+2 admission process begins

BHUBANESWAR: Admission process for plus two courses has been started from Saturday. Through online, the students at times can apply for six colleges under the Council of Higher Secondary Education this year. The last date of applying for admission into +2 colleges is July 13.

The e-admission process has been started for 1280 colleges in the State. The students can apply through online as there is no provision for applying through offline mode like +3 admission process. One PIL has been filed at the High Court regarding applying for admission into +2 courses through offline mode. The online admission process would continue as the High Court has preserved the order in the issue.

“If the High Court directs us for offline admission process along with the present e-admission process, then we will work out on that,” said Higher Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra.

To inform the students about admission and online process, 410 Student Academic Management System (SAMS) resource centre across the State. The students have to take admission after publication of first list of joining in the colleges; otherwise they will be eliminated from the entire admission process. First merit list will be published on July 26 and admission will be held within July 31 to August 6, official sources said.

Still many children from Gajapati allegedly kept in other States

PARLAKHEMUNDI: Though 18 children from Gajapati district were rescued by the State Government from Tamilnadu, still many children from south Odisha are allegedly kept in other States. The children are in distress in the States like Tamilnadu and Kerala, alleged the locals. The team, who had gone to Tirunelveli in Tamilnadu to bring 18 children from a church, handed over the children to their parents of Gumma block in the district on Saturday.

It may be noted that 20 days back, some organisations had taken the children from different places of the Gumma block by giving assurance to their parents to provide good education and amenities. But, the children were in distress in the church. When the local District Welfare Officer got information about the children, who were staying at a church in Tirunelveli, conducted a raid and rescued them with the help of Child Welfare Committee.

After getting information from the officers, a team from Odisha had gone there to bring the children. After their arrival at the Brahmpur railway station, the district administration received them and took them in a Swadhara home at Patikota village under Gosani block in the district on Friday. The officials handed over the children to their parents on Saturday.    

RBI to close coin, currency note counters

--RBI bank officials protest closure of coins/notes counters

BHUBANESWAR: Reserve Bank of India (RBI), central banking institution of the country, decided to close down its counters delivering coins and currency notes to the public here in the city from July 1 or around. According to the RBI’s Monetary Policy Statement 2012-13, the distribution of coins and currency notes will be channelled through commercial banks.

After the RBI’s announcement, four recognised associations of the bank representing the entirety of bank staffs requested the bank to desist from closing the RBI counters. Protesting the decision taken by the RBI management, the members of the associations in all over India staged demonstration in front of the office on Thursday.

There are eight coin/currency note distribution counters in the RBI branch office here. According to the officials, coins valued around Rs 3.5 lakh were supplied daily from the RBI branch here. Approximately 35 per cent of the total coin transaction takes place here, said All India Reserve Bank Officers’ Association secretary Susant Mohan Mishra.

“RBI decided to shade away the responsibility to distribute coins and notes from its own counters to commercial banks, but over the period RBI has developed an infrastructure and system for the purpose. What would happen to that as huge number of posts will be eliminated affecting future recruitment and career progression,” questioned Singh.   

State Human Rights Commission directs DCP to submit data in police torture case

BHUBANESWAR: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Friday, after filing suo motu case, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police Nitinjeet Singh to submit report within 10 days in the case of allegedly beating Julfikar Alli by the police in Kharvela Nagar police station here.

On Thursday, parents of Julfikar alleged that their son was allegedly beaten up by the Commissionerate Police in the custody of Kharvelnagar police station here. After beating their son in the custody, the police joined him in a private hospital, they added. On the other hand, the police denied the allegation of beating the youth who is under treatment at a private hospital in the city.

“Some people demanded money from me to save my son, but why I will give money and why they take money from me. If he has done anything wrong, then why they did not forward to the court,” questioned father of Julfikar. Julfikar’s parents demanded stringent action against the police officers. He also said there is no rule to beat his son in the custody.

According to the police, Julfikar was arrested by the Commissionerate Police on April 15 this year for looting Rs 3.5 lakh through cyber crime. “We would investigate into the matter,” said DCP Nitinjeet Singh.   

 

Final choice locking for OJEE counselling begins

BHUBANESWAR: Final choice locking process has been started from Friday for the engineering aspirants during the counseling by the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) in 21 nodal centres opened in the State. There are 63,634 students to make choice locking which would continue till July 12, said the OJEE officials.

Like last year, this year also students have registered their names through web counseling from June 25. The students had made choice filling. On Friday they have started locking their final choice where to read and in which trade after producing their rank cards in the nodal centres in the presence of OJEE officials.

