Srimandir to unite Jagannath temples worldwide

BHUBANESWAR: For the promotion and extension of the Jagannath cult worldwide, the Srimandir Temple Administartion is going to organise ‘Sri Jagannath Mandir Aikya Sthapan’, to form oneness among the Jagannath temples in the country and abroad, and a national conference with ‘Sri Jagannath Pancha Ratra’ (five nights for the discussion on Jagannath cult) from February 9 to 14 at Srikhetra in Puri, informed Gajapati Maharaja of Puri and chairman of Srimandir Managing Committee Divya Singh Dev at a Press meet here on Saturday.

“Hundreds of temples are there in the State and abroad and some new temples are also coming up. Srimandir administration requests them to follow at least some services to lord Jagannath which is continuing in Srimandir. A national-level conference will be held on February 10 and 11 to aware that temple administrators about the rituals followed by the Srimandir administration for creating oneness among the Jagannath temples throughout the world,” said Maharaja.

He also informed the epic ‘Skandha Puran’ has narrated about Purusottam Khetra Puri and the glory of Lord Jagannath in detail in a chapter. In the five nights of the ‘Sri Jagannath Pancha Ratra’, different topics regarding Lord Jagannath based on the epic will be discussed during the nights.

Hundreds of preachers, priests and Sadhus, who spread Jagannath cult before the common peoples, are joining in the conference. For five days a special analysis on ‘Skandha Puran’ will be organised. The conference will be inaugurated by Sankaracharya of Puri Nischalananda Maharaj and all the programmes will be held at Saradhabali, Town hall and Collector’s conference hall in Puri.

Good bye 2011

Hemanta Kumar Pradhan

“Time and tide wait for none,” as the saying goes, but it leaves valuable footprints in history to commemorate the past and plan for a better tomorrow. Odisha from Orissa is now a history written in the diary of 2011. The joyful moments of success and glory in arts, sports and other fields to the painful moment of scams and scandals, law and order situation and common people’s fight for basic rights were much-debated in the departed year. False political hullabaloo to nasty involvement of the leaders in scams had eaten most of the valuable spaces of Print Media and time limit of the Idiot box’s serious format. Lower PMG was teasing us silently, when the common people sit on indefinite dharna to get his rights in the bone-chilling winter night, but no one comes to give them solace though they have sent 147 representatives to heed their voice. At the same time, the Government offers free bicycles for the school kids, helps expecting mothers by Mamta scheme and Janani Sishu Surakhya scheme and inspires the artisans and folk artists for their survival in the State. Opposition stalled the Assembly house over scams and scandals, whereas ruling party avoided them by alleging the same rhyme ‘step-mother attitude’ of the Centre.

Odisha have experienced common people’s grief, anger, reaction throughout the year in almost every part of the State. From Dogria Kondhs of Niyamgiri hill to the border villagers of Odisha who decried for help from Polavaram project, which will submerge the border villages of the State, was a long battle.

There were two contradictory incidents happened in 2011 in Odisha including industrialisation and natural disaster. When the northern coastal part of the State was fiercely opposing for Posco Company, the southern coastal district Ganjam was severely demanding for a mega steel project according to the MOU with the Tata steel. Most of the parties and citizen charters of Ganjam were demanding for Titanium project at Chatrapur and mega steel project at Gopalpur. On the other side, Dhinkia panchayat of Jagatsinghpur had protested Odisha Government throughout the year against the construction of the project. Large number of women and small school kids and tiny tots had joined in the anti-Posco stir at the Posco-site. One killed and many more injured in a scuffle between anti-Posco agitators and Posco supporters while the construction of company boundary wall was going on. This incident stalled the State Assembly house over the involvement of Bapi Sarkhel for creating disturbance in Posco-site. Oppositions along with some MLAs of the ruling party demanded the arrestment of Bapi which was a much debated issue happened in the State.

Another contradictory thing was flood and drought in the State. When north Odisha was engulfed in flood water and several hundreds of villages were under water, south and western part of the State were facing drought situation. Due to erratic and scanty rainfall in the districts like Ganjam, Gajapati and other western part of the State, there was huge crop loss occurred during the Kharif season.

From the beginning of the year 2011, scams like Job scam, PDS scam, Mining scam, Water scam and other scams suffocated Odisha as the ruling BJD faced Justice Saha Commission at the year-end and CBI inquiry into the Job scam or the bungling in MGNREGA work. Justice Saha warned the State to conserve minerals for future generation which was a clearly stated that illegal mining has been taken place in the State.

Kodala violence in the month of July disclosed the law and order situation in Ganjam, where 2 killed and 7 injured in police firing. Political parties played blame game and held the Government responsible for the untoward incident at Kodala. On the other side, the State Government bent down before the Maoists to release Malkangiri Collector R Vineel Krishna, which was a much discussed incident gave a new platform for the negotiators. The Maoists were delighted with this achievement, but later the red rebels had faced major setback due to allegation of sexual harassment by the women Maoist cadres. At the year end, Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda got promotion to the Jangalmahal leader after the death of Kishenji.

