaken by the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation. I am sure, they can make a difference”, said Mr. Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, Collector-cum-District Magistrate, Puri, during the first review meeting of SAFAL (Sustainable Action for Farmers’ Livelihood), on Tuesday. The review meeting brought together the local farmers’ representatives, officials of facilitating government departments like agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, etc of Puri district, officials of participating banks, officials of Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation and those of the partnering developmental NGO, ACCESS.

After a brief presentation by the officials of ACCESS on the progress of SAFAL so far and the road map for the future, an open house discussion was held. All those present in the meeting, including the farmers’ representatives, were quite happy with the progress already made and they expressed confidence about taking things forward to attain the developmental objectives. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Soumendra Priyadarshi, SP, Puri said, “SAFAL project of Anil Agarwal Foundation has already proven itself as a successful initiative for the farmer’s upliftment, in a short period of time, and I am sure it will add to the economic development of the area”. Mr. Arjuna Pradhan, a local farmer and a member of the farmers’ cooperative, Jaya Jagannath Krushak Samabaya Ltd, formed under SAFAL project said, “We have visited Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh with the help of Vedanta University Project and have acquired knowledge on various aspects of agriculture, marketing, cooperative formation, etc. Now we are confident that we can increase our farm income significantly”. Mr. Gagan Bihari Mohanty, District Agriculture Officer, said, “Only Public-Private-Partnership can take the state forward. The farmers of Puri have got an opportunity from Anil Agarwal Foundation. They should make the most of this initiative and the support system. There is no doubt that together we can initiate an ever-green revolution”.

It can be recalled that the main objective of the SAFAL, launched by the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation towards the end of last year, is to encourage the farmers to move away from the low paying conventional paddy cultivation and to adopt more paying cash crop farming as well as other allied activities like dairy. The project aims at significantly augmenting family income of the local farmers through capacity building, use of better farming techniques and tools, organizing them into cooperatives, providing bank and marketing linkages and the like. It also aims at making the farmers aware of the on-going Government schemes so as to benefit from them. So far, 78 Farmers’ Self Help Groups (FSHGs) have been formed under the project, comprising 1081 farmers from 20 different villages. 2 cooperatives, namely, Jaya Jagannath Krushak Samabya Ltd and Baba Beleswar Krushak Samabaya Ltd and 3 farmers’ clubs with the support of NABARD have also been formed. After successful training programmes and demo-cultivation of marigold, tuberose, watermelon, etc, the local farmers are being progressively mobilized to take to cash crop cultivation. Periodic trips to agriculturally developed states are also being organized to give these farmers hands-on exposure on better farming and allied practices.

The review meeting was presided over by Mr Sanjeev Anand Zutshi, Director, Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation while the District Collector and SP were the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour, respectively. Among others present in the meeting were, Mr. D. N. Dash, Area Manager, Neelachal Gramya Bank; Mr. M. N. Swain, Dy. Director of Agriculture, Puri; Mr. Gagan Bihari Mahanty, District Agriculture Officer, Puri; Mr. Pramodananda Mahapatra, Sub Divisional Veterinary Officer, Puri; officials of Irrigation Department, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Orissa State Seeds Corporation (OSSC), Banks, RMC, NABARD and MARKFED; officials of Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation and of ACCESS as well as the representatives of local farmers. Mr. Prashant Hota, GM, CSR & PR of Vedanta University Project thanked all of them and the MLA, Mr Maheswar Mohannty for the success of SAFAL so far, and requested all of them for continued support in days to come.

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VUP sponsors fresh batch of students to study at DAV School, Puri

August 19th, 2009

Puri, 19-08-2009: Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation has sponsored a fresh batch of 139 children from the project impacted villages, to study in DAV Public School at Puri in the current academic session of 2009-10. Out of them, 100 have joined the DAV Oriya medium school and 39 have joined the DAV English medium school, passing the entrance test and fulfilling all criteria for admission. With the induction of these 139 children, the total number of Vedanta University Project sponsored students studying in DAV Public school, Puri, has risen to 414. Total number of students studying in the DAV English medium school has thus risen to 140 and the total number of students studying in the DAV Oriya medium school has gone up to 274. This is very much in line with the commitment of Vedanta University Project to facilitate quality education for 500 children from the project impacted villages. Some more students are expected be admitted in the next phase.

Like the 275 children admitted last year, all the newly admitted students are being provided with free school bags, uniforms, shoes, books and water bottles so as to make them ready and eager  for regular schooling. Four 40-seater buses have been provided, since last year, for the transport of these students from their respective villages to school and back. Vedanta University Project is bearing all the educational expenses of these children. Nutritious mid-day meal is also provided to all the students of DAV school, since last year. As of now, the daily mid-day meal scheme caters to as many as 830 students.

