MUFP demands doc’s arrest for assaulting scribes

Bhubaneswar:TUESDAY, 26 JUNE The Pioneer 
The Media Unity for Freedom of Press (MUFP) in its protest meeting under the Freedom Tree in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday condemned the criminal assault on four mediapersons.

The scribes — Byomakesh Kar (Kamyab TV), Rajesh Saraf (Naxatra TV), Badriprasad Sahu (STV) and Sanjib Mahapatra, editor of local Odia weekly Kosal Times — were assualted by Dr Prafulla Patra, who runs a nursing home at Khajurtikra in Bargarh and his family members, in Bargarh on June 19. This happened when the four journalists had gone to meet the pediatrician to seek relief for a poor patient.

The MUFP, while expressing its solidarity with the Bargarh Sambadik Sangh, demanded immediate arrest of the doctor and stringent action against him for this criminal act as well as other illegal activities by the doctor and his family members at the earliest.

An FIR was lodged against the doctor and his family for the criminal offence but the local police are yet to act on it.

Members of the Bargarh Sambadik Sangh led by its president Shankar Ballav Mishra also called on Bargarh district Collector Bhabagrahi Mishra on Friday to demand arrest of the pediatrician.

Among others, MUFP presidium members Prasanta Patnaik, Rabi Das,  Sampad Mohapatra, Subhas Chandra Patnaik, Chief of MBC TV Sharada Lahangir and Sujata Mohapatra of India TV were present at the meeting. Besides, the assault victims of Bargarh were also present.
(Also available at Odishabarta.com/orissadiary.com/odishaeye.com)

Yuva Odisha accused J Tytler & Srikant Jena of Ignoring States Cause

Yuva Odisha, a Delhi-based outfit, on Monday accused Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler and Srikant Jena of avoiding issues of central discrimination toward Odisha and asked them to respond to issues like alleged neglect in railway sector, insufficient royalty on minerals, discrimination in granting forest and environment clearances to industrial projects and not according special category status to Odisha. The outfit's president Tejeswar Parida also demanded establishment of a National Tribal University at Kandhamal, IIM in Bhubaneswar and a central agriculture university in Odisha.  Source (Times Of India)

Pediatric Doctor assaulted four journalists in Bargarh

Dr.Patra assaulting Naxatra Tv News Representative. 

Another Journalist attack in Odisha.

Will Govt Provide protection to Scribes 

Bhubaneswar:  Basant Rath, 

In a Shocking news while questioning for a counter bite to pursue relief to a poor patient on Tuesday,an Pediatric specialist, Dr Prafulla Patra, working under Govt. of Odisha who is the Owner of “The Child” clinic of Bargarh brutally assaulted four Media representatives of Naxatra TV, Kamyab TV, Seasore TV  & Kosal Times of Bargarh on 19th June.

An FIR has lodged against the Dr.Patro and others before the police station, in the meanwhile the doctor also filed a counter FIR against the media representatives too alleging misbehaved his wife. During the investigation the Dr.Patro and  his family managed to escape from Bargarh said the Police.   

 After the ill-fated incident Members of Bargarh Sambadik Sangha led by President Shankar Ballav Mishra, communicated to District Collector Bhabagrahi Mishra, on Friday demanding arrest of pediatric specialist Dr Prafulla Patra, who unlawfully running a nursing home at Khajurtikra in Bargarh town. While questioning about an allegedly incident Dr. Patro along with his son brutally assaulted four media personnel who went to pursue relief for a poor patient on Tuesday.

Collector Mr.Mishra assured the scribes that law will take its course of action, and asked the CDMO, how the doctor is unauthorized running the Nursing Home and directed to verify the documents and facilities available at the Nursing home.

Sources said that one Kishore Chandra Meher of village Kandlei in Balangir district had admitted his seven-month’s  old daughter in Child Care Nursing Hone rune by Dr. Patra on April 27. However, after 14-days when the condition of the girl child did not improve, Dr.Patra referred her to VSS Medical at Burla.

During discharge, Meher was claimed charges of  Rs. 27,000, paying the bill amount Meher requested for bill. The doctor assured to provide bills later. After several days elapsed the doctor failed to provide bills. In the meantime Mr.Mehar intimated the matter before some media persons.

The local scribes and four of them undertook to provide some relief and requested Dr. Patra to seek the bill on Tuesday evening. However, instead of handing over the bill, Dr. Patra, his wife along with their son Evan Patra, in a plan manner or assaulted brutally to the scribes.

Different forums including Voice of Odisha also condemned the incident and demanded immediate action against the culprit doctor and his son.http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=34772

Landmine blasted by Police at Jodinga-Nabarangpur.

Nabarangpur.

A landmine planted by Maoists was blasted by security personnel near Shanti Nagar, 4km away from Raighar  naxal-hit-Nabarangpur district today.

At the Jodinga-Raighar jungle two boys found the wires and try to tug the wires in the meanwhile they found some villagers ran away. Villagers came to the spot saw the huge wires and intimated Righar police.

Following the information, Superintendent of Police Niti Sekhar, SDPO Umerkote  Ashok Kumar Patnaik along with other police officials rushed to the spot near Jodenga, located the landmine which was more than 15 feet under the ground.

