Anna to campaign for Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi party

-- Anna’s country-wide tour to begin from Jan

BHUBANESWAR: “I will examine the background of the candidates of Aam Aadmi party recently floated by Kejriwal. If I find good qualities within them, I will campaign for them,” said anti-graft crusader and Jan Lokpal Bill campaigner Anna Hazaare while addressing his supporters and members of the India Against Corruption (IAC) here on Thursday.

“Kejriwal and I were working unitedly and would work for the country on the coming days. We have one goal, though our pathway is different,” revealed Anna while telling about his present relation with the Jan Lokpal Bill core committee member.

Anna said that he supports good people to go to the Parliament as they would make law for the people of the country. The corruption couldn’t be eradicated from the society unless until we elect appropriate candidates for the Parliament. “My country-wide tour would be started from January and I will appeal the people of the country to elect good people who can give us good governance. I will also campaign for Arvind’s ideal candidate during my tour,” said Anna.

Anna said they need committed and patriotic people who could address various issues of common men living in the country. If any person wants to connect with his team, they can just send SMS to 9923599234 and start working with them, he said, adding, “If we bring five laws-Jan Lokpal Bill, Right to Reject, Right to Recall, Gram Sabha and Citizen Charter in the country, we can check 95 per cent corruption.”

Expressing grave concern over the farmer’s condition in the State, Anna said the brokers are taking benefits by cheating the innocent farmers. “We have to change the present system of looting the country and getting benefit by crushing the poor,” he added.

Opposing the donation system in the field of education, he said, every children of the country have the right to get education according to the Constitution, but the Government does not follow the Constitution. Why we would allow them to seat in the Parliament, who does not obey the Constitution,” Anna said.     

For the movement, Anna appealed, the people should give sacrifice for the country. He called upon the youth to go to village and make the rural people aware about the movement. The youth power is the real power of the country and the youth mass should come up with new vision to build the country, he stated.

     

State agrees to allow NEET for medical courses

BHUBANESWAR: Finally the State Government has decided to participate in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET 2013) for Under Graduate medical courses admissions across the State. Now the students of the State would not go for Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) to get a medical seat, said Health Minister Damodar Rout.

Earlier, the State Government had refused to participate in the NEET citing the reason that they need more Odia doctors to serve in the rural areas of the State. When the Centre agreed to give 85 per cent reservation for the students, the State accepted the decision.

According to the Health Minister, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) would conduct NEET which is scheduled for May 12, 2013. The board would conduct the examinations at Bhubaneswar, Koraput and Rourkela as centres, but the State Government has requested to increase centres to five cities including Samnbalpur and Brahmapur, he added.

It may be noteworthy to note that NEET UG 2013 online application registration would start from Dec 01, 2012.

Role of Media in highlighting witch-hunting issues

You all know that Media has a greater role in nation building process. It not only informs, but also educates, sensitizes and entertains people with strong and appropriate messages. Ours is the development media and we are practicing development journalism in the country.

The motto of development journalism is to highlight the bad practices of the society and to promote development works and achievements of the society. Still now some superstitions and bad practices are continuing in the country, though we live in a knowledge society which advocates us about human rights.

Witch-hunting related crime is also an example of bad practices in the society. It is the serious violation of the person’s fundamental right and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which advocate about the right to life. And unfortunately, most of the women are the victims of witch-hunting.

How media highlights the issue—

Most of the Indian language newspapers along with English newspaper are also highlighting the issue of witch-hunting in their respective papers. Electronic media also broadcasting news of the witch-hunting related crimes.

One Assamese script ‘Ishu’ based on witch-hunting story has been chosen for Cinekid Junior Co-production Market. The noted Cinekid production would make the film which highlights the issue of superstition in an Indian State.

Media should highlight the issues in a constructive way taking it as a serious case of human rights violation. Some of my friends like Santosh Sharma from West Bengal who is working continuously to address the issue.

In Odisha, some Newspapers and magazines like ‘The Charcha’ are continuously highlighting the stories and promoting scientific education through the magazines. Some mainstream newspapers like The Pioneer, The New Indian Express and The Frontline and some Odia newspapers are also highlighting the issues in a positive way.

How to report the Witch-hunting issues --

-- Media should give the follow-ups of the stories on witch-hunting published or broadcasted by the print or electronic media. It should present the news before the readers or viewers till the fag end of the incident as that would impose pressure on enforcement agency as well as the Government machinery to take immediate action against the culprits.

-- It may be small, but the presence of the story would literally compel the enforcement agency to take action in time.

