Sex racket busted in city, 12 Court forwarded

BHUBANESWAR: The Commissionerate Police on Monday night arrested 12 men including kingpin Sunil Meher for running a sex racket in city hotels. They were forwarded to the court on Tuesday, the police sources said. 

On a tip-off, the quick action team of the Commissionerate Police conducted a raid in two hotels situated at Ashok Nagar and Cuttack Road in the city and nabbed 12 youths along with nine women from the spot.

Sources said, the kingpin Meher of Sonepur district was running a regular sex business in the city for a long time by luring both young women and customers from the city.

Meher was arrested by the police thrice earlier for running flesh trade in the city, police sources said. Later he had moved Kolkata to continue the business, but he returned Odisha fearing the Kolkata police.    

32 migrant labourers rescued from Balangir

BALANGIR: A special team of the district administration rescued 32 migrant labourers along with their 19 children from Harishankar Road railway station in Balangir district on Monday.

The rescued labourers belonged to Patnagarh area of the district, said official sources. The team rescued them when they were waiting to go Andhra Pradesh to work in brick kilns, said the officials.

Meanwhile, Balangir police arrested a labourer contractor from the spot who was taking them to the worksite. 

3 enclosures inaugurated in Nandankanan

--Now visitors can see world’s smallest monkeys

BARANG: On the occasion of 54th Foundation Day of Nandankanan Zoological Park, Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray inaugurated three new enclosures for wild hares, amphibians and Marmoset monkeys inside the zoo here on Sunday.  

One of the attractions of the zoo was the enclosure for Marmoset, which is known as the world’s smallest monkey. The zoo authorities have spent Rs 4.49 lakh for the construction of the new enclosure. It is developed in 780 sqft of area inside the zoo to give a favourable atmosphere for three pairs of Marmosets, zoo official sources said.

Marmosets are about 20 cm long and they show some apparently primitive features relative to other monkeys. These animals are native to Central and South America. From the size point of view, one can hold a Marmoset with the help of a finger, said Sanctuary Range Officer Anjan Kumar Mohanty.

Similarly, the enclosure for a pair of wild hares is developed in 540 sqft of area at the cost of Rs 2.61 lakh, while amphibian enclosure has been constructed at the cost of Rs 6.5 lakh to house 12 types of frogs, said the zoo authorities.

Gracing the occasion, the Minister said they would try to enhance the quality of the zoo to attract more visitors. As a first step, they would start work for reconstruction of the Kanjia Lake inside the zoo area, he added.

On the issue of the wild tiger, which was captured by the zoo officials in the month of May this year, would be released within 15 days. He also said that they would bring mate for zoo’s single animals including Orangutan, Rhinoceros, Giraffe and Zebra.

Notably, the zoo, which is developed in 376 hectares of area, was established by the then Chief Minister Dr HK Mahtab in 1960. Now it has housed 2185 creatures of 126 species, zoo official sources said. 

Routray felicitated employees of the zoo for their excellent job. Among others, Forest Secretary RK Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) BP Singh, Nandankanan Zoo Director Sudarshan Panda, Deputy Director Manoj V Nair and Sanctuary Range Officer Anjan Kumar Mohanty were present.  

Two guns, bomb making articles seized in Narayanpatna

JEYPORE: Joint forces of the Narayanpatna police and the BSF on Sunday seized two country-made guns and bomb making materials from a forest in Narayanpatna area in Koraput district while conducting a combing operation against Maoists.

During the combing operation in Kamipadar forest under Balipeta gram panchayat, the joint forces suddenly found two guns and bomb making materials like urea and splinters from a cave in the forest.

According to Palur camp BSF Assistant Commandant Rakesh Kumar and Narayanpatna IIC PR Chhotray, nobody was arrested from the spot so far.

AIIMS to register families with cancer history

--Admission of Indoor Patients begins

                                                                                     

BHUBANESWAR: For the first time in the country, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar is going to start registering families with cancer history in order to check high risk among the fellow family members, informed the medical authorities here on Sunday.

According to Radiation Oncology Professor Dillip Kumar Parida, they would register the families with cancer patients. “After registering their names, we will conduct tests and will counsel them to identify the risk factor of the disease,” said Parida, adding, “We will try to check the risk after identifying the persons with breast cancer, colon cancer and ovary cancer which is known as highly risky and is transmitted through genes to their children.” 

Besides, the AIIMS Bhubaneswar began admission of Indoor patients from Saturday. It has activated around 30 beds in basic disciplines of medicine, general surgery and gynecology, said AIIMS Director Prof AK Mohapatra.