Police suspect landmines might be planted at the time of construction of the road without taking any risk of defuse Supt. of Police Mr. Sekhar directed the police personnel’s to blast the landmine. We suspect planting of more such landmines. Although search operation has been launched along the road from Raighar to district bordering, Said Sp. Mr.Sekhar

Odisha: Tata Steel provided assistance to more than 200 schools in state

 Tata Steel has taken several measures that are aimed at promoting school education in Odisha. Towards this end, the Company has provided assistance to more than 200 schools in the State.

To improve the educational infrastructure in schools that are located in and around its areas of operations, the Company has taken proactive initiatives in repairing and constructing school buildings and boundary walls and distributed desks and benches to schools. It has also distributed essential items to students regularly to further their education.

The latest endeavour of the steel major has been to extend Jyoti Fellowship Awards to the students of the State. Jyoti Fellowship Awards are given under the aegis of the Tata Steel-promoted Tribal Cultural Society (TCS).

This fellowship awards support education of underprivileged Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students of Standard VII and above. During the current year, more than 700 poor students belonging to the districts of Keonjhar, Jajpur and Ganjam were provided assistance under the scheme.

The commitment of the Steel Company towards providing world class education for the tribal community in Odisha is testified by the MoU signed by the Company in this regard with the Bhubaneswar-based Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS).

The Company has already set in motion the process of setting up a residential school in Jajpur district for scheduled caste, scheduled tribe children and those from underprivileged sections of society.

Another grassroots level initiative for facilitating tribal education in the State is reflected by the support provided by the Company to Adivasi Vikas Samiti (AVS), a school founded by Padmshree Tulasi Munda in Serenda area of Keonjhar district.

Besides providing infrastructure support, Tata Steel has provided books for the school library. With 352 students already enrolled, AVS, Serenda, imparts education to tribal children up to Class IX.

Similarly, the Company has provided assistance to Adivasi Vikas Samity (AVS), Kainsi, in Keonjhar district. To facilitate free education for poor children, Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) is sponsoring the residential schooling of poor students of Joda area at AVS, Kainsi. TSRDS has already sponsored the education of two batches of 20 students each at AVS, Kainsi.

Further, to improve school infrastructure and ensure quality education in schools located in Kalinganagar, Joda and Gopalpur areas, Tata Steel has been distributing benches and desks. Sports materials are also distributed to a number of schools located in these areas. (Source: orissadiary.com)

Dhamra Port mulls sale of its export terminal

The Dhamra Port Company Ltd (DPCL), a joint venture of Larsen and Toubro and Tata Steel is reportedly mulling to sell a section of its facilities.

Sources said the Adani Group of Gujarat, which operates ports in many parts of the country, is interested to buy the export terminal of the Dhamra Port as it has been lying idle since September last after the port was dedicated to the nation by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The Dhamra Port’s export terminal is idle owing to the slump in the export of iron ore from the Odisha as well as from the country as a whole. The terminal has loaded about 2 lakh tonnes of iron ore in the first eight months of its operation though it is equipped to handle about 13.5 million tonnes per year.

Now, the DPCL has mandated the Kotak Investment Banking to find a buyer for the export terminal.

If a transaction with the Adani group materialises, it would help the group strengthen its presence on the eastern coast of India, besides helping its commodity trading business. The group is using the Paradip Port for import of huge quantities of coal. Since the last two months the Adani group’s imported coal has been piling up at the Paradip Port.

The sources said the DPCL could be under pressure from its bankers, who have financed it to a tune of `3,000 crore for construction of its port, for repayment of the loan.

The Dhamra Port also runs a coal import terminal that has a capacity to load 13.5 million tonnes of cargo a year. The terminal has imported about 6 MT since it began operations in May for its customers, including Tata Steel, Bhusan Steel and Power and Usha Martin Industries.

The DPCL was awarded the rights to develop and operate a port at Dhamra for 30 years by the Odisha Government in 2004. The contract can be extended for two additional periods of 10 years each. The `3,200-crore first phase of the port began commercial operations from two fully-mechanised berths capable of handling coking and thermal coal, steam, limestone and iron ore.

However, the port has to develop facilities and infrastructure to attract more importers and exporters. So far, the port is connected with a narrow road from the National Highway-5 from Jamjhadi, which is difficult for port users to approach it. The port town does not yet have good hotels for accommodation of port users.

Bengal accords 2nd language status to Odia

The West Bengal Government on Wednesday decided to accord second language status in official work to Odia, Hindi, Gurmukhi and Santhali in the areas where over 10 per cent of the population spoke the languages.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the State Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, according to reports reaching here.The West Bengal Government had earlier accorded the second language status to Urdu.

Centre’s move to deprive many Odias of NIT Rourkela entry

There is a move by the Central Government that would deprive Odia students of getting admission in NIT Rourkela in an increased number. And as per the intentionally revised norms, 30 to 40 Odia students are sure to lose seats in this premier engineering college of the country.

