DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: The by-elections in ten Assembly constituencies, slated for July 27, in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh will be a real test for the separatist Telangana Rashtra Samiti.
In actual terms, the ruling Congress and the principal opposition Telugu Desam Party have nothing to lose and victory in even a couple of seats will only be a gain for these parties. Of the ten constituencies facing by-elections, nine were won by the TRS and one by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2009 general elections. These legislators resigned from their posts in February this year demanding immediate grant of statehood for Telangana even as the Government of India constituted a five-member committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge B Srikrishna, to study the situation in the state.In all 12 MLAs – ten of TRS and one each of TDP and BJP – quit their posts but by-polls are not being held for Vemulawada and Sircilla seats in Karimnagar district because of legal hurdles. TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao’s son K T Rama Rao won the Sircilla seat by a margin of just 171 votes following which his election was challenged in High Court. Chennamaneni Ramesh won the Vemulawada seat on TDP ticket last time but his election too was contested on the ground that he was a “foreign” citizen. Ramesh quit the TDP after his resignation from the Assembly and joined the TRS.In 2009, the TRS enjoyed the support of TDP as well as CPI and CPM and hence managed to win ten seats in all. This time, however, it is fighting the by-elections on its own banking solely on the so-called “Telangana sentiment.” Interestingly, the Congress and the TDP too will be playing the Telangana card, thereby depriving the TRS of its USP. The entry into fray of Congress and TDP has left the TRS jittery as it hoped to get its candidates re-elected without any contest on the ground that they “sacrificed” their posts for the cause of a separate state. The TRS used every gambit to prevent the Congress and the TDP from contesting the by-elections but failed. The ruling party is jumping into the fray with the slogan that it is the Congress alone that could ultimately deliver Telangana. Of course, it will also use the “development” plank to win over the electorate. The TDP would like to expose how both the Congress and the TRS had been deceiving the people of Telangana over the separate statehood issue. Besides, it will take up the people’s problems and the state government’s failure in preventing the construction of Babli irrigation project on river Godavari by the Maharashtra government. While all the TRS MLAs who quit their posts will be fielded again in the by-elections, the TDP finalized the name of seven candidates so far and will formally announce its full list probably on June 30. Telugu Desam sources say the party might strategically field the kin of persons, who committed suicide for the cause of Telangana state, in at least a couple of constituencies like Siddipet essentially to put the TRS in a bind. Siddipet is considered the TRS’ bastion from where party chief K Chandrasekhar Rao’s nephew T Harish Rao won with a thumping majority of 64,014 votes in 2009. The TRS, through the now non-existent Telangana Political Joint Action Committee, mooted the idea of fielding the kin of the so-called “Telangana martyrs” in at least some constituencies in the by-elections to showcase their commitment to the statehood cause. Now, the TDP is planning to beat the TRS in its game by fielding such persons particularly in constituencies like Siddipet, according to party sources. The BJP will re-nominate Lakshminarayana for the Nizamabad (Urban) seat and will not contest other seats. Lakshminarayana was one of the two BJP MLAs elected in 2009 but quit over the statehood issue. He will be facing PCC chief D Srinivas again in Nizamabad while the TDP is nominating a Muslim candidate Aleem. The Praja Rajyam Party has decided not to contest the by-polls. The PRP has been reduced to nothing by changing its stand in favour of a unified Andhra Pradesh. Even when it supported the cause of “Social Telangana” in 2009, it could win only two seats in the region and both the MLAs are now out of the party. Given the strong antagonism it faces in the region, the PRP decided to stay away from the fight. The real fight begins once the poll notification is issued on July 2.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Chaos in Andhra Pradesh Congress
DESARAJU SURYA
HYDERABAD: Chaos is ruling the roost in the ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh these days – for the first time in six years.
Members of Parliament are attacking state Ministers, junior MLAs are trying to take on their seniors while the latter are hitting back with equal vigour. Legislators eyeing a berth in the state Cabinet are sulking as Chief Minister K Rosaiah appears in no hurry to take up the expansion exercise in the immediate future.
The only ones who are left exuberant right now are the state ministers who have fallen in line and are singing paeans of the Chief Minister, what with the Cabinet expansion\reshuffle put on the backburner giving them “job security.”
Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy may have put off his planned “Odarpu Yatra” in Warangal district from May 28 to console over 70 families whose members allegedly died either due to heartbreak or committed suicide following the death of his father and late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in September last.
But it has left the Congress bruised as the not only the party’s state leadership but also the “high command” were left totally embarrassed because of the violence it caused when an adamant Jagan sought to defy the party directive and go ahead with the tour.
Though the Congress high command is now talking tough over the issue, it is not in a position to take any action against the first-time MP.
The current mess in the AP Congress started with Guntur MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao petitioning AICC chief Sonia Gandhi early this month against “corrupt ministers” in Rosaiah’s Cabinet and seeking their immediate expulsion. His prime target was state Major Industries Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana, his bête noire in the district, and this led to a war of words and challenges and counter-challenges between the two.
Following in Rayapati’s footsteps, Kurnool MP Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy targeted his district minister C Silpa Mohan Reddy alleging that the latter was working hand-in-glove with the opposition Telugu Desam Party, thereby weakening the Congress in the district. Kotla also levelled allegations of corruption against Silpa Mohan.
Even before these two episodes ended, senior MLAs J C Diwakar Reddy, D L Ravindra Reddy and P Shanker Rao – all eyeing berths in the Cabinet – openly demanded that the Chief Minister “review” the so-called welfare schemes launched by his predecessor YSR in view of the precarious financial health of the state.
Three MLAs from Kadapa, owing allegiance to Y S Jagan, warned of consequences if the welfare schemes were withdrawn or watered down on the pretext of financial crunch. They even went to the extent of threatening to take on even the Prime Minister and the AICC president if they committed any mistake.
This left not only the senior leaders red-faced but also the Chief Minister and the Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas, who rushed to the party high command with “proof” of the Jagan camp’s loud-mouthed outbursts.
The senior legislators and many other party leaders demanded that the three MLAs be expelled from the party forthwith for having the temerity to speak against Sonia Gandhi.
Interestingly, neither the Chief Minister nor the PCC president reacted openly when the Kadapa MP himself issued flagrant warnings against moves to withdraw any of the welfare schemes initiated by his father when he was Chief Minister.
PCC chief D Srinivas' silence on anti-party activities by senior Congressmen and his eagerness to enter the Rajya Sabha have emboldened many a Congress leader in the state to take a dig either at his rival within the party or criticise the Rosaiah government only to keep their ilk in the party happy.
All said and done, the Congress party in the state is passing through a serious phase of gross indiscipline because the high command is not in a position either to displease the Jagan camp or the anti-Jagan camp.
Now, everyone is looking towards New Delhi for the AICC to “first react and then act” to set the party house in order in Andhra Pradesh.
HYDERABAD: Chaos is ruling the roost in the ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh these days – for the first time in six years.
Members of Parliament are attacking state Ministers, junior MLAs are trying to take on their seniors while the latter are hitting back with equal vigour. Legislators eyeing a berth in the state Cabinet are sulking as Chief Minister K Rosaiah appears in no hurry to take up the expansion exercise in the immediate future.
The only ones who are left exuberant right now are the state ministers who have fallen in line and are singing paeans of the Chief Minister, what with the Cabinet expansion\reshuffle put on the backburner giving them “job security.”
Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy may have put off his planned “Odarpu Yatra” in Warangal district from May 28 to console over 70 families whose members allegedly died either due to heartbreak or committed suicide following the death of his father and late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in September last.
But it has left the Congress bruised as the not only the party’s state leadership but also the “high command” were left totally embarrassed because of the violence it caused when an adamant Jagan sought to defy the party directive and go ahead with the tour.
Though the Congress high command is now talking tough over the issue, it is not in a position to take any action against the first-time MP.
The current mess in the AP Congress started with Guntur MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao petitioning AICC chief Sonia Gandhi early this month against “corrupt ministers” in Rosaiah’s Cabinet and seeking their immediate expulsion. His prime target was state Major Industries Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana, his bête noire in the district, and this led to a war of words and challenges and counter-challenges between the two.
Following in Rayapati’s footsteps, Kurnool MP Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy targeted his district minister C Silpa Mohan Reddy alleging that the latter was working hand-in-glove with the opposition Telugu Desam Party, thereby weakening the Congress in the district. Kotla also levelled allegations of corruption against Silpa Mohan.
