31/1/2011
Two-and-A-half years ago, Kandhamal was tagged as a “national shame”, after communal violence triggered by the killing of a Hindu seer left 38 people dead, with houses and churches burnt and vandalised, and thousands of people homeless.
But on February 2, Kandhamal is set to get a different tag — one of “national pride” — as the Union Ministry of Rural Development awards it for being one of the top 10 districts which have implemented the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) effectively.
“What set Kandhamal apart was the kind of work it did in the difficult circumstances,” said N K Sahu, director (monitoring wing) in the Ministry of Rural Development. Kandhamal has been chosen for using NREGS to generate livelihood and promote communal harmony.
Sahu, accompanied by a team of officials from the ministry, visited Baliguda and Phulbani blocks in Kandhamal last week. The team was From Kandhamal Burning to Kandhamal Shining impressed with the building of roads and farm ponds in Mediakia village, Sirtiguda gram panchayat and Sindhipankhala.
Maoists block road in Kandhamal dist
28th January 2011
BERHAMPUR: Suspected Maoists blocked the Bramhanigaon-Daringibadi road by felling trees at Gadapur in Kandhamal district. This snapped off communication between the two town.
It was probably meant to hamper the combing operation launched by police in the area. Police had launched the combing operation suspecting that Maoists are hiding in the forest and increasing their activities in the area as well as adjoining Bhanjanagar and Sorada in Ganjam district.
On Wednesday, the Red radicals had hoisted black flags at the high school in Bahadapadara within Bhanjanagar police limits in Ganjam district. They also pasted a poster at the gate of the high school asking the people to observe Republic Day as black day. Police have seized the flag and poster from the school.
Police on Monday had unearthed three landmines planted by Maoists near Barada village in Ganjam district. The rebels had torched five vehicles of a contractor involved in road works in the area recently.
The Left-wing ultras had also torched vehicle of another contractor at Birikote within Bhanjanagar police limits recently and threatened the contractors to stop the work.
Panicky over the recent developments, people of Daringibadi, Bramhanigaon and Kotagarh area observe bandh on Wednesday following the Maoist's call to observe the Republic Day as "black day". Private bus operators stopped the plying of vehicles and businessmen downed their shutters in these towns.
BERHAMPUR: Suspected Maoists blocked the Bramhanigaon-Daringibadi road by felling trees at Gadapur in Kandhamal district. This snapped off communication between the two town.
It was probably meant to hamper the combing operation launched by police in the area. Police had launched the combing operation suspecting that Maoists are hiding in the forest and increasing their activities in the area as well as adjoining Bhanjanagar and Sorada in Ganjam district.
On Wednesday, the Red radicals had hoisted black flags at the high school in Bahadapadara within Bhanjanagar police limits in Ganjam district. They also pasted a poster at the gate of the high school asking the people to observe Republic Day as black day. Police have seized the flag and poster from the school.
Police on Monday had unearthed three landmines planted by Maoists near Barada village in Ganjam district. The rebels had torched five vehicles of a contractor involved in road works in the area recently.
The Left-wing ultras had also torched vehicle of another contractor at Birikote within Bhanjanagar police limits recently and threatened the contractors to stop the work.
Panicky over the recent developments, people of Daringibadi, Bramhanigaon and Kotagarh area observe bandh on Wednesday following the Maoist's call to observe the Republic Day as "black day". Private bus operators stopped the plying of vehicles and businessmen downed their shutters in these towns.
Mutiliated body of teacher
BERHAMPUR (26th Jan 2011): The body of a retired school teacher of Kandhamal district, who went missing on Thursday, was found near a forest on Tuesday. "The mutilated body of Nargo Subhasundar (65) was recovered by police from Minijapank forest near his village within Bramhanigaon police limits," police said.
The police felt that the teacher was probably killed for practising withcraft. "After retirement, the teacher started practising witchcraft in the village and made many enemies. The villagers might have killed him," police said. "I don't think the Maoists were involved in his abduction," DIG (Southern range) R K Sharma said. The police are investigating to ascertain the exact reason of death.
Police said the family members of the deceased had not reported about him going missing. When police inquired, the family members said that he had gone out with three persons on Thursday and they did not inform police out of fear.
Read more: BERHAMPUR: The body of a retired school teacher of Kandhamal district, who went missing on Thursday, was found near a forest on Tuesday. "The mutilated body of Nargo Subhasundar (65) was recovered by police from Minijapank forest near his village within Bramhanigaon police limits," police said.