-- While highlighting the issue, Media should give emphasis on the mastermind of the incident like Ojhas (in West Bengal), Gunia (in Odisha) and Tantrik (in Hindi States) as they are the real culprits who misguide the people.

-- If a media person gets any news about witch-hunting, he should spread that news among the other representatives of different media houses by which the news would get maximum coverage and the impact would yield good result.

-- We all should work together to curb the social evil. While reporting the sensitive and serious issues like witch-hunting, the media should follow ethics and report in a decent manner touching the human hearts.

-- Media should not report in the favour of the superstition anyway, it should give importance on human rights and report the verdicts of court on witch-hunting related crimes which would create fear among the common people to commit such mistakes again in their locality. Example- 14 people were arrested along with the main accused for killing three women suspecting them witch in a village in West Bengal as reported by my friend Santosh Sharma. While in Ganjam district of Odisha, 23 persons were arrested for killing a woman suspecting sorcerer. 

IMPACT OF MEDIA:

Continuous reporting on witch-hunting related issues has wider impact on society. It imposes pressure on the intellectual mass and law makers of the State to think about the issue in a positive way. It is possible to motivate and educate the people of the country towards science and rational world.

According to Santosh Sharma, who is a rationalist and working against witch- hunting in West Bengal, they are continuously reporting on the issue during last few years. Over 100 people were killed per year suspecting as witch, in the state 10 years ago, but now that is significantly decreased to less than 10% and it is due to the media, he added.

SUGGESTIONS:

The State Government and public should help media to sensitize the common people about the heinous crimes against women.

The State Government should direct the district Collectors to organize campaigns in panchayat level.

The women’s self-help groups (SHGs), Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers should be activated through various Government agencies and banks to motivate people.

Anna Hazaare to visit Odisha tommorow

BHUBANESWAR: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazaare would visit the State on Thursday to attend some public meetings here along with a farmers’ meet in Jagatsinghpur, said the members of Annaji’s Co-ordination Committee of India Against Corruption (IAC) here on Wednesday.

During his three-day visit, Anna would address the workers of IAC and his supporters at the Rashtra Bhasa Prachar Samiti ground here at 2.30pm on Thursday. Later, he would also attend a discussion at a private engineering college in the city on the same day. On Friday, he would attend the farmers’ rally at Jagatsinghpur organised by the Nab Nirman Krushak Sangathan. On the third day of the visit, Anna would address students, activists and eminent citizens of the State to help the movement against corruption.       

Briefing the media, the committee’s central executive body member Akshay Kumar, who is in-charge of Odisha and West Bengal, said Hazare would urge the people of Odisha to participate in the movement against corruption and to change the present system in the country that has failed to deal with the issues of the common people. The coordination committee would start its works after organising its IAC members and Anna supporters in the State, he added.

Kumar said the fight for a Jan Lokpal Bill would continue across the country in an energetic way. “To reform the present system, people’s movement is very important, and we are going to organise our IAC members and Anna supporters to start our nationwide movement,” he said.

Among others, IAC activists Bansidhar Patnaik, Seshadev Nanda, Malay Tripathy, Pradip Pradhan and Abhishek Joshi were present at the Press meet.       

 

   

780 Gram Rakhis threaten to resign en masse in Koraput

--23 resign from their job

JEYPORE: As many as 23 Gram Rakhis from Boipariguda police station area in Koraput district have handed over their resignation before the local police citing several reasons. The resignation drive started after the killing of two Gram Rakhis by the Maoists in the area.

On the other hand, all the 780 village guards working across the district have threatened to resign en masse if the Government doesn’t act on their three-point charter of demands like provision of payment Rs 10,000 for cremation and Rs 10 lakh as ex-gratia and employment to any of the family members in case of death.

In a meeting held at Nisanimunda in the district on Tuesday, the Gram Rakhis set December 3 as the deadline to meet their demands, failing which they would tender mass resignation on December 4. Later, a delegation of the village guards submitted their charter of demands after meeting South-Western Range DIG S Devadutta Singh and Koraput SP Awinash Kumar and demanded the Government to take immediate step to fulfill their demands.

Though the village guards have mentioned health problem as the reason behind their resignation, but the reality was something different which they didn’t want to disclose fearing the ultras, sources said.

The village guards in Malkangiri and neighbouring Koraput districts have become soft targets for the rebels who accuse them of tipping off the police about their movement, but the DIG said the village guards never tip-off them. “We will certainly extend security to village guards, if they need,” he added.

Government to add 100 more city buses

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to buy 100 buses to expand Bhubaneswar-Puri city bus service. These buses would run in between the capital city and Konark, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack and Jatani.  