Even before these two episodes ended, senior MLAs J C Diwakar Reddy, D L Ravindra Reddy and P Shanker Rao – all eyeing berths in the Cabinet – openly demanded that the Chief Minister “review” the so-called welfare schemes launched by his predecessor YSR in view of the precarious financial health of the state.
Three MLAs from Kadapa, owing allegiance to Y S Jagan, warned of consequences if the welfare schemes were withdrawn or watered down on the pretext of financial crunch. They even went to the extent of threatening to take on even the Prime Minister and the AICC president if they committed any mistake.
This left not only the senior leaders red-faced but also the Chief Minister and the Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas, who rushed to the party high command with “proof” of the Jagan camp’s loud-mouthed outbursts.
The senior legislators and many other party leaders demanded that the three MLAs be expelled from the party forthwith for having the temerity to speak against Sonia Gandhi.
Interestingly, neither the Chief Minister nor the PCC president reacted openly when the Kadapa MP himself issued flagrant warnings against moves to withdraw any of the welfare schemes initiated by his father when he was Chief Minister.
PCC chief D Srinivas' silence on anti-party activities by senior Congressmen and his eagerness to enter the Rajya Sabha have emboldened many a Congress leader in the state to take a dig either at his rival within the party or criticise the Rosaiah government only to keep their ilk in the party happy.
All said and done, the Congress party in the state is passing through a serious phase of gross indiscipline because the high command is not in a position either to displease the Jagan camp or the anti-Jagan camp.
Now, everyone is looking towards New Delhi for the AICC to “first react and then act” to set the party house in order in Andhra Pradesh.
Friday, May 7, 2010
National Institute of Urban Management to come up in Hyderabad
DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: Hyderabad will soon be home for yet another prestigious national institute, the National Institute of Urban Management (NIUM).
NIUM will be developed as a world-class institute jointly by the Government of India and the Government of Andhra Pradesh on a 20-acre site at Khanamet village in Ranga Reddy district on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
“NIUM will be a premier institute for training urban managers in tune with the growing challenges of urbanization,” state Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development Aanam Ramanarayana Reddy said.
The key objective of the institute will be to provide policy prescriptions, innovations for better urban governance, information and training inputs to all those concerned with improving living conditions and quality of life for urban citizens.
While the GoI would contribute Rs 50 crore, the state government would spend Rs 15 crore for building the NIUM and setting up the training facilities in the first year. “The World Bank will contribute another Rs 20 crore for the project,” the Minister added.
The state Cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister K Rosaiah, approved a proposal to allocate 20 acres of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority land at Khanamet free-of-cost for the NIUM.
World-class infrastructure for training urban managers, hostels, modern computer labs, library and other infrastructure would be developed on the campus.
Currently, the National Institute of Urban Affairs is being run as an autonomous institution in New Delhi with the support of the Union Ministry of Urban Development. It is a premier institute for urban policy research, training and information dissemination in urban development and management.
“NIUM is the first national-level institute being set up by government to train urban managers from across the country,” Ramanarayana Reddy said.
The state government will communicate the land allocation particulars to the Union Ministry of Urban Development after which the latter will start building the facility.
Hyderabad: Hyderabad will soon be home for yet another prestigious national institute, the National Institute of Urban Management (NIUM).
NIUM will be developed as a world-class institute jointly by the Government of India and the Government of Andhra Pradesh on a 20-acre site at Khanamet village in Ranga Reddy district on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
“NIUM will be a premier institute for training urban managers in tune with the growing challenges of urbanization,” state Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development Aanam Ramanarayana Reddy said.
The key objective of the institute will be to provide policy prescriptions, innovations for better urban governance, information and training inputs to all those concerned with improving living conditions and quality of life for urban citizens.
While the GoI would contribute Rs 50 crore, the state government would spend Rs 15 crore for building the NIUM and setting up the training facilities in the first year. “The World Bank will contribute another Rs 20 crore for the project,” the Minister added.
The state Cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister K Rosaiah, approved a proposal to allocate 20 acres of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority land at Khanamet free-of-cost for the NIUM.
