College poll ended peacefully in Berhampur



Santosh Sahu of KK College, Berhampur



Berhampur: After the cancellation of students’ union election in Berhampur University campus due to clash between two different students’ groups, district administration along with the police was concentrated on the other colleges of the district for smooth discharge of polling in respective campuses, which ended peacefully on Thursday.

Polling was held in 23 colleges in the district. A day before, the candidates were attended the ‘why I stand for’ meeting and conveyed their views, opinions about their stand. Students of different colleges in the district were excited fir Thursday’s poll. Student leaders were trying to motivate the students to gain their precious vote.

The polling started from 12 noon to 2 pm, while vote count started after the polling and then the result was declared on the same day on Thursday. All the candidates of Lingaraj Law College were elected uncontested, while the other colleges in the city conducted polling.

Santosh Kumar Sahu was elected as Students’ Union president of Khallikote Autonomous College against Mrutyunjaya Sahu, while Jagannath Panda and Tutu Behera were elected as General Secretary and Vice-president of the College respectively. Similarly in Shasi Bhusan Rath Autonomous Womens’ College in the city, Suman Mishra was elected as president by defeating Darpana Subudhi in 19 votes, While Suchita Sahu and M Puja Reddy were elected as General Secretary and Vice-president of the College respectively.

The other two important colleges of the city Binayak Acharya College and City College were geared up for the polling. Basanta Behera was elected as president of City College, while Sunil Mahankuda was elected as president of Binayak Acharya College.   

Security for the college election was specially arranged by the police to avoid embarrassing situation in the campus while polling. All the important colleges in the city ended their poll peacefully.  

      

Count down begins for Durga puja



Jaa devi sarba bhuteshu........



Berhampur: Mahalaya welcomed the goddess Durga for the season of festival to bring bountiful yield and happiness to the home. Durga puja is also known as Navratri puja which says the worshipping of goddess Durga for nine days. Like Kolkata, Gujarat and Cuttack; Berhampur also gears up for Durga Puja.

Ganjam is famous for its religious “Shakti shrines” where the ritual of the sixteen day festival is strictly followed. This ritual is known as “Shodasa Upachara” unlike in other parts of the country where it lasts for three to nine days at most. The prominent Sakti shrines in Ganjam include presiding deity (Ista-Devi) of South Orissa Tara Tarini near Purusottampur, goddess Narayani near Khallikote, goddess Mahamayee (Budhi Thakurani) of Berhampur, goddess Bhairavi at Mantridi 15 km away from Berhampur, goddess Ramachandi at Gadamanitri 5 km away from Ganjam town, Mahuri Kalika, Ghata Kalika, Kandhuni Devi, Byaghra Devi, Balakumari, Barahi, Khambeswari, Simhasini, Shyamalai, Kureisuni, Siddha Harachandi with other Sakti shrines of Ganjam district are geared up for the festival Dussehera which is celebrated  with utmost solemnity, religious fervor, gaiety and éclat.

Some Puja Mandaps in the city have started the rituals of Navaratri puja formally from Mahalaya night. The Silk city Berhampur which is known as one of the prominent socio-cultural centers and religious epicenter of Odisha as it connects two different cultures of Odia and Telugu since the ancient times is getting ready for the much awaited carnival.



Bijipur Dussehera medha



The Puja bazaar is all set to make a good business in this session. The garment showrooms, wholesale markets also hit the market of Berhampur, the commercial nerve centre as well as an inter-state business center of Odisha. Traffic is getting thicker gradually in the areas beginning from Head post office square to fire station road, Annapurna Road, Urban Bank Road, SNT Temple Road, Sanabazaar and Badabazaar area. So the police administration is planning for a better traffic management during Puja.

The puja mandaps’ of Komapalli Square, Courtpeta Square, Bijipur, Station Road, Old Bus stand, Girija Square, Giri market, Hanuman Bazaar and badabazaar have been started formally the nine day puja of goddess Durga from the night of Mahalaya. Out of total 39 worshiping places, nine were opened their puja pandals and started the rituals of nine day puja. Others may open likely on seventh or eighth day of the ritual of Navratri puja.