The State Government would buy these buses on its own resources. These buses will be maintained and run by the Bhubaneswar-Puri Transport Service Limited. It should be noted that the State Government currently running 125 buses under this service between Bhubaneswar, Puri and Cuttack.

Presently, five buses are running in between the capital city and Puri. After the High Court’s order to ply more buses to Cuttack, the State Government was thinking about the purchase of buses to ply in several routes from here and that would be fulfilled very soon after introduction of the buses in the respective routes.     

Two women among 3 Maoists surrender in Ganjam

BRAHMAPUR: A hardcore Maoist Laxman Raita alias Patul, who was involved in kidnapping of two Italian nationals, and two other women cadres of Odisha Maovadi Party surrendered before Ganjam SP Ashish Singh at the District Police Headquarters Chatrapur on Tuesday.

Laxman hails from Tudukapanka village of Khiramaha Gram Panchayat under R Udayagiri police station in Gajapati district, whereas women Maoists Mamita Gamango alias Manjula and Ester Raita alias Mamata belong to Patasala village of Sahaba Gram Panchayat under Badagada police station in Ganjam district.

   

Laxman confessed that he was indulged in activities like Kerubadi exchange of fire, shifting of weapons looted from Nayagarh District Armoury and planting landmines as per directions of Sabyasachi Panda. However, Mamita, performing as sentry in the camp, was involved in Gaudagotha mobile tower blast and Easter was engaged in cooking activities.

While briefing the mediapersons, Ganjam SP said the Maoist cadres surrendered due to excess dominance and torture in Maoist organisation by leader Sabyasachi Panda, regular extortion of money from businessmen, contractors and liquor vendors and delusion of party ideology. When the women cadres wanted to return to mainstream, Sabyasachi and his aides tied their leg and hands to prevent escape, Singh added.   

The women cadres revealed that they were raped by Chattishgarh Maoists. Sexual exploitation on lady cadres are on the rise in the Maoist organisations, they said.

It may be noted that a few days ago one woman Maoist cadre Sumitra Mallick (20) and two male cadres Samsan Mallick and Arun Sona Majhi have surrendered before Ganjam SP.

Singh said the Maoist cadres surrender before the police due to exploitation in the Maoist camp by senior cadres and impact of November 14 combing operation. As expected earlier, with the good surrender policy which includes deliver of immediate cash of Rs 10,000 and Rs 3 lakh deposit in their accounts (1.5 immediately and 1.5 in phase wise) later, it persuaded more cadre to come back to the main stream, he added.

12 convicted, 10 acquitted in Kandhamal riot

PHULBANI: Additional Sessions Judge Biranchi Narayan Mishra of Fast Track Court-II convicted 12 accused persons in connection with a house burning case during Kandhamal riot in 2008. The court also acquitted 10 accused persons in connection with the case due to lack of evidence against them.

One Mudia Digal of Jarginaju village under Raikia police station had lodged complaint against the accused persons for burning his house during riot on August 25, 2008. On the basis of his complaint, the police had started inquiry after registering a case. The judge sentenced six years imprisonment with Rs 5000 fine in default one year more imprisonment.

Bring innovation in teaching style to make learning enjoyable: Guv

--Utkal University celebrates 70th Foundation Day

BHUBANESWAR: “Bring innovation in the style of teaching to make learning enjoyable for the students and give their best to enhance the quality and standards of education in the University,” said Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare while addressing the teacher and student mass on the occasion of 70th Foundation Day of the Utkal University here on Tuesday.

Bhandare said the syllabus and curriculum should be prepared looking at the demand of the present time so that the students are well-equipped to face the competition outside successfully and above all to impart education with values to the students to make them good citizens of the country.

The Governor advised the students to spend part of their time to serve the society particularly to the disadvantaged and marginalised sections and bring smiles on their faces. “This will surely give you enough satisfaction and divine pleasure as it is said- service to man is service to God,” he added.

Attending the ceremony, eminent litterateur Padmabhusan Ramakant Rath and novelist Chandrasekhar Rath emphasised on utility of university education which would make the students employable. The Government should create employment for the passing out students, they added.   

Reading out the annual report, Utkal University Vice-Chancellor Prof Prashant Kumar Sahu said that they are going to fill up the vacant teaching and non-teaching posts of the University by undertaking a massive recruitment drive. The university from the academic session 2012-13 has introduced online registration, issue of admit cards, appointment of examiners and uploading marks for the +3 stream, he added.

Sahu also said that they would set up a capacity building center for the NET examinees very soon. The placement activities of the university during the last year have attracted major organisations and companies, there fore the placement track record is praiseworthy, he added.

