Maoists target panchayat bodies in south Orissa

By Sib Kumar Das

• Security personnel and panchayat bodies are facing severe Maoist threat

Maoists have started to use terror tactics to hamper the functioning of panchayat bodies in remote areas of south Orissa. Through this they want to stall the pro-poor developmental projects and subsidised Public Distribution System (PDS) in underdeveloped remote areas. For it they have started terrorising the elected members of panchayat bodies. Maoists are damaging the panchayat offices and panchayat warehouses meant for storing PDS supplies.

In Rayagada district, the vice chairman of Chandrapur block panchayat samity S.Iswar Rao, panchyat samity member of Budubali panchayat Narasi Gangaranga, female nayab sarpanch of the same panchayat K.Mutika have rendered their resignation at the Chandrapur block office. It was alleged that recently these elected representatives had received threats from leader of the Basadara Divisional Committee of the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation to resign or face dire consequences.

The elected representatives are mum about the reason behind their sudden resignation. In Feb. 2009 a sarpanch and seven ward members of Rasakola panchayat of Bisamkatak block in Rayagada district had resigned following naxal threats. Along with it there were reports of resignations of some Special Police Officers (SPO) in same Chandrapur block. It may be noted that SPOs and village guards play a major role in maintenance of security in remote rural areas.

The Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had directed the Rayagada district Collector Nitin Bhanudas Jawale to investigate and report about these resignations. Speaking to The Hindu the Rayagada district collector confirmed the resignation of three elected members of local bodies. “But in their resignation letters they have either cited their personal or health problems or their agony against functioning of the local Block Development Officer”, he said. Regarding the resignation of SPOs he said no resignation of any SPO had reached any police station or district police headquarter. But at the grass root level security personnel and panchayat bodies are facing severe Maoist threat. Maoists blew up buildings of a panchayat offices and warehouses attached to them at Kangurkonda, Telarai and Bodigata villages in Malkangiri district in May.

In May 6 night Maoists had damaged the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) office at remote Kudumuluguma under Orkel police station in Malkangiri district. In February eleven elected members of panchayats of cut off areas of Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri district had resigned. According to intelligence sources, the threat of Maoists was a major cause behind their resignation. The Maoists claim they are damaging panchayat buildings so that they may not be used as camps by security forces during anti-Maoist operations. But as per police and administrative officials by keeping the elected panchayat bodies under the shroud of their terror and damaging the PDS storage units they want to keep people living in remote areas away from the pro-poor developmental programmes like MGNREGS. It is alleged to be part of their strategy to strengthen their base and ant-government propaganda in remote areas. Added to it they have also started to create terror in the minds of grass root level policemen. They shot dead a police constable at a crowded village market at Padia under Kalimela police station in Malkangiri on May 16. On May 11 night Maoists murdered two village guards at Katama village in Gajapati district.

Source: The Hindu

Yoga training camp concludes in Berhampur

• Sixty youngsters from KBK districts of South Orissa attended

A two-and-a-half-month long yoga summer camp for young students concluded in the city on May 31. Sixty youngsters, mostly from KBK districts of south Orissa, participated in this camp organised on the campus of Herambalaya residential college in the city. The participants also included 25 girls. Nine participants were from Nabarangpur district and four were from remote naxal affected Malkangiri district. It hinted the increasing interest among youngsters towards use of yoga in developing physical fitness and mental skills. The average age of participants was around 15 years, who had just appeared their secondary school board examination. After completion of their examinations they had joined the yoga camp on March 8.

A young yoga expert of the city, Santosh Kumar Biswal was the main trainer of this camp. Participants could extract much from the camp due to small age difference between the trainer and them. During this summer camp the participants were taught techniques of asana, pranayam, mudra and bandha. Mr Biswal said this training would help these teenagers cope with the stress and strain of competitive life which they would start to face after their school days. The participants also experimented in using yoga in the fields of athletics and dancing. Some of them also tried to perform asanas hanging from a rope. During the concluding session the participants demonstrated their acquired skills of yoga. Their guru Mr Biswal also displayed suppleness of his body and breath control by getting himself packed in a cardboard cube of 20 inch dimension for more than half an hour. He plans to remained packed in a similar box for five hours for travel from Berhampur to Bhubaneswar.

Source: The Hindu

Orissa to get second flying training institute in Berhampur

Berhampur, May 30 (PTI): Plans are afoot to develop Orissa's second flying training institute at Rangeilunda airstrip (in Berhampur University campus) near Berhampur city.

The ministry of Civil Aviation wants to use Rangeilunda airstrip as a flying training institute. Binodini Devi, a senior captain from the ministry, visited the airstrip recently and discussed the project with engineers of the works department in Berhampur, Ganjam district collector V K Pandian said. It is noteworthy, Orissa's first flying training institute is in Bhubaneswar.

A senior pilot of the ministry also visited the Rangeilunda airstrip site last week and asked the works engineer to develop it as a Visual Flight Rule (VFR) airstrip and to provide at least two rooms to conduct the pilot training institute. "We have agreed to provide all necessary infrastructure facilities to the ministry to use Rangeilunda airstrip as a flying training institute," K Pandian said.

Source: PTI

NIST ranked best professional College in Orissa along with CET by BPUT students

All Odisha BPUT Students Association (AOBSA), the students body of Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Odisha has launched the 1st edition of “Odisha Professional College Ranking -2010” a 50 days programme which has started from 10th May 2010. The college ranking has covered nearly 180 professional colleges providing bachelor and master degree in Engineering, Pharmacy, Architecture, Hotel Management etc. This ranking was open to all constituents and affiliated colleges of the state run technical university i.e BPUT. Nearly 90000 students from 180 colleges have rated their college online on the Students Portal i.e. www.bputstudents.com

At the end of the ranking period the result was announced, in which with 98% score NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (NIST), Berhampur and COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Bhubaneswar jointly stood at the top of Odisha Professional College Ranking -2010

It’s the first of its kind in India where students of various institutes have voted for their college on parameters like Industry Exposure, Learning and faculty, Infrastructure, Placement & Extra-Curricular.

Since the formation of a technical university in Odisha no such initiative was taken by the university authority to rank the colleges .Even after various demands from the students along with the colleges it take nearly 8 years to start the ranking of colleges on the basis of students feedback.

