Monday, January 23, 2012

30 houses set ablaze in Balangir clash MONDAY, 23 JANUARY 2012 22:05 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 4 User Rating: / 0

30 houses set ablaze in Balangir clash
MONDAY, 23 JANUARY 2012 22:05 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 4
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In a shocking fallout of a personal flare-up between two youth at a dress shop over price, a group of OBC youth set ablaze the houses of SCs at the Lathore village under Khaprakhol police station, turning a total number of 30 houses to ashes on Sunday evening.

Tension prevailed in the area following the incident, forcing the police and the civil administration of the district rushing to the spot and controlled the situation. About 150 affected people have been sheltered in a relief camp with the police keeping guard.

According to reports, an SC youth, Ganesh Suna, had gone to purchase shirt to a shop owned by one Budu Meher. There were Daya Meher and Bharat Meher present at the shop. As Ganesh kept haggling over the price, an argument ensued between Daya and Bharat on one side and Ganesh on the other.

While the salesmen demanded more money as he had chosen two shirts, Ganesh refused to pay. After this, the salesmen alleged that he had stolen a shirt and demanded more money.

As the squabble continued, both the Mehers allegedly assaulted Ganesh with a dress hanger. Insulted Ganesh left and returned immediately with four others and mounted a counter assault.

As a result, Daya Meher sustained injuries. Following this, the shop owners closed the shop. Daya and Bharat rushed to Ganesh’s basti with supporters and torched the houses of the SC people. When the police and firefighters tried to reach the spot, irate mobs prevented them.

The police arrested 42 people in this connection and five cases have been registered so far. According to ASP Srikant Mishra.

IG RP Koche, Balangir SP R Prakash and district Collector SN Dey visited the spot on Sunday night with the SP camping there.

Addressing mediapersons on Monday in Balangir senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra described the incident as “unfortunate” and criticised police inaction.

“The police could have prevented the entire incident,” Mishra said and demanded action against the police official responsible for it.

“The affected families should be given an assistance of Rs 2 lakh and a house under Indira Awas Yojna each.”

Sunday, January 22, 2012

W’Odisha migrant workers to miss voting in panchayat polls SUNDAY, 22 JANUARY 2012 22:51 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 5 User Rating: / 0

W’Odisha migrant workers to miss voting in panchayat polls
SUNDAY, 22 JANUARY 2012 22:51 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 5
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A large number of people from around ten districts of western Odisha are likely to be deprived of casting their votes in the upcoming panchayat poll as they are out of their native villages and working as daily wage earners in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Mostly these people fall in the SC/ST category. Extremely poor as they are, they migrate to outside States to earn their livelihood. Basically, they are made to do hard labour in the most inhospitable brick kilns of those States for six months or more in a year.

“Due to turmoil in Andhra Pradesh over the Telangana issue, cyclone in Tamil Nadu and continuous raids by police on the labourer contractors, distress migration has slowed down in western Odisha,” says Bhajaram Sahu of Janamukti Anusthan of Bongomunda, who informed that around 40,000 people have already migrated from Balangir to work in the brick kilns of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and other distant places.

This year drought has hit the farmers hard. Earlier, these farmers who used to be self-sufficient in meeting their food requirements from production in their farms are purchasing it from open markets now, which indicates their economic vulnerability has increased this year. With no work available, there would be more migration this year, predicts Jatin Patra of NGO Adhikar.

“The situation in neighbouring Nuapda district is also the same. More than 30,000 voters from the district have migrated and maximum number of people migrated from Sinapali. These tribal people went to distance places like Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad and Mumbai, Raipur and Bhilai as they did not get job under MNREGS projects in their villages,” says Ajit Panda of Khadial Vikash Manch of Khariar.

In Paikmal Sub-Division of Bargarh district, continuous migration of people from Paikmal, Gaiselete and Jharbandh blocks is going to affect the poll process too. According to a recent survey by Samuhik Marudi Pratikar Udyam, Padampur, around 14,000 people of 107villages, including 9,000 voters, have already migrated from the district to outside States in search of jobs, informs Fakira Rout.