Among others, University Registrar Prof Debendranath Jena, PG Council chairman PK Mishra, Student Welfare Director Dr Kabir Mohan Sethi, faculties of various departments and staffs of the university were present.

      

Elephants trample two of a family to death in M’bhanj

BARIPADA: Wild elephants trampled two of a family to death after entering into Piansi village of Mayurbhanj district on Sunday night. The marauding pachyderms damaged the house and killed the elderly woman and her one and a half year old granddaughter when they were fast asleep in their thatched house.

According to the forest officials, more than hundred of elephants from Jharkhand have entered into Mayurbhanj district through jungle areas of West Bengal border. The jumbos have been wreaking havoc in the village areas of Rasagovindpur range for last few days, the officials added.

The elephant herds damaged standing paddy crops in some areas of the district which has created terror among the farmers as they were all set to harvest their ripen paddy. The paddy fields of the villages including Kaduamunda, Krushnachandrapur and Raghunathpur were badly affected due to the jumbo menace.

After destroying paddy crops and killing two persons in Piansi village, the jumbos have started moving towards Kuldiha forest range of Baleswar district. The forest officials along with the locals were trying to drive away the wild animals, but they managed to stay in the forest at the day time and come out to eat crops in the night time, locals said.

In Kendujhar district also, a herd of wild jumbos have destroyed standing crops. “Most of the people of the area do not come to their paddy fields fearing attack from the elephants’ side which delayed the crop harvesting here,” said a villager.      

One killed, two injured in bomb attack at Brahmapur

BRAHMAPUR: A person was killed and two others were injured when the rival group threw bombs on them at industrial area here on Monday. The deceased was identified as Bauribandhu Choudhury, a vegetable vendor of Lanjipalli area in the city.

Some people of the area scolded some youths who were passing comments on girls crossing the road near a tank here and threatened them police action. Meanwhile, Choudhury came out from his vegetable shop and advised them not to pass comment on girls, but they didn’t listen him.

After few minutes, the bike-borne youths came with crude bombs and threw on Choudhury where he died on the spot. Ranjan Gauda, one among the youth, and Siba Prasad Samantra were injured in the bomb attack.

They were rushed to the MKCG Medical College Hospital. The police are investigating into the matter.    

        

‘If Govt fails to change existed policy, people will change Govt’

--CPI (ML) Lib holds ‘Jan Jagran Samabesh’

BHUBANESWAR: Protesting State and Central Government’s indifference and anti-people attitude towards its common people, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation staged ‘Jan Jagran Samabesh’ at the Lower PMG here on Monday to sensitise the common people of the State on the sidelines of the nationwide protest of the party.

Hundreds of supporters and workers of the party flaunting placards and red-flags came in a procession starting from Master Canteen to the Lower PMG and staged rally in front of the State Legislative Assembly here.    

The party leaders criticised the State and the Central Government’s corporate friendly and anti-people attitude towards common people of the State. During the rally, the party raised the issues of rampant corruption in the country, FDI in retail, corporate loot, price hike, special care to agriculture, employment, farmer suicide, black marketing of feriliser, distress sale of paddy, land for landless and forest rights to poor tribals.

Party’s national secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya attending the rally said the State and the Central Government have failed to address the issues related to commonmen. He demanded CBI inquiry into the mining scam in the State.

“If the Government does not change the existed anti-people policy, people will change the Government,” said Bhattacharya, adding, “They will support February 21, 2013 Bharat Bandh protesting FDI in retail.”      

Party State Secretary Khitish Biswal said the country is going under a very bad period due to economic slowdown and it happened after the introduction of globalisation and neo-liberalisation in the country. The Central Government neglected the interest of the common people by introducing the neo-liberalisation in economy which helped corporate houses to loot the land, water, forest and mines of the country, he added. 

The State Government is also involved in many scams including dal, coal and Ground nut seed purchase scam which shows the real image of the Government, said the party members. The State Government failed to address the problems of farmers of the State and law and order situation of the State, the party members added.

'PMji Samjhoji! Letter-a-thon' campaign: Write a letter to your Prime Minister

--About your ideas and possible solutions to some of India’s problems

NEW DELHI: Editor of The Viewspaper Aisha, which is India’s largest youth paper, is organising the PMji Samjhoji! Letter-a-thon - The day India will write to its Prime Minister on December 2.

Aisha appeals-

There are many times, while reading the news, we think we have ideas and possible solutions to some of India’s problems. There are many times when we feel that we could give suggestions to the people who run our country but don’t end up taking any action.

I was hoping that you would join us in taking action by being a part of an initiative, which will attempt to change the conversation on the web in India by getting all Indians to share concrete ideas, solutions and suggestions in the form of open letters to the Prime Minister, all of which will be published on ONE DAY on The Viewspaper (www.theviewspaper.net).

