Bandh demanding basic amenities disrupts normal life in Malkangiri

BERHAMPUR: Day to day life was completely disrupted in Malkangiri town and some parts of South Odisha on Tuesday due to a bandh call given by the ‘Malkangiri Zilla Surakshya Samity (MZSS)'. They had given this call for five demands and apathy of administrative officials towards these demands. President of MZSS, G.Srinivas Rao said they would hold a meeting on Tuesday night to decide about their next course of action.

This bandh call in Malkangiri town had its impact throughout Malkangiri district. No vehicles travelled between the district headquarters town and other places of the district. Trips of passenger buses from all parts of Malkangiri district to outside were also cancelled as they had to pass through Malkangiri town.

The bandh call was complete in Malkangiri town. All government and private establishments remained closed. Educational institutions and banks were also closed. Protestors picketed and blocked road at several points at Malkangiri town. This bandh call had the support of all organisations of Malkangiri town including the Committee of Concerned Citizens (CCC), local bar association, traders' association and political leaders, said Mr. Rao.

Members of MZSS also demonstrated in front of the office of the Malkangiri Collector on Monday for these five demands. Mr. Rao said they opted for the bandh call as the Collector did not show concern regarding their demands to hold discussions with them about their demands.

The demands are mostly related to basic amenities. They allege that most roads in Malkangiri town are in extreme dilapidated condition and need renovation. They also want end of continuing undeclared power cuts in their area. They alleged that piped drinking water supply system was yet to be streamlined in Malkangiri town and they demanded proper supply of drinking water in their area. The agitators also demanded speedy completion of renovation and widening work of Malkangiri-Kalimela road which according to them is being delayed by the construction company that has taken the contract.

The most important demand of the agitators is related to the settlement of land records of all rural and urban pockets of the district. Source: The Hindu

First Convocation Ceremony of Central University Koraput held; Pranab Mukherjee attended as chief guest

Koraput:  Koraput is one of the best District in the world because of its climatic conditions said the Governor of Odisha Mr. Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare. Mr. Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare was at Sunabeda in Koraput District on the occasion of 1st convocation ceremony of Central University Odisha established way back 2009.

Mr. Naveen Patnaik Chief Minister of Odisha who was the guest of honour expressed his ambitious plans and said the University in a tribal populated Koraput district itself is a significance change in tribal culture and language. Central University would definitely play a vital role to change the KBK districts (un-divided Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi) and its educational system. Education itself will bring sea change and change the people of these KBK districts and develop the local tribal Mr. Patnaik said.

The Union Finance minister Mr. Pranab Mukharji who was the Chief Guest of the Programme expressed his happiness over establishment of the Central University Odisha in koraput District which is one of the backward districts in India.

The first Vice Chancellor of the University Dr. Suravi Benarji assured to open medical college and Hospital to take Medicare of the people leaving in the districts, Steps have been taken and sent the proposal to the Government for opening the medical college in Koraput Central University Campus. She also gave thanks to Koraput Jagannath Temple Trust, Koraput people, Koraput district administration, media people and public representatives. Six students Miss. Sucharita sahu, Mr. Gyana Ranjan Patnaik, Mr. Kelaram Meher, Prahalad Khila and Pratikhyarani Nayak awarded Gold medals and 106 graduating students were awarded their degrees at the Convocation.