Counseling for Arch students still in dark

BHUBANESWAR: Seven months have passed, but admission into Bachelor of Architecture (B Arch) course for previous academic session in the State has not been held so far. The aspirants are still waiting for the counseling date wasting a valuable academic year due to postponing of the date for twice.

As per Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) notification the counseling was scheduled on July 16, 2011, but unfortunately it was postponed because of the stay order passed by the Odisha High Court. After the interval of seven months, it was rescheduled on February 19, 2012. Again it was stayed for counseling for indefinite period.

“Like everyone I had a dream to do something different from others, so I chose architect in the OJEE entrance, but now I’m frustrated in the delay of counseling,” told OJEE and National Aptitude Test for Architecture (NATA) qualified Ankita Das.

When contacted the OJEE officials said the matter is in High Court and due to stay order on February 15 by the court, they had postponed it. The officials said the delay in admission occurred due to differences over the method of selection by a private college and the State Government.

Seeking a solution over the counseling process, the qualified students of Architect staged dharna in front of the OJEE office here on Saturday. Like Ankita, another student Abhishek Biswal also said the OJEE authorities could not give an adequate answer on their admission in (B Arch).

“This type of treatment with the students is not only a mental torture but affects on their career. Next year when a student wants to pursue a career in Architect, the student will think thousand times before filling the form,” lamented Ankita.

Civil body suggests Govt for a Bill on time bound service for people

BHUBANESWAR: An organisation, Odisha Durniti Sanghrsh Manch, comprising members from the civil society have drafted a bill ‘Right to Time Bound Compliance of Public Service Bill, 2012’ to make the public authorities accountable before the public. “We will press the Government to enact the bill in the assembly for the betterment of the common people of the State,” said president of Odisha Durniti Sanghrsh Manch and the mastermind of the draft Uma Shankar Mishra at a Press meet here on Sunday.

“After the implementation of the Bill, the public authorities will provide certain services according to the queries of the common people within the stipulated time limits, which are need of the hour,” Mishra said.

Members of various social organisations and NGOs along with retired Government officials and journalists were present in the meeting. They have discussed at length about the Bill and decided to talk with the Government to pass the Bill.

The objective of the Bill is to create a responsive mechanism of governance which acts quickly and timely to solve the grievances of the public and to provide for the delivery of services to the public in the State within the stipulated time limit, including liabilities of the government servants, in case of default.

There are 16 Sections in the Bill with a schedule which can be expanded according to necessity. In the Bill, provision has been made to apply e-governance of the services to avoid harassment of applicants running to the office personally and if the applicants claim is not complied within stipulated time then fine systems are also there. 

“Strong punishment has been provided for habitual defaulter, Civil Court interference has been avoided by ousting Jurisdiction of Civil Court and overriding effect has been given to this Act to make it more effective,” said the drafters of the Bill.

The drafters of the Bill claimed the Act is a very strong one. It must create fear in the minds of the defaulter employees, who casually avoid to do the work or intentionally avoid do the work with ulterior motive for getting brief, they added. “This Act is not a tooth less tiger and it would certainly give speedy relief to applicants, which is the duty of a Welfare Government,” Mishra said.   

Dalit bodies demand for review of PoA Act in State

BHUBANESWAR: “None of the district administration is reviewing the implementation of the SCs and STs [PoA] Act 1989 and Rules 1995 so far excluding one district in the State,” said General Secretary of National Dalit Movement for Justice Sirivella Prasad at a Press meet here on Saturday expressing grave concern on dalit atrocities in Odisha.

The dalit bodies said the dalit atrocity cases are increasing in State as recently many heinous crimes including Pipili gang rape case, burning of 44 dalit houses in Lathore village of Balangir district, burning of 29 dalit houses in Kamadhenu Khot of Dhenkanal district along with the denial of temple entry to dalits in the coastal regions have taken place. Among them the children and women are the worst affected, the members added.

The members of dalit bodies demanded the Government should take immediate steps to stop attacks and intimidation of dalits as case pending rate in 2009 comes to 89.1 per cent, appoint high level committees at the State to review the implementation of the Act and also speedy action for strengthening the Act.

They also demanded to publish a white paper on the status of atrocities and implementation of the provisions of the PoA Act and Rules in the State of Odisha and to establish exclusive special courts to ensure speedy justice to the victims.

Among others, convener of Odisha Forum for Social Action Ajay Kumar Singh, NGO core group member of NHRC Baghambar Patnaik, State Coordinator of NCDHR Adikanda Singh, social activist Jugal Kishore Ranjit and the victim of Lathore village Janaki Jeevan Suna were present.

Basketball academy NBA of US announces International Basketball Exchange with India

WASHINGTON: The US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today a basketball Sports Visitor exchange will take place February 17-27, 2012, with 14 Indian basketball coaches traveling to the US for a 10-day people-to-people exchange.

The Sports Visitor program will begin in Washington DC, where the delegation will meet with US basketball coaches, work with young American athletes, participate in a basketball clinic with Special Olympics athletes, and engage in activities focused on teambuilding and injury prevention. For the final days of their program, the delegation will travel to Orlando of Florida to attend NBA coaching clinics and sessions surrounding NBA All-Star 2012.