“We are taking the patients in a trial run, but it will be streamlined within a week. It will immensely help to start our hospital by mid-January,” Mohapatra said.

Around three operations theatres (OTs) are also set to start functioning by Tuesday. Advanced diagnostic facilities like CT Scan has also started functioning along with ultrasound and X-ray imaging services, sources said.

Voices against CM go shriller in farmer arrest case

--Release farmers unconditionally: Activists

BHUBANESWAR: Several political and social organisations have started demanding unconditional release of 26 members of farmer body Nab Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS), who were arrested for demonstrating in front of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s car near the State Secretariat here on Tuesday.

Leaders across the party line and social activists of more than 100 organisations in the State strongly raised voice against the Chief Minister’s anti-farmer attitude and protested the police action against the agitating farmers.

The process is continuing from the day of the arrest. On Saturday also a group of social activists of different organisations staged dharna in front of the Raj Bhawan and later handed over a memorandum to Governor SC Jamir urging immediate intervention in the matter.

Activists including freedom fighter Bhabani Charan Patnaik, senior journalist Rabi Das, human rights activist Biswapriya Kanungo, Devi Prasad Prusty, Dhanadakanta Mishra, Er Lalitmohan Patnaik, Manoj Jena, Amiya Pandab and Sarboday leader Ramakant Mandal participated in the dharna.

The protesters demanded the State Government to take immediate steps in releasing the farmers unconditionally and to give Rs 500 bonus on minimum support price (MSP) of paddy in stead of announcing a mere Rs 100 bonus. “It is not fair to arrest the farmer leaders like criminals. If the State Government does not release the arrested farmers, we will intensify our protest movements in the State,” said the activists.

Man, son killed in Ganjam, one held

BRAHMAPUR: Two members of a family were killed and a woman was seriously injured when miscreants attacked them at Jagannathpur village under the Patapur police station in Ganjam district on Saturday.

The victims were identified as Gola Swain (60) and his son Rajeev (40), the police said. Critically injured Maya, Gola’s wife, is undergoing treatment at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital here.

According to reports, when the family members were going to the pond for bathing after harvesting the paddy crop on Saturday morning, three miscreants, identified as three brothers, suddenly attacked them.

The police recovered the bodies in a pool of blood near the pond. A person was arrested from the spot and three weapons used in the attack have been seized, said the police.

Land dispute might be the reason behind the murder, said Aska sub divisional police officer Sarah Sharma.

After block office, Maoists blow up bridge in Malkangiri

--bandh observed in Malkangiri-Koraput

MALKANGIRI: After exploding Padia block office this week, armed Maoists blew up a bridge on the river Saberi snapping road link between Kalimela and Padia in Malkangiri district in the wee hours of Saturday.

A group of about 60 ultras triggered a blast using powerful explosives and destroyed the bridge in the wee hours, police said. The incident was apparently aimed at stalling movement of security forces as they were using the vital road to undertake combing operations against the red rebels, police said.

According to Malkangiri SP Akhileswar Singh, the Maoists have created a five-foot-long pit on the road. “Steps are being taken to repair it. They, however, caused no harm to the bridge,” he said.

Maoists used dynamites for the blast, reports said.

In another incident in Kalimela area, Maoists looted the house of a Special Police Officer Lacha Madkami of Sangel village late on Friday night. Earlier, the Maoists had asked Lacha to resign from the SPO post, police said.

Before leaving the spot, the red rebels left behind posters announcing an indefinite bandh in the Koraput-Malkangiri district beginning from Saturday to protest operations by the security forces in the district.

15% of slum people in Bhubaneswar get regular work: Study

--Unorganised labourers live in miserable condition in slums

BHUBANESWAR: Over 15 per cent of slum people living in the capital city are getting regular work, revealed a study conducted by the Centre for Child and Women Development (CCWD) on the socio-economic condition of the unorganised workers in the urban slums here.

The study report which was released at a meeting here on Saturday also found that 45 per cent of the households are living in rented houses and do not avail minimum basic amenities. Only 20 per cent of the households live in semi pucca houses with asbestos roof while rests of them live in Kucha houses in miserable condition, it added.

Out of the total unorganised labourers, the report said, 70 per cent of them are engaged in construction work and the others in petty vending and domestic work. Open defecation was found to have been widely practiced as 50 per cent of the workers are found to be illiterate, the report said.

