“This will become a model in government enterprise architecture in India,” chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said.
The Andhra Pradesh government is rechristening the AP State Enterprise Architecture (APSEA) as ‘e-Pragati’, with which it has become the first state in India to conceive and execute state-wide enterprise architecture.
“This will become a model in government enterprise architecture in India,” chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said. Developed over eight months in association with Wipro, ePragati is a comprehensive framework for implementing e-Governance that provides e-services to people in Andhra Pradesh.
The network extends to 33 secretariat departments and over 300 government agencies in the state and seeks to provide a bouquet of 745 services in the government to customer (G2C), government to business (G2B), government to enterprise (G2E) and government to government (G2G) areas.
It consists of 72 projects grouped into 14 packages with an estimated outlay of Rs 2,358 crores which will be funded and implemented over a three-year period. Of this, the government will invest Rs 1,528 crore and the remaining would come through the PPP mode. “ePragati aims focuses on achieving a unified and connected government with citizen-centricity at its core. The implementation will lead to free-flow of information among departments, paving the way for an integrated, outcome-driven and accountable government,” CM Naidu said.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Business> Business – Others / by Sreeenivas Janyala, Hyderabad / September 06th, 2015
Vijayawada East MLA G Ramamohan Rao today inaugurated the three-day Andhra Bank Amaravathi Trade Fair-2015 to mark the diamond Jubilee celebrations of Vijayawada Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Vijayawada East MLA G Ramamohan Rao today inaugurated the three-day Andhra Bank Amaravathi Trade Fair-2015 to mark the diamond Jubilee celebrations of Vijayawada Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
On the occasion, Rao appealed to the industry players to be partners in development of the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh ‘Amaravathi’ and also in the comprehensive development of the state.
Andhra Bank General Manager Ajay Gupta said his bank is committed for the growth of trade and industry in the city.
“Andhra Bank is now concentrating on providing loans under Prime Minister’s MUDRA scheme to the extent of Rs 10 lakh to each MSME at a lower rate of interest,” Gupta said.
He requested the MSMEs (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises) to utilise the opportunity to improve their business.
President of Vijayawada Chamber of Commerce and Industry, V Bhaskara Rao, explained the role of the industry body in supporting the business houses.
Andhra Bank, Deputy General Manager GSV Krishna Rao and other prominent businessmen and industrialists also attended the function.
About 60 business houses are participating in the trade fair.
source: http://www.financialexpress.com / The Financial Express / Home> Industry> Banking Finance / PTI / Vijayawada – September 05th, 2015
The Indian Space Research Organisation began a 29-hour pre-noon countdown on Wednesday for the launch of GSLV-D6 satellite launcher.
The launch vehicle is powered by the indigenously developed upper cryogenic stage and will be flown at 4.52 p.m. on August 27 from Sriharikota in coastal Andhra Pradesh.
It will put the 2,117-kg GSAT-6 communication satellite into space. The spacecraft will be gradually moved and finally positioned over the country at 83 degrees East longitude in the coming days.
The GSLV is a medium-lift launcher that can put two-tonne satellites into an initial or geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) of up to 36,000 km from Earth. The last GSLV was flown in January 2014.
ISRO Chairman A.S.Kiran Kumar, who is also Secretary, Department of Space, said the upcoming event was doubly significant. The ninth GSLV launch, for whose success he said ISRO has taken all necessary actions, would take the 20-year-old GSLV programme almost to fruition and regularise its use.
From the satellite point of view, he said GSAT-6 would try out quite a few novel technologies that very few satellite players have tried out, such as the large, unfurlable antenna of a diameter of six metres.
ISRO’s other launch vehicle, the light-lift PSLV, is a big success after 30 flights in 22 years, lifting Indian spacecraft to Moon and Mars apart from several Earth observation satellites, a national communications satellite and 45 small foreign satellites.
High hopes
ISRO officials have often said the national space programme needs the GSLV badly for launching its communication satellites; many have been put in space on European Ariane launchers at higher costs than on a GSLV.
