These villages showcase successful collaboration in building disaster-resilient communities, drawing national and international attention
Odisha`s 26 villages get recognition as Tsunami Ready by UNESCO
The preparedness activities in Odisha have drawn national and international attention.
Odisha girl clears Tamil Talent Exam, scores 91/100
COIMBATORE: A 16-year-old girl from Ganjam district in Odisha -- presently a Class 11 student at Government Higher Secondary School in Velliyangadu -- has successfully cleared the Tamil Talent Search Examination (TTSE), securing 91 out of 100 marks. Under the Tamil Nadu School Education Department, the TTSE is conducted annually to encourage students who excel in Tamil language. The student, K Jansi Rani, will receive a monthly scholarship of Rs 1,500 till she completes Class 12. Since childhood, my sister and I have been interested in learning Tamil, said Jansi, who was born here and whose family has been living at Vijayanagaram village in Karamadai block for 18 years. Tamil is a beautiful language. Besides learning it at school, we decided to start speaking in Tamil among ourselves. It helped us speak and write Tamil properly. Even now, my sister and I converse in Tamil, she said. Expressing gratitude to the Tamil teachers of her school for encouraging her to take up the examination, Jansi said they guided the students and conducted special classes twice a day. They utilised educational materials, such as Class 10 Tamil books and previous year question papers, she said. Besides TTSE, Jansi has previously cleared three more scholarship examinations -- National Means Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS), Tamil Nadu Rural Students Talent Search Examination (TRuST), and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers Talent Search Examination (TNCMTSE). Its not an easy task, but she did it, said school headmaster S Socrateeskulasekaran.
Flight from Visakhapatnam to Malkangiri in Odisha over Eastern Ghats is on the cards
Utkal Sankrutika Samaj senior executive member says the flight service will benefit Odias visiting Vizag for various purposes
Pratap Chandra Sarangi: Agitator to victim & a brush with Gandhi
A mid the melee and uproar at Makar Dwar of Parliament, the image of Pratap Chandra Sarangi, frail and bloodied, with a handkerchief pressed against his forehead, evoked a strange sense of irony. It felt as though the wheels of time had come to a full circle for the BJP MP from Balasore. Twenty-two years ago, in March 2002, Sarangi had been at the heart of a different kind of storm a violent protest in Bhubaneswar over the Ram Janmabhoomi issue. As part of the VHP, Bajrang Dal, and Durga Vahini agitation, Sarangi was among the 62 arrested after a mob stormed the Odisha Assembly, vandalising property, attacking chambers of then chief minister Naveen Patnaik and ministers, and clashing with security personnel. This, even when the BJP was in government in alliance with the BJD. But on Thursday, Sarangi found himself on the other side injured and at the receiving end of political chaos. The incident unfolded during a face-off between BJP and INDIA bloc MPs. Sarangi, who was standing on the stairs, was hit by a falling MP, allegedly pushed by LoP Rahul Gandhi. I was standing near the stairs when Rahul Gandhi came and pushed an MP, who then fell on me, Sarangi said. In that moment, it was hard to ignore the striking parallel to his past. From leading aggressive agitations to now being an unintended victim of one, Sarangis journey has been a tumultuous one, marked by both fierce ideological commitment and controversial stances. Often touted as Odishas Modi for sharing the prime ministers humble beginning, austere living, firebrand politics and strong oratory, Sarangi, also a bachelor, has made his way up from the dusty village of Gopinathpur in Balasore to the halls of Parliament as a two-time MP. In between, he was elected twice to the Odisha Assembly. The 69-year-old also had the desire to become a monk at Ramkrishna Math at Belur in Kolkata during his youth, but was sent back with the directive to take care of his widowed mother and serve the people. He returned to join the RSS and dedicated himself to spearheading education in the rural areas. He made his mark in his campaigns against liquor, cow smuggling and corruption as also establishing hundreds of Ekal Vidyalayas in Balasore and Mayurbhanj. He was subsequently deputed to the affiliate organisations and rose through the ranks to become the state president of the Bajrang Dal and the state joint secretary of VHP. Two years after the Assembly incident, Sarangi entered the House as a BJP member from Nilagiri in 2004. During his tenure as an MLA, Sarangi earned a reputation for being a man of the people. His focus on education and social welfare won him support and fuelled his rise in politics and in the party. He was elected to the Assembly again in 2009, but as an Independent because he lost the party ticket, which he had put in a bag while travelling in a bus. After serving two terms in the Assembly, Sarangi was drafted to national politics with the BJP fielding him from Balasore in 2014. He lost the election to BJDs Rabindra Kumar Jena but bounced back in 2019, campaigning by bicycle and autorickshaw, to snatch the seat. Sarangi was appointed MoS for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Animal Husbandry in the Modi government. Even as he was dropped from the ministry two years later, his tenure was marked by his focus on rural development and empowering local businesses. He retained the seat in 2024 when the BJP made a clean sweep in Odisha. But for all his political success, Sarangi remains a controversys child and a polarising figure. The 1999 Graham Staines murder has loomed over his career. He was the Bajrang Dal state chief when the Australian missionary and his two sons were burnt alive by a mob led by Dara Singh in Manoharpur village of Keonjhar. While Dara Singh was stated to be a member of Bajrang Dal, Sarangi denied his or the outfits involvement in the crime. For Sarangi who has led ideological and political street fights for a major part of his career, the image of him standing bloodied as a victim could well shape his future. How, only time will tell.