Undoubtedly, Odisha Professional College Ranking will surely unveil a new dimension to nearly 73,587 students those who have appeared the Orissa Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) 2010.Parents of the OJEE aspirants will also get an opportunity to judge the best college for his ward by following this ranking procedure.

Top 20 professional institutes in Odisha

1. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, BHUBANESWAR (98)

2. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, BERHAMPUR (98)

3. IIIT, BHUBANESWAR (96)

4. INSTITUTE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION & RESEARCH, BHUBANESWAR (95.4)

5. SILICON INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, BHUBANESWAR (92.87)

6. CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF PLASTICS ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (92)

7. ORISSA SCHOOL OF MINING ENGINEERING, KEONJHAR (86)

8. C. V. RAMAN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, BHUBANESWAR (84)

9. INDIRA GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, SARANG (79.8)

10. GANDHI INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, GUNUPUR (79)

11. TRIDENT ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGY, BHUBANESWAR (78)

12. EASTERN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, PHULNAKHRA (77)

13.TEMPLECITY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY& ENGINEERING, BHUBANESWAR(75.8)

14. ORISSA ENGINEERING COLLEGE, BHUBANESWAR (75)

15. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, BHUBANESWAR (74)

16. KOUSTUV INSTITUTE OF SELF DOMAIN, BHUBANESWAR (73.5)

17. GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT, BHUBANESWAR (72)

18. PARALA MAHARAJA ENGINEERING COLLEGE, (Govt.) BERHAMPUR (72)

19. KRUPAJALA ENGINEERING COLLEGE, BHUBANESWAR (71.2)

20. DHANESWAR RATH INSTITUTE OF ENGG. AND MGMT. STUDIES, CUTTACK

Source:www.bputstudents.com

Berhampur Municipal Corporation takes up beautification of the city

Paintings on tribal life of Koraput depicted on city walls

The city walls have started to come alive with paintings depicting tribal life of undivided Koraput district. It is part of the effort of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation to beautify the city. Most of the walls of public buildings by the side of major roads in the city have got decorated by paintings. These walls earlier bore mutilated look due to posters and graffiti.

But the city dwellers are wondering how come tribal paintings and pictures depicting tribal life got predominance in these paintings. It may be noted that Silk city Berhampur, the largest trading centre of south Orissa and an emerging business destination in eastern India also known as the gateway to South Orissa and the undivided Koraput district. So, no one has complained about it.

But the reason behind this predominant depiction of tribal life on city walls is that some of the painters are from Koraput. Five painters from Koraput have been utilised by the local municipal corporation are involved in this painting work. These painters are also quite happy as it has provided them necessary income source. Senior painter in the team, Manoj Kumar Patnaik said such beautification efforts by urban bodies can provide income source to painters. He added that in recent years, advent of modern printing and large printed flex boards had snatched away earnings of painters. He said they are being paid Rs. 22 per square feet of painting. Till now they have painted 22,000 square feet of wall around the city.

Apart from tribal life and traditional tribal paintings, these young painters have also depicted issues related to common man like global warming, depletion of forest cover, wastage of water resources etc. But most of the time the characters depicted in these paintings tend to be tribals. These painters have also drawn up some paintings related to problems of the city like drinkig water crisis and rise in fire accidents during summer months. Source: The Hindu

Tara Tarini Hill Shrine to be developed as a national level destination

•High-level meeting reviews the development of Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

•Comprehensive development of the Hill Shrine stressed

•Land belonging to the Shrine to be recovered

•Work of the Main Temple Complex to be completed by January 2011

•To check erosion and land-slide, retaining walls to come up with state support

After the formation of the Tara Tarini Development Board the famous Taratarini Hill Shrine got the much needed attention and owing to that in the last 7 years the number of pilgrims visiting to the shrine has gone up significantly. Last year more than 17 lakh people visited the hill shrine during the month of Chaitra. This year the number swelled further. During five Tuesdays of the month around 20 lakh devotees and tourists visited the shrine. However, the figures available from the local media reveals that this year’s gathering has surpassed the records of earlier years and even surpassed the 20 lakh figure anticipated by the Board. Taking this growing number into consideration the Tara Tarini Development Board is expecting the number of visitors to swell further in the coming years.

However, despite the development initiatives undertaken with active participation of the people in the last 7 years, the existing infrastructure is proving inadequate and the significant growth of tourists and visitors has come as a big challenge for the Board. On the other hand, unlike Puri Jagannath Shrine the Tara Tarini hill shrine has inadequate infrastructure to support 20 Lakh visitors within a month.

A high-level meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble minister of Law GoO Shri Vikram Arukh in Bhubaneswar on April 28, 2010 to review the on going developmental works being undertaken by the Tara Tarini Development Board at Taratarini hill shrine. Issues like creating national standard infrastructure for the benefit of visitors and ways to counter the challenge posed by the consistently growing number of visitors in the coming years were discussed in the meeting.

Minister of Tourism Government of Orissa Shri Devi Prasad Mishra, Principal Secretary Urban Development, Government of Orissa Shri Arun Panda, Transport & Commerce Secretary Government of Orissa Shri Satyabrata Sahu, Secretary Law Government of Orissa and Commissioner Endowment Government of Orissa, Ganjam District Collector and Vice-President of TTDB Shri VK Pandian, all senior officials of the Department of Tourism and many other senior government officials of the state and district administration, apart from Secretary TTDB Shri Pramod Panda, Senior audit officer Shri Arun Kumar Sabat, the office bearers of TTDB, Technical Committee members of TTDB and Temple Management were present on the occasion.

Reviewing the works of TTDB, Shri Arukh said the famous Taratarini Hill Shrine the Breast Shrine of Mata Sati, is one amongst the 4 major ancient Shakti centers in India and an important prehistoric religious center. It is gradually emerging as the popular destination of visitors in Orissa. He said seeing the number of visitors in one month any body can say that it’s also emerging as a major religious-tourism destination of Orissa after Puri Jagannath.

