Sunday, September 28, 2014

SEVEN-YEAR-OLD BOY ‘SACRIFICED’ IN BALANGIR Monday, 29 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

SEVEN-YEAR-OLD BOY ‘SACRIFICED’ IN BALANGIR
Monday, 29 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar
In yet another superstition-driven inhuman act, a seven-year-old male child was sacrificed in Jhalapadar village under the Bangomunda police station in Balangir district on Friday.
This was revealed by accused Bankanidhi Behera of Chuliphunka village who along with one Rishikesh Das, a suspected sorcerer, was arrested and court-forwarded on Sunday.The police have also detained two other persons in connection with the murder.Sources said Bankanidhi on Saturday evening lured Dasarath Parabhue (7) to catch a hen and took away him while he was playing on the village road. He was advised by a sorcerer to offer a child to a Goddess so that he would not suffer illness further. Accordingly, Bankanidhi took the child and killed him.
Dasarath was found dead on a village pond with his tounge cut on Saturday morning. Bankanidhi is stated to have confessed this to the police during interrogation. The two detainees have been identified as Chandan Das and Lingaraj Das.“Two have been arrested and two others are being interrogated in the case. Further investigation is on,” SP Deepak Kumar told our correspondent. 
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Saturday, September 27, 2014

TWO PATIENTS, NURSE HURT IN B’GIR HOSP AS ROOF PLASTER FALLSunday, 28 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR |

TWO PATIENTS, NURSE HURT IN B’GIR HOSP AS ROOF PLASTER FALLS
Sunday, 28 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar
 Two patients and a nurse were injured when a large chip of plaster suddenly fell from the roof and landed on their beds at the Balangir District Headquarters Hospital here on Saturday morning.
The incident took place at around 9 am in the Medicine Ward of the hospital. According to reports, a nurse of the hospital was attending to the two patients in the ward when the piece of plaster from the roof fell on them.
“We are going to shift the patients to other wards as repair work will be undertaken in the concerned ward,” said CDMO Dr Bikrant Kindo. District Collector M Muthukumar said this was an unfortunate incident. “I have ordered an inquiry into the incident,” he added.
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Friday, September 26, 2014

DEAF, DUMB STUDENTS SEEK BETTER FACILITIES Saturday, 27 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR

DEAF, DUMB STUDENTS SEEK BETTER FACILITIES
Saturday, 27 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

Members of the District Deaf and Dumb Association, led by Ramji Panda, Kuldeep Sahani and Pradymnu Sahu, submitted an eight-point charter of demands to the district Collector here on the occasion of the International Day for the Deaf on Friday.
Their demands include better education facilities for physically-challenged children upto High school and college level, hostel facility for them and better equipments to students of physically-disabled people.
The association members further rued over the non-inclusion of the body and physically-challenged persons in different Government and State schemes, while pressing their demand for privileges.
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What inclusion means -----Event ‘Run for Inclusion’ to be held on Nov 23

26September2014/Bolangir 
What inclusion means -----
#Inclusion is STANDING like a solid support while I am walking wobbly,
LISTENING carefully, when my speech is incoherent
WAITING in line, till a 
#wheelchair makes its way
TALKING slowly when your audience is challenged for hearing
BUILDING #faith and #trust in minds of challenged that, we care for you!
BELIEVING that we can include everyone and there is so much in diversity that needs to be included
#CARING by just imagining ourselves in shoes of challenged
BEING A #HUMAN BEING... giving equal opportunities and patience to everyone who has a vulnerability or a challenge. Either visible or hidden, everyone goes through some challenge or the other, then by including them, we are including ourselves In the #universalenergy and spirit of #progress!(according to Sai Padma-Eminent social activist and survivor of Polio Mellitus ) 
Read more at runforinclusion.org
Event ‘Run for Inclusion’ to be held on Nov 23
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Deaf and Dumb students demands better education and hostel facility in Bolangir;International Day oftheDeaf observed in Bolangir

26thSeptember2014
Balangir ;On International  Day of the Deaf , members of Bolangir district Deaf and Dumb association, led by Ramji Panda,Kuldeep Sahani and Pradymnu Sahu and others today submitted a 8points charter of demands to Bolangir district collector.
Their demands includes  education facilities for physically challenged person  upto High school and college level, hostel facility  for  physically challenged persons, better equipment to students of physically challenged people.