Eminent journalists like Madhu Trehan (Founding Editor, India Today), Sonia Singh (Editorial Director, NDTV), activists like Abhinandan Sekhri (Core Member, India Against Corruption), eminent educationists like Dr. Amit Kapoor (Professor, Harvard Business School and MDI) and Musicians like Parikrama are some of the people who have already confirmed their participation.

Not just individuals but even organisations like The YP Foundation, which is India’s largest youth NGO, will be participating.

Celebrities, Journalists, Politicians, Bloggers, Professionals, Doctors, Teachers, Entrepreneurs, Activists, Youth from all over the country will be sharing their perspectives.

PMji Samjhoji! is completely apolitical and our aim is to offer the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh ideas and advice to help him steer India through its problems and lead it to its deserved greatness.

I invite you to share your perspectives on an issue close to your heart by writing a letter to the Prime Minister and sending it to us at editorial@theviewspaper.net

For Information and Registration, request you to visit: http://theviewspaper.net/pmjisamjhoji/.

I hope that this is of interest to you and that you would be kind enough to agree to be a part of this campaign. There is a lot that the people can do for their country and your involvement would go a long way in motivating the common man to do the same.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Gajapati Utsav begins at Parlakhemundi

PARLAKHEMUNDI: Much awaited Gajapati Utsav again cheered up the people of Gajapati district as it was formally started here from Sunday. State Revenue Minister Suryanarayan Patra inaugurated the festival of joy with the presence of hundreds of audiences at the stadium here.

Patra while inaugurating said the culture, tradition and heritage of the district created a special place in the heart of the State. The guests of the inaugural function recollected the memory of Maharaj Krushna Chandra Gajapati of Parlakhemundi and his immense contribution for the independence of the country and for the special State of Odisha in 1928.

The students of a local music school sung the opening song of the festival. The first evening of the Utsav was dedicated to Shyamsunder Gantayat who had attended the Round Table Conference at London during India’s freedom struggle.

The Eastern Zone Cultural Centre from Kolkata performed ‘Raibansh’ dance, while the troops from Jharkhand performed Paika dance on the stage. Among other local dance groups, tribal dance troop from Raigarh panchayat, Suman dance group from Kasinagar and Nataraj dance group’s Kuchipudi and Prahlad artists presented their performance on the stage.

Hundreds of visitors from neighbour districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha enjoyed the evening and the festival. Among others, School and Mass Education Minister Rabi Narayan Nanda, Parlakhemundi MLA K Narayan Rao, Mohana MLA Chakradhar Paika, Zilla Parishad chairman P Lata, District Collector Basudev Bahinipati, Gajapati SP Charansingh Mina, Parlakhemundi Municipality chairman P Krishna and Additional District Magistrate Sunil Nayak were present.

Energy Min to review on CESU security deposit hike

BHUBANESWAR: Following the protest from consumers against the Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU) which has given notice to the consumers to deposit extra fee as security money, Energy Minister Arun Sahu said that he would review the decision on Monday and take appropriate decision about the matter.

On the other hand, PCC president said that the decision was not appropriate as it would affect the commonmen badly. “The electricity companies had hiked power tariff according to their wish and now they are charging extra for security fee which is illegal and affect the common people of the State,” Patnaik said.

According to the CESU authorities, they have taken the decision according to the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission guidelines. If a consumer fails to pay the extra security fee within the stipulated time, the electricity supply company would disconnect the home connection, CESU sources said.

However, the consumers were unhappy as they had already deposited the security fee during the time of electricity connection. Consumer rights activist Ramesh Satpathy said that they would knock the door of the High Court against the decision of the CESU. Earlier, the CESU had hiked power tariff showing various reasons and the recent hike in security deposit added salt on the consumers’ wound, said Parthasarathy Ray Badjena.

City bids adieu 8th International Writers Festival

BHUBANESWAR: The writers became emotional while reciting poem at the valedictory session of the two-day long 8th International Writers Festival held here on Sunday. They were applauding their fellow writers for mesmerising the audiences with lots of emotion in their poetry. They were trying to understand the culture, tradition and feelings from the poems of their writer friends.

The feminist writers from Bangladesh, Uzbekistan and different States of India recited in their poems about place of women in their country along with their dignity and social status in their society. What women want to be and how society betrays her, they narrated in their poem. Some optimist and nature poets from South Africa, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Macedonia and Uzbekistan promised in their poems to make a better world with the help of empathetic human beings.