He appreciated the work of TTDB and advised to focus on the time bound completion of the ongoing projects of the shrine and to take up developmental projects for the benefit of the growing number of visitors. Shri Arukh also gave importance to the immediate construction of outer protection walls and River-side retaining wall to check land sliding and soil erosion at the hilltop and said the Rural Development department Government of Orissa will undertake the work of both the Northern and Southern side outer protection walls to ensure the safety of the hill top. He assured all help from government side to the Development Board.

Minister of Tourism Government of Orissa Shri Devi Prasad Mishra said Taratarini is an important and ancient Shakti centre of Orissa. Goddesses Tara-Tarini not only have been regarded as the presiding deity (Ista-Devi) in almost every household in South Orissa but also is one among the principal centers of worship in the state. Taratarani attracts thousands of devotees, picnickers and visitors throughout the year. He said so far as tourism is concerned this place has enough potentials and as expected its also emerging as a major tourist destination in eastern India. He assured all support to TTDB and regular attention from his ministry to strengthen the infrastructure of the holy shrine and sanctioned Rs. 70 lakh in the first phase for the overall development of the shrine.

On this occasion the Principal Secretary Urban Development, Government of Orissa Shri Arun Panda presented the keynote address. He gave a proposal to reserve the land in front of the hill shrine for future development of the shrine and it was immediately accepted by the high level committee. Shri Panda also suggested the Board to take the help of reputed NGOs for maintenance of sanitation in and around the shrine and construction of more numbers of Lavatory complexes for tourists.

Transport & Commerce Secretary Government of Orissa Shri Satyabrata Sahu presented the plan for the overall development of the ancient shrine and put emphasis on the early completion of the main temple, side temples, boundary wall, Bhog Mandap and other necessary constructions of the main temple complex on the hill top with in a time bound period. He gave a number of proposals for the development of the shrine area through PPP mode. Ganjam District collector and Vice-President of TTDB Shri VK Pandian delivered the welcome address.

Lastly, in the meeting it was unanimously decided that some of the prioritized list of works proposed by the TTDB and sanctioned by the technical committee of TTDB will be commenced soon for the convenience of devotees and tourists. That are:

1. The work of the hill top temple complex with four side temples and boundary wall will be completed by January 2011.

2. Dedicated bus service to the hill shrine for smooth transportation and the construction of a bus Stand on the foot hill will be started soon.

3. Permanent accommodation facility for the visitors on the foot hill to be arranged.

4. Completion of administrative office and ultra modern lavatory complex on the hilltop of the shrine within December 2010.

5. Further widening of the existing Ghat road from Keshpur to the Hilltop at a cost of around 5 crore to be completed by the end of this year.

6. Construction of North and South side outer protection walls and River side retaining walls to check land sliding and soil erosion at the hilltop at a cost of 1 crore will be started soon by the Rural development dept. GoO.

7. The tourism department in the first phase will sanction 71 lakhs for the overall development of the shrine area. A high-level team will visit the shrine area soon for this purpose.

8. It was also decided that Ministry of Law govt. of Orissa will take immediate steps to recover all the donated cultivated and uncultivated land (Around 300 acres in Gajnam district and around the same size in other parts of the state) scattered in various parts of the state on the line of Jagannath Temple, Puri.

Ganjam Bar Association to intensify stir for HC Bench in Berhampur

It will boycott courts in the city

The Ganjam Bar Association on April 24 formed an action council to strengthen its demand for establishment of a permanent Bench of the High Court for south Orissa in Berhampur city.

This action council was constituted through an emergency meeting called up by the Ganjam Bar Association. The secretary of the bar association, Rabindra Kumar Deo said this newly formed action council would decide upon the future course of action for the fulfilment of the long standing demand for the High Court Bench.

Three elected members of the present bar association including its President, Bhagaban Sahu, its secretary Mr. Deo and its second secretary T.K.Patra are to head this action council. It also includes two elected representatives to the State association from the local bar. Nine former presidents of the bar association and nine former secretaries are also part of it. All the members of the action council were present in Saturday's meeting. ....... Read full story........... http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/25/stories/2010042552160300.htm,

Courtesy: The Hindu

Collectors concerned over water tax collection in South Odisha

Berhampur: Almost all the district collectors under the southern revenue division have expressed their concern and  reservations over the collection of water tax keeping in view the insufficient irrigation facilities in the region.

A review meeting attended by southern district collectors and presided over by RDC Chandrasekhar Kumar was held on April 20 in Berhampur. During the review, it was, however, noticed that land revenue collection was achieved as per the desired target.

However, the district collectors were of the view that collection of water tax is a burden on the farmers as irrigation facilities are not available in the region in comparison to other parts of the state.

There is, however, a direction from the government to collect water tax even for the lands where no irrigation facilities are available.

The district collectors pleaded for relaxation of the direction while collecting tax in these areas.

Source: The Pragativadi

Berhampur city reels under water crisis

Rising temperature and drinking water crisis have left several towns in the State virtually dry and the Silk City is no exception to this seasonal trauma. It is a perennial drinking water problem here which only aggravates in summer and long queues of women waiting for tankers become common in several areas of the city.

Though a two-decade-old problem, no serious measures have been taken to counter the crisis for which the city has started feeling the pinch from mid-March. Unlike the previous years when the water crisis was felt in mid- April this year it was a month early posing more problems for the residents.

The shortage is felt even as the city gets its water supply from two major sources -- the Dakhinapur drinking water project and Rushikulya project at Badamadhapur besides bore wells, tube wells and open wells.According to sources, Berhampur needs over 54 million gallons of water per day. Even the two fully active water projects are unable to meet the demand. Both the projects provide less than 35 million gallons of water per day, said the Public Health Executive Engineer............Read full story............Link........ http://expressbuzz.com/states/orissa/berhampur-reels-under-water-crisis/167654.html,

Source: New Indian Express

‘Ghosts’ grab BPL rice in Gajapati district

Virtually a blind rule is on in the Gajapati district. Though it sounds unbelievable it is true that ghosts even avail BPL rice here. Many of the schemes run for the development of the poor are carried out on pen and paper and the money is rampantly siphoned off.

