By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, July 16: Here’s a good news for the tipplers who tend to rush away straight to sexworkers forgetting to carry a condom with them. The hi tech machines called Any Time Condoms (ATCs)that doles out five condoms after insertion of a five rupee coin will soon hit most of the liquor shops andbars in the city. These machines `as part of the Condom Vending Machine project of the Hindustan LatexLtd under the administrative control of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare' were initially setup in thepan shops, medical shops and petrol bunks on the highway. After understanding the need of the condoms, Society for Education and Environment Development (SEED), an NGO working with the Family WelfareDepartment for identifying hot spots for these condom needs, had taken an initiative to install thesemachines in the bars and liquor shops of the city."After a thorough research and surveys we have identified these liquor shops and bars as most vulnerableplace as they forget to carry a condom with them in that ‘condition’ so we thought of suggesting the barand liquor shop owners to install these machines at their places" said the secretary, SEED, V SanyasiRaju. Till now around 350 such ATCs were installed in the city at various places and in some liquorshops. Very soon they will hit all the other bars and liquor shops. He added that most of the owners hadagreed to keep a machine with them. The caretaker of the machine will get a rupee on every five rupeeinserted as charges for using his premises.One can get a wallet with 3 moods condoms of premium quality after inserting three five rupee coins, awallet of extra time condoms with 2 five rupee coins and Ustaad brand condoms with 1 five rupee coin.The AP State Aids Control Society has been promoting the condoms not only as a protective measure forthe HIV/Aids but also as a tool for family planning. "Our aim was that the condom should be readilyavailable for anyone whether it is used for protection from the dreaded virus or for family planning.Earlier we used to keep manual boxes supplying free condoms. Now these ATCs that work automaticallyare user friendly and are giving good results. Condoms are always safe especially these machines are veryuseful for the people in inebriated conditions" said the Nodal Officer of Aids Control Society and Districtleprosy Officer, Dr P Rajendra Prasad. The condom usage has gone up from 2 percent in 2002 to 60percent now.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Corporation services now a SMS away
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Aug 14: The services provided by the Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation will now become dearer to the user with the new SMS project that they are going to launch very soon. With the new project under T Governance, which is first of its kind in the country being developed, one can know the details of house tax, vacant land tax dues and other details like the birth and death registrations by just sending an SMS to a 4-digit number. The SMS notification server would be connected to the centralized database of the Corporation and retrieves the necessary information whenever a sender seeks information. “We are very happy that any information would be just an SMS away. We are waiting for the 4-digit number to be allotted for which we are holding discussions with various service providers. The project would be launched very soon,” said the GVMC Commissioner, N Srikanth. The project under T Governance as the name suggests, aims at bridging the gap between the citizens and the government by letting both them access and disperse information using the all prevalent mode of communication- The Telephone, said the Satyendra B, CEO of Dialabs, which designed the project for the GVMC. “Its not that easy to get information from the E Seva centers which was known as user friendly places. We have to wait for long hours to get out turn just to seek small information. But with this project I think the information will be on our finger tips” said a delighted K Paramseh, software professional who came to know about the project. There will be four components under this project- Samacharam- to get any information about the services provided by the authorities through SMS. Prajanadi- fully automated opinion poll gathering system. Dandora- Information Broadcasting and Alert system through SMS and Firyadu Kendram- automated complaint management system. “Not every one can browse Internet to get information but most of the public have mobiles in them. Whenever one needs information he will get it in just few seconds. And the project also does not cost much, but has lot many uses. We are on trail run right now and may launch the new service in a month” said the Officer on Special Duty, IT and HRD of GVMC, P Rambabu.
Visakhapatnam, Aug 14: The services provided by the Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation will now become dearer to the user with the new SMS project that they are going to launch very soon. With the new project under T Governance, which is first of its kind in the country being developed, one can know the details of house tax, vacant land tax dues and other details like the birth and death registrations by just sending an SMS to a 4-digit number. The SMS notification server would be connected to the centralized database of the Corporation and retrieves the necessary information whenever a sender seeks information. “We are very happy that any information would be just an SMS away. We are waiting for the 4-digit number to be allotted for which we are holding discussions with various service providers. The project would be launched very soon,” said the GVMC Commissioner, N Srikanth. The project under T Governance as the name suggests, aims at bridging the gap between the citizens and the government by letting both them access and disperse information using the all prevalent mode of communication- The Telephone, said the Satyendra B, CEO of Dialabs, which designed the project for the GVMC. “Its not that easy to get information from the E Seva centers which was known as user friendly places. We have to wait for long hours to get out turn just to seek small information. But with this project I think the information will be on our finger tips” said a delighted K Paramseh, software professional who came to know about the project. There will be four components under this project- Samacharam- to get any information about the services provided by the authorities through SMS. Prajanadi- fully automated opinion poll gathering system. Dandora- Information Broadcasting and Alert system through SMS and Firyadu Kendram- automated complaint management system. “Not every one can browse Internet to get information but most of the public have mobiles in them. Whenever one needs information he will get it in just few seconds. And the project also does not cost much, but has lot many uses. We are on trail run right now and may launch the new service in a month” said the Officer on Special Duty, IT and HRD of GVMC, P Rambabu.
Zoologist designed structure stands strong
By SNV Sudhir/Visakhapatnam
The municipal authorities first disapproved the plan for this temple in 1982 thinking that the temple structure cannot withstand with bamboos instead steel rods. But the then Municipal Commissioner KV Rao with his personal interest and having confidence upon the design gave a nod for the construction, but no Vizagite knows about this. The temple is none other than the major tourist attraction of the city, the Bhavatarini temple for learning popularly known as 'Kali Temple' on the beach road. The temple is designed on the basis of coral structure using bamboo reinforced cement concrete structure. No steel or iron was used for this construction not even for foundation. The temple, founded by Dayanand Banerjee, was constructed 21 years ago. The foundation, just four feet deep, was laid on sand on a one-foot thick concrete bed instead of the regular columns. Normally if such a huge structure needs to stand on hard soil, it needs at least a seven feet deep foundation and if it is on sand the depth is much more. Despite being right near the sea the structure stands strong without any corrosion.Another interesting fact is that the man who designed this structure is not a civil engineer but a Zoologist, Head of the department of Zoology, Andhra University, Prof A Joseph. The structure is totally against vasthu. The south end has a depression and the northeast is elevated. Being constructed on sand bed it can withstand earthquakes also. Joseph says that Zoology is related to every branch of knowledge and every subject is part and parcel of Zoology. He was inspired by the sea coral and designed accordingly the shape of the temple. Professor says it is animal structural engineering.The construction was started in 1982 and was completed in 1984. Now the present busiest and lovely beach road started developing only after the temple came up here.“ No worker dared to come forward to remove the supporting bamboo beams to the slab, fearing that the slab will collapse since iron was not used anywhere in the construction. I myself with the help of some tribals removed the supporting beams and all the people who anticipated a collapse were shocked to see that it is very strong,” Joseph said.The zoologist used iron in a part of the railing for his own research purpose and it had to be repaired three times because of rust in these years but no other part of this majestic structure underwent major repair. Joseph says that the construction is heat and sound resistant and structurally very safe. Easy to construct, light weight and cheap.
The municipal authorities first disapproved the plan for this temple in 1982 thinking that the temple structure cannot withstand with bamboos instead steel rods. But the then Municipal Commissioner KV Rao with his personal interest and having confidence upon the design gave a nod for the construction, but no Vizagite knows about this. The temple is none other than the major tourist attraction of the city, the Bhavatarini temple for learning popularly known as 'Kali Temple' on the beach road. The temple is designed on the basis of coral structure using bamboo reinforced cement concrete structure. No steel or iron was used for this construction not even for foundation. The temple, founded by Dayanand Banerjee, was constructed 21 years ago. The foundation, just four feet deep, was laid on sand on a one-foot thick concrete bed instead of the regular columns. Normally if such a huge structure needs to stand on hard soil, it needs at least a seven feet deep foundation and if it is on sand the depth is much more. Despite being right near the sea the structure stands strong without any corrosion.Another interesting fact is that the man who designed this structure is not a civil engineer but a Zoologist, Head of the department of Zoology, Andhra University, Prof A Joseph. The structure is totally against vasthu. The south end has a depression and the northeast is elevated. Being constructed on sand bed it can withstand earthquakes also. Joseph says that Zoology is related to every branch of knowledge and every subject is part and parcel of Zoology. He was inspired by the sea coral and designed accordingly the shape of the temple. Professor says it is animal structural engineering.The construction was started in 1982 and was completed in 1984. Now the present busiest and lovely beach road started developing only after the temple came up here.“ No worker dared to come forward to remove the supporting bamboo beams to the slab, fearing that the slab will collapse since iron was not used anywhere in the construction. I myself with the help of some tribals removed the supporting beams and all the people who anticipated a collapse were shocked to see that it is very strong,” Joseph said.The zoologist used iron in a part of the railing for his own research purpose and it had to be repaired three times because of rust in these years but no other part of this majestic structure underwent major repair. Joseph says that the construction is heat and sound resistant and structurally very safe. Easy to construct, light weight and cheap.
Vizag unprepared for Kalachakra tourists
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, December 30: The district tourism department is trying its level best to attract international Buddhist monks to the city of destiny, who would arriving in the State for the ensuing prestigious sacred Kalachakra inunciation to be solemnised by the international Buddhists spiritual leader Dalailama from January 2 to 16 at Amaravathi, Guntur district.It is estimated that more than 1.5 lakh Buddhists will witness the Kalachkra who would come from various parts of the world. Visakhapatnam has prominent Buddhist sites like Bavikonda, Thotlakonda, Pavuralakonda, Bojjanakonda, Gopalapatnam.But those international tourists interested in visiting the Buddhists places in Vizag would be shocked to see these places, as adequate facilities would not be provided for them at these places.There were not even display boards erected near the chaityas, viharas depicting the historical importance of the Buddhists sites. The district tourism department had printed literature to distribute them during the Kalachakra at Amaravathi and also created an exclusive website HYPERLINK "http://www.visakhabudhistsmoments.com" www.visakhabudhistsmoments.com to enable the international tourists for better accessibility to the places. A separate stall was also being at Amaravathi to attract them.But not even a single effort was being made to give a facelift these premises. Speaking to this correspondent the Project Manager of the Kalachakra Organising committee, Thupten Tsewang said Vizag district collector Praveen Prakash met the organizers few days ago and planned for a tourism promotion of the Buddhist places in and around Visakhapatnam.We have taken the brochures of the Vizag sites and supplied them to all our concerned offices. And whoever tourist visit these offices may pick those brochures and may visit Vizag added Thupten. The district torism officer, G Subbarao said that they cannot step into the above buddhsits sites as it was archelogy departments duty to take care of these places including erecting those display boards, maintenance etc. The Assistant Director of department of Archeology, Mr PrasadaRao is not available to comment.The Buddhist places like Thotlakonda and Bavikonda are considered to be the very promiennet budhist places in the country.Thotlakonda happens to be the only site that has been explored and excavated completely and for which a report too has been made available. For the first time, the report was brought out on the layout and pattern of growth of a Buddhist monastic establishment in the coastal Andhra region, said a veteran budhist of the city, BS Chalam.Archeologists felt the absence of clear data from Kalinga Empire for tracing Buddhist cultural links with Sri Lanka and various parts of South East Asia has been filled up to some extent by the excavations at Thotlakonda. They even felt that this place provided a good starting point to understand the process of trans - oceanic diffusion of Indian culture and particularly Buddhism Chalam.
Visakhapatnam, December 30: The district tourism department is trying its level best to attract international Buddhist monks to the city of destiny, who would arriving in the State for the ensuing prestigious sacred Kalachakra inunciation to be solemnised by the international Buddhists spiritual leader Dalailama from January 2 to 16 at Amaravathi, Guntur district.It is estimated that more than 1.5 lakh Buddhists will witness the Kalachkra who would come from various parts of the world. Visakhapatnam has prominent Buddhist sites like Bavikonda, Thotlakonda, Pavuralakonda, Bojjanakonda, Gopalapatnam.But those international tourists interested in visiting the Buddhists places in Vizag would be shocked to see these places, as adequate facilities would not be provided for them at these places.There were not even display boards erected near the chaityas, viharas depicting the historical importance of the Buddhists sites. The district tourism department had printed literature to distribute them during the Kalachakra at Amaravathi and also created an exclusive website HYPERLINK "http://www.visakhabudhistsmoments.com" www.visakhabudhistsmoments.com to enable the international tourists for better accessibility to the places. A separate stall was also being at Amaravathi to attract them.But not even a single effort was being made to give a facelift these premises. Speaking to this correspondent the Project Manager of the Kalachakra Organising committee, Thupten Tsewang said Vizag district collector Praveen Prakash met the organizers few days ago and planned for a tourism promotion of the Buddhist places in and around Visakhapatnam.We have taken the brochures of the Vizag sites and supplied them to all our concerned offices. And whoever tourist visit these offices may pick those brochures and may visit Vizag added Thupten. The district torism officer, G Subbarao said that they cannot step into the above buddhsits sites as it was archelogy departments duty to take care of these places including erecting those display boards, maintenance etc. The Assistant Director of department of Archeology, Mr PrasadaRao is not available to comment.The Buddhist places like Thotlakonda and Bavikonda are considered to be the very promiennet budhist places in the country.Thotlakonda happens to be the only site that has been explored and excavated completely and for which a report too has been made available. For the first time, the report was brought out on the layout and pattern of growth of a Buddhist monastic establishment in the coastal Andhra region, said a veteran budhist of the city, BS Chalam.Archeologists felt the absence of clear data from Kalinga Empire for tracing Buddhist cultural links with Sri Lanka and various parts of South East Asia has been filled up to some extent by the excavations at Thotlakonda. They even felt that this place provided a good starting point to understand the process of trans - oceanic diffusion of Indian culture and particularly Buddhism Chalam.
Lal Bahadur Shastry gets a raw deal again
By SNV Sudhir/Visakhapatnam
Yet another year in succession, the second prime minister of the country and freedom fighter Lal Bahadur Sasstry was neglected on his birth anniversary. One of the reason could be his birth anniversary coinciding with that of the father of nation Mahatma Gandhi.. No doubt Mahatma has his own place in the hearts of every Indian and his statue in every Gulli of the country. In the city of destiny, Sastry is humiliated in every place in the city perhaps not done in any part of the country. All the newspapers and electronic media beamed picures of netas garlanding the statue of Gandhi but not one on Shastryji. The netas who has to follow the foot steps of Lal Bahadur Shastry for his political values not even observed his birthday. Few days ago a group of senior citizens of the city were shocked to notice that the only Lal Bahadur Shastry’s statue of the city was missing from its place opposite to Municipal Corporation. Later when they probed into the issue they found out that the statue was removed from its place for some reasons by Corporation authorities. The group submitted a letter to the district administration and the corporation authorities on September 22 saying the statue was missing from the place and requested the administration to install the statue temporarily by October 2nd to garland Shastryji’s statue on his 101 birth anniversary. Shockingly there was no response.“We gave a letter to the district administration and the municipal corporation authorities ten days before so that they can arrange by October 2nd. But they kept mum” said Thynala Vijay Kumar a former Congress corporator. Another interesting fact is that this statue was brought from the Town hall of old town in 2003, as it was not taken care by anyone there. The then Mayor of the city Rajana Ramani unveiled the statue opposite to Municipal Corporation. “We tried hard to get this statue from the Town hall to this place as it was neglected there but there was no use. Now, the authorities vanished the statue from here also. I don’t know why this is happening only to Shastryji’s statue. The same statue was neglected twice which was the only one for the entire city,” said Pappu Sri Ram Murthy, a 65 year oldman said“We thought that the authorities will be temporarily installing Shashtryji’s statue aside of the existing Gandhiji’s statue opposite to Municipal Corporation, so that we could celebrate both birth anniversaries at a time” said Dhamma Nageswara Rao a 70 year old man.Visakhapatnam city has several statues of various personalities on the beach road including one of Rajiv Gandhi’s. The Municipal Commissioner N Srikanth said, “The statue is in a safe place. Because of some road alignment works we had to remove the statue. We will be erecting it after December as the alignment work completes by that time.”
Yet another year in succession, the second prime minister of the country and freedom fighter Lal Bahadur Sasstry was neglected on his birth anniversary. One of the reason could be his birth anniversary coinciding with that of the father of nation Mahatma Gandhi.. No doubt Mahatma has his own place in the hearts of every Indian and his statue in every Gulli of the country. In the city of destiny, Sastry is humiliated in every place in the city perhaps not done in any part of the country. All the newspapers and electronic media beamed picures of netas garlanding the statue of Gandhi but not one on Shastryji. The netas who has to follow the foot steps of Lal Bahadur Shastry for his political values not even observed his birthday. Few days ago a group of senior citizens of the city were shocked to notice that the only Lal Bahadur Shastry’s statue of the city was missing from its place opposite to Municipal Corporation. Later when they probed into the issue they found out that the statue was removed from its place for some reasons by Corporation authorities. The group submitted a letter to the district administration and the corporation authorities on September 22 saying the statue was missing from the place and requested the administration to install the statue temporarily by October 2nd to garland Shastryji’s statue on his 101 birth anniversary. Shockingly there was no response.“We gave a letter to the district administration and the municipal corporation authorities ten days before so that they can arrange by October 2nd. But they kept mum” said Thynala Vijay Kumar a former Congress corporator. Another interesting fact is that this statue was brought from the Town hall of old town in 2003, as it was not taken care by anyone there. The then Mayor of the city Rajana Ramani unveiled the statue opposite to Municipal Corporation. “We tried hard to get this statue from the Town hall to this place as it was neglected there but there was no use. Now, the authorities vanished the statue from here also. I don’t know why this is happening only to Shastryji’s statue. The same statue was neglected twice which was the only one for the entire city,” said Pappu Sri Ram Murthy, a 65 year oldman said“We thought that the authorities will be temporarily installing Shashtryji’s statue aside of the existing Gandhiji’s statue opposite to Municipal Corporation, so that we could celebrate both birth anniversaries at a time” said Dhamma Nageswara Rao a 70 year old man.Visakhapatnam city has several statues of various personalities on the beach road including one of Rajiv Gandhi’s. The Municipal Commissioner N Srikanth said, “The statue is in a safe place. Because of some road alignment works we had to remove the statue. We will be erecting it after December as the alignment work completes by that time.”