The Central Counselling Board (CCB) conducts the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) every year for admission into the NITs and other central engineering institutes in the country. This year, the results of the AIEEE were to be published on June 15. However, the CCB published them before time, i.e, on June 9 for the reason better known to it. Similarly, it also preponed the counselling date to June 15 against June 16.

And on June 15, a new notification was made in the website of the CCB -www.ccb.nic.in which is just reverse to the prevailing one. As per the old provisions in the CCB information brochure in Para 3.3.1, a student can take admission in NIT either from the State quota or from the Central quota according to his rank.

But according to the new notification, a student can take admission in NIT from the State quota only, whatsoever his or her rank may be. Even if a student has performed better in the entrance test, he or she would not be eligible under the Central quota. And this new norm goes against the interest of the students of Odisha.

Citing an example, a guardian said that if a first rank-holder is an Odia and he or she takes admission in the NIT Rourkela he or she would be considered under the State quota and not under the Central quota. The result being 30 to 40 Odia students are sure to be deprived of their seats under the new provision.

Hence, there is now widespread discontent among the students, guardians and even teachers in Odisha, who demand a reconsideration of the notification. They further opine that since there are better coaching centres in south India and Delhi, students of these areas would take the benefit under the new guideline.

Source: The Pioneer, Bhubaneswar.

Doon School to come up in Bhubaneswar

A Doon School will come up in the capital city to cater to the need of quality education in the State. The school will follow the Dehradun model, said Doon International School (DIS) chairman Devender Singh Mann while laying the foundation stone for the school near AIIMS here on Thursday.

According to Mann, the school has four acres of land and the building work will be completed by March 2013. After a month of the completion of the building work, the first session of admission will start.

The day-cum-residential school will give opportunity for joining students from nursery Class to 7th standard and new classes will be opened every year, he added.

The school will give emphasis on quality education. Even the faculties from other Doon Schools would come to teach the students here. “Not only class-room teaching, but we will focus on all round development of the students,” said Mann.

Women pulled chariot at Nabarangpur.

Nabarangpur:The car festival had concluded in peacefully manner after ban on hurling obscenities at the chariot for the first time Woman power was display near chariot here on Thursday. Hundreds of women devotees with male devotees pulled chariot which created history in the district. Expressing pleasure District collector, Sibabrata Dash, said  that Prior to this year women found it difficult to even come near the ropes of the chariot, but after ban on hurling obscenities today women pulling chariot which reflects the rich and distinct cultural heritage of Nabarangpur.
           Ms.Sussma Jain, President Durgabhaini, along with Rising Star Rotarian’s participating in pulling chariot and cheering women devotees said that we are thankful to the district administration for arranging to pull the chariot and the same tradition will be continued further she added. Some of the tribal women are thrilled to participate in pulling of chariat.  For the smooth and peaceful pulling of chariot the district administration has deployed huge number police personals of both genders. 

Child labour rampant in Odisha

Several functions were organized on National Child Labour Mitigation Day across Odisha to create awareness about the malaise of child labour here on Wednesday.

Despite tall claims by the government number of child labour is not falling in the state. The State Labour and welfare department conducted a survey in 2011 across 18 out of 30 district of the state. The survey revealed that more than 1.6 lakh children are working in different sectors that includes mining, crosser factory, wine shop, brick kiln etc.

The National Child Labour Project (NCLP) has already declared 24 out of 30 districts of the state as child labour prone. In 2007, NCLP conducted a survey in 24 districts of the state. The number was then 4.86 lakh.

Though, the 2011 survey has some positive indication, bur there are still miles to go. “After central government’s direction Odisha Government has taken several steps to abolish the child labours from the state. Crores of rupees have been spent by opening up of model schools, project schools etc., still the number is rampant. It is only because the money is not spent properly,” says Ghasiram Panda, a child right activist.

On the other hand the state welfare minister is not ready to admit that government machinery has failed to mitigate the issue.

'The state government has appointed 208 officers to find out the child labours. Last year, 750 child labours were rescued by this special team. The issue will be in our control very soon,” said Minister Prafulla Samal.

Talking to TSI, state labour commissioner Alekha Ch Padihari said, “Child labour issue is very sensitive. Only government’s initiative is not sufficient to curb this social menace. All sections of society need to come forward to meet the challenge.'

India presidential elections can go both way. Or so it seems....

Never since 1969 when V V Giri became the President the election was so much marred by controversy. Then it was the intra-Congress rivalry, which led to the defeat of Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, who was the official Congress candidate and supported by the party stalwarts. However, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi backed V V Giri, a renowned trade union leader, and asked the members to vote on their conscience. This subsequently led to the split of the Indian National Congress. Leaders like Morarji Desai went on to form Congress (Organization).

Forty-three years later the situation is somewhat different. There is no differences within the Congress. But is in minority and badly needs support of the regional and smaller parties to install its man as the President.

What is strange in India today is that once again it is not the election of the Prime Minister but that of the President which is becoming a subject of controversy. However, the target is the post of Prime Minister too as initially, even Mulayam Singh Yadav, wanted Manmohan Singh to be named as the presidential candidate.

Now its about the future of our nation if someone supports pranab , can they quote some of his acheievement or work for which he is being chosen.