The attraction of the puja is their respective pandals draped in different colours and in different themes, ideas and innovative arts and designs. According to a member Kali Prasad Patra of Bijipur Puja committee, they have hired artists from Dhenkanal and Kolkata for the design of their puja pandal like a temple of Nepal. The pandal is made up of different colored and designed mats, while the idol is of 15 feet height mesmerizing the devotees of the city.

City administration, Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) along with the police administration is ready for the nine day long carnival. For the better sanitation facility, BMC have planned for special arrangement for the devotees. Administration imposed ban on using of Mike after 10 pm of the night and it permitted bhajans for playing on the puja mandaps.

Navaratri puja has brought joy and exuberance among the inhabitants of the city once again. They believe that Durga puja not a puja only, but it is the original feeling and experiencing of their old tradition and Sakti-cult of the state as well as Ganjam from very near.

Clash between two student groups in BU

Berhampur: Clash between two student groups regarding the election matter took place in the campus of Berhampur University on Saturday here. A face to face challenge was taken place following the matter of withdrawal of the filing nomination.   

Some students of the first group asked the other group to withdraw the nomination for the Vice-president post while the second group did not agree with the proposal and protested the first group. Taking into this silly matter, a small fight was taken place. Three students namely Ashok Mahankuda, Akhandaleswar Swain, Biswajit padhy of the second group injured in the tussle.

The injured students rushed to the MKCG medical. Police and Chairman of the PG council along with university administration interfered in the matter to keep the campus peaceful. The University administration then called an emergency meeting to solve the matter. According to the Unversity Administration the situation is now under control.

          

          

Four minors among 8 girls rescued from Berhampur rly station

Berhampur: GRP police rescued eight girls; including four minors with the help of Child Line from the railway station here on Friday evening as the women leader of the group was taking them to Mumbai to engage them in an unorganised sector.

Child Line received information from mediapersons regarding trafficking of eight women by Konark Express train. The girls were sitting in the ladies compartment when the Child Line officials and mediapersons entered with the help of GRP police to rescue them.

The women along with the minor were identified as Sabita Pradhan (19), Arati Nayak (11), Reena Nayak (12), Minati Behera (19), Reena Dehury (15), Duti Dehury (16), Ranjita Dehury (18), Pramila Nayak (26). They were going to Mumbai to work in a prawn and fish processing unit. They were being taken by C K Gopi , who works as contractor in Mumbai.

“Following the information from a person who was coming in the train from Bhubaneswar, we contacted the Child Line to rescue them. The women were come under the supervision of a young woman Jyotirmayee Behera from Bhadrak. After the investigation, the police handed over them to Child Line said an official Himanshu Sabat.

Sabat informed that three were from Dhamnagar and others from rural villages of Bhadrak district. The supervisor told that they were going to Mumbai to work there. “We are from poor families, the contractor told us to give good money, that’s why we came,” said Jyoti to The Pioneer.

Campus politics begin for college election

Berhampur: Following the Government notification for college election by September 29, College and University campuses in Ganjam became very active as the candidate selection process by the students’ union of the respective colleges is going on. The mood of campus politics is in peak as the filing of nomination will be held on Thursday.

Student wings of BJD, Congress and the student organizations like AISF, SFI, ABVP and DSO are prepared for the election. Selection of the candidates for the campus election is almost finalized and those are in confused state, they will finish their selection work on Thursday on the day of nomination.

As per the government notification of state Higher Education department, nomination paper can be filed in between 9 am to 12 o’clock on September 22. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on the same day afternoon from 2 to 4 pm. While list of valid nomination papers will be published at 11 am on September 23. On the same day from 2 to 4 pm students can withdraw their nomination papers if they want and the final list of candidates will be published at 5 pm.

Students’ Union of the nerve centre of education in south Odisha, Berhampur University is ready for the upcoming election. The campus is very cool and peaceful as the recent government notification of state Higher Education department stated that if any violence occurs in the campus regarding election matter, then the election of that college or university will be called off.

