Latest news with #SETU
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
SETU presents report on empowering urban local bodies to CM; 3 MoUs signed
Dehradun: The State Institute for Empowering and Transforming Uttarakhand (SETU) Commission, which has replaced the Planning Commission in the state, presented an in-depth report aimed at empowering urban local bodies to chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday. On this occasion, SETU signed three separate Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) across different sectors to promote overall progress of the Himalayan state. The report focuses on enhancing the financial autonomy and revenue-generating capacity of urban local bodies to make them self-sufficient. It proposes transferring 18 functions listed in the 12th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, such as water supply, public health, and urban planning, to these bodies. Additionally, the report advocates for smart governance, GIS mapping, and data-driven decision-making to drive technological innovation. While handing over the report, SETU vice chairman Raj Shekhar Joshi said, "Suggestions have been made to empower municipal corporations and bodies, improve urban development, and address challenges faced by towns across the state." The report also suggests organising training programs for staff and elected representatives. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Porto Feliz: Quanto vale a sua casa? Descubra agora! Valor da casa | Anúncios de pesquisa Saiba Mais Undo The report provides detailed reforms undertaken in states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha. "Suggestions have been made to adapt these successful urban governance models to meet Uttarakhand's specific needs. It emphasises prioritising public opinion in disaster-resistant planning and landslide management," added Joshi. Dhami said that the three agreements signed during the event aim to drive social development, transform the Himalayan state into a hub of digital talent, and introduce modern AI-based personality development courses. He added that the govt is implementing people-centric plans at the grassroots level to make Uttarakhand a leading state across all sectors. "New initiatives involve stakeholders from all sectors and communities for the comprehensive development of the state," he said. In a move toward social and economic progress, SETU Aayog and Tata Trusts signed a landmark 10-year MoU focused on water resource management, nutrition, telemedicine, rural livelihoods, and green energy. This collaboration will leverage Tata Trusts' technical expertise to align with the state's vision for inclusive growth and sustainable development, fostering cooperation among all stakeholders to create a positive impact on Uttarakhand's social sector. The second MoU was signed by SETU, departments of higher and technical education, and National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM)/IT-ITeS Sector Skills Council. This collaboration aims to build a future-ready workforce by providing skilling opportunities to 1.5 lakh students and faculty across govt colleges, state universities, polytechnics, and engineering colleges. Courses in AI, data science, Python, cybersecurity, and data analytics will be offered through the Future Skills Prime platform, empowering youth with industry-recognised certifications and employment opportunities. The initiative also includes innovations such as skills, passports, digital badges, and model mentor colleges in each district, supported by a state-level steering committee coordinated by SETU. The third MoU was signed by the Skills Development Network (SDN) of Wadhwani Foundation, SETU Aayog, and department of higher education. This initiative aims to equip final-year college students with essential 21st-century employability and entrepreneurial skills across the state.
Irish Independent
15 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Legal challenge to Wexford County Council's CPO of lands for SETU campus dismissed in High Court
The local authority was given the green light to use its statutory powers to place a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) on more the lands stretching from Killeens across to Whiterock Hill in 2022 in a bid to aid the South East Technological University (SETU) with the creation of a state of the art university campus. Wexford County Council also unveiled plans for a League of Ireland stadium with a capacity for up to 6,000 for Wexford FC, a new full-size 4G pitch for Wexford GAA, two schools and a whole raft of housing and commercial units as part of its 'Killeens Masterplan'. However, the project was facing major delays when it emerged back in March that the principal landowner, a Mr Scott Mernagh had taken a legal challenge to the council's CPO and was seeking a full judicial review. He claimed he had been treated poorly throughout the entire process by the local authority. However, having heard the specifics, a High Court judge found in favour of Wexford County Council and rejected the application for a judicial review. Chief Executive of Wexford County Council, Eddie Taaffe confirmed that 'following a hearing in the High Court the council has been informed that the landowner's application seeking leave to apply for judicial review of the CPO of lands in Ballynagee, Wexford, has been refused by the Courts and the proceedings dismissed. "The council now intends to progress the CPO of the lands as per the relevant legislations and regulations,' he concluded. Labour TD George Lawlor was somewhat taken aback that a legal challenge had emerged in the first place, claiming that Mr Mernagh had approached him when he was Mayor of Wexford, seeking to sell the land to Wexford County Council for the provision of a university campus. "I'm absolutely delighted with this judgement,' Deputy Lawlor said. 