So if Pranab is removed from the post of finance minister and elevated as the President of the country Manmohan Singh would certainly take a sigh of relief. Not only will he run the finance ministry on his own way he would, in a way, get rid of a man, who always used to pose a challenge before him.

If Congress manages to win support of other parties and succeed in installing Pranab to Rashtrapati Bhawan what will Mamata do now?

Will Odisha pursue with the central Govt. for sports & Physical Education University.

Bhubaneswar: By: Basant Rath, Sr.Journalist.

The 12th plan working group report on Sports and Physical Education recommends the establishment of four regional centers of LNUPE and 5 new sports and physical education universities or physical education colleges. 

Odisha should pursue with the central government regarding having one of the establishment of a National Sports Institute/University in Odisha as proposed by the 12th plan working group on Sports and Physical Education. That not only offers training in the sports Odisha excels in (Hockey – men’s and women’s, Football, Rowing, etc.) but also offers the above mentioned programs so that every athlete of Odisha is able to simultaneously pursue a certificate,diploma,degree in one of the above disciplines and is able to make a decent living.

The recent election of Mr. Dilip Tirkey as a Rajya Sabha MP can be argued as an indication that the Odisha government is serious about promoting sports in a wholesome way, with particular attention to adivasis.

Thus Odisha  should vigorously pursue considering that Sundergarh and Rourkela area is the hotbed of Odisha athletics mainly Hockey and it would be good to locate the proposed National Sports Institute/University in Sundergarh/Rourkela. It may have branches in Kendrapada and Bhubaneswar to cater to the women footballers of Kendrapada and other sports persons in Bhubaneswar/Cuttack. Moreover the university in Sundergarh/Rourkela can also cater to athletes in Jharkhand.

It has been recommended that for meeting the increasing demand of Physical education teacher and producing quality PETs at ;east four regional centers of LNUPE and 5 new sports and physical  education universities, physical education colleges should be opened during 12^th Plan. An outlay of Rs.900 crore on this account during the is projected.

OM TATSAT play enthralled audience.

Nabarangpur: 

Theme based on social-Philosophic- spiritual issues with its relevant messages about the evils of mass paranoia in the politics and Tantriks, black magicians  pretty extreme characters of the drama can drag audience out of their drawing rooms to auditorium.

Om Tatsat  was a truly exceptional, powerful and thought provoking story that has a twist at the very end using manipulation, deceit and force to achieve a position in politics and solution which is cleverly used to develop the under lining story that surprise the audience at the end. The drama begged several awards in southern Odisha which carries a lot of weight even today.

“People watched the play till the end though it was quite late in the night. We wish to do even better in future,” said Suchitra Majhi, one of the performers who also a very good actress for the role of the love interest because she was able to make the whole concept believable and touching especially towards the end of the drama.

The drama, staged by Narangi Natak Acadami, Nabarangpur at the town hall. The play was  directed by veteran director Bhubaneswar Dalai, “The artistes worked very hard since this was their debut on stage and  “To create an impact, we included light effects and interactive dialogues between the artistes and the audience in many scenes,” he added.

The play was written by young eminent writer and Dakhina Odisha Sahatya sanman Bulu Hota, and the song and music directed by Pradeep Mishra, The response of the audience was encouraging, feel the artistes.

Speaking to the occasion Collector, Sibabrata Dash, who was the chief guest, said that drama was a prime source of entertainment of the people but now the entertainment canvass has become bigger. Though we do not have mass audience. It is selective audience of drama even they are not related to the drama he said.  

Municipal Chairman, Prahalad Tripathy, recalled the past and said the district has achieved many in the field of drama and film. Nabarangpur has well-known actors  in Orissa’s film industry from 70s till date several actors like Sriram Panda, Muna Khan, Nihar Samal, and Hanu Subdulari,  has excellence of professional in odiya film industry.

Among others Zilla Parisad President, Motiram Nayak,  and DWO, Mukund Nial, present at the meeting. veteran Drama director Bhubaneswar Dalai felicitated at the function.

Tata future head Cyrus Mistry-CM Naveen meet focuses on future of Tata projects in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, June 12: Tata Group’s future head, Cyrus Pallonji Mistry, today called on chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the state secretariat to discuss the company’s projects in Odisha.

On his maiden visit to the state, Mistry, who will take over the reins of the group from Ratan Tata in December, was accompanied by senior company officials, including Tata Steel managing director H.M. Nerurkar, at the hour-long meeting.

Mistry, however, refused to divulge details, describing his visit as more of a “courtesy call” than a business meeting. “We discussed Odisha projects,” was his laconic reply when asked about the specifics of the meeting.

Nerurkar said Mistry, currently deputy chairman of Tata Sons, visited some of the group’s projects in the state before calling on the chief minister. “He was happy with the progress of these projects,” said Nerurkar.

Mistry’s visit assumes significance in view of the Tata group’s business stakes in the state, its latest project being the six million tonne steel plant at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district.

“We are expecting the Kalinga Nagar steel plant project to be commissioned by March 2014,” said Nerurkar, adding that its commissioning would mark the realisation of a long-standing dream.