The students at first submitted their rank cards in the nodal centres. After Demand Draft submission and document verification, the students made final choice locking. According to the officials, allotment list will be declared on July 19. For the first time the counselling fee is same for the Government and private engineering colleges.     

On the other hand, counselling for 15 percent seats could not take place due to the stay order given by the Odisha High Court following an appeal filed by the Odisha Private Engineering College Association to increase the reservation of seats from five per cent to 15 per cent.

While counselling for aspirants of pharmacy and lateral entry pharmacy would start from July 2, while counselling for aspirants of MBA, MCA and PGDM to begin from July 6, OJEE officials said.

Parents allege city police for beating their son in custody

BHUBANESWAR: Parents of a youth alleged that their son was allegedly beaten up by the Commissionerate Police in the custody of Kharvelnagar police station here on Thursday. On the other hand, the police denied the allegation of beating the youth who is under treatment at a private hospital in the city.

The youth was identified as Julfikar Alli. He was arrested by the police in the charge of cyber crime, the police said. But, the parents of Julfikar alleged that some particular police officers have beaten their son without any reason.

“Some people demanded money from me to save my son, but why I will give money and why they take money from me. If he has done anything wrong, then why they did not forward to the court,” questioned father of Julfikar. He also said there is no rule to beat his son in the custody.

On the other hand, the police denied the allegation of Julfikar and his parents. According to the police, Julfikar was arrested by the Commissionerate Police on April 15 this year for looting Rs 3.5 lakh through cyber crime. “We would investigate into the matter,” said DCP Nitinjeet Singh.    

  

7 girls commit suicide, 2 critical after matric result

BHUBANESWAR: After failing to achieve expected results in the High School Certificate examination, seven girl students committed suicide, two were critical after consuming poison, in different parts of the State on Thursday after declaration of the matric results.

In Jajpur district, three girl students ended their lives in their houses after committing suicide. Pratima Jena, daughter of Sankarsana Jena, of Haripur high school under Bari block and Subhashree Sahoo of Badapala high school under Binjharpur block committed suicide by hanging themselves in their houses after they plucked in the HSC examination. Another girl student Sarojini Samal, daughter of Suvenddu Samal, of Damodar Vidyapeetha in the district ended her life by consuming poison.

On Thursday, HSC result was out and they failed to clear the examination for which they committed suicide, said the police officials. Police seized the bodies and sent to the district Government hospital at Jajpur for autopsy, said the police.

In Kendrapada, Kalyani Das (14), daughter of Banchhanidhi Das, of Garjanga high school under Marshaghai police station limit committed suicide by consuming poison after losing her mental balance when she came to know that she was failed to succeed in Matric examination, said the police adding, “The body of the girl was later sent for autopsy to Kendrapada district Head Quarters hospital.”

Similarly, Sasmita Sethi of Padmapur Malti Devi Girls’ high school in Bhadrak district, Banita Sahu of Sarangagarh high school in Kandhamal district and Mami Gauda of Digapahandi Government Girls’ high school in Ganjam district committed suicide after failing in matric exam.

While two girl students of Soro in Baleswar district attempted suicide by consuming poison. The condition of the duo is critical and they are under treatment.

Guv furnishes biometric data for NPR

BHUBANESWAR: As part of the ongoing Biometric Data Collection work in BMC Ward number 33 here on Thursday, Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare furnished all required data to enumerators for the National Population Register (NPR).

All information regarding socio-economic-caste status was supplied to the enumerators by the Governor. Upon querried, Bhandare requested that information regarding him should be in public domain. The Governor also appealed to the people that everyone should cooperate with the enumerators as this exercise has enormous significance in every citizen’s life.

Secretary to Governor Parag Gupta, Director of BMC Vishal Dev, Director-census operations Bishnupada Sethi, other officials and enumerators of ward-33 were present.       

OGS reiterates CBI probe into Pipili gangrape case

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Gana Samaj (OGS) staged a rally in front of the Rajbhavan here on Thursday demanding CBI probe into Pipili gang rape case. The members of the OGS condemned the incident and observed black day. A delegation team of OGS later handed over a memorandum, consisting of four-point charter of demands, to Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare regarding the case.

Journalist Rabi Das and Prashant Patnaik led OGS demanded CBI probe into Babina Behera and Prabhati Behera murder case and exemplary action against culprits, conspirators, doctors and police officials who neglected in their services. They also demanded the State Government should provide better facilities and protection to live with dignity and the Government should implement properly the Acts to protect women, dalits, tribals and minorities.