Forest fires down to 2.03 lakh in 2023-24 from 2.23 lakh in 2021-22
India's 2023-24 forest fire season witnessed a decline in fire hotspots, attributed to improved wildfire management strategies. Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh reported the highest fire incidences. Globally, Russia experienced the most significant tree cover loss due to fires from 2001-2022. The Union environment minister expressed concerns and emphasized ongoing efforts to combat wildfires.
Recommendations of the 55th Meeting of the GST Council
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, December 21: The 55th GST Council met under the Chairpersonship of Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, today. The meeting was also attended by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Chief Ministers of Goa, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Meghalaya and Odisha; Deputy Chief Ministers [] The post Recommendations of the 55th Meeting of the GST Council appeared first on Kashmir Media Watch .
Woman found dead in Bargarh dist
Showcause notice to two Puri temple servitors
IOCL to set up 4,382cr megayarn unit in Bhadrak district
Farmers in coastal, southern dists crease brows over crop loss
Climate change threat to Asian horseshoe crabs: Study
Four arrested with 3.13 kg of pangolin scales in Nuapada
Avian guests from 8 nations arrive in Hirakud
7-year-old boy dies from snake bite
15 injured as bus plunges into Kpada
Forest officials of 3 states on alert over mass hunting
Army man honoured during final rites
Farmers in 4 districts worry over crop loss
Officer takes small steps to make the state hunger-free
Focus on collaboration between Odia & Bengali
Union home minister Amit Shah to visit Odishas Sambalpur on December 28
Shah is expected to attend a programme at Gangadhar Meher University, where he will inaugurate various developmental projects
Extreme weather claims 1,332 lives in Odisha over five years
Odisha 2nd in country for max increase in forest cover
Vital roads to be decorated with lights for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Heavy rain paralyzes life in Cuttack
UP registers second-highest green cover increase in country
Uttar Pradesh witnessed the second-largest increase in forest and tree cover in India, adding 559 sq km, according to the 2023 India State of Forest Report. The state's achievement follows Chhattisgarh, with Odisha also showing a similar increase. India's total forest and tree cover grew by 1,445 sq km, contributing to a larger carbon sink.
30-yr-old man held for rape in Ganjam
Odisha Govt. Cracks Down on Illegal Liquor Sales
Bhubaneshwar: Odisha's excise minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Saturday announced strict measures to curb illegal liquor sales and ensure public safety during New Year celebrations. Addressing the media persons in Bhubaneshwar, he emphasised that violations of excise laws and any disruptive activities under the influence of alcohol will attract stern action. The excise department is prioritising two key areas preventing public disturbances caused by intoxicated individuals and cracking down on the sale and distribution of illegal liquor to check illegal liquor sales. With the New Year festivities and Zero Night celebrations approaching, the authorities have intensified preparations, including heightened vigilance and enforcement. Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneshwar has also ramped up checks to maintain law and order during the celebrations. The minister's warning underscores the government's commitment to ensuring a safe and disciplined environment for all revelers. Our government has always stood for containing illegal liquor sales that often lead to disastrous incidents, said BJP state unit spokesperson B.N. Tripathy.
Port connectivity projects of Rs 52,000 crore completed
Chennai: Under the Sagarmala programme, port connectivity projects with a total cost of Rs 52,199 crore have been completed across 10 states. One of the objectives of Sagarmala Programme is to improve port connectivity, efficient cargo movement between ports and their respective hinterland to minimize overall logistics cost. The government has identified 266 projects of Rs 1,87,889 crore in 15 states under Port Connectivity Pillar of Sagarmala programme. These projects are either completed, are under implementation or are under development. These projects are to be implemented by the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, Ministry of Railways, major ports and other central and state agencies. Of these, 84 projects with a total cost of Rs 52,199 crore have been completed. Among the top states, Odisha has completed 11 projects costing Rs 13,800 crore. Sixteen projects in Andhra Pradesh have been completed for Rs 9312 crore. Gujarats eight projects has seen investment of Rs 8048 crore. Further, 54 projects costing Rs 66,994 crore are under implementation. Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of projects under implementation 21 projects with a total investment of Rs 33340 crore. Tamil Nadu has 10 projects that cost Rs 10,956 crore, as per the government data. Another 128 projects with an estimated cost of Rs 68,696 crore are under development. Maharashtra tops the list with 24 projects costing Rs 24810 crore. Odisha has 8 projects for Rs 11744 crore, followed by Gujarat with 22 projects that need investment of Rs 11316 crore and Andhra Pradesh with 17 projects costing Rs 11116 crore. The government had made a report on Connectivity of Ports to Industrial Nodes to assess gap analysis of connectivity of the seaports vis-a-viz all the existing and upcoming nodes under different industrial corridors. The report has identified 62 new road and rail infrastructure gaps across all industrial nodes. According to the government, under the Sagarmala Programme, more than 800 projects at an estimated cost of around Rs 5.5 lakh crore have been identified for implementation. The projects are categorized into five pillars port modernization, port connectivity, port-led industrialization, coastal community development and coastal shipping and inland water transport. These projects are implemented by central ministries, Inland Waterways Authority, Indian Railways, NHAI, state governments and major ports.
