Dharna in Anna’s support at BalangirInbrief
27 DECEMBER 2011 PIONEER HITS: 4
Dharna in Anna’s support at Balangir

Balangir: Members of the Balangir Citizens’ Forum and the district unit of India Against Corruption led by Bhavani Satpathy and Dr LK Mahapatra staged a dharna on Tuesday before the Collectorate in support of Anna Hazare’s fast. They demanded early passage of a strong Lokpal Bill in Parliament. “We will carry forward our agitation in support of Anna Hazare and participate in his Jail Bharo movement,” said Mahapatra.

BSNL workers stage dharna

Balangir: Members of the BSNL Mazdoor Sangh led by Lalit Nayak on Tuesday staged a dharna in front of the BSNL office demanding implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the management and the sangh. They criticised the apathetic attitude of the BSNL’s TDM towards their demands.

Animal sacrifice in Sulia Yatra continues despite HC ban WEDNESDAY, 28 DECEMBER 2011 00:56 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 105 User Rating: / 0

Animal sacrifice in Sulia Yatra continues despite HC ban
WEDNESDAY, 28 DECEMBER 2011 00:56 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 105
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Defying prohibitory orders clamped by the district administration, ‘sacrifice’ of hundreds of animals on Tuesday morning at the Sulia festival at Saan Khala under Tusura police station, threw an open challenge to court orders and pained animal rights activists with its gory and hideous scenes on the spot.

Sulia Yatra is a traditional festival of the local tribals, held every year on the first Tuesday of the Hindu calendar month of Pausha.

Every year hundreds of animals, buffaloes, goats, hens and sheep are ‘sacrificed’ at the altar of Sulia Budha, the local tribe’s revered god. While the tribals held the view that they offered animals to the god after fulfillment of their individual wishes, the rationalists and the animal lovers opposed it as the worst kind of cruelty to animals and termed it as the most inhuman practice. Sulia Yatra is observed at two places, Khairaguda and Kummuria. Majority of animal ‘sacrifices’ earlier took place at Khairguda.

In 2006, the High Court directed the Balangir district administration to stop the hideous practice at the main yatra centre. And, accordingly, the administration took hard steps and the ‘sacrifices’ at Khairguda (the main centre) came to a halt.

But, strategically, the tribals only shifted their yatra site to Saan Khala and carried out their age-old tradition as usual, not affected by the court ban or the administration’s prohibitory orders. Following the imposition of prohibitory orders, they had created a new khala (sacrificing ground).

This year, the district administration had clamped prohibitory orders in three places — Bad Khala, Saan Khala, and Nuaan Khala.

According to reports, notwithstanding the prohibitory orders, the tribals continued their sacrificial rituals at the Saan Khala on Tuesday morning and created the new ground — Nuaan Khala, informed Paschim Odisha Adivasi Kalyan Sangha Secretary Niranjan Bisi.

Tribals have a distinct identity and their customs, rituals and worships are totally different. They are strongly opposed to the attempts to impose non-tribal culture and tradition upon them.

“Hundreds of animals are being killed in broad daylight everyday in the Balangir town and elsewhere. Is it not cruelty to animals? Bisi asked.

He further asked, “If we, the tribals, sacrifice animals to our gods once in a year at a secluded place inside the jungle, why should the non-tribals object to it?” The tribals would carry on their customs, rituals and practices including offering of animals to deities, he asserted.

No animal sacrifices took place at the main puja place. Asked to comment on killing of animals at the Saan Khala, where prohibitory order was clamped by the district administration, Balangir Sub-Collector Jyoti Ranjan Pradhan said he would look into it and action would be taken as per law.

