HALDHAR NAG OPENS FARM FAIR IN BALANGIR Saturday, 30 December 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

HALDHAR NAG OPENS FARM FAIR IN BALANGIR

Saturday, 30 December 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Padma Shri Haldhar Nag inaugurated the Mati Maa Unnati Mela at Sirabahal, 20 km from here, on Friday. Jointly organised by the Krushak Samiti Samuha and the Bhim Pahad Krushak Producers Company, the fair was thronged by villagers.

Haldhar Nag narrated his struggling life and his experience of receiving Padm Shri. “I have always strived for development of the motherland, the mother tongue, Sambalpuri Kosali,” he said and stressed on cultivation of traditional paddy seeds and use of organic fertiliser to get more production and to shun cultivation of hybrid and high-yielding varieties. Deogaon Block Development Officer Shankar Prasad Sahu emphasised on new initiatives to increase income from the same plot of land. Balangir Krishi Bigyan Kendra Senior Scientist Ashis Das and District Agriculture Officer PK Rath spoke on judicious use of land water for better production. Madhu Sudan Sethi of the RWSS stressed the need of spreading the message to stop open defecation in the rural areas to lead a disease-free life. The Bhimpahad Krushak Producers Company, the Reliance Foundation and the RWSS have opened their stalls in the fair.

A one-act play with the theme of doubling the income of farmers was staged. Udar panchyat sarpanch Kanhu Meher, Kuturla sarpanch Bada Pradhan and Mukundpur sarpanch Balak Pradhan were felicitated. 

JUMBOS ON THE RAMPAGE DAMAGE CROPS IN BALANGIR Friday, 29 December 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

JUMBOS ON THE RAMPAGE DAMAGE CROPS IN BALANGIR

Friday, 29 December 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Elephants have been damaging paddy crops on a wide scale in Balangir, Deogaon, Loisingha and Agalpur blocks in Balangir district since last three days.

The elephants have damaged crops at Raipali and nearby villages in the Deogaon Forest Range, Upparjhar and its adjoining villages in the Balangir Forest Range and at Salebhata in the Loisingha Forest Range.

The jumbos have also damaged brinjal and tomato and banana fields. While there is Government provision for compensation for damage to paddy crop, there is no such provision for damages to vegetable cultivation. Worse, there is no clear-cut provision for compensation for the paddy damaged while stored in Khala (barn).

The procedure to get compensation for crop damage caused by elephants has been simplified since 2016; and farmers have to apply to the Forest Range office with some minimum documents like a Xerox copy of Aadhaar card, Record of Rights of the land and bank account and photograph of crop damage area.

According to Forest Department sources, 214 farmers were given crop damage compensation amounting to over Rs8 lakh in the Balangir Forest Range in 2016 within a few months after field verification and the money was transferred to farmers’ accounts.

However the affected farmers feel the compensation amount is inadequate. “We protect our village forests which have grown into dense forests. As a result, elephants came and damaged our paddy crops. The amount of compensation for crop damage is inadequate. We want it to be increased substantially," said a villager of Phatamunda in the Balangir Forest Range to the forest officials who came to generate awareness among masses about elephant conservation.

While the erratic rainfall and pest attack affected the farmers  first, the inadequate crop damage compensation and no compensation for damages to vegetable cultivation by elephants has hit the poor farmers hard further

ANIMAL SACRIFICE ONCE AGAIN AT SULIA YATRA THIS YEAR Wednesday, 27 December 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

ANIMAL SACRIFICE ONCE AGAIN AT SULIA YATRA THIS YEAR

Wednesday, 27 December 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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With no opposition from any quarters, the sacrifice of goats, sheep, hens, and even buffaloes  took place once again on Tuesday at the main Sulia Pitha, popularly known as Badkhala, at Khairugda village in Kulpatda panchayat in Deogaon block in Balangir district, 24 km from the headquarters town here, much to the anguish of animal lovers.

Sulia Yatra is observed on the first Tuesday of the Pausa month by the tribal people. The killing of animals and birds takes place at Badkhala and  at another place called Saan Khala, 2 km from the main Yatra site.

Animal sacrifice is a tradition of tribals which has been going on for ages. The tribal people believe it as part of their culture and tradition, without which they cannot survive. They believe that offering blood of animals and birds to Sulia, their traditional deity, brings good harvest resulting in prosperity and happiness to their families and the community as a whole.

“I have brought a small buffalo to offer to deity Sulia Budha as one of my wishes has been fulfilled,” said an old tribal villager of Odiapali.

Even a small child accompanied by his family members also brought a buffalo to offer to the deity. “I have brought this buffalo to offer to Sulia as one of our my relatives got cured thanks to the blessings of the deity,” said Kahna of Baghapali.