Mentally ill Cgarh man reunited with mom, abandoned at Rourkela stn
HC: Performance reports of govt staffers should be prepared with care
Heavy rain disrupts life, sparks concern among farmers
OSPCB holds public hearing on environment clearance for NINLs proposed expansion project
Jajpur: The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) held a public hearing for environmental clearance on Nilachal Ispat Nigams Limited (NINL) proposed expansion project in Jajpur district. The proposed expansion will increase NINLs production capacity from 0.981 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 9.5 MTPA without additional land requirements. Over 225 people including some opposing []
Odisha adds 559 sq km of forest, tree cover from 2021 to 2023: Govt report
Bhubaneswar: Odisha added 559 sq km of combined forest and tree cover between 2021 and 2023, according to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023. The report, which was released Saturday, also noted that Odishas forest cover alone rose by 152 sq km. Across India, forest and tree cover grew by 1,445 sq km []
Depression-induced rain lashes most parts of Odisha
The IMD has forecast heavy rains in some places in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Ganjam and Gajapati districts during the day
Mumbai: Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh, who has been riding on the wave of success, has reacted to the governments advisory against calling children on stage. On Saturday, the singer-actor took to his Instagram, and shared a series of videos on which he could be seen interacting with the show attendees in the audience arena. The []
GST Council postpones decision to cut tax on on health, life insurance
Jaisalmer: A GST Council meeting Saturday postponed a decision on reducing taxes on health and life insurance, while the much-talked-about GoM recommendation of rate rejig in 148 items was not tabled before the Council. Some members of the Council, chaired by Union Finance Minster Nirmala Sitharaman and comprising her state counterparts, felt that more deliberations []
Nirmala Sitharaman chairs 55th GST Council meeting in Jaisalmer
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is chairing the 55th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council which is underway in Jaisalmer of Rajasthan on Saturday. The participants in the meeting include the Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, Chief Ministers of Goa, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Meghalaya and Odisha. The Deputy Chief []
Indias forest and tree cover increased to 25.17 per cent in 2023
India's total forest and tree cover has increased to 25.17 per cent in 2023 from 24.62 per cent as per the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023. The forest cover has minimally increased, compared to tree cover in the country. Meanwhile, first-time trees grown under agroforestry have also been covered. The ISFR 2023 report recorded forest cover and tree cover was 25.17 per cent. The total forest cover was 7,15,342.61 sq km which is 21.76 per cent of the geographical area of the country and the tree cover is 3.41 per cent of the geographical area of the country. With these two, total forest and tree covers are 8,27,356.95 sq km. The scrub area covers 43,622 sq km (1.33 per cent) and the non-forest area covers 24,16,489 sq. km (73.50 per cent). States that added forests and tree covers are Chhattisgarh, UP, Odisha, Rajasthan and Jharkhand and states which reduced its forest and tree covers are MP, Karnataka, Nagaland, Bihar and Tripura. The latest 18th biennial assessment ISFR of Indias forests by the Forest Survey of India was delayed by over a year. It was supposed to be released by last year. The report estimates of growing stock, the extent of trees outside forests, mangrove cover, bamboo resources, and assessment of forest carbon stock. According to the ISFR 2021 report recorded forest cover and tree cover was 24.62 per cent. The total forest cover was 7,13,789 sq km which is 21.71 per cent of the geographical area of the country. Tree cover is 2.91 per cent of the geographical area of the country.
Shruti Haasan exits Adivi Seshs Dacoit citing uncomfortable work conditions
Mumbai: Actress Shruti Haasan has stepped away from Adivi Seshs upcoming project, Dacoit, citing uncomfortable work conditions as the reason for her exit. Earlier several reports suggested that Shruti walked out of Dacoit due to a scheduling conflict with her other project, Coolie. However, a source close to the development rubbished this. An insider revealed, []
Virat Kohlis pub One8 Commune gets civic bodys notice for fire safety violations
Bengaluru: Civic body Bengaluru Bruhat Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has issued a notice to cricketer Virat Kohlis pub One8 Commune over alleged fire safety violations. The restaurant, located on the sixth floor of Ratnams Complex on upscale M. G. Road near the Chinnaswamy International Cricket Stadium, has been reported to be functioning without a no objection []
Ferry-Navy craft crash: Body of missing boy found off Mumbai coast; toll rises to 15
Mumbai: The body of a seven-year-old boy missing in the ferry-Navy craft crash off the Mumbai coast was recovered Saturday morning after a three-day-long search operation, an official said. Naval boats have found the body of Johan Mohammad Nisar Ahmed Pathan, taking the toll in the December 18 tragedy to 15. The Navy has launched []
India's green cover increased by 1,445 sq km from 2021 to 2023: Govt report
India's green cover expanded. Forest and tree cover grew by 1,445 sq km, now covering 25.17% of the nation. Forest cover increased by 156 sq km. Tree cover rose by 1,289 sq km. Madhya Pradesh has the most forest cover. Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan saw significant gains.
Indias forest, tree cover increased to 25.17 per cent in 2023
NEW DELHI: India's total forest and tree cover has increased to 25.17% in 2023 from 24.62% as per the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023. The forest cover has minimally increased compared to tree cover in the country. Meanwhile, first-time trees grown under agroforestry have also been covered. The ISFR 2023 report recorded forest cover and tree cover was 25.17%. The total forest cover was 7,15,342.61 sq km which is 21.76% of the geographical area of the country and the tree cover is 3.41% of the geographical area of the country. With these two, total forest and tree covers are 8,27,356.95 sq km. The scrub area covers 43,622 sq km (1.33%) and the non-forest area covers 24,16,489 sq. km (73.50%). States which added forests and tree covers are Chhattisgarh, UP, Odisha, Rajasthan and Jharkhand and states which reduced their forest and tree covers are MP, Karnataka, Nagaland, Bihar and Tripura. The latest 18th biennial assessment ISFR of Indias forests by the Forest Survey of India was delayed by over a year. It was supposed to be released by last year. The report estimates growing stock, the extent of trees outside forests, mangrove cover, bamboo resources, and assessment of forest carbon stock. According to the ISFR 2021 report recorded forest cover and tree cover was 24.62%. The total forest cover was 7,13,789 sq km which is 21.71% of the geographical area of the country. The Tree cover is 2.91% of the geographical area of the country.