“We demand action against the persons who violated the rule of law. The Sulia Sanskar Manch is also contemplating to file Contempt of Court against those officials responsible for the lapses,” said manch convener Santanu Naik, reacting to the killing of animals at the place where prohibitory order was clamped

Pre Annual budget consultation held inBolangir

4 children, teacher injured in Balangir mishap

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20 DECEMBER 2011 PIONEER HITS: 5
4 children, teacher injured in Balangir mishap

Balangir: Four schoolchildren and a woman teacher of Swami Vivekananda Siksha Kendra, Sikabahanga, sustained injuries when the school bus carrying them skidded off the road at Lethipali near Saantpur, eight km from here on Tuesday morning. They were admitted to hospital. Three students and the teacher were shifted to the VSS Medical College Hospital, Burla for further treatment.

Fighting Maoists major task: New Balangir SP SUNDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2011 00:11 PNS | BALANGIT HITS: 19 User Rating: / 0 PoorBest

Fighting Maoists major task: New Balangir SP
SUNDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2011 00:11 PNS | BALANGIT HITS: 19
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Along with tackling the normal law and order problems, fighting the Maoists in the district would be the major priority of the police. This was stated to the media by new SP of Balangir Praksh R on Saturday.

In response to a question on fighting the Maoist menace in Khaprakhol and Tureikela blocks he said, “We will intensify the movement of forces in interior areas to tackle the Maoists’ challenges.”

The special squad formed during the previous SP’s tenure has been dissolved and a special team on the spot would be constituted to deal with special situations, Praksah R said.

“We will see that the High Court’s order (on animal sacrifice) is implemented during the forthcoming Suliaa Jatra,” he said.

Forum seeks community rights over forest FRIDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2011 23:23 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 3

Forum seeks community rights over forest
FRIDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2011 23:23
PNS | BALANGIR
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The Balangir District Forestry Forum demanded accelerating the process of awarding community claims over forest as per the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
A delegation of the forum led by Thabir Charan Meher, Kulmani Sahu and others, today submitted a memorandum to the district collector SN Dey in this regard and urged him to expedite the individual/community claim over the forest.
In Balangir district, a total of 1,753forest rights committees have been formed and a total of 956 individual titles over forest have been distributed. However, so far no single community claim over forest has fulfilled even though 88communityclaims over the forest have been submitted at the Sub Divisional level forest rights committee, pointed out Kulmani Sahu of the forum.
We appraised the district collector of the situation and urged him to expedite the implementation FRA in the district, informed Sahu further.
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Balgopal ends hunger strike

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FRIDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2011 23:18
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Balgopal ends hunger strike
Balangir: Former MP Balgopal Mishra, who was on an indefinite fast here demanding official declaration of all drought-affected districts of the State as drought-hit since December 12, withdrew his agitation on Friday. He ended the fast as the State Government on Thursday declared 17 districts as drought-affected. On Thursday night, Mishra was admitted in hospital, where he came to the district Collectorate. He was offered fruit juice after he withdrew his hunger strike.
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Anganwadi workers hold demo in Balangir
Balangir: Members of All Odisha Anganwadi Ladies Workers’ Association, Balangir unit, led by its president NirupamaSaraf and secretary Abhamayee Purohit, today staged a demonstration before the collectorate demanding fulfillment of their 14-point charter of demands, which include regularisation of their job as Government job and reinstatement of all the suspended Anganwadi employees etc. Among others, Kusha Panda and Arun Sahu addressed the gathering.
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Balgopal’s fast enters 4th day THURSDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2011 22:45 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 3

Balgopal’s fast enters 4th day
THURSDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2011 22:45
PNS | BALANGIR
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Former MP Balgopal Mishra’s indefinite hunger strike before the Collectorate here entered the 4th day on Thursday. Mishra is on dharna since December 12, demanding declaration of “all drought-affected areas of Odisha as drought-hit”.
On the second day of his fast, Collector SN Dey met Mishra at the fasting site and requested him to end the fast, saying he had conveyed the matter to the Government.
The agitating leader felt anguished over dilly dallying by the Government over the issue.
He said the next code of conduct would be in force by January 15. “In such situation how any package could be declared for the farmers,” he asked.