Vedanta University Project has also contributed towards the improvement of infrastructure in the existing DAV school at Puri, including construction of a new block of classrooms. It is worth mentioning here that on the initiative of the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation, an Oriya medium school, named DAV High School, has been started by the DAV society at Puri since last year. This school is catering to the educational needs of a majority of children from the Vedanta University Project impacted villages.

At present, the Oriya medium school is functioning in the same premises as the English medium school. But the University project of Anil Agarwal Foundation has plans to construct a separate building of 10,000 sq ft on 3 acres of land, for this new school. This new school will have all facilities like modern classrooms, staff room, laboratory, library, activity room, computer room, toilets as well as space for sports and games.

It may be recalled that Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation has signed an MOU with the DAV society to provide quality education to 500 children from the project impacted villages. The main objective of this initiative is to provide quality education to the children of the project impacted villages so that they can have better opportunities for progress in life and  can also join the world class Vedanta University later.

 

For queries, please contact:

Kishore Chandra Das

Head, Communications

9437012258

kishore.das@vedanta.edu.in

 

Ashis Kumar Acharya

Public Relations Officer

9937107444

ashis.acharya@vedanta.edu.in

 

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Vedanta University Project sponsors Arm Wrestler from Puri, to participate in the world meet

August 5th, 2009

Mr. S.A.Zutshi handing over the cheque to Ms. Rasmirenu Guru

Mr. S.A.Zutshi handing over the cheque to Ms. Rasmirenu Guru

Puri, 5-8-09: In keeping with its endeavour to promote sports in Orissa and the country as a whole, Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation has come forward to sponsor Ms. Rasmirenu Guru of Puri, Orissa, to participate in the 31st World Arm Wrestling Championship scheduled to be held in Italy from 6th to 13th September, 2009.

The support provided by Vedanta University Project is based on the huge potential of this local sportsperson as far as the sporting discipline of Arm wrestling is concerned. The support is intended to relieve this competitor of financial worries so as to help her concentrate on the game and perform better. Success of Ms Guru in a world sporting event will encourage other sportspersons of Puri and Orissa to perform well and succeed in other national and international sporting arenas, bringing laurels to themselves and to our state.

While presenting the sponsorship cheque to Ms. Rasmirenu, Mr. Sanjeev Anand Zutshi, Director, Vedanta University Project said, “I believe that sports represent the most spirited and energetic facet of a society. Arm Wrestling is a popular sport and has tremendous potential in India like some other power sports. Such sportspersons need support and encouragement. I wish Ms Rashmirenu all the very best for the World Championship.”

Accepting the cheque Ms. Rasmirenu Guru said, “I am extremely thankful to the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation and its Director Mr. Zutshi for helping me out. I could not have got a chance to participate in the world championship without their support. I am working really hard to be successful there and bring a good name to my state”.

It is worth mentioning here that Ms. Rasmirenu Guru is the only participant from Orissa taking part in the World Arm Wrestling Championship to be organized at Italy. Born and brought up at Puri, Ms. Guru has been able to establish herself as a sportsperson of repute by dint of hard work and determination. She has won competitions like All India Arm Wrestling Championship, 2008 and All Orissa Arm Wrestling Championship, 2009. She has also won the 2nd position in the National Arm - Wrestling Championship, organized by the National Arm Wrestling Federation in 2009. Apart from this, she has also successfully participated in various district and state level competitions.

It may be reiterated that Anil Agarwal Foundation, a not-for-profit philanthropic organization established by the Chairman of Vedanta Resources Plc, is building a world class, multidisciplinary University near Puri. When complete, Vedanta University will have provision of quality higher education and cutting-edge research in 95 academic disciplines for 100,000 students. While endeavouring to build this world class and global scale University, the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation is also taking up various measures in the areas of health, education, livelihood, peripheral development, sports and culture, in order to enrich the life of the local community. Its people-friendly programmes and policies during the last two and half years have been greatly appreciated by one and all.

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Vedanta University Project’s pilgrim friendly services during Rath Yatra

July 13th, 2009

Distribution of biscuits and water pouches

Distribution of biscuits and water pouches

Puri, 13th July, 09: Taking cue from its well received service initiatives last year, Vedanta University Project has diligently served lakhs of pilgrims and devotees during Ratha Yatra at Puri this year also. Under the supervision of the Director and senior Management of Vedanta University Project, a whole gamut of services were planned and successfully implemented. A team of more than 800 volunteers comprising Vedanta employees and youth of the affected areas of Vedanta University Project at Puri was instrumental in delivering various services to the pilgrims.