Such a glaring incident has come to light in Gosani block of the district. Though the real poor people are not getting rice, it is being distributed in the name of the people who are dead. In the Macchamara panchayat’s Rajpur village out of the 304 families, 228 have been included in the BPL, 35 in Antodaya and three families have been included in the Annapurna schemes. Rice is being supplied by the Government and is being distributed. But it is only on the pen and paper.

Rice is being lifted in the names of the families who have already left the village long back and also those who have died long back. But the people who are having cards and living in the village are deprived of getting rice. Janaki Panda and Brundaban Nayak who were included in the BPL list have died long time back. Similarly, Chaitanya Pradhan has left the village with his family and staying elsewhere. K Sanyasi, who is included in the Antodaya scheme had died five years back.

Source: The Pioneer

River valley development authority sought for southern Odisha

A river valley development authority was demanded at the conclave of technical experts and intellectuals held in Berhampur under the auspices of the Dakshin Odisha Vikash Parishad (DOVS) that has initiated a novel proposal for resolution of water issues in the southern part of the State. The conclave was inaugurated by Nakshyatramala Panigrahi and was attended by several experts, including engineers, legal experts and intellectuals from across the region.

The Dakshin Odisha Vikash Parishad programme coordinator Sankarsan Panigrahi placed a paper on water resources development plan in the southern part of the State stressing the need of its immediate implementation. Dakshin Odisha Vikash Parishad leader Dayanidhi Sahu delivered a keynote address on river valley development in southern Odisha and the serious emergency of water issues confronted by the people living in ten districts of the region. DOVP leader Dayanidhi Sahu also advocated for establishment of a special development board under Article 371 of the Indian Constitution as well as for a river basin development authority on the lines of the Tennesse River Development Authority of the United states of America (USA). Sahu, while pleading for establishment of such a board, also referred to the quotations of some eminent people like AN Khosla, a former Governor of Odisha, Viswasraya, KL Rao and Thirumal Ayanger.

The conclave demanded immediate construction of dams under Ghatakeswar and Cheligarh projects to address the drinking water problems of Berhampur city and the adjoining areas. It was also demanded that all the river valley projects, including dams on the rivers of Rushikulya, Badanadi and Loharkhandi in the southern region as well as the Manibhadra project on river Mahanadi be implemented on war footing.

Besides, KC Jena also stressed the need of hydropower generation from the water resources available in the southern part.

Moreover, a river network for inter-basin transfer of water on the demand-supply basis was also sought at the conclave which was presided over by Dakshin Odisha Vikash Parishad leader Dayanidhi Sahu.

Source:The Pioneer

Devotees make beeline on the concluding day of Chaitra festival in Taratarini hill shrine

With a mammoth gathering and marked by devotional celebration on the fifth and last Tuesday of the auspicious month of Chaitra, the month long famous and biggest annual Chaitra festival at the ancient Taratarini Hill shrine came to an end. The ritualistic worship of the devotees and invocation of divine benediction charged the atmosphere with an exhilarating blend of spirituality and an all pervading solidarity.

It is notable, that all the Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra are days of celebration at this hill shrine and devotees gather in lakhs from the cross section of the country to take a glimpse of Adi Shakti Maa Taratarini (Sthana Peetha of Mata Sati and one amongst the 4 major ancient Shakti centers in India) to eradicate evil from the world and to fulfill all their worldly desires.

Like the other Tuesdays of the month there was also heavy rush on the last and fifth Tuesday on the hill top temple as it also happened to be Chaitra Purnami and the last day of the holy month of Chaitra. Darshan for the devotees started in the specially decorated sanctum sanctorum of the hill top temple after the midnight of Monday at around 3.00 a.m and continued up to late evening.

It is important to note that after the formation of the Tara Tarini Development Board this famous Breast Shrine got the much needed attention and owing to that in the last 7 years the number of pilgrims visiting to the shrine has gone up significantly. Last year more than 17 lakh people visited the hill shrine during the entire month of Chaitra. This year the number swelled further. During five Tuesdays of the month around 20 lakh devotees and tourists visited the Sthana Peetha. However, the figures available from various unofficial sources, particularly from the local media reveal that this year’s gathering has surpassed the records of earlier years and even surpassed the 20 lakh figure mark anticipated by the board.

It a known fact that despite the development initiatives undertaken with active participation of the people in the last 7 years, the existing infrastructure is proving inadequate and the significant growth of tourists and visitors has come as a big challenge for the Taratarini Development Board (TTDB). Being aware of this challenge the present Tara Tarini Development Board Chairman and RDC Southern Division Shri Chandrasekhar Kumar, Ganjam District Collector and deputy chairman of the Board Shri VK Pandian and other board members have decided to focus on the time bound completion of the ongoing projects of the shrine and to take up more number of developmental projects for the benefit of the growing number of visitors. To keep pace with this, the Board has approved a number of new projects recently. Some of the prioritized list of works proposed by the TTDB to be taken up for the convenience of devotees and tourists are…………

• For the benefit of devotees steps would be taken next year to arrange around 5000 tents with all other basic facilities for the temporary accommodation of at least 50,000 people.

• Dedicated bus service to the hill shrine for smooth transportation.

• Permanent accommodation facility for the visitors on the foot hill.

• The work of the hill top temple complex with four Parshwa temples and boundary wall to be completed in a time bound period.

• Completion of administrative office and ultra modern lavatory complex within a month on the hilltop.

• Construction of Mundan shade on the hilltop.

• Further development of Arial Rope-way.

• Construction of outer protection walls and River side retaining wall to check land sliding and soil erosion at the hilltop.

• Construction of huge parking space at the hilltop.

• Lighting arrangements at the hilltop and the ways leading to the hill top temple.

• Widening of stone steps and arrangement of public utilities/ rest houses.

• Further widening of the existing road to the Hilltop.

• Maintenance of eco-system in and around the sacred hill by huge plantation in its nearby areas etc.