How to deal with narcissistic relatives over the holidays
Melbourne: The holiday season is here, and streets are filled with festive sparkles, twinkling lights and cheerful Christmas songs. While many of us are looking forward to spending the holiday period with family and friends, Christmas is anything but jolly for others. Some people are dreading to spend the period without loved ones. Others are []
EPF fraud: Arrest warrant issued against former cricketer Robin Uthappa
Bengaluru: The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) functioning under the Ministry of Labour and Employment of the Government of India has written a letter to the Bengaluru police seeking assistance in issuing an arrest warrant against former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa, sources confirmed on Saturday. Regional PF Commissioner-II and Recovery Officer, RO K.R. Puram Shadakshara []
Indias green cover increased by 1,445 sq km from 2021 to 2023: Govt report
New Delhi: Indias total forest and tree cover has increased by 1,445 sq km since 2021, reaching 25.17 per cent of the total geographical area in 2023, according to the latest government data. The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, released Saturday, said that the countrys total forest cover increased from 7,13,789 sq km []
Book Review | Syeda Hameeds life of compassion
It is difficult to slot 81-year-old Syeda Saiyidain Hameed in any one box. A well-known Delhi figure, she wears many hats writer, poet, human rights activist, champion of womens empowerment and, above all, a passionate advocate of communal harmony and Indo-Pak unity. It is, therefore, no surprise that her memoir, A Drop in the Ocean , makes for an engrossing read. Among these is a particular touching story about how she was made aware of her religious identity as a young girl when the other children refused to play with her because she was a Muslim. Though hurt, she did not allow herself to get embittered. Instead, she wrote a prize-winning story based on this episode and in later years, became an active participant in movements promoting peace and amity among Hindus and Muslims. But Syeda Hameed had an advantage as she comes from a privileged background her father was an eminent educationist picked by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to formulate Indias education policy, her mother was from the Rampur royal family, noted writer and filmmaker K.A. Abbas was her uncle, Mohammad Yunus was a family friend and so on. She resided in Lutyens Delhi, was a student of Modern School, went on to graduate from Miranda House and followed it up by pursuing her higher studies in the US. After marriage, she lived in Canada for several years where she opted for a career in academics. And yet Syeda did not confine herself to the upper-class elite circles she grew up in. Nor did she opt to live an idle life of luxury. She pursued her writing her first story was published in Shankars Weekly in 1951 when she was nine years old and went on to translate the works of several greats like Maulana Azad, Ghalib and Faiz. In addition, Syeda plunged herself into activism on her return to India after 17 years in Canada. It was during her tenure at the National Commission for Women that she came face-to-face with victims of gender abuse, gang rape and honour killing. This resulted in a compendium of their horrific experiences They Hang: Twelve Women in my Portrait Gallery in which Syeda recounted the story of the brutal lynching of Sajoni in Odisha who dared to defy tradition and ploughed her land or Maimul in Haryanas Nuh district who was meted out similar treatment by villagers for daring to marry in the same gotra and was later shot dead by her brother. Syedas subsequent stint at the Planning Commission led her to the countrys remotest corners, sparsely inhabited places and ghettos where again she listened to the voices of the marginalised. It is these stories which make for heart-rending reading. While dwelling on the personal, Syeda is not afraid to admit to her ever-abiding belief in Islam. She prays regularly, fasts during Ramzan and follows the necessary rituals during Muharram. But her understanding of her religion, as taught to Syeda at home, is at variance with how it is perceived and practised. Islam, for her, encompasses all faiths, having decreed that Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism and Judaism are one at their core. This is the message she wishes to spread as her story begins and ends lamenting the disintegration of the countrys once-famed Gangajamuni tehzeeb which has given way to bigotry, intolerance and hate. A Drop in the Ocean By Syeda Hameed Speaking Tiger pp. 264; Rs 599
Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan praise young girls smooth, effortless bowling action
New Delhi: Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has lauded a young girls smooth and effortless bowling action, likening it to former India pacer Zaheer Khan, who too praised her technique in a social media exchange that created a lot of buzz. On Friday, Tendulkar shared a video on X featuring the young girl, Sushila Meena, delivering []
GST Council Meet To Decide On Lower Taxes On Insurance Policies, ATF Inclusion
Jaisalmer, Dec 21: The 55th GST Council meeting which is expected to decide on reducing tax rate on health and life insurance, besides considering rate rejigs on 148 items began here on Saturday. The GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minster Nirmala Sitharaman and comprising her state counterparts, is also expected to deliberate on bringing Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) in Goods and Services Tax fold. One of the major items on the agenda of the Council is to decide the [] The post GST Council Meet To Decide On Lower Taxes On Insurance Policies, ATF Inclusion appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Ashwins wife pens heartfelt tribute after his sudden retirement
Chennai: Indias ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwins wife Prithi Narayanan has penned a heartfelt tribute for her husband following his recent retirement from the game, saying it is time to set the burden of being you down and embrace life beyond the game. Ashwin made a surprise announcement of his retirement after the drawn third Test []
Odisha CM Majhi Highlights Development Priorities at Pre-Budget Consultation
Jaisalmer: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday outlined the states developmental priorities and funding demands at the Pre-Budget Consultation chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Focusing on urbanisation, industrialisation, and infrastructure, Majhi called for increased flexibility in the allocation of Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SACI). He proposed that 60% of SACI funds for 2025-26 remain untied, ensuring optimal utilisation for capital expenditure. He also advocated for a dedicated urbanisation scheme to support states with low urbanisation levels, such as Odisha. The Chief Minister emphasised Odisha's industrial potential, proposing the development of industrial townships in Gopalpur and Jharsuguda. He sought central support for strategic projects, including the Sagarmala Project, National Waterway-5, and the East Coast Economic Corridor. Requests were also made for enhancing Paradip Port, expediting environmental clearances, and establishing a rare earths complex. Majhi highlighted the states tourism prospects, seeking 10,000 crore for infrastructure development to position Odisha as a world-class destination. He also urged the timely release of Jal Jeevan Mission funds and the inclusion of additional blocks in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts under the Aspirational Blocks Programme. Reiterating Odishas commitment to healthcare, education, and infrastructure transformation, Majhi expressed gratitude for the opportunity to present the states vision and priorities at the consultation.
