ONAM

Onam is the biggest and the most important festival of the state of Kerala. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm all over the state by people of all communities. According to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.

      Onam is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). This corresponds with the month of August-September according to GregorianCalendar.

Carnival of Onam lasts from four to ten days. First day, Atham and tenth day, Thiruonam are most important of all. Popularity and presentation of rich culture of the state during the carnival made Onam the National Festival of Kerala in 1961. Elaborate feasts, folk songs, elegant dances, energetic games, elephants, boats and flowers all are a part of the dynamic festival called Onam.

Government of India has taken due notice of this vibrant and colorful festival. It promotes Onam internationally in a big way and celebrates 'Tourist Week' for Kerala during Onam celebrations. Thousands of domestic and foreign tourists visit Kerala to be a part of Onam.

The Legend
Story goes that during the reign of mighty asura (demon) king, Mahabali, Kerala witnessed its golden era. Every body in the state was happy and prosperous and king was highly regarded by his subjects. Apart from all his virtues, Mahabali had one shortcoming. He was egoistic. This weakness in Mahabali's character was utilized by Gods to bring an end to his reign as they felt challenged by Mahabali's growing popularity. However, for all the good deed done by Mahabali, God granted him a boon that he could annually visit his people with whom he was so attached.

It is this visit of Mahabali that is celebrated as Onam every year. People make all efforts to celebrate the festival in a grand way and impress upon their dear King that they are happy and wish him well.

Onam Celebrations
Rich cultural heritage of Kerala comes out in its best form and spirit during the ten day long festival. It is indeed a treat to be a part of the grand carnival. People of Kerala make elaborate preparations to celebrate it in the best possible manner.

The most impressive part of Onam celebration is the grand feast called Onasadya, prepared on Thiruonam. It is a nine course meal consisting of 11 to 13 essential dishes. Onasadya is served on banana leaves and people sit on a mat laid on the floor to have the meal.

Another enchanting feature of Onam is Vallamkali, the Snake Boat Race, held on the river Pampa. It is a colourful sight to watch the decorated boat oared by hundreds of boatmen amidst chanting of songs and cheering by spectators.

There is also a tradition to play games, collectively called Onakalikal, on Onam. Men go in for rigorous sports like Talappanthukali (played with ball), Ambeyyal (Archery), Kutukutu and combats called Kayyankali and Attakalam. Women indulge in cultural activities. They make intricately designed flower mats called, Pookalam in the front courtyard of house to welcome King Mahabali. Kaikotti kali and Thumbi Thullal are two graceful dances performed by women on Onam. Folk performances like Kummatti kali and Pulikali add to the zest of celebrations.

ONAM RECIPES:

• Parippucurry
• Injithair
• Sambar
• Avial
• Kalan
• Olan
• Thoran
• Puliinji
• Pineapple Pachhady
• Erissery
• Koottucurry
• Kootukari
• Sarkarapuratty
• Kaya Varuthathu
• Pappadam
• Payasam
• Prathaman
• Tomato Thokku
• Kheer

• Lady's Finger Kichadi
• Masala Pesarattu
• Coconut Chutney
• Medu Vada
• Masala Vada
• Idli
• Dosas
• Mor Kuzhambu
• Dry Fruit Kesari
• Banana Halwa
• Pulissery
• Mothagam
• Palada Pradhaman
• Pesarattu
• Rice Puttu
• Theeyal
• Tomato Rasam
• Dudhi (Chorekka) Pradhaman

Wish you happy ONAM!
                                      -S.Suresh Kumar, IAS
                                 Collector & Dist.Magistrate,
                                           Guntur, A.P.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

Guntur RWS team visits Medak

The Rural Water Supply & Sanitation team of Guntur visited Medak district. The team studied the impact of Total Sanitation Campaign taken up in Medak district. Guntur RWS DE Shivaramakrishnaiah and 4 other officials are in the team. The team inquired about the construction of the Individual Sanitary Latrines in the district. Medak District nodal officer Anjaneya Sharma and other officials accompanied the team at Maddikunta in Sadasivapet mandal. 

