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/

Butterfly garden to come up in Kandhamal

Berhampur: Kandhamal district, would soon be home to thousands of butterflies if the district administration has its way. Plans are afoot to set up an open butterfly garden in Kandhamal.

As the butterflies are fond of flowers that produce lots of pollen and nectar it has been decided to plant butterfly-friendly plants in red, yellow and purple hues in the garden, said District Collector Krishan Kumar.

A 25-acre green space is being developed by the district authorities with support from the State Government. The mega forest nursery, which has come up in a big way at Mulagudari on the outskirts of Phulbani town and around 135 km from Berhampur City would house the garden, he said.

Planning and Coordination Minister AU Singhdeo who was here recently interacted with the nursery gardeners and workers and hoped that it would be a huge attraction among eco-tourism lovers.

Once the plants start blooming, one would not have to wait long till the butterflies come in droves, he said.

N R E G S - s u p p o r t e d schemes are being used to make the nursery a conducive place for all forest species, said the DFO of Kandhamal. Annually, seven lakh saplings would be produced providing regular jobs to at least 30 women. It would soon increase and be a major source of saplings on forest species, the DFO added.

Source: New IndianExpress

‘Gajapati Utsav’ inaugurated

The ‘Gajapati Utsav’ the three-day cultural festival of Gajapati district is continuing at the district headquarter town Paralakhemundi since January 08. 

It was inaugurated on Friday evening by the State Cabinet Minister Damodar Raut. The Berhampur MP, Siddhant Mohapatra, Mohana MLA Chakradhar Paika, chairman of the organising committee and Paralakhemundi MLA K.Narayan Rao, Zilla Parishad president, Y. Ramchandra Rao and Gajapati Collector, Prakash Dash were present during the inauguration ceremony.

This cultural festival is the culmination of similar cultural festivals of smaller scale organised at panchayat and block level in the district during past week.

Through these grass root level cultural festivals local talents were selected for this district level cultural festival. The organising committee of the festival had first chosen talents from the panchayat level competitions, who were again put to test at block level ceremony. The talents picked from the block level cultural festivals are to perform in the ‘Gajapati Utsav’.

Cultural troupes from other parts of the State and outside the State are also taking part in this cultural festival. The East Zone Cultural Centre, Kolkata has brought in cultural troupes from outside the State to perform in this festival.  

An exhibition of traditional handicraft has also been organised near the venue of the festival. The inaugural evening started with recitation of vedic chants by a young talent of Gajapati district, Anurag Nayak. There was Odissi recital by ‘Nrutya Dham’ of Bhubaneswar. Modern dance recitals by Nataraj Dance Troupe of Paralakhemundi and troupe from Ganjam district set the mood of the youths attending the show. Members of the ‘Utkal Hitaisini’ of Paralakhemundi performed Sambalpuri folk dance.

Tribal dance troupe from Nuagarh block of the district enthralled the audience with their performance on stage. The second evening of the cultural festival also comprised of an entertaining cocktail of traditional and modern song and dance performances by troupes of the district and outside.

Source: The Hindu 

Maoists call for shutdown in South Orissa, govt. mute spectator

Maoists torched 4 government buses, triggered landmine blasts, destroyed mobile tower

South Orissa was tense on 28 December 2009 as Maoists called for a shutdown, set ablaze four buses and a mobile tower overnight and blew up a forest department beat house as well. According to sources, "Maoists have set ablaze four government buses in 28th night. They set them on fire after forcing the passengers to get down around midnight. They have also set ablaze a mobile tower there. About 40 Maoists are involved in the incidents. We have rushed armed policemen to the spot," said Superintendent of Police (Gajapati) Sanjeev Arora. The Maoists blasted a forest department beat house and a mobile tower in Malkanagiri district (South Orissa) also.

The guerrillas have blocked roads at different places in south Orissa by felling trees on to the roads. Passenger services have been hit on the Adaba-Rayagada and Berhampur-Rayagada - Malkanagiri main roads.

It is noteworthy that south Orissa is the most backward area of the state and the successive state governments including the incumbent BJD govt. have been neglecting this region since independence. The entire region including the main city Berhampur is far from development and under the grip of Maoists. The common people are so disgusted on the step motherly attitude of the state government towards this region that they are now demanding a separate state of ‘kalinga’ comprising the ten districts of south Orissa.