Political circus in BJD party had topped the political gossip among the analysts. The horse-trading by BJD for Rajyasabha poll alleged by the Congress and BJP’s allegation against the ruling party over rampant corruption in the State was in lime light in 2011. Damodar Rout lost his minister-ship and formed an organisation ‘Biju Bichara Manch’ to bring the aimless leaders in a visionary way of Biju Babu. He criticised Pyari as the real power centre in Odisha and Naveen is just the executor, which created hue and cry among the political circle of the State.

Kendrapada Municipal elections and Umerkote bypoll were the two much-hyped polls in the departed year. Umerkote bypoll was held after the MLA Jagabandhu Majhi’s murder, where the three major parties including BJD, BJP and Congress had camped there for election campaign with top most leaders of the parties. Finally, BJD proved its mettle and win the celebrity poll. While in Kendrapada Municipal elections, the excitement of wining the seat ended in an allegation against the leaders in Kujang firecracker burst case where four succumbed to their injuries in hospital.

The list is very long….but the highlighted issues of 2011 turned into history. Odisha welcome the year 2012 with Dhamra port, one of the deepest ports in the country, has been inaugurated on December 18, 2011 by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. It will show a new ray of hope in sea link and transportation. Initiative of the Government for the development of tourism with two international festivals and world record of Odissi in the year-end had brought a little time to cheer in the year of scam.                  

Half-starved family asking for help

NARASINHAPUR: “Babu, I am very poor and unable to arrange my meal for two-time in a day. After my body half-paralysed, I failed to run my kitchen. I ran to the Government offices for help, but yet to get the help for sustenance of my family,” lamented Sudarshan Nayak, from Kathaukhaja village under Narasinhapur block of Cuttack district, while narrating his sad stories of struggling with starvation.

Sudarshan, a wood-cutter in occupation, lost her wife and son-in-law in a prolonged disease. After the death of his son-in-law, his daughter and the widow of the deceased became a burden for him. After few days, his body from waist to leg paralysed and he could not move like before. His son left study and started living a miserable life with him.

Sudarshan was the lone bread winner for his family tried hard and harder to get rid of his ailment but failed. He lost his rest of property in treatment. He lives in a thatched house with his son and widow daughter. He had appealed before the district administration along with Minister Devi Prasad Mishra to help him out, but it has fallen into the deaf ears. He has not received yet the BPL card, old age pension, Antodaya card and stipend for physically challenged so far, Sudarshan alleged. He also appealed before media and common people to help him out.

CCTV installed for tiger care

BHUBANESWAR: To keep a close watch on pregnant tigress Sara, the State Government have installed CCTV camera in the 32 enclosure of the tigress in Nandankanan zoo. Following the death of five tiger cubs in the zoo on November 18, the Government had declared to install the camera inside the enclosure of the pregnant tigress to monitor pregnancy and care of the newborn cubs.

The zoo celebrated its 52nd foundation day on Thursday here. On this occasion, employees of the zoo were felicitated by the zoo authorities. In the meeting the officials said that death percentage of the zoo is three per cent, which is lower than the national’s six per cent.   

“For the first time our zoo installed CCTV camera for monitoring the pregnancy of a tigress. According to our next plan, we will arrange bear safari for the visitors, which will be the second in the country, provide safety enclosure for the visitors to see the bears from very near,” said Director of Nandankanan zoo Sudarshan Panda.

After 8 years of work order, man yet to get Indira Awas money

CUTTACK: The Government has introduced many schemes for the poor. The poor people are getting benefits, but some uneducated rural mass get it in pen and paper only. Happy moments of getting the schemes, turns into bitter experiences of harassment which has happened in the case of Bishnu Charan Dehuri of Jayamangalpur under Narasinghpur block of Cuttack district.

Dehuri was selected in Indira Awas Yojna (IAY) by the members of Pallisabha of his village in 2003. For getting a house under IAY, he frequently ran to block office for the order, but failed. Later, he offered Rs 200 to a Gram Sevak for the order and the very next day he got the work order. Dehuri started his house construction work by borrowing Rs 20,000 from his neighbours to continue the work. When he went for the work order money after completion of his house construction, he faced the same situation like before. He was asked for Rs 350 for clearing the Bank cheque of Rs 5,000.

That was the last cheque he had received. Till today he is clueless about sanctioned money for his Indira Awas house. Interest of his borrowed money reached to Rs 30,000, but he yet to get the IAY money. On the other hand, block officials were in dark about his file. The nexus between the local petty village-level politicians and block officials could not be ruled out, alleged the villagers.  

Supporters of Anna begin dharna in capital

BHUBANESWAR: In spite of chilly weather and foggy condition in the capital, cheering supporters have started their four-day dharna here at the Lower PMG square on Tuesday supporting anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare’s on going fast in Mumbai opposing the weak Lokpal Bill tabled by the Government in the Loksabha even as the Lower house of the Parliament initiated a debate on the proposed law.

They also raised the same demands of Anna including CBI should come under the Lokpal, make the Citizen Charter Bill strong, to bring the Government servants under the purview of Lokpal and a free and neutral selection board to appoint Lokpal.

At the Lower PMG Dharna place, three stalls were allotted for the dharna. Stall 11 was allotted for Abhishek Joshi and Bhaskar Patnaik group, stall 1 for Malay Tripathy and his friends, stall 3 for Rabi Das and his friends. But the motto was same to oppose ‘weak’ Lokpal bill supporting Anna. The groups will continue the dharna till December 30.