The police felt that the teacher was probably killed for practising withcraft. "After retirement, the teacher started practising witchcraft in the village and made many enemies. The villagers might have killed him," police said. "I don't think the Maoists were involved in his abduction," DIG (Southern range) R K Sharma said. The police are investigating to ascertain the exact reason of death.
Police said the family members of the deceased had not reported about him going missing. When police inquired, the family members said that he had gone out with three persons on Thursday and they did not inform police out of fear.
The police felt that the teacher was probably killed for practising withcraft. "After retirement, the teacher started practising witchcraft in the village and made many enemies. The villagers might have killed him," police said. "I don't think the Maoists were involved in his abduction," DIG (Southern range) R K Sharma said. The police are investigating to ascertain the exact reason of death.
Police said the family members of the deceased had not reported about him going missing. When police inquired, the family members said that he had gone out with three persons on Thursday and they did not inform police out of fear.
Read more: BERHAMPUR: The body of a retired school teacher of Kandhamal district, who went missing on Thursday, was found near a forest on Tuesday. "The mutilated body of Nargo Subhasundar (65) was recovered by police from Minijapank forest near his village within Bramhanigaon police limits," police said.
The police felt that the teacher was probably killed for practising withcraft. "After retirement, the teacher started practising witchcraft in the village and made many enemies. The villagers might have killed him," police said. "I don't think the Maoists were involved in his abduction," DIG (Southern range) R K Sharma said. The police are investigating to ascertain the exact reason of death.
Police said the family members of the deceased had not reported about him going missing. When police inquired, the family members said that he had gone out with three persons on Thursday and they did not inform police out of fear.
SC rejects Manoj Pradhan's bail in murder
BHUBANESWAR: (26th Jan 2011) The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of BJP MLA from G Udayagiri Manoj Pradhan in a murder case. A division bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijhar, set aside the Orissa High Court order.
The case relates to the killing of the husband of one Kanak Rekha Nayak. The man was allegedly beaten to death in Kandhamal district. The MLA and others were implicated in the case. A local fast track court had awarded seven years imprisonment to the MLA against which he had moved the high court that had given him bail.
Kanak Rekha had moved the apex court with a special leave petition. The government was made a party in the case. The state government's standing counsel Suresh Tripathy, considering the gravity of the case, supported the cancellation of the bail. He argued that being an MLA could not be the ground for bail.
The case relates to the killing of the husband of one Kanak Rekha Nayak. The man was allegedly beaten to death in Kandhamal district. The MLA and others were implicated in the case. A local fast track court had awarded seven years imprisonment to the MLA against which he had moved the high court that had given him bail.
Kanak Rekha had moved the apex court with a special leave petition. The government was made a party in the case. The state government's standing counsel Suresh Tripathy, considering the gravity of the case, supported the cancellation of the bail. He argued that being an MLA could not be the ground for bail.
Orissa's fifteen districts to get Rs. 375 crore Central Grant under IAP
New Delhi (15/Jan/2011): The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has issued a Central Grant of Rs. 375 crore to Orissa's fifteen selected Tribal and Backward districts during the current financial year (2010-11) under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) of these districts.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has issued a Central Grant of of Rs. 1500 crore to 60 selected Tribal and Backward districts of 9 states during the current financial year (2010-11) under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) of these districts. The amount of Grant is Rs. 25 crore per district and is being given under the Development Grant Component of Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) to the concerned States.
The Integrated Action Plan (IAP) has been commenced after an approval by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in November, 2010 with the objective of giving a fillip to development schemes in tribal and backward regions, mostly affected by Naxal violence. It is aimed at quick resolution of problems concerning healthcare, drinking water, education and roads.
Orissa districts are:
Orissa (15)
Bolangir, Debagarh/Deogarh, Gajapati, Kalahandi,Kandhamal/Phulbani, Kendujhar/Keonjhar, Koraput,Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangapur, Nuapada,Rayagada, Sambalpur, Sonapur and Sundargarh
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has issued a Central Grant of of Rs. 1500 crore to 60 selected Tribal and Backward districts of 9 states during the current financial year (2010-11) under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) of these districts. The amount of Grant is Rs. 25 crore per district and is being given under the Development Grant Component of Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) to the concerned States.