GRPF busted trafficking of minor girls for employment
Visakhapatnam: A human trafficking ring was uncovered at Visakhapatnam railway station, resulting in the rescue of 11 individuals, including nine minors. The operation was conducted by the Government Railway Police (GRP) during a routine check on the Visakhapatnam Kirandul Express, where they intercepted young girls. The primary suspect, Ravi Bisoy, the contractor of Handloom Company, was arrested and is alleged to have trafficked over 100 girls using fake Aadhaar cards to place them in employment at a private company. The rescued individuals were identified as coming from Navrangpur, Odisha, with others originating from various villages in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Nepal. According to GRP Circle Inspector (CI), the minor girls were reportedly en route to Tirupur to work in a handloom factory. These girls came from impoverished families, highlighting the vulnerability of such communities to trafficking schemes. Following their rescue, the minor girls were sent home, and authorities obtained an undertaking letter from Ravi Bisoy. The case has since been transferred to Navrangpur for further investigation.
Devastated: McSweeney reacts after being axed from Australia squad
Melbourne: Rookie Australia opener Nathan McSweeney admitted feeling devastated after being dropped for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India but vowed to work hard to reclaim his spot in the national team. McSweeney was Friday dropped by the national selectors, who handed a maiden call-up to teenage sensation Sam Kontas. Yeah, []
Three Hindu temples vandalised in Bangladesh; one arrested
Three Hindu temples vandalised in Bangladesh; one arrested New Delhi: Over two consecutive days, miscreants targeted three Hindu temples in Bangladesh, vandalising eight idols in Mymensingh and Dinajpur districts, according to local media reports. Law enforcement authorities have arrested a 27-year-old suspect in connection with one of the incidents, police confirmed. Quoting temple sources [] The post Three Hindu temples vandalised in Bangladesh; one arrested appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
Odisha: Heavy rainfall warning, yellow alert issued for four districts
Odisha braces for heavy rainfall. A low-pressure system is gaining strength in the Bay of Bengal. IMD issued a yellow alert for Ganjam, Gajapati, Kendrapada, and Jagatsinghpur. Coastal Odisha will experience light to moderate rain. Interior Odisha will see isolated showers. The system will likely become a depression. Fishermen are advised to stay ashore.
Design changes to Parikrama project on the cards in Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: The Srimandir Parikrama, the ambitious project launched by the previous BJD government, will soon see a change in its design. Yagna Mandaps will be added to the 75-metre heritage corridor around the 12th-century Shree Jagannath temple. Law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said the government is considering the construction of mandaps like Kruta Yagna, Anna Yagna and Gyana Yagna and the modalities will be decided within two to three months. Deliberations on change of design and new elements are currently underway. Since the Parikrama project is associated with the religious sentiments of the Odias, the matter will be discussed properly, he said while speaking to media persons in the city. The Law minister added that change in Parikrama design has been under consideration of the state government for some time. With addition of new elements to the old design, a new design change will be made to the project, the Law minister said. During its inauguration in January, the Srotriya Brahmins who were appointed by Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb for conducting maha yagna for the inauguration, had urged the then chief minister Naveen Patnaik to retain four yagna kundas which were set up for the purpose. They had said that the yagna kundas can be used to revive the tradition of maha yagnas in the shrine. Meanwhile, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has decided to implement a dress code for Supakar servitors who are responsible for selling Mahaprasad in the Ananda Bazaar from December 25. As per the decision, which has been approved by the Suara Mahasuara Nijog, they will wear saffron-coloured uniforms. The decision has been taken to prevent unauthorised servitors from selling Mahaprasad, dry prasad, khaja and other items in Ananda Bazaar.