Children's Film Festival at Guntur

Children’s Film Festival is being organised in Guntur  district by the Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI) from July 24 to August 8. The Festival will be organized at Guntur from July 24 to 27, at Narsaraopet from July 30 to August 1, and at Tenali  from August 6 to 8.   It is intended to provide education and entertainment as well. It is expected that over 85,000 children of Govenrnment Schools will benefit from the Festival.

A total of 17 films (Telugu 14 and Hindi 3) will be screened in 51 selected theatres in Guntur city, Mangalagiri, Sattenapalli, Narsaraopet, Chilakaluripet, Vinukonda, Piduguralla, Macherla, Tenali, Bapatla, Ponnur, and Repalle. In Guntur city, the Festival is being conducted in 10 theatres. Moral stories, biographies of great leaders will be screened in the Festival. The films selected for  the film festival contain socially-relevant messages for children, who have to be disciplined citizens in future and make their contribution to the country’s development.

The films will be screened from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. daily. The films that are being  screened are ‘Chittigadi Mahabharatam’, ‘Amulyam’, ‘Aruguru Allarimuka’, ‘Senani Guruji’, ‘Mosali’, Tsunami 81, ‘Anuragam’, ‘Chittigadi Mahabharatam-II’, ‘Ganga Bhavani’, ‘Muddu Bidda’ (Telugu), ‘Gilli Gilli Aata’, ‘Bandu Boxer’ and ‘Malli’ (Hindi).

Ever since initiated by our first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1955, the festival is conducted at several places all over India annually. It is a good initiative of the CFSI to impart knowledge and provide entertainment to the children .
                                                                               -S.Suresh Kumar, IAS,
                                                                        Collector & District Magistrate,
                                                                                     Guntur District

Review on sanitation programmes

Surprise visits

Suresh Kumar, at Guntur

"Education, Health and Agriculture are my priority areas" says sri Suresh Kumar, IAS.  He is going to assume charge as Collector and Dist. Magistrate of Guntur district today.  He is on transfer from Medak district. The district administration of Guntur welcomed him to Guntur, with honor. Speaking to newsmen on Sunday, he said, he will give importance to field visits and solving problems of people. “Reviews on regular basis, will strengthen the administration”, he added.

Felicitation

News item on 'Sampoorna Vidya Darshini'

News item on Total Sanitation Campaign

Education fortnight

District bags 1st rank in revenue and transport departments

            After the ‘Total Sanitation Campaign’, now it is the turn of the district revenue and transport departments. These two departments bagged 1^st ranks in the state. The district revenue department stood 1^st in solving revenue issues. 2.53 lakh problems of SC & ST lands and 80,000 issues of others have been solved in the district, for which we got appreciation from the CCLA. By conducting revenue conferences, we are able to resolve all the issues. The district stands first in revenue records updation, collection of digital signatures, digital signatures on certificates, mee-seva centres management, receiving applications and issuing certificates.

            The transport department of Medak district stood 1^st in the state in collection of revenue. It has collected 98.9 % revenue. The rate of accidents decreased in the district, by the steps taken by the district administration.

         The district administration congratulates both the revenue and transport departments for achieving good position in the state. 
                                                                 -S.Suresh Kumar IAS,
                                                         Collector & District Magistrate,
                                                                     Medak District

Comprehensive plan for the development of the district

                   A comprehensive plan for overall development of the district shall be planned by all the district level officials. The information is to be received with in 15 days from all the departments. Based on the requirements and resources available, a comprehensive plan is to be prepared. Different committees shall work on the plan. Dr. Sharath, Joint Collector, will co-ordinate the infrastructural facilities committee. Dr. Hari Jawahar Lal, Additional Joint Collector, will co-ordinate the Human Resources Development committee. Sri Ravinder, PD,DRDA, co-ordinates the livelihood committee, Sri Sridhar, PD, DWAMA, co-ordinates agriculture related departments committee. Sri Balaiah, CPO, co-ordinates the industries committee. All the committees have to prepare the plan and the committees shall be ready with the Power Point Presentation, in the next planning meeting. All the district officers are requested to furnish the relevant information to the committees
                                                             -S.Suresh Kumar IAS,
                                                     Collector & District Magistrate,
                                                                  Medak District

Instructions to Special Officers

        ‘Intinta Parishudhyam’ is the major flagship programme of the district administration. Whole the country is looking toward us, for the results of the programme. Hence all the concerned officers are instructed to focus their attention on the construction of Individual Sanitary latrines. The list of beneficiaries is to be updated online. All the beneficiaries shall have to get the amount in time.  Focusing on submission of Utilization Certificates will make the district administration sanction the remaining amount.