Famous Gopalpur beach festival begins

BERHAMPUR:Blowing of twin conch shells, rhythmic sounds of cymbals and staging of several folk dances kicked off the famous Gopalpur beach festival at the sea-side resort, of Gopalpur-On-Sea about 10 km from Silk city Berhampur.

The five-day festival, organised by Ganjam district hotel association in collaboration with the Gopalpur beach festival committee, began on December 24th. Folk, classic as well as modern dances performances by different groups from Orissa and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai and Kolkata will be organised during the festival. Traditional folk dances including 'Ranapa', 'Bharat Leela' and 'Sankirtana' troupes from different parts of the state would be performed on different days of the festival.

The five-day Gopalpur beach festival was inaugurated by Agriculture Minister GoO Damodar Rout. Among others seniors ministers of Govt. of Orissa Suryanarayana Patra, Bikram Keshari Arukh, Debi Prasad Mishra, Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy attended.

Thousands of tourists from various parts of the state attended the inaugural function with artistes performing Ranapa, Odissi, Sambalpuri and other folk dances. Besides the cultural programmes, Gramshree Mela is also being organised. As many as 120 stalls have been put up for rural products. The event is being organised by the Ganjam District Hotel Association.

Sources: PTI, NewIndpress, Orissabarta

Houseboat service started for Chilika tourists

BERHAMPUR: With tourist season beginning to hit the peak, Chilika has thrown open its houseboat service to provide the ethereal experience of the lagoon in all its glory to the visitors. The first of its kind facility in the State will enable tourists to spend the day and the night right on the waters, enjoying all the luxuries of a star hotel. The houseboat inaugurated by State Tourism Minister Debi Prasad Mishra would be stationed at Barkul. It has two airconditioned suites and would be available for visitors at a price of Rs 5,500 per suite per day. The charges include a free two-hour cruise per day. The houseboat would take the guests into the lake and anchor at places of their choice. The guests would be offered food of star hotel quality on extra charges.

The houseboat service has been designed on the lines of Kerala, where it is common on the vast stretches of backwaters.The facility would be immensely popular as it would provide the visitors to enjoy beauty of the lake in all its forms, said Mishra.The Minister said that houseboats would be gradually introduced at other hotspots of the lagoon like Satpada, the house of the dolphins and Rambha.

Source: NewIndPress

Migratory birds arrive at Chilika

At least 6 lakh migratory birds from places as far as Siberia and Ukraine have arrived at Chilika lake, officials said. "About 3 lakh of them have been sighted in Nalabana, an island inside the lake," told ssistant forest conservator (wildlife) BK Mohapatra .

Spread across the districts of Puri, Khordha and Ganjam along the east coast, and about 100 km from state capital Bhubaneswar and 50 km from the commercial city Berhampur, Chilika is known for its immaculate scenic beauty and rich bio-diversity. Every year about a million migratory birds from places like Siberia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Himalayas come to the lake in October and return in March.

The most attractive birds sighted in the lake are flamingos, grey and purple herons, egrets, spoonbills, storks and white ibis. "We have set up at least 21 camps around the lake and deployed nearly a hundred officials and villagers to ensure that none of the birds are killed by poachers," he said. Five people were arrested recently for killing birds in the lake, he added.

Last year over 8 lakh birds belonging to 168 species were counted in the lake. This year the bird census in the lake would be held for two days starting from 11 January, Mohapatra said. Chilika was declared one of the six wetlands of international importance for Arctic and Central Asian waterfowl by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Source: The Statesman

Demand for Kalinga State gains strength

BERHAMPUR: Efforts are on to revitalise the old demand to carve out a separate ‘Kalinga State’ comprising of areas of south Orissa.

This demand which was brewing in the minds of some intellectuals in south Orissa since past few years has got a fillip with the recent efforts to form separate Telangana state by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. The supporters of Kalinga state demand allege that the State government is showing antipathy towards south Orissa. Economist Prahlad Panda remains a major catalyst of this demand for separate state.

Around seven years ago an organisation named ‘Kalinga Rajya Gathan Kriyanusthan Committee’ had been formed to promote the demand of the separate state. Now plans are on to revitalise the organisation. Mr. Panda said different organisations like ‘Ganjam Zilla Vikas Manch’ and ‘Gajapati Sarathi Samity’ have expressed support to the demand. In the past they had also distributed pamphlets, posters and held seminars in support of their demand, which are being planned to be renewed.