Initially, Paat Buka or the special animal selected for killing is offered to the deity in early morning, after which other animals are killed. The sacrifice is managed by the Milita Sulia Yatra Puja Committee, which has representation of 61 villages in 15 gram panchayats of Balangir and contiguous Subarnapur districts. This year, the practice went on peacefully, said committee secretary Maya Pradhani.

The Sulia Yatra is one of the major festivals of tribals of western Odisha. On Monday evening, Lord Shiva is worshipped first and next early morning, animal sacrifice is performed during the festival.

“People are offering animals as their desires were fulfilled,” said Pramod Bohidar, a youth leader.

Three platoons of police force led by 15 officers and 70 Home Guards were deployed to maintain law and order at the Sulia Yatra this year, said Balangir SDPO NarayanNaik to this correspondent.

PDS, NREGS SCAM: B’NGIR VILLAGERS HOLD STIR Saturday, 23 December 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

PDS, NREGS SCAM: B’NGIR VILLAGERS HOLD STIR

Saturday, 23 December 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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The villagers of Mahulpati led by Kartikeshwar Sahu are on a fast-unto-death stir before the collectorate here demanding action against the persons involved in corruption in implementation of MGNREGS and siphoning off PDS rice.

According to a memorandum submitted to the district Collector, false muster roll has been prepared for land development and the GRS of Mahulpati and Goindimaal and the Sarpanches of Mahulpati and Kandagad have bungled Rs 40lakh. And so far no action has been in this regard.

Similarly, in PDS distribution, there has been huge corruption. The then Sarpanch of Mahulpati Hiradhar Puta along with the then  Panchyat Executive Officer and salesman have lifted PDS rice of 3,000 quintals in the name of 122 dead persons and 46 migrants from December 2011to 2014, it said.

Moreover, an inquiry by District Social Auditor Barsha Harpal on June 21 also found irregularities in the MGNREGS implementation.

She gave several recommendations to check such thing in future.“As no action was taken against the persons involved in this PDS and NREGS scam by the district administration, we are on fast unto death before the collectriate here,” said an agitator.

B’NGIR VILLAGERS TOLD TO SAVE JUMBOS Thursday, 21 December 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

B’NGIR VILLAGERS TOLD TO SAVE JUMBOS

Thursday, 21 December 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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The Save Elephant Foundation Trust Bhubaneswar, held meetings at Phatamunda and Purna Pani villages in Bolangir in collaboration with the local Forest department, with the campaign ‘Elephant is our friend’. Among others, Prakash Chandra Jena of Save Elephant Foundation stressed the need for conservation of elephants.

Among others, Bolangir Divisional Forest Officer Sameer Satpathy, ACF Goutam Naik, Honorary Wildlife Warden Sudhir Kumar Mishra ,former Chairman of State Women Commission Dr Jyoti Panigrahi, Bolangir Forest Range Officer BC Roul spoke on this occasion.

The speakers stressed the need for conservation of forest, elephants and how to check the growing man-elephant conflict.

However, the villagers complained of non receipt of compensation money towards crop damage and fumed that compensation given is quite low.

They demanded hike in the compensation amount. The officials assured to convey it to the higher authorities for further action. 

REGIONAL-LEVEL MEET ON MIGRATIONHELD IN BALANGIR ;https://youtu.be/vS7UTqMXrvE

REGIONAL-LEVEL MEET ON MIGRATIONHELD IN BALANGIR on 25thOctober2017

https://youtu.be/vS7UTqMXrvE

Thanks to the Dense FOG,: Fog facilitates the rescue of baby elephant in Bolangir. By;Sudhir Mishra/Bolangir

14thDecember2017

By

Sudhir Mishra/Bolangir

Thanks to the Dense FOG, ,

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Fog facilitates the rescue  of baby elephant in Bolangir.

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Bolangir; It is a common incident to find dense fog in the morning continues till  8am and even 9am in the morning and the visibility becomes less on the road creating difficulty for the motorist, commuters and general public moving on the road.

A few days ago due to dense fog condition in New Delhi, resulted in the accident of many vehicles injuring many people.

However, in a sharp contrast, the dense fog helped the rescue of a baby elephant fallen in a well in a paddy field in Keseipali village of Bolangir district by the elephants themselves, has brought relief to local villagers, forest official and the animals-Jumbos too.

According to reports, a baby elephant which fell inside the well of a field near village Keseipali near Chelia Reserve forest in Loisingha range on Thursday morning was rescued by fellow elephants and they took him into Chelia Reserve forest

According to sources today morning the elephant's squad member of Loisingha Forest Range came to know about the incident of a baby elephant fallen inside the well.When the elephant squad member tried to go near the spot of the incident, they were chased by the elephants.