The memorandum further ruefully points out the non inclusion of Bolangir district deaf and dumb association and non-inclusion of physically challenged persons in different government and state schemes.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Clean India Marathon flagged off in B’ngirFriday, 26 September 2014 | Pioneer | in Bhubaneswar

News in the English daily The Pioneer 
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INBRIE F
Friday, 26 September 2014 | Pioneer | in Bhubaneswar
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Clean India Marathon flagged off in B’ngir
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Balangir: Balangir Additional District Magistrate Ashok Kumar Naik flagged off the Clean India Marathon rally before the Rajendra College here on Thursday morning. The rally was participated by large number of citizens, including school and college students. Among others, Balangir Municipality Executive officer Santosh Behera, Chairperson Santoshini Behera and Vice-Chairperson Lipishri Sai and SDPO Narayan Naik spoke on the need of cleanliness and how to keep the town clean.
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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Clean India Marathon rally flagged up at Bolangir

Clean India Marathon rally flagged up at Bolangir(25thSeptember 2014)
Bolangir ;Additional District Magistrate Sri Ashok Kumar Naik formally flagged up the clean India Marathon rally on Thursday morning at Bolangir before Rajendra College which was participated by school  college students and citizens of Bolangir.
Among others Executive officer of Bolangir Muincipality, Sri Santosh Behera, SDPOBolangir, NarayanNaik, Chairperson of Bolangir Municipality Smt SantoshiniBehera, and vice chairperson of municipality Lipishri Sai, spoke  on the need of cleanliness and make this really a meaningful and keep Balangir town  clean and beautiful.

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EVENT ‘RUN FOR INCLUSION’ TO BE HELD ON NOV 23 Thursday, 25 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

EVENT ‘RUN FOR INCLUSION’ TO BE HELD ON NOV 23
Thursday, 25 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar
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Buoyed over the last year’s tremendous response to the first edition of ‘Run for Inclusion’ in December, 2013 in five district headquarters towns in Odisha and 50 cities in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, the second edition of the event by NGO Aide et Action, South Asia, is all set to take place on November 23.
The ‘Run for Inclusion 2014 — An Effort to Turn Dreams into Reality’ aims to promote dignity, respect and help the poor and marginalised sections, especially the children (particularly girl child), persons with disability, population forced to migrate under distress conditions, unemployed youths and women get access to quality education and better employment opportunities.
The run will be organised simultaneously in 25 cities across India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal. Around 5,000 people in Odisha are expected to participate in it, which will be held at three district towns such as Balangir, Brahmapur and Rourkela this year.
The resources mobilised through the mega event would be used for quality education of children and enabling better employment opportunities for youths from the poor and weaker sections of the society, pointed out Aide et Action International programme officer Saroj Barik in a release.
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Tuesday, September 23, 2014

FILM DEPICTING PLIGHTS OF MIGRANT CHILDREN RELEASED Wednesday, 24 September 2014 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

FILM DEPICTING PLIGHTS OF MIGRANT CHILDREN RELEASED
Wednesday, 24 September 2014 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