Government committed to empowering Bonda women, says Odisha Dy CM Pravati Parida
MALKANGIRI: The state government will review all the rejected Subhadra Yojana applications of women from the Pravati, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG), and release the funds to left-out beneficiaries by the end of January next year, said deputy chief minister Pravati Parida on Friday. Briefing media persons at Mudulipada during her visit to Bonda hill in Khairput block here, Parida refuted the allegations of official negligence behind the rejection of 2,932 applications of the tribal women. Of the total 12,300 applications of Bonda women beneficiaries, 9,300 have already availed the benefit. The remaining applications which have been rejected will be reviewed soon, she said. The deputy CM also said government officials will visit every household in the Bonda hill to conduct a fresh survey in this regard. She has already directed the district administration to act in this regard. The state government is committed to the development of Bonda women. To empower the women financially, we will tag them with both Subhadra Yojana and Mission Shakti. Besides, the government will set up a national museum at Koraput to preserve the Bonda culture and heritage, said Parida who is also the Women and Child Development and Mission Shakti Minister. As the Bonda community is facing challenges in procuring and transporting construction materials to Bonda hill, the government will provide an extra Rs 50,000 under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to the PVTG beneficiaries, she added. The deputy CM reviewed the implementation of the Subhadra Yojana and PMAY in the region with Malkangiri collector Asish Iswar Patil and other district officials. She also interacted with the Bonda women who reportedly informed her about basic issues, like lack of drinking water and proper road, which they are facing everyday. On the occasion, she distributed land pattas to the tribals under the Forest Rights Act. Earlier in the day, Parida reached Mudulipada in Bonda hill from Jeypore and was given a rousing welcome by the tribal community. Malkangiri MLA Narasinga Madkami and his Chitrakonda counterpart Mangu Khilla accompanied her.
Water enters crop fields in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur
JAGATSINGHPUR: Farmers of Jagatsinghpur were left ruing their luck after fresh bouts of rains in the last 24 hours cast a shadow on the harvesting of their paddy crops. Rains caused by the low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal lashed different areas of the district for the last two days. Farmers said rainwater has already entered the crop fields where they had left their harvested paddy to dry. If the situation continues for another two days, the paddy crops will begin to rot. Sources said with around 60,000 hectares of paddy crop in the harvesting stage across the eight blocks of Jagatsinghpur, more rains may exacerbate waterlogging in fields, leading to significant losses for farmers. A farmer of Deriki village in Naugaon block Sudarsan Nayak said, Our fields have become waterlogged, making it extremely difficult to harvest the crops. My two acres of paddy crops are underwater. With the forecast of more rain, I fear my crop will be completely damaged. Sharing similar concerns, another farmer said if his ready-to-harvest paddy crop is damaged due to rain, it would be impossible for him to repay the loan he took from the local cooperative society for kharif cultivation. Chief district agriculture officer Biswajeet Panda said only 20 per cent paddy crops have been harvested so far. He admitted that the situation may worsen if rainfall continues for next two days.
Rain casts cloud on fate of paddy crop, farmers in Odisha
BERHAMPUR/JEYPORE: The low pressure-induced rain has emerged as a serious threat to paddy crops leaving farmers of Ganjam and Koraput increasingly alarmed. Farmers of Ganjam, who were threatened by untimely rains last week, are now in a fix as fresh showers on Friday compounded their crop loss worries. They said after the fresh spell of showers, crop fields have been inundated by rainwater. A farmer of the Khamarigaon area in Digapahandi block Simanchal Choudhury said the rain has raised fears of crop loss among farmers who were waiting for their harvested paddy to dry in fields before threshing. Rainwater has now entered the crop fields leaving farmers in distress. Echoing similar views, Chakrapani Tarai of Chhatrapur block said to drain out rainwater from fields, farmers have dug small outlets. But the crop has become wet, which is the main worry now. As the IMD has predicted rains for another day or two, it will lead to extensive crop damage as the grains have started falling from the stem. Besides, the paddy will be discoloured and not match the FAQ. It may cause heavy loss to farmers, he rued. While agriculture experts said more rains will pose problems for paddy due to moisture at the time of lifting, farmers urged the administration to relax the FAQ norms and save them from losses. However, civil supplies officer (CSO) Puspa Munda said there is no possibility for any relaxation. Paddy procurement in Ganjam will start from December 23 and 1,46,500 farmers have registered to sell their produce. Over 1,39 lakh tokens have already been given to farmers. The rest tokens will be distributed once the survey to detect fake farmers is completed. Similarly in Koraput, the rains halted paddy harvesting activities as farmers scurried to save their crops. Sources said moderate to heavy rains lashed different parts of the tribal region when harvesting and threshing of paddy was at its peak. The kharif harvesting process started in Jeypore, Kundra, Borigumma and Kotpad under Jeypore sub-division in the first week of December. Around 50 per cent of the paddy crops in 45,000 ha of land were harvested till date. However, the rains put a stop on all farm activities. A farmer of Ambaguda village Rajesh Madala said many farmers had left their paddy crop in the fields to dry after harvesting. As the crops have become wet due to the rain, there is a possibility of damage to the grains. Procurement is underway in the district and we cant wait for another seven to 10 days to get rid of the moisture from the harvested paddy, he said. Manoj Patra of Kunturkhal village said farmers will suffer huge losses due to moisture in the paddy. We are ready to take the paddy stock to local mandis for procurement. However, the rains have damaged the paddy badly and it may reflect on its FAQ, he added. Paddy procurement commenced on December 11 in the Koraput district.
Orissa HC seeks state government response on full-time superintendent of SCB
CUTTACK: Expressing disappointment over the functioning of SCB Medical College Hospital (SCBMCH) without a full-time superintendent, the Orissa High Court has directed the state government to clarify by when the appointment will be done. The hospital at present is being run under in-charge superintendent Prof Lucy Das. The division bench of Justice SK Sahoo and Justice V Narasingh said, Since the superintendent has a crucial role to play in the effective functioning of SCBMCH Cuttack, counsel for the state shall apprise this court on the next date after taking necessary instruction from the government as to when this post shall be filled up as per National Medical Commission (NMC) norms. Prof Das, who was present in person in the court, stated that the post has been vacant since September 2024 and she is in-charge of the superintendent. The bench also asked the secretary Health and Family Welfare department Awasthy S, who was present via video conferencing, why there was such a huge rush in SCBMCH even though the government has opened up several medical colleges in the state, and whether there was lack of infrastructure, doctors, facilities in those hospitals. Aswathy stated that the periphery hospitals are not able to provide the required services for which the patients even in non-complicated cases are rushing to SCBMCH. The image and the brand value of SCBMCH was other key factors. The perception among the public that the best doctors are posted in this hospital was also a contributing factor, she said. The Health Secretary also admitted that there was a lack of doctors in the state. Though the government had last time issued an advertisement for recruiting 7,000 doctors less than 2,000 could be appointed, she said.