World-class infrastructure for training urban managers, hostels, modern computer labs, library and other infrastructure would be developed on the campus.
Currently, the National Institute of Urban Affairs is being run as an autonomous institution in New Delhi with the support of the Union Ministry of Urban Development. It is a premier institute for urban policy research, training and information dissemination in urban development and management.
“NIUM is the first national-level institute being set up by government to train urban managers from across the country,” Ramanarayana Reddy said.
The state government will communicate the land allocation particulars to the Union Ministry of Urban Development after which the latter will start building the facility.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Repositioning Hyderabad on the IT map
DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: Hyderabad is trying to “reposition” itself as a preferred destination for investments in Information Technology as the sector is showing signs of gradual recovery after a gap of over two years.
The Information and Communication Technology Department of Andhra Pradesh has sought to forge a partnership with the sector’s apex body Nasscom to help Hyderabad, and also the state, in the repositioning effort.
Members of Nasscom’s executive council, led by its (past) president Som Mittal, held a meeting with state IT Principal Secretary K Ratna Prabha here the other day and discussed the initiatives aimed at repositioning Hyderabad as a preferred destination for IT investments.
“First it was the global economic meltdown that cast a spell on the IT sector in Hyderabad. Next, the political turmoil in the state over the demand for and against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh caused a severe dent to Hyderabad’s image, thereby adversely affecting the IT sector’s growth. Hence the need for repositioning Hyderabad on the world IT map,” a senior official in the ICT Department said after the meeting.
While the ICT Department is about to announce the state’s new IT Policy for 2010-15, Nasscom has been requested to prepare a road map for promoting animation industry as well as engineering services as a new vertical in the IT sector.
The state government and Nasscom will work on policy measures for attracting engineering services companies in Andhra Pradesh with special incentives package. The policy measures will also include creation of Product Testing Laboratories for mission-critical operations.
Given the huge potential for graphics and special effects particularly in the Telugu film industry, the state government intends to work closely with Nasscom for promoting animation industry in Andhra Pradesh. “We want Hyderabad to emerge as a Centre of Excellence in the field of animation on par with Mumbai,” the IT official said.
Mittal, while promising full support to the state government’s initiatives, said the IT sector would continue to grow in the state, the current political turmoil notwithstanding.
The Nasscom chief also appreciated bringing the IT industry under the purview of Essential Services Maintenance Act and said it would provide the needed safety cover and enable 24x7 seamless operations in the state.
Hyderabad: Hyderabad is trying to “reposition” itself as a preferred destination for investments in Information Technology as the sector is showing signs of gradual recovery after a gap of over two years.
The Information and Communication Technology Department of Andhra Pradesh has sought to forge a partnership with the sector’s apex body Nasscom to help Hyderabad, and also the state, in the repositioning effort.
Members of Nasscom’s executive council, led by its (past) president Som Mittal, held a meeting with state IT Principal Secretary K Ratna Prabha here the other day and discussed the initiatives aimed at repositioning Hyderabad as a preferred destination for IT investments.
“First it was the global economic meltdown that cast a spell on the IT sector in Hyderabad. Next, the political turmoil in the state over the demand for and against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh caused a severe dent to Hyderabad’s image, thereby adversely affecting the IT sector’s growth. Hence the need for repositioning Hyderabad on the world IT map,” a senior official in the ICT Department said after the meeting.
While the ICT Department is about to announce the state’s new IT Policy for 2010-15, Nasscom has been requested to prepare a road map for promoting animation industry as well as engineering services as a new vertical in the IT sector.
The state government and Nasscom will work on policy measures for attracting engineering services companies in Andhra Pradesh with special incentives package. The policy measures will also include creation of Product Testing Laboratories for mission-critical operations.
Given the huge potential for graphics and special effects particularly in the Telugu film industry, the state government intends to work closely with Nasscom for promoting animation industry in Andhra Pradesh. “We want Hyderabad to emerge as a Centre of Excellence in the field of animation on par with Mumbai,” the IT official said.
Mittal, while promising full support to the state government’s initiatives, said the IT sector would continue to grow in the state, the current political turmoil notwithstanding.