S.Sivan, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, the lead centre for launch vehicles in Thiruvananthapuram, recently said they had retained the configuration of the previous GSLV-D5 of 2014 so as to establish the vehicle’s reliability and robustness.
Flight D6 would fully prove the vehicle and the indigenous cryogenic technology and shift the programme into functional mode. The next GSLV could be as early as the first half of 2016, Dr. Sivan said.
When the GSLV is fully achieved, ISRO plans to have two flights of it a year. Meanwhile, a GSLV-Mark III of twice its capacity is also being developed and will be flown for the first time around December 2016.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National / by Madhumati D.S. / Bengaluru – August 26th, 2015
Neuro physician Bindu Menon says moments after a paralytic stroke, immediate treatment should be given so as to bring the patient back to normalcy. —Photo: K. Ravikumar
The treatment for the Guillain Barre Syndrome, a muscle weakening neurological disorder, was started for the first time at the Apollo Specialty Hospitals here in Nellore city on Wednesday.
The GB syndrome is a disorder which occurs when the body’s immune system starts attacking the healthy cells of peripheral systems. It often leads to paralysis and even death at times.
“With some awareness on the part of the patients, the disease can be controlled. It can be prevented from causing severe illness,” said neuro physician Dr. Bindu Menon. To effectively handle neuro disorders, preventive measures should be taken much ahead, she said. Speaking on the awareness aspects on the occasion, Dr. Menon said that moments after a paralytic stroke, immediate treatment should be given so as to bring the patient back to normalcy. This would yield better results or else this would cause serious side effects, she added.
The neurology wing in the hospitals has been sufficiently strengthened with special clinics opened to treat Parkinson’s disease, memory disorders and back pain related complaints.
To provide advanced neuro care, a neuro physician, neuro surgeon, neuro physiotherapist, intensive neuro trained nurses, dieticians and other technicians are made available at the Apollo Specialty Hospitals.
source: http: //www.thehindu.com / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Nellore – August 27th, 2015
As many as 472 of the 538 tribal youths trained by the Visakha Rural and CRPF cops passed the rigorous physical tests during the recruitment camp conducted for the paramilitary wings in July. The police bosses in the district are now planning to train the youth for written tests as well. The Visakha Rural cops consider this achievement to be a milestone in their ongoing efforts to prevent tribal youth from joining the Maoists.
The men’s selection tests were conducted in Hyderabad, while the women underwent the tests at the Visakha Steel Plant in the city. As many as 378 out of the 422 men and 94 of the 116 women qualified for the written test.
The Union ministry of home affairs has reportedly asked the Visakha Rural cops to furnish the details of the training programme to extend the same to various other Maoist-infested areas in the country, sources said.
According to sources, the cops, in an attempt to stop recruitments by naxals from tribal areas, began training the youth for various paramilitary posts. “The police bosses analysed the situation and found that a majority of the youth were attracted towards the Maoist ideology due to unemployment,” a senior police officer said, adding that Rural SP Koya Praveen, in coordination with Paderu ASP Attada Bapuji, started the ‘Spoorthy’ programme to check naxal recruitments in tribal areas.
Around 1,000 youth were screened as part of the final selection for physical training by the cops at Paderu in April, of which nearly 538 candidates were selected for the fitness training. More than 75 security personnel from the District Training Centre, CRPF and Rural Police were assigned the responsibility to provide training.
“The programme is aimed at extending a helping hand to tribal youth as they don’t have the resources to get trained like their urban counterparts. The programme will help the youth get jobs in various central government wings. I had conducted one such session in Parvathipuram with cooperation from the ITDA when I was the officer on special duty there. Some of the youth were selected for the state police wing, but some failed due to height,” the Rural SP told TOI.
The Paderu ASP said that all the youth were trained at the Youth Training Centre at Paderu and the ITDA provided them with a nutritious diet. “We divided the candidates into three batches and trained them for 15 days each,” he added.