A 100 days wait for one last look
SNV Sudhir/Visakhapatnam
It’s more than 100 days since Surapu Rajulamma received the shocking news of husband’s death but continues to nurture the hope of seeing his body some day. Her only lifeline now is his recorded voice sent to her a few days before he supposedly committed suicide.Surapu Appiah, a fisherman of the remote Geddalapadu village, Santabommali mandal of Srikakulam district, aspiring for a better life for himself and his two children, went to Kuwait in April. He paid Rs 80,000 to a Bazi of Rajahmundry, an agent.On June 9, the dreadful morning 28-year-old Rajulamma will never forget, she was informed through a telegram from the Indian embassy at Kuwait that Apaiah had died by hanging himself on May 8 and requested the consent of the family to either cremate the body there or pay Rs 3,000 for the body to be sent to their village. Poor innocent people who could not understand the message ignored it. They received a similar telegram again on June 25 that they managed to comprehend. The amount was sent to the Kuwaiti officials within two days. But the body wasn’t sent as promised.When this correspondent tried to speak to the tearful Rajullamma, she couldn’t utter a word. “She was the most active woman in our group; so bubbly and full of energy. Now she just keeps gazing at the sky trying to spot the aircraft that would bring her husband’s body,” says Manemma, Rajulamma’s mother in law.On the other hand, the death of Apaiah raises many doubts. Just a few days before his death, Appaih had sent an audiocassette stating that he was fine. The family alleges that the agents at Kuwait who recruited Appiah might have killed him. Some of the letters Appiah sent to his family clearly indicate that the agents, Krishna Reddy and Karimullah were harassing him. They used to lock him in a room and beat him. The job he was recruited for was apparently some ‘company work’ but he was asked to work in laundries and look after sheep. When contacted the local agent, Baji of Rajahmundry, who had earlier told the family that his job ended with sending the man abroad, says, “It takes at least a month for a dead body to come from Kuwait after many formalities. But even I’m confused why it is taking so long now. I am trying to get the body with the help of Karimullah and Krishna Reddy.”
It’s more than 100 days since Surapu Rajulamma received the shocking news of husband’s death but continues to nurture the hope of seeing his body some day. Her only lifeline now is his recorded voice sent to her a few days before he supposedly committed suicide.Surapu Appiah, a fisherman of the remote Geddalapadu village, Santabommali mandal of Srikakulam district, aspiring for a better life for himself and his two children, went to Kuwait in April. He paid Rs 80,000 to a Bazi of Rajahmundry, an agent.On June 9, the dreadful morning 28-year-old Rajulamma will never forget, she was informed through a telegram from the Indian embassy at Kuwait that Apaiah had died by hanging himself on May 8 and requested the consent of the family to either cremate the body there or pay Rs 3,000 for the body to be sent to their village. Poor innocent people who could not understand the message ignored it. They received a similar telegram again on June 25 that they managed to comprehend. The amount was sent to the Kuwaiti officials within two days. But the body wasn’t sent as promised.When this correspondent tried to speak to the tearful Rajullamma, she couldn’t utter a word. “She was the most active woman in our group; so bubbly and full of energy. Now she just keeps gazing at the sky trying to spot the aircraft that would bring her husband’s body,” says Manemma, Rajulamma’s mother in law.On the other hand, the death of Apaiah raises many doubts. Just a few days before his death, Appaih had sent an audiocassette stating that he was fine. The family alleges that the agents at Kuwait who recruited Appiah might have killed him. Some of the letters Appiah sent to his family clearly indicate that the agents, Krishna Reddy and Karimullah were harassing him. They used to lock him in a room and beat him. The job he was recruited for was apparently some ‘company work’ but he was asked to work in laundries and look after sheep. When contacted the local agent, Baji of Rajahmundry, who had earlier told the family that his job ended with sending the man abroad, says, “It takes at least a month for a dead body to come from Kuwait after many formalities. But even I’m confused why it is taking so long now. I am trying to get the body with the help of Karimullah and Krishna Reddy.”
Voters demand better booze
SNV Sudhir/Visakhapatnam
Petty politicians of the jaggery town of Anakapalle are in dilemma as the Generation X voters of the place are not ready to sell their valuable vote to the arrack and cheap liquor. This was the situation, which they never expected would arise. Now these politicians got good kick without raising a toast. This is the state of all the political parties. They are not able to find the reason behind the realization of voters. Usually liquor flows during the D-day. “Its our turn now why should we lose our chance. All the time we consume the cheap stuff.. At least let us have a costly one at their cost, as we cannot afford at normal times. Pandagaputa kuda pacchadi annamena” says Thathalu, a farmer. It is learnt that these politicians had purchased the stocks of cheap liquor worth Rs 25,000 per ward for the 34 wards of Anakapalli, without having any idea of what the voters are waiting for .Now they are confused as what to do with the huge stocks. The condition of the small time politicians is even worst as they were entangled between the top brass politicians and the common voter. They can neither convince the top brass politicians nor the common voter. “They are asking for one full bottle of Royal Stag whisky or Mansion House brandy or McDowell whisky per tow persons which is a very costly affair. I’m confused what to do now. I never faced this sort of situation in my 15 years of political life. Even though if we provide the costly liquor we are not sure whether they cast vote to our party or not, Who knows it after they go in” said a petty politician anonymously. “We are not able to convince our party apex people nor the commoner” said another person. “Politicians remembers us only at the time of elections. But this time let them remember us till the next elections as it will be a shock for them.” Ramayya a daily labourer said. Sources said it was liquor syndicate which egged on the voters to demand for IMFL.
Petty politicians of the jaggery town of Anakapalle are in dilemma as the Generation X voters of the place are not ready to sell their valuable vote to the arrack and cheap liquor. This was the situation, which they never expected would arise. Now these politicians got good kick without raising a toast. This is the state of all the political parties. They are not able to find the reason behind the realization of voters. Usually liquor flows during the D-day. “Its our turn now why should we lose our chance. All the time we consume the cheap stuff.. At least let us have a costly one at their cost, as we cannot afford at normal times. Pandagaputa kuda pacchadi annamena” says Thathalu, a farmer. It is learnt that these politicians had purchased the stocks of cheap liquor worth Rs 25,000 per ward for the 34 wards of Anakapalli, without having any idea of what the voters are waiting for .Now they are confused as what to do with the huge stocks. The condition of the small time politicians is even worst as they were entangled between the top brass politicians and the common voter. They can neither convince the top brass politicians nor the common voter. “They are asking for one full bottle of Royal Stag whisky or Mansion House brandy or McDowell whisky per tow persons which is a very costly affair. I’m confused what to do now. I never faced this sort of situation in my 15 years of political life. Even though if we provide the costly liquor we are not sure whether they cast vote to our party or not, Who knows it after they go in” said a petty politician anonymously. “We are not able to convince our party apex people nor the commoner” said another person. “Politicians remembers us only at the time of elections. But this time let them remember us till the next elections as it will be a shock for them.” Ramayya a daily labourer said. Sources said it was liquor syndicate which egged on the voters to demand for IMFL.
Vizag sand to build planes
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Mar 1: Thousands of regular beach goers of the city know very little that the golden sands, which they often tread, have rich and rare hidden mineral treasures. It was proved that of the entire 950kms of east coast of Andhra Pradesh right from Srikakulam in the north to Nellore district in the south and the stretch between Kakinada and Itchapuram is enriched with rare minerals like ilmenite, rutile, garnet, monazite, silliminate, and zircon which were not explored of its value since ages.“Ilmenite is a titanium bearing mineral is used in making aircrafts, defence equipment and artillery due to its qualities of light weight and corrosion free nature. It can withstand any kind of environment, the reason for which it is used in making aircrafts. Most of the material used in aircraft making is of light weight titanium. Beach sand of the north coastal Andhra has huge reserves of this ilmenite,” said Prof C Kasipathi of department of geology, Andhra University. Of the total 375 million tonnes of proved ilmenite reserves across the country Andhra Pradesh stands first by having an estimated reserves of 116MT which was left unexploited till now. Kasipathi, known as man of mining and mineral exploration observes that minerals like ilmenite, rutile et al has huge demand in the international markets as they are found rarely and said that globally India stands third next to Australia and South Africa in having ilmenite reserves but stands sixth in production or mining of these minerals. He attributed several factors like lack of political will and other issues that made the country stand in sixth position in mining of the rarest of the rare mineral which has lot of demand in international markets. The Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation had recently signed three MoUs to mine these minerals with an estimated investment of Rs 7,500 crores from the firms along the coast in Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts. APMDC would be getting 26 percent equity in all the three MoUs without any investment. According to the first MoU, with Stork Handlges of Austria and Bothli Trades AG of Switzerland, they would mine these minerals in 8,237 hectares of area allotted to them at Lawsons Bay, Bheemili, Konada, Kandivalasa and Koyyam in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts, Bendi, Baruva and Donkur in Srikakulam district. Official sources said that the mining would provide direct employment to around 20,000 people in the north coastal Andhra districts. Another MoU was signed with Indian based VV Minerals allotting 1,500 hectares in Srikakulam district and the third one was signed with Trimax, another local agency, to which 10,000 hectares was allocated at Kalingapatnam and Bavanampadu. As per the agreement reached between the Austrian and Switzerland firms 10-lakh tones of ilmenite would be extracted per year. Sand separation plant would be setup to produce value added products like synthetic rutile and titanium dioxide. The project officer of the APMDC D Radhakrishna said that the mining work is yet to start in the region as only MoUs were signed and are waiting for some statutory clearances. However, environmentalists fear the project would create environmental imbalance in the region.
Visakhapatnam, Mar 1: Thousands of regular beach goers of the city know very little that the golden sands, which they often tread, have rich and rare hidden mineral treasures. It was proved that of the entire 950kms of east coast of Andhra Pradesh right from Srikakulam in the north to Nellore district in the south and the stretch between Kakinada and Itchapuram is enriched with rare minerals like ilmenite, rutile, garnet, monazite, silliminate, and zircon which were not explored of its value since ages.“Ilmenite is a titanium bearing mineral is used in making aircrafts, defence equipment and artillery due to its qualities of light weight and corrosion free nature. It can withstand any kind of environment, the reason for which it is used in making aircrafts. Most of the material used in aircraft making is of light weight titanium. Beach sand of the north coastal Andhra has huge reserves of this ilmenite,” said Prof C Kasipathi of department of geology, Andhra University. Of the total 375 million tonnes of proved ilmenite reserves across the country Andhra Pradesh stands first by having an estimated reserves of 116MT which was left unexploited till now. Kasipathi, known as man of mining and mineral exploration observes that minerals like ilmenite, rutile et al has huge demand in the international markets as they are found rarely and said that globally India stands third next to Australia and South Africa in having ilmenite reserves but stands sixth in production or mining of these minerals. He attributed several factors like lack of political will and other issues that made the country stand in sixth position in mining of the rarest of the rare mineral which has lot of demand in international markets. The Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation had recently signed three MoUs to mine these minerals with an estimated investment of Rs 7,500 crores from the firms along the coast in Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts. APMDC would be getting 26 percent equity in all the three MoUs without any investment. According to the first MoU, with Stork Handlges of Austria and Bothli Trades AG of Switzerland, they would mine these minerals in 8,237 hectares of area allotted to them at Lawsons Bay, Bheemili, Konada, Kandivalasa and Koyyam in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts, Bendi, Baruva and Donkur in Srikakulam district. Official sources said that the mining would provide direct employment to around 20,000 people in the north coastal Andhra districts. Another MoU was signed with Indian based VV Minerals allotting 1,500 hectares in Srikakulam district and the third one was signed with Trimax, another local agency, to which 10,000 hectares was allocated at Kalingapatnam and Bavanampadu. As per the agreement reached between the Austrian and Switzerland firms 10-lakh tones of ilmenite would be extracted per year. Sand separation plant would be setup to produce value added products like synthetic rutile and titanium dioxide. The project officer of the APMDC D Radhakrishna said that the mining work is yet to start in the region as only MoUs were signed and are waiting for some statutory clearances. However, environmentalists fear the project would create environmental imbalance in the region.
Medicos work out alternatives to fly to the US
SNV SudhIr/Visakhapatnam
Medicos desirous of pursuing PG in the US generally apply for a PG in some other stream to gain entry into the country.After completion of MBBS, medicos face an uphill task comprising four long steps of MLE (Medical Licencing Examination), the gateway for medico’s to enrol for PG in the US. Students prefer to complete two steps here and two in the US.But here the problem starts they say. After the first two steps they have to apply for a visa. “The interviewer most often rejects our visa saying we may become potential migrants and lured by the stipends and salaries a doctor gets there, we will not return,” Nagesh (name changed) a final year MBBS student of Andhra Medical College said under the circumstances of anonymity. ). Medical students say it is not so difficult for engineers and students of other professional courses.A PG course in medicine known as Residency Course in US takes four years and a residency student gets at least $ 6,000 to $ 7,000 per month as stipend. The stakes are much higher after completion of residency. A US study shows that a 10 per cent increase in surgeons leads to 3 to 4 per cent increase in unnecessary surgeries, the phenomenon of supplier induced demand comes to play here. This could also be one of the reasons for visa rejection.“It takes at least one year to complete the first two steps in India and if he is rejected finally at the interview a student’s valuable year gets wasted. Moreover PG entrance patterns in India are entirely different from the US and a student ends up in a huge mess,” says Vikram (name changed). And the rule demands that within seven years from the day one starts the first step of MLE, a medico should complete his PG in US.To overcome the problem, most students write GRE to get admission into American universities for some other PG like hospital management, Public health, et al as it is relatively easier to secure visas for these courses. Then they attempt the four steps of MLE and jump to medical Residency.But the challenge lies in completing these four steps before they complete their PG on which they got their visa. Moreover MLE in the US is a very costly affair, test fee for every step costs approximately Rs 40,000.
Medicos desirous of pursuing PG in the US generally apply for a PG in some other stream to gain entry into the country.After completion of MBBS, medicos face an uphill task comprising four long steps of MLE (Medical Licencing Examination), the gateway for medico’s to enrol for PG in the US. Students prefer to complete two steps here and two in the US.But here the problem starts they say. After the first two steps they have to apply for a visa. “The interviewer most often rejects our visa saying we may become potential migrants and lured by the stipends and salaries a doctor gets there, we will not return,” Nagesh (name changed) a final year MBBS student of Andhra Medical College said under the circumstances of anonymity. ). Medical students say it is not so difficult for engineers and students of other professional courses.A PG course in medicine known as Residency Course in US takes four years and a residency student gets at least $ 6,000 to $ 7,000 per month as stipend. The stakes are much higher after completion of residency. A US study shows that a 10 per cent increase in surgeons leads to 3 to 4 per cent increase in unnecessary surgeries, the phenomenon of supplier induced demand comes to play here. This could also be one of the reasons for visa rejection.“It takes at least one year to complete the first two steps in India and if he is rejected finally at the interview a student’s valuable year gets wasted. Moreover PG entrance patterns in India are entirely different from the US and a student ends up in a huge mess,” says Vikram (name changed). And the rule demands that within seven years from the day one starts the first step of MLE, a medico should complete his PG in US.To overcome the problem, most students write GRE to get admission into American universities for some other PG like hospital management, Public health, et al as it is relatively easier to secure visas for these courses. Then they attempt the four steps of MLE and jump to medical Residency.But the challenge lies in completing these four steps before they complete their PG on which they got their visa. Moreover MLE in the US is a very costly affair, test fee for every step costs approximately Rs 40,000.
Andhra expert gives RSS vastu advice
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, June 10: Vaastu takes care of everything, including security said a senior RSS leader after the terrorists attack on the RSS headquarters at Nagpur on June 1. The incident happened after the RSS started restructuring its building. The troubled RSS got the go ahead nod for the restructuring by the city based 88 year old veteran vaastu expert GSK Arya.“The re construction taken up by them might have resulted in no human loss of RSS and not even a small damage to the headquarters during the recent terrorists attack. Instead the attackers were killed on the spot. It was very hard to identify the terrorists as they were in police uniform and came in a car with the alarming light. But they were killed” said the vaastu expert to this correspondent. He recalled that in the month of February RSS chief K S Sudersan had sent a Swayamsevak to him seeking suggestions on a new construction plan, designed by one Abhishek Deshpande of Nagpur.He also suggested the RSS brigade not to use the huge land lying vacant, south side of the headquarters’ building, for many years. They were using that vacant land since many years and they were asked to abandon it, he said.“The RSS was facing a plethora of problems due to the wrong vaastu in the building. I suggested them to change the present entrance of the building from south to east as the south entrance is inauspicious according to the position of the site” said Arya, who always carries a compass with him.Arya made several trips to Nagpur RSS headquarters and his last trip was about four years ago. The vaastu expert who was basically a building contractor, served as Sanghachalak for Vizag district for a period of six years from 1976. “I used to go to headquarters at Nagpur once in every year to attend annual conferences when I was Sanghachalak. The people in the headquarters never asked me about vaastu in all these years, recently they approached me and I gave some suggestions. I never say vaasthu to anyone unless they ask me, as it’s not my profession,” said Arya. The veteran vaastu expert and the tough RSS person also said that construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya is not an easy task as the entire south side of the 2 ½ acres land, where a Ram temple was proposed in Ayodhya is very deep. At a point he said Sangh Parivar would not be successful in constructing a Ram Temple at Ayodhya due to defects in that site. “Its better to chose another site for construction of the Ram Mandir. Lord Rama is every where in Ayodhya” he said.He was the brain behind the construction of various educational institutions run by RSS in the city like Vignana Vihara School in Gudilova, BVK College, Sri Krishna Vidyamandir, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, which are running successfully.
Visakhapatnam, June 10: Vaastu takes care of everything, including security said a senior RSS leader after the terrorists attack on the RSS headquarters at Nagpur on June 1. The incident happened after the RSS started restructuring its building. The troubled RSS got the go ahead nod for the restructuring by the city based 88 year old veteran vaastu expert GSK Arya.“The re construction taken up by them might have resulted in no human loss of RSS and not even a small damage to the headquarters during the recent terrorists attack. Instead the attackers were killed on the spot. It was very hard to identify the terrorists as they were in police uniform and came in a car with the alarming light. But they were killed” said the vaastu expert to this correspondent. He recalled that in the month of February RSS chief K S Sudersan had sent a Swayamsevak to him seeking suggestions on a new construction plan, designed by one Abhishek Deshpande of Nagpur.He also suggested the RSS brigade not to use the huge land lying vacant, south side of the headquarters’ building, for many years. They were using that vacant land since many years and they were asked to abandon it, he said.“The RSS was facing a plethora of problems due to the wrong vaastu in the building. I suggested them to change the present entrance of the building from south to east as the south entrance is inauspicious according to the position of the site” said Arya, who always carries a compass with him.Arya made several trips to Nagpur RSS headquarters and his last trip was about four years ago. The vaastu expert who was basically a building contractor, served as Sanghachalak for Vizag district for a period of six years from 1976. “I used to go to headquarters at Nagpur once in every year to attend annual conferences when I was Sanghachalak. The people in the headquarters never asked me about vaastu in all these years, recently they approached me and I gave some suggestions. I never say vaasthu to anyone unless they ask me, as it’s not my profession,” said Arya. The veteran vaastu expert and the tough RSS person also said that construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya is not an easy task as the entire south side of the 2 ½ acres land, where a Ram temple was proposed in Ayodhya is very deep. At a point he said Sangh Parivar would not be successful in constructing a Ram Temple at Ayodhya due to defects in that site. “Its better to chose another site for construction of the Ram Mandir. Lord Rama is every where in Ayodhya” he said.He was the brain behind the construction of various educational institutions run by RSS in the city like Vignana Vihara School in Gudilova, BVK College, Sri Krishna Vidyamandir, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, which are running successfully.
