State-level theatre fest from Jan 12 in Brahmapur

BRAHMAPUR: Four-day long 7th State-level Theatre Festival organised by the Odisha Natak Samaroha Samitee (ONSS) would begin from January 12 in the city. 

It was informed by the ONSS president Anil Kumar Patra after attending a preparation meeting held here on Saturday afternoon. 

Patra said theatre groups of Bhawanipatna, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Ganjam and Rourkela would participate in the festival. He also informed that his organisation would also organise zone level theatre festival along with the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademy. 

ONSS secretary Dr Mihir Tripathy, Sankarshan Sabat, Arati Patnaik, Bimal Sahu, dramatist Raju Padhy and other members of the organisation were present in the preparation meeting.                  

Continuous effort can make BU excellent institute: Pradeep Panigrahy

--noted poet Keki N Daruwalla gets first Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja national award

BRAHMAPUR: “Continuous effort of the management and professors of the Berhampur University can make it an excellent institute in the country,” said Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahy while inaugurating 49th foundation day ceremony of the university here on Friday.  

Panigrahy called upon the professors, university management, students and intellectuals to help the university to get a good position in the country’s education map. He expressed happiness over the university’s progress and hoped for a prosperous day ahead. 

On the occasion of the foundation day, noted poet and Padma Shri award winner Keki Nasserwanji Daruwalla was conferred on first Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja national award for his excellent continuation towards the field of poem. The award instituted by the university in memory of Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja carries Rs 1 lakh, shawl and citation. 

Besides, noted dramatist Raju Padhi and painter Dr Durgaprasad Das were also felicitated by the university authority. 

Vice Chancellor Prof Deepak Kumar Behera chaired the inaugural ceremony, while Registrar Manmath Nath Padhy presented annual report. 

       

Inquiry into delay in AICTE approval to PMEC demanded

BRAHMAPUR: Brahmapur Nagarika Manch (BNM), a civil society organisation, has demanded parity in the matter of AICTE approval to technical colleges in the State and an inquiry into delay in granting the approval to the Parala Maharaja Engineering College (PMEC) in Brahmapur.

BNM member and former Deputy Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly Ram Chandra Panda has written a letter to the Union Minister of Human Resources Development in this regard. In his letter, Panda said the PMEC and the Government College of Engineering in Bhawanipatna, established by the State Government in 2009 for development of technical education in backward regions, failed to get necessary approval from the AICTE.

Panda stated that the colleges have sound infrastructure with good hostel facilities like PMEC where 37 teaching staffs were engaged with an intake capacity of 63 in each of four departments which are not available in many colleges including some private ones, but why the AICTE is delaying to give approval to the colleges, he questioned.

“I am told that advisor of AICTE has informed to the regional office at Calcutta to process the application of the above college for 2012 - 13. The regional office has not taken any concrete steps so far to process the matter creating uncertainty in the minds of the students and their parents,” said Panda.

BNM member Panda quoting the public perception said that some private institutions with lesser infrastructure have been approved by AICTE, while there is delay in case of the Government colleges, not because of merit obviously for other reasons.

Beach festival at Gopalpur-on-sea begins

RONALISA PARIDA

BRAHMAPUR: The famous Gopalpur Beach Festival at Gopalpur-on-Sea, 24 km from here, has begun on Monday. The five-day long cultural extravaganza was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

“In order to develop the tourism and infrastructure of the State, the kind of festivals are welcomed. As Ganjam has a glorious history of various folk arts and literature and the land has given great poets like Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja and Kavi Surya Baldev Ratha to the State, the beach festival will promote its culture throughout the world,” said Patnaik in his inaugurating speech.

Giving a lucid idea of developing the Gopalpur sea beach, he said that plans would be worked out under the Integrated Coastal Zone Development and new economic projects would be implemented soon with the expenditure of Rs 4 crore for the wellbeing of the fishermen communities living in the area.

“People involved in saving the Olive Ridleys at the time of breeding, alternative livelihoods will be provided to them, Patnaik said, adding, “As many as 200 Self Help Groups will be appointed for the purpose.”

In order to stop the erosion of the sea, Patnaik stated, plans are made and scientific groups are assigned to study the situation. The report of the study would be submitted within April 2013, he mentioned.

The Cultural extravaganza began with the Odishi performance of Dona Ganguly. The cultural part including Jodi Sankha, Ranapa Dance, Ghanta Murdanga, Kathak Fusion Dance and animal mask dance were performed by the artists. The Chhau Dance of Mayurbhanj was one of the attractions in the evening.

On the first day of the festival, 180 stalls were opened at the Pallisri Mela where Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society, District Industries Centre, District Supply and Marketing Society, Horticulture and Agriculture Department have opened number of stalls to show their products in the festival.