BSNL staff stage dharna at Balangir THURSDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2011 22:40 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 2 •

BSNL staff stage dharna at Balangir
THURSDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2011 22:40
PNS | BALANGIR
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The executive and non-executive employees of Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) on Thursday staged dharna before the Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) main office at Balangir district headquartres, demanding fulfillment of their 13-point charter of demands.
The dharna agitation was led by union president Ghanashyam Mahananda, UK Chhatar, Rajendra Sa, PR Bhoi and Brahmananda Bariha.
Their demands included immediate absorption of ITS officers as Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) employees, refund of spectrum charges of `8,313 crore to BSNL, refund of notional loan of `7,500 crore with interest to the Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL), discontinuation of the Telecom Advisory Committees and cancellation of licenses to private telecom companies illegally providing 3G services.
The employees organised dharna to protest the poor financial condition of the BSNL for which the management is responsible. They also demanded the absorption of ITS officers as employees of BSNL. “Though they are not Bharat Sanchar Nigam employees, they are ruling over the BSNL employees. So they should be immediately absorbed into the Bharat Sanchar Nigam or should quit and work elsewhere,” said Mahananda.

Upgrade Titilagarh to dist: Lawyers’ body TUESDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2011 22:20 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 4 User Rating: / 0

Upgrade Titilagarh to dist: Lawyers’ body
TUESDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2011 22:20 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 4
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Normal life in Titilagarh town, 70 km from here, was disrupted following a 12-hour bandh call given by the local Bar Association, which demanded Titilagarh sub division to be declared as a district on Monday.

Shops and business establishments were closed. Buses were off the road. However, train services were functioning normally except detaining of Bilaspur Tirupati Express at Titilagarh Station for 15 minutes. We have been demanding declaration of Titilagarh as a district since long. Our representatives could not represent the case of Titilagarh before the State authorities when districts were created in Odisha during late CM Biju Patnaik’s regime.

In February, we had organised a protest and gave six month time to the Government to consider our demand,” said Titilagarh Bar Association president Sanjaya Behera. Unless the Government takes action from Monday, there would be relay hunger strike, warned Behera. The bandh proceeding is peacefully, said Revenue officer and in-charge Sub-Collector of Titilagarh SB Tripathy.

Kendu leaf procurement price hiked TUESDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2011 23:12 PNS | BHUBANESWAR HITS: 10 User Rating: / 0 PoorBest

Kendu leaf procurement price hiked
TUESDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2011 23:12 PNS | BHUBANESWAR HITS: 10
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The State Government on Tuesday enhanced the procurement price of the Kendu leaves by five paise per kerry (bundle) of 20 leaves and `10 paise per kerry of 40 leaves. Forest Minister Debi Prasad Mishra told the State Assembly that as per the decision taken at the Kendu Leaf Advisory Committee meeting held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, the procurement price of Kendu leaf per quintal was also raised from `1,900 to `2,170.

Government has also decided to cover all the pluckers and binding labourers under a Jana Shree Bima Yojana he added. The Government would provide `22 crore in shape of premium for insurance coverage. This new initiative would benefit around 8 lakh poor ST and other backward classes. In case of natural death during the Kendu leaf operations, the nominee of the labourer would get `30,000 as compensation, while `75,000 in case of permanently disabled or unnatural death would be paid to the beneficiary or the nominee. A labourer with partial disability would get `37,500. Under the scheme, two children of a labourers would get `100 per month while studying in IX to XII standard as scholarship.

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Publish White Paper on drought: Balgopal Mishra MONDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2011 21:42 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 2 User Rating: / 0

Publish White Paper on drought: Balgopal Mishra
MONDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2011 21:42 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 2
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Former MP of Balangir Balgopal Mishra on Monday launched an indefinite hunger strike before the district Collectorate demanding official declaration of all drought-hit areas of the State as “drought-affected.”

