Daily Archives: February 10, 2019

Powering through challenges to reach a unique half-century

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TS-Transco chairman and managing director completes 50 years of service in power utilities today

Putting in 50 years of service in a public sector organisation with an unblemished record all along is no mean task, more so when 27 years out of that are spent in holding key executive positions in power utilities that are directly linked to almost every household.

However, for Devulapalli Prabhakar Rao, the chairman and managing director of TS-Genco and TS-Transco since the formation of Telangana State, it has been a smooth journey except for some “occupational hazards” linked to every responsibility.

He has been the Man Friday to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in tackling severe power shortage, one of the major fallouts of the bifurcation of combined Andhra Pradesh.

Efficiency in functioning of the power utilities of Telangana was under scrutiny of general public and also those in power from the day of State formation as it was one of the first challenges faced by the State government with farmers taking to the streets demanding supply of power to save the standing crops.

“We could overcome the problem and reached a position of supplying seven-hour power to the farm sector within six months with support of the government, particularly the Chief Minister,” says Mr. Prabhakar Rao recollecting the challenges he faced in the initial days of State formation what with 2,700 MW shortage of power compared to the demand.

“Industrialists taking to the streets, demanding adequate quality power supply was the position we inherited from combined AP,” he points out.

With a three-pronged strategy for overcoming the immediate power shortage with spot, short-term and medium-term power purchase linkages, improving the efficiency of power generation units of State utilities, and going for long-term power purchase agreements and capacity addition in power generation, the State overcame the problem of power shortage before the turn of one year.

“Power cuts were lifted for domestic, commercial and industrial sectors and nine-year supply was given to farm sector from November 20, 2014, itself. From January 1, 2018, Telangana became the first State in the country to provide uninterrupted free power supply to even the farm sector having over 23 lakh pump-sets,” Mr. Prabhakar Rao says, describing it one of the proud moments of his career.

Starting his career as a junior accounts officer on February 10, 1969, Mr. Prabhakar Rao became the financial adviser and chief controller of accounts in 1992 in the then AP State Electricity Board. He was elevated as board member (Accounts) in 1998 and it was, in fact, the first time when a non-IAS and non-engineering background official was given such an opportunity.

“My successful career of 50 years in the power utilities has been a possibility only with the support of all employees,” he says, adding that there were some minor aberrations when he had to quit first in 1991 and later in 2002 due to professional differences with his peers but it was thanks to the support the organisation as a team offered that helped him power ahead.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by B. Chandrasekhar / Hyderabad – February 09th, 2019

Collector turns brand ambassador promoting low-cost sanitary pads

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Over 90% women in the Peddapalli district now use pads, from a poor 11%

The newly formed Peddapalli district has emerged as the only district in Telangana State where over 90% of the women, including women Self-Help Group (SHG) members, girl students and others use sanitary napkins during their menstrual cycle.

Low-cost solution

Following reports about several women suffering from several health problems due to adoption of unhygienic methods during their menstrual cycle during the review meetings of health department, Collector A. Sri Devasena had pounced on the idea of production and distribution of low-cost sanitary napkins to all womenfolk in the district. So, she roped in women SHG Spoorthi and provided the necessary training and ensured a bank loan of Rs. 25 lakh under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Scheme. This was topped up with Rs. 5 lakh from the Zilla Samakhya to start their unit on September 14, 2018.

The 21-member Spoorthi SHG started producing ‘Sabala’ brand sanitary napkins (of the women for the women) in the district and marketed through SHG women and village organisations.

The product? Of international quality of different varieties and at just Rs. 3 per piece. Now, the SHG members have almost repaid the bank loans and are even making profits. They are also getting a monthly wage of Rs. 5,000 and above for each member.

Free of cost

Incidentally, Ms. Sri Devasena had acted as the brand ambassador for Sabala napkins and promoted its sales and usage by educating women and girls at all the meetings. In a novel promotion, the Collector took measures to distribute 15 lakh sanitary napkins free of cost initially to encourage women to use them. Talking to The Hindu on Saturday, Ms. Sri Devasena said during her initial survey it was found that not more than 11% of women were using sanitary napkins and majority leading an unhealthy lifestyle. After the introduction of Sabala sanitary napkins, usage had crossed 90% and they are planning to ensure the remaining 45-plus age group women also used sanitary napkins for good hygiene.

Spreading the market

“We are creating good hygiene among the womenfolk and providing entrepreneurship for the SHG women by making them self-reliant,” she said and added that the district administration was providing all the marketing support, training and conducted awareness camps about the usage of sanitary napkins. Next target? Plans to expand the market of Sabala napkins in the neighbouring districts.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by K. M. Dayashankar / Peddapalli – February 09th, 2019

Sircilla: From a ghost town to a city bustling with life

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The municipal park inaugurated by K. Taraka Rama Rao in Sircilla on Friday.  

Sircilla textile town metamorphoses with a make-over; weavers’ hands are full with government placing bulk orders

A few years ago Sircilla was synonymous with suicides, reporting the highest number of suicides by powerloom weavers in the unified Andhra Pradesh due to unemployment and mounting debts.

Now, it is the other way round. Weavers’ hands are full with work with the State government placing bulk orders for school uniforms, Bathukamma sarees, Ramzan and Christmas gifts, etc.

Besides, the womenfolk have shifted from rolling beedis – which fetched them a pittance – to working in the Apparel park producing garments for various branded companies.

Big face-lift

The tiny textile town with dingy looks was given a big face-lift by Sircilla legislator K. Taraka Rama Rao after its upgradation into district headquarters in the newly formed Rajanna-Sircilla district. Now, it has wide roads, traffic islands, municipal parks, saplings along the roads, beautified walls, and a mini-tankbund, etc. On Friday, Mr. Taraka Rama Rao, who’s also the TRS working president, participated in a series of developmental programmes in the town.

He had formally launched Akshayapatra, a scheme under which lunch is served at ₹5 to the citizens. He personally served food and partook with the general public. A modern Vaikuntadhamam (a crematorium) with all facilities in Nehrunagar was constructed at a cost of Rs. 2.4 crore. Similarly, he inaugurated a municipal park built at a cost of ₹80 lakh in Indiranagar, open gym at Shantinagar locality, and Ekalavya Community Hall.

He also distributed Sthree Nidhi tabs to 18 women of the Slum Level Federation and launched four battery-operated garbage collection vehicles for the municipality.

Incidentally, Rajanna-Sircilla district became the first in the integrated Karimnagar district to open a musical fountain at Bathukamma ghat in the town. Costing ₹60 lakh, it has become a special attraction.

TSCAB chairman K. Ravinder Rao, Collector P. Venkatram Reddy, Joint Collector Yasmeen Basha, Municipal chairperson S. Pavani and others were also present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Rajanna – Sircilla , February 09th, 2019