The Integrated Action Plan (IAP) has been commenced after an approval by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in November, 2010 with the objective of giving a fillip to development schemes in tribal and backward regions, mostly affected by Naxal violence. It is aimed at quick resolution of problems concerning healthcare, drinking water, education and roads.
Orissa districts are:
Orissa (15)
Bolangir, Debagarh/Deogarh, Gajapati, Kalahandi,Kandhamal/Phulbani, Kendujhar/Keonjhar, Koraput,Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangapur, Nuapada,Rayagada, Sambalpur, Sonapur and Sundargarh
Letter to CM: Proposed NTPC medical college in Boudh or Phulbani
Dear Honorbale Chief Minister Mr Patnaik,
I am glad that MCL and NTPC are establisning medical colleges in Odisha and Talcher has been selected for the proposed medical college by MCL.
Since past couple of years it is being raised that taking distance and geographical location into consideration each undivided district should have at at least a medical college along with super-specialtiy hospital.
http://kalahandia.blogspot.com/2009/06/government-medical-colleges-in-orissa.html
The argument is also recently advocated by Higher Education Task Force formed by Govt. of Odisha.
As per Government information there are 3 government and 3 private medical colleges in the state. Central Government is establishing an AIIMS type medical College at Bhubaneswar. State Government also cleverly highlighting establishment of medical colleges in Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Bolangir etc though WODC initiated not a single medical collge has been functional even after 7 years of MoU whereas more medical colleges are being added in Cuttack-Bhubaneswar region.
Recently central Govenment has committed 6000 new medical colleges including ministry of railway and ESIC. Ministry of Railway and ESIC have already proposed another two medical colleges in Bhubaneswar. Vedanta University is establishing another medical college in Puri and Sri Sri University may establish in Katak/Cuttack. Refering to University demand in Kalahandi, in 1991 late Biju Patnaik had said at Bhawanipatna that University can not be established in everone's kitchen yard. Perhaps ignoring the urgent need for medical college and super-speciality hospital in far off places from Bhubaneswar, the medical colleges presently being considered and proposed by state Government around Bhubaneswar-Cuttack and surrounding region is nothing different from "Biju Babu's kitchen yard".
Many people are unable to find justification why state Government prefers Government medical college in state capital regions and private one in KBK as it is evident that WODC initiated private medical colleges in Kalahandi and Bolangir are not yet started even after 7 years, where as in the last year budget state Government has alloted 30 crore for Capital (hospital) medical college in Bhubaneswar despite AIIMS, Railway, and ESIC medical colleges and Regional Paramedical Training Center are being established and 3 private medical colleges are already in function in Bhubaneswar. This is excluding many well known private hospitals such as APPOLO, LV Prasad, Global Hospital etc branches at Bhubaneswar and new private medical college proposals.
Even due to various controvercies recently people of Kalahandi were hopeless for the proposed WODC initiated medical college. I also learned that Vedanta's initiative to take WODC initiated medical college in Kalahandi could not be materialised due to other involved private parties. In this circumstance why the state Government is not pursuing to Vedanta to build a fresh medical college and hospital in Kalahandi, one of the demand critic of Vedanta's is also advocating?
Kalahandi is not first district to have two private medical colleges, there will be more than 5 Government and 5 private medical colleges in Bhubaneswar-Cuttack region itself, WODC initiated medical college is being established in Rourkela and state Government had already plan to propose SAIL for a medical college in Rourkela. Central University of Orissa has a proposal to build a medical college in Koraput in future and state Government may ask NALCO to establish a medical college in undivided Koraput district beside one being proposed in Rayagada by PPP mode. Similarly Ganjam and Cuttack have Government medical colleges and few private parties are interested to establish private medical colleges in these districts. State Government has also plan to establish medical colleges in PPP mode in Balasore, Naraj (Cuttack) and Rayagada beside a proposal submitted to defence department for a medical college in Balasore. In case things go positive for WODC medical college at Jaring (which is presently in doubt) and Vedanta takes interest tp estblish a new medical college then Kalahandi might get two private medical colleges (one in Bhawanipatna by Vedanta and other in Jaring, Junagarh by WODC) which will not be wrong.
Similarly no party has ever taken any interest to estblish a medical college in undivided Boudh-Phulbani distirct, another backward district in South-Western Odisha. Medical problem in the region needs urgent attention.
Since the medical college at Talcher will serve the purpose for undivided Dhenkanal district (Angul+Dhenkanal) and Boudh-Phulbani is the adjacent disitrict of Angul district where NTPC is located, I request you to consider establishing the prposed medical college by NTPC in Boudh or Phulbani for undivided Kandhamal district.