Among others, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patro, Rural Development and Cooperation Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh, Brahmapur MLA RCC Patnaik, Chatrapur MLA Adikanda Sethy, Gopalpur MLA Praddep Panigrahi and BJD party members were present at the opening session of the festival.

Ganjam farmers to block NH on Dec 31 demanding bonus on paddy

BRAHMAPUR: Farmers of Ganjam district would block National Highway-5 at Chatrapur, 25 km from here, demanding Rs 300 bonus on Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy and opening of paddy procurement cells (Mandis) at the panchayat-level according to the Government guidelines. It was decided by the Rushikulya Ryot Mahasabha (RRM) and Odisha Chasi Suraksha Abhiyan (OCSA) during a district-level farmers’ convention at Purusottampur in the district on Sunday.

Attending the farmers’ convention, Western Odisha Farmers’ Coordination Committee leader Bibhudatta Patnaik said the Ganjam farmers should start movement unitedly to get their rights like western Odisha farmers. Nexus between the Mill owners with Government officials left the farmers in tizzy, he added.

Activist Prafulla Samantara said the State Government is planning to give the land, water and forest of the poor people in the hand of corporate houses for which the farmers should protest unitedly to get their rights. OCSA convener Rabi Rath called upon the farmers to raise their voice against the anti-Government policy of the State and Central Government.

RRM president Trinath Biswal and Secretary Simanchal Nahak demanded the Government to take immediate steps to stop distress sale of paddy and give Rs 2,000 per quintal as MSP of paddy. They also demanded the Government to issue same guidelines across the State to purchase paddy, pension for the farmers, adequate crop insurance and granting of Rs 10,000 per acre as crop loss compensation to the farmers by revising of 1998 relief code.

Among others, Kabisurya Baladev Krushak Sangh president Prashant Swain, Basundhara Krushak Sangathan secretary Narayan Sethy, Baldevji Krushak Sangh secretary Raghunath Sahu, members of OCSA Gajapati district, Chasi Kranti Manch leader Brundaban Behera and Ratanei Krushak Sangh secretary Narayan Pradhan were present.           

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.    

        

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.

Man shot dead at home

BRAHMAPUR: Some unidentified miscreants gunned down a 35-year-old man at his residence here on Monday, police said. The deceased was identified as B Rameya, a trader, who was living with his family at Shanti Nagar area under Badabazar police station limits in the city.

According to the police, the miscreants shot at him as soon as the deceased opened the door after hearing a knock. His wife and children were asleep inside the house when the incident took place.

He was rushed to the MKCG Medical College here after the incident, but the doctors declared him brought dead. Police are in dark about the culprits and the reason behind the brutal incident yet to come up.

“We are investigating into the matter. The accused will be nabbed very soon,” said Brahmapur SP Prateek Mohanty.

Miscreants loot money after attacking man in Brahmapur

BRAHMAPUR: Some unidentified miscreants looted Rs 4 lakh from a person after attacking him with a sharp weapon near the main branch of the State Bank of India at Shantinagar area here on Monday, police said.

The incident happened when victim Gagan Bihari Panigrahi from Patanagarh area under Hinjilikatu block in Ganjam district was coming to a co-operative bank to deposit Rs 4 lakh after withdrawing the money from the SBI main branch here. The looters attacked Panigrahi before snatching the money bag, the police added.

Panigrahi said that he has no enemy in the locality and he was unaware of any attack upon him. When he opened the lock of his cycle parked near the SBI branch, an unidentified man attacked from his backside and snatched the money bag in the presence of public, he added.

Injured Panigrahi was admitted to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital here. A complaint was lodged at Baidyanath Pur police station in this regard. Police are investigating into the matter.

Girl injured as parcel bomb explodes in Ganjam

BRAHMAPUR: A girl was injured when she came in contact with a parcel containing bomb that exploded all of a sudden at Haladiapadar village on the outskirts of the city in Ganjam district on Friday.

According to sources, some one had left a parcel near the girl’s house at Pandara sahi of the village. On Friday morning, the incident occurred when the girl tried to open the unidentified parcel looking like a gift packet tied to the iron grills of her house. “Suddenly we hear a blast sound near the house and when we went there we found the girl unconscious lying on the floor,” said a nighbour. 

She was rushed to the MKCG Medical College Hospital here and her condition was stable.

Three Odia minor girls rescued from Goa

BRAHMAPUR: Three minor girls rescued by the Goa police were handed over to Brahmapur Childline here on Thursday. Out of the three girls, two belong to Kandhamal and one from Gajapati district, Childline sources said.

According to the sources, one local broker had sent three minor girls to Goa after trafficking from the two districts. The girls were engaged as child labourers at a house there. They were getting torture physically and orally. Their employer was not paying them. Even the employer was not giving sufficient food, said the Childline officials.