The report further stated that no social security and proper livelihood, no insurance, EPF and ESI are available for the unorganised workers. They are denied of minimum wages and compensation due to poor enforcement of available legislation in State, it added.

“Though the welfare board has constituted but it is only for the name sake,” the report said, adding, “The responsibility of registration of unorganised workers, developing effective plan and programme for the welfare of the unorganised sector workers has not been taken shape yet.”

Political parties urged to include basic amenities in election manifesto

BHUBANESWAR: “After 67 years of independence, the people of the country still urge the State and the Central Government to provide at least basic amenities which is very unfortunate,” said the experts at a meeting organised by the Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (WNTA) here on Thursday.

WNTA, a national level campaign for participatory governance through empowering people in the electoral process, has initiated the process of preparing peoples manifesto for the Lok Sabha election 2014. After taking suggestions at the State-level meetings, the WNTA would present it before the political parties to include them in their election manifesto.

Experts like senior journalist Rabi Das, Prashant Patnaik, political leaders like Mahendra Parida and social activists like Jagadananda suggested WNTA to include the issues like violence against women, MGNREGS work, water and sanitation, child rights, education, health, poverty, corruption, farmers’ income security, problems of minorities and other issues in the People’s Manifesto.

Keeping in view of the size of the State, socio-economic, geographic and demographic setting of the State, 12 out of 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State have been identified for the preparation of Peoples’ manifesto, said Pradeep Baisakh of WNTA.   

Among others, representatives of different political parties, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and media persons participated and deliberated in the meeting.

Governor urged to intervene in arrest of agitating farmers

BHUBANESWAR: Representatives of different organisations on Thursday urged Governor SC Jamir to intervene in the issue of arrest of agitating farmers, who had blocked Chief Minister’s way to the State Secretariat on Tuesday demanding pension to farmers.

Representatives like Preeti Nayak of Milita Odisha Nisha Nibarana Abhiyan (MONNA), Debiprasad Prusti of Utkal Bikash Juba Parishad, Malaya Tripathy of India Against Corruption (IAC), Dr Avinna Hota of world human rights protection association (WHRPA), Kanhucharan Behura of Adarsha Odisha Foundation and Nishikanta Mohapatra of Aam Admi Party (AAP) condemned the arrest of protesters.

Citing the example of former Governor Assaf Alli and his wife Aruna Assaf Alli, the representatives said how the Governor had dealt the issue when students led by former Lok Sabha speaker Rabi Ray staged demonstration in front of Alli’s car. Surprisingly, Governor’s wife Aruna could come out of Alli’s car and had joined with the protesters shouting slogans. The Governor did not order for arrest of the students, rather discussed the problem in a charming face in a friendly environment.

The activists also gave example of AAP leader and would be Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal, who refused for Government security and VIP culture. “Will the Chief Minister learn from these leaders,” questioned the activists.

“The arrested members of the Naba Nirmana Krushaka Sangathan (NNKS) have been continuing their fight for price, prestige and pension for farmers in the State,” said the representatives, adding, “But the State Government is trying to shut their mouth by attaching criminal sections in the case.”

Anganwadi workers on war path

BHUBANESWAR: Anganwadi workers would restrain them from their duty from January 1 as a mark of protest against delay in salary hike, if the State Government fails to fulfill their demands within the timeframe. It was decided here on Tuesday by the core committee of the All Odisha Anganwadi Ladies Workers Association led by its general secretary Anjali Patel.

Patel said they would stop five main works related to Mamata Yojana, cooking food for children, egg distribution, Gaon Kalyan Samiti, Sabala programme and Self Help Group works. Even they will not prepare any report of their work, she said.

She said that all the Anganwadi Centre (AWC) workers will wear black badges between January 1 and January 15 protesting the Government’s apathy. They would give memorandum to all the MLAs and Ministers to look into the matter. All AWC workers will send postcards to the Governor and Chief Minister demanding hike in their salary, she added.         

26 NNKS members held for obstructing CM convoy

BHUBANESWAR: As many as 26 members of the Nab Nirman Krushak Sangthan (NNKS), a farmers’ body fighting for the cause of farmers in the State, were arrested by the Commissionerate Police for blocking Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s car when it was entering into the State Secretariat here on Tuesday.

The agitating members of the organisation suddenly came running in front of the Chief Minister’s convoy and tried to block the road in front of Jaydev Bhavan. The members flaunting placards and shouting slogans lied on the road which took the police for a ride while clearing the road. Later the Chief Minister’s convoy changed the route to reach the Secretariat, said the police sources.