While on December 31 and January 1, the supporters will organise ‘Jailbharo’ movement supporting Anna’s fight for the noble cause.

Rourkela police arrest a hardcore Maoist

ROURKELA: After a long duration, Rourkela police arrested a hardcore Maoist Ramesh Chiruha (22) on Monday, informed local SP Himansu Lal at a Press meet held at local Raghunathpalli police station here.

The SP informed that they arrested the Maoist from the Jhirpani-Toda jungle, while the joint combing operation was continued with the help of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Special Operations Group (SOG) in the Odisha-Jharkhand border area.

The arrested Maoist Ramesh was a resident of Jareikela area under West-Singhbhum district of Jharkhand State, the police said. On the other hand, another Maoist Gunga Munda was successfully escaped from the clutches of the Joint-forces.

“Gunga and Ramesh were involved in Maoist activities. Police raided on Gunga’s house and combing operation is continuing in the area,” said SP Lal to the Newsmen.  

Police have seized a five-round bullet full revolver, live four rounds bullets and Rs 78, 500 in net cash from the arrested Maoist Ramesh. According to the police information, the Maoist was working for the Maoist leader Samarji’s group.   

Anna supporters to resume anti-graft movement in State

BHUBANESWAR: Supporting anti-graft crusader Anna Hazaare’s four-day fast at Mumbai, opposing weak Lokpal Bill recently tabled by the Government in the Loksabha, peoples from across the country are organising a massive dharna from December 27. In order to support the movement, Odisha is also ready to launch its four-day fast and ‘Jailbharo’ movement with the overwhelming support from the youth mass informed the members of the India Against Corruption (IAC) of Odisha chapter in a Press meet on Sunday here.

According to the coordinator of IAC Abhisek Joshi, they are going to organise the four-day dharna starting from December 27 to 30 at the Lower PMG and ‘Jailbharo’ movement on December 31 and January 1 supporting Anna’s noble cause against weaker Lokpal Bill and to form Lokayuktas at the State level.

“We will appeal the regional political party leaders and people’s representatives to clear their stand on a strong Lokpal Bill. Apart from that, we also request social organisations for their support for the noble cause to make India corruption free,” said a supporter and one of the organisers of the movement Dr Bhaskar Patnaik.

Protect Posco-supporters from rebels: Utkal Bharat

BHUBANESWAR: “MLAs of the ruling party and its associated Communist Party of India (CPI) are opposing the Posco Company overtly and covertly, for which the construction work could not be held at the site,” said president of Utkal Bharat Kharvel Swain in a Press meet on Saturday here.

Swain alleged that the anti-Posco activists lead by CPI leader Narayan Reddy had killed a worker Duryodhan Swain in the violent group-clash at the Posco site. But Government and other political leaders are depicting Bapi Sarkhel as demon while discussing in the State Assembly which is very ridiculous, he added.

He also alleged the Naveen Government is worthless in the matter of handling Posco issue as it failed to take appropriate action against the land mafias who are involved in encroachment of the Government land at Posco and disrupted the project work at the demarcated site.

“Sorry to say that 217 peoples from 52 families of Dhinkia, who are the supporters of Posco project, were thrown out from their village by the anti-Posco activists. They are living a miserable refugee life by getting allowance Rs 20 per day, whereas the Government has no capacity to rehabilitate in their village with proper security”, said Swain.

He demanded with other Dhinkia villagers present at the Press meet that the Government should clear its stand about the project at Dhinkia. If the Government is ready to start Posco work at Dhinkia, take severe action against the land mafias, law-brokers and their leaders otherwise declare Dhinkia is out of Posco project and rehabilitate the refugee families in their village with proper security.

Sangram Jena elected Youth Congress president

BHUBANESWAR: In a State-level election for various posts of State Youth Congress (YC), finally Sangram Jena has proved his mettle by winning the YC president post in the election which was conducted here at the Congress Bhavan on Saturday. After Nabarangpur Lok Sabha MP Pradeep Majhi’s resignation from YC president, the post was lie vacant from the month of March this year.

Sangram won the election getting 11,045 votes against Biswabhusan Das’s total 8,158 votes. Sangram defeated his counterpart by 2,887 votes and was declared as the new president of State Youth Congress by All India Youth Congress president here. Apart from that, eight General Secretaries were elected and defeated president candidate Biswabhusan Das declared as Vice-president according to the norm of the election.          

NAWO stage dharna to repeal ‘two-child norm’ in panchayat-poll

BHUBANESWAR: The National Alliance of Women Odisha chapter (NAWO) along with several women organisations on Saturday staged a dharna at Lower PMG square here demanding to repeal the ‘two-child norm (TCN)’ from Panchayati Raj election in the State.

As per the 73^rd and 74^th constitutional amendments, age of a candidate is decreased by 21 to participate in Panchayat poll and candidates having not more than two children can stand in Panchayati Raj election. But this rule is violating the women’s rights in participating in election, they alleged. Many educated women could not participate in the three-tier poll due to this TCN.

“We strongly oppose the TCN in Panchayat poll. If MLA and MP are out of the purview of the norm, then why this restriction for the grassroots level representatives,” said NAWO Convener Pramila Swain. 