Prez says ‘Keep away impossible’
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Feb 12: “Keep yourself away from people who utter the word impossible, ” President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam told the students of Ramanath Secondary school of Naval Science and Technological Laboratory here.Interacting with the children on Sunday, Dr Kalam has narrated a story how the words of Lord Kelvin the president of Royal Society of London and a great scientist of 18th century were proved wrong in 1902 after Wright brothers discovered the aircraft. “Kelvin said that any heavy object cannot fly, but that was proved wrong within a decade and these sort of discoveries could be possible only if one thinks that nothing is impossible and of course science is dynamic” said Kalam.He not only gave suggestions to the children but also advised the teachers to inculcate the sense of oneness and religious tolerance among the children. Answering a query raised by K Nithin, a 9th standard student of the school about terrorism he said terrorism and other social disorders in the society are due to differences in opinions, Kalam recollected his school days and said he was taught daily about all the religious and spiritual leaders like Jesus Christ, Khalifa, Lord Buddha, Einsten, Mahatma Gandhi and Srinivas Ramanujam for one hour at school, which made him a tolerant and peace mongering person. He stressed that if kids are taught in a similar way at their school levels there won’t be any difference of opinions.Answering another query rose by Prashanthi a 10th standard student about the cloning and its impact on India, he said “no” to the cloning. “We are created millions and millions of years ago by the genetic engineering techniques of god and my personal opinion is not to disturb the god’s creation. It would be beneficial if human components like eyes, arms can be cloned” Kalam said. He further stated that three persons are very important in anyone’s life and they are Mother, Father and the elementary teacher.
Visakhapatnam, Feb 12: “Keep yourself away from people who utter the word impossible, ” President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam told the students of Ramanath Secondary school of Naval Science and Technological Laboratory here.Interacting with the children on Sunday, Dr Kalam has narrated a story how the words of Lord Kelvin the president of Royal Society of London and a great scientist of 18th century were proved wrong in 1902 after Wright brothers discovered the aircraft. “Kelvin said that any heavy object cannot fly, but that was proved wrong within a decade and these sort of discoveries could be possible only if one thinks that nothing is impossible and of course science is dynamic” said Kalam.He not only gave suggestions to the children but also advised the teachers to inculcate the sense of oneness and religious tolerance among the children. Answering a query raised by K Nithin, a 9th standard student of the school about terrorism he said terrorism and other social disorders in the society are due to differences in opinions, Kalam recollected his school days and said he was taught daily about all the religious and spiritual leaders like Jesus Christ, Khalifa, Lord Buddha, Einsten, Mahatma Gandhi and Srinivas Ramanujam for one hour at school, which made him a tolerant and peace mongering person. He stressed that if kids are taught in a similar way at their school levels there won’t be any difference of opinions.Answering another query rose by Prashanthi a 10th standard student about the cloning and its impact on India, he said “no” to the cloning. “We are created millions and millions of years ago by the genetic engineering techniques of god and my personal opinion is not to disturb the god’s creation. It would be beneficial if human components like eyes, arms can be cloned” Kalam said. He further stated that three persons are very important in anyone’s life and they are Mother, Father and the elementary teacher.
Now, Konda Doras can read and write their mother tongue
By SNV Sudhir/Visakhapatnam
Now, the Kondadoras of the agency areas of the district can read and write their own mother tongue . Jacob and Susan George, Masters degree holders in Linguistics, from the University of Arlington, Texas gave the written script as a gift to this tribal group. It all started in the year 1979 when the couple wanted to do some research on the tribal languages in India and strayed into the remote village Lakshmipuram in Ananthagiri mandal of the Visakha agency. The earnest desire of the illiterate people to read and write, prompted Jacob and Susan to learn the spoken Konda and develop a script based on Telugu language. From that day they lived among the Kondadoras, ate their food and slept with them. With their close association with this tribe they could assimilate the sounds of their spoken words. They have also prepared storybooks in the Konda language to make them understand their mother tongue in a better way. Jacob and Susan also strived hard to translate the New Testament of the Holy Bible in to the Konda language, which was released very recently. Now these Konda Doras can read the holy book in their mother tongue. Konda language is mainly spoken by this tribal group comprising a population of approximately 20,000. They live in the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh and parts of Koraput district in Orissa. This language belongs to the Dravidian family. The literacy rate was 2 per cent among them. Konda language consists of 32 letters whereas Telugu has 56. For an illiterate Konda it is easy to learn these 32 letters, which helps him first to read and write his mother tongue. Then with the help of the bridge premier, a book designed by them will introduce the rest of the alphabets in Telugu, so that they could read Telugu language. “What we observed while interacting with these Konda Doras that they were not interested in education as it was taught in Telugu which they do not understand at all. Now they are showing interest in going to schools. Once these tribals are taught in their own mother tongue it will develop some interest initially and motivates them to learn more. And education makes a person perfect for better living”, said Jacob. He admitted that they could not take the written script to many places of the agency to teach the Kondas their own language as they have their own constraints like manpower, infrastructure etc.The state government also observed the need for the education in one’s own mother tongue and is introducing the Konda medium at primary levels in 50 schools of agency on experimental basis, says D Annapurnamma, DEO of Paderu. "This is the beginning we will soon learn to write songs in our own language. This written script will help us in creating interest among our children to go to schools" says Someli Ghasi,a farmer.A first book on Phonemic Summary of Konda language was brought out in 1981. The then District collector C S Rao said in his foreword of the book that Jacob and Susan made a systematic attempt to organize the materials in a meaningful manner. He also added that they have analyzed the basic sound units and patterns in an intelligible way into vowels and consonants and graded them into syllables and words in varying their placements. “Initially we learned the Telugu language for six months and then learned to speak Konda. Later we analysed the sound system and developed the grammatical structure,” says a contended Susan.
Now, the Kondadoras of the agency areas of the district can read and write their own mother tongue . Jacob and Susan George, Masters degree holders in Linguistics, from the University of Arlington, Texas gave the written script as a gift to this tribal group. It all started in the year 1979 when the couple wanted to do some research on the tribal languages in India and strayed into the remote village Lakshmipuram in Ananthagiri mandal of the Visakha agency. The earnest desire of the illiterate people to read and write, prompted Jacob and Susan to learn the spoken Konda and develop a script based on Telugu language. From that day they lived among the Kondadoras, ate their food and slept with them. With their close association with this tribe they could assimilate the sounds of their spoken words. They have also prepared storybooks in the Konda language to make them understand their mother tongue in a better way. Jacob and Susan also strived hard to translate the New Testament of the Holy Bible in to the Konda language, which was released very recently. Now these Konda Doras can read the holy book in their mother tongue. Konda language is mainly spoken by this tribal group comprising a population of approximately 20,000. They live in the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh and parts of Koraput district in Orissa. This language belongs to the Dravidian family. The literacy rate was 2 per cent among them. Konda language consists of 32 letters whereas Telugu has 56. For an illiterate Konda it is easy to learn these 32 letters, which helps him first to read and write his mother tongue. Then with the help of the bridge premier, a book designed by them will introduce the rest of the alphabets in Telugu, so that they could read Telugu language. “What we observed while interacting with these Konda Doras that they were not interested in education as it was taught in Telugu which they do not understand at all. Now they are showing interest in going to schools. Once these tribals are taught in their own mother tongue it will develop some interest initially and motivates them to learn more. And education makes a person perfect for better living”, said Jacob. He admitted that they could not take the written script to many places of the agency to teach the Kondas their own language as they have their own constraints like manpower, infrastructure etc.The state government also observed the need for the education in one’s own mother tongue and is introducing the Konda medium at primary levels in 50 schools of agency on experimental basis, says D Annapurnamma, DEO of Paderu. "This is the beginning we will soon learn to write songs in our own language. This written script will help us in creating interest among our children to go to schools" says Someli Ghasi,a farmer.A first book on Phonemic Summary of Konda language was brought out in 1981. The then District collector C S Rao said in his foreword of the book that Jacob and Susan made a systematic attempt to organize the materials in a meaningful manner. He also added that they have analyzed the basic sound units and patterns in an intelligible way into vowels and consonants and graded them into syllables and words in varying their placements. “Initially we learned the Telugu language for six months and then learned to speak Konda. Later we analysed the sound system and developed the grammatical structure,” says a contended Susan.
Muslim is a priest in Hindu temple
SNV Sudhir/Visakhapatnam
One would be surprised to know that the person rendered the Devi Ashothara Sathanamavali with perfect pronunciation in Maa Durga temple on Seethammavari Konda of Payakaraopeta, Visakhapatnam district is a Muslim to the core. Yes, Sheik Mira Saheb of Gopalapatnam village of Payakaraopeta, was performing regular Hindu rituals, pujas strictly following vedic hymns and regulations with sanctity at the temple for the last 10 years. And people from in and around 24 villages throng this place to have a darsan of the sitting deity and to offer pujas, never feel the difference. It all happened exactly 10 years ago when Mira Saheb was like any other rigorous Musalmaan going to Masjid and offering Namaz five times a day and observing regular Rozas during every holy month of Ramzan. Mira, who used to work as a gardener at the site chosen by the archeologists for excavations of Bhuddhist aramas on the hill Seethammavarikonda, found a three feet statue of the Maa Durga during his regular work of cutting trees. He says it changed the entire course of his life. From that day onwards the Goddess used to come in his dreams, he used to see her wherever he went and whatever he did. A sort of unknown holy feeling developed in within him. Then he decided to personally serve the goddess by performing pujas and other rituals. For that initially he observed the priests of other temples in and around how they were performing their pujas and rituals, as no one would teach him, as he was a Muslim. "One day while I was searching for my Guru I came in contact with a very old man Subramanya Sastry at Pithapuram near Kakinada. He opened his hands and welcomed me without any hesitation. He taught me some basic things for three to four months, even though he got severe opposition from his people. I met him very long back, I don't know whether he is living or dead. But he is a revolutionary kind of person. Later due to my own interest I read many Hindu books and scriptures to know more about Hinduism and the Maa Durga ". But Mira Saheb's son Shiek Khan and relatives never liked his new avatar but never came in his way. "Islam is the greatest religion, my father is a like a black spot of our religion. Our family members and relatives excommunicated him. We are no way concerned with him even though he stays with us. I told him several times to change his attitude but what to do he never listens. I go to Masjid and he goes to temple. But I will admit my children in a Madarsa, as my father may influence my children too" said Khan who runs a mutton shop and a cycle shop. Another interesting thing is Shiek Mira Saheb's wife Mira Bi attends Christian prayers and sometimes goes to Church, which their son Khan doesn't like either. "He stays months together on that hill when he wears Bhavani mala saying that he need to be sacred. I think he is gone Mad." Said Nagur, Mira Saheb's niece.
One would be surprised to know that the person rendered the Devi Ashothara Sathanamavali with perfect pronunciation in Maa Durga temple on Seethammavari Konda of Payakaraopeta, Visakhapatnam district is a Muslim to the core. Yes, Sheik Mira Saheb of Gopalapatnam village of Payakaraopeta, was performing regular Hindu rituals, pujas strictly following vedic hymns and regulations with sanctity at the temple for the last 10 years. And people from in and around 24 villages throng this place to have a darsan of the sitting deity and to offer pujas, never feel the difference. It all happened exactly 10 years ago when Mira Saheb was like any other rigorous Musalmaan going to Masjid and offering Namaz five times a day and observing regular Rozas during every holy month of Ramzan. Mira, who used to work as a gardener at the site chosen by the archeologists for excavations of Bhuddhist aramas on the hill Seethammavarikonda, found a three feet statue of the Maa Durga during his regular work of cutting trees. He says it changed the entire course of his life. From that day onwards the Goddess used to come in his dreams, he used to see her wherever he went and whatever he did. A sort of unknown holy feeling developed in within him. Then he decided to personally serve the goddess by performing pujas and other rituals. For that initially he observed the priests of other temples in and around how they were performing their pujas and rituals, as no one would teach him, as he was a Muslim. "One day while I was searching for my Guru I came in contact with a very old man Subramanya Sastry at Pithapuram near Kakinada. He opened his hands and welcomed me without any hesitation. He taught me some basic things for three to four months, even though he got severe opposition from his people. I met him very long back, I don't know whether he is living or dead. But he is a revolutionary kind of person. Later due to my own interest I read many Hindu books and scriptures to know more about Hinduism and the Maa Durga ". But Mira Saheb's son Shiek Khan and relatives never liked his new avatar but never came in his way. "Islam is the greatest religion, my father is a like a black spot of our religion. Our family members and relatives excommunicated him. We are no way concerned with him even though he stays with us. I told him several times to change his attitude but what to do he never listens. I go to Masjid and he goes to temple. But I will admit my children in a Madarsa, as my father may influence my children too" said Khan who runs a mutton shop and a cycle shop. Another interesting thing is Shiek Mira Saheb's wife Mira Bi attends Christian prayers and sometimes goes to Church, which their son Khan doesn't like either. "He stays months together on that hill when he wears Bhavani mala saying that he need to be sacred. I think he is gone Mad." Said Nagur, Mira Saheb's niece.
Attender’s PhD becomes a text book for AU students
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Mar 18: In the present scenario of youth neglecting research works, falling prey for easy money by working in call centres, Bora Venkata Ramana Reddy becomes an inspiration to them. B V R Reddy, who joined Andhra University as a temporary attender in 1982, is a proud possessor of PhD in Telugu now. He was the first person to get a doctorate from the non-teaching staff of the Telugu department, which was formed in 1931. Andhra University was initially started with lone Telugu department. Till now 255 PhDs and 133 M Phil degrees were awarded in the department. His thesis “Andhra University-spread of functional Telugu” work was just published in a form of 300page book. And now he takes pride himself calling “Dr B V R Reddy”.It all started when Reddy joined the Andhra University as a temporary attender in the Telugu Etymological Scheme in 1982 immediately after writing his SSC exam. After getting inspired seeing the research scholars and the letters “Dr” before the names of the PhD holders, he decided to get a doctorate from the university. He strived hard to attend night classes, at the Bharatiya Tutorials College in Dabagardens between 1982 and 1984, after a day’s hectic work at the department and completed his intermediate.Later he immediately joined in the night college of Mrs AVN College and did his graduation in B Com between 1984-87. Here he got a break for almost 6 years to join Post Graduation through distance mode in MA Telugu due to his personal works. At this juncture responding to a notification released by the varsity administration for typists he applied for it and became a typist in the same department in 1993 as by that time he was qualified as a graduate after toiling at Night College. “Sometimes I still do not believe am I the person who did all these, going to night classes and then completing PG through distance mode besides working as a attender and later typist in the age old Telugu department. That spark which got ignited in me when I joined the department to get a PhD in my lifetime drove me ” said Reddy.He started his research in 1995 and submitted his thesis in 2000. The PhD was awarded in the year 2001. His thesis was just published in 300 pages book and was released by the University press. Book will be sent to the varsity library soon. “It is pride to our department as Reddy who started his career as an attender got a doctorate. University authorities should encourage such people by giving them good avenues which will inspire many other people like him” says the Co Director of Reddy’s research work and HOD of Telugu department, Andhra University, Yelavarthy Viswanadha Reddy. Now Dr B V R Reddy stands beside the famous Telugu writers like Chalamarthy Kanakayya and Vavilala Subbarao who got doctorates from this department. “Telugu language should be given the ancient language status. How can the union government ignore the Telugu language besides the other Dravidian language Tamil was given such status” says Reddy.
Visakhapatnam, Mar 18: In the present scenario of youth neglecting research works, falling prey for easy money by working in call centres, Bora Venkata Ramana Reddy becomes an inspiration to them. B V R Reddy, who joined Andhra University as a temporary attender in 1982, is a proud possessor of PhD in Telugu now. He was the first person to get a doctorate from the non-teaching staff of the Telugu department, which was formed in 1931. Andhra University was initially started with lone Telugu department. Till now 255 PhDs and 133 M Phil degrees were awarded in the department. His thesis “Andhra University-spread of functional Telugu” work was just published in a form of 300page book. And now he takes pride himself calling “Dr B V R Reddy”.It all started when Reddy joined the Andhra University as a temporary attender in the Telugu Etymological Scheme in 1982 immediately after writing his SSC exam. After getting inspired seeing the research scholars and the letters “Dr” before the names of the PhD holders, he decided to get a doctorate from the university. He strived hard to attend night classes, at the Bharatiya Tutorials College in Dabagardens between 1982 and 1984, after a day’s hectic work at the department and completed his intermediate.Later he immediately joined in the night college of Mrs AVN College and did his graduation in B Com between 1984-87. Here he got a break for almost 6 years to join Post Graduation through distance mode in MA Telugu due to his personal works. At this juncture responding to a notification released by the varsity administration for typists he applied for it and became a typist in the same department in 1993 as by that time he was qualified as a graduate after toiling at Night College. “Sometimes I still do not believe am I the person who did all these, going to night classes and then completing PG through distance mode besides working as a attender and later typist in the age old Telugu department. That spark which got ignited in me when I joined the department to get a PhD in my lifetime drove me ” said Reddy.He started his research in 1995 and submitted his thesis in 2000. The PhD was awarded in the year 2001. His thesis was just published in 300 pages book and was released by the University press. Book will be sent to the varsity library soon. “It is pride to our department as Reddy who started his career as an attender got a doctorate. University authorities should encourage such people by giving them good avenues which will inspire many other people like him” says the Co Director of Reddy’s research work and HOD of Telugu department, Andhra University, Yelavarthy Viswanadha Reddy. Now Dr B V R Reddy stands beside the famous Telugu writers like Chalamarthy Kanakayya and Vavilala Subbarao who got doctorates from this department. “Telugu language should be given the ancient language status. How can the union government ignore the Telugu language besides the other Dravidian language Tamil was given such status” says Reddy.
Malaria slows down combing operations in agency areas
By SNV Sudhir/Visakhapatnam
The threatening anopheles mosquito has no reason to spare the armed police keeping guard at the agency areas. The fear of these deadly insects seems to be weighing more on their minds than mosquitoes.Earlier Health Minister, K Rosaiah while speaking to a reporter regarding this problem in agency areas remarked sarcastically that the only way of eradication of mosquitoes would be to chase and kill each mosquito individually with a stone.The mosquito, which causes malaria, must have hit the armed police in the agency areas. More than Maoists, armed police are now scared of mosquitoes in agency areas. Malaria fevers slows down combing operations in the agency areas. Now police had to catch each and every mosquito and kill it with a stone as how the health minister K Rosaiah told a reporter regarding the eradication of mosquitoes in the agency areas during his visit to these areas in the month of July.Inside sources said that the combing operations, search operations were slowed down since one and half months as these operations takes place in the remote forest areas where the government can not take any malaria eradication methods . Professionally trained commandos will take part in the search operations especially in the places where there are signs of militancy in the agency. In Visakhapatnam district 11 mandals were identified as extremists effected areas and police will regularly take part in the search operations.These days much debated topic was the malarial deaths. How ever, Rural Superintendent of Police, VV Srinivasa Rao said that the search parties will be deployed at the places where there is a threat to the civilians from extremists, unlawful assembling by Maoists etc. “ We give designated medical kits to these armed police. And these days we are providing special medicines for malaria” Srinivasa Rao said. Srinivasa Rao also said that the recent incidents like killing of two persons by Maoists, blast of a check post on Friday and another person’s murder on Saturday by the Maoists is not the effect of sluggishness in search operations but the Maoists are trying to react to the Nerrallabanda exchange of fire on August 3, Puttakota exchange of fire in the month of July and the Gunukurayi exchange of fire by which Maoists had to wind up their Guttikonda dalam.