The other important colleges like Khallikote Autonomous College, SBR Autonomous Women’s College, Binayak Acharya Govt. College, City College, Chatrapur Govt. Science College, KSUB College Bhanjanagar, Asika Science College, Hinjili College, Ganjam College, Khemundi College are prepared for the college election. The election will be held in the campuses of 23 colleges of Ganjam district.

The planning meetings for the upcoming election are being held regularly by the student wings of respective political parties and organizations. Some students have also tried to attract fellow students by stringing up the welcome posters. The front gate of the University and also other college campuses are filled by the welcome posters bearing the names of the willing candidates for the election. Even the selected candidates have started campaign by going to the individual classes.

“Election is not a new thing. Every year this happens, interfering of the politicians in the election is a new trend but very dangerous for the society. Political backing for the college election poisoned the educational atmosphere of the campus. Criminalization of politics rightly started from here only. A neutral, intelligent and development minded student is not getting chance in the election due to threaten from political backed student candidate”, said a Journalism and Mass Communication student of Berhampur University Rudra Patra.

“During last two year student BJD remain champion in the campus elections and this year also we hope for the same. Our candidates along with me have started campaigns by going to the class rooms of respective department”, said DRL student of Berhampur University Jaydev Pandit.

While the officials of university administration told that College attendance, Lyngdoh Commission recommendations will be strictly followed in the college election and the administration hopes for a peaceful election in the campus.

Tata hold public hearing in Ganjam

… Public demand for mega steel project in the land

Berhampur: Much discussed and awaited Tata’s public hearing finally held at Chamakhandi near Chatrapur to discuss with the public about the environment clearance of its proposed project near Gopalpur on Tuesday. There was no such highlighted discussion on environment problem after the set up of the industry, whereas most of the representatives of the people were talked about mega steel plant, employment, displacement problems and other things, though the hearing was for environment clearance.

The meeting started from hue and cry between some groups after ex-MLA of Gopalpur Dr Trinath Behera’s opinion regarding support for mega steel plant and compensation for the displacement family. The meeting started from hearing to the people’s representatives and political leaders. They kept their opinion on this matter. They are ex-MLA of Gopalpur Dr Trinath Behera, ex-chairman of Chatrapur NAC Ramachandra Behera, Trilochan Behera, Kamraju Verma, Ramesh Chandra Mahankuda, Ramesh Chandra Jena, Uma Shankar Sahu, Zilla Parishad member Kailash Palei, Gorachand Bhattamishra, Girijaprasad Reddy, Bibhuti Jena, Biswanath Sahu,  Chatrapur MLA Adikanda Sethi, Berhampur MP Sidhanta Mahapatra were talked from different angles of public hearing.

While Tata officials told that they will set up three industries on the acquired land of 450 acres. First, a high carbon ferrochrome industry of which production capacity will 5,500 tonne per year and the raw material will be imported  from Jamshedpur, Re-bar mill having the production capacity of 4 lakh tonne per year and desalination plant over 450 acres of the acquired land. It will invest 30 crore for environmental protection. They also informed that the estimated cost of the plants is around 800 crore were scheduled to start production by 2013. They also told that the project is for common people only.

“For the betterment of our people, the company should bring a separate project by which the displacement people pertly or full will get benefit out of it”, said Berhampur MP Sidhanta Mahapatra.

One ex-Sarapanch Rajendra Jena told that Tata acquired the land in very low cost. If it acquired the land, it should start the proposed mega steel plant otherwise give full compensation for the land according to the market rate. Otherwise we will not give chance to Tata for industrialization here and on the coming days we will break the boundary wall of Tata.

The Ganjam District Congress Committee (GDCC) alleged that Tata had acquired 3700 acre Government and private land to set up a big steel project but the company derailed from its commitment and now it is planning for an Industrial park and re-rolling mill. Before, the company was talking about the investment of 10,000 crore which is decreased to 1,000 crore now. Due to this land acquisition, thousands of families were in distress by loosing their cultivable land of thousands of crores in market value.

