http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/administration-giving-prerecruitment-training-to-tribals/882478.html

Large scale expansion of Hybrid Mustard cultivation in Kandhamal

                 Tribals of Kandhamal traditionally cultivate mustard on uplands. Since around 73% of Kandhamals geographical area is forested and 83 % of the cultivable area is upland crops taken by tribals on upland assume significance. As a strategy to strengthen upland cultivation the administration has decided to give emphasis on Hoticulure with Maiz for Kharif and Mustard for Rabi as inter crops. Both the crops are well known to the people and they cultivate them traditionally. This Kharif Maiz was expanded three times i.e. 6700 acres and massive expansion of Mustard was done on 14150 acres for Rabi. Kandhamal farmers saw mustard in the month of Octumber in order to capitalise the residual moisture. Keeping this in mind Seed was made available to willing farmers at nominal cost in each GP headquarter on 5th to 7th Oct. Almost Q 450 seed was distributed in watershed areas, OTELP areas, Farmers Club and to all willing farmers at GP level. Farmers who were not able to cultivate in Kharif because of scanty rainfall were given preference. Massive awareness campaign was also unvailed in order to dessiminate the information about the crop and related information. This effort is likely to have impact on the topography and economy of the district.

Siksha Panchayat for better community participation

                     All will agree that the education has been affected a great deal in the aftermath of riots in kandhamal. Being a backward district in terms of development of industry, agriculture and other sources of livelihood, on this backdrop education becomes all the more important . Keeping this in mind many steps have been initiated in the recent past to streamline the education scenario in the district like rationalisation of teachers, review and monitoring at block level by BDOs and district level by collector, organising conventions of School Management Committees at each block headquarters etc. In continuation of this a concept of Siksha Panchayats is being introduced from the month of September. In Siksha Panchayats a meeting is being organised on the first day of every month at each GP headquarter which is being attended by all SMC presidents, Head masters of all schools, Ward members, Sarpanch and concern CRCC. All issues pertaining to school like enrollment, drop out, MDM, attendance of teachers ad their teaching are being discussed. Proceeding is being drawn which the CRCCs are suppose to carry at the block level. Since this meeting also coincides with the block nodal meeting, important issues are being discussed at block level and necessary actions are being intiated. If any attention is required to be invited of the district level officials same is being mentioned in the Block proceeding of the Nodal meeting. Detail discussions are also being made on the 23rd of the month in a Block Education meeting chaired by BDO and attended by all CRCCs,S.I.of Schools and BRCC. This initiative is expected to provide a platform to community based institutions like SMC to get involved in managing the schools and have better coordination with all stake holders.