Leaders and workers of different political parties like Bijaylaxmi Sahu and Jayant Biswal from Congress, Rabi Behera and Arun Jena from Samajwadi Party, Narayan Reddy and Sura Jena from CPI, Suresh Panigrahy and Naba Mohanty from CPI (M), Radhakant Sethy and Mahendra Parida from CPI (ML), Santosh Mitra from Forward Block and members of other non-political organisations were present.

     

1 dies, 1 injured after contact with live wire in Jajpur

JAJPUR: One person was killed and another sustained serious injury when they came in contact with 11 KV live wires at the time of illegal cabling by the operators near Nelibari under Jajpur road on Tuesday. They were identified as Pabitra Kumar Swain (25), a cable operator, of Sribantapur under Kuakhai police station and Bapi Samal (28) of Khapuriapada under Jajpur road police station limit.

The accident was happened on Tuesday morning when the two were cabling through the 11 KV poles near Nelibari. Unfortunately, a thin wire came in contact with the 11 KV live wire and they got severe injury. They were rushed to the local health centre, but Swain was declared dead and Samal was referred to the SCB Medical College and hospital at Cuttack. The condition of Samal is in stable, doctor sources said.

IAC Odisha raises voice against Pranab

BHUBANESWAR: India Against Corruption Odisha chapter staged a rally here on Tuesday demanding a clean president instead of giving chance to Pranab Mukherjee to contest next presidential election. The members of the organisation sat on dharna at the Lower PMG after conducting a procession from Master Canteen to the Lower PMG square flaunting placards protesting Pranab as presidential candidate.

The member of the IAC have started a postcard campaign by which anyone can send a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner of India demanding an independent and impartial inquiry against all the corruption allegations raised against Pranab Mukherjee before the presidential election.

According to the members of the IAC, nominating of a person like Pranab as next president of the country, who is allegedly involved in corruption, is a matter of grave concern for a democratic country like India. 

The members of the IAC demanded that an independent and impartial inquiry is needed against the corruption allegations rose against Pranab Mukherjee before the presidential election. His candidature should not be accepted till the inquiry. They also demanded that ‘Jan Lokpal’ at the centre and a strong ‘Lokayukta’ in the State are needed for more accountability, transparency and to implement the above.

Two neo-natal girl children rescued from paper carton

CUTTACK: Two neo-natal girl children rescued from a paper carton were admitted in the Sishu Bhavan here on Monday. The rescued children are suspected as twins. They were rescued by some social activists from Ghasipura in Keonjhar district.

After getting the ‘twin’ from a paper carton, which was left by someone in front of the office of an NGO, the activists admitted them in a local hospital in Keonjhar. Later, the hospital referred to the Cuttack Sishu Bhavan for further treatment.

One girl child was admitted in ward number-3 and the second one in Special Newborn Care Unit of the pediatric hospital. Condition of the second girl child was serious. “The children were in pre-term and weight was also less than a normal baby. They are not out of danger,” said Dr Niranjan Mohanty of the Sishu Bhavan.

Though any particular reason could not be found out from the incident, it is suspected that the family members dumped the new-born children after getting twin daughter, social activists said.

It is not the first incident in Cuttack as before two neo-natal girl children were rescued from a fruit carton from Cuttack railway station. Besides this, one girl child was rescued from the Acharya Harihar Cancer Hospital’s front gate.        

‘Missing’ Engg student found at home

BHUBANESWAR: A student of a city-based private engineering college Chiranjeevi Kalita who went missing from the college from Saturday was found from his own home at Guwahati in Assam. The student alleged that he was kidnapped by some miscreants, while the Commissionerate Police are investigating into the matter whether the student was kidnapped or not.

The student informed that he was kidnapped from Sainik school area. According to Kalita he felt unconscious when kidnappers attacked to take him into the car. When he got conscious, he found five people were with him and he did not know anyone of them, Kalita added.

After the missing of Kalita, a resident of Guwahati in Assam, a case was registered under Infocity police station here by the college hostel authorities on Sunday. He is a second-year student of MSc in bio-technology of the private engineering college in the city. Police are investigating into the matter.

OJEE aspirants complain delay in rank card delivery

--Engineering counselling begins

BHUBANESWAR: After so much dilly-dallying by the officials of Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE), finally the counselling for engineering courses has been started from Monday, but again some engineering aspirants have complained against the delay in delivery of rank card which is very important for online web counseling.

On Monday, some engineering aspirants were waiting to take rank cards from the OJEE head office at Gandamunda in the city as they did not get that due to delay in delivery. The rank card is necessary for the aspirants to take part in the web counselling, otherwise they could not participate in the counselling in the nodal centres. The aspirants are in quandary about delivery of their rank cards as the final choice locking would be held on June 29.