According to the Twin City Police Commissioner Dr RP Sharma they had taken all measures after getting information about the plan of a group of rowdy elements to demonstrate near Naveen Niwas, but unfortunately the agitators created the problem on the way of the Chief Minister to the State Secretariat. “After arresting 26 agitators, we have regiatsred a case against them. This is a criminal incident and we’ll take stringent action against them,” Sharma said.

The same farmers’ body, whose members a few days back had demonstrated in the visitors’ gallery of the State Assembly protesting the Government’s anti-farmer policy, on Monday served a 24-hour ultimatum to the State Government to announce provision of Rs 500 as bonus per quintal of paddy and Rs 2,000 as pension for cyclone Phailin-affected farmers.

Notably, the members of the NNKS had staged a demonstration in front of the Naveen Niwas and tried to gherao it violating prohibitory orders under section 144 Cr PC on December 17 last year. As many as 58 persons were arrested in connection with the case.

Four arrested in palm chopping case

--State provides Rs 4 lakh aid to each victim 

NUAPADA/BHUBANESWAR: Finally, the Nuapada police on Wednesday arrested four persons from Kotamal village under Khariar block in Nuapada district suspecting their involvement in chopping off the right hands of the migrant labourers of Kalahandi district.

The four persons were identified as Arta Dundi, Parabeswar Dundi, Bana Majhi and Baikuntha Rout of Kotamal village under the Khariar police station. “After nabbing the culprits from their villager, we handed them over to the Kalahandi police for further investigation,” said Khariar IIC Sibaram Sahoo.

Meanwhile, the District Press Club of Nuapada conducted a meeting on Wednesday to discuss about the issue of torture and exploitation of migrant labourers in the district. The members of the Press Club submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India and the Chief Minister of Odisha to formulate a concrete policy on the serious issue. They also sent letters to MLAs and MPs of the State requesting them to think seriously about a national policy on the migration and migrant labourers.

After two days of the incident, the State Government on Wednesday announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the two migrant labourers. Labour and Employment Minister Bijayshree Routray said the State Government would also bear the entire cost towards the treatment of these two labourers, who are presently undergoing treatment at the district headquarters hospital at Bhawanipatna.

Expressing grave concern over the issue, Routray said the Government would soon amend the relevant act to provide greater protection to migrant labourers and to take strong action against unscrupulous labour contractors.

Notably, a contractor and his henchmen had chopped off the right hands of two migrant labourers- Dialu Nial of Pipalguda and Nilambar Dhangda Majhi of Nuaguda villages under Jaipatna police station in Kalahandi district on Sunday night when they expressed their inability to go outside the State for working there.

‘Return used mining areas to villagers’

BHUBANESWAR: During an interface with Revenue Minister Surjya Narayan Patro at a meeting organised by the Development Initiatives here, displaced dalit and adivasi people of mining areas on Tuesday suggested him to take steps to return the lands after finishing of mining in the acquired land.

Patro while releasing a study report on ‘Mining and Land Rights of Dalits and Marginalised communities in Odisha’, hailed the suggestion and said that he would try to induct it in future during signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) with any corporate houses. “Usually the acquired land lying unused after mining and it is a good idea to reuse the land by the villagers in farming after filling soil and sand within it,” the Minister added.    

The dalit and adivasi leaders said the company should fill the hollows with soil and sand after mining and return it to the displaced people. Which would be a good corporate social responsibility (CSR) for the companies, they added.

Development Initiatives secretary Manas Jena, head of the research team that conducted the study covering ten mining tehsils of eight districts, said that one lakh hectares of land have been given in lease to 600 companies within last 50 years. Out of the total lease land, 50 per cent have been allotted to the Central and the State Government, while the rest of the lands have been given to private companies. Most of the mining areas are situated in the tribal and dalit dominated areas in the State as a result thousands of SC and ST people are migrating every year due to industrialisation. “The State Government didn’t take the problems of displaced people seriously for which reason the landless people are living in miserable condition,” Jena said.

He further said the State Government failed to implement Vasundhara Scheme and the Orissa Government Land Settlement Act, 1962 in true spirit. Different industries have been continuing their business here even encroaching lands of common people, he said, adding, “The companies should restrict their operations within the lease area and in cases where the land is indirectly affected due to mining; it should be compensated and covered under land reclamation programme.”      