This year the biggest fair of Orissa at this shrine has passed off peacefully without any untoward incidents. TTDB thanks the local administration, volunteers, social organizations and local people for their excellent support during the month. The media (both electronic and print) which ensured that the happenings of the festivals reach those people who could not physically attend the festivities at the hill shrine of Maa Tara Tarini and their devoted work is praise worthy. TTDB appreciates their tireless efforts. By R P Tripathy

Rich tributes paid to Laxman Nayak

The freedom fighter was hanged in Berhampur circle jail on March 29, 1943 

Shahid Laxman Nayak, during his last hours of life in Berhampur circle jail, had a lone regret that he would not be able to see the freedom of his mother land. Veteran freedom fighter and former State minister Dolagobinda Pradhan, who happens to be one of the few living persons in Orissa who have come across Laxman Nayak during his time, was in the city on Monday to pay tributes to the great tribal freedom fighter and martyr on his 68th martyrdom day. Laxman Nayak was hanged in Berhampur circle jail on March 29, 1943.

Mr. Pradhan along with two other freedom fighters from Bhadrak district -- Brajakishore Raut and Bailochana Jena -- came to the city to attend the programme in memory of the martyr. These freedom fighters along with dignitaries of the city and Ganjam district Collector V.K. Pandian paid their tributes to the martyr on the Berhampur circle jail premises.

Mr. Pradhan, while in teenage, was lodged in the Berhampur jail during 1942-43 as a political prisoner. Laxman Nayak was also in the condemned cell of the same jail as a prisoner awaiting death sentence. He remembered how the senior Congress leaders used to describe Laxman Nayak as a true Gandhian, who was ready to give up life for truth and peace. He described the martyr as a man who was calm till his death. The last wish of the martyr was to spend his last day of life with the other freedom fighters in the jail. He had attended a community feast along with the other freedom fighters and had also discussed his dreams of free India during the last hours. “He said he was totally satisfied with his life but had regret that he would not be able to see the freedom of his motherland,” Mr. Pradhan said. Mr. Prdahan said all inmates of the jail had raised slogans against the British government and in honour of the martyr when he was marched to the gallows.

In the evening, the freedom fighters also attended a meeting organised in the Town Hall by the Information and Public Relations Department of the State government and the Berhampur Municipal Corporation. The martyr was also remembered at the Shahid Laxman Nayak community hall in the city by the members of the People's Trust, which played a major role in the preservation of memory of the martyr in the State. His statue was garlanded and a meeting was held.

Source: The Hindu

With 300% increase in number of visitors on 4th Tuesday, Chaitra festivities reach a crescendo at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

On the sacred occasion of Fourth Tuesday of the famous Chaitra festival around five lakhs devotees thronged Tara Tarini hill shrine from various parts of the state and outside. It may be noted that all the Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra are days of festivity at this hill shrine and this is the biggest fair held here in honour of the twin goddess.

Like the Third Tuesday (Around 7 lakh devotees gathered on that day) there was also heavy rush on the Fourth Tuesday on the hill top temple of Adi Shakti Maa Taratarini as coincidentally it was also Mahastami day of Navaratri festivities.

On this Tuesday, the massive gathering broke all records of previous years as it saw a three fold increase in the number of visitors as compared to the last year. There were visitors from far of places like Assam, North eastern States, and Tamilnadu apart from states like Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.

The festivities had started at this shrine from Monday evening. Throughout the night there were cultural programmes to entertain the devotees. After some ceremonial works the sanctum of Maa Tara Tarini opened at around 2 a.m in the morning and darshan started after that. As per the report available on that occasion at least 50,000 people offered the hair of newborn babies at the Shrine similar to the practice found at Tirupati Balaji.

It may be noted that last year during the month of Chaitra more than 17 lakh people visited the hill shrine. So, sensing that the devotees would increase further, the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) has carried out a lot of development works and made wide arrangements for the smooth darshan of devotees.

Meanwhile, Orissa Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik has also taken steps for the development of this Shrine. As part of the development programme, on the eve of the commencement of Chaitra festivities at the Shrine the CM has inaugurated a multifunctional complex and a lavatory complex on the foot hill of the Shrine and another ultra modern lavatory complex is also coming up on the hill top for the benefit of devotees. Appreciating the developmental projects taken up by the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB); which led to major transformation of this ancient hill shrine Shri Patnaik expressed his satisfaction with the progress made so far which has led to the emergence of this Adi Shakti Peetha as a major centre of religious tourism in Orissa.

Principal Secretary Urban Development Government of Orissa Sh. Arun Panda, RDC Southern Division and Chairman of TTDB Shri Chandrasekhar Kumar, Ganjam District Collector Shri VK Pandian, Collectors of many other districts, BMC Commissioner Sh. Veemsen Manseth, Superintendent of Police Berhampur and Ganjam and many other senior state and central government officials, apart from the office bearers of TTDB were present on the Fourth Tuesday.

On the sidelines a meeting was held where the Principal Secretary Urban Development Government of Orissa Sh. Arun Panda and all office bearers of TTDB participated.

• It was decided that for the benefit of devotees next year steps would be taken to arrange around 5000 tents with all other facilities on temporary basis for the accommodation of atleast 50,000 people.

• More number of buses would ply for the smooth transportation on to the hill top.

• It was also decided that retaining walls would be constructed on both sides of the hill top to protect the area from land sliding.

• And the work of the hill top temple complex with four Parshwa temples and boundary wall will be completed in a time bound period.

Principal Secretary Urban Development Government of Orissa Sh. Arun Panda, RDC Southern Division and Chairman of TTDB Shri Chandrasekhar Kumar, Ganjam District Collector Shri VK Pandian assured all help from government side to the Development Board.

The Ganjam District administration made elaborate arrangements for the visitors. The volunteers of the TTDB, different NGOs and voluntary organizations, the temple management and local residents extended their helping hand to devotees who came from various parts of the state and other neighbouring states.

_________________________________

R P Tripathy

Media & Publicity In-Charge

Tara Tarini Development Board

Berhampur

Orissa

Lakhs of turtles nest in Rushikulya beach near Berhampur city in Orissa

Over one lakh endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles have laid eggs on the beach adjoining the Rushikulya river mouth near Berhampur city in Orissa since March 13 as scientists observed the phenomenon with interest. The eggs are expected to hatch in the first week of May, about 45 days after the mass nesting.

While 6,000 turtles emerged from the sea to lay eggs in the wee hours of March 13, around 65,000 swarmed the four-km long sandy beach between Gokharakuda and Kantiagada the next day. The number of nesting turtles came down thereafter.