The Migration information & Resource Centre (MiRC) and the Aide et Action International-South Asia in collaboration with the Bernard van Leer Foundation here on Monday released and screened Migrating Childhood, a documentary unfolding the lives of migrant children living at worksites.
Regional Thematic Head, Aide et Action Umi Daniel briefed the participants about the film before its release by a panel of five comprising Biren Das (filmmaker), Dharitri Patnaik (India Representative, Bernard van Leer Foundation), Teki Vishy (Director, Communication Resource Centre), Digambar Saptahthy and Umi Daniel.
Teki Vishy said Lots of such migrant children miss out on early childhood care and education and become child labour. Health is a bigger issue for these children when they migrate along with their parents to live in such unsafe, unhealthy and hazardous environment.
Biren Das said, “It’s good to see such a complex issue being captured in such a simple way. I hope government takes some proactive action on this issue and provide the children a better living.”
The documentary was shot in four cities, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chennai and Hyderabad. It suggests solutions for creating safe and healthy environment for the children living at workplaces like brick kilns, construction sites and stone crusher units.
The film aims at creating public awareness and raising policy issues to better the lives of migrant children. The video is produced by the Communication Resource Centre (CRC), Hyderabad.
As per the UNESCO, 2011 report, annually about 50 million people of the country migrate seasonally in search of jobs. Out of them, 15 per cent are children. The elder and adolescent ones often migrate with their parents to look after their siblings and help their parents in work. India is home to the largest child population in the world of 420 million children in the 0-18-year age group.
The Constitution of India guarantees all children their rights and entitlements through its various provisions. According to the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution, it is an obligation of the State to ensure that children are protected from exploitation, moral and material abandonment throughout the period of growth and development.
But millions of Indian children grow without any social and legal protection. One such category is that of vulnerable migrant children who are still unnoticed due to their frequent mobility and fragmented location.
The UNESCO report says around 15 million Indian children are migrants and denied of their rights and services guaranteed in the UN declaration and the Indian Constitution.
A study by the Aide et Action in 2013 says children in the 0-14 year age group constitute 47 per cent of the total child population. The migrant children do not get enrolled into Anganwadi or local schools due to the language barrier. Children in the early years are particularly more vulnerable. Deprivation at this stage affects human beings throughout their whole life cycle.
Those who are neglected or abused in the first years of life suffer damage from which they may never fully recover. Lack of access to proper food and health services lead to malnutrition with all its debilitating effects on them.
The film aims at influencing various stakeholders like the Government, NGOs, civil society organisations, facility owners and the media to look into the issues of the migrant children and adopt ways to better their lives by providing them access to the basic rights and entitlements, safe, healthy and learning environment at worksites.


RTI APPLICANT CRIES FOUL OVER INCOMPLETE INFO Wednesday, 24 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar.

RTI APPLICANT CRIES FOUL OVER INCOMPLETE INFO
Wednesday, 24 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar.
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The Patnagarh block administration has landed in a controversy by providing halfhearted information to a RTI applicant under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
According to reports, on July 22, 2014, one Krushna Chandra Banchhor of Ghunghutipali in Patnagarh block had sought an information from the Patnagarh block Public Information Officer (PIO) on the total number of old age pension (OAP) beneficiaries in Deolgaon gram panchayat, details of persons above the age group 80 and number of elders waiting for OAP, details of reported theft of OAP money in May 2014 in the gram panchayat.
He also deposited `36 as directed by the concerned authorities to get the information.
“On September 8, I got the information. However, much to my surprise I was simply supplied one page information by the Patnagarh block PIO whereas in the information sheet it was clearly mentioned that the list of OAP beneficiaries have been attached. There was no such list attached with the information sheet,” said the applicant.
While the reply further mentioned that the FIR lodged by Deolgaon gram panchyat Executive Officer has been attached along with passbook but nothing such was there, added Banchhor.
The RTI reply however admitted that the old age pension has not been given to beneficiaries in May 2014 in the panchayat. Meanwhile, dissatisfied with the reply, the applicant appealed to the district level appellate authority, DRDA PD for further information.
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Screening of film Migrating Childhood held in BhubneshwarBy Sudhir Mishra/Bolangir 23rdSeptember2014

By
Sudhir Mishra/Bolangir
23rdSeptember2014
Screening of film Migrating Childhood held in Bhubneshwar
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Bolangir ;Screening of the film “Migrating Childhood” a documentary unfolding the lives of migrant children living at worksites was held  in Hotel Crown, Bhubaneswar22nd September, 2014.The film, which has been shot at four cities namely Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chennai and Hyderabad, depicts the plight of children of migrant workers and lay forward solutions towards creating safe & healthy environment for children living in unhygienic, unsafe and hazardous worksites like brick kilns, construction sites and stone crusher units.