    

ECI to speed up its campaign in State to increase voter turn out

--16.5 lakh voter ID cards in State deleted from electoral roll

BHUBANESWAR: Election Commission of India (ECI) would speed up its campaigns in the State in order to increase voter turnout in the upcoming General Election 2014. It was informed by the ECI Director General Akshay Rout at a Press meet here on Tuesday.

A day before the two-day consultation on voters’ participation organised by the ECI and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Rout said they have initiated an effective programme the Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) to enhance voter participation and awareness in the country and it will be used in Odisha also.

He said the purpose of this campaign was to inform, motivate and facilitate every eligible voter. The campaign would also focus on registration of eligible voters and to increase voters’ awareness and education for participation in electoral process.

“We have created history in voter turnout percentage by initiating SVEEP programme in five States where the election ended recently,” said Rout, adding, “Due to the programme, women participation in casting vote has been increased than last election.”

He said that percentage of women participation in Chhattishgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Mizoram was historic. Except Madhya Pradesh, the percentage women voter turnout was the highest than males in other four States, he added.

“As the women (64.90 per cent) participation in casting vote is low than men (65.67 per cent), we hope the programme will help in increasing women voter turnout in Odisha,” said Rout.

Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha Mona Sharma said that they have taken several steps to stop issuing more than one voter ID to a person. Even they have started deleting names of deceased persons from voters’ list. “We have deleted 16.5 lakh voter IDs in the State during the special drive between April and July this year,” she added.    

Persons involved in hand chopping case identified

--3 police teams conducting raids to nab culprits

BHAWANIPATNA: The Kalahandi police on Tuesday identified the contractor and his four henchmen involved in chopping off the hands of two contract labourers after they refused to go outside the State.

Talking to media persons, Inspector General of Police, South-Western, YK Jethwa said that they have already identified the persons involved in the case and started a manhunt to nab the culprits. In order to speed up the investigation, three police teams have been formed to nab the contractor and his henchmen, he added.

Kalahandi SP Sarthak Sarangi said the villagers of the victims helped them in identifying the perpetrators who threw away the victims at a roadside after chopping off their right hands on Monday evening. “Our teams are searching in and outside of the district and we will arrest the culprits very soon,” Sarangi said.

On the other hand, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Headquarters, PK Baliarsingh said that they would take appropriate action against the contractor according to the provision of the law.    

Meanwhile, the two victims, Nilambar Dhangada Majhi and Pialu Dhangada Majhi of from Nuaguda under the Jayapatna police station, are struggling for life at the District Headquarters Hospital here. The district administration assured the victims to give them free treatment.  

Notably, the labour contractor from Sinapali area of Nuapada district was taking the victims, along with ten others from their village, to Chhattisgarh for working in brick kilns.

The labourers from Nuaguda village had taken an advance of Rs 14,000 each from the contractor with a promise that they would go to Andhra Pradesh as labourers after harvesting their paddy crop. But before completion of the harvest work, the contractor reached Nuaguda and forcibly took away 12 people from the village in a Bolero jeep on Sunday.

On the way, 10 out of the 12 labourers managed to flee from the clutches of the contractor near Belpada under the Borda police outpost area in Kalahandi, but Nilambar and Pialu could not. Angry at the escape of the other labourers, the middleman chopped off the right hands of both. “If you are not going to work for us, you will not be able to work for anybody,” the contractor and his henchmen reportedly told them.

Scribes stage dharna expressing unhappy over Minister's reply

BHUBANESWAR: Expressing unhappy over the reply of Information and Public Relation Minister Arun Kumar Sahu in the Assembly regarding their seven-point charter of demands, working journalists staged dharna in front of the Gopabandhu statue in the premises of the State Assembly here on Monday.

The agitating journalists said that there was no new thing in Sahu’s statement. He was repeating the old things while discussing with the journalists. “After several discussions and assurances from the State Government, the same old thing happened,” said a scribe, adding, “No particular announcements have been made by the Minister keeping in view of the scribes’ demands.”

Cutting across party line, members in the Assembly on December 11 had expressed concern over the plight of the working journalists and had demanded that the Government should fulfill their demands immediately.

The issue came in for a marathon discussion for about one and a half hours during Zero hour in the House which had witnessed noisy scenes. All the leaders had demanded that the scribes should be provided minimum facilities.

“But nothing happened what the journalists had expected. We got cheated again by the State Government,” said another scribe.

Nandankanan to have world’s smallest monkey

Marmoset monkey

BARANG: Visitors can have a glimpse of the smallest monkeys of the world, Marmoset, at the Nandankanan Zoological Park here soon, said the zoo authorities on Sunday.