Kartik Shanker, a turtle biologist from the Indian Institute of Science - Bangalore and Basudeb Tripathy of the Wildlife Institute of India, who are here to study the pattern of mass nesting, said the laying of eggs could continue sporadically for a few more days.

Source: PIT

Courtesy: Anupam Bharat (Odiya Daily)

Sea of devotees throng TaraTarini Hill Shrine on 3rd Tuesday of Chaitra

Lakhs of devotees thronged Tara Tarini hill shrine near Berhampur city up by the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB); this hill shrine, on third Tuesday of Chaitra and on the first day of Navaratri. It may be noted that the four Tuesdays of Hindu month of Chaitra are days of festivity at this hill shrine. On this Tuesday more than five lakh devotees had reached the hill shrine. There was heavy rush as it was also day for the start of Navaratra festivities. There were visitors from other states like Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand as well as some NRI families. Following major transformation due to developmental projects taken has now become a major centre of religious tourism in south Orissa.

Chaitra month

It may be noted that last year during the month of Chaitra more than 17 lakh people visited the hill shrine. The TTDB authorities hope this year the devotees would increase further. The festivities had started at this hill shrine from Monday evening. Throughout the night there were cultural programmes to entertain the visitors to the shrine. Although this hill shrine boasts to be having the only ropeway to a hilltop in the State, yet most of the devotees due to their traditional belief decided to climb to the top of the hill shrine. They walked on the ghat road or used the steep stair case. They climbed 999 steps as a penance to the deities.

Rural fair

A rural fair was on at the foothill. Urbanites who had reached the spot as picnickers enjoyed the village fair. Forgetting mental blockades related to hygiene for some time they relished fresh sugarcane and colourful sweets sold by the roadside vendors at this rural fair. The beautification and developmental works were taken up at the hill shrine by the TTDB from donations from the public. The State government in cooperation with the Ganjam district administration has formed the TTDB for development of this hill shrine into a major tourist destination. This board includes eminent persons of Orissa especially from southern region. The TTDB has now replaced the old temple with a new one in the traditional ‘Rekha' style of Orissa.

Source: The Hindu

Source: The Anupam Bharat

Olive Ridleys nest at Rushikulya

Olive Ridleys started mass nesting on Rushikulya rookery near Berhampur city from March 14. These turtles have been nesting on the coastline for the past few days. On Sunday night over 5,000 Olive Ridleys came out of the sea to lay their eggs, hinting at the possibility that mass nesting of the turtles on the coast is likely to be more during this season.

The Olive Ridleys nested on a stretch of around 2.5 km near Rushikulya rookery, said AK Jena, the divisional Forest Officer of Berhampur who is monitoring the protection of these turtles during nesting. He said though the counting is not yet complete the number of turtles may cross 8,000.

Rushikulya is one of the most preferred nesting sites of Olive Ridleys. The turtles also nest at Devi river rookery and Gahirmatha Beach in Orissa and this year, the Olive Ridleys also laid eggs at Puri beach. Jena said the mass nesting is expected to continue for a few more days as a large number of turtles are still in the sea near the coast waiting to lay their eggs at night.

Forest Department officials and wildlife experts from the WWF and Wild Life Institute of India, Dehra Dun, are monitoring the mass nesting. The whole stretch of the beach meant for nesting has been divided into 33 segments of around 100 metres length. Data regarding arrival of Olive Ridleys and their reaching the coast to lay eggs is being recorded at all the segments.

Meanwhile, the fishermen of the area and tourists have been advised not enter the sea to help the mother turtles come onto the coast at night. Forest officials are keeping a vigil on tourists to maintain the tranquility of the beach which is a major criterion for mass nesting.

Jena said efforts were also being made to protect the eggs from dogs and foxes which usually dig up to eat the eggs. Forest officials apart, youths of nearby villages and Rushikulya sea turtle protection forum are engaged in protection of the turtle eggs.

Source: New Indian Express

Mahuri on the verge of extinction

BERHAMPUR: Lack of patronage due to advent of urbanisation has started to threaten the existence of ‘Mahuri', a traditional musical instrument of Orissa. This wind instrument also happens to be an integral part of different folk dance and folk theatre forms like Prahlad Natak, Jodi Sankha, Ranapa, Ram Natak, Chadheya etc. The number of troupes of these folk art forms has also reduced during recent times. The Ram Natak folk theatre form has almost died. Reduction of these folk dance and folk theatre form has also led to reduction in the number of Mahuri players.

But the existing ‘Mahuri' players are worried about lack of use of this instrument during auspicious occasions like marriages, vrata ceremony, puja etc. ‘Mahuri' is also known as ‘Mukhaveena' and traditionally is considered ‘Mangal Vadya' or auspicious musical instrument, said Bighneswar Sahu, the adviser of the famous Narendrapur Kala Vikash Kendra, which continues to keep alive various traditional folk art forms of south Orissa.

According to Mr. Sahu, the ‘Mahuri' players are mostly Dalits. As the income from playing ‘Mahuri' has gone down, the new generation of the ‘Mahuri' artists is no more interested to learn this traditional instrument. A senior ‘Mahuri' artist of the State S.Linga from Raghunathpur said only his son is learning to play this wind instrument while the sons of his other brothers have not taken up playing ‘Mahuri' as a profession.

But traditionally they were a family of ‘Mahuri' players. Mr. Linga said it has become hard to earn a living from ‘Mahuri' playing.

In this era of electronic instruments, the urbanites as well as urbanised rural families have started to forget that ‘Mahuri' was part and parcel of any auspicious occasion in a family, said Mr. Sahu. Few decades back ‘Mahuri' was a dire need during auspicious occasions but a section of new generation has started to feel ashamed for the use of this instrument during family functions like marriage.

Source: The Hindu

Berhampur boy Sangram tops IFS examination

Sangram Behera of Berhampur city has been declared as the topper in the Indian Forest Service Examination being conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Sangram, the son of a poor man who has been earning the livelihood as barber (saloon), to the delight of Berhampur people is the topper of IFS examination. Sangram now pursuing research at the Zology department of the Berhampur University.

Sangram who stays at the Aainabandha street of the city has stated that though his examiniation went well, yet he never thought to become the all India toper.