About 400 youth from Thuaamul Rampur block migrated to work in rubber plantation areas and different farm houses of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, says chairman of Antodoya Dilip Das.

The Government should streamline the implementation of NREGS and take steps to ensure timely payment of wages to the people which would go a long way in checking migration during the crucial time and help them participate in the election, says Ajit Panda.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Madhuri Meheta in national woman cricket squad

Madhuri Meheta in national woman cricket squad
Bhubaneswar: Odisha's opener Madhuri Meheta got a berth in the probable lists of the national woman cricket team. The National Women's Selection Committee announced a twenty players name at the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, Indore on Saturday for the India's tour of the West Indies, in February-March 2012.
The players are Mithali Raj, Amita Sharma, Sulakshana Naik, Jhulan Goswami, Anjum Chopra, Veda Krishnamurthy, Harmanpreet Kaur, Archana Das, Diana David, Nooshin-Al-Khadeer, Sunitha Anand, Madhuri Mehta (Odisha Cricket Association), Mandira Mahapatra, S. Asha, Ekta Bist, Gauhar Sultana, Rumeli Dhar, Poonam Raut, Mamta Kanojia and Subhlaxmi Sharma among which the final squad will be picked up.

Master Coaches to train Cong workers in Balangir SUNDAY, 15 JANUARY 2012 22:53 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 3 User Rating: / 0 PoorBest

Master Coaches to train Cong workers in Balangir
SUNDAY, 15 JANUARY 2012 22:53 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 3
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With a view to infusing young blood and talent to the Congress from the grassroots level, the selection of Master Coaches is underway in the State.

This was stated to mediapersons by newly-elected president of Lok Sabha Constituency of Indian Youth Congress Akash Mishra at the Congress Bhavan here on Saturday.

Earlier the office-bearers of the Youth Congress were usually nominated. However, under the directives of party MP Rahul Gandhi, the selection of Master Coaches has been started wherein anybody having talent and expertise can apply for the posts, Mishra said.

Those who want to be Master Coaches should be of at least 30 years of age and have a working experience of minimum five years in the party or its frontal organisations besides knowledge of Hindi and English and computer, he said.

“We are going to accept applications till January 24, and on January 25 there will be selection of the candidates at Bhawanipatna. The shortlisted candidates are again scheduled to be interviewed at Sambalpur and have to go through the selection process, group discussions and interviews by representatives of the Youth Congress,” Mishra said.

In the days ahead, the Youth Congress would raise the issues of neglect of agriculture, absence of industries and migration in the Balangir district and fight to oust the BJD Government from the State, Mishra said further.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

BJD nomination rally violation of code, says BJP THURSDAY, 12 JANUARY 2012 22:49 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 7 User Rating: / 0 PoorBest

BJD nomination rally violation of code, says BJP
THURSDAY, 12 JANUARY 2012 22:49 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 7
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On the last day of filing the nominations to Zilla Parishad (ZP) election, a huge rally of supporters of the BJD candidates was taken out from the Palace to the Sub-Collector Office here. All the BJD candidates riding in a vehicle ‘Vijaya Ratha’ came to the office to file their nominations.

However, the huge rally and cacophony created by the BJD leaders drew complaints from the BJP candidates who said that the show by the ruling party leaders was violation of the election code of conduct.

“We have lodged a complaint with the district administration in this regard,” informed BJP district president Prabahas Panigrahi.

But Harekrushna Sarangi of BJD said people came spontaneously to the rally. So, it was not a violation of the code of conduct, he contended.

On Wednesday, the Zilla Parishad candidates of the BJP had filed their nominations, where as the Congress candidates filed their nominations on Thursday.

“We have received a complaint of alleged violation of code of conduct and we are looking into the incident,” said Sub-Collector Jyotiranjan Pradhan.