On the other hand, OJEE officials said that they have already dispatched rank cards of the OJEE qualifiers. If there is a delay in getting the rank cards, the students can contact to the OJEE office and they can take the duplicate copy of their rank cards, the officials added.

It may be noted that to register the names of the aspirants, they have to make choice filling which has been started from Monday and the final choice locking would be conducted on June 29 in 20 different nodal centres which is created by the OJEE authority within the State. After that seat allotment results details would come out following the document verification.

According to the OJEE officials, counselling for aspirants of pharmacy and lateral entry pharmacy would start from July 2, while counselling for aspirants of MBA, MCA and PGDM to begin from July 6, OJEE officials said. For the first time counselling fee for the Government and the private colleges is same, OJEE officials said. 

Engineering counselling today

--Counselling fee same for Govt, private Engg colleges

BHUBANESWAR: After so much dilly-dallying by the officials of Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE), finally the counselling for engineering courses to be started from Monday. For the first time counselling fee for the Government and the private colleges is same, OJEE officials said.  

Like last year, this year also students can register their names through online web counseling where they can choice their best colleges and trades according to their rank. At first the students have to do choice filling which wound start from Monday and the final choice locking would be conducted on June 29 in 20 different nodal centres which will be created by the OJEE authority within the State. After that seat allotment results details would come out following the document verification.

According to the OJEE officials, counselling for aspirants of pharmacy and lateral entry pharmacy would start from July 2, while counselling for aspirants of MBA, MCA and PGDM to begin from July 6, OJEE officials said.

“Four things are needed during registration, these are- registration number, application number, bar code and date of birth. If a student has no bar code, they can download it from the OJEE website by putting their registration number, application number and roll number,” said OJEE chairman LN Panda.

Due to seat confusion, counseling date for MBBS and BDS could not be finalised. But it will be finalised very soon, said an OJEE official.     

Russia-Odisha education pact inked

BHUBANESWAR: In a colourful function held here on 17.06.2012 hundreds of students from odisha were overwhelmed to attend the counseling session by Science Advisor to the Russian Federation Premier Nuclear Scientist Dr Borris who was instrumental in Commissioning the Bramhos Missile. The MBBS/BDS degrees available with People Friendship University are highly accredited international degrees with students studying from more than 140 countries. The degree is recognized by Medical Council of India, USA, Europe, Canada and many other advanced countries. Dr. Borris gave a clarion call to Odisha students to avail this opportunity at a very low cost.

Students also evinced keen interest in the innovative MBA programs like MBA Business Intelligence, MBA Logistics and Supply Chain Management, MBA Customer Relationship Management and Executive MBA programs offered by Centre For Corporate Governance and Management.

Amongst others Chairman of Centre For Corporate Governance and Management Prof (Er.) Pradipta Mohanty, Executive Director Prof (Dr.) Abhinna Kumar Hota, Head of Education Department Russian Education Centre Purnima Anand and Director of Admission Dr Anil Panawar also dealt upon Holistic Education. A MOU was signed between People Friendship University of Russia and Centre for Corporate Governance and Management for exchange program.

‘Keep data of foreign-goer Gajapati labourers’

PARLAKHEMUNDI: The people of Gajapati district urged the district administration to keep complete data about the labourers of the district who use to go foreign countries in search of employment. At the time of the need, the information can be used by the administration to rescue the labourers in distress in the foreign countries, the people said.

It may be noted that youths from the district have gone abroad to work in different infrastructure, oil and other sectors. Most of the youths from Gosani block of the district prefer to fly for Dubai, Oman, Libya and other oil rich countries where they get good money after completion of ITI and diploma courses. But the youths, who are working in the cement companies and in the construction sectors, they get exploited by the contractors and company officials there.

According to the locals, there is no information about the migrant labourers near the district labour office. How many officials aware about the problems of the migrant labourers, questioned the locals.

Recently, more than hundred Odia labourers were stranded in Angola and being harassed by the company they were working for. They had protested the authorities of the cement company to pay them proposed wage. The Angola police had started firing when they agitated against the company. When it was happening there in the foreign land, the State or the Central Government was not aware about it until they send their video footage from there to an Indian media.

This is happening in a regular basis, but it can be avoided through some innovative initiative by the local administration and the Government. The Government should form a guideline to keep complete data, like Passport and Visa, about each migrant labourers.        

Doon International School to be set up in State

BHUBANESWAR: A Doon school is coming up in the city to fill up the need of quality education in the State. The school will follow the models of the Doon schools in Dehradun. Doon International School (DIS) chairman Devender Singh Mann laid foundation stone near the AIIMS in the city on Thursday.