Among others, GRTC NAWO State-Coordinator Lalita Missal, Narishakti Cuttack Bisakha Bhanja, Aaina editor Sneha Mishra and IDWA editor Renuka Mohanty were present. More than hundred women from different districts participated in the dharna. A memorandum was also submitted before the Chief Minister and State Human Right Commission.

Odissi Dance Award for Kum Kum Mohanty

BHUBANESWAR: After the performance of Odissi for the world record at the Kalinga Stadium, the eminent persons behind the success of the glorious history of Odissi and their contribution to this classical performing art form were honoured in the first evening of International Odissi Dance Festival-2011 on Friday.  

For her contribution to the field of Odissi, Kum Kum Mohanty got Odissi Dance Award, whereas Odissi Music Award for Guru Ramahari Das, Odissi Scholar Award for Subhas Pani, Odissi Critic Award for Leela Venkatraman, Odissi Institution Award for India for Sangeet Mahavidyalay, Odissi Overseas Contribution honour for Malaysia-based Sutra Foundation, Odissi visionary Award for the first Director of All India Radio C V Krishnamurty, Odissi Special Recognisition Award for Jayant Kastwar for excellence in the field of Odissi in international level.

Odisha Tourism and Culture Minister Prafulla Samal, Principal Secretary of Tourism Ashok Kumar Tripathy, president of US-based Indian Performing Arts Promotions (IPAP) Pratap Das, Advisory Board Chariman Lalit Mansingh conferred the awards.

Pyari asks rly for slum dwellers’ rehabilitation

BHUBANESWAR: During the discussion on supplementary expenditure of railway in the winter session of Parliament, a question was raised by the BJD Rajyasabha member Pyarimohan Mahapatra for rehabilitation of the slum-dwellers of Odisha who are living nearby the railway line, which is widely welcomed by the Bhubaneswar Pouranchal Basti Unnayan Mahasangha (BPBUM) on Friday.

Pyari alleged that East-Coast, South-East and South-East Central Railway are not giving a single pie and also not concerned about the development of the slum dwellers living near the railway lines though railway is constructing buildings on the land provided by State Government. He said the Railway department should spend 75 per cent from its revenue collected from Odisha zone to finish its half-constructed projects in the State.

Chief Advisor of BPBUM and Bhubaneswar-Central MLA Bijay Kumar Mohanty has extended deep gratitude towards the MP’s valuable suggestion about the slum dwellers rehabilitation.  

Competitive Magazine IAS Guru launched

BHUBANESWAR: An all India competitive magazine the IAS Guru has been launched on Friday here which is claimed as the first national level competitive magazine published from Odisha by an expert group with the goal of widening the impact of precise guidance for India’s topmost job.

Editor of the magazine Sudhir Kumar Nayak, who is also the chief mentor of The IAS Guru institute, said the aspirants face hurdles while preparing for the current affairs section in the absence of a good competitive magazine, even they waste their copious time in searching for good material or neglect this section thus jeopardizing their chance of getting successful.

“We want to ensure that students do not get misguided by a plethora of substandard magazines flooding the market. Our magazine is different from others as we are providing the facts and very critical issues in a lucid way instead of giving only fact and figures,” he added.

Besides full-length scholarly articles, current issues and other developments in the world, the magazine also provides extensive yet precise coverage of Odisha news thus helping the students of Odiha to prepare for national level competitive examinations without neglecting the State. The initial cost of the magazine is Rs 40 and available in the market.

     

State ready for Panchyati Raj election

--Except Dhinkia, election will be held all over the State

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government declared that they are ready for the coming Panchayati Raj election as the Panchayati Raj Department has issued a Gazette notification on Friday in the State Assembly. The notification was sent to the Chief Election Commissioner of the State to issue the code and conduct for the coming three-tier election.

Parliamentary Affairs minister Raghunath Mohanty, on behalf of Panchayati Raj minister Maheswar Mohanty, said in a special statement that in every five year duration the three-tier election is held at the level of Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad for the post of Ward Member, Sarapanch, Samiti Member and Zilla Parishad member in Panchayati Raj system. Last election was held on the month of February and March 2007, whereas the duration of the elected representatives finish on the coming March 2012. Before that, the preparation for election process has been completed, added the Minister.

Minister further said the election in the Panchayats under Dunguripali block for the posts of Sarapanch is under a court dispute as before Subarnapur Collector had issued a notification regarding reservation for the election of Sarapanch. But one Balamukund Das have appealed to the High Court challenging the reservation, for which HC has taken the case into consideration and the hearing will come on January 2. Excluding Dhinkia Panchayat of Jagatsinghpur district, PRI poll will be held all over the State, minister said.

Woman delivers baby in Truck, negligence of doctor alleged

JAJPUR: Government has introduced Mamata Yojna and Janani Sishu Suraksha Yojna to provide health facility for the pregnant women in rural area, but an incident happened at Danagadi Health Centre on Thursday night was a satire towards the health facility systems in rural area. A pregnant woman Bhanumati Mahanta wife of Ajit Mahanta from Sainkula area under Tamaka police station in the district delivered her baby inside the Truck within the premises of the Health Centre.

After arriving there at the Health Centre, belongings of the woman called the doctor for treatment and smooth delivery of the baby. As the condition of the lady was very critical and pain had been started at that time, belongings of the woman could not take her to the hospital labor room. Though the doctor was in the hospital, yet he did not come for the treatment, which clearly shows the negligence of the doctor, the family members of the woman alleged.