Talking to http://aryaputras.blogspot.in, zoo Assistant Director Kamal Lochan Purohit said the construction of the enclosure for the monkeys has been completed. The date of arrival of the monkeys has not been finalised, but it would be confirmed very soon, he said.

The authorities would bring two pairs of Marmoset monkeys in the first phase. “The enclosure is ready and visitors can get pleasure to see the cute animals very soon,” Purohit said.

According to the zoo sources, Rs 3.5 lakh has been spent for the construction of the new enclosure which would give a favourable atmosphere for the monkeys to live in. 

Notably, Marmosets are about 20 cm long and they show some apparently primitive features relative to other monkeys. These animals are native to Central and South America. From the size point of view, one can hold a Marmoset with the help of a finger, said the sanctuary Range Officer Anjan Kumar Mohanty.  

State’s 1st top-open enclosure for leopards in Nandankanan soon

BARANG: As a new initiative to attract visitors in and outside of the State, authorities of the Nandankanan Zoological Park would inaugurate a top-open enclosure for the leopards inside the zoo area soon, said zoo assistant director Kamal Lochan Purohit.

“It is first of its kind in the State and will attract visitors in a good number,” Purohit said, adding, “Except some minor works, we have almost completed the work of the enclosure and probably the work will be completed by January first week.”

The top-open enclosure is developed in 1500 square metres of area inside the zoo. According to the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), a four-meter high fence made up of iron surrounding the enclosure will be built up and on the top of it would have a one-meter high stainless steel plates.

The steel plates connected with wires will remain downward facing the enclosure. There would be enough safety measures to prevent the animals from climbing and jumping out. On the top the steel plate, the wire will be connected to solar charged battery which would give shock to the leopard if it touches it. The shock will not harm the animal as its intensity is very low.

Inside the enclosure, the zoo authorities have created a green atmosphere for the leopards so that the animals can feel like roaming in the forest. Even the authorities have made arrangements so that visitors can enjoy seeing the wildness of the animals in the roof less enclosure.

Now, the zoo has total seven leopards (four female and three male). After completion of the work of the enclosure, two pairs of leopards will be shifted to the top-open enclosure, said Purohit.       

CPI (ML) Lib to contest for 3 MP, 18 MLA seats in State

--Party’s Central Committee holds 3-day meet in city

BHUBANESWAR: The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation State council would field candidates for three Lok Sabha seats and 18 Assembly seats in the State. It was decided by the State leadership with the presence of Central leaders during the final day of a three-day meet of party’s Central Committee here on Sunday.

The State leaders said that they would contest in three important Lok Sabha seats Puri, Kalahandi and Koraput. These three areas would bring good result for the party in the General Election 2014, the leaders added.

Besides, the Central Committee said, the party would field candidates from around 70 seats in 14 States across the country.

During an important discussion with politburo members, party general secretary comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya analysed various political and social issues and called upon the party leaders to focus on the issues while campaigning for the fast approaching election.

Bhattacharya and his colleagues thoroughly discussed about nine points regarding recent poll result in five States and AAP’s rising in Delhi, Muzaffarnagar communal riot and BJP’s stand, security for women, protest by LGBT community against Supreme Court’s verdict, Modi’s illegal surveillance on a woman and demand for a separate bill for Telengana.  

In the nine-point decision, the Central Committee condemned Naveen-led BJD Government’s witch-hunt of CPI (ML) Liberation activists in Rayagada due to which six activists of the party have been arrested on false grounds of being ‘Maoists’. The party demanded immediate release of the arrested comrades and an end to the State Government’s policies of corporate loot of tribals’ land, water and forests.

Odisha Jan Morcha gets kite symbol

--Samruddha Odisha gets torch, KMM obtains candles symbol  

BHUBANESWAR: Finally, the Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) got ‘Kite’ as party symbol to contest in the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) poll on January 8 and the General Election 2014 after the party got registered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) on April 9 this year.

OJM president and Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra unveiled his party symbol ‘kite’ in a meeting at the party office here on Thursday with the presence of its leaders following a motorcycle procession from airport to Mohapatra’s residence.

Mohapatra said that their party would help the youth and other people of the State to touch the sky just like their party’s symbol kite. They will not give false hopes or commitments to the people of the State like BJD Government, he said, adding, “We will bring smile on millions of faces by materialising their dream to live peacefully.”

