CM Naveen Patnaik lauded efforts of Community Conservation groups like SAMUDRAM

·         CM Naveen Patnaik lauded efforts of Community Conservation groups like SAMUDRAM

CM Naveen Patnaik lauded efforts of Community Conservation groups like SAMUDRAM,who has brought laurels for the state and its women folk.CM felicitated B.Chittama,President Samudram along with Mangaraj Pand,secretary ,UAA and pramotor of Samudram in a simple ceremony here in Bhubaneswar on 13th May.organised by UNDP INDIA.Samudram under the leadership of B.Chittama and through its 2000 strong members across coastal areas has been confered with UN EQUATOR AWARD for its outstanding contribution of protecting OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES and conserving biodiversity, thus ensuring livilihood of hundereds of fishing families.The Chief Minister thanked UNDP for refering and recognising an Odisha women's group,which was the lone representative from India.The CM further added,The success of Samudram and B.Chittama reminded the exemplry leadership and commitment of Odisha women.Samudram was given the honor in the presence of State Forest & Environmnet Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Arabindo Behera, UNDP Country Director Caitlin Wiesen,Asst. Country Director Srinivasan iyer and State Representative Ambika Nanda.

By: Sudarshan Chhotray

ODISHA WOMEN'S FEDERATION LEADS THE WAY

 The SAMUDRAM Women’s Federation in OdIsha is a recipient of the prestigious Equator Prize for2010.The UNDP Equator initiative has recognized twenty-five local and indigenous community organizations for outstanding efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of Biodiversity. Representatives of winning communities attended the high –level event in New York entitled Biodiversity. Ecosystems and Climate Change: Scaling Up local solutions to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

The women’s federation brings together over 160 women’s  groups, comprising 2000 members and spanning 52 villages across Odisha.The organization has the twin objectives of empowering local women and protecting the threatened nesting sites of the Olive Ridley Turtle. Capacity building, micro-finance and disaster risk reduction, planning all complement conservation activities etc.Turtle monitoring and breeding are combined with habitat restoration (e.g.mangrove reforestation and beach protection) toensure the conservation of this threatened species.Conservation campaigns on ecological destructive pollution and fishing practices accoompany training for local fishermen on "Turtle Excluding Devices" and net types that are dangerous to turtles.Artificial reefs,eco-restoration zones and "fishing holidays" have been introduced to improve fishing productivity,diversify marine life,and allow for natural breeding and regeneration cycles.Local fisherwomen are provided with storage facilities(warehouses and refrigerators) and market access support, which improve their incomes.The combination of relatively simple social measurers and modern technology in bringing new life to an area devastated by tsunami in 2004.

SAMUDRAM
Samudram is a state level federation of women fish workers' organisation working in the state of Odisha for the development of marine fisher women and their families living on the coast of Bay of Bengal.The organisation started functioning in the year 1993 from Sana Nolianuagaon(Ganjam) as a federation of women organisations of coastal villages in Ganjam district and got itself registered in the year 1995-96.Presently headquartered at Katur village in Ganjam.

The area of the operation of the oraganisation are-traditional marine habitations of 21 coastal blocks in Ganjam, Puri,Jagatasinghpur,Kendrapara.Bhadrak and Balesore districts.

The basic thrust of the organisation are-
organising women fishworkers,health,education,water&sanitation,micro-finance,market penetration,eliminating middlemen,lobbying&advocacy and disater preparedness etc.

Mass nesting of Olive Ridely Turtles in Rushikulya Rookery

Mass nesting during this session in GOKHARKUDA BEACH
The debate over conservation of Sea Turtles and livilihood restoration of local fishermen is on....

Pics Coutesy-PMI-NFS and UAA
PLS. DON'T USE THESE PHOTOGRAPHS WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION
FROM sudarshanchhotray@gmail.com

Special labour cell to address migration woes

At last govt could recognise that about 2million people are migrating from Odisha.We have long been demanding to at least to asses the reality.There is a need to have a Migration Cell,but it should be equipped with adequate number of staff, updating the database and monitoring the trends.

Earlier govt. had deployed two officials in Mumbai and Gujrat region to but subsequently they have been withdrawn.Mere tabbing Contractors will not serve the purpose,govt need to do more in terms of Seasonal and Regular migrants.
One of the main demand of all of us is to register all migrants and issue them with Identy Cards.The registration could be done in every Panchayat offices or Block offices even at Village levels by Ward Members.

They face twin dangers both in places of origin and destination.It is almost a double whammy for them.
Setting up a Migration Cell with new task will definitely a step forward but what about the already defunct cell in Labour Commissioner office?


Govt. should come out with a detailed plan to tackle the menance of Migration,unless setting up a Cell shall be of no use.


Sudarshan Chhotray
PRAVASI SRAMIKA SURAKHY MANCH
C/O:FOCUS ORISSA
BHUBANESWAR
09337111879


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Special labour cell to address migration woes

Express News Service
First Published : 05 May 2011 03:48:01 AM IST
Last Updated : 05 May 2011 12:33:41 PM IST

BHUBANESWAR: With incidents of atrocities against migrant labourers on the rise, the Labour and Employment Department is contemplating to set up a special labour cell to monitor inter-state migration. Every year, lakhs of people migrate to other states in search of livelihood.

The proposed cell would ensure proper implementation of labour laws, apart from looking into illegal migration of workers from interior pockets of districts through periodical inspections.

The cell would also keep a tab on contractors and agents who facilitate migration and check unfair labour practices within the State. State Labour Commissioner Alekh Chandra Padhiary said an assistant labour commissioner would head the cell with the support of district labour and assistant labour officers.

As a part of the project, a centralised database of inter-state migrants and names of contractors would be created at the labour commissioner office. “A detailed report on number of people migrating to other states will be prepared and reviewed on a monthly basis,” said Padhiary.

Padhiary said the main objective behind the initiative is to bring unregistered labourer migrants under the purview of the department. Being largely illegal, labour migration remains an unaccounted activity. So it becomes next to impossible to ensure minimum wages or labour rights for a migrant. In case of accident, sickness or death, there is virtually no way to ensure compensation. “Of an approximate 18 lakh labourers, who migrate annually from the State, only 50,000 labourers register themselves with the labour offices,” the Labour Commissioner said.

He added that apart from this, a proposal has been sent to the Centre for setting up labour facility centres in every district.