Lady Tarzans fight for forest preservation
Bhubaneswar: In a world racing against time to save its dwindling green cover, Jamuna Tudu has emerged as a fierce advocate for Indias forests, dedicating her life to this cause. Born in Odishas Mayurbhanj district, Tudus environmental journey began in Jharkhands Potka village, where she witnessed the destruction of forests at the hands of the []
Organic date palm jaggery shines at IITF 2024 Odisha Pavilion
New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Odishas organic date palm jaggery, known as Odisha Khajuri Guda, has emerged as a major attraction at the ongoing India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2024 in New Delhi. The GI-tagged natural sweetener has quickly become a best-seller at the Odisha Mandap, located in Hall Number 2 of Bharat Mandapam. The stall showcasing this []
Collective behavioural change must tackle climate crisis says UN-resident coordinator Shombi Sharp
BHUBANESWAR: UN resident coordinator for India Shombi Sharp on Wednesday said there needs to be a collective change in the behaviour of the citizens across the globe to tackle climate change. There was earlier a perception that climate change is a very technical subject. However, this impression changed over the years due to vigorous awareness activities. Citizens are now conscious but the problem is the change in their behaviour is not taking place, said Sharp. The change in behaviour is very crucial to accelerate individual actions to combat climate change and its impacts across the world said Sharp during an event organised by Bakul Foundation on Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability here. Sharp said children and youths can play a major role to influence the behaviour of adults and convince them to fight climate change together. Children have a strong influence at their homes and should discuss with their parents and siblings about what they are learning regarding climate change. This can have a long and lasting impact on the minds of adults, he said while praising India, especially Odisha, for enhancing disaster risk preparedness. Bakul Foundation founder Sujit Mohapatra was present.
Plans to equip marine police with more boats for sea patrol, says Odisha DGP YB Khurania
BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to enhance security along the states 480-km-long coastline, Odisha Police has planned to strengthen patrolling in the sea by adding more boats to the fleet of Marine police stations. DGP YB Khurania said 18 marine police stations in Odisha are equipped with only 13 boats which have also become old. As per guidelines, marine police stations are supposed to carry out patrolling in the sea up to 12 nautical miles. To enhance our presence, a proposal has been submitted to the state government to take at least 10 mechanised boats on rent for patrolling purposes. Khurania said he is hopeful that discussions on strengthening the infrastructure of marine police stations will take place when the supplementary budget is placed in the Assembly and the required funds provided to them. Once the funds are allocated, efforts will also be made to launch drone surveillance over the states coastline. The DGP said Odisha Police is also planning to procure new interceptor boats and a proposal in this regard will be sent to the state government. Under the Coastal Security Scheme of the Centre, 18 marine police stations were sanctioned for Odisha to strengthen security along its entire coast. The aim and objective of such police stations is to check export of illegal arms, contraband articles through sea route, infiltration of unauthorised persons, entry of anti-national elements, illegal/unregulated fishing and to guard against attack on vital installations along the coastline. However, the marine police stations of the state face a major hurdle due to shortage of the required funds. Odisha Polices coastal security wing does not even have a command and control centre or a jetty of its own. It also does not have a permanent office and is functioning on the premises of the old building of the Crime Branchs Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
8.76L workers in Odisha delisted from MGNREGA in April-Sep period: Report
BHUBANESWAR: Between April and September this year, Odisha saw deletion of 8.76 lakh workers from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Implementation of the Aadhaar-based payment system (ABPS) is stated to be a significant factor behind this, a report released by LibTech India says. Employment generation too plummeted across all districts in the period compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, the report MGNREGA in Odisha: A Mid-year Analysis of Challenges and Opportunities added. The number of registered workers in the state from April to September was 95 lakh. In the first six months, an average 8.7 lakh workers were removed from MGNREGA rolls. This placed Odisha as one of the top-three states in the country with the highest net deletions in the six-month period. During the same time, 1.3 lakh new workers were added but these additions were outpaced by 10.1 lakh deletions. The report attributed the deletions to the Ministry of Rural Developments push for ABPS which led to exclusion of many genuine workers. Field investigations in many districts like Koraput and Balangir revealed numerous cases where eligible workers were mistakenly deleted due to administrative lapses or technical mismatches. In January last year, the MoRD mandated an Aadhaar-based payment system for MGNREGS. A study by our team revealed that under pressure to meet ABPS eligibility targets, officials resorted to deleting workers from the MGNREGA database when they could not fulfill the technical prerequisites for ABPS. This practice has been linked to various cases of wrongful deletions, leaving many genuine workers unable to access their rightful benefits, said Chakradhar Buddha, a researcher at LibTech India. At present, nearly 6.7 per cent of all MGNREGS workers in the state remain ineligible for ABPS. The analysis also pointed to a whopping 48.4 pc drop in employment generated under the scheme. After an increase in person-days generated from 10.4 crore in the financial year 2022-23 to 11.3 crore - an 8.6 pc rise - a significant decline is observed in the current financial year (first six months), with persondays dropping to 5.8 crores (a 48.4 pc decrease). The number of persondays generated would have been even higher had the wrongly deleted workers been reinstated. This highlights the substantial reliance of workers on MGNREGA. This observation emphasizes the consistently high and growing demand for employment opportunities under the scheme, Buddha added.