Tata Steel had signed an MoU with the state government on November 17, 2004, for establishment of a six million tonne steel plant at Kalinga Nagar for Rs 15,600 crore. However, the project remained a non-starter for years following the police firing on January 2, 2006, in which 14 tribal people were killed.

Nerurkar said: “We have just signed an expression of interest for establishment of a six million tonne steel plant in Karnataka. Let’s see what happens.”

On the industrial park project being set up in Gopalpur, he said they had obtained the SEZ and environmental clearance. “We are awaiting the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance from the state government,” he said.

Tata Steel is anchoring an investment of Rs 1,000 crore on a 50,000 tonne per annum ferrochrome plant and four lakh tonne per annum rebar steel mill in the proposed industrial park in Gopalpur.

Construction of the boundary wall was over and work on the two plants would begin once the clearances were obtained, said Nerurkar.

Earlier during the day, senior state government officials reviewed the progress of these two projects. The review revealed that the six million tonne Kalinga Nagar steel project was on track and the first phase (three million tonne) was likely to be commissioned by March 2014.

More than Rs 10,000 crore has been invested in the project so far and orders worth Rs 18,000 crore placed. The project cost had been revised from Rs 15,600 crore to Rs 34,500 crore, official sources said.

Chief secretary Bijay Patnaik, who reviewed the project, said some land related issues had been discussed. “Steps are being taken to sort out these problems,” he said.

Official sources said that though the company has been allotted 3,400 acres, it has not been able to take possession of around 1,000 acres because of opposition by the displaced people. The progress of the industrial park project being anchored by the Tata Group in Gopalpur was also reviewed today.

The industrial park is being developed over around 3,000 acres acquired in 1995 for establishment of a port-based steel plant. In December 1995, then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao laid the foundation stone for the project. However, the project could not be taken off because of stiff resistance from the local people.

With a change of time, the industrial park is being set up on the same patch of land with the support of local people.

President of India election on July 19.

New Delhi:  The election for the President of India has been fixed for July 19. Votes will be counted, if needed, on July 22, said Chief Election Commissioner V Sampath this evening.
The Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath said :

• Election to President Office of India must be free and fair and the commission is taking all necessary steps in discharging its constitutional responsibility.
• The EC has decided to appoint secretary general of Rajya Sabha as the returning officer for these elections.
• Notification to be issued on June 16
• Last day for nominations: June 30
• Scrutiny of nominations : July 2
• Last date for withdrawal: July 4
• Elections to be held on July 19
• Counting, if required, to be held on July 22 
• Chief Electoral Officers of each state shall supervise and coordinate with assistant returning officers in state capitals.

State govt requests Centre to start AIIMS

Bhubaneswar: Requesting expedited completion of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here, the state government on Monday appealed to the Centre to start the academic session in the institute from August.

"It is requested that expeditious steps may be taken so as to start this academic session in AIIMS, Bhubaneswar from August itself," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Stating that Odisha government would provide all support, Patnaik reminded Azad about his assurance that the academic session for 50 students in the AIIMS here would be started in September this year.During his recent visit on May 6, Azad had said that despite the slow pace of construction work, the first academic session of the academy would begin from September this year while the hospital would be ready next year.The hospital would be completed next year so that the students who join the MBBS course at the new AIIMS centre would be able to utilise the facility, Azad had said after visiting the site and reviewing the constructing work.
The institute is coming up on 100 acres of land at Sijua on the outskirts of the city. The project consists of three components- hospital, medical college and housing and work has started on all the three areas.

The hospital is being built at a cost of Rs 264 crore, while around Rs 100 crore would be spent on the medical college and Rs 50 crore on housing.NDA government at the Centre had proposed to set up six branches of AIIMS at Patna, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Raipur and Rishikesh in 2003.

Home Guards remuneration raised to Rs 200 a day

Bhubaneswar: The state government today decided to hike the daily remuneration of home guards from Rs 150 to Rs 200.The new remuneration would be effective retrospectively from June 1, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is also in-charge of home department, said in a direction. The home guards association had been demanding a hike in their remuneration for a long time."At least 17,675 home guards will be benefitted from the decision," a senior official said adding the state government would bear an additional expenditure of Rs 32 crore per annum for payment of extra Rs 50 per day per home guard.The home guards in states like Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattishgarh are already getting Rs 200 as daily remuneration, they said. The home guards association on the other hand alleged that though assist the state police, they do enjoy any social security.

Raja festival loosing its shine in Odisha

Raja is celebrated in the month of Odia calendar Asara [middle of month June] every year and the festival runs three days duration is highlighted with several traditional rituals in different phases and traditionally the fest is known as a woman dominated festival in Odisha.

The advent of modern culture, distaste of present generation towards the traditional festivals and lack of financial ability have contributed to the sharp decline in observance of the swing festival ‘Raja’. Once the festival was being observed with gusto and great éclat across the state especially in rural belts of Orissa.

Traditionally the fest called as woman dominated festival, as in these three days, the fairer sex are not supposed to cook at home or cut any thing, walking bare foot, scratch the earth, grind, tear anything. The male folks of family do cook, cut vegetables, prepare paan (tambul ) for the ladies. 