The film aims at creating public awareness and raise policy issues to better the lives of migrant children who spend half of their lives in worksite while they migrate with their parents. It is conceptualized by Aide et Action International- South Asia with support from Bernard Van Leer Foundation (BvLF).The video has been produced by Communication Resource Centre (CRC), Hyderabad.
“There are lots of migrant children living at the worksites, who miss out on early childhood care and education and fall prey to child labour. They fail to get access to the basic entitlements and government services. Health is a bigger issue which such children face when they migrate along with their parents to live in such unsafe, unhealthy and hazardous environment says Teki Vishy Director, Communication Resource Centre.
Among others Ms Dharitri Patnaik (India Representative- Bernard van Leer Foundation), Mr. Teki Vishy (Director, Communication Resource Centre), Mr. Digambar Saptahthy and Mr. Umi Daniel (Regional Thematic Head- Aide et Action International- South Asia). Noted film maker Biren Das appreciated the film on migrating children. SarojBarik of Aide et Action Bhubneshwar was also present on this occasion.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

NHRC SEEKS ATR FROM B’NGIR ADMN IN 4 WEEKS Monday, 22 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR |

NHRC SEEKS ATR FROM B’NGIR ADMN IN 4 WEEKS
Monday, 22 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar
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Acting on a complaint filed by rights activist Dilip Das, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Balangir district administration to submit an action-taken report (ATR) over the injury of a eight-year-old student after he came contact with live wires on the roof of the school building at Nadupala in Khaprakhol block in Balangir district within four weeks.
According to the petition, on August, 25 this year, one Debendra Sethi (8) a student of Nadupala primary school was playing with his friends at the roof of the school building and came in contact with the live 11 KV wires passing over the building at a very low height and sustained severe burn injuries. He was taken to Patnagarh hospital immediately and afterwards shifted to VSS Medical College Burla for better treatment.
“It is a gross negligence on the part of the electricity department officials not complying with the guidelines issued by the Government to shift all the electric wires from the premises of the schools and Anganwadi centres. Moreover, the 108 Ambulance vehicle of the Health department did not came to the rescue of the victim baby despite repeated requests and phone calls from the parents of the injured child, who were compelled to hire a vehicle and shifted the child to hospital,” Das pointed out.
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Friday, September 19, 2014

VILLAGERS PROTEST PDS CORRUPTION IN BALANGIR Saturday, 20 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar ==========================================

VILLAGERS PROTEST PDS CORRUPTION IN BALANGIR
Saturday, 20 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar
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LLocals of Mahulpati village under Khaprakhol block are sitting on a fast-unto-death before the Collectorate here protesting against the alleged irregularities and corruption in PDS at Mahulpati gram panchayat.
The villagers have demanded arrest of the Sarpanch, Executive officer and the Supply inspector for their alleged involvement in the corruption   and recovery of the misappropriated PDS items from them, said one Kartikeshwar Sahu.
Notably, the gram panchayat authorities have lifted distribution of subsidized PDS items for1,000 beneficiaries, including 453 BPLs, 290 APls, 145 Antodoyas, 112 PLOs in the gram panchayat since 2012.
It has been alleged that the panchyat authorities along with others have misappropriated PDS items of a total of 284 beneficiaries. “While names of 235 persons, including 105 dead, 46 migrated, 21forged and 63 beneficiaries having more than one card have been detected in the PDS list, 49 beneficiaries are being deprived of getting the PDS items. Around 3000 quintals of PDS rice have been embezzled in the last 30 months,” alleged a petition filed by the villagers. They also demanded that PDS rice be given to those 49 deprived villagers and PDS card to 14 consumers of the village.
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Thursday, September 18, 2014

SCRIBES’ BANDH CALL HITS NORMAL LIFE IN P’GARH Friday, 19 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

SCRIBES’ BANDH CALL HITS NORMAL LIFE IN P’GARH
Friday, 19 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar 
Normal life was on Thursday badly hit in Patnagrah town, as a 48-hour bandh call given by the sub-divisional level Patnagarh Journalists’ Association seeking fulfilment of vacant doctor posts, evoked good response from the public.               