The Rural SP said they are now planning to provide a four-week training for the written tests with the help of the faculty members of various coaching centres. The material for the training has also been prepared, he said, adding that such training programmes will be continued in the future as well.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / by Siva G / August 20th, 2015
Though nobody knows the exact date of the temple’s construction, tribals believe that it came into existence naturally. (Representative photo)
We’ve all heard about tree houses, but what about tree-temples? Well, such a rare heritage tree-temple does exist in our very own Visakhapatnam district in the tribal village of Kasipatnam near Tyda, enroute Araku Valley.
Encapsulated within the centuries old roots of a banyan tree, an even more ancient Shiva temple stands erect, its ageing bricks and tales of locals bearing testimony to it dating back to at least 300-400 years.
Located nearly 110 km from the city amid serene and verdant hills and near a little river, the Kasipatnam Ramalingeshwara Temple draws around 15-20 people daily from nearby villages. According to locals, on festive occasions such as Nagulachavithi, Karthikamasam and Mahasivaratri, hundreds turn up to offer prayers to the siva lingam. Strangely, the thick roots of an ancient banyan tree have locked within it the little temple that has a conical-shaped dome and structure made of small bricks.
The nearly 85-year-old Doddi Ramulamma, who has been looking after the temple since childhood, said, “My family has been serving the temple since it was discovered. My forefathers served the temple and this tradition was passed on from generation to generation. To fulfill the basic requirements of the temple and my family, I sell printed entry tickets (priced Rs 10 per visitor) provided by villagers. My husband, two sons and one daughter are all dead but I have two grandchildren. During Shivaratri and Nagaulachavithi, lots of people from various places come to visit the temple.”
People living here believe that prayers of devotees who visit the temple never go in vain. A popular instance being that of Pitala Govindraju from Gajuwaka. The childless man offered prayers to the temple and soon was blessed with two children. As an act of gratitude, he added new structures to the temple, such as steps and tiles on the interior walls of the sanctum sanctorum.
Though nobody knows the exact date of the temple’s construction, tribals believe that it came into existence naturally. However, some of the little educated among them say it was built more than 400 years ago going by the bricks used in construction and the aged banyan tree, which grew around the temple, pointed out another local Doddi Dharma.
Prior to cyclone Hudhud, the tree was huge and even more sprawling but due to the impact of the cyclone, most of its branches were broken. Though the structure of the ancient temple was resilient enough to withstand the ravages of time and that of the cyclone, it deserves conservation as an archaeological and natural heritage site.
However, the state department of archaeology is clueless about this temple. AP State Department of Archaeology and Museums assistant director K Chitti Babu said, “Such a rare tree-temple deserves protection but we haven’t seen it yet. We will visit the temple at Kasipatnam and try to ascertain its age from statues, deities and inscriptions.”
Meanwhile, Intach (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) member and environment activist Sohan Hatangadi, who had earlier visited the tree-temple, suggested the involvement of APTDC (AP Tourism Development Corporation) and state archaeology department along with locals for preservation of the temple and tree.
“It’s a unique example of a combined natural and manmade heritage site, which is easily 300-400 years old or even more. APTDC should put up signages at the site, while Intach can document the temple. Since it’s a religious place, locals should also be involved in the form of a cooperative to take care of the temple and generate revenue for the family looking after the temple. Also, some cleaning, light fencing around the tree-temple, garbage disposal and parking provisions away from the temple should be made. The side road through the village leading to the temple should also be repaired. One should ensure that the centuries-old heritage site doesn’t turn into a picnic spot for revelers in the name of tourism. Rather, the archaeological and natural heritage site needs to be preserved the best way possible,” suggested Hatangadi.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / August 16th, 2015
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu presented medals in various categories to police officers in recognition of their meritorious service on the occasion of the Independence Day in Vizag Saturday.
Six Police officers, including Director- General of Fire Services TA Tripathi, Additional DGP, Intelligence, AB Venkateswara Rao, JMD/AP Transco P Umapathi, DIG, Intelligence, T Yoganand, Inspector of Police SIB Intelligence B Veera Reddy, Chittoor SI K Murali Narasimhulu were given the prestigious ‘President Police Medal’(PPM) for their distinguished service.