Source: Orissa Diary

MSSRF centre Jeypore to have training facilities for tribal youth

The research foundation has been carrying out the novel ideas of Prof. Swaminathan

Launching of training facilities for tribal youth will be made in the human resource development centre at M.S. Swaminathan research foundation (MSSRF), Jeypore on March 13, according to Prashant Kumar Parida, scientist from MSSRF.

The building, which was supported by the Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan, will have full-fledged facilities including residential facility for imparting training to the rural poor on various aspects.

MSSRF at Jeypore has been engaged itself in the promotion of a non-basumati scented rice, Kalajeera, which is a shining example of how the traditional ones could be purified, made to yield more and fetch double the price of other varieties with proper market linkage. Promoting cultivation and value addition and providing drudgery free machines to the villagers will go a long way to promote cultivation of nutritious but neglected millets. The efforts made by the foundation in 25 villages on bio-village, livelihood, organic agriculture, micro enterprises, water management and promoting off -season vegetable cultivation through summer irrigation are all measures taken to improve the living standards of the people.

The community grain-seed bank is another initiative which helps the poor villagers to tide over the lean seasons and make sure that quality seeds are available during the sowing season.While the research foundation is carrying out the novel ideas of Prof. Swaminathan to bridge the gap in knowledge by taking the ICT to villages through its village resource centre and village knowledge centres in Koraput district, this training facility will go a long way in linking the tribal youth with the development process, he says.

Source: The Hindu

Koraput to have CSIR centre

Koraput will soon be connected to the nationwide network of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratories as it is chosen as an extension centre to have a pool of master trainers to train grassroots-level people in applied technologies in various fields.

The extension centre would be presently promoted by the State Government with an initial investment or Rs 30-40 lakh on a 25-acre land. However, it would soon have a full-fledged CSIR centre of Rs 40-50 crore investment with master trainers in agriculture, food and rural technologies, environment, biodiversity and food processing and for this a detailed proposal had already been submitted to the central authorities.

It would have active support from Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar, Central Foodcraft Technology Research Institute, Mysore, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat, and Central Salt and Marine Research Institute, Bhavnagar.

According to IMMT Director Prof. Barada Kanta Mishra, the centre, to be built under `CSIR-800 Programme’ would also help in creating employment opportunity for the backward region in the southern part of Orissa which has seen a series of extremist activities recently. It would also work as an interface to transfer laboratory-based knowledge to the rural people. Mishra was speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of `CSIR technology show for micro, small and medium enterprises’ here on IMMT campus during the sixth Entrepreneurs Week celebration.

On the occasion, Science and Technology Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi said though things are at a primary level, the proposed project would be ready within a year and would mainly help in promoting rural technologies for economic growth of the region famous for its rich biodiversity. Industries Secretary Sourabh Garg said our scientists must try to develop patented technologies for economic self-reliance so that we would not go to the West paying hefty sum in getting their R&D knowledge. He also said that the CSIR Director- General had assured all help for the Koraput centre.

Regarding patents, the IMMT Director said till date the city-based institute has acquired 100 patents while another 100 are in the processing stage adding in a year scientists are applying for at least 15 patents on a regular basis.bA day-long workshop and an exhibition on various technologies were also organised. Scientist (G) and Head, Rural Technology Department of IMMT, S.Khuntia, spoke.

Source: New Indian Express

Thousands throng Tara Tarini hill shrine on first Tuesday of Chaitra

The famous annual Chaitra festival at the Tara Tarini hill shrine near Berhampur city in Orissa started from Tuesday. It is believed that Taratarini Sthana Peeth (Breast Shrine of Mata Sati) is one of the ancient and among the four major Shakti centers in India. Thousands of devotees had started gathering at the hill shrine from Monday afternoon itself. Transport Secretary Government of Orissa Shri Satyabrata Sahu, RDC Southern Division and Chairman of TTDB Shri Chandrasekhar Kumar, Ganjam District Collector Shri VK Pandian and many other senior state and central government officials, apart from the office bearers of TTDB and Temple Management were present on the occasion.

The Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) made elaborate arrangements for the devotees. Apart from the aerial rope way the TTDB had also arranged special buses to carry visitors to the hill top. But most of the devotees, of all age groups, preferred to climb the 999 holy steps to the hilltop as they consider it to be a penance. Recently the steps have been repaired before the annual festival. The ghat road to the hilltop and the foot hill roads have also been widened in view of the growing number of visitors to the Shrine. On Tuesday only the special buses of the TTDB were allowed to ply on the ghat road for security reasons.

The Army Air Defence College, Gopalpur, Berhampur Municipal Corporation, Ganjam District administration and District police made elaborate arrangements for the visitors. The volunteers of the TTDB, different NGOs and voluntary organizations, the temple management and local residents actively helped the devotees who came from various parts of the state and other neighbouring states.

Proposal for transforming Baliguda into NAC

BERHAMPUR: Baliguda, a major subdivisional headquarter in Kandhamal district is all set to become an urban centre. Administrative officials and dignitaries of Baliguda on Sunday decided to send a proposal to the State government for its transformation to a Notified Area Council (NAC). Ironically till date it has remained a panchayat although since decades it has bore the identity of an urban centre. It may be noted that Baliguda is the largest sub-division in the State. Several small towns of the State including G.Udaygiri of Kandhamal district have been declared NAC, while Baliguda remains a panchayat. On Sunday a meeting was held in mini stadium at Baliguda to discuss about this proposal. It was chaired by the local sub-collector, Balwant Singh, sarpanch Biren Kumar Pradhan and Zilla Parishad (ZP) member Adikanda Moharana. The sub-collector elaborated how being a panchayat Baliguda is not getting proper amount of funds for development. Most people who attended this proposal supported the proposal for transforming Baliguda into an NAC. Mr. Moharana said till date there remains fear in the minds of the poor of Baliguda regarding hike in taxes if they become part of an NAC rather than being in a panchayat. According to him there are several areas of Baliguda panchayat like Dandapadar, Goibali, Nuasahi, Badagaon, Kampada which are inhabited by poor peasants. In 1974 the proposal to transform Baliguda into an NAC had faced same obstacle, while G.Udaygiri got transformed to an NAC that year. As per the ZP member the State government should see to it that the poor living in Baliguda do not get burdened by increase in taxes and lose the employment opportunity that they were getting due rural-oriented schemes like MGNREGA and other developmental schemes which are not available for urban centres. As per the 2001 census Baliguda had a population of more than 20,000 and it now has more than 13,000 voters.