Centre assesses Adarsh Gram scheme, seven in Odisha under review ambit
BHUBANESWAR : A decade after the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) was launched, the central government has begun an exercise to assess the progress and impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modis pet initiative. The move comes in the midst of ground-based reports that much has not changed in the villages adopted by the MPs under the scheme in terms of their all-round development. The MPs were tasked to pick a village each under their constituency and ensure its holistic development, including basic amenities like proper roads, water supply and sanitation along with other infrastructure and facilities. Official sources said in Odisha, seven-gram panchayats in Angul, Jagatsinghpur, Kalahandi, Bhadrak, Khurda, Nabarangpur and Nayagarh districts have been included in the nationwide study that will continue till November 27. Those included from the state are Andharua GP (Khurda) adopted by Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra, Bhatangpadar (Kalahandi) adopted by former RS member Sujeet Kumar and Lunahandi (Angul) adopted by former MP Nitesh Ganga Deb. Other panchayats selected for the study are Arana (Jagatsinghpur) adopted by former MP Rajashree Mallick, Ambaroli (Bhadrak) adopted by former MP Manjulata Mandal, Badakumuli (Nabarangpur) adopted by former MP Ramesh Chandra Majhi and Rasanga (Nayagarh) adopted by former MP Achyutananda Samanta. The assessment will include how the villages have been transformed after adoption by their MPs under SAGY. If there has not been much improvement, it will seek reasons and fix accountability. The study will find out the bottlenecks in the implementation of the programme which will ultimately help devise new and effective strategies. Wherever it has been a success, the best practices will serve as models, sources said. The study team will also ascertain why the MPs were not identifying GPs at the desired pace even though they are aware of the benefits of the scheme. They will collect suggestions for revision of the scheme and explore solutions to remove investment barriers and promote private investments in such GPs, the sources said. As per the SAGY portal of the Ministry of Rural Development, as many as 1,440 panchayats were selected in 2014-19 and 1,921 panchayats in 2019-24 while more than 2.29 lakh projects have been completed under village development plan (VDP). Odisha is placed at 16th position among states and UTs in terms of progress of VDP with around 72.86 per cent projects getting completed. Gujarat and West Bengal topped the chart with 100 per cent completion rate.
Youth smears orphan tribal girls face with faeces in Odisha
BALANGIR: In a shocking act of dehumanisation, a youth allegedly smeared human faeces on an orphaned tribal girl over a minor dispute at Jurabandh village in Bangomunda block on November 16. The accused, Abhay Bag lost his cool when the girl opposed him for running his tractor on the farm field where the victim had grown crops. Police said, the girl had cultivated a piece of land in the village and Bag ran his tractor over it. As a portion of the crop suffered damage, the girl confronted Bag. The argument soon turned violent as Bag pushed the girl and she fell. The girls aunt ran to her rescue but was allegedly manhandled by Bag. The matter did not end there as Bag smeared the girls face with human faeces some of which also entered her mouth. The girl lodged a complaint with police the same day and a FIR was registered. Four days since the incident, no action has been taken against Bag. Meanwhile, tribals of the village slammed the police for their inaction. They wondered if the administration and cops would sit on a complaint had the incident happened with a woman of upper caste. The girl has a sister and ekes out a living by doing daily wage jobs, said members of Adivasi Kalyan Sangha and Kandha Samaj which came out in her support on Wednesday. A member of the tribal body said police have been asked to act on the matter failing which an agitation will be staged. Kantabanji SDPO Gourang Charan Sahu said a case has been registered at Bangomunda police station. The accused is absconding and will be nabbed soon, he said. The victim said Bags act is an insult to her and her community. I want justice and punishment for him, she said. BJD slams govt Bhubaneswar: The BJD on Wednesday came down on the state government for its silence on the incident. Describing the BJP as anti-tribal, BJDs Rajya Sabha member Niranjan Bishi told mediapersons since the saffron party came to power in Odisha, tribals are being neglected. The inaction of the police or any government agency even after five days of this incident proves this, he added. Bishi said the victim and her female relative had lodged a complaint at the Bangomunda police station after the incident. However, police is yet to arrest the youth.
Murder case filed over mans death
Odisha govt orders inquiry into sale of children, baby girl rescued from AP
Bhubaneswar: As the Odisha government began an inquiry into the incidents of the alleged sale of two children due to poverty in Rayagada and Bolangir districts, one of them was rescued from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, officials said on Wednesday. The nine-day-old girl who was allegedly sold to a childless couple in Andhra Pradesh has been Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
2 held for poaching, eating meat of leopard
Odisha govt orders inquiry into sale of children, baby girl rescued from Andhra Pradesh
Bhubaneswar: As the Odisha government began an inquiry into the incidents of the alleged sale of two children due to poverty in Rayagada and Bolangir districts, one of them was rescued from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, officials said Wednesday. The nine-day-old girl who was allegedly sold to a childless couple in Andhra Pradesh has been rescued []
Man gets life term for murdering wife
Kharif paddy procurement begins in Odisha
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government Wednesday started the Kharif paddy procurement process from Bargarh district. The paddy procurement process started with Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare minister KC Patra performing a special puja at Kalapani market yard, a government mandi in Bargarh district. The BJP has fulfilled its promise made during the Assembly election and the []
Odisha to study root causes for migration of labourers: Dy CM
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to study the root causes for migration of labourers from the state and find solutions to address the issue. This was stated by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo after chairing a meeting of the High-Level Task Force constituted to address the migration of labourers. The government has []