“Revenue Minister Surjya Narayan Patro during his visit to Balangir on August 17 announced that 16 districts have been affected by drought, six of them, including Balangir, badly. After the statement of the Revenue Minister, it was expected that drought would be declared by the Government basing on the eye estimation reports and by invoking the Relief Code,” said Mishra

The flood havoc of September was created thanks to the mismanagement of the Hirakud water flow by the authorities, which diverted all the attention from the drought situation, Mishra said further.

“Let the Government declare the status of drought situation in the State by publishing a White Paper on drought within 72 hours,” he said.

Even after four months why no relief has been extended to farmers, Mishra asked. Moreover, the Government should provide relief to farmers at par with the assistance for the flood-affected farmers of the coastal areas, Mishra demanded further.

‘State Budget should reflect people's aspirations' SUNDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2011 21:58 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR

‘State Budget should reflect people's aspirations'
SUNDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2011 21:58
SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR
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To ensure peoples' participation and to reflect peoples' aspirations in the State Budget and acquaint them with it and its process, a pre-budget consultation meet for Balangir was held here on Tuesday.
The budget is prepared by bureaucrats where involvement of people at the grassroots is very less. There should be more peoples' participation in budgetary process, observed farmer leader Uday Singh Thakur.
Besides taking steps for creation of more irrigation facility in the district, special attention should be given to the displaced person, Thakur opined, adding that more hospitals should be opened at the Gram Panchayat level for better delivery of healthcare and services to the rural people.
The Odisha Budget and Accountability Centre of CYSD along with ADHAR organised the consultation meet.
The needs and aspirations of the people of the district will be reflected in the forthcoming budget, observed Prakash Barik of Odisha Budget and Accountability Centre (OBAC), CYSD. Over last seven years, the OBAC is carrying out the process, Barik informed.
A sample survey in 22villages of the district revealed four priority areas of Balangir district, namely education, health service, women and child development and agriculture, pointed out Nandi Kishore Sandh of Balangir district budget watch group.
There should be more number of regular teachers, better infrastructure in schools and better monitoring of functioning of the schools to realise the desired objective of Right to Education Act (RTE), Nandi said further.
For better delivery of health care and services in the district, the number beds of district headquarters hospital should be increased to 500 and more mobile teams should be engaged to deliver health care services in rural areas. The ICDS system in the district should be strengthened and steps should be taken to ensure their transparency through social audit and public hearing, Nandi asserted.
By constructing a barrage on Tel river, irrigation could be provided to 20,40,00 hectares of land in Kalahandi, Balangir, Sonepur and Boudh districts. This would lead to submergence of 100 hectares of Government land, pointed out a retired engineer Premraj Sai. Sai presented a paper on irrigation prospect in the district.
The health care system which is reeling under vacant doctors' posts is also suffering from the problem of "deputation".
"A doctor posted in rural areas is being brought to district headquarters hospital or other hospitals on deputation. This makes it difficult for a doctor to serve properly to the patients in all the hospitals at a time," pointed out Patnagarh MLA KV Singhdeo. Uma Shankar Sahu stressed the need for addressing the issue of dropouts in schools and migrant children in the district.
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A Saluja on Maoist hit list SATURDAY, 10 DECEMBER 2011 22:32 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 7 User Rating: / 0 PoorBest

MLA Saluja on Maoist hit list
SATURDAY, 10 DECEMBER 2011 22:32 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 7
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Kantabanji Congress MLA Santosh Singh Saluja now seems to be on the hit list of the Maoists as per the warning given in the ultras’ posters that surfaced on Saturday.

Several such posters were posted in different parts of Katabanji town. The posters were purportedly written by the Central Division Commander of the Nuapada CPI(Maoist).

As Saluja is allegedly engaged in corrupt activities and encouraging timber mafia, he would be killed, the posters threatened.

Saluja said, “My workers have intimated me about the threatening posters. This is for the second time that such posters have come up against me.