The ladies are supposed anoint their bodies with turmeric paste and oil and take pacificatory bath in a river or pond and then wear clothes and jewelry every day. Infact, they get involved in merry making and playing cards and pashas in all these three days. In ancient literatures, special Raja songs are available which are chanted by the young girls. 

According to popular tradition of ‘Raja’ in the first day of festival maiden and young women rise early in the morning, do their hair, anoint their bodies with turmeric paste and oil and take pacificatory bath in a river or pond and then wear clothes and jewelry. However the ritual says bathing for the rest two days is prohibited for women and girls. They should not walk bare foot, scratch the earth, grind, tear any thing apart or cook during the festival. 

Mainly the festival is observed for three days in gaiety and merry making non vegetarian food items are prepared. An exclusive burned cake ‘Podapitha’ is made for the festival.

Moving up and down on the swings during the festival is a special feature of ‘Raja’. Girls sing songs specially meant for the festival from Orissa’s folk poetry. Chewing of Raja ‘Paan’ during the festival is a special ritual.

Raja’ still observes with full rituals among the people in rural areas mainly poverty-stricken common folks do utmost care observing ‘Raja’ in recent time while the middle class people and affluent class are uncared to follow the rich tradition of Raja

Raja’ pattern does not augur well for culture of the state, the festival speaks of love, affection, respect, social behavior and social order among people, loosing its relevance in villages and urban areas under the influence of modern culture has definitely taken toll as ‘Raja’ loses its sheen,

Raja is a unique festival of Odisha

By: Basant Rath, Sr.Journalist. Raja Sankranti (Swing festival) or "Mithuna Sankranti" is the first day of the month of 'Asara' from, which the season of rains starts. It inaugurates and welcomes the agricultural year all over Orissa, which marks, through biological symbolism, the moistening of the summer parched soil with the first showers of the monsoon, thus making it ready for productivity. Welcoming the Monsoon To celebrate the advent of monsoon, the joyous festival is arranged for three days by the villagers. Though celebrated all over the state it is more enthusiastically observed in the districts of Cuttack, Puri and Balasore. The first day is called "Pahili Raja" (Prior Raja), second is "Raja" (Proper Raja) and third is "Basi Raja" (Past Raja). Legend According to popular belief as women menstruate, which is a sing of fertility, so also Mother Earth menstruates. So all three days of the festival are considered to be the menstruating period of Mother Earth. During the festival all agricultural operations remain suspended. As in Hindu homes menstruating women remain secluded because of impurity and do not even touch anything and are given full rest, so also the Mother Earth is given full rest for three days for which all agricultural operations are stopped. Significantly, it is a festival of the unmarried girls, the potential mothers. They all observe the restrictions prescribed for a menstruating woman. The very first day, they rise before dawn, do their hair, anoint their bodies with turmeric paste and oil and then take the purificatory bath in a river or tank. Peculiarly, bathing for the rest two days is prohibited. They don't walk bare-foot do not scratch the earth, do not grind, do not tear anything apart, do not cut and do not cook. During all the three consecutive days they are seen in the best of dresses and decorations, eating cakes and rich food at the houses of friends and relatives, spending long cheery hours, moving up and down on improvised swings, rending the village sky with their merry impromptu songs. The Melody Of The Festivity The swings are of different varieties, such as 'Ram Doli', 'Charki Doli', 'Pata Doli', 'Dandi Doli' etc. Songs specially meant for the festival speak of love, affection, respect, social behaviour and everything of social order that comes to the minds of the singers. Through anonymous and composed extempore, much of these songs, through sheer beauty of diction and sentiment, has earned permanence and has gone to make the very substratum of Orissa's folk-poetry. While girls thus scatter beauty, grace and music all around, moving up and down on the swings during the festival, young men give themselves to  strenuous games and good food, on the eve of the onset of the monsoons, which will not give them even a minute's respite for practically four months making them one with mud, slush and relentless showers, their spirits keep high with only the hopes of a good harvest. As all agricultural activities remain suspended and a joyous atmosphere pervades, the young men of the village keep themselves busy in various types of country games, the most favourite being 'Kabadi'. Competitions are also held between different groups of villages. All nights 'Yatra' performances or 'Gotipua' dances are arranged in prosperous villages where they can afford the professional groups. Enthusiastic amateurs also arrange plays and other kinds of entertainment. Culinary Delights The special variety of cake prepared out of recipes like rice-powder, molasses, coconut, camphor, ghee etc. goes in the name of "Poda Pitha" (burnt cake). The size of the cake varies according to the number of family members. Cakes are also exchanged among relatives and friends. Young girls do not take rice during the three-day festival and sustain only with this type of cake, fried-rice ('Mudi') and vegetable curry.

Tribal fair prepares artisans for urban market.

Bhubaneswar: In the contemporary market-driven economy, many skilled craftsmen could not get their due credit due to lack of a proper forum to approach the national and global markets.