Govt to bring in new rehab and resettlement policy for land losers
Angered by the noise demon, buffalo goes on rampage at Khurda fair, injures 5
Miscreants attack Dharmasala MLA, vandalise car
Niramaya centres to remain open 24X7:Min
Kharif paddy procurement begins from Bargarh
HC rejects pension claim of ex-SIC
Adani land near Gandhamardhan hills sparks political row
Singapore visit opens new avenues for Odishas growth story: CM
Sarpanch blames hooch behind death of 2 in Jagatsinghpur, cops deny claim
Annual HS (Plus 2) exams from Feb 18
Balangir newborn, sold by mom, traced to pvt hosp in Cgarh
Odisha to construct grand ring road connecting major commercial hubs across state: Minister
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Works minister Prithiviraj Harichandan Wednesday said the government will construct a six-lane grand ring road connecting all major commercial hubs of the state. This six-lane road will connect Mottu in Malkangiri district to Tiring in Mayurbhanj district. It will reduce travel time across Odisha to just 26 hours, linking all commercial hubs, Harichandan []
Support of Odia diaspora crucial to strengthening global outreach: Majhi
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Wednesday emphasised that the support and engagement of the Odia diaspora are vital for enhancing the states global outreach. Majhi was addressing an interactive session with over 400 members of the Odia diaspora in Singapore on the concluding day of his visit to the island nation. During the []
Central team to visit Odisha for assessment of damages caused by Cyclone Dana
Bhubaneswar: A seven-member Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) is scheduled to reach Odisha November 24 for an on-the-spot assessment of the damage caused by Cyclone Dana, informed Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Wednesday. As per official sources, this visit aims to evaluate the ground realities and provide critical insights for relief and recovery measures. []
Govt plans to procure 85k MT of paddy from Kendrapada farmers
Orissa HC rules against judicial interference in financial loan recovery
OHRC recommends govt to pay Rs 3L to kin of woman killed on witchcraft suspicion
Odisha: Govt employee suspended for demanding bribe from cyclone victims
Bhubaneswar: A Village Agriculture Worker (VAW) from Bhatapada Panchayat, under Chandbali block in Odishas Bhadrak district, has been suspended for allegedly demanding bribes from farmers affected by Cyclone Dana to facilitate government assistance. The Chief District Agriculture Officer suspended the VAW, identified as Bhagabati Kisan, after a video showing her demanding bribes went viral on social media. The suspension order, issued under Rule 12(i)(a) of the Orissa Civil Service (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1962, stated: Whereas a disciplinary proceeding is contemplated for acceptance of an undue advantage in order to perform a public duty Smt. Bhagabati Kisan, Village Agriculture Worker, Bhatapada Circle of Chandbali block, is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect. The suspension letter also specified that during her suspension, Kisans headquarters would be at the office of the Agriculture District Officer in Dhamnagar. She has been instructed not to leave her designated headquarters without prior permission from the competent authority. Additionally, Kisan will receive subsistence allowance equivalent to 50 per cent of her pay, along with the usual Dearness Allowance (DA), as per Rule 90 of the Orissa Service Code. This allowance is sanctioned for a period of six months or until her reinstatement, whichever comes earlier. The Odisha government had announced financial relief of Rs 8,500 per hectare for farmers whose crops were damaged by Cyclone Dana. However, Kisan reportedly demanded a bribe of Rs 500 per hectare and Rs 300 per acre to process the assistance applications, according to sources. This incident has sparked outrage, highlighting the plight of cyclone-affected farmers and raising concerns over corruption in relief distribution.
OHRC orders compensation for witchcraft accusation victim in odisha
The Odisha Human Rights Commission has ordered the state government to compensate the family of a woman killed by villagers who suspected her of witchcraft. The commission recommended a payment of Rs 3 lakh to the family of Jasoda Singh, who was killed in 2018.
Odisha: Poachers eat leopard meat after killing it with electric trap
Bhubaneswar: In a shocking and unprecedented incident, poachers in Odisha's Nuapada district have reportedly consumed leopard meat after killing the animal with an electric trap. Two suspects, identified as Pustam Chinda and Hrusikeh Chinda, have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody, while a third accomplice remains at large, according to reports. Local authorities, including Komna Forest Range Divisional Forest Officer Debadutta Sutar and Assistant Conservator of Forest Sanjeev Vangola, have launched a thorough investigation into the case. The poachers allegedly set an electric trap near the Deodaha Drinking Water Project on Sunday, aiming to capture wild boars. However, a leopard from the nearby forest fell prey to their deadly design when it approached the water project to quench its thirst. Rather than fleeing after the accidental killing, the poachers reportedly skinned the leopard and cooked its meat. They later abandoned the animal's severed head, skin, and other body parts along the bank of a local river before leaving the area. According to forest officials, the leopard died instantly after coming into contact with the electrified trap. The poachers, instead of reporting the incident, decided to eat the meat. They dismembered the animal, separating its skin, meat, and bones. Authorities have recovered the leopard's severed head, skin, and other remains, which have been sent for forensic examination. The death of the leopard at Deogaon follows a similar tragedy in Sambalpur district, where three elephants were killed in an identical manner just days earlier. These incidents have raised serious concerns about the safety of wildlife in Odisha and the increasing prevalence of poaching in the state. We have apprehended two poachers, and they have confessed to the crime. An investigation is underway to determine if others were involved, forest officials stated. The cases in Nuapada and Sambalpur highlight the persistent challenges in combating wildlife poaching in Western Odisha. Conservationists and authorities are calling for stricter enforcement of anti-poaching laws and heightened surveillance in vulnerable areas to protect endangered species.