According to Mann, the school has four acres of land and they have decided to complete the building work by March 2013. After one month of the completion of the building work, first session admission will be conducted, said DIS chairman Mann. This day and residential school will give opportunity for joining students from nursery to seventh standard and new classes will be opened every year, he added.

The school will give emphasis on quality education; even the faculties from other Doon schools would come to teach the students here. “Not only class-room teaching teaching, but also we would emphasise on all round development of the student,” said Mann.     

Thousands of devotees witness Ratha Yatra in city

BHUBANESWAR: When lakhs of eye-balls were rolling to see the three deities Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra on the chariots at Puri and outside Puri especially in front of the television to witness the world famous Ratha Yatra at Puri, the devotees of the capital city on Thursday who could not attend the Ratha Yatra at Puri celebrated the auspicious occasion amidst tight security and religious fervour by going different Jagannath temples in the city to experience the holy moments.  

Like every year, the capital city geared up for the religious festival. Ratha Yatra was celebrated in different places of the city. Mostly Jagannath temples have arranged the Yatra to continue their tradition. On Thursday two platoon police forces were deployed to control the crowd during the Ratha Yatra, sources said.

According to the rituals of the age-old tradition, the festival in the Jagannath temples in the city began with worshipping the three deities before taking them to the chariots. Then the priests took them to the respective chariots in a ceremonial rite ‘Pahandi’ and ‘Cherapahanra’ and then the pulling of chariots began.

From other temples in the city, the Ratha Yatra festival at the ISKCON temple was crowded as thousands of devotees witnessed the Yatra. The chariot of Balabhadra, big brother of Lord Jagannath, was ahead of Lord Jagannath and his sister Subhadra. The chariots were reached the destination Mausimaa temple at Unit-8 in the evening.    

“When I touched the chariots of the deities it was a different feeling which can not be expressed. We can feel it while pulling the chariots of the three deities as the feeling is eternal,” said a devotee Shanti Kumari of Nayapalli in the city. “It is not possible to go to Puri every year, but we get the opportunity to see the deities here,” said a devotee of Unit-8 area.

In Patia, the Ratha Yatra was celebrated according to the rituals of Puri Srimandir. Besides, the festival was celebrated in the Jagannath temples of KIIT campus, Barmunda, Unit-6 area, Chidananda Vihar at Khandagiri, Jagamara and Barmunda village.    

110 buses to ply from city for Ratha Yatra

BHUBANESWAR: Preparation for Ratha Yatra almost completed as thousands of devotees would come Puri to see the world famous car festival of lord Jagannath. Earlier, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced running of 60 special trains to cater to the demand for the June 21 Rath Yatra. Like that, around 110 buses would ply from the capital city to reduce the rush of the devotees on the occasion.

In this juncture, 70 private buses, 24 OSRTC buses and 12 Dream Team Sahara city buses would ply for the purpose. The devotees can enjoy the bus service facilities not only for the first day of the Ratha Yatra, but also for the day of the Sunabesh, Niladri Bije and Bahuda Yatra. If needed, the bus owners would think about plying of extra buses to provide bus service for the devotees.    

Explosives seized from city

--6 detonators in a pocket found  

BHUBANESWAR: Explosives like detonators were seized by the police in city on Monday from a septuagenarian landlord who lives with his family in his residence at Soubhagya Nagar under Khandagiri police limit. The Commissionerate Police later took possession of six detonators in a packet with a threatening letter in the name of the landlord.

Panic triggered in the area after getting the news about explosives. The detonators were defused by the bomb disposal squad and the police are investigating into the matter. One Souri Swain, a builder, is detained by the police when the landowner Surendra Rout (71) lodged a complaint before Khandagiri police suspecting Swain, the police said.

According to Rout, the builder has been threatening him for many days over a land dispute as it is pending in the court. In his FIR, Rout mentioned the name of the builder suspecting him as the mastermind behind the detonator incident. “I was panicked after seeing two detonators with the letter in my residence and others in the under-constructed house adjacent to the disputed land,” Rout added.

According to the police, the problem has started due to a patch of the Government land. The two are trying to take it, but could not take it due to legal complicacy. After verification of the disputed land by the tehsil officers, the actual matter would come out, the police added.

Sample survey should reach panchayat level: Srikant Jena

-- NSSO to start its 69th round sample survey from July 1 in State

BHUBANESWAR: “National Sample Survey should reach panchayat-level to get accurate and clear socio-economic data as sometimes mismatch emerges between sample survey and real data,” said Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation Srikant Jena while inaugurating a three-day long joint Regional Training Camp for the field staff of Odisha and Chattisgarh here on Monday.