When the media persons contacted the Chief District Medical Officer Dr Deepak Kumar Prusty, he said that they will start investigation into the matter and then whatever steps will be required they take.

       

Odissi creates world record

--550 dancers performed together on the open-stage

BHUBANESWAR: Stage was ready to create history, thousands of audiences were eagerly waiting for the moment and that arrived when 550 Odissi dancers entered to the ground. The moment embodied with excitement of the audiences, was memorable for the dancers after the count down completed and the real time started. For 28 minutes, all the Odissi dancers were dancing together uniformly on a open stage of Kalinga Stadium on Friday afternoon not only to write their name in the Guinness World Record (GWR) but also to give a message to the world audience about the culture and tradition of Odisha.

The stellar performance of the dancers mesmerised the audience and the stadium enthralled by applaud from them. Dancers consisted of five groups with different five colours were eye catching as their every step and mudra with the rhythm of classical song ‘Dekha go sakhi…’ and other songs of Mangala charan was writing the history of Odissi.    

With this world record for the ‘Largest Odissi Dance’, the eight days Odissi International Dance Festival-2011 started its glorious journey, which will end with a grand gala evening on December 30 at Utkal Mandap. Students of different Odissi dance academy across the country and abroad like Tridhara, Srujan, Nupur, Art Vision and US-based Indian Performing Arts Promotions (IPAP) participated in the GWR event. This event was organised by IPAP-USA and Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre (GKCMORC) with the support of Tourism and Culture Department of Odisha.

In the inaugural ceremony, Minister for Tourism and Culture Prafulla Samal, Loksabha MP Prasanna Patsani, Chief Secretary of Odisha Bijay Patnaik, former diplomat Lalit Mansingh, president of IPAP Pratap Das, president of GKCMORC Ratikanta Mohapatra, Mayor of Bhubaneswar, renowned Odissi dancer Ileana Sitarist were present.            

State’s largest Yoga centre at Khandagiri

BHUBANESWAR: “In the place of spiritual education, our country along with other countries of the world has introduced materialistic education in their system which creates violence, hate and unnatural incidents among the people. To bring change in the present system of education, the Swami Chidananda Yoga Centre will be a catalyst in the field which will create good human beings,” said Gajapati Maharaj of Puri Divya Singh Dev while laying foundation stone of the largest yoga centre of the State on Wednesday here in the Sibananda Satabarsiki High School at the foothill of Khandagiri.

Gracing the occasion, industrialist Bansidhar Panda said spirituality and science have been come to equal level now. While Swami Siba Chidananda Saraswati said that anyone can get success in life and feel the existence of God within them with the help of yoga education.

The Yoga centre, an Rs 3 crore 15 lakh project, will be completed within two year. Except the residential students, the centre will be available for teachers and corporate house officials also. Even students from other States can get access to it at the time of their holidays.

‘Krantidhara’ award for Jhansi Singh

BHUBANESWAR: Former coordinator of National Service Scheme (NSS) bureau of Berhampur University Jhansi Singh has been conferred on ‘Krantidhara’ honour for her excellent service towards society. In a function at Jaydev Bhavan on December 15, Finance Minister of Odisha Prafulla Ghadei felicitated her with the award. Before, Singh was honoured with ‘Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Seva Yojna’ award from Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in the year 2001-02. Singh, the middle daughter of renowned educationist and leader of Bhudan movement Krushna Singh, is presently working as lecturer in Semiliguda College.

Couple murdered for suspected witchcraft

KEONJHAR: Again Keonjhar district have witnessed a heinous murder suspecting witchcraft. A couple Juman Munda (40) and his wife Nanisha Munda (35) of Barpada village under Rugudi police station were alleged to be murdered by their neighbor Tajum Munda and Sunaram Munda on Wednesday.

The police recovered bodies from the nearby Karmanga jungle on Thursday. On the day of incident, the couple had gone to the jungle collecting fuel wood. “The bodies were brutally attacked and kept inside a big rock under a tree,” said Badbil police officer KC Parida. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that Tajum and Sunaram lost their two sons due to illness few months back. Suspecting their neighbor Juman and Nanisha for the death of their children, they had planned the murder plot, agreed the murdered duo before the police.

J Sena demands judicial probe in Swargdwar land scam

BHUBANESWAR: Demanding judicial probe into the Puri Swargdwar land scam, Jagannath Sena handed over a memorandum to the Governor of Odisha on Wednesday here to make the sacred cremation ground encroachment free.

The Sena alleged that Maheswar Mohanty, who was chairman of Puri Municipality then for 10 years, is involved in the scam. “We wondered about the lease of Swargdwar land and how it was possible at that time is a matter of investigation now,” said Jagannath Sena leader Priyadarshan Patnaik.

He also said that common people of Odisha have emotional attachment with Swargdwar. Its encroachment hurts the religious sentiment of its people, so in a priority basis the Government should order a judicial probe into the matter.

Earlier, the Sena had launched an agitation at Swargadwar in connection with land scam of the sacred cremation ground. They also demanded for shifting of the burial pedestal of former Chief Minister of Odisha Biju Pattanayak from the ground of Swargadwar.