10 days left, 70L NFSA beneficiaries still to get e-KYC verification
BHUBANESWAR: With the November deadline for completing the e-KYC verification of ration cards nearing its end, nearly 70 lakh beneficiaries of the state covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) are yet to get their Aadhaar seeding done. Without e-KYC verification, a beneficiary will be debarred from getting the free ration provided by the Centre. Ganjam district has been particularly laggard on this front with more than 5.42 lakh beneficiaries still to complete their self-authentication through biometric process and Aadhaar seeding with the ration cards. A majority of them are migrant workers, mostly those who have moved to Gujarat. Around 26.52 lakh people in this southern district are covered under NFSA and only 21.09 lakh of them have completed e-KYC verification, said a report of the Food Supplies department. Ganjam is followed by Kalahandi where over 4.72 lakh beneficiaries face the threat of their names being removed from the food security list as they have only 10 days time to do the Aadhaar seeding. Of the 14.23 lakh beneficiaries in the district, around 9.51 lakh have met the mandatory requirement. Other districts which have large to do list include Balasore at 3.15 lakh, Balangir 2.83 lakh, Bargarh 2.26 lakh, Bhadrak 1.83 lakh and Angul 1.49 lakh. The state government launched e-KYC on August 22 this year with September 25 as the last date. Of the 3.26 crore NFSA beneficiaries in the state, e-KYC verification could be completed for only 25.75 lakh by August 31. After realising the infrastructure deficiencies, internet connectivity and other technical problems, the state government extended the date to November 30. However, as the situation stands, it is virtually impossible to complete e-KYC of 70 lakh people within 10 days given the multifarious problems the people and PDS dealers are facing, said state convener, Campaign for Food, Samit Panda. Reports coming from districts said updating Baal Aadhaar cards are taking time. Since newborns are eligible for a Baal Aadhaar card, the same needs to be updated with the childs biometrics once he or she is older than 5 years with renewal once he or she crosses the age of 15. However, even as the e-KYC process struggles to make headway, the government claimed to be ready to issue new cards from the start of the new year. More than 16 lakh ineligible beneficiaries have been identified so far and ration cards will be issued to new beneficiaries from January 2025, Food Supplies minister Krushna Chandra Patra said.
Vigilance arrests Odisha sub-collector, OSPHWC DGM
BHUBANESWAR: The state Vigilance on Tuesday arrested two government officials including Kamakhyanagar sub-collector Narayan Chandra Nayak for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. Vigilance officials said the Kamakhyanagar sub-collector was arrested in the DA case after he was found in possession of assets to the tune of 130 per cent of his known sources of income. The assets of the OAS officer included two triple-storey buildings in Bhubaneswar and Bhadrak, one double-storey building in Bhadrak, 14 high-value plots, Rs 37.5 lakh deposit, Rs 1.48 lakh in cash, 366 gram gold and other household articles worth Rs 15.5 lakh. The deputy general manager (civil) of Odisha State Police Housing Welfare Corporation (OSPHWC) Subash Chandra Panda was found in possession of disproportionate assets to the tune of 303 per cent of his known sources of income. The assets of the officer posted at Berhampur division included two multi-storey buildings in Bhubaneswar, payment of Rs 66 lakh to a realtor to purchase a 4BHK flat at Kalinganagar, 870 gram gold, five high-value plots, deposits of over Rs 1.84 crore and Rs 13.47 lakh in cash. Investigation in both the cases is in progress, the officials said.
BJD demands action against officials for mismanagement in Balijatra
BHUBANESWAR: The Opposition BJD on Tuesday came down heavily on the state government for the mismanagement in Balijatra alleging this has shown Odisha in a bad light. Addressing a media conference here, BJD spokespersons Lenin Mohanty and Ipsita Sahoo alleged that inability of the organisers to arrange carts for Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for which he had to walk to the stage was unpardonable and strong action should be taken against those responsible for it. They alleged the name of the chief minister was also missing from the Balijatra invitation cards. Cuttack mayor gives the welcome address at the inaugural ceremony of the Balijatra. But this year, BJP MLA from Cuttack Sadar Prakash Chandra Sethi was assigned the job and his speech has become viral for all the wrong reasons, they said. The BJD leaders also demanded that Balijatra be declared as a national festival like the Kumbh Mela. The state will receive central assistance if Balijatra gets national festival status. They also demanded compensation of `20 lakh for the family of the boy who died of electrocution in the fair on Sunday.
500 weather stations, 6k ARGs to power Odishas disaster fight: Minister Suresh Pujari
BHUBANESWAR: The government is in the process of installing around 500 automated weather stations and 6,000 automated rain gauges (ARGs) across Odisha to strengthen the early-warning system and impact-based forecast to tackle disasters more effectively, said Revenue and Disaster Management (R&DM) minister Suresh Pujari on Tuesday. The technological advancement in weather prediction and rain forecast will help the government in dealing with cyclone-induced flooding and urban flooding more effectively. Pujari said while addressing an event on Early Warning to Early Action: A multi-hazard, multi-stakeholder approach learning from ecosystem here organised by the Reliance Foundation in collaboration with United Nations (UN) India. The minister said the state government is already in the process of implementing Odisha State Capability Resilient Growth Programme (OSCRGP) which focuses on strengthening the multi-hazard impact-based forecasting along with the early warning dissemination system through Satark application. Modernisation of the GIS cell at Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) as well as the state and district emergency operation centres is also in the pipeline, he said. Pujari said Odisha is home to more than 60 indigenous tribal groups who lead a sustainable life. It is now time to use these indigenous knowledge systems for the forecasting of extreme events and adopt them as a lifestyle, he said. Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre director Manorama Mohanty said IMD is also planning to provide impact-based forecast at traffic level to make weather forecasting more location-specific. The localised impact-based forecast at present is generic. Making it area-specific will help in a number of things including better traffic management and road diversion during heavy rains, Mohanty said. She, however, said the project might take some time as it needs integration of data from different departments and stakeholders to make the forecast accurate. Reliance Foundation CEO Jagannatha Kumar said, As climate change drives more extreme weather events, there is a need to strengthen impact-based forecasting to ensure it translates more effectively to local action. UN resident coordinator for India Shombi Sharp on the occasion said the United Nations, through its various agencies, will continue to work and support the efforts to strengthen early warning system in Odisha and other parts of the country.