The action committee for the separate Kalinga state was led by its convenor, Mr. Panda, a retired economics professor of Berhampur University. Panda quotes history as the base for his dream state of Kalinga. The south Orissa districts like Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Nowrangpur, Kandhamal, Boudh, Nuapada and Kalahandi are parts of the proposed Kalinga state.

According to him as per history the areas under these 10 districts added with the Srikakulam district of adjoining Andhra Pradesh once were part of the kingdom named ‘Madhya Kalinga’.

Mr. Panda and other activists of this movement alleged that since past seven decades south Orissa is being neglected in the field of development. And time has come to stand up for the rights of people of south Orissa, they say. Mr. Panda said although the State government earned highest revenue from the resources in south Orissa, the government investment in developmental projects was too small in this region. He alleged that while the State government is signing numerous MOUs for establishment of industrial units in northern Orissa, no such attempt is being made for south Orissa. Several projects meant for south Orissa like the proposed mega steel plants near Gopalpur have got shelved.

According to these activists if the State government did not stop showing ‘stepmotherly’ attitude towards development of south Orissa then formation of a new state taking areas of south Orissa may be the only remedy for the development of this area.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Ganjam Book Fair opened

BERHAMPUR: The fourth Ganjam Book Fair was inaugurated in Berhampur on December 13 evening.

Sahitya Akademi winning writer and former MP of Berhampur, Anadi Sahu inaugurated the book fair in the presence of local MLA, R.C.C. Patnaik. Over 60 book sellers and publishers are taking part in this book fair. It may be noted that two book fairs are organised in the city every year. The president of the organising committee of the book fair, Alekh Choudhury said through this book fair they were trying to promote Oriya literature among the young new generation. So, in this book fair there was extra stress on Oriya publications. Few decades ago Berhampur happened to be a major centre of publication of literature in the State. Mr. Patnaik urged the publishers of the city and its literary activists to bring back that old glory to the city.

Mr. Sahu said despite advent of modern means of communication and entertainment; books remain the best mode of mental exercise. He languished that the parents were not promoting reading habit among the children as a result of which a large section of new generation is thinking reading is related to text books only. He urged the parents to make their children feel that reading can be more entertaining than watching television as reading provides scope for mental imaging while reading. In contrast while watching a visual medium a child gets little scope to think of anything else other than the producers’ visualisation of a subject.

Source: The Hindu

Demand for Kalinga State reiterated

The Kalinga Rajya Gathan Kriyanusthan Committee, which has been spearheading the movement for formation of separate State of Kalinga in the present southern region of Odisha for seven years, has decided to intensify its campaign in the wake of the Centre’s move to form a Telangana State in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Retired Professor of Economics Prahallad Panda, a founder of the Committee, on Saturday alleged that the southern region, which played a decisive role in the formation of the separate province of Odisha in 1936, has been neglected for long.

Speaking to The Pioneer, he pointed out that it was at the Rasulkonda congregation in 1870 that the King of Katinga had first raised the voice for formation of a separate State of Odisha. Then, after at the Rambha session of the Ganjam Jatiya Samiti, the Utkal Sammilani was formed that played the pioneering role for formation of the separate State. At the Round Table meeting in London, as many as nine members, including Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, Mandhadhata Gorachand, Shyam Sundar Gantayat, Dinabandhu Das, VV Giri, Sriparsuram Patra, Ram Chandra Mardharaj, Lingaraj Panigrahi and Jagan Mohan Patnaik, out of the ten were from the southern region.

But after the formation of the separate province, this region has been neglected in the fields of education, industrialisation, healthcare and communication, though the region has been contributing highest land revenue, excise tax and commercial tax. Hence, a separate State of Kalinga should be formed comprising the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagda and Nabarangpur that had been part of the then royal kingdom of Madhyam Kalinga, he said.