The threatening anopheles mosquito has no reason to spare the armed police keeping guard at the agency areas. The fear of these deadly insects seems to be weighing more on their minds than mosquitoes.Earlier Health Minister, K Rosaiah while speaking to a reporter regarding this problem in agency areas remarked sarcastically that the only way of eradication of mosquitoes would be to chase and kill each mosquito individually with a stone.The mosquito, which causes malaria, must have hit the armed police in the agency areas. More than Maoists, armed police are now scared of mosquitoes in agency areas. Malaria fevers slows down combing operations in the agency areas. Now police had to catch each and every mosquito and kill it with a stone as how the health minister K Rosaiah told a reporter regarding the eradication of mosquitoes in the agency areas during his visit to these areas in the month of July.Inside sources said that the combing operations, search operations were slowed down since one and half months as these operations takes place in the remote forest areas where the government can not take any malaria eradication methods . Professionally trained commandos will take part in the search operations especially in the places where there are signs of militancy in the agency. In Visakhapatnam district 11 mandals were identified as extremists effected areas and police will regularly take part in the search operations.These days much debated topic was the malarial deaths. How ever, Rural Superintendent of Police, VV Srinivasa Rao said that the search parties will be deployed at the places where there is a threat to the civilians from extremists, unlawful assembling by Maoists etc. “ We give designated medical kits to these armed police. And these days we are providing special medicines for malaria” Srinivasa Rao said. Srinivasa Rao also said that the recent incidents like killing of two persons by Maoists, blast of a check post on Friday and another person’s murder on Saturday by the Maoists is not the effect of sluggishness in search operations but the Maoists are trying to react to the Nerrallabanda exchange of fire on August 3, Puttakota exchange of fire in the month of July and the Gunukurayi exchange of fire by which Maoists had to wind up their Guttikonda dalam.
Dumb rock unravels truth
By SNV Sudhir/Visakhapatnam
One needs witnesses and evidences to prove one’s guilt. But here there is no need. . An accused and the affected are enough; rest of all is taken care by a dumb rock. Most of the never-ending cases of 20 to 25 surrounding villages were solved just in fraction of minutes here in a small village Chinna Patchila of Ravikamatham mandal. There is neither court nor a judge to solve these cases but this 200-year-old Sathyapitham unravels every case. The villagers call it as Pedda Rayi. Few months ago Sidda Thathababu who booked a theft case against a person was suggested by police to resolve their issue at Peddarayi after a severe interrogation had failed to achieve any results. The moment the accused approached the rock, the accused became nervous and he confessed to his crime. Villagers believe whoever utters a lie standing on this rock would die within 10 to 15 days. Aravelli Varadacharyulu, priest of the Kodandarama temple whose family is staying in this village for more than 90 years, said that 200 years back the then village head Sasubilli Nagappa Naidu saw a dream. In his dream a village god suggested him to go to Nagallakonda, a nearby hill where he can get a rock to solve social cases, on which saints and sages did tapasya for salvation.. People say it took 3 months for the villagers to roll down the rock to the present place which is approximately 8 kilometers away. From that day onwards if any one do not have any evidences in any case, the village heads ask the accused to go and have a bath in the near by well and bring water in a new pot to the Pedda Rayi where he has to clean the rock, light a lamp and say whatever he wanted to say. The best part of it during this entire episode none would be present in and around the rock. Only the complainant and accused will be there. If the accused lie after lighting the lamp standing on the rock, death will follow him in no time, the villagers strongly believe. Three years back a pregnant woman Ramayamma lied for Rs 50 standing on Pedda Rayi and she died four days later without any severe ailments " I still remember that incident. The woman lost her life just lying for Rs 50" said Thathababu a veteran villager. In a similar way just two years back there was a property dispute between two brothers and one of them Rukla Gangu Naidu killed by lightening, after lying on this rock. "There were many others in the home none died except Gangu Naidu during the lightening which fell only on his house," said Sasubilli Raja Rao who is the descendent of Nagappa Naidu, who installed this rock. It has become a trend in the surrounding villages of Chinnapathcila even in today’s world to approach this rock for justice. " Many cases were solved after years of pending in courts and police stations" said Hari Hara Rao, Sarpanch of the village. "I heard a lot about this Satyapitham, many villagers go to this rock for justice from small disputes to big disputes where they won’t have any evidences or witnesses" said the SI of Ravikamatham, K Malleswara Rao.
One needs witnesses and evidences to prove one’s guilt. But here there is no need. . An accused and the affected are enough; rest of all is taken care by a dumb rock. Most of the never-ending cases of 20 to 25 surrounding villages were solved just in fraction of minutes here in a small village Chinna Patchila of Ravikamatham mandal. There is neither court nor a judge to solve these cases but this 200-year-old Sathyapitham unravels every case. The villagers call it as Pedda Rayi. Few months ago Sidda Thathababu who booked a theft case against a person was suggested by police to resolve their issue at Peddarayi after a severe interrogation had failed to achieve any results. The moment the accused approached the rock, the accused became nervous and he confessed to his crime. Villagers believe whoever utters a lie standing on this rock would die within 10 to 15 days. Aravelli Varadacharyulu, priest of the Kodandarama temple whose family is staying in this village for more than 90 years, said that 200 years back the then village head Sasubilli Nagappa Naidu saw a dream. In his dream a village god suggested him to go to Nagallakonda, a nearby hill where he can get a rock to solve social cases, on which saints and sages did tapasya for salvation.. People say it took 3 months for the villagers to roll down the rock to the present place which is approximately 8 kilometers away. From that day onwards if any one do not have any evidences in any case, the village heads ask the accused to go and have a bath in the near by well and bring water in a new pot to the Pedda Rayi where he has to clean the rock, light a lamp and say whatever he wanted to say. The best part of it during this entire episode none would be present in and around the rock. Only the complainant and accused will be there. If the accused lie after lighting the lamp standing on the rock, death will follow him in no time, the villagers strongly believe. Three years back a pregnant woman Ramayamma lied for Rs 50 standing on Pedda Rayi and she died four days later without any severe ailments " I still remember that incident. The woman lost her life just lying for Rs 50" said Thathababu a veteran villager. In a similar way just two years back there was a property dispute between two brothers and one of them Rukla Gangu Naidu killed by lightening, after lying on this rock. "There were many others in the home none died except Gangu Naidu during the lightening which fell only on his house," said Sasubilli Raja Rao who is the descendent of Nagappa Naidu, who installed this rock. It has become a trend in the surrounding villages of Chinnapathcila even in today’s world to approach this rock for justice. " Many cases were solved after years of pending in courts and police stations" said Hari Hara Rao, Sarpanch of the village. "I heard a lot about this Satyapitham, many villagers go to this rock for justice from small disputes to big disputes where they won’t have any evidences or witnesses" said the SI of Ravikamatham, K Malleswara Rao.
Sea urchins at the verge of extinction
By SNV Sudhir/VisakhapatnamNext time you buy a unique ashtray on the Vizag beach front remember that you are also party to the destruction of valuable marine life. The ashtrays are made from sea urchins that clear the sea base and sea rocks by consuming all the filth, algae, decay, dead material. It is an organism which provides amicable environment to other organisms to live. Now they are at the verge of extinction. The zoology students who often visit the sea shore at Vizag beach as part of their field visits to study sea organisms used to see these Urchins in large numbers on the rocks with their naked eyes. But this was the situation four or five years ago. And now the students rarely encounter these organisms as the number is rapidly depleting day by day. Zoologists are worried about the situation; they cannot even imagine sea without these Urchins that are very essential for the sea and for the other marine organisms.Sea Urchins are Saprophytes and purely marine form. They have a unique feature of water vascular system apart from the normal blood vascular system for movement. Zoologist of the city, Prof A Joseph says that the depletion of these organisms was due to over exploitation by innocent public and also by commercial cell collectors who catch them to make ornaments and ashtrays. Pollution due to the submergence of domestic and industrial waste into seawaters adds to the misery.“Innocent boys catch these urchins to make ornaments, ash trays and sell them for a song. They do not know the value of these organisms. Government should safeguard this rich marine zone, which is highly potential ” said Joseph.Dr Jayanth Kumar Mishra, a marine technologist, who did a research on these sea urchins three years on the Vizag seacoast said that Vizag seacoast was very rich and resourceful coast and these saprophytes are nowhere found in any part of the country.“ Four years ago, one fine day while I was walking on the beach with my friends I was surprised to see these Urchins in large numbers. But now I could rarely see them. Unfortunately these rare kind may extinct if some thing is not done to it” said Mishra who just returned from Gulf from a marine assignment. This marine bio technologist along with other zoologists of Andhra University had tried for sea ranching to breed these urchins after a study which revealed its rapid depletion. But the ranching was stopped after certain period of time due to other reasons.
Vizag Taj Mahal turns 100
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, July 10: The monument which vizagites labeled as "Vizag Taj Mahal", completed 100 years on Friday. Most of the Vizagites are not aware of the history of the monument but they all call it as Vizag Taj Mahal. Constructed in soft Lime stone this elegant structure is a fine example of architectural marvel that is very unique and amalgum of architecture from across the globe. Mainly consisting of two blocks, the style of architecture and stone carving is very distinct from each other. Known as symbol of love, the Kurupam Monument stands testimony to a wonderful era of the Kurupam royalties. Raja Vairicharla Veerbhadra Raja Bahadur constructed the monument in memory of her beloved wife Princess Lakshmi Narasaiyyamma. The princes and the Raja sahib were married in 1895 and this compounded comprising the monument had beautifully landscaped gardens and water fountain in it. This the place the lovely relationship between the two royalties got manifested in a physical form that has withstood the testimony of time over a 100 years now.The monument also stands as a testimony to the rich cultural and architectural heritage of the period. It took six long years to construct this monument which according to the inscriptions on the walls, was completed in 1904-5. The dome of the front pavilion has a bit of Mughal influence where as the entrance archway depicted carvings of oriental style. The walls of the monument are decorated with carvings depicting the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Some of the carvings also depict different postures of dance forms of traditional style of this region.After the death of the queen in 1908 the monument was dedicated to the memory of the queen and became to be known as "Prema Nivedana Rupam". But the agony is that no one is there to take care of this great monument which has a great history. Municipal Corporation of Visakhaptnam was maintaining the monument till three years back. But it miserably failed to do that. The INTACH of Visakhaptnam came forward to restore the monument in scientific way spending 12 to 15 Lakhs. But it has been not looked after. INTACH is ready to takeover the monument and wanted to develop the place as a beautiful park with a under ground hall where a permanent exhibition will be conducted depicting the other heritage monuments of Visakhaptnam and brief history of this monument."Most of the Vizagites do not know what exactly is the monument is, they just say it as Taj Mahal of Visakhapatnam" said G Srinivas Murthy, co-convenor of INTACH
Visakhapatnam, July 10: The monument which vizagites labeled as "Vizag Taj Mahal", completed 100 years on Friday. Most of the Vizagites are not aware of the history of the monument but they all call it as Vizag Taj Mahal. Constructed in soft Lime stone this elegant structure is a fine example of architectural marvel that is very unique and amalgum of architecture from across the globe. Mainly consisting of two blocks, the style of architecture and stone carving is very distinct from each other. Known as symbol of love, the Kurupam Monument stands testimony to a wonderful era of the Kurupam royalties. Raja Vairicharla Veerbhadra Raja Bahadur constructed the monument in memory of her beloved wife Princess Lakshmi Narasaiyyamma. The princes and the Raja sahib were married in 1895 and this compounded comprising the monument had beautifully landscaped gardens and water fountain in it. This the place the lovely relationship between the two royalties got manifested in a physical form that has withstood the testimony of time over a 100 years now.The monument also stands as a testimony to the rich cultural and architectural heritage of the period. It took six long years to construct this monument which according to the inscriptions on the walls, was completed in 1904-5. The dome of the front pavilion has a bit of Mughal influence where as the entrance archway depicted carvings of oriental style. The walls of the monument are decorated with carvings depicting the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Some of the carvings also depict different postures of dance forms of traditional style of this region.After the death of the queen in 1908 the monument was dedicated to the memory of the queen and became to be known as "Prema Nivedana Rupam". But the agony is that no one is there to take care of this great monument which has a great history. Municipal Corporation of Visakhaptnam was maintaining the monument till three years back. But it miserably failed to do that. The INTACH of Visakhaptnam came forward to restore the monument in scientific way spending 12 to 15 Lakhs. But it has been not looked after. INTACH is ready to takeover the monument and wanted to develop the place as a beautiful park with a under ground hall where a permanent exhibition will be conducted depicting the other heritage monuments of Visakhaptnam and brief history of this monument."Most of the Vizagites do not know what exactly is the monument is, they just say it as Taj Mahal of Visakhapatnam" said G Srinivas Murthy, co-convenor of INTACH
Telugus in Malaysia have roots in N Andhra
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Sep 5: The common thing apart the language that the Telugus in peninsula Malaysia have is that they all have their roots in the three north coastal Andhra districts. It’s surprising to know that most of the approximate 3 lakh Telugu populate staying in the country since five generations hail from Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. Various researches done by some enthusiasts of Telugu speaking people in the country revealed the fact and every Telugu person in Malaysia strongly believe this. Indians constitute seven percent of the population with Tamilians in the lead followed by Telugu, Malayalam and Punjabi speaking people in Malaysia. “The slang used by the Telugus is of typical north Andhra Vizag style to indicate that most of them are from the same region” says Adari Appala Naidu, a 56 year old belonging to the third generation who born and brought up in Malaysia and currently residing in Kaulampur. Naidu who held various positions in the ministries of Trade, Information and Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia says that the immigrants to Malay who came to work in the rubber or palm plantations in the late 19th Century or early 20th Century hailed mostly from rural areas of north Andhra coastal districts. The lure of steady employment and possible riches in the far Malay pulled many illiterate agricultural laborers into becoming immigrants, says a research paper that was submitted by the Appala Naidu to the University of Malaya as part of his thesis work on sociology and development. He also presented this paper at the International Telugu Cultural Conference and Golden Jubilee of the Telugu Association of Malaysia held on from March 3 to 5, 2006 at Genting highlands in Malaysia. Speaking to this Correspondent from Kaulampur Adari Appala Naidu said that he has been involved with the Telugu Association of Malaysia since his youth as his father was a Telugu school teacher and was the founder member of the Telugu Association which was formed in 1956. “I have attended many Telugu gatherings and meetings personally and know significant number of Telugus here. I have also been personally to most of the estates where Telugus have lived. During the course of meetings and discussions I got the knowledge that majority of Telugus originated from the Port city of Vizag and surrounding areas. I have also collected detailed statistics from the government of Malaysia about the immigrants,” said Naidu whose ancestors belong to Anakapalle. A research conducted by the Professor Emeritus of the Andhra University, Prof Eswara Venkata Gangadharam also says that most the Telugus migrated to Malaysia belonged to the North Andhra districts and embarked the British ships at the Baruva seaport in Srikakulam. “The two big poles near the shore at Baruva indicated that there was a sea port and according to the recordings of the oldtimers it was revealed that from 1895 to 1920 and 30 there was a huge embarkation from the seaport at Baruva.” said Gangadharam who did the research ‘Study of Baruva as departure port for migrants of Malaysia’ as part of the UGC project named “Maritime history of Andhra Pradesh 2002-05”. Apart from the roots another interesting thing is that the Telugus done a lot to preserve the language. Telugu is taught as "Peoples Own Language" (POL Classes) up to the secondary school level in areas where Telugus predominantly live. At present there are two government schools where Telugu is taught and they are located at Bagan Datoh area. At the secondary school level, a class to teach Telugu is organized if more than 15 students demand teaching of Telugu as a subject. Telugu is not taught as a subject at the University level. The fourth generation Telugus excelled in education, and was well endowed with better living and educational conditions. This is a proud generation for Telugus in Malaysia. “With the fourth generation, we can easily say that there are an estimated 500 Doctors, 250 lawyers, 250 Engineers, 150 IT graduates and another 2000 with degrees in various fields. The fourth generation Telugus though have progressed academically and financially, it cannot be denied that their love and allegiance towards their language and culture is not as intense as the first, second and third generation of Telugus. We do not see the fourth generation Telugus participating in Telugu activities with such enthusiasm as the previous 3 generations,” said Appala Naidu. This is partly because of their up-bringing in urban multi-racial environment. Added to this, urban living had not provided many opportunities for Telugu gatherings except at marriages and some Telugu Association functions, Naidu lamented. “It is now a great challenge for Telugu association to bring the fourth generation educated Telugus to their fold and make them members and leaders of the Association and ensure they speak and read Telugu and appreciate their own language and culture” says Appala Naidu. There were also others like D V Sreeramulu, ex secretary general of the association and Mrs Buloka Rao Didi and many others also strongly believe that they all have their roots in north Andhra. “I wonder how Telugus who have migrated to Malay four generations ago kept the Telugu language alive and at the same time I wonder how the Telugu speaking people in America are unable to come to grips about teaching Telugu to their children” said Dr Satyanarayana Gavarasana whose article “Telugu in Malaysia” published in the ‘America Bharathi’, Magazine of American Telugu Association. “My fore fathers are also from Gopalapatnam in Vizag. And most of us are from Vizag and surrounding areas only” said Adduri Venkatesulu the Vice President of the Telugu Association of Malaysia. The Telugu Association of Malaysia (TAM) has also embarked on an ambitious project to construct a Telugu Saamskruthika Nilayam in an area covering 2.5 acres, located north of Rawang town to preserve the Telugu language and culture in Malaysia.