Though Mohapatra didn’t divulge any detail about fielding of candidates in all 67 seats of the BMC, he clarified that they would contest the BMC election prior to the General Election. A six-member election committee headed by former BMC Mayor and OJM vice-president Mihir Mohanty would finalise the candidates’ name and would plan for the campaign and other process, he added.

The OJM chief said they have completed their Jan Adhikar Yatra, a political campaign of the party, in 92 Assembly constituencies. Campaign for the rest constituencies will begin from Sunday, he added. “Like Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), we will do the best in Odisha. We are happy with the symbol and we will come with flying colour,” said Mohapatra.

Similarly, the ECI has given torch light and candles symbols to Samruddha Odisha and Koshal Mukti Morcha respectively.

According to Samruddha Odisha general secretary Prabir Mohanty, his party would contest the coming Assembly and Lok Sabha poll with the torch light symbol.     

    

       

Seven villagers abducted by Maoists in Malkangiri

MALKANGIRI: Suspecting as police informers, a group of armed Maoists abducted seven villagers including a ward member from two villages Ramaguda and Chintalaguda under the Kalimela police limits in Malkangiri district on Thursday, police sources said.

Village panchayat ward member, Tulasi Behera, was taken by the ultras from Chintanwada village, while six others were abducted from Ramaguda after Maoists called them out of their homes, the sources said.

                     

The six others were identified as Budra Sodi, Budra Padiami, Deba Padiami, Suba Khara, Rama Behera and Jaga Madkami.

Earlier, Maoists had kidnapped three persons, including Gamphakunda sarpanch’s son Padia Madi on December 4. One of them escaped the next day, while the other two were released on December 7.

Maoists kill two, torch vehicles in Koraput

-- Abducted M’giri Sarpanch’s son freed

MALKANGIRI/JEYPORE: Again the Maoists unleashed terror by killing two persons and torching vehicles in Koraput district on Saturday night.

According to reports, a group of over 30 armed Maoists conducted a raid at Kumbhariput village under Bandhugaon police limits late on Saturday night and terrorised the people by killing two persons and torching two road rollers, a JCB and a tractor owned by ARSS Company.

Bodies of two persons with their throats slit open have been recovered on Sunday morning. They have been identified as Huika Daso(50) and Saraka Bandu (50). The Maoists alleged that the duo was acting as police informers, sources said.

They have also ransacked a telephone exchange, police sources said.

In another incident, the Maoists released two abducted villagers on Sunday threatening them to stop directly or indirectly helping the security forces, after four days of abduction of tribals from Gamphakonda village in Malkangiri district.

On Thursday, one among the three tribals whom the Maoists had abducted on Wednesday night got escaped from the clutches of the ultras. The other two including Gamphakonda Sarpanch’s son Padia Madhi reached the village on Sunday.

The Maoists alleged that they were helping the security forces in the anti-Maoist operations. During Padia’s release, the ultras threatened him to tell his father and Gamphakonda Sarpanch Irma Madhi to resign from his post.

After the abductions, a joint team of BSF and DVF jawans had launched search operations in the Tundukibatla forest near Gamphakonda resulting in an exchange of fire between the Maoists and the security personnel for about two hours on Thursday.

State AAP celebrates party’s good show in Delhi

BHUBANESWAR: Members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State committee on Sunday celebrated overwhelming support of voters in the recently ended Assembly poll in Delhi.

When the counting of votes was going on in Delhi, the AAP members here were busy in rejoicing the good show of their debutant party. After the celebration, AAP State committee convener Nishikant Mohapatra at a Press meet here described the success as win over black money, liquor and muscle power of age old parties like Congress and BJP.

Mohapatra said the party’s success in Delhi elections would send a strong message to rest of the country. “It proves that people now want complete change in system followed by so called major political parties such as Congress and BJP,” said Mohapatra.

He said that BJP and Congress have failed completely to oppose the ruling BJD in the State. In days to come, Aam Aadmi Party would emerge as an alternative to BJD in Odisha by spreading awareness among people regarding their basic rights, he added.

Committees to be formed in city to help police

BHUBANESWAR: Now the public would help the police in controlling crime in the city as the Commissionerate Police has proposed to form street-level committees to keep peace in the city. It was decided during an interface between the police and the public at Amarpalli of Sailashree Vihar in the city on Sunday.

During the discussion, the police suggested that a committee be formed to maintain law and order in the areas of the city.  

“During the last interface at Chandrasekharpur, we had decided to curb criminal activities on a pilot basis. Today’s interface was the follow-up of the last interface,” said Twin City Police Commissioner Dr RP Sharma.