Un-aided college employees decide for hunger strike

BHUBANESWAR: All Odisha Un-aided College Employees Co-ordination Committee on Wednesday decided in a public meeting here at the place of their demonstration to go for hunger strike from the coming Sunday demanding full grant-in-aid for their colleges.

Employees of the 662 un-aided +2 and +3 colleges of the State have started their dharna in front of the Odisha Assembly from December 19 for the fulfillment of their demands.

On that day a meeting was held in the office chamber of the Higher Education Minister on various issues raised by the co-ordination committee. “Three days passed still they have not received any letter from the Commissioner-cum-secretary of Higher Education,” said the Convener of the committee Golak Nayak to The Pioneer.

After a meeting at the dharna place, the committee informed Press persons that the un-aided colleges will be closed from Thursday onwards to express solidarity to their demands. If their 8-point charter demands are not fulfilled, they will go for hunger strike from the coming Sunday. Even they engage their college students in the dharna, informed the committee. 

Convener Nayak made it clear unless the Government announces grant-in-aid to the 662 un-aided +2 and +3 colleges, the committee would not leave the dharna place here at the PMG Square.

Raid on Maoist camp in Malkangiri

MALKANGIRI: Huge amount of explosives were recovered from a Maoist camp at Khalaguda village of Andrahal Gram Panchayat under Mudulipada police station in Malkangiri district after a joint raid by the BSF, DVF and SOG jawans on Tuesday.

While raid on the camp, jawans have unearthed five detonators, 98 commercial detonators, two IED switch and three tiffin boxes from Khalaguda village. Apart from that, three flash cameras, two Radios, some photographs, diaries and Maoist literatures were recovered from the raided camp.

On the other hand, joint forces could not succeed to arrest Maoists as they escaped from the clutches of the forces before the raid. Combing operation has been started in full pace in the area.

Three leaders join Congress party

BHUBANESWAR: Three leaders including an ex-MLA and a social activist of Aska Saroj Padhi, BJP leader of Sorada area B Dandapani Patra and Samrudha Odisha president of Dhenkanal zone Annapurna Baral have joined Congress in the presence of AICC senior member and Odisha in-charge of Congress Jagdish Tytler and OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik here in a public meeting on Monday.

Include 27% reservation for OBC in State: SP

BHUBANESWAR: Samajwadi Party of Odisha has demanded the Government for inclusion of OBC reservation resolution in 9th schedule of the Constitution in view of recent High Court judgment on recruitment of constables and SAT judgment on OPSC advertisement.

In a recent judgment in the case of recruitment of Constables in Odisha Police, for which advertisement was made in the year 2006 for 2705 posts, High Court has directed the State to limit the reservation to 50 per cent. President of Odisha Samajwadi Party Rabi Behera said the Central Government has reserved 27 percent for OBC candidates in all categories of services whereas the State Government is yet to ensure 27 per cent reservation for these communities.

Even the State Government has not taken any step for admission of backward students in State sponsored Universities and Colleges, in spite of our repeated appeals to the Chief Minister for intervention in the matter for ensuring 27 per cent reservation for the backward classes both in employment and admission.

Behera requested the Governor of Odisha to intervene in the matter for which the interest of the other backward classes in the State can be protected.

Kids plead to ban child labour in line with RTE Act

BHUBANESWAR: “Ban all forms of child labour till age of 14 years in line with Right to Education Act”  was the demand submitted by children at the State level Children’s Interface with legislators on “State and Accountability to Children” organised by ‘Save the Children’ and its partners SOVA, PECUC, RARE, CCWD and AAINA. About 50 children from Koraput, Sonepur, Keonjhar, Khordha and Kandhamal participated in the Interface at the Pantha Nivas here on Saturday and Sunday.

Bharati Chakra from ‘Save the Children’ presented an overview of her organisation and its partners’ work to bring changes in the lives of children in Odisha demanding, “Since Right to Education Act vows to provide education opportunity to all children between 6 and 14 years of age, why not ban all forms of child labour in the State up to 14 years in line with RTE and provide a space for children to speak and adults to listen and act in all decisions that affect children’s lives?” 

Speaking to the children, Nilagiri MLA Pratap Sarangi emphasised the importance and ability of questioning and PCC president Niranjan Pattanaik asked children to become good human beings and serve the needy. Other guests in the panel who interacted with the children included Arabinda Dhali,  Arun Sahu, Anjali Behera, Panchanan Kanungo, Gourishankar Praharaj,  Souribandhu Kar and Ratha Das. The interface was chaired by PECUC Secretary Ranjan Mohanty. CCWD secretary Sadasiv Swain presented vote of thanks.

Krushna, a child from Acharya Vihar slums, Bhubaneswar and Ujjayini from Keonjhar presented at the interface on behalf of all children a charter of demands which included ban all forms of shild labour up to 14 yrs of age in line with the RTE Act, providing textbooks at the beginning of education year, ensuring proper implementation of the RTE Act - no corporal punishment, no admission fees, appropriate number of teachers, enough class rooms and learning materials, ensuring Anganwadi centre in each village, ensuring proper implementation of Integrated Child Protection Scheme, ensuring appropriate budgeting in order to ensure child rights for proper implementation of RTE and ICPS, ensuring proper nutrition and proper immunization for all children and ensuring child participation by providing for institutional space for children to participate in all decisions affecting their rights.