UCP engineering college students demand quality education

 

Berhampur: The students of Uma Charan Patnaik (UCP) Engineering College boycotted the class and sat on a strike in front of the college demanding better facility and quality education on Monday here.

The students of the college alleged that they are not getting proper facility like sanitation, good resourceful library, well equipped laboratory, cycle stand and campus recruitment. They demanded that they are not getting proper scopes though they are technology students. The quality of education should be increased as the competition market need good professionals.

The sanitation problem is very acute in the campus which creates trouble to the health. Students claimed that there are many problems in the lab. As they are the technical students and depended more on practical knowledge about any subject, but due to lack of equipment they are not getting the chance for learning. Some students alleged that there are no sufficient computers for their practical.

 While we contacted with the Vice-principal of UCP, she told that the students never complained orally or in written to us. They are trying to solve the problem. “It is a good school, which always give preference to its students. It is a well maintained campus than other Government Engineering College of Odisha”, she maintained.   

‘Big role of alumni in the development of the school’



Governer is inaugurating the Ganjam Panchayat Samiti new building



Berhampur: “School is the right place, where the students get knowledge to be a successful personality in future. Students should conscious about the use of their beautiful school days to cultivate knowledge which will help to build a good career in future. After being a successful person, they should make an effort in the development of their area along with their school as there is a vital role of alumni in the development of the school”, said Governor of Odisha Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare to the students while delivering his speech on the Golden jubilee celebration of Bharati Vidyapeetha High School at Ganjam town of the district on Monday.



Golden Jubilee function of Bharati Vidyapeetha High School

While advising he told that students should feel proud for their school and make the school proud felt by doing extraordinary deeds. School is a pious place where relation is created by the students within each other never breaks. Friendship is a heavenly feeling started from here only.

He lauded the teaching of the teaching staff of the school. He told that teachers are the best guides, who show the way of a better future for the students. There is a significant role of a teacher to build the future of a student as well as a nation.

Governor in his one day visit to Ganjam, first landed at Sorada on the very occasion of the famous Kandhuni Yatra then landed at Chatrapur to visit Ganjam town. He first inaugurated the Panchayat Samiti Office new building and then inaugurated the golden jubilee function Bharati Vidyapeetha High School at Ganjam town.

Among others, former Deputy Speaker Ramachandra Panda and an alumnus of the school told about the historical and tourism importance of the Ganjam town as it situated near Rushikulya river mouth which is famous for famous rare Oliveridley sea turtle, Potagada fort and historical Palur port near the town. He emphasized the role of the school in the field of education and its way of teaching.

While Ganjam Collector Dr Krishan Kumar advised the teaching staffs and governing body to make the school a model school and also offered helping hand to its development and quality education.

A book written by the Bharati Vidyapeetha High School teacher Manisha Mishra is released by the Governor. Sand artist and an alumnus of the school Balkrushna Reddy and Mridanga maestro Dhanurdhar Reddy were felicitated by Governor on the occasion of Golden jubilee of the school.

Among others, Ganjam block Chairman Surath Pahan, Sarapanchs of the block were present in the inauguration function of the Panchayat Samiti Office new building, while the teachers and students of Bharati Vidyapeetha High School were present in the Golden Jubilee function of the school.

       

MKCG students strike in second day, patients decry for treatment

Berhampur: Treatment services for the patients have been affected as students of MKCG Medical College in the city are on strike from Friday to express solidarity with the students of VSS Medical College of Burla, who are sat on a dharna in front of the state Secretariat demanding fulfillment of their four point charter of demands.

After the Burla incident, MKCG Students wore black badges from September 9 as mark of the protest against alleged misbehavior of the local people against the medical students and house surgeons of Burla Medical College. Condemning the Government’s apathy on their demand they had threatened to go for a strike where they will not join on their duty from Friday in front of the Medical College.