Bolangir MP urge PM to take a survey of atomicpower plants andradition exposure to personnel there.

By 
SudhirMishra/Bolangir 
14thSeptember2014
Bolangir MP urge PM to take a survey of atomicpower plants andradition exposure to personnel there.=============================
Bolangir Member of Parliament from Bolangir Kalikesh NarayanSinghdeo has expressed concern over the cancer related death in atomic energy centres in the age group of 29-5Oin India and demanded detailed survey in the atomic power stations in India and radiation exposure to the personnel there and cause of rising incident of cancer related death.

In a letter to Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi on 14thSeptember 2014, Sri Singhdeo mentions that,  according to  a RTI reply a total of 3387deaths among staffs of 19atomic centers has been taken in the last 20 years and  2600are them cancer related and most of them are in the age group of 29-50.

As per the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) the units of occupational exposure to radiation should not be higher than 50 mSv(millisevert) in any one year and the annual average dose over the five years should not exceed over20 mSv, points out the letter of Sri Kalikesh Singhdeo.  .

 To know the exact cause of the rising cancer deaths in atomic centers and the amount of radiation exposure,Sri Singhdeo has demanded a survey to be taken on atomic centres  in India number of deceased have been exposed to  radiation over their course of death, how long they were exposed to radiation, any relation between radiation and   cancer, measures to be undertaken to  provide protection to them and measures taken to provide protection to the person employed in the atomic   plants.
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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

HUGE IAP FUNDS REMAIN UNSPENT IN BALANGIR Thursday, 18 September 2014 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

HUGE IAP FUNDS REMAIN UNSPENT IN BALANGIR
Thursday, 18 September 2014 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar
 The additional Central assistance under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for development of Maoist-affected and backward area in Balangir district is lying unutilised, thanks to faulty planning, poor implementation of projects and Maoist fear.
According to reports, a total of 192 areas in Khaprakhol, Agalpur, Loisingha,Tureikela, Bongomunda, Deoogan, Gudvella and Balangir and Belpada blocks of the district have been identified as Maoist affected.Under the plan, activities like development of infrastructure, construction of school building, Awanganwadi centre, medical building, drinking water facility, upgradation of transformer and skill development centre are to be taken in these areas.
Balangir district received a total of around Rs115 crore since 2011. In 2011, the district got Rs25 crore, in 2012 and 2013, it got Rs30 crore each under the IAP. The project proposal under the scheme for the development of an area comes with recommendation of the PRI and ZP members.
“We are getting a lot of proposals which are either non feasible and their estimate is too less. Supposing Rs30 lakh is earmarked for a bridge, but proposals for bridge come in the range of Rs5 lakh. We have got a large number of proposals of less than Rs5 lakh. As a result, they are technically not feasible,” an official avers.Around Rs10 crore is lying unspent in the Khaprakhol block alone. In RWSS, a total of Rs7crore remains unspent since 2011and another additional Rs3.20 crore was allocated for various projects, he said.
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Sunday, September 14, 2014

RIGHTS PANEL ASKS K’HANDI ADMIN FOR ATR IN FOUR WEEKS Monday, 15 September 2014 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

RIGHTS PANEL ASKS K’HANDI ADMIN FOR ATR IN FOUR WEEKS
Monday, 15 September 2014 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar 
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 The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Kalahandi Collector and District Welfare Officer (DWO) to submit a action taken report on the death of tribal girl namely Ratani Majhi of Badderla village in Junagarh Ashram school in ThuaaMul Rampur block due to snakebite on July 14 this year, within four weeks.
The commission passed the order while acting on a petition filed by lawyer Sudhanshu Bhushan . He, in his petition alleged that Ratani died due to snake bite as hostel authorities failed to provide safe place for the inmates in the hostel which is run by SC/ST Welfare department.
According to reports, as the hostel authorities don’t pay any heed to the cleanlinessof hostel campus, as well as repair of toilet meant for girl student, the inmates were forced to attend nature call outside.