            Solving the drinking water problem is to be done with the amount sanctioned. Rs. 2.75 crores is sanctioned for this purpose. All the officials are requested to make use of the amount, to resolve the drinking water problems in the district. 99 Nirmal Gram Puraskar awarded villages shall get 100% water facility. The Government is requested to sanction Rs. 683.78 lacks to the district to resolve 763 issues. Total Sanitation Campaign shall be conducted in 215 villages, which are proposed for Nirmal Gram Puraskar awards. In Prajapatham 2158 complaints are received on electricity problems. The concerned officials have to focus on resolving these issues.  Social Security Pensions have to be distributed from 1^st to 5^th of every month. All the Special officers are instructed to select the beneficiaries to get ‘Deepam’ connections.

            All the special officers have to note that Education fortnight is being conducted from 16^th June. They are requested to make the programme a grand success with convergence of all departments at mandal level. No child shall be left over without providing formal education up to elementary level. Out of School girl children shall be joined in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas. 
                                                                  -S.Suresh Kumar IAS,
                                                         Collector & District Magistrate,
                                                                       Medak District

Our programme attracted attention nationwide

       It's very happy event for us. 'Intinta Parishudhyam', our flagship programme of constructing toilets for clean environment, attracted the secretaries of Drinking water and Sanitation of all states, in the Conference of State Ministers and secretaries of Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, held in New Delhi, on 24th May,2012. The conference was inaugurated by the Minister of Rural Development and Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Sri Jairam Ramesh. The aim of the Conference was to up-scale achievements and share innovative best practices and models, both in terms of programme implementation and technology.  

         As a result of our programme, I was invited to participate in the meeting to explain the programme, which I did in an effective manner. Addressing the meeting, the Secretary, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Vilasini Ramachandran said that there is need for taking up the sanitation issues on a mission mode fashion. She underlined that the role of women self help groups is very important both in terms of creating awareness and achieving the target of total sanitation. She also laid stress on the IEC( Information, Education and Communication) campaign to create real demands for individual household latrines, which we are already doing. 

      Now the name of the 'Total Sanitation Campaign' changed to 'Nirmal Bharath Abhiyan'. The central government is planning to enhance the unit cost to 9,900 from the present Rs.4,500.

 “INTINTAA PAARISHUDHYAM-

GRAMEENA MAHILALAKU GOPPA VARAM”

One Of the flagship programmes of Medak District Administration is “Intinta Parishudhyam”. The programme aims at construction of One lakh toilets in 100 days. Protecting the self esteem of rural women is one of the major objectives of the programme. Providing sanitation facilities to all, making 502 villages free from open defacation, motivating community to utilize toilets, reducing incidence of water borne diseases, empowering the rural women in sanitation issue are the objectives of the programme.

In Medak district, out of 5,21,018 house holds, only 1,47,437 are with toilet facility. People of other 3,73,581 households are using open area as toilets. To protect the self esteem of rural women, it is needed to construct toilets for them. The ministry of rural water & sanitation of Govt. Of India, appreciated the way the programme is designed and conducted. It has sent a team of representatives to study the programme implementation and impact.