Gracing the occasion, Minister Jena said the sample survey is an instrument which collects data from various socio-economic sectors to help policy makers and implementing agency to focus on providing requisite facilities. Such surveys and their successful completion are of paramount importance to update the requisite database for all developmental agencies, he added.

He also said the survey should reach the panachayat-level to get the actual data. Only assessing and analysing data at the district and State-level won’t help to trace out the real picture of development, he said adding, sometimes we find mismatch between the ground-level data and the sample survey data which we can avoid by going near to the common people.

He appealed the Media and common people to cooperate the officials and field staff during survey. After collection and compilation of the data, the Government would make future planning for the country, State and district, he added.      

National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) would start its 69th round survey from July 1. The Survey will continue up to December 31 which would cover 9,428 villages and 7,684 urban blocks in urban areas of the country, while it would cover 424 villages and 168 urban blocks representing all the districts in the State.

The 69th round of NSSO would survey on ‘Drinking Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Housing Condition and Slums’. Using the information collected in this survey, important indicators of living facilities like availability and sources of drinking water, improved latrine facilities, arrangement for garbage disposal, drainage system and particulars of dwellings would be generated for the use of various Government Departments.

Among others, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation secretary Dr TCA Anant, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NSSO J Dash, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner of the State Dr RN Senapaty and Field Officers from the Central and the State Governments were present.

Deserted by family, two old women find rescuers

MONDAY, 18 JUNE 2012 00:17       PNS |

 BHUBANESWAR: Every mother in the society makes priceless sacrifice for the happiness of her children and to see them as good human beings amidst insurmountable obstacles. Even she goes hungry to feed her children. But when she becomes old and infirm, faces torture instead of love, affection and proper care from her children and family members. In such situation what will she do? Where will she go? Whom will she tell her sad story?

The above questions are now hammering the minds of Sabitri Sahu of Balabhadrapur and Saibani Sahu of Bandhamunhi village in Nayagarh district. After being cast aside by their family members, they roamed around the capital city and finally reached their destination to live a safe life. Getting information about the old women from the public, Maa Ghar Foundation came for their rescue.

One of the two old women, Sabitri (70), was locked in a room for five days by her elder son in order to forcibly get a plot registered in his name. After the death of her husband Indramani Sahu, she was targeted by her son for the plot that was in her name. When Savitri did not agree with the proposal of her son and daughter-in-law, they started torturing her. She started begging for food from the villagers when she was released from the room. Later, Savitri came to Bhubaneswar in search of her second son’s house but could not find it out. She was suffering from fever during the last five days.

The other old woman, Saibani Sahu (65), also left home due to torture by her husband Sibram Sahu. She was a thorn for her husband as he had an extra-marital affair, she said. Recently, she was beaten up by Sibram. Pained and frustrated, Saibani left home and came to the State capital.

“We rescued the two elderly women from two different places of the city. After a thorough counselling session with their family members, we will hand them over to the concerned families and if needed, we will take legal action under the Maintenance of Senior Citizens Act, 2007,” said Maa Ghar Foundation trustee Rutuparna Mohanty.

“It is an increasing trend in the society. Such incidents are happening due to degradation of moral values. Self-centric attitude, consumerism and single-family concept are some of the reasons behind the issue. The parents feel protected within the family, but today the definition of responsibility towards senior citizens has changed in our society,” said Mohanty.

Gajapati land dispute: huge tribal gathering to bring back land

PARLAKHEMUNDI: Land dispute in Gajapati district is increasing day by day. After a clash between tribal and non tribal peoples in Kasinagar block in the district, tribals of Mohana block have taken the same route to bring back their land from the possession of Tibetan refugees settled in Chandragiri. Protesting district administration’s proposal to take a year time to solve the land problem in the block, tribals on Saturday organised a huge gathering at Mahendragarh in the district where more than 300 tribal people were present.

Members of Adivasi Dalit Vikas Samiti (ADVS) addressing the huge tribal gathering criticised the Government’s dual policy in solving the matter. More than 3,000 people of Mohana and R Udaygiri block had applied for records of rights of land, but only 300 people got it which reflects the lackadaisical attitude of the revenue officials, said a ADVS member Devaraj Beher Dalai.

The members of different social organisations working in the tribal areas discussed on nine-point charter of demands and then decided to submit that before the Government. In their nine-point charter of demands, they included peace talk between Tibetan and tribals, police should stay away from lodging false cases, withdrawal of the decision to take one year for land survey, basic facilities for the tribals and other demands.

Some participants alleged that the district administration is taking one year time not for solving the land problem, but to find out the way to make the illegal works legal. The members strongly denied a year time in the particular issue. Most of the tribal leaders criticised the administration for its biased decision in favour of the Tibetans.