CM Mohan Majhi seeks special tourism package for Odisha in Union Budget
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday sought a special package for the development of the tourism sector in Odisha in the central budget for 2025-26. At the pre-budget consultation meeting, presided over by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Jaisalmer, he said the state needs about Rs 10,000 crore investment to create world-class tourism infrastructure. While making the demand, the CM referred to the special mention made by the union finance minister in her budget speech of 2024-25 about the tourism potential of the state. The chief minister also sought support from the Centre to create an eco-system to attract investment to Odisha to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision to make the state growth engine of the country in the coming years. Implementation of central projects like Sagarmala, east coast economic corridor and national waterway 5 should be expedited to significantly augment Odishas industrialisation, he said and suggested a dedicated central scheme under Purvodaya initiative be introduced for critical infrastructure development in eastern states, including Odisha. Majhi urged for central support in enhancing the capacity of Paradip Port, including the expansion of its container handling infrastructure. Besides, the Centre should provide assistance for fast-tracking environmental clearances for industrial infrastructure projects. Seeking financial support for industrialisation in aspirational districts, he said that a rare earths complex should be established in Odisha. Odisha urbanisation requires substantial investment: CM Citing Odishas lower urbanisation rate, the CM pitched for a new scheme for supporting states with similar challenges. Cities are the engines of growth and migration of large population from villages to cities is inevitable, the chief minister said adding, that urbanisation in a state like Odisha needs huge capital investment for which central support is necessary. He also suggested that special assistance to states for capital investment should be increased to 60 per cent of the total allocation in the budget, leaving 40 pc for sectoral reforms which Majhi felt would ensure predictability of funds flow to the states as well as better utilisation. The chief minister said expectations of people from the new government are very high. The state was under the rule of a regional party for the last 24 years and there is a need for a transformation in the health, education and infrastructure sectors, he said and requested for adequate budgetary provisions. He also said uncovered blocks of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar should be included under the aspirational blocks programme as these districts are home to PVTGs like Juang, Lodha, Bihor, and Mankidia.
Odisha: ED searches Niranjans properties
BHUBANESWAR: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at the property linked to former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Niranjan Patnaik. Sources in the central agency confirmed the raids but remained tight-lipped about the matter. Simultaneous searches were carried out in at least five locations across the state linked to Niranjan Patnaik. More details will be shared in the coming days, said ED sources. Though ED is yet to release a statement officially, sources said the investigation could be linked to the mining business in which the senior Congressmans kin have interests. Asked about the searches, Niranjan told the newspaper that he is involved in politics and is not a businessman. I am a political person and not a businessman. I have nothing to do with business. ED officers had also not served any notice to me. Please ask them, what they found during the searches, he said. Sources said ED officers questioned some of Niranjans family members for over 30 minutes earlier in the day. The development comes two days after ED conducted searches across four locations in Odisha and Delhi linked to opposition chief whip Pramila Malliks late brother Khirod Mallik over the alleged Rs 231 crore bank fraud case. In a statement issued on Friday, the central agency said during the searches, 505 suspected benami accounts of different individuals and SHGs were traced. ED says Khirod took deposits Over Rs 72 lakh in cash was frozen from these accounts and shares worth Rs 10 lakh were seized along with other incriminating documents like sale deeds, chequebooks and digital devices. Further investigation is underway, said the ED. ED said its investigation revealed NGO, Bharat Integrated Social Welfare Agency (BISWA) was run by Khirod under the guise of financing self-help groups and joint liability firms. However, Khirod allegedly misutilised the funds and started accepting deposits from the public which was not allowed as per the RBI guidelines. The NGO was also involved in loan frauds amounting to over Rs 200 crore, read the statement.
FM holds pre-budget consultations with CMs, DyCMs, FMs of States/UTs
Good platform for discussions on tax reforms: Omar Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU/JAIPUR, Dec 20: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today held pre-budget consultations with representatives of States and Union Territories with Legislature including Jammu and Kashmir for the forthcoming 2024-25 budget at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, CMs of Goa, Haryana, Meghalaya and Odisha, Deputy CMs of five States, Finance Ministers of States/UTs, Secretaries [] The post FM holds pre-budget consultations with CMs, DyCMs, FMs of States/UTs appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Shock and awe in the world of Jatra
In Odishas Ganjam district, villagers compete for prestige by staging epic Ramayana performances. To sustain the interest of the audience, they have begun resorting to extreme measures, such as playing with cobras on stage, smashing coconuts on their heads, or even killing pigs and chickens. Satyasundar Barik reports on the radical transformation of Jatra, a traditional form of folk theatre
All set for Bhavani Deeksha Viramana at Durga Temple
VIJAYAWADA: All is set for the five-day Bhavani Deeksha Viramana (relinquishment) from Saturday to Wednesday, December 25, at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam Temple atop the Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada. Temple authorities, in collaboration with city police, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) and other departments, have made foolproof arrangements to avoid any inconvenience to Bhavani devotees visiting the temple for giving up their deeksha. Durga Temple executive officer K.S. Rama Rao said free darshan will be provided to all devotees during the five days. There will be no inconvenience for them, as all arjitha sevas have been cancelled during the deeksha relinquishment. The EO said devotees will be allowed to have darshan of the Goddess starting from 6:30 a.m. on Saturday. On the remaining days, devotees can have darshan from 3 a.m. to 11 p.m. Over half a million devotees from various parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh are expected to visit the temple during the next five days for the Deeksha Viramana. Queue lines have been erected starting from the Vinayaka Swamy Temple, along with Irumudi stands. Elaborate arrangements have been made at Padmavathi, Bhavani and other ghats, along with installation of bath showers and changing rooms for men and women. Additionally, Keshakandana Shalas for Bhavani devotees have been set up at Seetamma Vari Padalu. About 20 lakh laddus will be made available to devotees at the prasadam counters. Police department has deployed 4,600 personnel to ensure security during the five-days.