This Sports Visitor program marks SportsUnited’s second basketball exchange with India. In February 2011, NBA Hall-of-Famer George Gervin and six-time WNBA All-Star Katie Smith traveled to India as part of the U.S. Department of State’s sports diplomacy program.

In partnership with the Department of State, 42 NBA and WNBA players and coaches have visited 20 different countries since 2004, where they have conducted basketball clinics for thousands of young boys, girls and coaches.

SportsUnited is the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ sports exchange program at the U.S. Department of State. Athletes and coaches from a range of sports are chosen to conduct clinics, visit schools, and engage with youth overseas in a dialogue on the importance of an education, positive health practices, and respect for diversity. Since 2003, SportsUnited has brought almost 900 athletes from 59 countries to the U.S. to participate in Sport Visitor programs. Since 2005, SportsUnited has sent over 200 U.S. athletes to more than 50 countries to participate in Sport Envoy programs.

Indo-Canada strategic trade ties by 2013-end

BHUBANESWAR: “India’s economy is booming and needs good platform in education, energy, infrastructure, mining, ICT and agro-processing, in which Canada has comparative knowledge advantage and the partnership between the countries will give a better platform for the country’s growth,” said Deputy High Commissioner of Canada Jim Nickel here on Thursday.

Regarding the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in between India and Canada, Nickel said the agreement would give an advantage to Indo-Canadian trade ties and partnerships in other strategic sectors expectedly will come in effect by the end of the next year. The fourth round of negotiations is taking place in New Delhi this week and the agreement have entered in final stages, he added.

According to Nickel, the agreement CEPA would add at least six billion dollar each to India and Canada’s GNP. After the treaty comes into exist, the trade would increase by 50 per cent and CEPA would reinforce bilateral relations between the two countries in the field of trade and commerce, he said.

He also said that India has potential in the sectors like infrastructure, power generation and distribution, water treatment and supply, from which Canada can get benefit. He said about Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) to give extra mile in the field of trade and commerce. “Now the trade is accounts for five billion dollar, but the Prime Ministers of two countries have committed to raise the trade to 15 billion dollar by 2015,” said Nickel.

About Odisha he said, “The State has a promising future. We are interested to explore the opportunities in Odisha and planning to bring in a trade mission to the State by the year end.”

In his two-day visit to Odisha, Nickel visited KIIT, IIT Bhubaneswar, XIMB, Sai International School and Utkal University and hold discussions about the bilateral relations between the countries. On Saturday, he will address the Canadian studies conference at Berhampur University on ‘Diplomacy, Defence and Development’.

     

Civil body demands Minister Anjali’s resignation

BHUBANESWAR: Demanding resignation of the Women and Child Development Minister Anjali Behera for her alleged involvement in a murder case, Odisha Vikash Parishad (OVP) staged a dharna in front of the Rajbhavan here on Friday. Later, a delegation led by president of the organisation Susant Padhi met the representative of the Governor and submitted a memorandum regarding the case.

In its memorandum, OVP said the former Chairman of Hindol Block, Nabaghan Sahoo, was murdered on May 14 last year. Before his death the Chairman filed a complaint near Superintendent of Police of Dhenkanal district that his life was in danger from the Minister Behera.

He had mentioned in the letter that the local Sarpanch Bijay Behera and Minister had planned for his murder. During the prosecution the letter was presented before the High Court. After the forensic test, it has been proved that the Minister was involved directly in the murder case, they alleged. The members of the Parishad requested the Governor for justice for Sahu.

Earlier, the BJP had staged a demonstration at Dhenkanal and burnt effigies of Behera in front of the collectorate urging the Government to initiate action against her for alleged involvement in the murder of Sahoo. After the demonstration at Dhenkanal, the BJP workers led by MP Rudra Narayan Pany also burnt effigies of the Minister in front of the office of Hindol sub-collector demanding her resignation. The Congress had also demanded an inquiry into the irregularities in the development works during Behera’s tenure.

Poll violence toll rises to two in Ganjam

BRAHMAPUR: Political rivalry caused violence took another toll in Dihapdhala village under Bhanjanagar block of Ganjam district on Friday. Following the murder of Lulu Gauda, son of a winning independent Sarapanch candidate Pramila Gauda, in a public place in a broad day light due to emergence of violence regarding the polling results, the second murder took place in the same village.

He was identified as Dandapani Bisoyee (58) of Dihapadhala village and father of Manoranjan Bisoyee who was the accused of Lulu Gauda murder case. The police sent the body for autopsy after recovering it from a paddy field near the village. The investigation is on.

Though the police are still in dark about the actual reason of the murder, it is suspected that the supporters of deceased Lulu killed Dandapani to take revenge of Lulu’s murder. The supporters had also attacked on accused Manoranjan’s house and ransacked the house on Thursday evening. Dandapani might be killed by the attackers while ransacking the house, sources said. The miscreants had used sharp weapon to kill Dandapani, the police revealed. 

 

It may be noted that the supporters of the independent candidate Pramila Gauda had burnt houses, rice mill and vehicles of the accused and blocked the road connecting Brahmapur-Bhanjanagar and Brahmapur-Phulbani on Thursday protesting Lulu’s murder. Situations became quite better after the main accused and mastermind of the murder Kulu Bhuyan arrested along with his associates. The police have arrested 14 people in connection with the first murder case till Friday evening.