Apparently, the elephants while trying cross from one side of paddy field to other paddy fields, the baby elephant slipped from the bund(side/ Locally calledADDI)and fell there. The elephant is a social animal and always found to “live/stay in the group” and they would not leave anyone from their group and the elephant try their best to rescue anyone falls in any deep place/well/pond.

There was dense fog in today morning in that village. This helped the elephants to carry out their rescued operation for long time. The well had water full to its capacity. As there was full water in the well, both the elephants damaged the stone wall of the well and rescued the baby elephant from thereby their trunk and took him into nearby Chelia Reserve Forest.

Had there been day light by that time, it would have brought a lot of tension for local people, forest official and the animals too. Normally the elephant would not move out in day time. During day time crowd and village people would have gathered around the spot to see elephant and forest official would have to move from pillar to post to rescue the elephant,, besides crowd  controlling.

However thanks to the dense fog, the elephants could carry out their attempt to rescue the baby from the well and took him into reserve forest. All this happened “Thanks to the dense fog”.(photograph shows how elephant damaged the  well )

PROMOTION OF TRADITIONAL PADDY SEEDS URGED Monday, 11 December 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

PROMOTION OF TRADITIONAL PADDY SEEDS URGED

Monday, 11 December 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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To popularise cultivation of traditional varieties of paddy seed and steps for its preservation, Desi Bihan Parab 2017 was held at village Kharamal in Bargarh district on December 7.

“We have been organising the Desi Bihan Parab every year to promote cultivation of traditional varieties of paddy and their preservation since last 10 years,” said Sibaprasad Sahu of the Ahinsha Club.

Earlier, village women went in a rally with Kalashes (pots) containing Desi Bihan (traditional seeds) on their heads after worshipping them.

Later, a meeting was held where in Bargarh MP Prabhas Singh, farmer leaders Lingraj and Saroj Mohanty, poet Padmashree Haldhar Nag and Balangir Zilla Parishad President Bharati Mahanand stressed the need for preservation of traditional varieties paddy seed, which are becoming extinct with every passing day, and their promotion and popularisation among farmers.

They said farmers would have to use less pesticides and insecticides once they goes for cultivation of Desi varieties of seed; and by consuming such crops, one can lead a disease-free life. In such a situation, farmers would not have to depend on commercial firms for paddy seeds.

An exhibition of more than 100 varieties of traditional paddy seed and several varieties minor millet was held at the festival site.

FARMERS’ COOPERATIVE OPENS THIRD BALANGIR HAAT NOW Monday, 11 December 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

FARMERS’ COOPERATIVE OPENS THIRD BALANGIR HAAT NOW

Monday, 11 December 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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The Bhimpahad Krushak Producer Company Limited (BKPCL), with assistance from Nabard and guidance from the Reliance Foundation, opened a weekly haat (market) at Ardda village in Gaibahal panchyat under Deogaon block, 20 km from here.

The motto is to provide easy access to the marginal farmers, women and other local people to market, develop entrepreneurship quality among people, save farmers from the exploitation by middlemen and ensure better marketing of agricultural produce.

This is the third weekly haat after the ones at Budelgumma and Kuliabahal opened by BKPCL, which is a registered body of 1,500 farmers of 33villages, said its chairman Satya Narayan.

 “Before opening the haat here, we brought a no objection certificate from the panchyat and held a meeting in at least 20 villages,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Balangir District Central Co-operative Bank (BDCCB) president Laxman Meher hoped that with the opening of the market, the rural economy of the area would get a boost and farmers would able to sell their produce at fair prices and people of the village and nearby areas would get their daily needs at their doorstep. He assured to look into the demands of water supply facility in the market.

Nabard DDM Tapan Kumar Sahu explained the provision and facilities for the market. Gaibahl Sarpanch Kalyani Dalei, Reliance Foundation, Balangir team leader Tutu Sethi, Ajay Das from Aam Adami Party(AAP)  among others spoke.

According to sources, on the first day, 243 small traders opened their stalls and transacted business worth around Rs 3 lakh.

Weekly Haat(Market ) at Ardda village in Deogaon Block of Bolangir district

Weekly market;https://youtu.be/OOhwVXnSYpE

please see the video on weekly market and give your comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOhwVXnSYpE

https://youtu.be/OOhwVXnSYpE

The moon in the sky of Bolangir on 3rdDec2017;BySudhir Mishra/Bolangir

The Moon in the morning sky at Bolangir ;By;Sudhir Mishra/Bolangir

The moon in the evening sky at Bolangir;BySudhir mishra/Bolangir