Meanwhile, 25 police officers were awarded ‘Indian Police Medal’ (IPM), which include JD AP Police Academy J Venkateswara Rao, CV and SO TTD D Nagendra Kumar, DCP (Crimes) T Ravi Kumar Murthy, SP (NC) Octopus Hyderabad P Rajendra Prasad, Additional Commandant of Grey Hounds P Seeta Ram, Additional Intelligence, Hyderabad, P Venkata Rami Reddy, Madanapalli DSP K Venkata Raghava Reddy, DSP ISW Hyderabad K Bhadraiah, DSP PTC K Veeranjaneya Reddy, DSP ISW AP P Rajeev Kumar, DSP CID D Naga Mahesh, DSP ACB K Ranga Raju, Additional SP (Crimes) V Subba Reddy among others.
Five cops received Mahonnatha Seva Pathakam, including Commandant SARCLP SK Hussain Saheb, Additional SP (Tirupati Urban) S Trimurthulu, Additional SP (C.O Stores) K Surya Bhaskar Reddy. Divisional Forest Officer, Narsipatnam, G Lakshman and the Forest Section Officer, Salur Range, Vizianagaram, S. Venkata Rao received State Vana Samrakshana Meritorious Medal.
Eleven Firemen received President Fire Services Medals, Six police officers were given Police Award for Gallantry (PMG/PPMG), 10 Police officers, including Seven Grey Hounds cops, were presented Mukhyamanthri Sourya Pathakam.
Best School Award
Category I / ZP High School, East Godavari District
Category I I / AP Residential School (Boys), Srikakulam District
Awards for Best Contingents
Armed Category / 6th Battalion, APSP, Mangalagiri
Un-armed Category / AP Social Welfare Residential Educational Institution Society
Tableau display
1 Animal Husbandry Dept
2 Cultural Affairs Dept
3 Energy, Infrastructure and Investment Dept
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / August 16th, 2015
Booklovers at Ramamohan Library in Vijayawada on Wednesday. (Photo: DC)
Vijayawada:
The century-old Rammohan Dharma Pusthaka Bhandagaram, better known as Rammohan Library located near Bandar Locks on MG Road is going through a new phase of upgradation for the youth of Vijayawada.
The library, a two-storied building, built in 1911 is a monument that reflects history of the city and literary works of various authors of the 18th and 19th centuries. However, till recently, the library was left unattended for decades due to lack of financial support. The library at present has over 10,000 books relating to independence, history, science, politics and others written in Telugu, English and Sanksrit languages besides a few Hindi classics.
Ayyanki Venkataramanaiah, who is known as the Architect of Library Movement in India, helped establishing the library along with Suri Venkata Narasimha Sastry. The duo were the first secretary and president of the trust that runs the library. Speaking to DC, library incharge and trust member Mr Ch. Koteswara Rao, said that already a set of books relating to engineering subjects were acquired through donations. “Once a good collection is made we would start a separate section for books relating to education where youngsters can come and utilise them,” he said.
“We repaired the building to an extent and refurbished the books that are about to turn into powder. Hopefully, we would get the building protected with fencing soon,” Mr Rao added.
“We also plan to start skill development classes for interested students and already a couple of senior citizens agreed to serve as mentors,” Mr Rao said.
The treasure house is of historical importance for being visited by Mahatma Gandhi, former President V.V. Giri and many freedom fighters. The first floor of the building has an auditorium, where the legendary actress Savithri has performed her first-ever stage play decades ago. Earlier, it was a centre for literary, social and cultural activity in the district but now just around 50 people visit it each day and go through newspapers.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / Deccan Chronicle / August 06th, 2015
The ancient building built by Jeypore Kings of Odisha. (Photo: DC)
Visakhapatnam:
One cannot take their eyes away from a masonry building while driving past RK Beach towards fishing harbour, namely ‘Hawa Mahal’, which stands out from the flock of the high-rise apartments. Constructed between 1917 and 1923 on a hillock on the Beach Road, the ‘Hawa Mahal’ in Visakhapatnam was initially intended to be the summer residence of Jeypore Kings of Odisha.