In this context, the 10-day national workshop and fair of tribal art and crafts at the Museum of Tribal Arts and Artifacts located at the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI) here boosts tribal artisan’s hope for access to urban markets. The event concluded on Sunday.

Organised jointly by the SCSTRTI and the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), Bhopal, the workshop and fair aimed to preserve, promote and popularise tribals’ traditional arts and crafts. ST and SC Development Department Director SK Popli said, “Odia artists lack the commercial approach. Their skills should be modernised to approach market and explore scopes from traditional to global economy. This event provided a platform to bring together talented tribal artists and the craftsmen to interact among themselves and develop their skill through cross-cultural interactions.”

The workshop registered participation of 71 master tribal craftsmen and artists from nine States — Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Manipur, Nagaland, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The artisans were encouraged to interact with different resource persons in the first half whereas the second half was open for display of the arts and crafts for visitors. The craftsmen and artisans were also guided on promotion of their arts and crafts to earn a sustainable livelihood.

“It is an attempt to give recognition to tribal artists and enhance the possibility of imitation and interaction. We placed the Bonda and Manipuris together so that they could learn from each other,” said Popli.

Making and processing of various tribal textiles, paintings, jute, cane, bamboo and paddy crafts and decorative items were on demonstration. Works of the tribal artisans from Nilgiri, Toda in Tamil Nadu, Bheel and Gond painters, Madra paintings from Rajasthan, Muria painting of Chhattishgarh, weaving art of Manipur, textiles of Bonda tribes and Saura paintings from Odisha were highly appreciated. However, terracotta, dhokra and lacquer works were missing.

Though representing their traditions, some tribal artisans seemed to adapt to the changes and make compromises to cater to the modern market needs. The changes were highly reflected in the Saura paintings of Odisha where some trained artists from the Bhubaneswar-based BK College of Arts and Crafts fused contemporary art in the Saura paintings. Concepts and themes of paintings that should be based on the folk lore and folk culture of the respective tribes have changed. Poster and acrylic colours replaced the organic colours. All this to “increase the sale,” said young Saura painters.

But most of artisans prefer to stick to their base and are out of this trend of modernisation. “Now a days, we are using poster colours because in traditional ways rice flour is used to prepare colour which is a time consuming process,” said Worli painter Vijay.

With changing time the concept or theme of painting has changed and modern concepts have got their ways to these folk paintings that generally take two to three days to make a small painting. “I have made paintings with airport and platform as my themes. But we never compromise with the traditional symbols and motifs. The figuratives we use would not change,” assured the young tribal artist.

Engaged in textile making, Dongria Kondh girls Suoy Wadaka, Thapada Kantha, Timi Jakesia and Tabli Kadraka can manage to earn Rs 200 per cloth that takes three months to complete if they work everyday. In market, each piece of cloth sells from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500. “We work whole day at Dongar (jungle land) and make cloths in night. They say that only foreign people will buy this,” said a Dongaria Kondh girl, who was not very hopeful about the local market.

Yet, the locals did not disappoint the tribal artisans and the event registered good sales. “No modern decorative can match the charm of these bamboo and paddy craft products. As home decorative, these products are not only beautiful, affordable and durable but are very useful in daily life. We are definitely purchasing a lot,” said Avipsa Mishra and Sagarika, students of the Triveni Academy, who along with their friends were found in a shopping mood.

Throughout the event, the SCSTRTI complex turned into a national tribal haat. The event pulled crowds because of the ethnic ambience welcoming visitors to a world of pristine tribal arts and crafts from across the nation.

State to employ 10 lakh youth during 12th Plan period

With the State requiring 1.35 crore skilled manpower,  the Government on Monday decided in principle to create employment potential for 10,00,000 youths by providing technical training during the 12th Plan period- 2012-17.

According to Chief Secretary Bijay Patnaik, the decision was taken at a High-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Talking to newsmen after the meeting, Patnaik said every year as many as two lakh youths would be provided technical training at skill development centres and technical institutes to make them employable.

The educated young men and young women would be provided training  through Indutrial Training Institutes in manufacturing sector, handloom and textile, driving, construction and heath services. Besides, they would be provided training in the telecom, banking, IT and IT-enabled services for their skill development, he said.

Patnaik said it was decided at the meeting to establish 43 new ITIs and poly-technics in the State during the current financial year to cater to the training needs of the youths. Besides, he said, the Chief Minister had stressed the need for infrastructural development of the IT and Polytechnics institutes and to upgrade various trades and appointment of more technical teachers.

During the current year, Maoist-affected districts like Gajapati, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Malkangiri and Deogarah would have one ITI each.

State to disburse Rs 3,000 crore crop loan for 2012 Kharif

In order to help improve the condition of farmers and the farm sector, the State Government has set a target to provide an estimated Rs 3,000 crore crop loan to 15 lakh farmers during the 2012 Kharif season.

Besides, it has decided to disburse Rs 600 crore towards agricultural term loan for the 2012-13 financial year, according to official sources.

The sources said during last Kharif, 2011, the State Government had fixed Rs 2,381 crore to meet the credit needs of the farmers. Considering the performance of the Short Term Co-operative Credit Structure and the credit requirement of the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, this year the amount of the farm credit has been saised to Rs 3,000 crore.