Visakhapatnam, Sep 5: The common thing apart the language that the Telugus in peninsula Malaysia have is that they all have their roots in the three north coastal Andhra districts. It’s surprising to know that most of the approximate 3 lakh Telugu populate staying in the country since five generations hail from Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. Various researches done by some enthusiasts of Telugu speaking people in the country revealed the fact and every Telugu person in Malaysia strongly believe this. Indians constitute seven percent of the population with Tamilians in the lead followed by Telugu, Malayalam and Punjabi speaking people in Malaysia. “The slang used by the Telugus is of typical north Andhra Vizag style to indicate that most of them are from the same region” says Adari Appala Naidu, a 56 year old belonging to the third generation who born and brought up in Malaysia and currently residing in Kaulampur. Naidu who held various positions in the ministries of Trade, Information and Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia says that the immigrants to Malay who came to work in the rubber or palm plantations in the late 19th Century or early 20th Century hailed mostly from rural areas of north Andhra coastal districts. The lure of steady employment and possible riches in the far Malay pulled many illiterate agricultural laborers into becoming immigrants, says a research paper that was submitted by the Appala Naidu to the University of Malaya as part of his thesis work on sociology and development. He also presented this paper at the International Telugu Cultural Conference and Golden Jubilee of the Telugu Association of Malaysia held on from March 3 to 5, 2006 at Genting highlands in Malaysia. Speaking to this Correspondent from Kaulampur Adari Appala Naidu said that he has been involved with the Telugu Association of Malaysia since his youth as his father was a Telugu school teacher and was the founder member of the Telugu Association which was formed in 1956. “I have attended many Telugu gatherings and meetings personally and know significant number of Telugus here. I have also been personally to most of the estates where Telugus have lived. During the course of meetings and discussions I got the knowledge that majority of Telugus originated from the Port city of Vizag and surrounding areas. I have also collected detailed statistics from the government of Malaysia about the immigrants,” said Naidu whose ancestors belong to Anakapalle. A research conducted by the Professor Emeritus of the Andhra University, Prof Eswara Venkata Gangadharam also says that most the Telugus migrated to Malaysia belonged to the North Andhra districts and embarked the British ships at the Baruva seaport in Srikakulam. “The two big poles near the shore at Baruva indicated that there was a sea port and according to the recordings of the oldtimers it was revealed that from 1895 to 1920 and 30 there was a huge embarkation from the seaport at Baruva.” said Gangadharam who did the research ‘Study of Baruva as departure port for migrants of Malaysia’ as part of the UGC project named “Maritime history of Andhra Pradesh 2002-05”. Apart from the roots another interesting thing is that the Telugus done a lot to preserve the language. Telugu is taught as "Peoples Own Language" (POL Classes) up to the secondary school level in areas where Telugus predominantly live. At present there are two government schools where Telugu is taught and they are located at Bagan Datoh area. At the secondary school level, a class to teach Telugu is organized if more than 15 students demand teaching of Telugu as a subject. Telugu is not taught as a subject at the University level. The fourth generation Telugus excelled in education, and was well endowed with better living and educational conditions. This is a proud generation for Telugus in Malaysia. “With the fourth generation, we can easily say that there are an estimated 500 Doctors, 250 lawyers, 250 Engineers, 150 IT graduates and another 2000 with degrees in various fields. The fourth generation Telugus though have progressed academically and financially, it cannot be denied that their love and allegiance towards their language and culture is not as intense as the first, second and third generation of Telugus. We do not see the fourth generation Telugus participating in Telugu activities with such enthusiasm as the previous 3 generations,” said Appala Naidu. This is partly because of their up-bringing in urban multi-racial environment. Added to this, urban living had not provided many opportunities for Telugu gatherings except at marriages and some Telugu Association functions, Naidu lamented. “It is now a great challenge for Telugu association to bring the fourth generation educated Telugus to their fold and make them members and leaders of the Association and ensure they speak and read Telugu and appreciate their own language and culture” says Appala Naidu. There were also others like D V Sreeramulu, ex secretary general of the association and Mrs Buloka Rao Didi and many others also strongly believe that they all have their roots in north Andhra. “I wonder how Telugus who have migrated to Malay four generations ago kept the Telugu language alive and at the same time I wonder how the Telugu speaking people in America are unable to come to grips about teaching Telugu to their children” said Dr Satyanarayana Gavarasana whose article “Telugu in Malaysia” published in the ‘America Bharathi’, Magazine of American Telugu Association. “My fore fathers are also from Gopalapatnam in Vizag. And most of us are from Vizag and surrounding areas only” said Adduri Venkatesulu the Vice President of the Telugu Association of Malaysia. The Telugu Association of Malaysia (TAM) has also embarked on an ambitious project to construct a Telugu Saamskruthika Nilayam in an area covering 2.5 acres, located north of Rawang town to preserve the Telugu language and culture in Malaysia.
Flood hit farmers want money to migrate
By SNV Sudhir
Nadigam (Srikakulam), Aug 8: Kolavala Mohan Rao, a farmer having 10 acres of land in Nadigam village of Narasannapeta mandal in the district now feels frustrated keeps gazing at his field where he sowed seeds twice in a gap of one month and failed due to the furious floods that hit his village two times. Same is the condition of almost around 10,000 farmers of four mandals Narasannapeta, Polaki, Jalumru, Saravakota. These are the worst hit mandals in the district during both the times. The floods hit around 50,000 hectares of agricultural fields spread in 100 villages under these mandals first on July 2 and on August 3, 4 this year. The annoyed farmers are now say that they are not venturing to sow seeds again as it would go waste and moreover they have no money to invest. “Every year we sow seeds in July and by December we get the harvest and sell the crop in the January. That’s the process and we celebrate the harvest festival with gaiety. But this time there will be no harvest and no festival” said Yerapati Malleswara Rao.The ryots also said they were more annoyed during the latest floods as this time floods coupled with strong winds and rains made them stand nowhere. “Floodwaters came into our houses. When we tried to move on to the roof, rain and strong winds didn’t allow us to stand. We remained confused saw hell on August 3 and 4. The district administration promised us rice, kerosene, money and seeds on subsidy last time only but we didn’t get them even after the latest floods and rains” said Paddenna Chinnam Naidu another farmer. More than the flood relief , now these farmers are just requesting rail reservation and travel charges to Hyderabad and Vizag. “We are now ready to work as construction labourers in Hyderabad and Vizag. I heard one gets a minimum of Rs 80 if we mix cement for construction there. We are planning to migrate. I will board Visakha express and reach Hyderabad as early as possible” said Adivarapu Nookaraju of Kollavanipalem village. Speaking to this correspondent, the Srikakulam district collector, K Nagendra Vishnu, said that they cannot provide rice, kerosene and compensation to everyone. "All of them are asking us to provide them all these without the ration card criteria. But according to the state government's norms we can give them only to the white card holders" said Vishnu. Later he assured all help to the farmers of these mandals who suffered twice in a gap of a month.
Nadigam (Srikakulam), Aug 8: Kolavala Mohan Rao, a farmer having 10 acres of land in Nadigam village of Narasannapeta mandal in the district now feels frustrated keeps gazing at his field where he sowed seeds twice in a gap of one month and failed due to the furious floods that hit his village two times. Same is the condition of almost around 10,000 farmers of four mandals Narasannapeta, Polaki, Jalumru, Saravakota. These are the worst hit mandals in the district during both the times. The floods hit around 50,000 hectares of agricultural fields spread in 100 villages under these mandals first on July 2 and on August 3, 4 this year. The annoyed farmers are now say that they are not venturing to sow seeds again as it would go waste and moreover they have no money to invest. “Every year we sow seeds in July and by December we get the harvest and sell the crop in the January. That’s the process and we celebrate the harvest festival with gaiety. But this time there will be no harvest and no festival” said Yerapati Malleswara Rao.The ryots also said they were more annoyed during the latest floods as this time floods coupled with strong winds and rains made them stand nowhere. “Floodwaters came into our houses. When we tried to move on to the roof, rain and strong winds didn’t allow us to stand. We remained confused saw hell on August 3 and 4. The district administration promised us rice, kerosene, money and seeds on subsidy last time only but we didn’t get them even after the latest floods and rains” said Paddenna Chinnam Naidu another farmer. More than the flood relief , now these farmers are just requesting rail reservation and travel charges to Hyderabad and Vizag. “We are now ready to work as construction labourers in Hyderabad and Vizag. I heard one gets a minimum of Rs 80 if we mix cement for construction there. We are planning to migrate. I will board Visakha express and reach Hyderabad as early as possible” said Adivarapu Nookaraju of Kollavanipalem village. Speaking to this correspondent, the Srikakulam district collector, K Nagendra Vishnu, said that they cannot provide rice, kerosene and compensation to everyone. "All of them are asking us to provide them all these without the ration card criteria. But according to the state government's norms we can give them only to the white card holders" said Vishnu. Later he assured all help to the farmers of these mandals who suffered twice in a gap of a month.
Fashion brands go rural
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Sept 21: It was rightly said by the then Governor of the state Sushil Kumar Shinde a few months back that the best export brands of global apparel market are taking shapes in the hands of Visakhapatnam rural and tribal women. The moment one enters the Training and Technology Development Centre of the DRDA in Pendurthy hundreds of women will be seen busy before sewing machines. Their eyes sparkle, theyc take pride and feel delighted with a mere mention of big brands like Arrow, Combay, Duck Head, EG Wear, Nautiq, D & T, the companies for whom they are stitching the clothes. Now, the rural and tribal women of the Poorest Of the Poor (POP) sector in the district are no more looking for their husband’s income or to go as domestic help in some others houses, but feeling delighted to be a part of the global industry and are getting trained for big brands. With the state government allotting a 4,000 acres of land at Apparel Export Park and another 1,000 acres for the Brandix India Apparel City of Sri Lanks, the pioneer in the garment exporting and manufacturing it is estimated that 1 lakh employment would be generated especially for the rural and tribal women in future. For which the District Rural Development Agency had embarked upon training the women through Self Help Groups (SHG’s) in garment manufacturing, machine embroidery and surface ornamentation to empower them for income generation through fashion technology programme. Till now the DRDA had trained 2,350 women in advanced garment construction, 11,740 in surface ornamentation, and 400 in machine embroidery through 61 centres functioning across the district. These women in the last few months have executed many exports and domestic orders. Approximately 1.5 lakh pieces of export quality garments have already been manufactured in 6 centres like Pendurthy, Anakapalli, Chodavaram, Yelamanchali and so on in the district. Around 2020 trained women are presently executing the job work orders through selected entrepreneurs and very soon 1,500 women are going to join them after the training is completed. Some other had started their own embroidery units near their households.The rural women employed after the training say that the fashion technology changed their entire course of life. “Its like a U turn in my life. After my husband died I waited till 6 months and decided to go out and work as a maid in somebody’s house though ours is not a maid’s family but the situation compelled me as I’m not having much education. While I was in that dilemma I came to know about the training in fashion technology and joined the TTDC a year ago. After I completed my training the Brandix people took me into their company and now giving training in their style. Now I’m getting 1,200 per month as stipend and they said my salary would be around 2,500 after the training” said M Annapurna of Thumpala who is the only earner of her own family and in laws of around 6 members. Same is the tale of every one who are getting trained or got trained and presently employed in the Brandix or working under some entrepreneurs according to the norms of the DRDA. “The DRDA will enter a memorandum of understanding with entrepreneurs. The DRDA is the implementing agency and the entrepreneurs entering the MoU are the executing body. All the women are selected through Self Help Groups and should be between the age group of 18 to 35. Basing on the understanding of creating workforce for the apparel export park and to devise a scheme for the empowering poor and Poorest Of the Poor (POP) SHG women the prospective was born. And also to meet the demand of an estimated 60,000 employment opportunities in the upcoming Apparel Export Park and SEZ. In future Vizag will definitely become hub of garment industry by establishing satellite common production centers all over the district” said the Project Director of DRDA, Kannababu. Already these women are executing branded prestigious orders like Arrow, Combay, Duck Head, EG Wear, Nautiq, D & T, Mike, Swan and so on, added the Project Director. The garment manufacturing giant Brandix, of Sri Lanka has selected 195 candidates for first batch training that started on August 15. They will also select the candidates in phased manner from the DRDA trained women. “Big branded garment companies like Fountain Set, Sara Lee Courtaulds, Victoria’s Secret, Hanes and J C Penny etc are some of our clientele and these women whom we are going to take in will stitch clothes for those companies” said the Manager, Projects, Brandix India Apparel City, Anton Jayawardena. The Brandix will alone recruit thousands of trained skilled women through DRDA once the full-fledged operations of the company starts in the 1,000 acres of land allotted for them in future. K Syamala 28 a young widow was seen excited after knowing that garments that are taking shapes in her hands will go to international markets besides giving her a decent living. Narmada 34 another widow who comes from Chimalapally was delighted to know that she stitched shirts for Arrow earlier so is the case with Ramalakshmi 21 another young widow.
Visakhapatnam, Sept 21: It was rightly said by the then Governor of the state Sushil Kumar Shinde a few months back that the best export brands of global apparel market are taking shapes in the hands of Visakhapatnam rural and tribal women. The moment one enters the Training and Technology Development Centre of the DRDA in Pendurthy hundreds of women will be seen busy before sewing machines. Their eyes sparkle, theyc take pride and feel delighted with a mere mention of big brands like Arrow, Combay, Duck Head, EG Wear, Nautiq, D & T, the companies for whom they are stitching the clothes. Now, the rural and tribal women of the Poorest Of the Poor (POP) sector in the district are no more looking for their husband’s income or to go as domestic help in some others houses, but feeling delighted to be a part of the global industry and are getting trained for big brands. With the state government allotting a 4,000 acres of land at Apparel Export Park and another 1,000 acres for the Brandix India Apparel City of Sri Lanks, the pioneer in the garment exporting and manufacturing it is estimated that 1 lakh employment would be generated especially for the rural and tribal women in future. For which the District Rural Development Agency had embarked upon training the women through Self Help Groups (SHG’s) in garment manufacturing, machine embroidery and surface ornamentation to empower them for income generation through fashion technology programme. Till now the DRDA had trained 2,350 women in advanced garment construction, 11,740 in surface ornamentation, and 400 in machine embroidery through 61 centres functioning across the district. These women in the last few months have executed many exports and domestic orders. Approximately 1.5 lakh pieces of export quality garments have already been manufactured in 6 centres like Pendurthy, Anakapalli, Chodavaram, Yelamanchali and so on in the district. Around 2020 trained women are presently executing the job work orders through selected entrepreneurs and very soon 1,500 women are going to join them after the training is completed. Some other had started their own embroidery units near their households.The rural women employed after the training say that the fashion technology changed their entire course of life. “Its like a U turn in my life. After my husband died I waited till 6 months and decided to go out and work as a maid in somebody’s house though ours is not a maid’s family but the situation compelled me as I’m not having much education. While I was in that dilemma I came to know about the training in fashion technology and joined the TTDC a year ago. After I completed my training the Brandix people took me into their company and now giving training in their style. Now I’m getting 1,200 per month as stipend and they said my salary would be around 2,500 after the training” said M Annapurna of Thumpala who is the only earner of her own family and in laws of around 6 members. Same is the tale of every one who are getting trained or got trained and presently employed in the Brandix or working under some entrepreneurs according to the norms of the DRDA. “The DRDA will enter a memorandum of understanding with entrepreneurs. The DRDA is the implementing agency and the entrepreneurs entering the MoU are the executing body. All the women are selected through Self Help Groups and should be between the age group of 18 to 35. Basing on the understanding of creating workforce for the apparel export park and to devise a scheme for the empowering poor and Poorest Of the Poor (POP) SHG women the prospective was born. And also to meet the demand of an estimated 60,000 employment opportunities in the upcoming Apparel Export Park and SEZ. In future Vizag will definitely become hub of garment industry by establishing satellite common production centers all over the district” said the Project Director of DRDA, Kannababu. Already these women are executing branded prestigious orders like Arrow, Combay, Duck Head, EG Wear, Nautiq, D & T, Mike, Swan and so on, added the Project Director. The garment manufacturing giant Brandix, of Sri Lanka has selected 195 candidates for first batch training that started on August 15. They will also select the candidates in phased manner from the DRDA trained women. “Big branded garment companies like Fountain Set, Sara Lee Courtaulds, Victoria’s Secret, Hanes and J C Penny etc are some of our clientele and these women whom we are going to take in will stitch clothes for those companies” said the Manager, Projects, Brandix India Apparel City, Anton Jayawardena. The Brandix will alone recruit thousands of trained skilled women through DRDA once the full-fledged operations of the company starts in the 1,000 acres of land allotted for them in future. K Syamala 28 a young widow was seen excited after knowing that garments that are taking shapes in her hands will go to international markets besides giving her a decent living. Narmada 34 another widow who comes from Chimalapally was delighted to know that she stitched shirts for Arrow earlier so is the case with Ramalakshmi 21 another young widow.
Temple under Vizag sea?
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, June 18: A marine archaeologist from Andhra Pradesh strongly believes that a temple, after which Visakhapatnam has been named, lies underwater less than 2 km off the coast of the port city, and has dedicated his life to locating the edifice. Eswara Venkata Gangadharam, professor emeritus at Andhra University, is looking for financial support of around Rs 20 lakhs from the government to send down divers to locate the temple which he believes is 200 feet under the Bay of Bengal's waters. He cites a list of evidence to show that the temple had existed. "The temple is referred to in a stone plaque with Tamil inscriptions which still exists in the Visakha Museum," says the only scientist who has specialised in marine archaeology in the State. "The temple is also mentioned in a British Gazette in the 18th century," he says. According to legend, a Chola king while on his way to Benares was so enamoured by the locale that he built a shore-temple devoted to the deity Visakha, the god of valour. The temple was named Vaisakeswara."The Shiva temple at the Naval Coastal Battery gives a strong and positive indication of a temple in the opposite vacant land which might have submerged into the seabed due to geological changes," Prof. Gangadharam says with conviction. He also recorded old-timers who recalled their grandparents and great-grandparents talking about the temple located on the shore opposite the Naval Coastal Battery. It is at this place that people even today have sacred baths during the auspicious days of Karteeka Maasam and on Shivaratri. The place was called Theerthapu Rallu in Kulottunga Cholapattinam, the earlier name of Visakhapatnam. The professor says he was inspired by the efforts of Prof. S.S. Rao who found the ancient town of Dwarka under the Arabian Sea off Gujarat. The academic resigned an associate professorship in the geochemistry department at University of Malaya, Malaysia, in 1987. He worked with Prof. Rao to know more about marine archaeology during the mid-1980s when Dwarka was being excavated. His efforts to locate the temple go back to 1987 when the Andhra University set up the Centre for Marine Archaeology. Scuba divers from the Indian Navy made two attempts in 1992 and 2003, scouring the seabed for four days each time to locate the temple. "It at least takes two months for a team of divers to go into the sea regularly to scour one square kilometre. The equipment, too, was then insufficient... so was the money. It will take up to Rs 20 lakhs, which the government is not prepared to spend." the professor laments.
Visakhapatnam, June 18: A marine archaeologist from Andhra Pradesh strongly believes that a temple, after which Visakhapatnam has been named, lies underwater less than 2 km off the coast of the port city, and has dedicated his life to locating the edifice. Eswara Venkata Gangadharam, professor emeritus at Andhra University, is looking for financial support of around Rs 20 lakhs from the government to send down divers to locate the temple which he believes is 200 feet under the Bay of Bengal's waters. He cites a list of evidence to show that the temple had existed. "The temple is referred to in a stone plaque with Tamil inscriptions which still exists in the Visakha Museum," says the only scientist who has specialised in marine archaeology in the State. "The temple is also mentioned in a British Gazette in the 18th century," he says. According to legend, a Chola king while on his way to Benares was so enamoured by the locale that he built a shore-temple devoted to the deity Visakha, the god of valour. The temple was named Vaisakeswara."The Shiva temple at the Naval Coastal Battery gives a strong and positive indication of a temple in the opposite vacant land which might have submerged into the seabed due to geological changes," Prof. Gangadharam says with conviction. He also recorded old-timers who recalled their grandparents and great-grandparents talking about the temple located on the shore opposite the Naval Coastal Battery. It is at this place that people even today have sacred baths during the auspicious days of Karteeka Maasam and on Shivaratri. The place was called Theerthapu Rallu in Kulottunga Cholapattinam, the earlier name of Visakhapatnam. The professor says he was inspired by the efforts of Prof. S.S. Rao who found the ancient town of Dwarka under the Arabian Sea off Gujarat. The academic resigned an associate professorship in the geochemistry department at University of Malaya, Malaysia, in 1987. He worked with Prof. Rao to know more about marine archaeology during the mid-1980s when Dwarka was being excavated. His efforts to locate the temple go back to 1987 when the Andhra University set up the Centre for Marine Archaeology. Scuba divers from the Indian Navy made two attempts in 1992 and 2003, scouring the seabed for four days each time to locate the temple. "It at least takes two months for a team of divers to go into the sea regularly to scour one square kilometre. The equipment, too, was then insufficient... so was the money. It will take up to Rs 20 lakhs, which the government is not prepared to spend." the professor laments.