Mining scam is rampant in State: TU leader Mayadhar Nayak

BHUBANESWAR: “Around ten lakh crore rupees has been looted within ten years in the field of mines, forest, water, land, PDS, coal, NREGA, road and infrastructure in the State. Basically mining scam is rampant in the State during Naveen Government,” said labour leader Mayadhar Nayak in a Press meet here on Sunday.

Nayak has submitted a fact report regarding mining irregularities and plunder in Odisha before Centre appointed Shah Commission who recently visited the mines areas to probe on illegal mining. Nayak said that corruption is in peak at the mines area of Sukinda valley, Baula and Kathapal. He further alleged that out of 602 mines in Odisha, most of the mines areas are in the trap of mafias.

He alleged that political leaders, bureaucrats and mines mafias have looted precious iron and chromite mines in the State. “Illegal export of ores from the State to other countries was not the work of few but a wide network working behind the scene. Thousands of tonnes of chromite and iron ore were looted by the mafias regularly under the very nose of the Government,” he added.             

Ratan Thiyam gets Bharat Muni Samman

BHUBANESWAR: The doyen of theatre Ratan Thiyam has been conferred on Bharat Muni Samman for the year 2011. He was felicited for his lifetime contribution towards drama and theatre by Tourism and Culture Minister of Odisha Prafulla Samal on the colourful concluding evening of 4th Bharat Muni Mahotsav here on Friday.

The festival held at Rabindra Mandap was hosted by a city-based Odishi dance institution Kalingayana Touryatrikam. Stellar performances of Odishi dancers, like Kumkum Mohanty and Sujata Mishra, Guwahati-based Sattriya dancer Meernanda Barthakur and internationally acclaimed Saxophonist and composer George Brooks, mesmerised audience of the concluding evening of the festival.

Thiyam is the fourth person to get the Samman after veteran classical dancer Thanka Mani, renowned Kathak dancer Birju Maharaj and the doyen of classical music Pandit Yashraj. The Samman was dedicated to the ancient scholar Bharata, whose immortal work ‘Natya Shastra’ is regarded as an epic of drama and theatre.      

Reds torch mobile towers at Sorada

--It was the reflection of Maoists anger after Mao commander Kishenji’s death

BRAHMAPUR: After Maoists hooliganism in Rayagada, Malkangiri and Koraput, it was the turn of Maoist infested Sorada block as the Red forces torched five mobile towers including two at Gajalbadi and three at Asurbandha of Sorada block in Ganjam district on Friday night.

“Maoists have exploded two mobile towers of Reliance and Vodafone Company at Gajalbadi and three of BSNL, Vodafone and Airtel Company at Asurbandha on Friday midnight. No one is arrested in connection with the incident,” said Ganjam SP Rajesh Pandit to The Pioneer.

A Tiffin bomb was recovered from the spot. Maoists claimed in their posters that it was the reflection of Mao commander Kishenji’s death. These incidents have created terror among the locals. On the other hand, police have started combing operation in the area.

It was suspected that Maoists of Ghumusar division were the mastermind of the torching of mobile towers at Sorada. CPI (Maoists) of the division have wide network from Ganjam to Jharkhand border, sources said.  

It may be noted that Red forces were the mastermind of a powerful landmine explosion which left eight cows dead at Sorada on October 23 this year. They had also planted land mines and pressure bombs in between the jungle roads of Ramnabadi and Jirkua village.

Smile Foundation’s success in remedial education

BHUBANESWAR: Mission Education funded Government High Schools have achieved great success in the field of education as the pass percentage of the schools under the project crosses 90 per cent in 2011. Mission Education Project is the brainchild of Smile Foundation and Jindal Stainless in the peripheral area of the company at Kalinganagar of Jajpur.

Programme officer Tapan Nayak of Smile Foundation said the project gives stress on remedial education. It helps in infrastructural development of the Government schools and empowers the students with skill development programmes. Two computer centers were established in this programme to boost the computer knowledge of the students. Under the project many programmes like different competitions, annual publications, prize distribution for the successful students, excursion etc to create competitive atmosphere for knowledge development among the students. Last year 734 students successfully passed in the HSC exam which is a great number than previous years result, he added.

“We have also arranged five remedial education centers in five nearby high schools for the students from economical weaker section who could not access to private tuitions,” Nayak said.    

Railway engineers stage dharna over rly negligence

-- Railway safety is in danger: ECoR engineers

BHUBANESWAR: Opposing railway board’s apathy towards their longstanding demand, several railway engineers from all three divisions Visakhapatnam, Sambalpur and Khurda Road, Mancheswar workshop and headquarters staged massive dharna in front of General Manager Office building under the banner of East Coast Railway Engineers Association (ECoREA) here on Thursday.

ECoR engineers claimed that if their genuine demands would not be fulfilled in near future, then the safety of railway would be in danger. Their memorandum states that though Indian railway is the largest engineering organisation, but it does not have separate recognised platform for engineers like the Central and the State Government bodies. Even Justice Khanna Committee’s recommendation on safety of railway was not accepted by the board, they added.