Odisha's tribal lifter Jyoshna shatters youth Asian record
CHENNAI: Jyoshna Sabar created a youth Asian record for total lift at the ongoing Asian Youth Weightlifting Championships in Doha on Friday. She clinched a gold each in snatch (60kg), clean and jerk (75kg) and overall category (60+75=135kg) in the 40kg section at the event. Medal at an international meet is not new for the 16-year-old tribal girl from Odisha as she had already pocketed bronze medals at the 2023 edition of the continental event. Those medals came a couple of months after she won medals at the 2023 IWF Youth World Championships (bronze in total & silver in snatch). She bettered the results at the 2024 IWF Youth World Championships (silver in total and snatch and bronze in clean & jerk). What matters the most is her record overall lift of 135kg at the Doha event. Hailing from Pekata village of Rayagada tehsil in Gajapati district, Jyoshna's life changed for the better almost six years ago when she was spotted by scouts during a talent hunt drive at her Gram Vikas residential school in Kankia, Ganjam village. A year later, she shifted to the high-performance centre run by the state government in partnership with Tenvic Sports. When we visited her village last year after hermedals at the youth worlds, we noticed how difficult it was to reach there. Only one bus plies to the village. Her house is almost 10 kms from the bus stop, K Ravi Kumar, Olympian and secretary-general of the Odisha Weightlifting Association, told this daily. Her house was built with support from a cliff, which constituted one of the four walls. Father Kirttan Sabar is a small-time farmer while mother Gechameni is a housewife. Given her modest background, it's an achievement for her to come out of that place and win international medals, added Kumar. Jyoshna trained in Bhubaneswar till last year before being selected for a camp for youth weightlifters at NIS Patiala. Ramesh Chandra Padhi was her first coach at school. We donated weightlifting equipment to the school and there she trained with Padhi for almost a year. A lot of young girls and boys have been identified during such talent hunt programmes and Jyoshna is one among them. They can be the future of Indian weightlifting, signed off Kumar, who represented India at the 2012 London Olympics. Besides Jyoshna, India's Payal claimed 45kg gold with a total lift of 155kg (70 snatch + 85 clean and jerk). Her namesake won a bronze medal in the junior girls' 45kg competition, finishing on the podium after managing a total lift of 155 (70 snatch + 85 clean and jerk), while Babulal Hembrom ended third in the 49kg youth boys' section after lifting 197 (88 snatch + 109 clean and jerk).
2 men run over by truck in Sundargarh
Lecturer suspended for sending obscene messages to 3 students
Odisha BJP holds Rahul Gandhi responsible for MP Sarangis injury, stages protest near Raj Bhavan
Bhubaneswar: Odisha BJP supporters on Friday staged a protest near Raj Bhavan, holding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi responsible for the injury of MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi during a scuffle on the Parliament premises. The protest, led by BJP state president Manmohan Samal, saw youth wing leaders submitting a memorandum to Governor Raghubar Das, addressed to []
18.5 feet-long Indian rock python rescued from Odisha village
Kendrapara: An 18.5-foot-long adult Indian rock python, which had strayed into Rajendranarayanpur village near Bhitarkanika National Park in Odishas Kendrapara district, was rescued by forest officials Friday. Locals, upon spotting the snake, alerted the forest department, which swiftly responded to rescue the animal. The python had sustained some injuries and is currently being treated by []
Plan for 4-lane carriageway to connect Dhamra port & Jamujhari
Odisha seeks special package from Centre to develop tourism sector
Bhubaneswar: Stating that about Rs 10,000 crore of investment was needed to create world-class tourism infrastructure in Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Friday urged the Centre to announce a special package for it. He made the demand at the pre-budget consultation meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. We need []
BJP stir in city over Parl clash
Student detained for stabbing classmate in Kendrapada school
Farmers meet Bargarh collector over delay in paddy procurement
ORERA launches upgraded website
Close shave for 30 students after bus hits divider
Paddy procurement begins in Sundargarh
HC orders BSF to pay Rs 10L to widow of farmer killed in crossfire
Orissa HC Flags Staff Shortage at SCB Medical College as State Admits Healthcare Gaps
Govt transport app to provide women cab & auto drivers soon
Plan for dedicated cargo flight for agri exports: Dy CM
Zeenat covers 3 states in 12 days to enter Bengal
Govt plans to modify Puri Parikrama project design with new features
ED searches ex-OPCC chiefs properties in bank fraud case
6 held for selling Lord Jagannaths land using forged docus
HC fines SCb nursing officer Rs 5k for frivolous petition on transfer