Among others, ADVS president Sambaru Sabar, Rashtriya Adivasi Adhikar Manch national council member Sal Marandi, Adivasi Mahasabha state council member Sukant Pradhan, Nilamadhab Adivasi Sangh state president Baman Nayak, Odisha Krushak Sabha vice-president Jagannath Mishra, Democratic Youth Federation of India Jatin Mohanty and members of ADVS were present.              

Two hardcore Maoists arrested from Narayanpatna

JEYPORE: Two hardcore Maoists were arrested by the joint forces Special Operations Group and Border Security Forces during a combing operation in the Dandabadi and Kanchanpadu jungle under Narayanpatna police station limits in Koraput district on Wednesday.

The red rebels, allegedly involved in about eight cases, were identified as Arjun Meleka and Musuri Wateka of Narayanpatna area, were nabbed during combing operation by the joint security force personnel in the red-hit zone, said Koraput Superintendent of Police Awinash Kumar.

The police had issued warrant in the name of the ultras who were involved in about eight criminal cases including Narayanpatna police station attack case, murder, landmine explosion and attack on security forces in the area, the SP informed.

The police recovered country-made guns, rifles and Maoist literature from the possession of the duo. The duo was working for the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) and then from 2010, they are working for the Maoists organisation.   

According to the police, they are examining about the possible involvement of the duo in the recent abduction of BJD MLA of Laxmipur Jhinna Hikaka. But Arjun Meleka, one of the two arrested Maoists, denied the charge of involvement in the abduction incident of the MLA. “I never seen MLA before, I have seen him from the newspaper only,” said Arjun.

They were acting as mediators in between the CMAS and Maoists, said the police adding, involvement of Meleka in the MLA abduction has not ruled out, but after the investigation it would come out.  

Combing operation and patrolling by security forces had been intensified in the Maoist area as part of an exercise to locate other ultras, police said.

Dadhi Nauti fall off incident: Expert team inspects Lingaraj side temple

BHUBANESWAR: A team of experts from the State Archeology on Saturday inspected the Mairigiria temple inside the Lingaraj temple premises after falling down of Dadhi Nauti from the temple in lightning on Friday afternoon.

The team conducted a primary inspection in the temple. They visited the Mairigiria temple situated in the south-east part of the main temple. Officials of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) have taken charge of the damaged part of the 11th-century shrine following the mishap.

It was not the first temple which is affected in lightning. Before, Aakhandalamani shaiva shrine at Aaradi and Sakhigopal temple in Puri were affected in lightning. Though, some techniques and devices like lightning arrester are being used by the ASI and State Archeology to protect the big temples from the lightning, but it is only for the temples having more than 50 feat heights.

According to the experts, the Government should protect the century old temples by arranging some modern techniques like lightning arrester and other systems. It may be noted that the State Archeology and the ASI has taken up 218 and 73 old temples of the State respectively.

3 arrested in Nayagarh ex-block chairman murder case

NAYAGARH: Three persons were arrested in connection with the murder case of former Bhapur block chairman Gurubari Kanhar who was killed in front of Bhapur tehsil office here on Wednesday. The police arrested the persons from Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

They were identified as Prakash Pradhan, Prashant Sahu and Bijay Jena of Nayagarh. When Kanhar was going in his motorcycle, the three along with others came from the front side and forcefully intercepted the bike blocking the road in front of Bhapur tehsil office. Then they allegedly attacked Kanhar with sharp weapon. One Ramchandra Swain was injured who was present at the spot.

Swain had identified two of the miscreants as Prakash Pradhan and Benu Pradhan when the police asked him about the miscreants as he was present over the spot. Political rivalry is stated to be the cause behind the murder, while the investigation into the case is on, sources said.

Odisha’s first community newspaper to be published from Konark

BHUBANESWAR: First community newspaper of the State, ‘Namaskar’, will be published from Konark within first week of July. It will be published as fortnightly, informed noted social activist NA Shah Ansari on Tuesday.

Ansari said that there is a need of community newspaper in this locality to give voice to voiceless. After the discussion on different aspects of the community newspaper, the delegates agreed to publish it from the locality, he added.

According to Ansari, readers of the community newspaper would be its reporter and news boxes would be placed in each Gram Panchayat of Gop block to collect community reports. It will focus on rural issues and realities which would be edited by a team of rural women and five best rural reporters will be felicitated in each issue, he added.

More than 100 delegates from different rural villages of Konark and Gop area were congregated at Konark to discuss about the need of the newspaper at a place like Konark. Among others, noted Gandhian activist SA Safique and Journalist Basudev Mahapatra were present to guide the team.