The PG doctors, house surgeons, under graduate students of MKCG Medical College joined in the strike to strengthen the demand of the VSS medical students. The agitators requested at the Chief Minister to give attention towards their demand for the peaceful solution of their demand, otherwise they will go for indefinite strike.

While PG doctors and house surgeons strike left the patients in dismal. Only 23 doctors are engaged in treatment of the patients in the place of 48. Most of the seats were vacant. Patients are preferring private hospitals which are very expensive for the poor.

It may be noted that the VSS Medical College in Burla was shut down indefinitely after a conflict between agitating students and Burla residents on September 7. Students of the medical college had been on strike since Monday in protest against the attack on PG students of VSS Medical College.

BJP, CPI (M) protests petrol hike

Berhampur: Ganjam branch of BJP and CPI (M) organized different protest meetings near Komapalli and Goodshed road in the city respectively to give solidarity with the voice against petrol hike by the central government on Saturday.

The workers of BJP criticized the government for its anti-people behavior. They demanded in the meeting led by President of BJP for Ganjam district Bijaya Kumar Swain for the withdrawal of the decision of petrol hike. They alleged that the government failed to control the price rise, for which the common people are suffering a lot.

The meeting was attended by former deputy speaker Ramachandra Panda, Captain Utsav Sabat, Sunil Sahu with other BJP workers of the city.

While Ganjam branch of CPI (M) organized an agitation at Goodshed road near petroleum depot protesting petrol hike by central government. Hundreds of supporters along with the party workers were attended the protest meeting organized by the parties.

Congress to oppose Tata’s public hearing in Ganjam

Berhampur: Ganjam District Congress Committee (GDCC) is preparing to oppose the public hearing by Tata Company on September 20 at Chamakhandi near Chatrapur. The GDCC has demanded that Tata should disburse the acquired land to the owner of the land otherwise establish the steel plant, which was proposed 16 years back.

Tata decided to arrange a public hearing meeting for the establishment of an Industrial Park on the acquired land by Tata Company. After 16 years of land acquisition by Tata, the public hearing is going to be arranged now, which is ridiculous, informed the GDCC.

The GDCC alleged that Tata had acquired 3700 acre Government along with private land to set up a big steel project at Chamakhandi near Chatrapur but the company derailed from its commitment and now it is planning for an Industrial park and re-rolling mill. Before, the company was talking about the investment of 10,000 crore which is decreased to 1,000 crore now. Due to this land acquisition, thousands of families were in distress by loosing their cultivable land of thousands of crores in market value.

District Congress criticized government’s Tata policy and demanded to take appropriate steps to bring back the rest of the lands. It also claimed that the company becomes a big Zamindar by acquiring such huge amount of land in the guise of Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

They alleged that the time of the agreement for the establishment of the proposed steel project between the State and Tata Company is already ended. So they have no right to exercise their power on the land. Even the work to set up an Industrial park has not finished yet, though the deadline is 2012 set by the Company.

While the Coordinator of Tata Company for the Gopalpur Project and a Trade Union leader Daniel Das said that Tata will start its work gradually from small to big project, but we have to wait. Industrialization can not be achieved overnight.

“Due to some reason Tata could not set up the proposed steel project here which was established in Kalinganagar. Tata was proposed to set up a steel plant in Odisha and Kalinganagar is not outside of Odisha.  Tata is committed to establish an industry in Gopalpur which is continuing”, said Das.   

MKCG medical students threatens to strike

Berhampur: Students of MKCG Medical College in the city planned to go for a strike from Friday onwards to express solidarity with the students of VSS Medical College of Burla, who are sat on a dharna in front of the state Secretariat demanding fulfillment of their four point charter of demands.

MKCG Students condemned the Government’s apathy on their demand. They wore black badges as mark of the protest against alleged misbehavior of the local people against the medical students and house surgeons of Burla Medical College.





MKCG Medical College students protest wearing black badges 


As the Government is not responding on the matter of VSS medical college, junior doctors of MKCG Medical College have threatened to go for a strike where they will not join on their duty from Friday onwards in front of the Medical College.