'It seems pretty watertight and I hope it brings finality to this issue. "Obviously the landowner felt they had to take this course, but the price for the land will be decided by independent arbitration, so I've no doubt he will get the best price possible. I hope we can now push forward with the Killeens Masterplan for the whole 120 acres which includes the SETU campus, at least two schools and of course the stadium for Wexford FC. I think it will be of huge benefit to the town and county.' Deputy Lawlor says he will be pushing for things to move as quickly as possible from this point onwards. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more "I think, in fairness, the commitment of the SETU board is not in any doubt at this stage,' he said. 'It's been a slow start. Money was first made available for this in 2015. I've been engaging with Minister for Higher Education James Lawless, who is a native of Wexford himself, and he has a keen interest in the SETU campus project. "What we need now is follow through on the commitment to funding which was made in Simon Harris's day as Minister of Higher Education. We can't have any delays in bringing the tens of millions it will cost to make this a reality to the table.' Fine Gael senator Cathal Byrne meanwhile is calling for the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to 'make a timely decision on the business case submitted by the board of SETU with regard to their new campus'. 'Once the land is acquired, the SETU must be in a position to act and to progress the project which requires a decision on their business case by the Higher Education Authority,' he said. 'I raised the matter on the floor of Seanad Éireann earlier this year directly with the Minister where I asked them to provide a detailed update on the HEA's plans to advance the project once all other matters had been resolved. "At that stage the Minister informed me that the HEA had still to decide on the business case submitted by SETU, I did emphasize at the time that this should not delay the project and a decision should be made regardless of any other factors.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
From ganja fields to green farms: Swabhiman anchal's silent transformation
1 2 Koraput: Once a hotbed of Maoist activity and illegal ganja cultivation, Swabhiman anchal in Malkangiri district is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Spanning 151 villages and nine panchayats, the remote tribal region is now embracing sustainable agriculture and self-reliance. The turnaround is being driven by the Malkangiri administration and the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), which have introduced targeted schemes to replace cannabis farming and curb distress migration. "Ganja cultivation was rampant, and agriculture meant little more than small patches of ragi, with migration of villagers in search of work," said Malkangiri collector Asish Iswar Patil. "We took up the challenge with a structured long-term plan, emphasising alternative vegetable farming. At first, villagers resisted. But with consistent dialogue and demonstration, they began to see the benefits." What began with just 11 farmers under a cluster farming model has expanded to 752 individuals across 68 villages. Farmers now grow groundnuts, brinjal, beans, chilli, onion, cauliflower, bitter gourd, pumpkin and sweet corn using organic inputs and bio-pesticides. "The produce is sold in local markets such as Paparmetla, Badapada, Chitrakonda, and several BSF camps and govt-run residential schools," said Haladhar Sabar, project administrator, ITDA Malkangiri. Iswari Golari from Nakamamudi village is one of the beneficiaries. "I earned nearly Rs 80,000 during the last rabi season by growing brinjal and chilli on my 1.5-acre plot," he said. Similarly, 28-year-old Dhanpati Pangi of Potel village, who once migrated to Andhra Pradesh as a labourer, now grows green chilli on his land. "I feel proud to be self-reliant," he said. Patil said to sustain the shift, the administration has ramped up infrastructure, building check dams and lift irrigation points while distributing free seeds and offering comprehensive technical training. Under the Socio-Economic Transformation and Upliftment (SETU) scheme, agriculture production clusters (APCs) were launched during the 2024-25 rabi and summer seasons. These clusters now span 1,350 acres. Dragon fruit is now being cultivated on 37.5 acres of land by 36 farmers — an indicator of the area's growing agri-entrepreneurial spirit. "To further boost income and market reach, value addition and processing units are being set up for turmeric, tamarind and jackfruit, helping transform raw produce into profitable products with strong market linkages," said the collector said. "We no longer need to hide from the law," said Biswanath Kinchai, a farmer from Papermetla. "Now, we work with pride. Our land gives us life."