Several people have given suggestions to maintain peace in these areas. Two committees would be formed at Sailashree Vihar and Niladri Vihar to materialise the pilot plan.

The committees would work with the police after listing out their problems in the area. The committee would choose a person who would communicate with the police about any criminal activities in the area. “With the coordinated efforts, we can bring peace in the areas,” said Sharma.

Sailashree Vihar Development Council president Shyamsunder Subudhi hailed the decision which was taken in the interface.       

‘Implement SC judgment of 3% job reservation for PWDs’

BHUBANESWAR: “State must implement the Supreme Court’s judgment to provide three per cent job reservation for persons with disabilities (PWDs),” said senior Supreme Court counsel Santosh Kumar Rungta while inaugurating a consultation on ‘Right to Employment for the Persons with Disabilities’ organised by international development organisation Sightsavers here on Friday.

The consultation was the outcome of a landmark judgment given by the Supreme Court on October 8, 2013 which directed the Central and all the State Governments to implement the judgment within three months mandating three per cent reservation for persons with disabilities in Government jobs.

Rungta stressed that the State Government should take immediate action to compute the vacancies in the Government jobs for the PWDs and take immediate action to fill up the vacancies as per the Person’s With Disabilities Act 1995.

Representing the State Government, State Disability Commissioner Kasturi Mohapatra said the State Government would take the judgment to action. “The State Government is committed to the cause of disable persons and it will take all actions for the compliance of the judgment,” she added.

Among others, social inclusion advisor for Sightsavers Ketan Kothari, Area Director of Sightsavers Sabitra Kundu, Sameera Ahmed, Akbar Mehfuz Alam of the organisation were present.

‘International Child Art Exhibition’ inaugurated

--Over 1100 child artists’ work displayed   

BHUBANESWAR: ‘International Child Art Exhibition’- the Biggest Art Show of the World inaugurated at Jayadev Bhawan by Ekamra MLA Ashok Panda, former ambassador Abasara Beuria and Odisha Lalitakala Academy president Siba Panigrahi here on Sunday.

More than 1100 Child Artists participated and displayed their art works from all over the world. In this exhibition, child artists portrayed art works over climate change, culture, social awareness, parental pressure on child and tried to draw attention on several social issues. This unique exhibition was organised by Orissa Modern Art Gallery (OMAG) during last three years.    

On the occasion of Shilpi Diwas, OMAG felicitated the young and inspiring artist Mayadhar Rout. OMAG also awarded DPS Kalinga, Puja Pratyusha Centre (Art School), Aradhana English Medium School (Karnataka) for ‘Best entry Awards’, while Best Art teacher Award went to Rajiv Dey of Odisha, Nagraj Kumbhar of Gulberg and Bijay Kumar Panda of Odisha. Best Art teacher consolation award went to Hemanta Mallick, Anjali Sahoo and Pranati Sahoo.

Speaking at the evening’s proceedings, OMAG founder Tarakant Parida said the award programme recognises the efforts of these children who has demonstrated a unique approach for country’s great culture and arts. OMAG celebrated Shilpi Diwas with their ideas and innovation that drive growth of Odia culture.

The exhibition will continue for three days (from December 8 to 10) and on the last day OMAG will award 110 child artists for their participation in the exhibition.

The United States and India Work to Improve Tuberculosis Treatment

NEW DELHI: The United States has given grants to “The Grand Challenges in Tuberculosis Control.”  This program supports Indian innovators to improve TB treatment adherence through out-of-the-box innovations.  It enables scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs to develop new solutions through seed funding and rigorous mentoring.  This is an initiative by IKP Knowledge Park, Hyderabad in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Winners of $30,000 in grants were recently announced for their innovative ideas providing technology-driven solutions that will substantially strengthen TB control in India.

USAID/India Mission Director John Beed notes that “India is a global leader in information technology and is strategically placed to accelerate the development and widespread use of new technologies that could transform TB control. Through this partnership, we have been able to identify cutting edge innovative solutions to address treatment adherence.  It’s clear that India’s innovators are motivated to integrate technology and health for the good of public health.”

The Grand Challenges in Tuberculosis Control program aims to nurture ideas that are innovative, sustainable, and can be scaled.  The selected teams will demonstrate a prototype that will be evaluated at the end of six months, and four teams will receive additional funding of $100,000 each.  A few will also be provided with networks and marketing channels to commercialize their innovations.  The proposed ideas range from low-end smart phone applications to electronic pillboxes.