The Nasscom chief also appreciated bringing the IT industry under the purview of Essential Services Maintenance Act and said it would provide the needed safety cover and enable 24x7 seamless operations in the state.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Biometric attendance for AP students
DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: Students in Andhra Pradesh pursuing professional and non-professional education will soon have to mark their attendance in their respective institutions in the biometric mode.
The State Department of Higher Education (DHE) has prepared a plan to introduce the biometric attendance system in all professional and non-professional educational institutions from the next academic year with a view to “improve the performance of students.”
Also, the state government wants to ensure that the total fee reimbursement scheme, which it has been implementing for the past two years, becomes foolproof with the introduction of biometric attendance system, according to state Minister for Higher Education D Sridhar Babu.
“Biometric attendance is a unique system being introduced for the first time anywhere in the country. This will ensure regular attendance of students to colleges and improve their academic performance,” Sridhar Babu said.
Biometric attendance was part of the “reform measures and policy initiatives” introduced by his department to shape-up higher education in Andhra Pradesh, the Minister added.
The state government has earmarked a sum of Rs 2278 crore in the 2010-11 budget towards post-matric scholarships and tuition fee to “all eligible students of SC, ST, BC, Economically-Backward Class, Minorities and also disabled” whose family income is less than Rs one lakh per annum.
There were allegations in the last two years that the fee reimbursement benefit was not actually reaching all eligible students with some college managements siphoning off funds using fictitious names.
In fact, the Chief Minister’s Office received many such complaints against non-reimbursement of tuition fee, particularly for some eligible engineering students.
The government then thought of introducing the biometric attendance system as a foolproof measure to check such misappropriation of funds and also ensure prompt attendance of students, official sources said.
The DHE has already introduced a “students’ attendance monitoring system” at the Plus-2 (Intermediate) level in the state to “strengthen and improve academic standards” and also streamline the functioning of public-funded institutions, Sridhar Babu said.
“We have abolished the shift system in junior colleges which has resulted in increase of teaching hours and working days while we are also conducting daily study hours to improve the education standards,” the Minister added.
From the 2010-11 academic year, a common academic calendar is also being brought into force for all universities and colleges in the state.
“The objective of our reforms programme is to produce quality human resources to the society,” Sridhar Babu noted.
Hyderabad: Students in Andhra Pradesh pursuing professional and non-professional education will soon have to mark their attendance in their respective institutions in the biometric mode.
The State Department of Higher Education (DHE) has prepared a plan to introduce the biometric attendance system in all professional and non-professional educational institutions from the next academic year with a view to “improve the performance of students.”
Also, the state government wants to ensure that the total fee reimbursement scheme, which it has been implementing for the past two years, becomes foolproof with the introduction of biometric attendance system, according to state Minister for Higher Education D Sridhar Babu.
“Biometric attendance is a unique system being introduced for the first time anywhere in the country. This will ensure regular attendance of students to colleges and improve their academic performance,” Sridhar Babu said.
Biometric attendance was part of the “reform measures and policy initiatives” introduced by his department to shape-up higher education in Andhra Pradesh, the Minister added.
The state government has earmarked a sum of Rs 2278 crore in the 2010-11 budget towards post-matric scholarships and tuition fee to “all eligible students of SC, ST, BC, Economically-Backward Class, Minorities and also disabled” whose family income is less than Rs one lakh per annum.
There were allegations in the last two years that the fee reimbursement benefit was not actually reaching all eligible students with some college managements siphoning off funds using fictitious names.
In fact, the Chief Minister’s Office received many such complaints against non-reimbursement of tuition fee, particularly for some eligible engineering students.
The government then thought of introducing the biometric attendance system as a foolproof measure to check such misappropriation of funds and also ensure prompt attendance of students, official sources said.
The DHE has already introduced a “students’ attendance monitoring system” at the Plus-2 (Intermediate) level in the state to “strengthen and improve academic standards” and also streamline the functioning of public-funded institutions, Sridhar Babu said.
“We have abolished the shift system in junior colleges which has resulted in increase of teaching hours and working days while we are also conducting daily study hours to improve the education standards,” the Minister added.
From the 2010-11 academic year, a common academic calendar is also being brought into force for all universities and colleges in the state.
“The objective of our reforms programme is to produce quality human resources to the society,” Sridhar Babu noted.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