‘Employment to parents can stop child labour problem in State’

BHUBANESWAR: “Employment to poor parents can stop child labour problem in the State,” said Minister for Culture and Tourism Prafulla Samal while attending a State-level symposium on ‘World Day Against Child Labour’ organised by State Resource Centre (SRC) here on Tuesday.

Minister Samal said that most of the farmers in the State are marginal farmers, landless agricultural labourers who do not have any job except the Khariff season and rest of the year they face financial crisis for which reason the parents send their children to work outside to run their family. Some of the poor parents migrate to other States or countries in search of job and that time they take their children with them instead of sending their children to school and they engage them in the work in due course of time, the Minister added.

Samal said that 45 per cent of the child labourers belong to rural area and out of which 85 per cent child labourers are from tribal areas. To solve this problem the standard of the poor families should be increased and then they would stop sending their children to work outside as labourer, he added.

Gracing the occasion, Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL) State convener Sudhir Sabat said that there should be coordination between all departments and commissions who are working to abolish child labour in the district level. All the Acts and Schemes working for the child labour should be implemented properly, he added.

According to State labour commissioner Alekh Padhihary, 86,000 children were working in hazardous sector out of 4, 86,000 child labourers in the State. Last year, 1, 43,386 child labourers were estimated, he added.

At present National Child Labour Projects (NCLPs) are running in 24 districts to provide free education facility to the child labourers in the State. In these 24 districts, 574 schools are running with the student strength of 27,982. So far, 1, 23,899 students have been mainstreamed from the NCLP Schools, informed the members of SRC.      

The State-level symposium was supported by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Unicef and CACL to take the movement for protection of child rights ahead. Among others, Joint Labour Commissioner Louis Ekka, Unicef Odisha Chief Shairose Mawji, trade union leader Souribandhu Kar, activists across the State, NCLP school teachers and NGO officials were present.

Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative Announces First Round of Awards

In a milestone in the educational partnership between India and the United States, the Department of State is pleased to announce the eight institutional partnership projects below for the first Obama-Singh 21^st Century Knowledge Initiative awards.  The goal of the initiative is to further strengthen, through faculty exchanges, joint research, and other collaboration, partnerships between American and Indian institutions of higher education in priority fields, including food security, climate change, sustainable energy, and public health.  Each project will receive an award of approximately $250,000 that can be utilized over the three-year grant period to encourage mutual understanding, educational reform, and economic growth, as well as the development of junior faculty.

U.S.-led Partnerships:

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Project Title: Capitalizing on the Demographic Dividend: Enhancing Talent Development Capacity for India and the U.S. in the 21st Century

Partner Institution: Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai 

University of Montana

Project Title: Impacts of Climate Change and Changes in Socio-Economic Structure on Traditional Agriculture and the Development of Sustainable Communities among Indigenous Populations

Partner Institution: Bangalore University 

Cornell University

Project Title: Implementing Reformed Curriculum in Emerging areas of Agriculture and Food Security in Two State Agricultural Universities of India

Partner Institutions: University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut

University of Michigan

Project Title: The Joint Development of a Master’s Degree in Education for Health Professions Faculty in the United States and India

Partner Institution: Maharashtra University of the Health Sciences

Indian-led Partnerships:

Mahatma Gandhi University

Project Title: An Interdisciplinary and Community Oriented Approach toward Sustainable Development

Partner Institutions: Brown University, Duke University and Plymouth State University

Banaras Hindu University

Project Title: Paradigm Shift in Energy Scenario for the 21^st Century toward Renewable Energy Sources required for both India and the U.S.

Partner Institution: University of Pittsburgh

Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

Project Title: International Program for Sustainable Infrastructure Development

Partner Institution: Virginia Tech University

Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Project Title: Resource Building for Ecosystem and Human Health Risk Assessment with Special reference to Microbial Contamination

Partner Institution: Drexel University

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama announced the Obama-Singh Initiative in November 2009 as an affirmation of their commitment to building an enhanced India-U.S. partnership in education.  Each government pledged $5 million for this endeavor, for a total of $10 million.

To implement this initiative, the Governments of India and the United States established a bi-national Obama-Singh Initiative joint working group (JWG).  The JWG provides the final approval for all grants awarded through the Obama-Singh Initiative.  The JWG will allocate the $10 million over the course of a five year period awarding 8 to 10 university partnership grants annually. 

The next request for proposals for the Obama-Singh Initiative grants will be announced in July 2012.  Details will be available at www.usief.org.in/OSI and www.ugc.ac.in/more/obamasingh.pdf