“According to the decision of our Joint Action Committee, we decided to go for a indefinite strike from Friday onwards, till our demand is fulfilled. The strike will be held in the campus only in a peaceful manner. Under Graduate students will boycott the class and the junior doctors will not join in their duty”, said spokesperson of Medical Students Joint Action Committee Jyoti Prakash Parichha.

It may be noted that the VSS Medical College in Burla was shut down indefinitely after a conflict between agitating students and Burla residents on September 7. Students of the medical college had been on strike since Monday in protest against the attack on PG students of VSS Medical College.

3 killed, 1 severe in lightning in Ganjam

Berhampur: Three killed and one severe injured in lightning in two different places of Ganjam district on Monday afternoon. All three deceased persons were women from same village.

Among the victims of lightning, three deceased were identified as Binu Pradhan (35) wife of Tuna Pradhan, Koko Maharana (18) daughter of Babu Maharana and Rama Maharana (40) of Gudiali village under Kavisuryanagar block. Koko and Rama were daughter and mother in relation.

The fourth person Harihara Gauda from HumuriKhatia under Ganjam block was severely injured in lightning. After lightening, the condition was very critical. Immediately he rushed to MKCG medical in the evening.

All Block gherao by Block Grant Teachers in Ganjam

Berhampur: Block Grant high school teachers and staffs along with the students and their parents were gheraoed the blocks in Ganjam as the part of the state wide block gherao call by State Block Grant High School Association on Thursday. All 22 blocks were in the gherao of the teachers, students and parents of Block grant schools.

The indefinite strike demanding hike in salary and full grant for the block grant teaching and non-teaching staffs reached at 40th day on Friday. Thousands of students, teachers and parents were joined in the gherao in the respective blocks of the district. Polsara and Beguniapada blocks were witnessed huge flow of students and parents along with block grant teachers to support the cause.

The Block Grant high school teachers and staffs were conducted rally in front of the respective blocks of the district to gather the public support for their cause and to show the power of the mass to impose the pressure on the State Government.

It may be noted that there are 159 block grant high schools in Ganjam circle. All block grant high schools were locked by their union from August 1. The teaching and non-teaching staffs demanded hike in salary who have been working for more than 25 years and cent percent grant for block grant staffs.

The Block Grant high school teachers and staffs handed over the memorandum through BDO to the Chief Minister of Odisha. The BDO stated that he will forward the memorandum to the Chief Minister.

‘Lectures should promote Odia language in class room’

Berhampur: A seminar on ‘The role of college teachers in promoting Odia language in class room’ was organized by Odisha State Bureau of Text Book Preparation and Production with the active cooperation of Berhampur University on Tuesday in the senate hall of the varsity campus.

Gracing the occasion as the chief guest of the function, Minister of Higher Education, sports and youth services, Badri Narayana Patra led emphasis on the topic and the soft nuances in the gap between words.

This is indeed not a conflict between Odia and English language but cooperative and promotional attempts of promoting mother tongue. “One must open the windows of the whole world for information codified in English language but that is not to say to neglect our language”, he added.

“There is no harm to explain difficult concepts of a subject in mother tongue, which can easily understand by the students”, explained the Director of Odisha State Bureau of Text Book Preparation and Production Haraprasad Parichha Patnaik in his welcome and introductory address on the occasion.

“We should not neglect English but we have to accept two languages as well. We have to overcome from the narrow mindedness on this matter as we are living in a globalized world”, said the guest of honour of the inaugural ceremony of the seminar Vice-chancellor of Berhampur University Prof Jayanta Mahapatra.

For the first time, Odisha State Bureau of Text Book Preparation and Production was organized the seminar and function in outside of its curriculum after 41 years of its history. It will move to enrich the Odia language throughout the world, informed it’s Director Haraprasad Parichha Patnaik to The Pioneer.

Among others, Odia Proffessor of Berhampur University and organizer of the seminar Deviprasanna Patnaik, Journalism Proffessor Dr Pradip Mahapatra, writer Abhiram Biswal and other intellectuals, writers were present in the occasion.