As the deceased Ratani was attending natures call outside the school in a bushy area, she became a victim of snakebite and died. Meanwhile, father of the deceased is yet to get the ex-gratia mount of `1 lakh given by the Government as he is yet to open a bank account in the bank.
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LET CBI PROBE RI, AMIN EXAM SCAM: SP 
ARREST OF BALANGIREX-Collector demanded
Monday, 15 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar
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Samajwadi Party district president Arun Mishra has demanded a CBI enquiry into the alleged irregularities in the RI and Amin/Junior clerk examinations held in Balangir in 2013.
Mishra told reporters here on Sunday that the Vigilance enquiry report clearly mentioned involvement of a clerk in the recruitment process, manipulation of record, tampering, violation of examination rules, besides involvement of other staff and officers in the voilations.
The report further revealed that how  then Collector Debraj Mishra ignored all objections and conducted the entire recruitment process in an unfair way.
Besides, during the tenure of the Collector, misappropriation of over `3 crore had taken place in the SSA funds and the Crime Branch is also investigating into it, Mishra added.
Though Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered the Vigilance enquiry into the matter and a case has been registered by the Crime Branch, not a single accused has been arrested so far, he added. The party demanded immediate arrest of main accused Mishra along with his associates who are allegedly involved with the unlawful voilations.
The party also demanded a CBI probe into the matter to expose the powerful persons protecting the ex-Collector.

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DOC VACANCIES: P’GARH SCRIBES’ STIR ENTERS 7TH DAY Monday, 15 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

DOC VACANCIES: P’GARH SCRIBES’ STIR ENTERS 7TH DAY
Monday, 15 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar
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A dharna being staged at Patnagarh by members of the Patnagarh Sub-Divisional level Journalists’ Association for fulfilment of vacant doctor posts in all the health centres of the sub-division reached seventh day on Sunday. Scribes Kailash Chandra Sahu, Laxmikant Mishra and Jatish Khamari are leading the protest group. Various social organisations, political parties and college students have been extending their full support, informed Mishra.
Mishra lamented that while 18 out of 42 sanctioned doctor posts in the sub-division have been lying vacant for long, the district admin has sit silent. The posts of the Sub-Divisional Medical Officer, Medicine Specialist, Pathology and Anaesthesia doctors in the Sub-Divisional Hospital are lying vacant. BJP State president sat on the dharna on Sunday to mark his party’s support on the issue. The newsmen have threatened that they would observe a 48-hour Patnagarh Bandh from September 18 if the posts are not filled up by September 17.   

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Saturday, September 13, 2014

NRO ARGUES WHY K’HANDI DESERVES TRIBAL UNIVERSITY Sunday, 14 September 2014 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

NRO ARGUES WHY K’HANDI DESERVES TRIBAL UNIVERSITY
Sunday, 14 September 2014 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

As the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has given its nod for setting up a National Tribal University in Chhattisgarh’s insurgency-hit Bastar region to facilitate research and development of tribal culture and dialect, leading non-resident Odia (NRO) educationist Digambara Patra has lauded the move.
Prof Patra in a letter to Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani has said that earlier the Union Government has established Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU) at Amarkantak and one of its regional campuses has been set up in Manipur.
Prof Patra has, therefore, urged the Union Government to set up a National University for tribals in Kalahandi. He has pointed out that Odisha is a tribals-dominated State. Odisha has a higher percentage of tribal population compared to Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, etc.
Therefore, based on the letter of former BJP MP late Bikram Keshari Deo regarding establishment of Central University of Odisha in Kalahandi instead of Koraput, earlier the MHRD had proposed to establish a tribal university campus in Kalahandi during the 11th Plan.
Information obtained through the RTI Act says the IGNTU at Amarkantak has already received a proposal from the MHRD to open a regional campus in Kalahandi. The Odisha Government was informed to provide infrastructure facilities like a minimum 300 acres of land, approach road and electricity.
Following it, the then Kalahandi Additional District Magistrate had identified the required 300 acres of land at Benda Jhola and Kumudabahal villages in Thuamul-Rampur panchayat samiti of the district and informed about it to the State’s Department of Higher Education.
Since then, no action has been taken by the MHRD. On the other hand, the MHRD has acted immediately on the proposal of the Chhattisgarh Government and is considering a similar proposal for Andhra Pradesh. It is surprising that the MHRD has not acted on the promise it made to Kalahandi people with regard to a tribal university, Prof Paztra has stated.
He has pointed out that the site identified by the Kalahandi district administration is located at the heart of tribal populations of the districts of Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nuapada, Rayagada, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Balangir, Boudh, Bargarh, Sambalpur and Subarnapur serving one of the largest tribal concentrations in Odisha as well as in India.