Roping in kinship care to rehabilitate distressed kids THURSDAY, 12 JANUARY 2012 22:53 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 4

Roping in kinship care to rehabilitate distressed kids
THURSDAY, 12 JANUARY 2012 22:53
SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR
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Family lives in urban areas have undergone a sea change thanks to impact of modernisation and a sheer aping of the western materialistic culture. Love, affection and respect which used to create a strong bond of relation among the members in a family are sadly missing now.
However, Youth Centre Development Alternatives (YCDA) has started a new concept of rehabilitating the orphan and poor children in Balangir and adjoining districts: Kinship care.
Seema’s father Sadanand Pradhan committed suicide in Badimunda village due to a family dispute and a few months later, her mother Sailendrai too died in remorse. With no body to look after Seema and her only brother, they were shifted by YCDA to their maternal grandfather Kulmani Sahu’s house at Dhubaudder village.
Gajendra was living happily with parents in Agalapali. However, after his mother became mentally retarded, the family had to go through much unrest and tension. As her mother could not perform any work, her husband Karkura did not like her. When things became unbearable, Gajendra’s uncle took him and his mother to Dhubaudder at the behest of YCDA. Gajenrda was enrolled in a nearby school where he is attending classes regularly.
“We undertook a survey in these villages and held a meeting with the village community members where we explained our concept of kinship care,” says YCDA programme officer Sunita Triptathy. After analysing the situation, we decided to support both the children under the kinship care. We decided to provide a monthly assistance of Rs 500 each to continue their studies and meet other expenses. Seema is now reading in Class IX and Gajendra in Class VII in a nearby village school, Tripathy explained.
In a remote village of Gouchhapada in Boudh district, kinship care by a grandmother has turned a depressed Sobhagini to an assertive girl. Her father had died three years ago due to TB and after the death her mother later, she was married off to another person. The marriage had a devastating effect on Sobhagini as it was too early her part to marry. Besides, she was hurt to have left her education midway.
“We came across the sordid story of Sobhagini during a survey and seeing her condition, we decided to provide a monthly assistance of Rs 500 for the continuance of her studies and other expenses. While her grandmother Kanchan looks after her, the local Anganwadi worker has arranged a small tuition in her home along with her own daughter for Sobhagini, Tripathy reveals.
“I want to be doctor,” says Sobhagini when asked about her future ambition. “I need a bicycle so that I could go to attend tuition in nearby villages,” Sobhagini tells.
The village members have also taken responsibility about her education and well-being. “I’m looking after her education along with my daughter,” says the local Anganwadi worker. I have arranged tuition for her in my house along with my daughter, she adds. It has been noticed that the orphans and vulnerable children do not find orphanage a satisfactory place to stay due to lack of family environment. These children need a family environment for their emotional support and development. We thought to provide family environment by kinship care to these children, says Rajendra Meher of YCDA.
The major advantage of ‘kinship care’ is homely environment and family’s emotional attachment with the children. With emotional attachment and guidance, it becomes easier for the children to live and grow, Meher says further.
A total of 90 such children in the district have been covered under the process. Moreover, a district-level care giver association has been formed and a revolving fund of Rs 1.5 lakh from YCDA has been given. Each member is eligible to take a loan up to Rs 10,000 which has to be repaid in four installments, informs district coordinator YCDA Anandini Tripathy.
The steps taken by YCDA in providing care and support to the distressed children in rural areas of Balangir is laudable, observed Child Welfare Committee Balangir chairman Damdar Mishra.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Rain throws life out of gear in Balangir MONDAY, 09 JANUARY 2012 22:22 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 0

Rain throws life out of gear in Balangir
MONDAY, 09 JANUARY 2012 22:22
SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR
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Normal life was affected badly due to rain accompanied by hailstorm which hit Balangir town in the wee hours on Sunday. The high velocity wind resulted in uprooting trees, snapping of electric wires and disrupting power supply for around eight hours.
Road communication in between Balangir and Sambalpur was disrupted following uprooting of many banyan trees near Satyanarayanpada on the outskirts of the town. Traffic was restored by 12 pm in the noon, after cutting of the trees and disposal of the logs from the road by ODRAF members.
Balangir Book Fair, now underway, was badly-affected as wind tore-off the tents and water gushed into the sheds. Many books were damaged for exposure to the rain water. The fair is being organised by Zilla Lekhak Parishad and had been inaugurated by District Collector SN Dey on Saturday.
“Books worth around Rs 50 lakh had been damaged in the unexpected rain and hailstorm,” said Zilla Lekhak Parishad president Sashi Bhushan Purohit.
Alone, Bidyapuri, Cuttack, had brought books worth `16 lakh to the book fair. The rain disappointed many book lovers, including children.
“Yesterday evening I had come to this book fair along with my friends. I was expecting to purchase books today. Seeing the devastating condition of the fair, I am very sad,” said Suchi Smita, a student on Sunday. The book fair organisers had no contingency plan to meet the situation, nor was there any insurance cover for the participant stall owners. Meanwhile, agricultural office sources said the rain would be beneficial for Rabi crops like Mung, Biri and sesame (Rasi).