Salyamova Kamola of Uzbekistan

According to Salyamova Kamola of Uzbekistan, love is something special like Indians. She praised Indian women and their womanhood and said in her poem ‘Slogan of Women’ that the women can be proud as an ideal wife, while Bangladeshi poet Lovely Yesmin stated in her poem ‘Women’s Heaven’ about the sexual discrimination and gender violence in her society.

Most of the Indian writers including Nikita Bharadwaj from Rajasthan, Nibedita Jena from Odisha, PL Sridharan from Kerala and SM Rizwan Ahmad from Jharkhand told in their poems about love, inner feelings, inclination and psychology of men and women day to day life in the society, while some of them narrated about various issues in the country.

The festival was the brainchild of India Inter-continental Cultural Association which was co-organised by Pakhighara publication and Shruti- the school of music. 

Odia boy wins India’s Got Talent Season-4 title

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha again rejoiced with the success of an Odia boy in a national-level reality show India’s Got Talent season-4 that recollected the memory of Brahmapur’s Prince Dance Group’s title wining performance on the television’s first season in 2009.

Odia boy Maraju Sumanth (13) and his 7-year old Bengali partner Sonali Majumdar won the title of reality show India’s Got Talent season-4 on Saturday night defeating singer Deepraj from Gangtok and Jharkhand’s trapeze artistes Mukesh and Tanya.

Sumanth after listening their name in the top list declared by superstar Shahrukh Khan, he said, “We dedicate this award to our instructor Bivash Chowdhary.” ‘Jab Tak Hain Jaan’ heroines Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma along with hero Shahrukh presented the trophy to the duo. Sumanth and Sonali were also awarded with the prize money of Rs 50 lakh and a Maruti Alto for winning the title.

The little salsa dancers were representing Bibhash Academy of Dance of Kolkata. Sonali hails from a slum in Kolkata. Sumanth is now studying in class-IX at Mancheswsar Kendriya Vidyalaya, here. He is the eldest son of M Radha and railway employee M Jagadiswar Rao.

Pyari claims of having Brahmastra regarding OMC-Sainik Joint Venture

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Jan Morcha president Pyarimohan Mohapatra at a public meeting in Koraput district on Saturday claimed that he has a ‘Brahmastra’ (a terrible weapon) which would reveal the hidden things about the OMC-Sainik mining deal row. He also said that he would give the data to the CBI which is presently investigating into the coal scam in the country.

“We would unveil the facts regarding OMC-Sainik mining deal row after few days. I have a ‘Brahmastra’ which would bring many hidden things to the fore,” Mohapatra said, adding, “My advocate has filed a PIL at the Supreme Court and the apex court had given eight weeks for reply to the State Government. After that when the CBI would start investigation, we would unveil the faces involved in the coal scam by providing the data.”

Countering the statement of Mohapatra, Health and Family Welfare Minister Damodar Rout said that Pyari was the architect of all the scams in the State as he was associated with the Chief Minister for twelve years. He had looted as many as he wanted within that time period, he added.   

Attending the meeting of Dom community in Koraput, Mohapatra advised the mass to perceive the people as enemy who want to create disturbance among their community. The people of the community should stay united as a result no one can create problem, he added.

           

Security deposit for electricity consumers to be hiked

BHUBANESWAR: The Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU) has given notice to the consumers to deposit extra security money as it was increased due to the hike in tax. If the consumer fails to pay the extra security fee within the stipulated time, the electricity supply company would disconnect the home connection, CESU official sources said.

The consumers were unhappy as they had already deposited the security fee during the time of electricity connection. Earlier the CESU had hiked power tariff showing various reason and the recent hike in security deposit would add salt on the wound, said a consumer Parthasarathy Ray Badjena.

The CESU authorities stated that they have taken the decision according to the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission guideline.

On the other hand, the consumer activist Ramesh Satpathy said that they would knock the door of the High Court against the decision of the CESU. They urged the CESU to rollback the decision immediately.

‘Enough! No more violence against women’

--One Billion Rising campaign launched

BHUBANESWAR: One Billion Rising (OBR) campaign, which is a global call to action to end violence against women and girls, organised by the OBR Odisha team has been launched here on Saturday. The campaign would continue till February 14, 2013, said the OBR team.

The campaign, initiated by activist and actor Eve Ensler, aims to mobilise and bring out one billion people on streets across the world on the coming February 14 against violence against women and to celebrate women’s power. The OBR has already been successfully launched in Nepal and Bangladesh and Sangat, an organisation working for women cause, has launched the same in Delhi on Saturday.

People from 160 countries, including India, have responded to this global call by launching OBR campaigns in their respective countries. The people from all sectors have joined together to end violence against women and to create a better world for women and girls.