A sunny revolution in Vizag Agency
By SNV Sudhir
Thammingala (Vizag Agency), May 23: The tribals of Vizag agency came to know about Indira Gandhi’s death, 15 years after her assassination. It indicated the prevailing communication system in the area which is just 180 km from the city. Now they are aware of daily happening through their newly acquired gadget-TV. But the box runs on Solar energy not on the mercy of APTransco which never existed there. The tribals are happy with the hassle free power system and now setting an example for alternative energy sources for the modern man..The villagers of Thammingala, a remote village in the Chintapalli agency mandal, are excited about their new possession. A new 21’ inches colour TV. They never imagined that they would be able to see moving pictures on the small box as they never saw an electric bulb thill three months ago. Thanks to the Barefoot Solar Women Engineers Association of Hyderabad that chose the Thammingala and Pusalapalem villages to install the Solar Home Light System units here. The villages are situated on the Eastern Ghats, about 180 km from the city. As of now, 67 of 88 houses in Thammingala and 26 of 40 houses in Pusalapalem village have these solar units. Each solar unit lights two bulbs..One has to trek all the 15kms from the nearby Annavaram road to reach these villages, as there is no proper road or transport system. Some heavy jeeps pass through but the villagers never prefer to use them. The villagers say the solar home light system had changed their course of life. Earlier they used to depend on kerosene lamps. “We used to get only 3 litres of kerosene that too in quota which is not at all sufficient. We need at least 6 litres of kerosene per month and we used to buy another 3 to 4 litres in black paying 3 times higher than the quota kerosene. We used to spend minimum of Rs 200 only for kerosene to lit our lives,” said Pongi Ramanamma.The solar home light unit has a panel, a battery and some wires. The panel that is fixed on the roof takes the solar energy and transforms that energy to the bulbs through wires and a battery fixed to the unit. Villagers can enjoy one hour of watching TV if they fully charge the battery without using the other lights. Now they watch a daily serial in the DD Sapthagiri channel “Bommarillu.” At the time of serial, the house of the Pothu Rajubabu is full of people. “We eagerly wait 7 to tick on the clock. We all gather before the TV and watch the serial,” says Yerra Chinnamma.The solar energy has been a boon for the students who wrote their 7th and 10th common exams and came out with flying colours. These units were fixed in the beginning of March. Tenth class exams started on March 23 and the seventh in the month of April. Six students wrote their 10th exams and ten members 7th exams from this village. “This time my child worked hard. He was academically brilliant but could not study well as we had to depend on the kerosene lamps. This year he could work hard and write his exams in a better way,” said Jartha Rajullamma whose children Radha and Gangaraju gave their seventh and tenth exams. “We are very happy that our children got the power facility which will bring in happiness in their lives. What else can we give to our descendants” said Yerramma a 60-year-old woman of the village. The projectThe Women Barefoot Solar Engineers Association, an NGO at Hyderabad, which was formed with the help of Rural Technology Park of National Institute of Rural Development, had identified four women, two from the villages of Thammingala and Pusalapalem of the Chintapalli agency mandal. They gave training to these women Papayyamma, Pravallika from Thammingala and Santoshamma, Kumari from Pusalapalem village in making the solar lamps and in small repairs for 6 months. The two women are now taking care of the units in their respective villages. A home light unit costs around Rs 13,500 of which they collected Rs 1,000 per household and deposited it in a bank by forming Village Energy Environment Commitees in both the villages. They will also collect Rs 100 per month from every household to repay the remaining cost of the unit and salaries to the trained women from the villages who are taking care of the units. “We were given training at the Rural Technology Park of National Institute of Rural Development at Hyderabad in making different varieties of solar lamps and repairing them. Now we know each and every thing about these lamps. We are now ready to repair any lamp,” said Papayamma. These units need very less maintenance except distilled water for the batteries fixed to the unit now and then. “The people who trained us at Hyderabad were in turn got training from Social Work and Research Centre an NGO in Rajasthan. Now we are ready to train other women also in making and repairing of the lamps. We will go to other villages to inspire them” said Pravallika. This correspondent could see some of the iron poles erected by the government for the supply of power in 1991, during his 15kms trek. “Officials forced us to work in erecting these poles. We took these poles all the way from Annavaram, dug them and erected. But what’s the use. Till now we were not given power” said an irate Pothu Ramulu. Speaking to this Correspondent, Assistant Professor with Rural Technology Park, Hyderabad, Dr Valentina said that they train rural people in new technologies for better living. She visited Thammingala and Pusalapalem villages for 5 times and was instrumental in installing these solar units. “This is only under first phase and in the second phase we will make the trained women setup a 1 Kilo Watt solar power plant near the village. Fifteen street lights and two community TVs will work through this plant” said Valentina. She added that their experiment was success and they would take this technology to other remote villages of the state. “These are the only villages in the state having solar power supply” said the Assistant Professor.
Thammingala (Vizag Agency), May 23: The tribals of Vizag agency came to know about Indira Gandhi’s death, 15 years after her assassination. It indicated the prevailing communication system in the area which is just 180 km from the city. Now they are aware of daily happening through their newly acquired gadget-TV. But the box runs on Solar energy not on the mercy of APTransco which never existed there. The tribals are happy with the hassle free power system and now setting an example for alternative energy sources for the modern man..The villagers of Thammingala, a remote village in the Chintapalli agency mandal, are excited about their new possession. A new 21’ inches colour TV. They never imagined that they would be able to see moving pictures on the small box as they never saw an electric bulb thill three months ago. Thanks to the Barefoot Solar Women Engineers Association of Hyderabad that chose the Thammingala and Pusalapalem villages to install the Solar Home Light System units here. The villages are situated on the Eastern Ghats, about 180 km from the city. As of now, 67 of 88 houses in Thammingala and 26 of 40 houses in Pusalapalem village have these solar units. Each solar unit lights two bulbs..One has to trek all the 15kms from the nearby Annavaram road to reach these villages, as there is no proper road or transport system. Some heavy jeeps pass through but the villagers never prefer to use them. The villagers say the solar home light system had changed their course of life. Earlier they used to depend on kerosene lamps. “We used to get only 3 litres of kerosene that too in quota which is not at all sufficient. We need at least 6 litres of kerosene per month and we used to buy another 3 to 4 litres in black paying 3 times higher than the quota kerosene. We used to spend minimum of Rs 200 only for kerosene to lit our lives,” said Pongi Ramanamma.The solar home light unit has a panel, a battery and some wires. The panel that is fixed on the roof takes the solar energy and transforms that energy to the bulbs through wires and a battery fixed to the unit. Villagers can enjoy one hour of watching TV if they fully charge the battery without using the other lights. Now they watch a daily serial in the DD Sapthagiri channel “Bommarillu.” At the time of serial, the house of the Pothu Rajubabu is full of people. “We eagerly wait 7 to tick on the clock. We all gather before the TV and watch the serial,” says Yerra Chinnamma.The solar energy has been a boon for the students who wrote their 7th and 10th common exams and came out with flying colours. These units were fixed in the beginning of March. Tenth class exams started on March 23 and the seventh in the month of April. Six students wrote their 10th exams and ten members 7th exams from this village. “This time my child worked hard. He was academically brilliant but could not study well as we had to depend on the kerosene lamps. This year he could work hard and write his exams in a better way,” said Jartha Rajullamma whose children Radha and Gangaraju gave their seventh and tenth exams. “We are very happy that our children got the power facility which will bring in happiness in their lives. What else can we give to our descendants” said Yerramma a 60-year-old woman of the village. The projectThe Women Barefoot Solar Engineers Association, an NGO at Hyderabad, which was formed with the help of Rural Technology Park of National Institute of Rural Development, had identified four women, two from the villages of Thammingala and Pusalapalem of the Chintapalli agency mandal. They gave training to these women Papayyamma, Pravallika from Thammingala and Santoshamma, Kumari from Pusalapalem village in making the solar lamps and in small repairs for 6 months. The two women are now taking care of the units in their respective villages. A home light unit costs around Rs 13,500 of which they collected Rs 1,000 per household and deposited it in a bank by forming Village Energy Environment Commitees in both the villages. They will also collect Rs 100 per month from every household to repay the remaining cost of the unit and salaries to the trained women from the villages who are taking care of the units. “We were given training at the Rural Technology Park of National Institute of Rural Development at Hyderabad in making different varieties of solar lamps and repairing them. Now we know each and every thing about these lamps. We are now ready to repair any lamp,” said Papayamma. These units need very less maintenance except distilled water for the batteries fixed to the unit now and then. “The people who trained us at Hyderabad were in turn got training from Social Work and Research Centre an NGO in Rajasthan. Now we are ready to train other women also in making and repairing of the lamps. We will go to other villages to inspire them” said Pravallika. This correspondent could see some of the iron poles erected by the government for the supply of power in 1991, during his 15kms trek. “Officials forced us to work in erecting these poles. We took these poles all the way from Annavaram, dug them and erected. But what’s the use. Till now we were not given power” said an irate Pothu Ramulu. Speaking to this Correspondent, Assistant Professor with Rural Technology Park, Hyderabad, Dr Valentina said that they train rural people in new technologies for better living. She visited Thammingala and Pusalapalem villages for 5 times and was instrumental in installing these solar units. “This is only under first phase and in the second phase we will make the trained women setup a 1 Kilo Watt solar power plant near the village. Fifteen street lights and two community TVs will work through this plant” said Valentina. She added that their experiment was success and they would take this technology to other remote villages of the state. “These are the only villages in the state having solar power supply” said the Assistant Professor.
Tribal women launch anti-arrack movement
By SN V Sudhir
GK Veedhi (Vizag Agency), Oct 26: The tribal women of the Vizag Agency , upset with the excise sleuths who always gave a deaf ear to their several pleas, trained their guns on the arrack brewers in the Agency. Interestingly the tribal women who brewed and sold the arrack themselves until a few months ago to eke out their living had also joined hands with the anti arrack campaign launched by a small group of women in a tiny village Asarada in this Agency mandal a few months ago. These women formed into small Sanghas and launched a movement to create awareness among the women and also started demolishing the brewery dens. The fire that was first ignited in Asarada fast spread to around 80 surrounding villages. And women belonging to the neighbouring Chintapalli, Koyyuru mandals are also planning to join the movement by forming their own Sanghas and demolish the illicit brewery dens. “It all started one day when we were all vexed up with our husbands who come home daily in a drunken state and beat us up. Our husbands also often used to get into arguments with people in drunken conditions making us feel embarrassed. And one day all the women in our village who are under DWCRA group wanted to discuss this issue seriously. We devised a strategy and launched this movement” said Gullela Parvathamma of Alluri Seetaramaraju Gramaikhya Sangham in Asarada who spearheaded the agitation. The women went door to door in the village having around 150 houses for a month and requested all the women to join them. They also surveyed the key dens of the brewers for 15days. And finally in the last week of February they blew the conch and started demolishing the dens. In a row without giving a chance for the brewers, they demolished around 15 to 20 such dens in the village. After giving a gap for some 15 days they again struck hard on the brewers who slowly tried to resume their operatons.“What else can we do? My husband earns around Rs 50 per day and spends Rs 40 for consuming the arrack daily. How can he feed us? I still remember those days wherein we used to starve due to his filthy habit . Now my husband does not have a chance to consume the arrack as it’s is not available in our village. Not only in our village but in the surrounding villages also. And he cannot afford to go to the other mandal daily to have it. That’s it” said Jurra Vijaya Lakshmi of Asarada. Taking a queue from the Asarada village, the women of the surrounding Pedavalasa also launched the agitation impressed with the success story. “It was a massive movement I have ever seen. Around 250 women including younger and older joined their hands and used to go to every liquor manufacturing place and demolish them. They marched the whole village for around one and half months and knocked down the brewery dens. And after looking to their enthusiasm and concern towards us I got a lesson and gave up drinking” said Srinu of Pedavalasa. An active woman of Pedavalasa, Kannepeti Nirmala said that they have approached the excise sleuths with their pleas to destroy the breweries but they never responded, she added. Now the families in around 80 villages in this mandal are happily living. But the women of Devarapalli had to face some strong resistance from the brewers in their village. Later they were successful in destroying the arrack warrens. It was reported that these brewery dens are working in around 100 villages and the women were successful in 80 such villages. On the other hand the Circle Inspector of the Prohibition and Excise station at Chintapalli covering Chintapalli and GK Veedhi mandala, P Appalachary said that they have been booking cases on such offenders who were brewing the arrack. “What can I do? There are around 250 villages in both mandals. And we are only three which includes me and two other constables. It’s a Herculean task to cover these villages in the Agency which are mostly dominated by the outlawed Maoists Even then we are doing our best” said the CI. Interestingly the excise police station in Chintapalli was not having power supply for the past 10 months. If the excise sleuths nab any offender they have to guard him with a gas light during the night.
GK Veedhi (Vizag Agency), Oct 26: The tribal women of the Vizag Agency , upset with the excise sleuths who always gave a deaf ear to their several pleas, trained their guns on the arrack brewers in the Agency. Interestingly the tribal women who brewed and sold the arrack themselves until a few months ago to eke out their living had also joined hands with the anti arrack campaign launched by a small group of women in a tiny village Asarada in this Agency mandal a few months ago. These women formed into small Sanghas and launched a movement to create awareness among the women and also started demolishing the brewery dens. The fire that was first ignited in Asarada fast spread to around 80 surrounding villages. And women belonging to the neighbouring Chintapalli, Koyyuru mandals are also planning to join the movement by forming their own Sanghas and demolish the illicit brewery dens. “It all started one day when we were all vexed up with our husbands who come home daily in a drunken state and beat us up. Our husbands also often used to get into arguments with people in drunken conditions making us feel embarrassed. And one day all the women in our village who are under DWCRA group wanted to discuss this issue seriously. We devised a strategy and launched this movement” said Gullela Parvathamma of Alluri Seetaramaraju Gramaikhya Sangham in Asarada who spearheaded the agitation. The women went door to door in the village having around 150 houses for a month and requested all the women to join them. They also surveyed the key dens of the brewers for 15days. And finally in the last week of February they blew the conch and started demolishing the dens. In a row without giving a chance for the brewers, they demolished around 15 to 20 such dens in the village. After giving a gap for some 15 days they again struck hard on the brewers who slowly tried to resume their operatons.“What else can we do? My husband earns around Rs 50 per day and spends Rs 40 for consuming the arrack daily. How can he feed us? I still remember those days wherein we used to starve due to his filthy habit . Now my husband does not have a chance to consume the arrack as it’s is not available in our village. Not only in our village but in the surrounding villages also. And he cannot afford to go to the other mandal daily to have it. That’s it” said Jurra Vijaya Lakshmi of Asarada. Taking a queue from the Asarada village, the women of the surrounding Pedavalasa also launched the agitation impressed with the success story. “It was a massive movement I have ever seen. Around 250 women including younger and older joined their hands and used to go to every liquor manufacturing place and demolish them. They marched the whole village for around one and half months and knocked down the brewery dens. And after looking to their enthusiasm and concern towards us I got a lesson and gave up drinking” said Srinu of Pedavalasa. An active woman of Pedavalasa, Kannepeti Nirmala said that they have approached the excise sleuths with their pleas to destroy the breweries but they never responded, she added. Now the families in around 80 villages in this mandal are happily living. But the women of Devarapalli had to face some strong resistance from the brewers in their village. Later they were successful in destroying the arrack warrens. It was reported that these brewery dens are working in around 100 villages and the women were successful in 80 such villages. On the other hand the Circle Inspector of the Prohibition and Excise station at Chintapalli covering Chintapalli and GK Veedhi mandala, P Appalachary said that they have been booking cases on such offenders who were brewing the arrack. “What can I do? There are around 250 villages in both mandals. And we are only three which includes me and two other constables. It’s a Herculean task to cover these villages in the Agency which are mostly dominated by the outlawed Maoists Even then we are doing our best” said the CI. Interestingly the excise police station in Chintapalli was not having power supply for the past 10 months. If the excise sleuths nab any offender they have to guard him with a gas light during the night.
Farmers land in trouble
By SNV Sudhir
Bhamini (Srikakulam), Oct 10: Now, the farmers in around 5 to 6 villages of Bhamini mandal in Srikakulam are scared to enter their own fields. They are in a grip of fear that the outlawed Maoists would brutally kill them if they try to till their own land. Around 60 farmers of the village are still in a state of shock after they recently received a final warning in written by the Secretary of the Kondabaridi Area Committee of the CPI (Maoists) Prakash listing the acres of land each farmer has to leave for the local tribals of around 5 villages. Two years back the farmers received similar warnings but the Maoists did not execute their threat at that time, as there was no crop due to severe draught conditions. These farmers who were in joyous mood and excited a few months ago due to sufficient rainfall are now in a state of nervousness. “It was all fine till two months ago. We were happily cultivating our lands but suddenly in the end of July they called a group of farmers and asked us to give away some part of our lands to the local tribals. I have only 5 acres and they asked me to give away all the 5 acres belonging to me as I’m working out on 10 acres on lease. We suffered for around 3 years due to severe draught conditions and when we thought those good days begun for us due to recent rains , this new problem came up. I cannot do anything except listen to them as they will kill me,” said Narayana.These farmers are in a confused state, as they cannot share this information to anyone. “The naxals threatened that they would kill us if we tell this to anyone especially the police and press. What to do now we cannot do anything. Nothing is in our hands,” said another farmer whose son just joined medicine course in Guntur. His son is the first person to join medicine from the in and around villages. “I paid Rs 13,000 for the first year and I send between Rs 2,000 to 3,000 for his maintenance charges at Guntur which is a very meager amount these days. And now I’m not in a position to send him regularly. These lands are the only source of income,” said the farmer. He added that even the outlawed had also threatened five of his other brothers to give away their lands. In first phase the naxals had threatened around 40 to 50 farmers and embarked on distributing around 300 to 400 acres of land spread in Sannayaguda, Vetamguda, Burjaguda, Boddaguda, Moolaguda to the tribals. It was reported that these naxals are planning to grab around 1,200 acres in coming months and ask the tribals to plough it. Due to the recent developments other farmers in the 35 villages under the Bhamini mandal are also tense. “I think they train their guns towards us. Some day or other these incidents may force us to leave our villages,” said another farmer of Bhamini. “Keep the cultivation aside, now we are not even in a position to enter our lands. We cannot do anything against their will. They will kill us. If we seek the police for protection they will not be with us all the time. They cannot accompany each and every farmer while even going for a wash” said Savaraiah. It was on August 15 the first batch of tribals cultivated the lands according to the directions of the Maoists “ Annalu told us to cultivate the lands saying that these lands were ‘liberated’ from the hands of landlords and can cultivate on their own. So we started cultivating them,” said Jajjaru of Vetamguda who threatened that he would harm this correspondent if he captures him in his camera. The Palakonda police under whose jurisdiction Bhamini falls had registered trespassing and land grabbing cases against 24 tribals of these villages following the act of tilling the land as per the directions of the naxals. The police registered the case without any report or complaint. “ We are having some information about these incidents but none came forward to file report or complaint but we have slapped cases upon 24 tribals for the act of tilling the land on that particular land with the support of Maoists. What else can we do? We have some plans to curb these activities in future” said the DSP of Palakonda division P V Krishnaiah. The Revenue Divisional Officer of Palakonda, J M J Babu said that they even had the information about the tribals cultivating in the lands of private persons with the support of the Maoists. He added that from the government side they were planning to distribute some acres of lands in the mandal to the landless in coming months. One acre of land costs around Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 and the farmers get an income of around Rs 20,000 per acre for a single paddy crop. And most of the farmers cultivate paddy in this region besides a little cotton. All the lands in these villages are rain fed.