Odisha districts struggle with high UDID card application backlog
BHUBANESWAR: Ten districts in the state have the highest number of applications pending when it comes to generating unique disability identity (UDID) card for persons with disabilities (PwDs). The districts are Cuttack, Balasore, Bhadrak, Balangir, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Keonjhar, Nayagarh, Nuapada and Rayagada. Around 1.33 lakh applications are pending across the state and the majority are from these districts. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerments department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities is implementing the Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities project to create a national database for PwDs and issue UDID card to each person with disabilities. The card delivers government benefits and travel concessions, to the person with disabilities. Disability certificates issued only through UDID portal by competent medical authorities are accepted throughout the state. Disability certificates issued in favour of PwDs in manual mode are no longer accepted. According to reports of the Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) department, out of 11,90,223 registered UDID applications, 7,16,205 cards have been generated to date. At least 1,33,935 applications are pending for the generation of these cards. Balasore has the highest of 22,960 applications pending followed by Ganjam (13,474) and Cuttack (7,137). Odishas UDID pendency rate stands at 11.25 per cent since the project was launched in 2019. As per the 2011 census, there are 12.44 lakh PwDs in the state and 10.14 per cent of this population faces multiple disabilities. Even for getting a medical certificate which is important for submission of UDID application, one has to wait for several months. Without this card, there is no way of getting any benefit that the government has provisioned, said Satya Behera, a Bhubaneswar-based student who faces locomotor disability. Officials in the SSEPD department said the pendency was reviewed recently. Collectors of the 10 districts have been asked to focus on the issue of UDID card generation and bring down the pendency to below five per cent by November 30 this year.
Remittances from Kerala make Norths rural pockets rich
PERUMBAVOOR: Its a hot Sunday afternoon at the Gandhi market in Perumbavoor, a town which is home to a large migrant population, mostly from West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Odisha. Hundreds of migrant workers, who work in and around this small town near Kochi, have thronged the market to spend their weekly holiday -- purchasing cheap dresses, recharging their mobile phones, shopping groceries for the new week, or just catch up with their friends and relatives. But, perhaps the biggest business in the market is something else -- cash transfers. Tucked in a corner of the markets entrance is Mijanur Travels, an ordinary-looking shop run by Mijanur Rahman, in his 40s. Sunday is the busiest day in the week for Rahman, who hails from Murshidabad, West Bengal. People come here with the cash earned during the week gone by, and send it to their spouses or relatives back home in Guwahati, Nagaon, Bhubaneswar or Murshidabad. On a Sunday, I transfer anything between Rs 2-3 lakh for customers. There are some Sundays when Rs 4 lakh or more is transferred, he says. The remittances range from Rs 1,500 to 5,000, and even Rs 10,000 in some cases, and the small size of transactions means there could be as many as 100-150 such money transfers on a Sunday. Rahman charges Rs 12 per Rs 1,000 remittances -- Rs 8 for the services provider (Pay World, BharatPe, Paytm. etc) and Rs 4 as commission. Abhijul Islam of Assam Mobile Shop, a native of Nagaon, has been running a similar money transfer outlet inside the market for nearly three years. He says Assamese workers, who mostly work at plywood factories in the region, deposit the cash on a weekly basis while the Bengali workers, who are engaged in daily wage jobs in construction field, farms or other low-skilled works, deposit the money once in two or three days. Explains Lijin J, who runs a train and air-ticket booking shop in Perumbavoor: For the migrant workers, who stay along with three or four persons in a room, its not safe to keep the cash in the room. So, whenever they save Rs 3,000 or more, they immediately transfer the money back home. Mijanur Rahman helping a customer with transaction at Mijanur Travels, which is also a money remitting shop. There could be at least 30 shops in Perumbavoor engaged in money transfers. The business is booming, thanks to the high daily wages in Kerala and the shortage of workers in almost every sector that requires unskilled or semi-skilled workers. A 2021 study on In-migration, Informal Employment and Urbanisation in Kerala by Dr Jajati Keshari Parida of Department of Economic Studies, Central University of Punjab, and Dr K Ravi Raman, member, Kerala State Planning Board, found that about Rs 7,500 crore is going out of Kerala annually as remittance to other states. Binoy Peter, executive director of Perumbavoor-based Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development (CMID), reckons this figure is a gross underestimation. As per our conservative estimates, the migrant population in Kerala could be remitting at least Rs 17,000 crore per annum to their home states, he says. According to CMIDs calculation, there are over 35 lakh migrant workers in Kerala, who are earning a total of Rs 49,000 crore here. On a conservative basis, we have to assume that a migrant worker is earning Rs 700 per day, 20 days per month, for 10 months, he explains. Dr D Narayana, economist and former member of the Kerala Public Expenditure Review Committee, was involved in the first comprehensive study on migrant population in the state, in 2012. His report found that there was a 25-lakh strong migrant population during that time, growing at 8 % per year. The migrant population in Kerala could be at least 48 lakh now, he says. There are no sectors where migrant workers are not present in Kerala, from construction to plantation, hotels to resorts, fisheries to grocery stores, and barber shops to high-end saloons. Many sectors in Kerala would come to a standstill if migrant workers stop working, Dr Narayana says. Adds Planning Board member Raviraman: While they are in Kerala, they become integral to what I would call right making/state making process. According to Benoy, the resilience shown by rural India is due to the remittances by the migrant population, not just in Kerala, but also in other states. Significantly, the robustness of the informal Kerala economy is mainly due to the spending power of the migrant population on local goods and services here. While most of the Kerala households now depend on shopping malls or use e-commerce websites like Amazon and Flipkart for their purchases, and commute through Uber or their private vehicles, the small grocery shops, hotels, the private buses and autorickshaws largely survive on the spending by the migrant population here, he says. Going by CMIDs estimates, the migrant population could be spending anything between Rs 30,000 crore to 32,000 crore in Keralas informal economy. Social remittances are as important as financial remittances. The migrants see boys and girls, without discrimination, going to schools here. They dream about providing better education and jobs for their kids. There are village heads in north Indian states, who have been migrant workers here. Obviously, they will try to replicate this in their villages, says Benoy Peter.