Source: The Pioneer

Centre sanctions Rs 822 cr for roads in Kalahandi

Kalahandi MP Bhakta Charan Das had submitted a proposal to Surface Transport Minister Kamal Nath for construction of National Highway and PWD roads, for which Rs 822.64 crore have been sanctioned by the Ministry. Das expressed his gratitude to Minister Kamal Nath and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on behalf of the people of Kalahandi and Nuapada. Das had a discussion with Kamal Nath where he had expressed his concern over the dilapidated roads of the district before submitting his proposed package. Das had submitted a proposal for Rs 334. 64 crore for Bargarh-Boriguma National Highway-201, Rs 375 crore for Raipur to Gopalpur NH-217 and Rs 113 crore for Kalahandi and Nuapada PWD roads. For NH-201 Rs 109.64 crore from Chancher to Kesinga Rs 50 crore, from Kesinga to Belgaon Rs 95 crore have been sanctioned by the Ministry. For NH-217 from Amath to Urladani Rs 200 crore, on the road from Kurmipuri to Komna Rs 95 crore, from Badmaheswar to Bhalumunda Rs 80 crore have been sanctioned. Speaking to mediapersons here, during his two-day visit the MP said the money has been sanctioned for the surveyed portion of the roads of Kalahandi and Nuapda and the unsurveyed portion would soon be completed. He further said that for Kalahandi and Nuapada PWD roads, from Junagarh to Kalampur Rs 25 crore, from Baldiamal to Dharmagarh Rs 25 crore and from Nuapada to Paikmal road Rs18 crore was sanctioned by the Minister. The revised estimate of Hati River bridge near Junagarh would also be completed within seven to eight days. For lift irrigation project, discussions are going on between State and Central Governments are going on where extension of Left and Right Canal of Indravati project and lift irrigation for Koksara would be sanctioned very soon by Central Government. Around 250 PMGSY roads would be constructed in different blocks in the district. Within two to three years quality roads would be constructed in all the villages and main roads, the MP informed.


Source: The Pioneer

Rayagada stadium remains a non-starter

RAYAGADA: Construction of a stadium in Rayagada is hanging fire due to a myopic administration. According to sources, a 12-acre land adjacent to JK Paper Mills was identified for the stadium which was to be built at a cost of Rs 2.56 crore (now it would be several times more). The then collector selected the land under a Central-budgeted scheme during 1998-99.  R&B estimates were done and an architect worked on it. But the procedure to transfer a ‘gochar’ land took a long time. In the meantime, JK Paper Mill found the area suitable for dumping its sludge. At present, the land is filled with heaps of sludge. The district administration asked the paper mill to clear the sludge and then built a boundary wall on three sides at an estimated cost of Rs 27.5 lakh leaving one side open to enable the plant to clear the dump. But the plant authorities are yet to clear the dump. Now the authorities find it difficult to solve the problem.

Source: New Indian Express

64 yrs on, kin pays tribute to freedom fighter Laxman Nayak

Sixty four years after he was hanged to death by the British administration, a family member of freedom fighter Laxman Nayak was finally able to visit his memorial inside the historic Berhampur circle jail and pay floral tributes. Rukuna, 72-year-old daughter-in-law of Laxman Nayak, made a maiden visit to Berhampur circle jail to have a glimpse of the place, where the legendary tribal freedom fighter was imprisoned and hanged on November 22, 1943.

Rukuna, the last member of the martyr’s family in Malkanagiri district, came from her native place near Mathili in Berhmapur and broke down when she garlanded the statue outside the prison and photos inside his cell, which has been turned into a memorial by the Odisha State Government.

“I have performed a great job by visiting this place. Let his soul remain in peace,” said Rukuna who was just eight-year-old when Nayak was hanged. State Government allowed Rukuna following a request by her to visit the jail at least once in her life as his last successor. Her late husband had also made similar efforts, but could not succeed due to several reasons, she said.

Nayak had led a tribal movement in Koraput district (South Orissa) in 1943 against the British regime. He had been kept in the Berhampur circle jail before being hanged to death.

Source:The Hindu

Four agriculture supermarkets to come up in State

Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout on December 01 said on the floor of the Assembly that four agriculture supermarkets would be set up one each at Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela. All the agriculture products would be procured and sold in these supermarkets. “Rs 80 crore would be spent for setting up these markets,” he said.

Giving reply to the queries of the members, Rout said the State Government is spending fund from its own resources for the development of horticulture in six districts which are not included in the National Horticulture Mission Programme.

“The State Government has planned to do horticulture programme in 50,000 hectre of land each year. People are getting huge profits from drumsticks and papayas, “he said, adding that all the vacant posts in the horticulture department at the block level would be filled up.

Source: The Pioneer

AIDS cases on rise in Orissa

Ganjam worst-affected district

Anti-Retroviral Testing Centre in Berhampur tested 3,491 persons HIV+ since 2002

A reputed medical journal has revealed that the killer AIDS is on the rise in Odisha, recording as many as 459 AIDS-related deaths over the past three years, while there has been a marginal decline of the incidence of AIDS in the country. It remains one of the most significant problems haunting India over the past decade. India, at this level, continues to be the third largest contributor to the global HIV burden after South Africa and Nigeria, the journal stated in an article.