On a tip off, Goa police rescued the girls from the house and kept in a shelter home there. Later, the police informed the Brahmapur Childline and handed over the girls on Thursday.

“In the second phase, the Goa police would send five more Odia girls who were working there,” said Brahmapur Childline director and Campaign Against Child Labour State convener Sudhir Sabat.        

Woman jumps in front of train with 2 children in Ganjam, 2 die

BRAHMAPUR: In an unfortunate incident, a woman jumped in front of the train with her two children, including a six months baby girl, at Ramnagar near Brahmapur railway station in Ganjam district on Saturday. The mother and the baby girl died on the spot, while the critically injured son is admitted in the MKCG Medical College Hospital here.

There was no information regarding the identity of the woman, though her son said in Telugu that they came from Bengaluru. The bodies of the girl and the woman were found on the railway track at Ramnagar. The survivor of the suicide attempt, son of the woman, received grievous head injury. The police have started inquiry into the matter after registering a case of unnatural death, sources said.

According to State Treatment Fund (STF) nodal officer Bhabani Shankar Sahu, as the survivor has no caretakers and family members, he would be treated freely with the help of the STF. “The administration will take care of the child till he is cured. Childline also came forward to look after the child in rotation wise,” Sahu said.    

Childline rescues baby from Brahmapur

BRAHMAPUR: Childline rescued a one and a half month old girl child from a couple at the Baguli Street in the city on Thursday. The baby is now with the Childline, said its director Sudhir Sabat.

According to the Childline, one A P Kamakshi (name changed) of Sheragarh area in Ganjam district wanted to sell her child in Baguli Street where three competitors agreed to take the child home, but a person Iswar Rao of the street won the bid by offering Rs 5,000 to the mother of the baby. When Rao promised to pay the money on Saturday, she left her child and returned to her village, the Childline officials said.

On a tip-off, the Childline members Anil Kumar Panda and Uma Prasad Choudhury conducted a raid on the house and rescued the girl child from Rao couple. The Rao couple said the woman had left the baby in front of their house, while the Childline members asked Rao that why they did not call the police after getting the baby.

The Childline is searching for the mother of the baby. After that the members of the Childline would request the district administration to help her otherwise to send the baby to the adoption centre through the Child Welfare Committee, said Childline director Sabat.               

Miscreants loot Rs 13 lakh from trader in Ganjam

BRAHMAPUR: Five unidentified miscreants looted Rs 13 lakh from a trader at Rambha town in Ganjam district, 45 km away from here, when the trader was coming to the State Bank of India local branch to deposit his money on Tuesday. The police are interrogating a person in connection with the loot case.

Anil Kumar Subudhi, a local trader and kerosene dealer from Rambha town, was coming to the local SBI branch to deposit his money. While coming to the bank five bike-borne unidentified miscreants came to him and looted all the money at gun point and managed to escape from the spot within no time, said the police.

“We are investigating into the matter. We are interrogating a person in connection with the case,” said Chatrapur Sub-Divisional Police Officer Santanu Padhi.

According to Subudhi, he was attacked twice before the incident some months ago. He was attacked by the miscreants at Keshpur Ghati, but he managed to escape from the clutches of the miscreants, while his bike dicky was damaged by the miscreants at Balugaon, Subudhi added.     

Officials conduct raid on diagnostic centre in Ganjam

BRAHMAPUR: Following the death of a pregnant woman, who had faced ultrasound for sex determination of her foetus in Escort Diagnostics Centre here, a team of officials led by Deputy Director of Family Welfare Rabindra Kumar Mishra conducted raid on the diagnostics center on Thursday to investigate into the matter and to check up the instruments of the centre.

According to sources, Sujata Maharana, wife of Jagannath Maharana of Kankarada under Patapur police station in the district, died on July 30 after allegedly consuming medicines to abort her child. People from her father-in-law’s house took her to Escort Diagnostics to determine the sex. When they knew that Sujata has a girl child, they instigated her for abortion and she was prescribed to take some medicines to abort the child, but she could not resist the reaction of the medicine and died, said Sujata’s father Sudarshan Maharana of Masihakhali near to Kankarada area.

Sujata had already a daughter and the recent ultrasound report made the people of her father-in-law’s house unhappy and they prescribed medicines to abort her child, alleged Sudarshan. He had lodged a complaint before Patapur police against the people of Sujata’s father-in-law’s house.    

According to the PC and PNDT (Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Amendment Act, 2002, determination of sex of the foetus is violation of the law. Section 18 of the PNDT Act states that no person shall open any genetic counselling centre or genetic laboratory or clinic, including centres having ultrasound or imaging machines or scanners or any other technology capable of undertaking determination of sex of foetus, unless it is duly registered under the Act.