Most of the regions of the country, including Odisha, have started the campaign to sensitise the people of the State to end violence against women as more than half of women population living in the State are facing domestic violence. According to the Government data, 1112 women were raped and 4085 women experienced dowry related violence during 2011 in the State. Apart from that, 2054 women and 1517 girls were trafficked during last year, the data revealed.

“It is very unfortunate that one in every three women in the world faces violence which shows that the condition of women who are living with uncertainty and fear. In our State also most of the poor women are engaged in unorganised sector where they face gender violence. So, enough is enough, no more violence against women from today,” said a women activist and a prominent member of OBR Odisha team Pramila Swain.

The posters, leaflets, banners and other publicity materials were unveiled by the guests during the launching ceremony. Among others, freedom fighter Bhabani Patnaik, Dr Sarat Pujari, Dr Prabhat Nalini Das, Tapasi Praharaj, Dr Chirashree Indrasingh, Nibedita Acharya and Pramila Swain were present.         

4620 phone tapped by State Govt in four years

BHUBANESWAR: The State Home Department has tapped landline phones and mobile phones of 4620 persons within four years from December 19, 2008 to September 15, 2012, revealed RTI information regarding phone tapping by the State Governemnt.

The RTI information exposed that the home department didn’t tap any phone from 2000 to 2006, whereas 111 telephones were tapped in 2007 and 313 telephones in 2008.

According to the RTI activist Biswapriya Kanungo, the person who has asked the information, said, “In which condition the Home Department has tapped a large number of telephones, the State Government should clarify about that as it violates the Right to Privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution.”

“What type of public emergency created or public safety question came to the fore for which reason the State Home Department tapped the telephones of the people,” Kanungo questioned. He alleged that the State Government is using the Home Department in the duty of phone tapping to record the conversation of advocates, journalists, opposition political leaders and social activists.

“Phone tapping without the knowledge of an innocent person is illegal, undemocratic, unconstitutional and violation of human rights,” said Kanungo.            

Over 100 students fall sick after eating mid-day meal

BRAHMAPUR: Over 100 students fell ill after eating mid-day meal at Balarampur Model School of Badakarida Panchayat under Purusottampur block in Ganjam district, 45 km from here, on Friday.

As many as 115 students were admitted to the Government hospital at Purusottampur after they complained of stomachache and nausea on Friday afternoon. The condition of two girl students Jhumuri Dakua and Mani Gauda was critical, the doctors said.

While eating the noon meal, a student found a dead spider and complained to the authorities of the school about the incident. Soon several students started vomiting. Many of them were rushed to the nearby hospital for treatment. Some of them were discharged by Friday evening. 

After getting information about the incident, Kabisuryanagar MLA V Sugyani Kumari Deo, local BDO Anam Charan Patra, Block chairman Minati Pradhan and other local political leaders rushed to the Government hospital to take the stock of the situation.

Medicine shops’ shifting from Capital Hospital campus opposed

BHUBANESWAR: The All Odisha Campus Chemists Association (AOCCA) has opposed the Capital Hospital authorities’ decision for shifting of campus medicine shops to a vending zone following the proposal of the State Health and Family Welfare Department to expand the hospital recently.

After the hospital expansion proposal, AOCCA member Akhaya Kishore Das said, the medicine shops were directed to shift the utility complex where small rooms have already been constructed. The accommodation of medicine shops in those tiny rooms with 10xl2 ft size wouldn’t serve their purpose, he added.

Das said the utility complex was far away from the causality of the hospital. In the vast area of the hospital, different departments stand at different places and the medicine shops also do so, he said, adding, “It becomes easy now for the patients to approach different shops freely to get their medicines, but, when all these medicine shops will be centralised in one place, it will cause a lot of congregation and problem of sanitation.”

Das further said the numbers of medicines in our country has exceeded more than 50,000 and varieties of medicines enter into market day by day according to the demands of rising population which requires a spacious room for accommodation. It is also essential that minimum two refrigerators are highly required for the preservation of weather proof medicines and with Air conditioner, he said, adding, “How is it possible that those tiny rooms can accommodate two freezes with minimum 15 sales boys to move freely for the service of the patients day and night?”

The AOCCA requested the hospital authorities to allow the medicine shops to stand at different directions of the campus with easy approach to the causalities and for which lands should be provided to the shop owners to build their medicine shops from their own funds.

Odisha Jan Rajniti Abhiyan to support green politics in State

BHUBANESWAR:  “To make the State free from all types of corruption and make it a well-developed State in the country, green politics is the need of the hour,” said Odisha Jan Rajniti Abhiyan (OJRA) convener and social activist Prafulla Samantara while addressing the mass at the first State convention of the campaign here on Friday.   