‘Mamata’ scheme starts in Ganjam

Berhampur: To control Child Mortality Rate and to give importance to the health care of the pregnant women and child care in the state, Odisha government initiated ‘Mamata’ scheme shortly by the state Women and Child Development Department in all the districts of the state.

The scheme will benefit rural women, especially those pregnant women who are working as labourers in different sectors. The scheme has kick started in Ganjam on Tuesday.

 According to the scheme, each pregnant woman above 19 years of age will be covered under the scheme for first 2 live births. The eligible pregnant women of the state will be provided financial assistance of Rs. 5000/- in four separate installments for having additional nutrition and care for the pregnant mothers and the children.

To get the assistance fund, the pregnant women will have to register their name in a nearest Anganwadi center within six months of the pregnancy.  They will get financial assistance within from 6 months of their pregnancy to 9 months of their child. Women & Child Development department will issue specific guidelines and required forms for circulation among Anganwadis and pregnant women. The Anganwadi Workers will report the list of eligible women in the end of every month to the C.D.P.O. through Supervisor. After getting the list of the beneficiaries from the Anganwadi workers, the assistance amount will be provided to bank account of beneficiary directly in ‘Account Pay’ system.

According to the scheme, first installment of Rs 1500 will be provided after 6 months of pregnancy, Second installment of Rs 1500 after 3 months of Birth of the baby, third installment of Rs 1000 after 6 months of the baby’s birth and the fourth and the last installment of Rs 1000 will be provided after 9 months of the birth.

District Welfare Extension Officer Sabita Beura supplemented that this scheme has been started in all the Anganwadi centers of the district which will help the mothers and children of the poor families of the district.

Child labour survey to be started in Ganjam

Berhampur: A meeting on Child Labour Survey in Ganjam held in the city to survey the child labour population and its status in the district on Sunday here. The NGOs of different blocks of Ganjam; those are selected for the survey, Deputy Director of State Labour Institution (SLI) Sambit Patnaik and District Labour Officer were attended the meeting.

In the meeting, the officials were discussed at length about the scope, field work, guidelines and necessary things to be followed at the time of survey and so on. Project Director of National Child Labour Project (NCLP), Ganjam district and Sub-collector Ajit Mishra directed the NGOs to submit the survey report on 27^th of this month.

Some NGOs told that it is a herculean task to finish the survey within the time frame, but anyway they will finish the job. “NGOs are reluctant to do this job due to insufficient fund, which is provided by NCLP. It will provide Rs 250 as token TA to each Panchayat for the survey, which is not enough”, said the Secretary of an NGO Kamadhenu Seba Samiti of Ganjam block.

Some NGOs have requested for authorization letter from the District Magistrate to run the survey in their respective blocks. This authorization letter from the district administration will save them from embarrassing situations in the field. While the administration agreed to give that before the survey starts.

NCLP may establish new child labour schools in the district as the three year duration of the previous schools are going to complete. 7 schools were closed out of 32, while the other 25 schools will be closed.

  

       

Media XI loses to District administration XI in a friendly cricket match

Berhampur: You may call it as a fashion or to build good relation, but it was very amazing to see the friendly cricket match between Media eleven and District Administration eleven of Ganjam district on Saturday. The match was played in the Berhampur stadium, where Media eleven lost the friendly cricket T-20 match to District Administration eleven.

The media persons of different media houses were taken part in the match and encouraged their fellows to do better in the match while the senior bureaucrats and officials of Ganjam district were taken part in the match to give weight to cheer up their fellow officers in the T20 match. Media eleven led by Reporter of a city based cable TV channel UTV, Sudeep Sahu and District Administration eleven led by Sub-collector of Berhampur Ajit Mishra met in the stadium at 9 am. 

Media XI won the toss and chose fielding first. District Administration XI ended up the innings in 206 by 6 wickets while Media eleven chased the bureaucrats and ended the innings in 201 runs in 20 over.