Bhamini (Srikakulam), Oct 10: Now, the farmers in around 5 to 6 villages of Bhamini mandal in Srikakulam are scared to enter their own fields. They are in a grip of fear that the outlawed Maoists would brutally kill them if they try to till their own land. Around 60 farmers of the village are still in a state of shock after they recently received a final warning in written by the Secretary of the Kondabaridi Area Committee of the CPI (Maoists) Prakash listing the acres of land each farmer has to leave for the local tribals of around 5 villages. Two years back the farmers received similar warnings but the Maoists did not execute their threat at that time, as there was no crop due to severe draught conditions. These farmers who were in joyous mood and excited a few months ago due to sufficient rainfall are now in a state of nervousness. “It was all fine till two months ago. We were happily cultivating our lands but suddenly in the end of July they called a group of farmers and asked us to give away some part of our lands to the local tribals. I have only 5 acres and they asked me to give away all the 5 acres belonging to me as I’m working out on 10 acres on lease. We suffered for around 3 years due to severe draught conditions and when we thought those good days begun for us due to recent rains , this new problem came up. I cannot do anything except listen to them as they will kill me,” said Narayana.These farmers are in a confused state, as they cannot share this information to anyone. “The naxals threatened that they would kill us if we tell this to anyone especially the police and press. What to do now we cannot do anything. Nothing is in our hands,” said another farmer whose son just joined medicine course in Guntur. His son is the first person to join medicine from the in and around villages. “I paid Rs 13,000 for the first year and I send between Rs 2,000 to 3,000 for his maintenance charges at Guntur which is a very meager amount these days. And now I’m not in a position to send him regularly. These lands are the only source of income,” said the farmer. He added that even the outlawed had also threatened five of his other brothers to give away their lands. In first phase the naxals had threatened around 40 to 50 farmers and embarked on distributing around 300 to 400 acres of land spread in Sannayaguda, Vetamguda, Burjaguda, Boddaguda, Moolaguda to the tribals. It was reported that these naxals are planning to grab around 1,200 acres in coming months and ask the tribals to plough it. Due to the recent developments other farmers in the 35 villages under the Bhamini mandal are also tense. “I think they train their guns towards us. Some day or other these incidents may force us to leave our villages,” said another farmer of Bhamini. “Keep the cultivation aside, now we are not even in a position to enter our lands. We cannot do anything against their will. They will kill us. If we seek the police for protection they will not be with us all the time. They cannot accompany each and every farmer while even going for a wash” said Savaraiah. It was on August 15 the first batch of tribals cultivated the lands according to the directions of the Maoists “ Annalu told us to cultivate the lands saying that these lands were ‘liberated’ from the hands of landlords and can cultivate on their own. So we started cultivating them,” said Jajjaru of Vetamguda who threatened that he would harm this correspondent if he captures him in his camera. The Palakonda police under whose jurisdiction Bhamini falls had registered trespassing and land grabbing cases against 24 tribals of these villages following the act of tilling the land as per the directions of the naxals. The police registered the case without any report or complaint. “ We are having some information about these incidents but none came forward to file report or complaint but we have slapped cases upon 24 tribals for the act of tilling the land on that particular land with the support of Maoists. What else can we do? We have some plans to curb these activities in future” said the DSP of Palakonda division P V Krishnaiah. The Revenue Divisional Officer of Palakonda, J M J Babu said that they even had the information about the tribals cultivating in the lands of private persons with the support of the Maoists. He added that from the government side they were planning to distribute some acres of lands in the mandal to the landless in coming months. One acre of land costs around Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 and the farmers get an income of around Rs 20,000 per acre for a single paddy crop. And most of the farmers cultivate paddy in this region besides a little cotton. All the lands in these villages are rain fed.
Bay Dolphins face extinction
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Aug 25: The dancing dolphins in the Bay of Bengal often seen off Vizag and Kakinada coasts will soon become a part of marine history. These mammals may not be seen in these waters after 15 to 20 years. The newfound craze among the fishing community for the tuna fish has become a major threat for the survival of the dolphins, which are mentioned as highly endangered species in the Red Data Book of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The reason - these fishermen are using the meat of these mammals a part from other small fishes as bait to catch tuna. Since one year the local traders shifted their focus on tuna due to dwindling of shrimp catch in the Bay of Bengal waters. The consequential depletion in stocks of shrimp has led them to search for alternate exportable species. Tuna is now caught as alternative to the shrimp. Around 70 country boats, fish tuna in these waters between Vizag and Kakinada and each boat catches at least 100 to 200kgs in a single voyage. And half of the catch by these local fishermen is purchased by 4 traders who export them to Japan and the US from Chennai port where chilling facilities are available. One-kilo tuna is sold at Rs 60 in local markets and $4 to $5 in international markets in Japan and US. A dead dolphin that weighs around 200kgs will be cut into small pieces and used as bait. Half-kilo dolphin meat is used to catch one tuna. There are no any official estimates about the killings of these mammals and it was reported that currently one dolphin is dying every month while earlier such incidents occurred once in a year. According to the researches at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute the commonly found dolphins in Bay of Bengal are spinner dolphin, common dolphin and bottlenose dolphin. Population levels of these three species in Bay of Bengal are estimated to be 12,000 and are evenly distributed in entire bay. Spinner and common dolphins are off shore species and are sighted off Visakhapatnam and Kakinada coastal area. The scientists made 13 cruises since last two years and spent almost 350 to 400 days in the sea and estimated the dolphin population. "The dolphin and tuna are friendly and they are seen always together. They both feed on small fishes and cephalopods" said the Principal scientist and scientist in charge of CMFRI, DR G Syda Rao. A researcher in the CMFRI also said that these dolphins are used as bait to catch sharks and tuna. Associate professor in department of Zoology, Andhra University, B Bharatha Lakshmi, who has been observing dolphins in waters of Bay of Bengal between Kakinada and Visakhapatnam for the past 15 years, says that these dolphins are also getting trapped in the pursescine nets, grilled nets leading to suffocation and finally death. The propellers of motorboats and trawlers also crushthem. "At least one dolphin is dying per month in these waters as observed by the decomposed carcass. The mere smell of dolphin attracts tunas who gather en masse at a place and finally become a easy catch for the fishermen," says Dr Bharatha Lakshmi.Lack of surveillance, check by the government and lack of protected zones for fishing were the main causes for the present agony. And according to wild life protection act of 1972, the offender should be imprisoned for seven years with Rs 50,000 penalty, which is a non-bailable offence. "These mammals are legally protected as per various national and international acts. We have conducted many national level seminars, symposiums appealing the government to protect these mammals. But nothing was done till now,'' she said. " Dolphins are treated as heritage in the Western countries where millions of dollars are spent for protecting these endangered species," added the associate professor. "For us our lives are important not these dolphins. We are getting good money by catching tuna and we use dolphins for better catch. It is as simple as that. We can sell a tuna for 1,500 to 2,000 locally and the exporters get more money " said Theddu Nookalu a fisherman. The Conservator of Forests, P V Padmabham said that they do not have any mechanism to patrol in the sea to protect the endangered species like dolphins. "We will definitely take persons into task and will book anyone if they try to market it on the shore. But if anything happens mid sea we cannot do anything". He also added that sometimes these dolphins accidentally get caught into the nets that are meant to catch konam and other fish and instead of bringing these dolphins to the shore the fishermen cut the mammalsinto pieces and use as bait to catch tuna. "At many international symposiums it was stressed the need to introduce and use different kind of nets by the fishermen to catch fish where dolphins can escape easily. But nothing was done so far" said the Conservator of Forests. Unfortunately, no NGO has come forward to put pressure on the government on this issue.
Visakhapatnam, Aug 25: The dancing dolphins in the Bay of Bengal often seen off Vizag and Kakinada coasts will soon become a part of marine history. These mammals may not be seen in these waters after 15 to 20 years. The newfound craze among the fishing community for the tuna fish has become a major threat for the survival of the dolphins, which are mentioned as highly endangered species in the Red Data Book of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The reason - these fishermen are using the meat of these mammals a part from other small fishes as bait to catch tuna. Since one year the local traders shifted their focus on tuna due to dwindling of shrimp catch in the Bay of Bengal waters. The consequential depletion in stocks of shrimp has led them to search for alternate exportable species. Tuna is now caught as alternative to the shrimp. Around 70 country boats, fish tuna in these waters between Vizag and Kakinada and each boat catches at least 100 to 200kgs in a single voyage. And half of the catch by these local fishermen is purchased by 4 traders who export them to Japan and the US from Chennai port where chilling facilities are available. One-kilo tuna is sold at Rs 60 in local markets and $4 to $5 in international markets in Japan and US. A dead dolphin that weighs around 200kgs will be cut into small pieces and used as bait. Half-kilo dolphin meat is used to catch one tuna. There are no any official estimates about the killings of these mammals and it was reported that currently one dolphin is dying every month while earlier such incidents occurred once in a year. According to the researches at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute the commonly found dolphins in Bay of Bengal are spinner dolphin, common dolphin and bottlenose dolphin. Population levels of these three species in Bay of Bengal are estimated to be 12,000 and are evenly distributed in entire bay. Spinner and common dolphins are off shore species and are sighted off Visakhapatnam and Kakinada coastal area. The scientists made 13 cruises since last two years and spent almost 350 to 400 days in the sea and estimated the dolphin population. "The dolphin and tuna are friendly and they are seen always together. They both feed on small fishes and cephalopods" said the Principal scientist and scientist in charge of CMFRI, DR G Syda Rao. A researcher in the CMFRI also said that these dolphins are used as bait to catch sharks and tuna. Associate professor in department of Zoology, Andhra University, B Bharatha Lakshmi, who has been observing dolphins in waters of Bay of Bengal between Kakinada and Visakhapatnam for the past 15 years, says that these dolphins are also getting trapped in the pursescine nets, grilled nets leading to suffocation and finally death. The propellers of motorboats and trawlers also crushthem. "At least one dolphin is dying per month in these waters as observed by the decomposed carcass. The mere smell of dolphin attracts tunas who gather en masse at a place and finally become a easy catch for the fishermen," says Dr Bharatha Lakshmi.Lack of surveillance, check by the government and lack of protected zones for fishing were the main causes for the present agony. And according to wild life protection act of 1972, the offender should be imprisoned for seven years with Rs 50,000 penalty, which is a non-bailable offence. "These mammals are legally protected as per various national and international acts. We have conducted many national level seminars, symposiums appealing the government to protect these mammals. But nothing was done till now,'' she said. " Dolphins are treated as heritage in the Western countries where millions of dollars are spent for protecting these endangered species," added the associate professor. "For us our lives are important not these dolphins. We are getting good money by catching tuna and we use dolphins for better catch. It is as simple as that. We can sell a tuna for 1,500 to 2,000 locally and the exporters get more money " said Theddu Nookalu a fisherman. The Conservator of Forests, P V Padmabham said that they do not have any mechanism to patrol in the sea to protect the endangered species like dolphins. "We will definitely take persons into task and will book anyone if they try to market it on the shore. But if anything happens mid sea we cannot do anything". He also added that sometimes these dolphins accidentally get caught into the nets that are meant to catch konam and other fish and instead of bringing these dolphins to the shore the fishermen cut the mammalsinto pieces and use as bait to catch tuna. "At many international symposiums it was stressed the need to introduce and use different kind of nets by the fishermen to catch fish where dolphins can escape easily. But nothing was done so far" said the Conservator of Forests. Unfortunately, no NGO has come forward to put pressure on the government on this issue.
Move over Meerut, first mutiny was in AP
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Sept: It was in the month of October exactly 226 years ago in 1780 that the country’s first sepoy mutiny occurred which was known to very few in this country. The period between the acquisition of the northern circars and the introduction of permanent settlement witnessed a series of uprisings and disturbances. The sepoys of the armies of the East India Company also rose in rebellion on two occasions, protesting against the coercive, inconsiderate attitude of the latter. “There were only three sepoy mutinies prior to the famous revolt of 1857. The first occurred in Vizagpatam on October 3, 1780, the second at Vellore in Tamil Nadu in 1806 and the third at Gorakhpur in 1824 and later at Meerut on May 10, 1857. But the country’s first sepoy mutiny occurred here in Vizag 226 years ago. And Shaik Mohammed, the Subedar of the brigadiers was the chief mutineer. Unfortunately, people know only about Mangal Pandey, Laxmi Bai of Jhansi. But very few know about the great martyr Shaik Mohammed who not only first raised voice against the British but killed some of their cadets and officers” said the Joint Secretary and Editorial Board member of the Andhra Pradesh History Congress and noted historian in the state Dr Kolluru Suryanayana. The oppression and maltreatment meted out to the sepoys by Englishmen, coupled with the patriotic fervour that made the sepoys at Vizagpatam revolt against the English in 1780.The native sepoys who were enlisted for local service only were also very often dispersed all over the district for revenue collection. But whenever such campaigns were undertaken they were not paid any extra allowance, besides being treated scruffily by English officers. This was the root-cause of discontent among the sepoys posted at Vizagapatam and it reached to the peak with the information that they have to embark on Sartine frigate to Madras in order to meet the impending threat from Hyder Ali of Mysore in the Carnatic. This order exasperated the native sepoys in general and the Muslim soldiers in particular who regarded it an offence against their religion to fight against Hyder Ali of their won faith. Thus when the order was made known a deep spirit of disaffection was prevailing among the native sepoys of the district and the persistence with the proposal inflamed their anti British feelings and provoked them to immediate rebellion. The war with Hyder Ali in the Carnatic weakened the English to a large extent and to reinforce their army the then Governor of Madras, John Whitehall, addressed a letter on September 14, 1780, to the then chief of Vizagapatam and Masulipatam settlements, James Henry Casamajor, to keep in readiness for embarkation the sepoy grenadiers. The sepoys of Masulipatam obeyed the order without a murmur, but at Vizagapatam the English were in for a shock.The Sartine frigate was sent to Vizagpatam for the specific purpose of bringing grenadier companies of sepoys under the command of Lysaught. The sepoys were in fact ready for embarkation with all their arms, accouterments etc. and even paraded for the purpose on October 3. Officers of all companies had dined at the house of the chief and all of them went down to witness the embarkation. Suddenly just before 3pm they all refused to go on board Sartine. When the officers insisted that their order should be obeyed, the sepoys leveled their pieces and indiscriminately fired on their English officers and at all the English they could see. As a result, Lt Crisps, Kingsford Venner, a cadet, and Robert Rutherford, the paymaster, died on the spot. Charles Maxtone received wounds in the head and got off and seriously injured Captain Lane was assisted by some his sepoys in getting off mind imaginable, but were soon alarmed by an uncommon noise from the docks around 3 p.m.Seeing the fury of the rebels the British panicked and ran haphazard with a few like Lt. Brown, Ellis and Collins swimming the entire stretch of the backwaters to Sartine and others hiding themselves in different parts of the town.It did not end with the killing of a few officers. The rebels were determined to liberate the district from the East India Company and join the forces of Hyder Ali to drive the British away from the country. They took Casamajor and several other civil servants into captivity and freed a French spy who was confined to prison for some time.Shaik Mohammad, subedar of the grenadiers and the chief initiator of the mutiny, assumed control of the rebels. After holding Casamajor captive for 24 hours, Mohammad questioned the chief to disclose the details of the Company's property and, thereafter, went on a looting spree. It is believed that even the locals joined the mutineers. The Company's cash amounting to Rs.21, 999 fell into their hands.By this time, almost all the sepoys present in the garrison joined the uprising, and seeing this the English were totally deranged. The revolt left them a shambles; they were without men or money and neither did they get any support from the local like-minded zamindars.On the morning of October 4, the mutineers marched out of the town with the chief and the other captured men in tow to join the forces of Hyder Ali. But at the behest of Gajapathi Narain Deo, they freed them, and that was their mistake. Casamajor returned directly to Sartine and ordered Capt. Ensign Butler to gather the sepoys loyal to the Company and with the help of the crew and weapons on board to go after the rebels. He also instructed the neigbouring zamindars, fed on the English bread, not to support the cause of the rebels and join the Company's forces in subduing them. This made the rebels alter their course as they were not allowed by the zamindars to pass through their territories. The mutineers were ambushed and mercilessly slaughtered by Butler's men in the gorge of Gudderallywanka on the night of October 8. A few, including Mohammad, escaped only to be caught and brutally executed a few months later.Though the revolt was a short-lived one, it was certainly the first potential shock to the British administration after the acquisition of northern Circars. Casamajor himself later admitted in a testimony: "The revolt of the grenadiers was in all respects an event that might have led to dangerous consequences. It had annihilated our power and influence in a great measure. At any rate we received such a shock that we felt ourselves degraded as a Government."The incident has as many as 25 references. It was referred in the ‘History of the Madras Army’ by WJ Wilson and the letters between John White Hall-Casamajor-Brown- on October 4, 9 and which were in the Military Department Consultation of the then British army. There are no remnants of this mutiny except for the grave of Kingsford Venner in the Old Town cemetery. This mutiny was also reported in Hickey's “Bengal Gazette", India's first newspaper, a couple of days later. The Founder President of the “Shahide Watan Ashfaqullah Khan memorial Trust” of the city Mohammed Fasiuddin who was working to infuse the patriotism, national integrity among the youth in the country says that it was unfortunate situation that the neighbouring state Tamil Nadu government had celebrated the centenary of the Sepoy Revolt at Vellore, but the AP government did not even tried to bring such an incident into light which is pride of the nation. “Its our ill-fate that the government did not give much importance for such a prideful incident. The Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi who was not allowed to get mortal remains of Shyamji Krishna Varma, a freedom fighter, from Geneva at last brought the remains to Gujarat. These are the incidents of national importance. We demand the State to construct a memorial monument to the incident and celebrate the incident every year” said Faisuddin.