The 12000 square feet rest shed at Talabania, on the outskirts of Puri town, was a major attraction for visiting pilgrims. Thousands took shelter here during Rath Yatra, Bahuda, and Sunabesha. Many of them used this facility since the evening of 23rd June till 3rd July. This water proof rest shed was equipped with electric lights, fans and floor mats. All those coming here were provided with safe drinking water and biscuits. There was provision for emergency medical care and first aid centre, where about 900 patients were attended to. The entire place was also guarded round the clock for the safety of people and the Vedanta officials were present there round the clock to take personal care of the pilgrims.

During Rath Yatra, Bahuda and Sunabesha 5, 00,000 ISI marked water pouches and 1, 00,000 ISI marked biscuit packets were distributed amongst the people at 11 locations like Balagandi, Badasankha, Gajapati Nagar Chhak, Marichi Kot Chhak, sea beach, etc. Some local NGOs also partnered with Vedanta for this purpose. Ambulance services were provided at Talabania on the Rath Yatra day and near the Gundicha temple till Bahuda, 2nd July. From 25th June, the day after Rath Yatra till 2nd July, an information kiosk and a first aid centre remained open near the Gundicha Temple. While the information kiosk attracted a whole lot of people who were interested to know all about the proposed Vedanta University, 1192 patients were treated at the first aid centre.

In order to create the right ambience and heighten the devotional mood, several arrangements for rendering of devotional songs were also made in association with local cultural organisations all through the festival where thousands of people participated with a lot of enthusiasm. Banners and hoardings carrying devotional messages were put up at several places by Vedanta University Project so as to add to the pomp and ceremony of the festive occasion.

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Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik joins hands with Vedanta University Project

July 2nd, 2009

Puri, 1-7-09: Internationally acclaimed sand artist from Puri, Sudarsan Pattnaik has joined hands with the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation as a public relations adviser and associate. The objective of this association is the promotion of his distinct art form and the popularisation of the traditional art and culture of Orissa in different places in our country and abroad.

Born and brought up at Puri, Sudarsan Pattnaik has been able to establish himself as an extraordinary sand artist of international repute, by dint of hard work and perseverance. Apart from winning the World Champion title in the international sand art championship at Berlin in 2008, this self taught artist has won many a national and international award already, taking the local sand art tradition to an unprecedented level. To keep alive this beautiful art form and also to provide training to budding artists, Sudarsan Pattnaik has started the open air Golden Sand Art Institute at the sea beach at Puri, since 1994. He has also been travelling to different parts of India and abroad, holding workshops and demonstrations, in order to popularise this art from. Giving this art form a new social relevance, among other things, Sudarsan has also been using it to create public awareness about various events and issues of local and global importance. All this has made Sudarsan very popular and he has emerged as a youth icon.

Expressing happiness about his association with the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation, Sudarsan Pattnaik says, “As Vedanta University will take education in our state and country to a new height, their association and support will also give a further boost to my mission of propagating and popularising our tradition and culture through sand art”. Commenting on the association with Sudarsan Pattnaik, the Director of Vedanta University Project, Sanjeev Anand Zutshi  says, “We are extremely happy and proud to join hands with such an eminent artist of Puri and Orissa. Our commitment to the growth of local art and culture will be further strengthened. And this will help us reach out to the people of Puri and Orissa in a more meaningful way, so as to create a lasting bond”.

It may be reiterated that Anil Agarwal Foundation, a not-for-profit philanthropic organisation established by the Chairman of Vedanta Resources Plc, is building a world class multidisciplinary University near Puri. When complete, Vedanta University will have provision of quality higher education and cutting-edge research in 95 academic disciplines for 100,000 students. While endeavouring to build this world class and global scale University, the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation is also taking up various measures in the areas of health, education, livelihood peripheral development, sports and culture, in order to enrich the life of the local community. Its people-friendly programmes and policies during the last two and half years have been greatly appreciated by one and all.

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Vedanta University Project facilitates farmers’ exposure trip to Maharastra

June 6th, 2009

Farmers in front of the Ahemadabad Express

Farmers in front of the Ahemadabad Express

Puri, 5th June 2009: 16 farmers of Gop and Puri Sadar blocks of Puri district are out on a 8-day hands on exposure trip to Maharastra, from 3rd to 11th June. This exposure trip has been sponsored by Vedanta University Project, Puri under its livelihood project, ‘SAFAL’ (Sustainable Action for Farmers’ Livelihood), being implemented in collaboration with ACCESS, the specialized NGO partner. These 16 farmers from villages like Chhaitana, Goindol, Utaraswarapada, Paikapada, Kabirajpur and Podotara are accompanied by three project officials. All these farmers are members of various SHGs formed under the SAFAL project.