Friday, September 12, 2014

UREA SCARCITY HITS BALANGIR FARMERS Saturday, 13 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

UREA SCARCITY HITS BALANGIR FARMERS
Saturday, 13 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

Even as agricultural operations were taken up lately in Balangir district due to delayed monsoon, problems of farmers have mounted further as they are yet to receive sufficient quantum of urea, a fertiliser crucial for growing of paddy and cotton plants. 

Sources said while the district needs a total of 22,000 metric tonne of urea for the current Kharif season, the Government has allocated only 16,000 MT and, of this, the district has received 10,592 MT only. Paddy and cotton cultivations have been undertaken in 1,85,000 hectares and 38,000 hectares, respectively, in the district. Rajya Sabha MP AU Singh Deo has brought this to the notice of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
“Farmers of the district were forced to take up agricultural operations lately waiting monsoon rains for long. But shortage of urea has further affected them. Hence increase the urea allocation to 22,000 MT and supply soon to the district,” Singh Deo urged the Chemicals and Fertilizers Secretary in a letter. Similarly, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Narasingha Mishra expressed concern over short supply of urea. “I have already brought the issue before the Agriculture Minister and Director. They have assured me to supply required fertilizer to the district,” he said. He lamented that officials are not taking action to check black-marketing and hoarding of the manure caused due to the short supply.
When contacted, the Deputy Director of Agriculture, Balangir informed that two rake containing urea has been stranded on the way. Once the rakes arrive, the district would get 3, 300 MT of urea and farmers demand would be met to some extent.
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PROBE CM’S ROLE IN CHIT FUND SCAM: MISHRA TO CBI

PROBE CM’S ROLE IN CHIT FUND SCAM: MISHRA TO CBI
Saturday, 13 September 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly and former Law Minister Narasingha Mishra has urged the CBI to probe the role of BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the chit fund scam, which has robbed 25 lakh people of the State of their savings.
Talking to reporters here, Mishra said that with the CBI questioning several BJD leaders and the media exposing the patronage given by the ruling party to the fraud chit fund companies, skeletons are tumbling out of the BJD cupboard almost on a daily basis.
Referring to media reports on the arrested chit fund scam accused Ranjan Das accompanying BJD vice-president and MP Kalpataru Das with the ‘nomination papers’ of Naveen Patnaik for election as the BJD president, Mishra remarked that a man is known by the company he keeps.
He insisted that the CBI inquire into the support and patronage that people like Ranjan Das had received from the State Government and the Chief Minister.
“The CM can no longer feign ignorance or say he does not know the scam-accused persons,” Mishra maintained.
He pointed out that the State Government had tried its best to stall a CBI probe into the chit fund scam while fighting a case in the Supreme Court because it was aware of the direct involvement of the BJD leaders in the large-scale fraud and the protection and patronage extended by them to the ponzi companies.
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Padayatra held to protect G’mardan from forest fire and other forest fire news and stories of Bolangirand odisha since2013

  Padayatra held to protect G’mardan from forest fire Saturday, 09 March 2013 17:10 PNS | BALANGIR Hits: 20 With a view to sensitisi...