The report published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research revealed that an increasing epidemic trend has been noticed in seven of the low-prevalence States such as Pudduchery, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, Rajasthan and West Bengal. The assessment showed that HIV prevalence among the adults was 0.36 per cent while the rate in high prevalence States stood at an alarming 0.8 per cent. In the low and moderate epidemic states like Orissa, the rate of infection stood at 0.2 per cent. As per the data, Odisha’s adult HIV prevalence rate has seen a rise from the 0.06 per cent level in 2002 to 0.22 per cent in 2006. This also explains why the number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) has increased over the same time--from 9,717 to 48,248 — a 400 per cent growth. The report further points out that Tamil Nadu is one among the high-prevalence States to have recorded a decline in the rate, while it remained stable in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

The problem is particularly large in Orissa, which has recorded as many as 459 AIDS-related deaths over the past three years. Out of 24,676 blood samples screened during the period between January, 2002 and September, 2005, 2,506 HIV positive cases were detected in the State. Furthermore, 641 persons were found to be full-blown AIDS cases and 459 deaths were reported during the same period. Of all the districts, Ganjam has been found to be the worst-affected district and is closely followed by Kendrapara, Puri, Cuttack and Koraput. Until December 2007, Ganjam district accounted for 35 per cent of the total AIDS deaths and 37.8 per cent of a total of 8,200 HIV-positive cases in Orissa, according to Orissa State AIDS Control Society (OSACS). As per official records, 10, 862 persons were by HIV infected in Orissa till September 2008. Among them, 1,020 were AIDS patients. Ganjam district happened to be the major hub of this killer virus. There over 4,296 HIV-positive cases in the district while 363 of them were AIDS patients. Till now, Ganjam has recorded 293 deaths due to AIDS, which is the highest in the State. At the Anti-Retroviral Testing (ART) Centre in the city of Berhampur, out of a total of 37,386 persons tested from 2002 till February 2008, 3,491 were HIV-positive. ART treatment has been started on 1,015 cases.

Source: The Pioneer

JITM signs MoU with Australian varsity

Parlakhemundi: Chancellor of University of Southern Queensland in Australia Prof Frank Bulen, speaking at the Jagannath Institute of Technology and Management (JITM) in Paralakhemundi, said the Indian students have a very competitive mentality. Due to this the students are able to get qualitative education. It is worth mentioning that the university has signed an MoU with the JITM, Centurion School of Rural Management and CIT, due to which the students can get education, staying in the country, through distance learning. Bulen had come here to inspect the infrastructure facilities of JITM. After being satisfied he signed the MoU. The four years M Tech course would cost around Rs 10 lakh to 12 lakh. The Government has given recognition for this course. More than 3,000 students in India have registered for this course.

Source: Dailypioneer

Source: The Pragativadi

Ganjam Youths take the initiative to protect coastline

BERHAMPUR: A group of volunteers of Purunabandh village in Ganjam district are trying to save the coastline near their village through mangrove plantations. These youths are members of the Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee (RSTPC) who play a major role in the protection of Olive ridleys which come to the coast near Rushikulya rookery for nesting. During past few years sea erosion had increased in the area. It increased during storms. “So, we decided to take up measures to save the coastline near our village,” said Rabindranath Sahu of RSTPC. It may be noted that in the past sea erosion had led to destruction of Olive ridley nests on this coastline.
These youths have already planted around 1000 mangrove plants by the side of the of the Palur canal near the Rushikulya rookery. Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats.
These youths have the faith that once established; the roots of mangrove plants would check erosion and enhance sediment deposition in area of plantation. Mangroves have always proved to have protected coastal areas from erosion and storm surge of sea waves. The intricate and massive root network of mangrove plants is efficient in dispelling wave energy. They also slow down tidal water and allow sediments to get deposited as the tide comes in. These youths are collecting the saplings of mangrove plants from a special nursery established near Gokharkuda by ‘Pallisri’. The mangrove plants from this nursery are also being planted near Gokharkuda village.