Mission Shakti stalls big hit at IITF
ICU beds to be increased in Capital Hospital
Odisha CM extends Bali Jatra by one day, BJD demands national festival status
Bhubaneswar: In view of public demand, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Tuesday announced the extension of the historic Bali Jatra in Cuttack by one more day, while BJD demanded national festival status for the annual event. Majhi, who is on a business trip to Singapore, said in an X post that Bali Jatra will []
Free dialysis at Rairakhol sub-division hospital
Orissa HC issues notice to state govt over elephant deaths
Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: Registering a suo motu PIL over the recent death of three elephants in Sambalpur district, the Orissa High Court Tuesday issued a notice to the state government, seeking to know its measures to check such incidents. Two full-grown female elephants and a calf died after coming in contact with live wires laid by poachers []
Commission report in Army officer assault case likely in mid-Jan
Too early to predict impact of possible cyclonic circulation on state
Oppn criticise Bali Yatra arrangements, BJP hits back
CM Majhi extends Bali Yatra by a day
3 forest officials suspended, 3 more transferred for Sambalpur elephant deaths
Sub-collector held for possessing assets worth 130% than known sources of income
Families receive housing allotments under BDA project
PM Modi, Amit Shah Likely To Attend DGP Conference In Bhubaneswar Next Week
BHUBANESWAR, Nov 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are scheduled to attend the three-day All-India Conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of Police to be held in Bhubaneswar from November 29, official sources said on Tuesday. Apart from the PM and Union Home Minister, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and other senior officers of the Intelligence Bureau, all state DGPs, CRPF DG, chiefs of RAW, NSG and SPG will attend the three-day event, they said. [] The post PM Modi, Amit Shah Likely To Attend DGP Conference In Bhubaneswar Next Week appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Handcrafted treasures draw crowds at Bali Yatra
300 delegates attend state govts investment roadshow in Singapore
Aichs docus win two prizes at state film awards
Mom observes 26-hr vigil for dead puppy
Odisha delegation woos investors in Singapore roadshow
Bhubaneswar: A high-level delegation from Odisha led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Tuesday held a roadshow in Singapore, showcasing the states investment potential. The delegation, which has been in Singapore since November 16, held an interactive session on business opportunities in Odisha, seeking to woo investors and industry leaders from across the ASEAN region. []
Custodial torture case: Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash visits Bharatpur Police Station
Bhubaneswar: Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash heading the commission of inquiry into the alleged torture of an Army officer and sexual assault of his fiancee Tuesday visited the Bharatpur Police Station in Bhubaneswar where the incident took place. The commission also heard the views of the five accused police officials including former Inspector in Charge of []
Odisha govt distributes house allotment letters to 116 slum dwellers
Bhubaneswar: Odisha government Tuesday distributed allotment letters among 116 beneficiaries of the Affordable Housing Project (AHP) for slum dwellers. State Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra distributed the allotment letters among the beneficiaries at a function in Bhubaneswar. A total of 116 beneficiaries received their allotment letters, including 47 for Chandrasekharpur AHP, 36 []
Tata Steels expansion at Kalinganagar plant to boost capacity
Man arrested for Rs 4.3L loan fraud in Rourkela
Repair of leakage in Koraput irrigation project may begin in March or April
HC fines CMC commissioner for delay in pension disbursal
Toronto school board includes Odia in its curriculum
Early warning system key to successful handling of natural disasters: Odisha minister
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari Tuesday said a proper early warning system is key to successful handling of natural disasters. Speaking at a function marking a consultation with United Nations India and Reliance Foundation, Pujari said once the early warning system becomes perfect, mitigating the situation and facing natural disasters will []
Indian Navy divers save woman after boat collision in Odisha
An Indian Navy diving team proved to be lifesavers during their reconnaissance for the upcoming Bali Yatra 2024. The team witnessed a speedboat collision on the Mahanadi River near the festival grounds and immediately jumped into action. They rescued Nandini Das, who was injured in the accident, and provided her with first aid.
Sub-collector arrested in Odisha in corruption case
Bhubaneswar: A sub-collector was arrested in Odisha's Dhenkanal district on Tuesday after disproportionate assets were allegedly found in his possession, officials said. Among the assets found were three multi-storeyed buildings and 14 plots in Bhubaneswar, deposits over Rs 34.57 lakh, Rs 1.48 lakh in cash, and gold weighting 366 gram, they said. The sub-collector could not explain satisfactorily the sources of funds for acquiring the properties, they added. Thereafter, the vigilance department registered a corruption case and arrested him, officials said.
Odisha: Sub-collector arrested in disproportionate assets case
Dhenkanal: A sub-collector in Odishas Dhenkanal district was arrested Tuesday after being found in possession of disproportionate assets, officials said. The accused has been identified as Narayan Chandra Nayak, sub-collector, Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal district. Among the assets found were three multi-storeyed buildings and 14 plots in Bhubaneswar, deposits over Rs 34.57 lakh, Rs 1.48 lakh []
Fog to prevail in Odisha for three days
BHUBANESWAR: Amid the chilly weather, parts of the state are likely to experience fog in the next three days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued fog forecast for a few places between Tuesday and Thursday. Shallow to moderate fog is likely to occur at one or two places in Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Kalahandi and Kandhamal districts in the next three days. Director of Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre Manorama Mohanty said fog will occur at a few places due to prevalence of calm winds and moisture availability. Mohanty said the spell of cold weather is expected to continue over the state for at least next five days. Some parts of interior districts may record a further fall in mercury levels. In other areas, there will be no large change in maximum day and minimum night temperatures during next four to five days, she said. On the day, G Udayagiri continued to record the lowest minimum temperature for the third consecutive day with the mercury level plummeting to 7.2 degrees C. Similarly, Semiliguda recorded 9.1 degrees C, Phulbani 10.5 degrees C, Daringbadi 11.5 degrees C and Angul 11.6 degrees C. The minimum temperature was 5.9 degree C below normal in Angul. Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 16.8 degrees C and 16 degrees C respectively. In the state capital, the minimum temperature was below normal by 2.2 degrees C and in Cuttack, it was below normal by 1.9 degrees C. Weather experts have attributed the dip in mercury level to the dry and cold winds blowing towards the state.