To give a political alternative to the State, a group of likeminded political forces and persons of three different social organisations have come together to form a political front, OJRA, a campaign for people-friendly politics, which would address various issues of the common people.

While presenting the agenda of the OJRA, Samantara said that their campaign would focus on corruption-free politics, exploitation-free economy, pollution-free environment and equality in society. The campaign would make aware the common people of the State to elect a good candidate of a right political party which could address the issues of the commonmen, he added.

The OJRA leaders including Odisha Jana Sammilani advisor Rabi Das and Jan Andolan leader Lingaraj said that they would bring all organisations, which are fighting for common men’s rights through people’s movements, under one umbrella and make a strong political front based on values. The State Government has failed to solve the problems of farmers and tribals, they added.

The leaders said corruption, oppression and irregularities in development projects are increasing day by day in the State. Looting of land, water, mines and forest has been increased since 1991, they added. Among others, Braja Kishore Tripathy, Panchanan Kanungo, Kishore Das, Prashant Mishra and Surendra Pradhan were present.

BJD supports TMC bid to bring no-confidence motion in Loksabha

--fails due to lower no of supporters

BHUBANESWAR: Three MPs from Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supported no-confidence motion moved by Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Lok Sabha on Thursday, but the motion was rejected by Speaker Meira Kumar as it could not gather the required support of 50 members.

On the first day of the Winter Session in the Parliament, the no-confidence motion against the Government over FDI in retail was moved by TMC Parliamentary Party leader Sudip Bandopadhyay and later it was supported by the BJD in the house. However, it lacked the support of the requisite numbers as only TMC’s 18 members and BJD’s three members Bhartruhari Mahatab, Prasanna Patsani and Kalikesh Singhdeo supported the motion.

“We supported TMC’s bid to bring no-confidence motion in the house as we have been protesting the Central Government’s decision to allow FDI in retail. I have given the notice on the behalf of BJD to discuss about the matter in the house,” said Mahatab.

Two Maoists surrender before Ganjam SP

BRAHMAPUR: Two Maoists surrendered before Ganjam SP Ashish Singh at District Police Headquarters Chatrapur on Thursday. They were identified as Samson Mallick and

Arun Sona Majhi of Dahusana and Gaheju village of Hatimunda GP under Bramhanigaon police station limit in Kandhamal district respectively, the police said.

While briefing the mediapersons, Singh confirmed that the two Maoists were working for Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda. Samson was working as principal courier of Panda, he added. Earlier, they wanted to leave the Maoist camp, but they could not get success due to pressure and threat from their commander, the Maoists confessed.

“Rs 10,000 in cash are allocated to the Maoists immediately from the State Welfare Funds and Rs 3 lakh will be deposited in their accounts. They will get Rs 1.5 lakh immediately and the rest in phase wise. It will persuade other Maoist cadres more to bring them into the main stream,” Singh said.

The combing operations have been intensified in the tri-junction area of three neighbouring districts Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal to nab the Maoist leader and his aides, Singh said.

Dalit land land issue: In time possession of land allotted for dalits demanded

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa Dalit Adhikar Manch (ODAM), a forum of dalit organisations working on the issues relating to dalit community, on Thursday at a State-level convention on ‘Dalit Land Issues in Odisha’ demanded the Government to give in time possession of the land allotted for the Scheduled Caste people in the State. Later they handed over a memorandum to Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suryanarayan Patro on land issues of dalit communities in the State.

Attending the convention, the Revenue Minister said the State Government has distributed land rights to 2, 68,000 landless people in the State. Recently, the Government has introduced a programme by which the land demarcation and distribution process would become easier than before, said Patra, adding, “An intermediary would work as a bridge between the Government and poor people while allotting the Government land in the name of the proper beneficiaries.”

He also said the intermediaries along with the local Revenue Inspectors would find out the Government lands in the particular area for the distribution among the landless poor. The intermediary would get Rs 4,000 per month, he said, adding, “We have started the work in 117 scheduled areas in the State.”          

During the discussion, ODAM coordinator Prashant Mallick said that majority of dalit families have no homestead Patta land to securely construct houses as a large majority of them were put up on the so called Government land or community land for generations which has not been recorded in their name as because there has been no survey and settlement initiative carried out by the revenue department.

He also demanded the ‘Vasundhara’ programme should be time bound and the beneficiaries should be given patta and possession at the same time, because many of the families have patta for last few years and still they have not received the possession. He also alleged that dalits access to natural resources like forest and water bodies were increasingly being restricted by dominant caste and communities in the respective areas.