MP’s maiden presence in BMC council meet raises eye brow

BRAHMAPUR: Corporators of the Brahmapur Municipal Corporation (BMC) were not happy about the maiden presences of Brahmapur MP Siddhanta Mahapatra in the BMC council meet here on Friday since he has taken over the charge of the constituency. Most of the Corporators questioned that why the MP was not coming to the BMC council meet which makes plans for the development of the city every year.

While Mahapatra said he was not informed in time before any council meeting of the BMC, whereas some meetings also carried out when the Parliament was in session. However, appreciating the Corporators of the BMC after three years of his term for feeling his need of presence in the council meeting, he discussed with the Corporators.

Corporators raised several issues including water supply unit in the city, improper distribution of the BPL cards, power cuts, irregularities in the mid-day meals, poor sanitation, closing of second gate of the MKCG Medical College Hospital and improper functioning of the Berhampur Development Authority.

Alleging the use of poor quality pipes for water supply to the streets, Corporator of Ward number-3, Ashok Sukla said the water lickage from taps is a common thing seen at many areas wasting huge water. Other Corporators also alleged upon the monopoly of Southco and demanded proper distribution of the BPL cards.

Appraising all issues the MP assured to talk with the Chief Executive Officer of the Southco and to reduce the power cuts if possible. However regarding the lack of funds coming to Berhampur, he said that the funds are not only sanctioned for the city, but it is distributed among seven constituencies and till now Rs 1 crore 38 lakh has been given to the BMC, he added.

Dist admin to form squad to visit orphanages after inmate’s death

BRAHMAPUR: Following the death of an inmate of an orphanage, Ganjam district administration has decided to form a multi-disciplinary squad to inspect the orphanages and to examine the problems in the homes.

Recently, one inmate died and several others were afflicted with typhoid at the Utkal Balashram orphanage for girls, where 64 inmates are staying, located here. After the incident, the district administration decided to form a squad comprising officials from social welfare, health, revenue and other departments, which will visit different orphan homes every month and try to sort out their problems, the Additional District Magistrate Nirmal Mishra said.

According to Mishra, there are 11 registered orphanage homes in the district. The district administration passed directions for enrolment of unregistered orphanages as soon as possible otherwise stringent action would be taken against them, he added.

A medical team headed by the Additional District Medical Officer (ADMO) will visit the home to look after the health of the inmates. The ADMO said seven of the inmates were now undergoing treatment at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital here with all tested positive for typhoid. The patients are in good condition and their medical expenditure would be met from the state treatment fund, he added. In order to avoid contamination of water, filters would be provided from district Red Cross, sources said.

Police station gheraoed in Ganjam

BRAHMAPUR: Demanding arrest of miscreants and anti-socials, who created terror at Bhabarada by firing and blasting bombs on Friday night, hundreds of irate villager gheraoed a police station at Polasara in Ganjam district on Sunday.

The angry villagers blocked the main road for several hours demanding stringent action against the ruffians who are committing crimes and created terror in their area. They also demanded action against the persons who sell liquor in the village.

The villagers have been opposing the sale of liquor in the village and its nearby area, but the liquor vendors and their associate miscreants do not heed the villagers’ words. The villagers were up in arms after miscreants fired in air and exploded bombs when they opposed sale of liquor in the village.

The villagers called off their agitation when the police assured of action against the miscreants and anti-socials in their area. However, no one was injured in the incident, police said.

Workshop on communicative skill organized by the Student’s Empire

BERHAMPUR: One day workshop on communicative skill was organized by Student’s Empire Media today at Ramanarayan College Dura. Er Simanchala Padhy, wellness Advisor-BWW Affiliate Mumbai, Mr Nilakantha Sahu, educator & President Literary wing MSC were the Resource person and Dr. Banamali Panigrahy Principal, Mr. Gagona Bihari Purohit Lecturer were present in the workshop as honorable guests.Er. Simanchal Padhy presented very inspirational key note speech on importance of book reading, media in duplication of knowledge and motivativation to eradicate inferiority complex of students.

The key points of Mr. Nilakantha sahu was, Education and communication are linked with each other. A dichotomy is that a person informally educated can also be a good communicator, body language is vital in spoken language. The workshop followed by an interaction session and Quiz competition. All the students of the college attentively enjoyed the programme.

At last the winners of the Quiz competition were awarded by Student’s Empire Media and the Principal offered his gratitude to the speakers and students. The workshop presided by the Student’s Empire editor N Lena Chand.

TFI selects Odia youths as National Referee

BRAHMAPUR: An Odia youth K Manoj Pradhan of Raulibandha village under Ganjam block of Ganjam district got selected as National Referee for the upcoming 30th National Senior Taekwondo Championship which will be held from February 15 to 17 at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. He got selected with Ashok Kumar Sahu of Khurda district for the 3 day championship. Manoj is a 2dan black belt holder and Ashok, an international instructor and Match referee, is a 5dan black belt holder.