Source: The Hindu

Stir for High Court Bench at Berhampur to be intensified

BERHAMPUR: The newly elected office-bearers of the Ganjam Bar Association took the oath of office on Tuesday and, significantly, all of them including president, secretary and second secretary assured the association members to intensify the agitation for establishment of a High Court Bench in South Orissa at Berhampur. Association president Bhagaban Sahu, Secretary Rabindra Kumar Deo and second secretary Titu Kumar Patra assumed office in the presence of hundreds of lawyers at the Bar Association common room. Sahu said the agitation would be launched with active support of the members and he would chalk out plans of action to carry out the movement peacefully. Deo and Patra also spoke in the same vein.

Source: The Pioneer

Congress Memo to Railway Minister includes issues of South Orissa

BERHAMPUR: The state Congress has demanded enhanced allocation for the ongoing railway projects and sanction of new lines to give a boost to the process of industrialization in Orissa. In a memorandum submitted to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, president of the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committe KP Singhdeo has demanded sanction of four railway line projects for which survey was completed several years back. Referring to the Bargarh-Nuapara rail link for which survey was completed in February 2003 with a favorable rate of return of 18.32 per cent, Singhdeo said that this will pass through Nuapada and Balangir districts in Western Orissa. Requesting the minister to sanction the project in 2010-11 budget, he said that this could also be used as an alternative route for transport of coal and other minerals. Survey report for the 245-km Talcher- Gopalpur rail link was submitted to the Ministry of Railways with a favourable rate of return. With Gopalpur port being developed into an all-weather port, connectivity between Talcher and Gopalpur by rail will ensure smooth flow of raw materials and finished products, he said. The survey for the Rupsa-Bangiriposhi line sanctioned in 2005-06 had already been completed. This link will serve as an alternative route besides providing access to states in the hinterland which do not have a port. The conversion of Nuapada-Gunupur line from meter gauge to broad gauge will be completed by March 2010. However, on its own this railway line project will barely provide any freight movement, Singhdeo said, adding that the extension from Gunupur to Theruvali will not only connect the hinterland of KBK districts but provide port connectivity to Gopalpur. He said that the project should be sanctioned in the 2010-11 budget as this will enable the alumina/aluminium industries located in the KBK districts to import and export via Gopalpur port. Separately mentioning about the 289-km Khura Road-Bolangir railway line project, Singhdeo said that allocation for this line should be increased and progress closely monitored to ensure timely completion. He said that though this project was sanctioned in 1994-95, the progress has been tardy. Detailed estimate for 36 km-112 km has already been submitted to the ministry for sanction. Singhdeo demanded that the section from Khurda Road up to 36 km should be commissioned by 2010-11. He also requested the minister to sanction Puri-Kanyakumari, Titlagarh- Bhubaneswar (via Rayagada, Vizianagaram, Berhampur), Hatia-Chennai/Bangalore (via Sambalpur, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur), Puri-Jammu Tawi, Sambalpur-Howrah (via Angul) trains and intercity express between Koraput and Visakhapatnam for Orissa. Thanking the Railway Minister for proper allocation of funds in the last railway budget, Mr. Singh Deo has pointed out that Orissa has only 2500 km of railway route length at an average of 15.3 km per 1000 km as against the national average of 19 km.

Coaching terminals

Congress Party has also reiterated the need for establishment of coaching terminals at Koraput and Berhampur.

Sources: New Indian Express and The Hindu

South Odisha ‘forgotten frontier’ of Indian railways

BERHAMPUR: The South Odisha Students’ Association (SOSA), while petitioning Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee, has rued that the southern part of the State has always been a ‘forgotten frontier’ of the Indian railways with a long history of ‘repeated injustice’ in its successive annual budgets. Most of the districts being backward here lack railway lines while districts like Ganjam and Rayagada having railway links lack basic infrastructure and cater more to freight than passengers with inadequate trains. The major railway stations, including Berhampur, are languishing while issues raised in the Parliament go unheeded. The recent spurt in Maoist menace has also taken a toll on the nagging plight. “Central leaders come and pay a lip-service just to forget back in Delhi during the policy interventions,” SOSA rues.

The long-standing local demand for a railway coaching terminal at Berhampur is yet to come up that could cater to the needs of three districts here. Multi-functional complexes were announced for 50 railway stations across the country in the previous railway Budget and yet Berhampur was left high and dry despite being classified grade “A” rendering services to over 5 million people. Besides, genuine demands like Gunupur-Therubali railway line, new trains between Berhampur-Rourkela and Berhampur-Koraput and extension of Odisha Sampark Kranti Express train up to Berhampur need to be looked into, appeals SOSA. SOSA has also appealed for a railway manufacturing unit or establishment of railway personnel, staff training, finance, traffic institutes in south Odisha deeming the backwardness of the region and recognising the East Coast Railway(ECoR)’s contributions to the central kitty. “A single go is not enough to address the long pending issues and undo the negligence meted out to Berhampur and south Odisha,” feels SOSA in its petition hoping however that the forthcoming will make a bright beginning in this direction when Mamata rises to present her budget this stint.

Source: The Pioneer

Central University proposes medical college at Koraput

KORAPUT: Central University of Orissa is coming up with a medical college and hospital at Koraput. The university is in the process of submitting the detailed project report (DPR) to the appropriate authorities, according to a press release by M.M. Patra, OSD (administration) of the university.

While highlighting the proposals and projects, he further said that the university was going to start the school for bio-diversity and conservation of natural resources in collaboration with M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai. The authorities of MSSRF agreed to provide all support in establishing this school and run collaborative post- graduate programmes with the university. MoU would be signed in this regard soon so as to start classes from the next academic session. The proposal of establishing a community radio station at Koraput was also submitted.

Sources: The Hindu, http://www.oktatabyebye.com/