The group of farmers is expected to gain valuable exposure on cash crop cultivation, micro-irrigation, water management, horticulture, floriculture, dairy etc that will help them to generate a much better yield and more income. Among other things, the team will visit Jain Irrigation System Limited (JISL), Jalgaon, where they will be given training on micro irrigation, water management and horticulture. They will also visit SACRED, a national level NGO at Jalna, Aurangabad, where they will learn about the various aspects of seed production; collective purchase of inputs and marketing; contract farming and watershed development processes. The trip includes a visit to places like Telegaon, where they will interact with the farmers of Abhinav Farmers Club (AFC) which, since 2004, has emerged as a platform of information sharing on all the aspects of farming - what to farm, what to grow, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and marketing of produce. They will be imparted training in Horticulture Training Centre at Telegaon, Pune on floriculture, green house farming and other improved practices. During the trip, they will also be exposed to the Central Research Station of ‘BALF Development Foundation’ in Urulikanchan, Maharastra.

Sending off the farmers’ group at Puri, Mr. P.K.Hota, General Manager, CSR & PR said, “Our farmers will surely benefit from this exposure trip in which they will interact with more successful farmers there. This is part of Vedanta University Project’s developmental efforts that aim to make community life in the region much better than what it is today”.

 It may be noted here that the SAFAL project is expected to benefit about 4000 farmers from 29 villages through cash crop cultivation and allied activities. So far, 799 farmers from 19 villages are already part of the initiative. The main objective of SAFAL is to progressively take the farmers away from the traditional paddy cultivation and introduce them to the more lucrative cash crop cultivation. Under this project, the local farmers have already been trained in marigold, tube-rose and watermelon cultivation. The demo cultivation of marigold, tube-rose, etc has shown quite encouraging results. To take advantage of collective endeavour the farmers have formed as many as 57 SHGs. Cash crop cultivation and allied activities are expected to considerably increase their average family income.

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Setting the stage for optimum medical education

April 13th, 2009

Puri, 12-4-09: A national seminar on “Optimum medical education & ethics in clinical practice” has been organised by Vedanta University on 5 April at Bhubaneswar. It marked the launch of the multi-specialty hospital as part of the Vedanta University project near the Puri-Konark marine drive in Orissa. The seminar was quite contextual given the fact that of late there has been a lot of disillusionment in public mind about the quality of medical education, what with so many medical colleges mushrooming. At the same time, with growing public awareness, questions about clinical practices, doctors’ services and the expenses involved are also cropping up now and then. If medical education is to keep up with the ever-expanding frontiers of medical research and clinical technology, something appropriate surely needs to be done. Allied with this is the issue of quality, accessibility and affordability of medical education. These were the issues and concerns that the national seminar sought to address, bringing together some of the stalwarts and leading lights of medical education and profession.

Padma Bibhushan Prof. Dr. M V S Valiathan, world renowned Cardiac Surgeon and Professor of Cardiology presided over the seminar in which Padma Bhushan Prof. Dr. N K Ganguly, Advisor, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India; Dr Vasantha Muthuswamy, Member, Central Ethics Committee on Human Research, UNESCO,UNAIDS & Founder Secretary, Forum for Ethics Review Committees in Asia-Pacific; Dr G D Ravindran, Professor of Medicine & Medical Ethics, St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore; Dr S K Sarin, Professor & Director, Gastroenterology, G B Pant Hospital, New Delhi; Dr Omkar Nath Mohanty, Vice Chancellor, Biju Pattnaik University of Technology, Orissa; Jean Mah, Principal & Healthcare Planner, Perkins+Wills Health Design Group were the main speakers. In keeping with the theme of the seminar, presentations were made on topics like Excellence in Medical Education, Ethics in Medical Research, Clinical Ethics and Interdisciplinary Study in Medicine. The interactive seminar was attended by more than a hundred distinguished doctors and educationists.

As expected, the quality of presentations was exceptional and the ideas generated were quite engaging, conforming to the ‘out-of-box solutions’ that Dr Valiathan mentioned in his keynote address. There was a general agreement on the urgent need to make medical education more qualitative, accessible and innovative as well as to make it affordable. Not only medical education needs to be in sync with contemporary and futuristic thinking and practices, the issues of health economy and biomedical or clinical practices also need to be in tune with the social context. The seminar was coordinated by Dr K P Misra, cardiologist of international repute and Dr Dipika Mohanty, the award winning former Director of the Institute of Immunohaematology, ICMR, Mumbai. Among other things, the seminar generated a lot of interest in Vedanta University’s upcoming world class multi-specialty hospital and the school of medical sciences that will be based on the core objectives of service, training and research. 

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