As one-third of Visakhapatnam district fell into Jeypore province under Madras Presidency in 1920s, the Jeypore kings also doubled it as a transit house to catch a train from Visakhapatnam to Madras (now Chennai). The two-storied rectangular structure is still in great shape and hosting several art exhibitions and yoga classes.
Consisting of a series of rooms with open inner verandahs and colonnaded front verandahs in both the floors, the bungalow was stocked with every possible amenity needed and enhanced with bathtubs, Italian marbles, teakwood furniture and wooden railings, many of which were brought from Birmingham, UK. Mayank Kumari Deo of the royal family of Jeypore said, “This was one of the buildings to have the power supply in the 1950s itself through underground cables.”
“After the formation of Andhra Pradesh, a nurses’ training school and first women’s college in Visakhapatnam were run from this premises during the 60s and 70s. Because of the copious amounts of wind flow, the bungalow was named as ‘Hawa Mahal,” she added
Eminent personalities such as the first President of Independent India Dr. Babu Rajendra Prasad, former President Sarvepalli Radha-krishnan and Nobel laureate Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore stayed in this bungalow.
Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru stayed at Hawa Mahal when he visited Vizag to inaugurate ‘Jalausha’, the first ship manufactured by the Hindustan Shipyard. The historic heritage building spans over 3.5 acres, including the open space. In 2013, Bollywood veteran Waheeda Rehman visited the building and cherished her old memories associated with the city when her father worked as a judge here pre-Independence.
Mayank Kumari Deo said, “The renovation works are going on a continuous basis and we are very much committed to keeing the heritage significance of the building alive.” “We are providing the building at free cost to the budding artist to conduct exhibitions.”
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / Deccan Chronicle / August 06th, 2015
Built in the year 1893, the Turner’s Choultry is a stone masonary building 90 feet long and 60 feet wide. It was originally a Chattram or a Traveller’s House built to provide temporary shelter to traders, pilgrims and other travellers visiting the city.
The building is an ashlar fine structure that was built at a cost of Rs 43,000, of which Rs 10,000 was paid by the Maharajah of Vizianagaram, Anand Gajapathi Raju, an equal sum was provided by the Gode family and the remaining was raised from the public.
The site on which the Choultry stands was originally the Enugu Thota (Elephant Lines) of the 104 Regiment and even today the stones to which the elephants were tied can be seen. Close to the Choultry is a huge water tank, next to the Police Barracks, where the elephants bathed.
Built in the name of former district collector, Henry Gribble Turner, the Choultry remained the property of the Visakhapatnam municipality till 1975, after which it passed into the hands of the endowments department.
The building boasts of 24 rooms and a living space, distributed over three courtyards. According to history buff BS Mahesh, the plan of the building is that of a traditional south Indian house with rooms and verandas all around a central courtyard.
“The beauty of the building lies in the simplicity of its plan and the manner in which space is used. The facade is of course beautiful with an arched doorway leading into the central courtyard and the stone pillars give it that imposing look,” said Mahesh. He further added that the tiles used for the roof were pot tiles, which were later replaced by Mangalore tiles.
Civil engineer Narayana Murthy said the structure was built on a raised plinth of more than four feet, which added to the majestic look. “The main structure is over 90 feet in length and 50 feet in breadth and is perfectly rectangular in shape. This apart there are bathrooms that extend the area of the structure. The dressed stone used to build the walls are all cut to the same shape and size and the mortar used to bind the stones is exactly the same in each and every bind. The construction is extremely precise and requires expert stone masonry skills. The thick stone walls built on the raised platform provide balance and strength to the building,” Murthy said.
Even today, the Turner’s Choultry is abuzz with activity and usually hosts weddings, functions, book shows, exhibitions and religious festivals. The endowments department charges a nominal rent of Rs 300 for a small scale wedding at the venue.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / August 06th, 2015