Source: The Hindu

Four NCC battalions in south Orissa mooted

BERHAMPUR: With ill-impact of growth of Left wing extremism uppermost in mind, the Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) is actively considering setting up of four battalions of National Cadet Corps (NCC) at four district headquarter towns in south Orissa. Speaking at the NCC Day celebration here on Sunday, Commodore L. K. Agarwalla, deputy director general of NCC, said MoD was giving final touches to the proposals of establishing four battalions at Malkanagiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Bhawanipatna.
Left wing extremists are active in three out of the four places. “This will give the tribal youth of these regions new opportunities and help them join armed forces and paramilitary forces,” Commodore Agarwalla said.
According to NCC sources, while Malkanagiri, Rayagada and Nabarangpur will have cadet strength of 3000 each, Bhawanipatna will have 400 cadets. Malkanagiri and Nabarangpur army battalions will be dedicated for boys, while there will be all girls in Rayagada army battalion. Bhawanipatna will have 400-strong boys naval unit.
At present, the State has 46,139 cadets enrolled in NCC. In the phase-II expansion proposals, which has been recently proposed, two Orissa NCC Air Squadron has been planned in Sunabeda and a group headquarter at Koraput has been recommended.

Source: The Hindu

Famous Tribal festival 'Parab' concludes

Ambassadors of Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden attended
This year over 500 foreign tourists, including ambassadors of different countries, witnessed Parab festival. Five foreign dignitaries also joined as guests in the Parab grand final. In her first ever visit outside Delhi, Terhi Hakala, Ambassador, Finland was overwhelmed to witness the colourful expression of rural India at Koraput about 300 km from Berhampur city in South Odisha. She was at Koraput to attend the closing ceremony of Parab, the State level tribal festival along with five other ambassadors. The foreign dignitaries included Terhi Hakala from embassy of Finland, Gudmundur Eiriksson from embassy of Iceland, Ann Ollestad from embassy of Norway, Lars Olof Lindgren from embassy of Sweden and Ole Lendsmann Poulsen from embassy of Denmark. ‘The music of the tribals was melodious, cultural heritage was rich and the region where they lived was beautiful’ said Terhi Hakala ambassador of Finland.
Several ambassadors, who witnessed Parab, said it is a unique tribal festival where talents from several districts of South Odisha and other states performed on one platform.
Artistes from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Ganjam, Malkangiri, Balangir, Jagatsinghpur, Pottangi, Kotpad, Semliguda and Koraput performed during the festival.
Visit of people from different regions including scores of foreign tourists to Parab, had further risen the confidence of people on the return of progressive normalcy to the region on the face of various kinds of disturbances, Gadadhar Parida, district Collector said.
While the artists from the district and from other districts of South Odisha got enormous opportunity to exhibit their talent on the stage, there was more to cheer about for the great amount of business happened in the ground for all kinds of goods. The visitors had shown interest in purchasing items of handicrafts and many more forms of artistic expression in the ground over the last three days.

Source: The New Indian Express

Malyabanta Mahotsav begins in Malkangiri

The three-day-long district level annual cultural extravaganza Malyabanta Mahotsov-2009, showcasing the rich cultural diversity and heritage of the district, was inaugurated by former Indian hockey team captain Dillip Tirkey. The event is organised at the DNK Ground in Malkangiri.
Organised by the District Council of Culture in collaboration with Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) and Song & Drama division of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting every year, the event provides a platform to the tribals to exhibit their hidden talents. Besides Tirkey, Nabarangpur MP Pradeep Kumar Majhi, Chitrakonda MLA Mamata Madhi, Malkangiri MLA Mukund Sodi, ZP president Gangadhar Buruda and NAC Chairman Dhanurjaya Madkami attended the inaugural ceremony. Collector and District Council of Culture Chairman Nitin Bhanudas Jawale presided over the ceremony. More than one lakh people from the state and outside are expected to throng to the town to enjoy the cultural extravaganza.

New chairman takes over charge of Taratarini Development Board

TARATARINI DEVELOPMENT BOARD

Regd. No.: GJM No. - 7177-A – 676/2002-2003

Hillpatna, Berhampur – 5, (Ganjam), Orissa(0680) 2215168,

Website:http:/taratarini.nic.in

E-Mail:rdcbmp@ori.nic.in, hillshrine@hotmail.com
Press Release

Shri Chandrasekhar Kumar, IAS and the new Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) of Southern Division, Odisha has taken over the chairmanship of the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB), considered as one of the prominent temple administration of the State. This famous prehistoric religious hill shrine is believed to be the Sthana Peetha (Breast Shrine) of Mata Sati and one amongst the 4 major ancient Shakti centers in India.