“I believe there is a conspiracy to kill me by police. After getting details tomorrow, I shall write a letter to the Chief Minister and even raise the issue in the Assembly,” he told this correspondent over phone, when contacted.

Contacted, Balangir SP Abinash Kumar said, “We are verifying and looking into the matter.

Balangir celebrates Home Guards Day

Balangir celebrates Home Guards Day

Balangir: The 50th annual Home Guards Day was observed here on Tuesday with district SP Balangir Awinash Kumar taking salute of the parade. He lauded the crucial role of the Home Guards in maintaining law and order, traffic, night patrolling and natural calamities. They are also in forefront in tackling the Maoists in Khaprakhol and Tureikela blocks of the district.

Balangir ICTCs run short of technicians; HIV testing hit THURSDAY, 01 DECEMBER 2011 23:13 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 3

Balangir ICTCs run short of technicians; HIV testing hit
THURSDAY, 01 DECEMBER 2011 23:13
SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR
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Even as the World AIDS Day was observed on Thursday with much fanfare with a new theme “Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination, Zero AIDS-related deaths”, the vacant posts of laboratory technician in Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) opened in the migration-prone rural areas of the district, have hit the detection and diagnosing of HIV/AIDS patients.
According to sources, out of the 14 blocks of the district, only in five ICTCs located at Balangir, Titilagarh, Patnagarh, Kantabanji and Chudapali, required number of counsellors and laboratory technicians are found. The technicians at Government PHC of Saintala, Loisingha and Degoan have been given training on HIV/AIDS too. But in the most migration-prone areas, where people are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, such as Tureikela, Khaprakhol, Muribhal, Sindhekela, Tusura and Gudvella, there is no laboratory technician to test the infection of the disease. In the district headquarters hospital, there is only one lab technician who is in charge of both the sections of the ICTC.
“Mere counselling is not enough and it is futile to expect poor persons to go to distant places to test their blood. If a poor person returns from an ICTC without being tested, it becomes very difficult to bring him again to the testing centre,” pointed out an NGO worker.
So far 492 persons have been detected as HIV positives and 68 persons have died due to AIDS, informs CDMO Dr Vikrant Kindo. The CD4 machine is being installed here in the district and it would be functional after the technician joins here, Kindo informed. In the Balangir ART Centre, a total of 220 people are on pre-ART and 80 people are under ART treatment, he said.
Meanwhile, the Link Worker Scheme, which was working in the rural areas in the district since 2009 for identification of HIV/AIDS, treatment and linkages with different schemes, has been closed in the midway leaving its workers and patients in lurch.
“HIV/AIDS remains one of the biggest global challenges for our generation. It is essential to combat it through effective awareness campaign and education. Odisha is considered vulnerable due to a large number of persons resorting to distress migration. Balangir is highly prone to HIV/AIDS. Awareness is necessary,” said MP and convener of parliamentary committee on HIV/AIDS Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo.

52,000 quintals BPL rice, wheat sized THURSDAY, 01 DECEMBER 2011 23:12 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 3

52,000 quintals BPL rice, wheat sized
THURSDAY, 01 DECEMBER 2011 23:12 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 3
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Acting on a tip-off under the direction of SP Awinash Kumar, a special squad-led by Inspector Ranjan Patnaik on Thursday raided the godown and residential premise of a storage agent, Gopal Agrawal in Loisingha and seized 50,000 quintals of BPL rice and 2,000 quintals of wheat stored illegally.

Agrawal is the storage agent for 12 gram panchayats of Loisingha block.

During verification, Agrawal could not show valid documents in support of the stored items. He was immediately taken into custody, said Inspector Pattnaik.

Prior to this, there was widespread allegation in the concerned panchayat areas about regular irregularity in delivery of PDS rice and wheat to the BPL consumers and the tribal people were the worst victims of such bungling as nobody heard their grievance.