Groundnut growers in a fix;by SudhirMishra/Bolangir

Dwindling bear population in Western Odisha- by SudhirMishra/Bolangir

Bear population dwindles in Western Odisha;By SudhirMishra/Bolangir

‘Declare areas hit by erratic rainfall as drought-hit’ FRIDAY, 04 NOVEMBER 2011 22:28 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 1 User Rating: / 0

‘Declare areas hit by erratic rainfall as drought-hit’
FRIDAY, 04 NOVEMBER 2011 22:28 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 1
User Rating: / 0
PoorBest
Farmers of Puintala, Loisingha and Balangir blocks, led by former MP Balgopal Mishra and farmer leader Udayasingh Thakur, on Friday went around in a procession through the town and gheroed the district Collectorate, demanding all the areas of the State, which has been hit due to irregular rainfall and subsequent drought ,should be declared as drought affected .

Farmers of the district have suffered four times from the beginning of cultivation of paddy crop due to irregular rainfall, pointed out farmer leader Thakur. As a result paddy cultivation could not be taken up in many fields. And in those lands where paddy cultivation was not taken up through broadcasting method, transplanting could not be taken up in the paddy filed due to lack of rain. Further the rains in first week of September further destroyed the pulse crop also. Notwithstanding all this, the Government is yet to declare Balangir as drought hit, Thakur said further.

The demands are not about declaration of Balangir district as drought hit, but for the entire farmers of Odisha who have been affected by drought, said Balgopal Mishra

“The Revenue Minister announced in August that there is drought situation in 16 districts of the State and out of them six districts are badly affected. “In the Relief Code there is a provision that the Government can announce drought seeing the crop condition and necessary relief assistance can be given to farmers as per the relief code, immediately. Why the Government has not declared it as drought affected till today, it is surprising, said Mishra. In the present day Government farmer suicides are taking place on every two days,” he further alleged.

“We held this rally to draw the attention of Government to the plight of not only farmers of Balangir, but also of entire Odisha and we demand immediate declaration those parts suffering crop loss due to erratic rainfall as drought affected points out Balgopal Mishra further.

Addressing the gathering other farmer leaders criticised the anti farmers attitude of Naveen Patnaik Government and favouring the industry.

Later they submitted a 16point charter of demands to President of India through the Collector, which includes declaration of all those parts of the State , hit by drought, “as drought affected” and waiving of loan, early completion of irrigation projects in the districts which include Lower Suktel, Hariharjore ,hike in MSP of paddy to Rs 2, 000, and payment of Rs 20,000 as compensation to farmers towards the damaged caused by elephants within a month.

Subarnapur migrant worker dies in train sans treatment TUESDAY, 01 NOVEMBER 2011 22:06 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 17 User Rating: / 0

Subarnapur migrant worker dies in train sans treatment
TUESDAY, 01 NOVEMBER 2011 22:06 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 17
User Rating: / 0
PoorBest
It is common to find a large number of people from Balangir district resorting to the course of migration every year to brick kilns of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to earn bread. But, more often than not, that lands them in a world of torture and exploitation.

This time the report of the death of a labourer during journey in a train and the trauma of the accompanying persons from neighbouring Subarnapur district has shocked many.

Sources said Santanu Biswal and Tarunkumar of Kandhpali village under Menda panchayat of Subarnapur district had migrated to Chennai two months ago and were working at a spare part company. Another person of nearby Ardda village had also migrated to Chennai with the same mission. As Tarunkumar fell ill, he was sent back to his home along with two ohers. While returning, Tarun Kumar died at Vijayawada station on October 27. He could not avail treatment due to lack of money. Seeing the dead body, the Viziaanagarm railway police detained the other two.

However, after the detained migrant labourers communicated the news to their family members, Dhruba Biswal, father of Santanu submitted a petition to Subarnapur Collector Gagan Behari Swain to rescue his son and others.

The DC took up the matter with his Vizianagaram counter part and requested him through a fax message to take step for the smooth release of the two detained laboueres. Getting the fax message, the Vijanagaram district administration intervened. The dead body after 24 hours was stinking and so was consigned to flame after discussion with his family members. The local Rotary Club and Municipality provided all support. Then the detained persons were let off, who soon returned home.

To incident made the Subarnapur district administration to sensitize the local people here to go through registered contactors to outside States after holding a village meeting. “Necessary instructions were issued to all gram panchayats of the district to ensure the registration of migrant labourers taken by contractors. Besides, the contractors were asked to register with the DLO”, District Collector Swain said.

Declare Balangir drought-hit: BJP TUESDAY, 01 NOVEMBER 2011 22:08 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 4

Declare Balangir drought-hit: BJP
TUESDAY, 01 NOVEMBER 2011 22:08 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 4
User Rating: / 0
PoorBest
BJP members led by district president Prabash Panigrahi and others staged demonstration before the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) office on Tuesday, demanding Balangir district to be declared drought-hit. The agitation coincided with the District Planning Board (DPB) meeting at the DRDA conference hall under the chairmanship of Revenue Minister Surjya Narayan Patro.

Panigrahi said, “We are demonstrating here demanding declaration of Balangir district as drought-hit and announcement of necessary concession to farmers and assistance to families of those who have committed suicide. While the Government is over-concerned for the flood-affected areas, it is neglecting the severe drought in this region.”

However, the Revenue Minister who faced the ire of the agitating BJP members at the venue of the DPB meeting said, “Today morning, I had visited six tehsils of the district and interacted with farmers. The drought situation in the entire district is grim and after getting the report from the district Collector, necessary steps would be taken to declare the district drought-hit. Patro announced that Balangir district would definitely be declared drought-affected in due course.
=========================================================================================