AIIMS docs revive dead man after heart stops for two hours
BHUBANESWAR : In an extraordinary medical feat, doctors at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar virtually brought a dead man back to life after his heart stopped beating for nearly two hours. The patient Subhakant Sahu, an army jawan, had suffered a cardiac arrest due to which his heart stopped beating. He was revived with the help of advanced extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR), marking the first such case in Odisha. Subhakant, a resident of Odapala village in Nayagarh district, was initially rushed to Ranpur hospital after he complained of heart-related complications on September 30. He was shifted to AIIMS the next day when his condition worsened. Intensivist and ECMO specialist Dr Srikant Behera said shortly after arrival, the patient suffered a cardiac arrest and despite 40 minutes of conventional CPR, there was no cardiac activity. At this point, patients are usually declared dead. But we decided to employ eCPR. This is a state-of-the-art procedure that involves using a machine to temporarily take over the functions of the heart and lungs, he said. A multidisciplinary team of doctors initiated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and eCPR, following which the patients heart finally resumed beating, albeit with an irregular rhythm. His heart function, however, improved significantly in next 30 hours, and the patient was successfully weaned off ECMO after 96 hours. The eCPR gave us the ability to maintain blood circulation and oxygen delivery to vital organs while we worked on reviving his heart. He was in the ICU for more than a month as his other organs like lungs, liver and kidney were also affected. The team successfully addressed these life-threatening complications, said Dr Behera. Associate professor and ECMO specialist Dr Krishna Mohan Gulla said eCPR is an emerging procedure used in cases of severe cardiac arrest when traditional methods fail. Though technically challenging, it has displayed amazing results in the treatment of some cardiac arrests, which are traditionally deemed fatal, he said. Family members and relatives of the patient were all praises for the doctors. It is nothing short of a miracle. We owe everything to the doctors. They did not let us know what had actually happened and kept on saying to keep faith on the God and pray. The doctors are the God for us. They saved my sons life, said his mother Minati Sahoo. Milestone for AIIMS: Biswas The jawan is now stable and undergoing post-operative care. He is out of the intensive care unit. Doctors are optimistic about his recovery, though they cautioned regular monitoring. He will be discharged soon. AIIMS executive director Dr Ashutosh Biswas said this is a milestone for the institute. It is one of the rarest cases in the country where the patients heart has been revived almost 120 minutes after it stopped beating. Advanced medical interventions like eCPR can be a game-changer in saving lives during such critical situations, he added.
The affable street-fighter of Odisha politics
BHUBANESWAR : In the demise of Samir Dey, the Odisha BJP has lost one of the scriptwriters of its evolution from a sign board party to the most formidable political force in the state today. As the saffron party has finally managed to ascend to power earlier this year, it cannot but remember the contribution of the affable street-fighter in laying the foundation for its rise in Odisha. The three-time MLA and former minister passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital here on Monday. He was just 67 but had virtually retreated from active politics due to health issues since the last five years. His health problems had aggravated recently after which he was hospitalised for pneumonia, kidney and cardiac ailments. He had been undergoing treatment in the ICU for more than two weeks. He leaves behind his wife and a daughter. The passing away of Dey marks the end of an era in Odisha politics and a political career spanning more than three-and-half decades. Born to a reputed Bengali family at Punang village in Jagatsinghpur district, Dey had been active in student politics and became the president of Cuttack Christ College Students Union from ABVP in 1980. He went on to gain a degree in Law and took to legal practice while being a forefront RSS worker and BJP Yuva Morcha. He was then drafted into the BJP and in 1990 made the candidate from Cuttack Assemby constituency only to taste defeat. Veteran BJP leader, former minister Samir Dey passes away This was the time when then Chief Minister Biju Patnaik had taunted the BJP as a sign board party in the state. But the tables turned in just the next election in 1995 when Dey pulled off a stunning upset defeating the Janata Dal stalwart and health minister Mustiafiz Ahmed from the seat. This was the outcome of the relentless street agitations launched by Dey against the then JD government and his peoples connect. Dey joined active politics by getting a party nomination from Cuttack city in 1990 when we had won just three seats in Bonai, Junagarh and Malkangiri. No one in their wildest imagination had thought that BJP will win the prestigious seat in the cultural capital of Odisha in the next elections. This laid the stepping stone for the rise of BJP in Odisha and Dey had a major hand in it, senior party leader and former state unit president Samir Mohanty said. Party leaders, workers, cadres and even the rivals acknowledge Deys amiable personality and an unwavering commitment for the poor and marginalised sections, particularly slum dwellers of Cuttack city. Dey had a very unique quality of endearing even his rivals. He worked diligently in all the slums of the city and was always a call away when someone needed him. Besides, his association with Puja committees and peace committees made him popular in all households, senior high court advocate and Sangh Parivar member Anup Bose said. With the BJD-BJP alliance in power from 2000-2009, Dey was a high profile member of the Naveen Patnaik cabinet handling Housing and Urban Development and Higher Education departments in successive terms. As Urban minister, he initiated many reforms and infrastructure upgradation projects. His contribution to higher education sector was equally stellar.