‘Quality Journalism is the need of hour’

Berhampur:  “RTI act is an instrument to know the information about the developmental works by the Government. If journalists can create awareness among the common people in the grass root level to check corruption by using RTI act, then it will be a good effort by the journalists for the society” said former Agriculture Minister of Odisha Damodar Rout in the seminar on quality journalism held in the city by the Ganjam branch of Odisha Union of Journalists (OUJ) on Saturday here in the Municipality guest house.

The seminar is inaugurated by Berhampur SP Safeen Ahmed K. While inaugurating the seminar SP, the chief guest of the inaugural function told that if you want highlight the crimes, but don’t highlight the criminals and their criminal activities.   

On this occasion, the Ganjam branch of OUJ felicitated three persons namely Nirmala Mishra from Hinjilikatu, Bibhutibhusana Mahapatra from Purusottampur and Block Chairman of Ganjam and journalist Suresh Pahan for their contribution in the field of journalism in the district.

 “This type of seminar will create confidence among the rural journalists and grass root level journalists. It can create awareness among them about the ethics and codes of journalism as most of them are not trained from any journalism schools or colleges. This type of seminar and workshops will create an atmosphere for learning the important aspects of journalism”, said the President of Ganjam branch of OUJ Prakash Panigrahy to The Pioneer.

The seminar was attended by Vice-president of National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Prasanna Mahanty, General Secretary of OUJ Kailash Swain, CPI (M) leader Ali Kishore Patnaik, Advocate Bhagaban Sahu with other journalists of the district. 

Dengue terror in Ganjam: 1 died, 14 under treatment



Sub-collector of Ganjam Dr Ajit Kumar Mishra has visited the dengue ward of MKCG medical to take the stock of the situation on Saturday



Berhampur: Like other districts of Odisha, Ganjam is also affected in Dengue fever. The affected patients in the district are on the rise. After the death of a patient on Friday morning in the dengue ward of MKCG medical, the whole matter came to the light. Fourteen other patients of different parts of the district are under treatment in the MKCG medical here.

L Ganeswar Rao of Saniabandha village under Padmapur block of Rayagada district breathed his last in the dengue ward of MKCG medical on Friday morning, who was the first victim in the disease this year died in this medical, sources said. At first he was under treatment in Gunupur of Rayagada district. When his condition worsened he referred to MKCG medical on August 31. When we contacted with the medical officials, they denied that there is no casualty in dengue yet, as they have not received the blood report.

Rush of Dengue patients in the dengue ward of MKCG medical are on the rise. There are seven dengue patients are pointed out in Kavisuryanagar block and two patients in Patrapur block of the district who are under treatment in their respective villages and health centers of the block, while 14 are under treatment in MKCG dengue ward.

Within last two days, 4 persons were admitted into the MKCG medical, from them the health condition of Ramkrushna Jena of Masihakhali village of Kukudakhandi block and Babula Choudhury of Patrapur block were in critical stage. Nine dengue patients are in the treatment in a special ward under ENT section while others are under medicine section, sources said.

Sub-collector of Ganjam Dr Ajit Kumar Mishra has visited the dengue ward of MKCG medical to take the stock of the situation on Saturday.

DSO demand quality education in school

Berhampur: Ganjam district committee of All India Democratic Students Union (DSO) set out in a rally on Saturday here demanding appointment of teachers in the vacant post of the high schools in the city and improvement of other classroom activities in the schools.

DSO demanded that there are large vacancies of teacher post in the high schools in the city. Even there is no single teacher for the important subject like math, science; English in some schools include K C high school, where former President V V Giri was the student of this school. There are no permanent Head Masters in most of the schools in the city. Due to lack of science equipments in the class, the school laboratories are in the unused state.

The members of DSO set out in a procession in the city supporting quality education in the city. They reached at the Circle Inspector’s office in the city and gave the memorandum to the CI of Schools to look into the matter.

“The education process in the high schools of city is hampered due to lack of teachers, permanent head master post and lack of science equipments in the high school science laboratories. Due to this problem, the quality of education is decreased”, said Secretary of Ganjam district committee of DSO Bhabani Shankar Mishra.