Visakhapatnam, Sept: It was in the month of October exactly 226 years ago in 1780 that the country’s first sepoy mutiny occurred which was known to very few in this country. The period between the acquisition of the northern circars and the introduction of permanent settlement witnessed a series of uprisings and disturbances. The sepoys of the armies of the East India Company also rose in rebellion on two occasions, protesting against the coercive, inconsiderate attitude of the latter. “There were only three sepoy mutinies prior to the famous revolt of 1857. The first occurred in Vizagpatam on October 3, 1780, the second at Vellore in Tamil Nadu in 1806 and the third at Gorakhpur in 1824 and later at Meerut on May 10, 1857. But the country’s first sepoy mutiny occurred here in Vizag 226 years ago. And Shaik Mohammed, the Subedar of the brigadiers was the chief mutineer. Unfortunately, people know only about Mangal Pandey, Laxmi Bai of Jhansi. But very few know about the great martyr Shaik Mohammed who not only first raised voice against the British but killed some of their cadets and officers” said the Joint Secretary and Editorial Board member of the Andhra Pradesh History Congress and noted historian in the state Dr Kolluru Suryanayana. The oppression and maltreatment meted out to the sepoys by Englishmen, coupled with the patriotic fervour that made the sepoys at Vizagpatam revolt against the English in 1780.The native sepoys who were enlisted for local service only were also very often dispersed all over the district for revenue collection. But whenever such campaigns were undertaken they were not paid any extra allowance, besides being treated scruffily by English officers. This was the root-cause of discontent among the sepoys posted at Vizagapatam and it reached to the peak with the information that they have to embark on Sartine frigate to Madras in order to meet the impending threat from Hyder Ali of Mysore in the Carnatic. This order exasperated the native sepoys in general and the Muslim soldiers in particular who regarded it an offence against their religion to fight against Hyder Ali of their won faith. Thus when the order was made known a deep spirit of disaffection was prevailing among the native sepoys of the district and the persistence with the proposal inflamed their anti British feelings and provoked them to immediate rebellion. The war with Hyder Ali in the Carnatic weakened the English to a large extent and to reinforce their army the then Governor of Madras, John Whitehall, addressed a letter on September 14, 1780, to the then chief of Vizagapatam and Masulipatam settlements, James Henry Casamajor, to keep in readiness for embarkation the sepoy grenadiers. The sepoys of Masulipatam obeyed the order without a murmur, but at Vizagapatam the English were in for a shock.The Sartine frigate was sent to Vizagpatam for the specific purpose of bringing grenadier companies of sepoys under the command of Lysaught. The sepoys were in fact ready for embarkation with all their arms, accouterments etc. and even paraded for the purpose on October 3. Officers of all companies had dined at the house of the chief and all of them went down to witness the embarkation. Suddenly just before 3pm they all refused to go on board Sartine. When the officers insisted that their order should be obeyed, the sepoys leveled their pieces and indiscriminately fired on their English officers and at all the English they could see. As a result, Lt Crisps, Kingsford Venner, a cadet, and Robert Rutherford, the paymaster, died on the spot. Charles Maxtone received wounds in the head and got off and seriously injured Captain Lane was assisted by some his sepoys in getting off mind imaginable, but were soon alarmed by an uncommon noise from the docks around 3 p.m.Seeing the fury of the rebels the British panicked and ran haphazard with a few like Lt. Brown, Ellis and Collins swimming the entire stretch of the backwaters to Sartine and others hiding themselves in different parts of the town.It did not end with the killing of a few officers. The rebels were determined to liberate the district from the East India Company and join the forces of Hyder Ali to drive the British away from the country. They took Casamajor and several other civil servants into captivity and freed a French spy who was confined to prison for some time.Shaik Mohammad, subedar of the grenadiers and the chief initiator of the mutiny, assumed control of the rebels. After holding Casamajor captive for 24 hours, Mohammad questioned the chief to disclose the details of the Company's property and, thereafter, went on a looting spree. It is believed that even the locals joined the mutineers. The Company's cash amounting to Rs.21, 999 fell into their hands.By this time, almost all the sepoys present in the garrison joined the uprising, and seeing this the English were totally deranged. The revolt left them a shambles; they were without men or money and neither did they get any support from the local like-minded zamindars.On the morning of October 4, the mutineers marched out of the town with the chief and the other captured men in tow to join the forces of Hyder Ali. But at the behest of Gajapathi Narain Deo, they freed them, and that was their mistake. Casamajor returned directly to Sartine and ordered Capt. Ensign Butler to gather the sepoys loyal to the Company and with the help of the crew and weapons on board to go after the rebels. He also instructed the neigbouring zamindars, fed on the English bread, not to support the cause of the rebels and join the Company's forces in subduing them. This made the rebels alter their course as they were not allowed by the zamindars to pass through their territories. The mutineers were ambushed and mercilessly slaughtered by Butler's men in the gorge of Gudderallywanka on the night of October 8. A few, including Mohammad, escaped only to be caught and brutally executed a few months later.Though the revolt was a short-lived one, it was certainly the first potential shock to the British administration after the acquisition of northern Circars. Casamajor himself later admitted in a testimony: "The revolt of the grenadiers was in all respects an event that might have led to dangerous consequences. It had annihilated our power and influence in a great measure. At any rate we received such a shock that we felt ourselves degraded as a Government."The incident has as many as 25 references. It was referred in the ‘History of the Madras Army’ by WJ Wilson and the letters between John White Hall-Casamajor-Brown- on October 4, 9 and which were in the Military Department Consultation of the then British army. There are no remnants of this mutiny except for the grave of Kingsford Venner in the Old Town cemetery. This mutiny was also reported in Hickey's “Bengal Gazette", India's first newspaper, a couple of days later. The Founder President of the “Shahide Watan Ashfaqullah Khan memorial Trust” of the city Mohammed Fasiuddin who was working to infuse the patriotism, national integrity among the youth in the country says that it was unfortunate situation that the neighbouring state Tamil Nadu government had celebrated the centenary of the Sepoy Revolt at Vellore, but the AP government did not even tried to bring such an incident into light which is pride of the nation. “Its our ill-fate that the government did not give much importance for such a prideful incident. The Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi who was not allowed to get mortal remains of Shyamji Krishna Varma, a freedom fighter, from Geneva at last brought the remains to Gujarat. These are the incidents of national importance. We demand the State to construct a memorial monument to the incident and celebrate the incident every year” said Faisuddin.
Naxals trying to enter trade unions in Vizag
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Sep 14: Maoists, hitherto operating in the thick forest tracts of the district and beyond are in recent times focusing on the industrial areas of the city.Following deep forays into the jungle by Greyhounds over the past year, most Maoist armed squads have been beaten back and forced to move out of the Agency mandals. They have crossed over to the contiguous forests of the Eastern Ghats, principally Malkangiri and Koraput districts of Orissa. A fresh initiative by the ultras is to extend their influence in the plain areas of the district. The industrial area in the city is seen as promising by the Maoists. This is substantiated by several documents discussed at a political reorganisation review meeting of the Andhra Orissa Border Special Zone Committee. These documents were seized by police combing parties. The divisional committees of East Godavari, Visakhapatnam,Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and several border districts of Orissa come within the purview of the AOBSZC. Sources point out that Maoists are keen on playing up issues emanating from industrial unrest. Their intention is to work among both the organised and unorganised working class. This is something the Maoists have not done in a concerted manner unlike several other Marxist Leninist political formations which have trade union fronts and actively take up issues related to the working classOn the other hand, the Maoists have, ever since they entered the Vizag Agency in the early 1980s, concentrated their activity almost exclusively in the 11 forest mandals of the district. Though important Maoist cadre have used and continue to use the industrial suburbs as a shelter zone, they have not sought to intervene in the city either directly or through their semi-clandestine front organisations. This appears to be changing.The recent crisis at Gangavaram private port leading to police firing and repeated clashes between the administration and agitating fisher-folk is a case in point and came in handy for the Maoists waiting for a good opportunity. The Maoist East Division Committee secretary Jagadeesh has put out statements expressing solidarity with the fisherfolk. He also warned the port management and government functionaries of dire consequences if injustice was done to fisherfolk agitating for a comprehensive and just relief and rehabilitation package. There are more than 10 to 12 PSU’s and many private industries in the city with over a lakh working force depending on them either directly or indirectly.It is learnt that the special police also have with them several representations given by trade union leaders from the area to the Maoists during the peace talks last year. The cops are also in the possession of the diary of top Maoist leader Sudhakar who participated in the talks. He was then AOBSZC secretary and was almost nabbed by the police a few months ago near Makkuva of Vizianagaram district.“There have been some agitations by the industrial working class in the recent past that has had the backing of the Maoists. The managements of some industries conceded workers’ demands because of this ‘link’ with the ultras,” says a trade union leader requesting anonymity. It may be recalled that V R Gopal alias Gopi alias Azad, a courier to several top Maoist leaders surrendered before the Vizianagaram police recently. According to information, Azad was nabbed by the police who kept them in their custody and got him to ‘surrender’ about a week later. The police later picked up his father Lakshman Rao and sister Jhansi from the city on the charge of being Maoist cadre. Speaking to this correspondent, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bhavana Saxena said the department has special surveillance teams keeping a watch on the naxal moments in the city and added that they have intensified the watch these days especially on suburbs. "We will definitely look into the industrial 'link'" said the DCP. .
Visakhapatnam, Sep 14: Maoists, hitherto operating in the thick forest tracts of the district and beyond are in recent times focusing on the industrial areas of the city.Following deep forays into the jungle by Greyhounds over the past year, most Maoist armed squads have been beaten back and forced to move out of the Agency mandals. They have crossed over to the contiguous forests of the Eastern Ghats, principally Malkangiri and Koraput districts of Orissa. A fresh initiative by the ultras is to extend their influence in the plain areas of the district. The industrial area in the city is seen as promising by the Maoists. This is substantiated by several documents discussed at a political reorganisation review meeting of the Andhra Orissa Border Special Zone Committee. These documents were seized by police combing parties. The divisional committees of East Godavari, Visakhapatnam,Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and several border districts of Orissa come within the purview of the AOBSZC. Sources point out that Maoists are keen on playing up issues emanating from industrial unrest. Their intention is to work among both the organised and unorganised working class. This is something the Maoists have not done in a concerted manner unlike several other Marxist Leninist political formations which have trade union fronts and actively take up issues related to the working classOn the other hand, the Maoists have, ever since they entered the Vizag Agency in the early 1980s, concentrated their activity almost exclusively in the 11 forest mandals of the district. Though important Maoist cadre have used and continue to use the industrial suburbs as a shelter zone, they have not sought to intervene in the city either directly or through their semi-clandestine front organisations. This appears to be changing.The recent crisis at Gangavaram private port leading to police firing and repeated clashes between the administration and agitating fisher-folk is a case in point and came in handy for the Maoists waiting for a good opportunity. The Maoist East Division Committee secretary Jagadeesh has put out statements expressing solidarity with the fisherfolk. He also warned the port management and government functionaries of dire consequences if injustice was done to fisherfolk agitating for a comprehensive and just relief and rehabilitation package. There are more than 10 to 12 PSU’s and many private industries in the city with over a lakh working force depending on them either directly or indirectly.It is learnt that the special police also have with them several representations given by trade union leaders from the area to the Maoists during the peace talks last year. The cops are also in the possession of the diary of top Maoist leader Sudhakar who participated in the talks. He was then AOBSZC secretary and was almost nabbed by the police a few months ago near Makkuva of Vizianagaram district.“There have been some agitations by the industrial working class in the recent past that has had the backing of the Maoists. The managements of some industries conceded workers’ demands because of this ‘link’ with the ultras,” says a trade union leader requesting anonymity. It may be recalled that V R Gopal alias Gopi alias Azad, a courier to several top Maoist leaders surrendered before the Vizianagaram police recently. According to information, Azad was nabbed by the police who kept them in their custody and got him to ‘surrender’ about a week later. The police later picked up his father Lakshman Rao and sister Jhansi from the city on the charge of being Maoist cadre. Speaking to this correspondent, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bhavana Saxena said the department has special surveillance teams keeping a watch on the naxal moments in the city and added that they have intensified the watch these days especially on suburbs. "We will definitely look into the industrial 'link'" said the DCP. .
Naxals ensure ganja thrive in AP
By SNV Sudhir
Kappala (Vizag Agency), Aug 18: The tribals of the Vizag Agency are no more worried over the government's empty promises to push them above the poverty line. A simple weed grown in their backyards turning out to be a major money earner. Shilavathi, a name not known in the district, is very popular ganja peddled in the Paharganj in Delhi, streets of Mumbai, Kolkota and other metroes.Deprived of the welfare measures by the state government, the tribals in the agency area are now taking up massive cultivation of Marijuana using manure and motor pumps under the very eyes of the police and the excise officials.One can see lush green bushes spread on every hill near the remote interior villages where one cannot step in due to tough terrain.One has to walk for miles or engage horses to enter these hilltops where ganja is being cultivated. Out of 11 agency mandals 8 mandals- Hukumpeta, Ananthagiri, Paderu, Dumbriguda, Pedabayalu, G Madugula, Munchingputtu and G K Veedhi are known for ganja cultivation. This cash crop is being cultivated in thousands of acres in at least 20 to 30 villages of each mandal by the tribals. Almost all these villages are Maoists influenced areas which gives them a secuerity cover. And around 2,000 to 3,500 tribal families are involved in the cultivation. Till two years ago tribals were hired by the Tamil Nadu drug pedlars to cultivate the ganja besides providing seeds, other material and Rs 10,000 to 15,000 per acre as wages to them.But for the past two years these tribals became wiser and demanding more share. They began cultivation on their own and demanding more money from the traders.They are now using manure and motor pumps, run on kerosene to provide water from the nearby water resource for better produce.“What can we do? The government is not providing anything to us. There are no roads to our villages no welfare scheme is implemented. Not even a single officer approaches us asking our needs. We have pleaded the authorities to transfer the lands to us, which we were cultivating for ages. But they never showed interest. So, we are cultivating this ganja, which is lucrative. The cultivation needs very minimal investment. Just seeds and water are enough. We know that this is illegal,” said Sonna, belonging to Kondu tribe to this correspondent.It is very dangerous to enter these areas where the ganja is cultivated, as the tribal cultivators do not even hesitate to assault if they see any new face on their land. Mostly the Kondu, Korja and Gadaba, which are Primitive Tribal Groups, are involved in this cultivation. Sheelavathi said to be premium quality ganja is being more cultivated in the Agency areas. Around 1,500 to 2,000 kgs of Sheelavathi is produced per acre and the tribals are paid Rs 500 to 800 per kg by the traders who smuggle them to Kolkata via Vizianagaram and to Chennai via Anakapalli. According to the official records it was just in 900 acres that the ganja was cultivated in these areas in the year 2001 and due to the intensified operations by the enforcement authorities substantial results were achieved and the cultivation was reduced to very minimal acres. The Assistant Commissioner, Enforcement, Prohibition and Excise, T V Rao, said that they were conducting regular raids and destroying these ganja plants periodically.“Now we are planning to adopt a new strategy. We will now more focus on arrests and levying PD act on the big players from ‘Tamil Nadu’ who are encouraging the cultivation. We kept a watch on 3 to 5 such smugglers who are encouraging the innocent tribals in large scale. They will be nabbed very soon,” said Rao.Since 2 years the Prohibition and Excise sleuths have booked 25 cases in 2003-04 and 13 between 2004-05. They are also now planning to arrest the tribals to discourage them from growing the ganja.The excise sleuths are also not able to contain the cultivation as the tribals prefer to cultivate the ganja on the hill tops where it at least takes 7 to 8 hours just to reach the cultivation points on foot as no vehicle can go near. “By the time we reach the hilltop it becomes dark and besides it is not safe to go there as the tribals are very dangerous.The presence of Maoists base in the area became a boon for the tribals.``The Maoists are collecting Rs 100 from each bag from the traders,'' confirmed officer on special duty Vineet Brijal.The senior police told this correspondent that last year ganja worth Rs 1 crore was seized from Chitrakonda area on the border which was a record in the north coastal Andhra.
Kappala (Vizag Agency), Aug 18: The tribals of the Vizag Agency are no more worried over the government's empty promises to push them above the poverty line. A simple weed grown in their backyards turning out to be a major money earner. Shilavathi, a name not known in the district, is very popular ganja peddled in the Paharganj in Delhi, streets of Mumbai, Kolkota and other metroes.Deprived of the welfare measures by the state government, the tribals in the agency area are now taking up massive cultivation of Marijuana using manure and motor pumps under the very eyes of the police and the excise officials.One can see lush green bushes spread on every hill near the remote interior villages where one cannot step in due to tough terrain.One has to walk for miles or engage horses to enter these hilltops where ganja is being cultivated. Out of 11 agency mandals 8 mandals- Hukumpeta, Ananthagiri, Paderu, Dumbriguda, Pedabayalu, G Madugula, Munchingputtu and G K Veedhi are known for ganja cultivation. This cash crop is being cultivated in thousands of acres in at least 20 to 30 villages of each mandal by the tribals. Almost all these villages are Maoists influenced areas which gives them a secuerity cover. And around 2,000 to 3,500 tribal families are involved in the cultivation. Till two years ago tribals were hired by the Tamil Nadu drug pedlars to cultivate the ganja besides providing seeds, other material and Rs 10,000 to 15,000 per acre as wages to them.But for the past two years these tribals became wiser and demanding more share. They began cultivation on their own and demanding more money from the traders.They are now using manure and motor pumps, run on kerosene to provide water from the nearby water resource for better produce.“What can we do? The government is not providing anything to us. There are no roads to our villages no welfare scheme is implemented. Not even a single officer approaches us asking our needs. We have pleaded the authorities to transfer the lands to us, which we were cultivating for ages. But they never showed interest. So, we are cultivating this ganja, which is lucrative. The cultivation needs very minimal investment. Just seeds and water are enough. We know that this is illegal,” said Sonna, belonging to Kondu tribe to this correspondent.It is very dangerous to enter these areas where the ganja is cultivated, as the tribal cultivators do not even hesitate to assault if they see any new face on their land. Mostly the Kondu, Korja and Gadaba, which are Primitive Tribal Groups, are involved in this cultivation. Sheelavathi said to be premium quality ganja is being more cultivated in the Agency areas. Around 1,500 to 2,000 kgs of Sheelavathi is produced per acre and the tribals are paid Rs 500 to 800 per kg by the traders who smuggle them to Kolkata via Vizianagaram and to Chennai via Anakapalli. According to the official records it was just in 900 acres that the ganja was cultivated in these areas in the year 2001 and due to the intensified operations by the enforcement authorities substantial results were achieved and the cultivation was reduced to very minimal acres. The Assistant Commissioner, Enforcement, Prohibition and Excise, T V Rao, said that they were conducting regular raids and destroying these ganja plants periodically.“Now we are planning to adopt a new strategy. We will now more focus on arrests and levying PD act on the big players from ‘Tamil Nadu’ who are encouraging the cultivation. We kept a watch on 3 to 5 such smugglers who are encouraging the innocent tribals in large scale. They will be nabbed very soon,” said Rao.Since 2 years the Prohibition and Excise sleuths have booked 25 cases in 2003-04 and 13 between 2004-05. They are also now planning to arrest the tribals to discourage them from growing the ganja.The excise sleuths are also not able to contain the cultivation as the tribals prefer to cultivate the ganja on the hill tops where it at least takes 7 to 8 hours just to reach the cultivation points on foot as no vehicle can go near. “By the time we reach the hilltop it becomes dark and besides it is not safe to go there as the tribals are very dangerous.The presence of Maoists base in the area became a boon for the tribals.``The Maoists are collecting Rs 100 from each bag from the traders,'' confirmed officer on special duty Vineet Brijal.The senior police told this correspondent that last year ganja worth Rs 1 crore was seized from Chitrakonda area on the border which was a record in the north coastal Andhra.
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