As per the convention of the Board, Mr Kumar who has recently joined as the RDC, Southern Division is replacing the outgoing RDC and the Chairman of TTDB Shri Satyabrata Sahu, who has since joined as the Commerce & Transport secretary of Government of Orissa.

It is noteworthy that Shri Satyabrata Sahu’s Chairmanship was eventful as it marked the completion of the 1st phase of the magnificent stone temple at Taratarini Hill Shrine. During his tenure the Board has successfully completed the Work of the main temple for the Twin Goddesses, Initiated the work of widening of the 999 holy steps with rest sheds, Widening the roads leading to the hilltop, Providing drinking water facility on the hill top, Constructed the first Arial “Rope Way” of Eastern India for fastest communication of visitors and Started massive plantation in and around the hill shrine for the maintenance of eco-system.

After taking over the charge Shri Kumar visited the holy shrine and discussed the status of the 2nd phase of work, which is going to commence soon to fulfill the basic requirements of the visitors. Board secretary Shri Pramod Panda and other board members tabled the primary draft of the second phase of work and it was decided that after through consultation, the Board will shortly start the 2nd phase work and will try its best to complete the on going projects before the commencement of the forthcoming Chaitra Mela.The TTDB members, office bearers and the temple administration while congratulating Shri Kumar expressed the hope that the Hill Shrine will become a great center of religious and tourist importance in the country under his chairmanship.

It is worth mentioning that the second phase work of the temple which will start soon includes; Construction of a huge multipurpose complex on the hilltop, four side-temples, boundary wall and outer protection wall / river side retaining wall to check land sliding and soil erosion at the hilltop.Construction of administrative office on the hilltop.Construction of Bhog Bazaar on the hilltop.Construction of Mundan shade on the hilltop.Construction of a big public utilities complex.Construction of waiting hall for the Rope-way on the hilltop.Further development of Arial Rope-way.Arrangement of space to accommodate the buildings for ATMs, Lockers, Shoe stands and other facilities.Completion of Kalyana Mandapam.Construction of huge parking space at the hilltop.Flood lighting arrangements at the hilltop and inside the temple premises. Lighting arrangement on the 999 holy stone steps and road leading to the Hilltop from Taratarini junction.Further 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.Construction of a hospital.Construction of a residential school and training centre for the physically challenged etc.

Regards,
R P Tripathy

Second State-level drama festival concludes in Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: Even in this era of television, good plays can drag audience out of their drawing rooms to auditorium. The second State-level drama festival organised in the city proved it.
This week-long drama festival concluded on November 15 evening. All the seven plays enacted during the festival had packed house at its venue the Ganjam Kala Parishad auditorium. It was a non-competitive drama festival where prominent amateur theatre groups from different parts of the State enacted their best plays, which have won accolades in national level theatre festivals. Some of these plays were decades old and part of development of amateur theatre in Orissa.
Despite the odds like acoustics lacking and bad ventilation in the auditorium, audience filled it up every evening. Veteran theatre activist, Raju Padhi said the welcome sign was that more than 50 per cent of the audience was general public having no relation with stage activities. They had come over only to enjoy the plays. “They enjoyed the plays till the end which hints that despite speculations the live attraction for live theatre would continue in the minds of general public”, he said.
Swagatika Padhi, who came over to see three plays in this drama fest said one of the major reason behind its success was the professional management of the organisers. Usually the enactment of plays precedes elongated boring meetings comprising of long speeches. It delays the beginning of enactment of play. But in this drama festival the enactment of plays started sharp at 7.30 p.m. The meetings that preceded, were short and were attended by prominent personalities related to stage and cinema.
The variety of theme and format of plays was a major draw for the audience. The first two plays ‘Jeeara’ and ‘Baunsa Thenga re Swadhinata’ enacted by ‘Ka Kha Ga’ of Damanjodi and ‘Kala Parishad’ of Dhenkanal were plays based on human formations on stage. ‘Emiti bi Dine’ enacted by ‘Canmas’ of Paradip and ‘Kurukhyetra ra Thikana’ of Tulasi Cultural Association of Kendrapara were based on burning contemporary issues. The play of Casmas dealt with the topic of female foeticide and depicted a time when there would be dearth of women in the country. The other play was based on the corruption that continues in the name of social service. On Saturday a famous folklore of Orissa came alive in the play ‘Ati Achambita Katha’ enacted by three decades old organisation, Manan of Bhubaneswar. Its apt presentation enthralled children as well as the elders. ‘Jhada’ of ‘Sampark’ from Rourkela was the play of the concluding evening of the drama festival.