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Waterford community hub is Day Care Centre of the Year
The Waterford city disability support service was lauded for championing community inclusion for its 24 members, by creating an environment that empowers and facilitates personal and professional growth. Broadcaster Martin King was on MC duty at the ceremony in the Clayton Hotel Dublin, leading the evening's celebrations with good humour and charm, as hundreds of leaders and representatives from the disability and healthcare sectors gathered for the prestigious event to celebrate outstanding achievements in service provision. Vita Community Hub scooped the national award for Day Care Centre of the Year, honoured for its dedication to developing the talents and potential of the people attending the service. The innovative programmes on offer have helped individuals with disabilities to achieve greater independence and a higher quality of life. The service was honoured for its focus on community engagement, with the Vita team continuously striving to create and enhance connections that will have far-reaching benefits for each individual. 'Vita prides itself on promoting fulfilling employment opportunities for its members,' said a spokesperson. 'The judges credited the service for the development of a unique staged job activation programme, focused on harnessing each individual's essential job skills. 'Community collaboration is key for the programme's success, with the Vita team actively creating multiple partnerships with employers throughout the locality.' In addition, the promotion of third level education is a top priority for the Vita team. In collaboration with South East Technical University (SETU) Humanities department, staff in Vita developed a pilot project which allowed its members to study a Hospitality course in the college. Throughout the academic year, individuals from Vita worked alongside hospitality students in the SETU training restaurant and ran the Growth Café on campus. James O'Halloran, Vita Programme Supervisor, said, 'We have been on a high all week since winning this award. The team is thrilled to have achieved this national recognition for our dynamic educational, advocacy, and employment programmes at Vita. This award is a testament to the unique impact of our service and the difference it has made to people's lives.'
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Three-day seminar on regenerative farming to take centre stage in Wexford this weekend
From Friday, May 30 in the Riverside Hotel, to Sunday, June 1 in Enniscorthy Castle, a three-day seminar to do with regenerative farming is being hosted by Moyne Veterinary Hospital, with a very impressive line-up of speakers from various parts of the industry and country. Regenerative farming is about restoring the natural rhythms to the soil - bringing the living layer back to a vibrant and healthy balance. This humus layer when working right can hold one hundred times its own volume of water, acting as a living sponge. In the South East of Ireland, organic matter has reached an all time low of two per cent. According to Joe Kavanagh of Moyne Veterinary Hospital: 'Farmers have seen a huge upsurge of input costs squeezing margins, with them having to milk more cows, or grow more grain. To do this they have been pushing the land, the animals, and themselves further, with more chemical inputs, higher feed bills, and spiralling costs. This is the model that many farmers have been in for quite some time.' "There is a new breed of farmers emerging that are taking a different approach. They are looking to reduce inputs, build soil carbon, enhance the microbial life of the soil, bring back the biodiversity in our fields hedgerows, and build a new future,' he added. As such, the event will be a forum of farmers talking to farmers on how they can produce great quality food, with higher nutrient value and enhance the land. Mike Walsh, a college lecturer in SETU within the Masters of Science in Agriculture programme and dairy famers, will be kicking off the programme on the Friday with a talk on maximising the use of slurry using enzymes, and harnessing the farm's potential with multi-species swards. David Wallis, a former Teagasc advisor, farmer and coordinator of the DANU project, will speak on the EU funded project which is already illustrating impressive results. According to the study, grassland farmers reduced nitrogen usage from 40 to 70 per cent, and tillage farmers reduced it by 40 per cent, fungicide usage reduced by 70 per cent, and insecticide usage by 100 per cent. through regenerative and biological farming.t Other speakers include, tillage farmer Tommy Tierney, beef and sheep farmer Bronagh O'Kane, and father and son dairy farmers Fraser and Jonathan Rothwell. The next day, author and lecturer Dr Verner Wheelock will be speaking on the detrimental effects of poor food quality and how to can change it. Well known vet Tommy Heffernan will speak on the microbiome - from soil health, to animal and human health, while Yvanna Greene will talk on bees and biodiversity. Sunday will feature Alan Poole, dairy farmer ambassador of Farming With Nature, on making a difference through enhancing biodiversity. Herbalist Silja Harms will do a workshop on how to make your own herbal salves, and give a talk on common 'herbal heros' that are all around. The concluding speaker will be Mary Reynolds, Chelsea Flower Gold medallist, best-selling author and tireless environmentalist, on how to be 'guardians not gardeners.'