PRI election process underway in Balangir SUNDAY, 08 JANUARY 2012 22:28 PNS | BALANGIR

PRI election process underway in Balangir
SUNDAY, 08 JANUARY 2012 22:28
PNS | BALANGIR
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The election process for the Panchyati Raj Institutions (PRIs) is underway in Balangir district with the filing of nomination papers commencing from Saturday.
The nominations will continue till January 12, except on holidays. On January 13, scrutiny of nominations will be conducted, and on January 16 the list of valid nominations will be published. After withdrawal of candidates, if any, o n January 18, the final list will be published, informed Balangir-Sub-Collector Jyoti Ranjan Pradhan.While Zilla Parishad candidates will file their nominations in the Sub-Collector office, the Panchyat Samiti candidates in block offices and sarpanch and ward candidates in panchyat offices.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Khaprakhol residents hold roadblock against assault by SOG Jawans MONDAY, 02 JANUARY 2012 22:44 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 3 User Rating: / 0

Khaprakhol residents hold roadblock against assault by SOG Jawans
MONDAY, 02 JANUARY 2012 22:44 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 3
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Protesting the alleged assault by SOG (Special Operation Group) jawans of a shopkeeper at Khaprakhol, 80 km away from here on Sunday evening and demanding action against the jawans, people of Khaprakhol organised a rasta roko on Monday.

As a mark of protest, shopkeepers closed down their shutters and stopped vehicles that were plying via Khaprakhol.

According to reports, the SOG jawans asked shopkeeper Dilip Gadtya to give items on credit on Sunday. On protesting their rough behaviour, Gadtya was assaulted by them.

Balangir SP R Prakash rushed to Khaprakhol and has been looking into the incident. Action would be taken against the guilty jawans, Praksh told this correspondent over telephone.

In a related development, top CRPF officials paid a visit to Khaprakhol on the day where two battalions of CRPF have been stationed.
5 youth die on New Year’s eve
MONDAY, 02 JANUARY 2012 22:49
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | BALANGIR
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Even as people all over the State and country were busy exchanging New Year wishes and enjoying the first day of the year celebrating it in their own ways, the residents of Balangir got a shocker with the death of five youths in a tragic road accident on Sunday afternoon at Kareldhuan village near Saintala, 40 km from here. They all belonged to Balangir town.
According to sources, seven youths from Balangir were travelling back home in a Maruti Swift after their New Year revelry at a distant place when, at around 2 in the afternoon, their car met with an accident near Kareldhuan village under Saintala police station.
While three youths died on the spot, two others succumbed to grievous injuries on their way to the District Headquarters Hospital here. One youth was referred to Burla for further treatment.
Another injured youth is undergoing treatment at the DHH till the last information was filed on Monday.
5 youth die on New Year’s eve
MONDAY, 02 JANUARY 2012 22:49
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | BALANGIR
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Even as people all over the State and country were busy exchanging New Year wishes and enjoying the first day of the year celebrating it in their own ways, the residents of Balangir got a shocker with the death of five youths in a tragic road accident on Sunday afternoon at Kareldhuan village near Saintala, 40 km from here. They all belonged to Balangir town.
According to sources, seven youths from Balangir were travelling back home in a Maruti Swift after their New Year revelry at a distant place when, at around 2 in the afternoon, their car met with an accident near Kareldhuan village under Saintala police station.
While three youths died on the spot, two others succumbed to grievous injuries on their way to the District Headquarters Hospital here. One youth was referred to Burla for further treatment.
Another injured youth is undergoing treatment at the DHH till the last information was filed on Monday.

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