Raid on Odisha ashram over government land encroachment
BHUBANESWAR: Acting on the allegation of encroachment of government land, a joint team of General Administration (GA), Revenue and Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) departments on Monday raided the city-based Shree Baikuntha Dham Ashram that has landed in controversy for reportedly projecting a boy as Kalki Avatar and disrespecting the holy Tulsi. Officials from the GA department and Bhubaneswar tehsil visited the site at Ghatikia to ascertain if there has been any encroachment of government land. The enforcement squad of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) also accompanied the team and carried out a preliminary assessment measuring the total area occupied by the ashram. The ashram is located on plot numbers 9037 and 9038 in Ghatikia over an area of 0.140 acre. On verification, it was found to be government land. Action will be taken in this regard after necessary instruction from the government, said a BDA official. On November 13, a voluntary organisation filed a complaint against the head of the ashram Kashinath Mishra in Bharatpur police station alleging that the latter was portraying his son as a divine figure and asking people to worship him as Kalki Bhagwan. A photograph of Mishras son sitting on a chair with sacred Tulsi (basil) placed on his feet surfaced recently leading to the escalation of the controversy. On Sunday, Khandagiri police also visited the ashram after some locals staged a protest at the site alleging that the photo had hurt their religious sentiments. Mishra, however, has refuted the charges and claimed that the photo of his son has been morphed to tarnish the reputation of the ashram. The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) has also registered a case suo motu to verify the age of the child. It has asked the police to submit a report in this regard within 15 days.
Minor gets 20-yr jail term for murder
AIIMS Bhubaneswar docs save army jawan's life after his heart stopped for 90 minutes
Doctors at AIIMS Bhubaneswar successfully revived a 24-year-old army jawan after his heart stopped for 90 minutes. The team used a special resuscitation procedure called eCPR (Extracorporeal Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) after conventional CPR failed. This groundbreaking procedure, a first in Odisha, involved using ECMO to support the patient's heart and lungs.
Trio held with leopard skin in Mayurbhanj
Three held in robbery attempt in Rourkela
Warning to discoms after Sambalpur jumbo deaths
Mango Kernel Tragedy: One more death reported at SCBMCH
Bhubaneswar: A patient who fell critically ill after consuming gruel made from mango kernels passed away on Monday while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) in Cuttack. This latest fatality brings the death toll from mango kernel poisoning to three. The deceased, identified as Jita Majhi from Mandipanka village, had been transferred to SCBMCH along with another patient from MKCG Medical College and Hospital (MKCGMCH) after their conditions worsened. While the second patient remains in critical condition and is receiving treatment, Majhi succumbed despite intensive care measures. Despite our best efforts, we could not save Jita Majhi, who had been undergoing hemodialysis with ventilator support. She passed away at approximately 2:15 PM in the ICU of the Medicine Ward, the hospital stated in an official release. This tragedy follows the earlier deaths of two tribal women at MKCGMCH in Berhampur, who had also consumed mango kernel gruel. Six others who consumed the gruel were hospitalized in critical condition. The incident occurred in Mandipanka village under the Daringbadi block of Kandhamal district. On November 7, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik criticised the Odisha government over the reported deaths and called for immediate action to address the issue.
Elderly couple ostracised after son marries outside community
Min: Repair, inventory of Ratna Bhandar to begin soon
CM Majhi invites Singapore Deputy PM to Utkarsh Odisha
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has invited the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Gan Kim Yong to attend the Utkarsh Odisha the Make in Odisha Conclave scheduled to be held in January 2025. The high-level delegation led by CM Majhi and Industry Minister SampadChandraSwain on the second day of their four-day visit []
ILS to set up lab to screen pregnant women, newborns for congenital disorders
Man given up for dead for 2 hrs gets new life at AIIMS Bhubaneswar
BSE Odisha extends form fill-up deadline for 2025 matric exams to Nov 25
Bhubaneswar: The Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha Monday announced that the deadline for filling out forms for the annual High School Certificate (HSC) and State Open School Certificate (SOSC) examinations has been extended to November 25, 2024. The board clarified that no further extensions would be granted. Previously, November 18 was set as the []
Mercury stays under 20C for 2nd day in city
Odisha: Former minister and veteran BJP leader Samir Dey passes away at 67
Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader and former Odisha minister Samir Dey passed away on Monday afternoon while undergoing treatment at Ashwini Hospital in Cuttack. He was 67. According to reports, Dey was admitted to the hospital in Cuttacks CDA area on November 1 after his health deteriorated. Samir Dey was suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes. Two years ago, he underwent a kidney transplant. Recently, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and a liver infection, which eventually led to multi-organ failure. Despite our best efforts, we couldnt save him. He breathed his last at 1.50 pm today, said Dr Sampad Das of Ashwini Hospital. A prominent figure in Odishas political landscape, Dey served as the states minister for higher education in the then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaiks cabinet from 2004 to 2009. He also held the portfolio for urban development and higher education between 2000 and 2004. Dey was elected thrice in succession to the Odisha Legislative Assembly, representing Cuttack City in 1995, 2000, and 2004. In the 1990s, Dey played a pivotal role in energizing the BJP in Odisha. His leadership and a strong cadre of youth supporters transformed the party into a formidable force in the state. Expressing her condolences on social media, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi wrote on X (formerly Twitter), Im deeply saddened by the demise of Samir Dey. I pray to Lord Jagannath for the moksha of his soul. The CM, currently on a four-day visit to Singapore, announced that Deys last rites would be conducted with full state honours. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida also paid tribute, stating, Samir Dey was actively involved since the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and set an example by connecting with people in Cuttack and nearby areas. As a minister in 2000 and 2004, he demonstrated exceptional leadership. His passing is a great loss not only for our party but for all of Odisha. Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab lauded Deys vision, saying, He aspired to transform Cuttack into a modern city and worked tirelessly to achieve this. Under his leadership, two to three universities were established in Cuttack, and he played a crucial role in reforming the higher education sector. BJP National Vice President also expressed grief, stating, This is deeply shocking. Samir Deys contributions to Cuttacks development and the growth of BJP in Odisha will always be remembered.