Thank you and best regards
Digambara Patra
--
Dr. Digambara Patra
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
American University of Beirut
P.O. Box: 11-0236, Riad El Solh
Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
Email: digpatra@gmail.com
http://staff.aub.edu.lb/~dp03/
I am glad that MCL and NTPC are establisning medical colleges in Odisha and Talcher has been selected for the proposed medical college by MCL.
Since past couple of years it is being raised that taking distance and geographical location into consideration each undivided district should have at at least a medical college along with super-specialtiy hospital.
http://kalahandia.blogspot.com/2009/06/government-medical-colleges-in-orissa.html
The argument is also recently advocated by Higher Education Task Force formed by Govt. of Odisha.
As per Government information there are 3 government and 3 private medical colleges in the state. Central Government is establishing an AIIMS type medical College at Bhubaneswar. State Government also cleverly highlighting establishment of medical colleges in Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Bolangir etc though WODC initiated not a single medical collge has been functional even after 7 years of MoU whereas more medical colleges are being added in Cuttack-Bhubaneswar region.
Recently central Govenment has committed 6000 new medical colleges including ministry of railway and ESIC. Ministry of Railway and ESIC have already proposed another two medical colleges in Bhubaneswar. Vedanta University is establishing another medical college in Puri and Sri Sri University may establish in Katak/Cuttack. Refering to University demand in Kalahandi, in 1991 late Biju Patnaik had said at Bhawanipatna that University can not be established in everone's kitchen yard. Perhaps ignoring the urgent need for medical college and super-speciality hospital in far off places from Bhubaneswar, the medical colleges presently being considered and proposed by state Government around Bhubaneswar-Cuttack and surrounding region is nothing different from "Biju Babu's kitchen yard".
Many people are unable to find justification why state Government prefers Government medical college in state capital regions and private one in KBK as it is evident that WODC initiated private medical colleges in Kalahandi and Bolangir are not yet started even after 7 years, where as in the last year budget state Government has alloted 30 crore for Capital (hospital) medical college in Bhubaneswar despite AIIMS, Railway, and ESIC medical colleges and Regional Paramedical Training Center are being established and 3 private medical colleges are already in function in Bhubaneswar. This is excluding many well known private hospitals such as APPOLO, LV Prasad, Global Hospital etc branches at Bhubaneswar and new private medical college proposals.
Even due to various controvercies recently people of Kalahandi were hopeless for the proposed WODC initiated medical college. I also learned that Vedanta's initiative to take WODC initiated medical college in Kalahandi could not be materialised due to other involved private parties. In this circumstance why the state Government is not pursuing to Vedanta to build a fresh medical college and hospital in Kalahandi, one of the demand critic of Vedanta's is also advocating?
Kalahandi is not first district to have two private medical colleges, there will be more than 5 Government and 5 private medical colleges in Bhubaneswar-Cuttack region itself, WODC initiated medical college is being established in Rourkela and state Government had already plan to propose SAIL for a medical college in Rourkela. Central University of Orissa has a proposal to build a medical college in Koraput in future and state Government may ask NALCO to establish a medical college in undivided Koraput district beside one being proposed in Rayagada by PPP mode. Similarly Ganjam and Cuttack have Government medical colleges and few private parties are interested to establish private medical colleges in these districts. State Government has also plan to establish medical colleges in PPP mode in Balasore, Naraj (Cuttack) and Rayagada beside a proposal submitted to defence department for a medical college in Balasore. In case things go positive for WODC medical college at Jaring (which is presently in doubt) and Vedanta takes interest tp estblish a new medical college then Kalahandi might get two private medical colleges (one in Bhawanipatna by Vedanta and other in Jaring, Junagarh by WODC) which will not be wrong.
Similarly no party has ever taken any interest to estblish a medical college in undivided Boudh-Phulbani distirct, another backward district in South-Western Odisha. Medical problem in the region needs urgent attention.
Since the medical college at Talcher will serve the purpose for undivided Dhenkanal district (Angul+Dhenkanal) and Boudh-Phulbani is the adjacent disitrict of Angul district where NTPC is located, I request you to consider establishing the prposed medical college by NTPC in Boudh or Phulbani for undivided Kandhamal district.