Courtesy: The Hindu

‘Yellow ribbon’ campaign launched in Ganjam district

Parents, teachers, police will be educated about child rights

Ganjam Collector inaugurates the week-long campaign

Competitions and seminars will be conducted in schools
BERHAMPUR: Week long ‘Yellow ribbon’ campaign to create awareness against child abuse was launched in Ganjam district on November 14. Ganjam district Collector V.K. Pandian inaugurated the campaign taken up by the ISRD-Childline at Chatrapur. The slogan of the campaign is ‘Say YES to Prevention of Child Abuse’. Signature campaign
It would include a signature campaign through out the district where people would take pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about abuse and violence against children. Parents, teachers, civil society activists, police personnel etc would be educated about child rights during the campaign.
During this week long campaign yellow ribbons will be worn, placed on different publicly visible locations like doors, windows and computers in offices and institutes.
Director of the ISRD-Childline, Sudhir Sabat said they would take up competitions and seminars at different schools where parents and teachers would get together with students to discuss the issue of child abuse.
It may be noted that as per a Global School-Based Student Health Survey carried out developing countries like India, between 20 and 65 percent of the children of school going age reported to have verbally or physically bullied in school.
Mr Pandian said parents have the most important role to play in the bringing up of children. But at times socio-economic condition leads to abuse of children even in their families. During the yellow ribbon campaign special targeted group would be the fishermen families living on the Ganjam coast.
It is alleged that large-scale incidents of child abuse is reported from this community. The parents of this community would be educated about the rights of their children. There would be special sensitisation programmes for the parents of working children, labour class mothers members of Women Self Help Groups.

Courtesy:The Hindu

Chandrasekhar Kumar takes over as the chairman of Taratarini Development Board

BERHAMPUR: Shri Chandrasekhar Kumar, IAS and the new Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) of Southern Division has taken over the chairmanship of the Tara Tarini Development Board, considered as one of the prominent temple administration and development bodies of the State. As per the convention of the Board, Mr Kumar who has recently joined as the RDC, southern division is replacing the outgoing RDC and the Chairman of TTDB Shri Satyabrata Sahu, who has since joined as the Commerce & Transport secretary of Government of Orissa. Shri Sahu’s Chairmanship was eventful as it marked the completion of 1st phase of the magnificent stone temple at Taratarini Hill Shrine and the shrine and its peripheral areas witnessed massive development in the past few years.
The TTDB members and office bearers while congratulating Shri Kumar expressed the hope that the Hill Shrine will become a great center of religious and tourist importance in the country under his chairmanship. It is worth mentioning that the second phase of the temple, which includes construction of a massive complex for the devotees and the construction of four side-temples, boundary walls, social initiatives apart from many other small projects and plantation drive, have started recently.

20 years into construction, Berhampur Barracks stadium is still incomplete

BERHAMPUR: Two decades have passed since construction of Berhampur stadium began at the Barracks Ground in Berhampur City. The work, however, is far from over due to delay in identifying a patch of land that would be handed over to the Defence Ministry and payment of Rs 88 lakh by the State Government.A portion of the land in the Barracks Ground that would be used for the stadium is under the possession of the Defence Ministry. The State Government has to hand over another piece of land to them in lieu of Barracks Ground. The Ministry owns 9.183 acres, housing residential quarters for the NCC officials, of the total 17.68 acres earmarked for the stadium-cum-sports complex.In September 2005, the Defence Ministry agreed to vacate the land in lieu of another piece of land within Berhampur and payment of Rs 88 lakh for relocation. The State Government had agreed to provide 9.183 acres of land to the Ministry at Ambapua area of the city. However, it approached the Ministry seeking exemption from the payment of Rs 88 lakh. The latter, though, kept mum over the issue. Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry constructed a polyclinic for ex-servicemen on the Barracks Ground.Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) chairman Sarat Ranjan Patnaik said that the Ministry had not sought any approval from the BDA for the polyclinic. “With none taking the initiative for the land transfer, the Berhampur stadium might go into oblivion,” said Prafulla Jagananth Padhi, founder office-bearer of Ganjam District Athletic Association.
Courtesy: The New Indian Express