“They are unhappy with wrong policies that placed below nurses in pay structures. Both graduate engineer and nurse join railways in same grade pay and engineer never gets a promotion in service period where as nurse gets two promotions,” said General Secretary ECoREA Bobbin Mohanty and then added, “both railway engineers and their assisting staff work in same Group-C cadre which weakens managerial stand of engineers on matters of railway safety.”

Railway engineers warn that if their 10 points demands will not be full filled at the earliest then the demonstration will be more aggressive all over the country and there will definitely endanger safe movement of 13 million passengers daily.

Ex-Sarpanch killed in Ganjam

BRAHMAPUR: An NGO worker and ex-Sarpanch Ravindra Kumar Parichha of Gumamaha panchayat under Raikia block of Kandhamal district was killed by some unknown persons at Bhanjanagar of Ganjam district on Thursday night.

After Kandhamal riot Ravindra was staying with his wife and children at Landei Street of Bhanjanagar. On the day of the incident, he left home at evening 6.30 on Thursday, but he did not return to his house till next morning. On the very next day his dead body was found at the gallery of KSUB College sports ground at Bhanjanagar.

Police have sent the body for postmortem. “Assailants have killed Ravindra by slitting his throat. Investigation is on,” said Bhanjanagar SDPO Subash Jamadar.

Block grant teachers on the street, start indefinite strike

BHUBANESWAR: After three and half months, Block grant teaching and non-teaching staffs of 1,983 schools across the State have started indefinite strike again at the Lower PMG here demanding hike in salary and to provide full grant instead of block grant.

Thousands of Block grant employees were in a protest mood by holding lanterns and wearing black badges in front of the State Assembly. The teaching and non-teaching staffs have resumed their same four point-charter demand including hike in salary who have been working for more than 25 years, cent per cent grant for block grant staffs, providing of all facilities of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RSMA) to the block grant schools respectively.

It may be noted that Block grant staffs were in indefinite strike for 42 days from August 1 to the second week of September. They had called the strike off after the State Government’s assurance to look into the matter by constituting a high power committee.

“The high power committee is just like a shield to protect the heat of our hunger strike, nothing will be happened with this high power committee. We need a written commitment from the Chief Minister to fulfill our demand,” said State secretary Prashant Pati of Block Grant Teachers’ Association.

Members of the association will continue the strike till their demand is fulfilled. They will boycott the coming panchayat elections and the BPL survey, the secretary said.

Demanding SC status Dalit minorities hold massive rally

BHUBANESWAR: After three and a half months, the Block Grant teaching and non-teaching staff of 1,983 schools across the State on Thursday started an indefinite strike again at the Lower PMG Square here demanding hike in salary and provision of full grant instead of block grant.

Thousands of Block Grant employees held lanterns and wore black badges in front of the State Assembly. They reiterated their four-point charter demands, including hike in salary for those working for more than 25 years, cent per cent grant for schools and providing all facilities of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan to the schools.

The Block Grant staff were on indefinite strike for 42 days from August 1. They had called off the strike after the State Government’s assurance to consider their demands by constituting a high power committee.

“The high power committee is just like a shield for the Government to escape from the impact of our hunger strike, but nothing will happen with this committee. We need a written commitment from the Chief Minister to fulfil our demands,” said State secretary Prashant Pati of the Block Grant Teachers’ Association.

Members of the association would boycott the coming panchayat elections and the BPL survey, he added.

Govt opens nursery at IAS officers’ farm house

BRAHMAPUR: Again State Governments’ Annagiri has become a hot discussion among the people of Ganjam, when Brahmapur Vigilance SP JN Hansda inaugurated the newly formed horticulture nursery on the confiscated farm house of IAS officer and former RDC Ramesh Behera at Bhaliagada village under Golanthara police station of Ganjam district on Wednesday.  

According to Hansda, when Behera was vice-chairman of Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), vigilance had registered a case against him for possession of disproportionate assets. After court order, his property has been confiscated.

The farm house having 2.868 acres of land in Ganjam was in the name of his wife Bhagyashree Behera which was taken over by the Government and in the farm house with building situated over the land turned into horticulture nursery on Wednesday.

“We will use this nursery for production of different fruit, vegetable and flower saplings and for the welfare of the farmers’ community. Farmers of Rangeilunda will be benefited from this centre,” said Deputy Director of Horticulture Chandrasekhar Patra at the inauguration of the nursery.

It may be noted that Odisha is the second state after Bihar to use properties of corrupt official for public purpose. It was the second instance, last month during the observance of vigilance awareness week; the State Government had transformed a confiscated house building of a retired IAS officer Sanjeev Kumar Ray at Gandamunda in Jagamara of the State capital into a homoeopathic dispensary for public purpose.

Epson’s new printer enters Odisha market

BHUBANESWAR: Epson India, a part of the Japan based Epson Corporation has started selling of its new printer having branded ink-tank system in its new product on Tuesday here in the city. It has introduced three types of printer including L100, L200 and L800 in the market. According to the Deputy General Manager S M Ram Prasad, the printers are user friendly, handy and low cost. The photographers can take it easily to any place and print the photos immediately.

The company has many service centers in Odisha. The company is aiming for a turn over in excess of Rs 600 crore this financial year. It markets and supports Epson Dot-Matrix printers, Inkjet printers, Inkjet all-in-ones, Laser printers, point of sale printers and systems, scanners and LCD projectors.