The sources further said that the crop loans would be made available to the farmer members of the Primary Agricultureal Cooperative Societies at concession rate of 5 per cent of interest. If the lonee farmers would repay the outstanding dues on or before due dates, 3 per cent interest incentive would be available to them thereby reducing the cost of credit to 2 per cent per annum, they added.

The crop loan would be provided through Kissan Credit Cards and steps have already been taken to make PACS and LAMPS as single point for delivery of agriculture-related needs of farmers. As many as 5 lakh new KCCs would be issued to farmers during the current Kahrif season.

The sources said besides member farmers in the cooperative fold, the State Government has also decided to ensure flow of credit to tenant farmers and oral lessees through Joint Liability Groups (JLGs).

While it is targeted to achieve credit linkage of at least 50,000 JLGs   during the current year, it said at least 3 per cent of the aggregate crop loan advances would be made available to the share croppers through the JLGs.

Stating that target for disbursement of agricultural term loans during the 2012-13 financial year has been fixed at Rs 600 crore, the sources said that the Cooperative Banks have been asked to augment financing under tractor, power tiller, pump set, minor irrigation, farm mechanisation, plantation,  horticulture and allied agricultural activities like diary, poultry and fisheries. Banks have been asked to keep close coordination with the line departments concerned to avail of the opportunity.

Pointing out that it has been targeted to disburse highest Rs 300 crore crop loan in Bargarh district followed by Rs 260 crore in Baleswar district, the sources said till June 2, an estimated Rs 546 crore crop loan has already been given to farmers in the State.

Source: The Pioneer,

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Govt to open 43 new vocational training centres

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to impart skill development training to 10 lakh unemployed youths during the 12th plan period, the state government today decided to set up 43 new Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and Polytechnic schools, official sources said. The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting presided over by the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here. "We have decided to make at least two lakh youths employable every year by imparting vocational training to them," the sources aid after the meeting. The government has also decided to set up at least five ITIs and 10 Skill Development Centres (SDC) in Maoist-hit five districts on priority basis. The districts identified to get new ITIs and SDCs are; Sambalpur, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Deogarh and Gajapati. As the state required an estimated 1.35 crore skilled man power in wake of the increased industrial activities, the official said that different industrial houses had been asked to set up Industrial Training Centres (ITCs) as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR). The unemployed youths would be imparted skill development training on construction, driving, security service, health service, hospitality, manufacturing, IT, retail, telecommunication and others, he said.

Lulu demands judicial inquiry into Bramhagiri case

Bhubaneswar: Senior Congress leader and former Bramhagiri MLA Lulu Mohapatra on Monday has demanded judicial inquiry into the unearth and seizure of hand bombs and dynamites in Bramhagiri area under Puri district that claimed the life of constable Ranjan Kumar Sarangi last night. Stating ruling BJD’s hand behind the sophisticated and imported grenades, Mohapatra said the inquiry would reveal the source of these life-taking weapons.   
  
Reacting to Mohapatra’s remarks, Bramhagiri MLA Sanjay Dasburma said role of the real persons behind the current scenario could be known if information from ground-zero level were collected. Welcoming any inquiry into the matter Dasburma said it was also the responsibility of the opposition party to help pacify the current situation.

On Sunday police seized more than 50 hand bombs and 12 dynamites from a hut in Bramhagiri. While defusing the bombs, district bomb disposal squad constable Ranjan Kumar Sarangi was severely injured including five others and shifted to Puri district hospital, where he breathed his last. The police department has announced Rs4 lakh compensation for the deceased and a job to the next of kin of Sarangi.

Aspirants busy displaying loyalty to Naveen

With the industrially-rich undivided Dhenkanal district remaining unrepresented in the Naveen Patnaik Ministry, lobbying for a ministerial berth has earnestly begun.

Two ministers, Sanjeeb Sahoo and Anjali Behera, representing Angul and Dhenkanal districts respectively, were recently sacked for their alleged role in the  aborted coup attempt             against Naveen.

According to reports available, the ministerial claimants, instead of taking up their own case, are hell-bent on projecting others as Pyari’s protégés.

According to political observers, Dhenkanal MLA Naveen Nanda, who along with three of his colleagues from NCP, recently merged with the BJD, has little chance with criminal cases pending against him.

Meanwhile, various groups within the BJD are busy burning effigies of Pyarimohan Mohapatra to prove their loyalty to Naveen.

Angul legislator Rajani Kant Singh is among the top contenders for a berth. Son of former minister and Biju loyalist Adwait Prasad Singh, he had been sidelined since 2004 poll.

The other names doing the rounds are that of Government Chief Whip Rabi Narayan Pany and Parjang MLA Nrusingh Sahu. However, Kamakshyanagar MLA Prafulla Mallick’s chances are bleak for his closeness to Pyari. Pyari belongs to Kamakshyanagar area and did his early education at Talcher.

Amid the suspense, the role of BJD MP from Dhenkanal, Tathagat Satpathy in the selection process cannot be ruled out.

Satpathy over the years had been facing stiff opposition from former minister Anjali Behera.