10 FOLD PATH- The strategies

•      Campaign in a phased manner

•      Demand driven approach

•      Roping the entire district administrative mechanism  on the single point agenda

•      Involving the public representatives

•      Involving Community Based Organizations  - Self Help Groups, Youth(NYK), Panchayath Raj Institutions

•      Creating conducive  environment for behavioral change through IEC/BCC activities

•      Bringing convergence of key line depts. – RWS, Rural Development, Education , NREGS, Health, ICDS to have synergy

•      Simplified funds flow mechanism

•      Sanitary Marts

•      Robust monitoring mechanism in place

16 Information, Education & Communication Activities

–     Community Lead Total Sanitation approach                              

•      14 workshops

•      4390 participants – Village Organization  leaders, Mandal Coordinators

–     Village Organization Meetings

•      Conducted in 661 villages

•      348 Village Organizations have passed resolution

–     Kalajathas

•      Performed in 661 villages

•      Conducted rallies, Group Discussion

•      Auto rally was also conducted

–     Sticker Campaign

•      Door to door campaign in 661 villages

•      Covered 3,08,397 households

–     For HHs with toilet -Green sticker

–     For HHs without Toilets- Red sticker

–     Community Mobilization Activities

•       Conducted in 413 villages

•      33,490 participants from SHGs

•      Rangoli, Drawing, Elocution, etc. were conducted for Self- Help group members

–     Convergence Meetings at Constituency level

•      Convergence meetings were conducted at constituency level with 3,640 participants

•      Decided to issue loans to poorest of poor through IKP

–     ZS and MS Meetings

•      46 MSs passed resolution to achieve 100% toilet construction

•      opened 46 Rural Sanitary Mart(RSM) accounts

•      Loans to poorest of poor from CIF

–     Mock Assessment

•      Identified gaps

–     WATSAN facilities in villages

–     Usage of toilets at School & AWC

–     Environmental sanitation
-- Solid  & liquid waste management

–     Village Immersion Program

•      Social mobilization through games

•      Group discussions

•      Village level functionary meeting

•      PRI meetings

•      VO meetings

–     Special Days

•      Global Handwash Day on 15th October

•      World Water Day on 22nd March
--- Exposure visit to TSC/RWSfunctionaries

	45 MRPs, UNICEF  team members visited Gangadevunipalli in Warangal Dist.

Social Mapping

•      Mapped toilets’ status

–         Intinta Paarishudyam – construction of one lakh toilets in 100 days

–     Paarishudya Rathayatra

•      Conducted in  502 villages

--Ugadi Paarisudya Sankalpa Kankanam

•      There is a custom of wearing wrist bonds called 'kankanam' on Ugadi. This tradition is used to make propogonda of Total Sanitation Campaign. 

Constituency level meetings on Intinta Paarishudyam

•      Constituency level meetings on Intinta Paarishudhyam were also conducted. 

Status of Individual Sanitary Latrines  constructions

–     Target ISLs :      14275
---ISLs grounded :  62535
----ISLs completed :39881

TSC 2011-12

•      Target                                                                                   

–     502 Villages

–     272397 Households

–     144163 ISLs

CONSTITUENCY WISE REPORT
(as on 05/05/2012).
Sl. No.	Name of the Constituency	No. of. G.Ps	No. of ISLs
			Target	Sanction orders given	Grounded	in Progress	Completed	% of Grounding	% of Completion
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8		9
1	Siddipet	42	9090	9090	7171	4571	2600	79%	29%
2	Medak	33	10916	10916	5554	4304	1250	51%	11%
3	Andole	79	23478	23478	7956	4305	3651	34%	16%
4	Dubbak	67	17886	17886	5785	2564	3221	32%	18%
5	Gajwel	66	17604	17604	6841	4196	2645	39%	15%
6	Narsapur	66	18558	18558	8234	5036	3198	44%	17%
7	Zaheerabad	49	15060	15060	4433	3287	1146	29%	8%
8	Patancheru	32	8666	8666	4153	1058	3095	48%	36%
9	Narayankhed	40	12870	12870	3405	1936	1469	26%	11%
10	Sangareddy	28	6777	6777	2914	907	2007	43%	30%
	District Total:	502	140905	140905	56446	32164	24282	40%	17%

•      Achievements in 2010-11 campaign

–     Constructed 31185 ISLs

–     About 40 lakh rupees loan to 2160 SHG members as a support to the poor women

–     Achieved 99 NGPs so far.

–     Proposed NGP villages for the year 2012-13       –          153.

                                                                                                 All the concerned officials, people's representatives, rural women are requested to make the programme a grand success. Let's show a path to the world!