Thank you and best regards
Digambara Patra
--
Dr. Digambara Patra
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
American University of Beirut
P.O. Box: 11-0236, Riad El Solh
Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
Email: digpatra@gmail.com
http://staff.aub.edu.lb/~dp03/
Naveen asks PM to tackle maoism through rail network expansion
Bhubaneswar, Jan 5 2011 (PTI) Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today alleged that several railway projects announced for Orissa in the budget were not carried out and sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh''s intervention in their execution, saying it can check Maoist menace in the region.
"It is a matter of concern that many projects and initiatives those were announced by the Ministry of Railways in previous year budget have failed to make a substantive headway," Patnaik said in a letter to the Prime Minister.
Orissa was emerging as a mining and metal hub of the country with substantive addition of energy generation capacity, Patnaik said, adding, the nature of industrial activities here required robust and well-planned rail infrastructure for stability.
Almost 70 per cent of Orissa''s interior were either untouched or negligibly touched by the rail network, he said.
"These areas (interior) are seriously affected by left wing extremism and require well planned intervention to counter the same," Patnaik said in the letter.
Stating that he was hopeful about expansion of rail network to the affected region is one of the best means to speed up the pace of development and break the shackles of isolation and backwardness.
He demanded that the Bhadrachalam Road-Talcher railway line and Sambalpur-Brahmpur new rail link (via Phulbani) be tagged as national project.
"Survey of these lines have been sanctioned and I would like you to advise the ministry of railways to execute these projects on priority basis," Patnaik said in the letter.
"It is a matter of concern that many projects and initiatives those were announced by the Ministry of Railways in previous year budget have failed to make a substantive headway," Patnaik said in a letter to the Prime Minister.
Orissa was emerging as a mining and metal hub of the country with substantive addition of energy generation capacity, Patnaik said, adding, the nature of industrial activities here required robust and well-planned rail infrastructure for stability.
Almost 70 per cent of Orissa''s interior were either untouched or negligibly touched by the rail network, he said.
"These areas (interior) are seriously affected by left wing extremism and require well planned intervention to counter the same," Patnaik said in the letter.
Stating that he was hopeful about expansion of rail network to the affected region is one of the best means to speed up the pace of development and break the shackles of isolation and backwardness.
He demanded that the Bhadrachalam Road-Talcher railway line and Sambalpur-Brahmpur new rail link (via Phulbani) be tagged as national project.
"Survey of these lines have been sanctioned and I would like you to advise the ministry of railways to execute these projects on priority basis," Patnaik said in the letter.
Orissa''s Kandhamal goes below freezing point
Bhubaneswar, Jan 5 2011 (PTI) Daringbadi in Orissa''s Kandhamal district was today the coldest place in the state as it went below freezing point even as normal life remain affected due to the cold wave across the state.
Daringbadi (-0.5 degree Celsius) was followed by Phulbani (3.6 degree), the district headquarter town of Kandhamal, while Sundargarh in western region recorded 4.9 degree and Keonjhar in north recorded 5.4, the Met office said.
State capital Bhubaneswar recorded 10.8 degree celsius while Sambalpur experienced the chill with the temperature remaining at 5.1.
"Cold wave condition is likely to prevail over interior Orissa during the next 48 hours," S Sahu, Director of the local Meteorological office, told PTI adding the situation could continue due to clear sky and a low pressure area near Sri Lanka.
Places which recorded less than 10 degree Celsius temperature were Chandbali (9.7), Balasore (9.1), Jharsuguda (6.7), Hirakud (7.8), Titlagarh (8), Balangir (8.7), Angul (9.8), Baripada (6.6) and Bhawanipatna (8.7).
Daringbadi (-0.5 degree Celsius) was followed by Phulbani (3.6 degree), the district headquarter town of Kandhamal, while Sundargarh in western region recorded 4.9 degree and Keonjhar in north recorded 5.4, the Met office said.
State capital Bhubaneswar recorded 10.8 degree celsius while Sambalpur experienced the chill with the temperature remaining at 5.1.
"Cold wave condition is likely to prevail over interior Orissa during the next 48 hours," S Sahu, Director of the local Meteorological office, told PTI adding the situation could continue due to clear sky and a low pressure area near Sri Lanka.
Places which recorded less than 10 degree Celsius temperature were Chandbali (9.7), Balasore (9.1), Jharsuguda (6.7), Hirakud (7.8), Titlagarh (8), Balangir (8.7), Angul (9.8), Baripada (6.6) and Bhawanipatna (8.7).
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