layman's space

Asit launches college projects in Nuapada Friday, 03 June 2022  |  AJIT PANDA  | NUAPADA  Principal Adviser to Chief Minister and Chairman of Western Odisha Development Council Asit Tripathy was in Nuapada district on a two-day tour. He visited various development projects and attended a review meeting of departmental officials. He visited the National College, Nuapada, on Wednesday and had an interaction with the students. Foundation stones of a Rs 7.52-crore town hall in National College premises at Nuapada and a Rs 4.6-crore auditorium in Khariar Autonomous College premises were laid by him. He also interacted with the students and teachers of Khariar Autonomous College on Thursday. Tripathy interacted with farmers of Ichchapur involved in the Millet Mission Programme, farmers practising alternative farming at Bhaludongri and fish farmers of Badmula villages.  The visit was attended by District Magistrate Swadhadev Singh, Khariar...

  Dalits avenge discrimination by upper caste Sunday, 24 April 2022  |  AJIT PANDA  | NUAPADA https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/state-editions/dalits-avenge-discrimination-by-upper-caste.html Despite strict laws and social reforms, there seems to be no end to caste discrimination. In an incident reported from Jamgaon village under the Boden police limits of Nuapada district, dalits of the village have allegedly been prevented from carrying the ceremonial vases filled with water and paddy in a Kalas Yatra held during celebration of the Ram Navami on April 10.  According to dalits, the village as a whole decided to celebrate the Ram Navami with participation of people of all communities, including dalits. All dalit families contributed financially equally as decided in a village meeting. "But when the decision about organising the Kalas Yatra was made, they said dalit women would not be allowed to carry Kalas because the water and paddy would be impure “It was qui...

  Landless villagers stage demo in Khariar Saturday, 23 April 2022  |  AJIT PANDA  | NUAPADA         SHARE       T T   T T     0   Abil bindhani, 57, has been living in a dilapidated house with his family in Padmapur village of Khariar block since many years. "I can't get a house under PMAY as I am not the owner of that land where I stay," says Abil, who does not know whether his ancestors ever held any land or not. "As far as I know, my grandfather was landless; my father was landless; and I am also landless. My son is a daily wager and I think he would also remain landless," says he.  Abil was migrating to different brick kilns to earn livelihood till the outbreak of corona. "My leg was fractured last year in an accident; now, I am unable to do hard work; so, our family is managed by my wife and son," he adds. Hemani Tandi and Chandra Kanti Sabar of Putupada (Ward-11) are also landless; they have settled i...

  Rs 5L rehab to electrocution victim’s kin Friday, 01 April 2022  |  AJIT PANDA  | NUAPADA         SHARE       T T   T T     0   The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday directed the Odisha Chief Secretary to pay Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the next of kin of deceased Khusiram Majhi of Tengnabasa village under Lakhna police station area of Nuapada district, who was killed due to electrocution on July 12, 2019. The Commission has also issued summons to the SP Nuapada and the Principal Secretary, Energy Department for personal appearance before it for not initiating action against the officials who were found responsible in the case. The Commission had received a complaint on July 13, 2019 from one Dilip Kumar Das, a human rights activist of Bhawanipatna, alleging that Majhi had died due to electrocution on account of negligence by the Wesco. Considering the prayer for intervention, the commiss...

  NHRC seeks ATR from Nalgonda DM, SP Thursday, 10 March 2022  |  AJIT PANDA  | NUAPADA         SHARE       T T   T T     0   The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Collector and SP of Nalgonda district of Telangana, regarding engagement of a minor boy of Odisha in a brick kiln and keeping him hostage. NHRC passed the order based on a complaint filed by human rights activist Dilip Dash of Bhawanipatna. Dash alleged that the 14-year-old victim Dash alleged the 14-year-old victim Ballav  Harijan alias Deep (from SC Community) of Dedenga village of Komna Police limits area in Nuapada district had been kept hostage at brick kiln of Nabad Enkena in Cherlapali village of Nalgonda district in Telangana since 20 days and the brick kiln owner Nabad Enkena demanded Rs 2 lakh to release the boy. Ballabh went to the brick kiln along with his elder sister Jamini and h...

Millers don’t provide gunny bags to farmers to pack paddy Thursday, 18 November 2021  |  AJIT PANDA  | NUAPADA https://www.dailypioneer.com/2021/state-editions/millers-don---t-provide-gunny-bags-to-farmers-to-pack-paddy.html SHARE       T T   T T     0   Farmers all over Nuapada district are worried this year due to increase in price of gunny bags. "Cost of a gunny bag last year was Rs 18, but this year the price has doubled," says Sanjay Tiwari, a farmer and convenor of the Krushak Sakti Sangathan. The cause of concern for farmers is that the millers do not provide gunny bags for packing farmers' paddy although they get requisite number of gunny bags from the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation (OSCSC) for the purpose. There is a provision for use of two new gunny bags and two old gunny bags for packing of paddy required for one quintal of rice. Two new gunnies used for paddy packing are subsequently used by millers for delivery of ...

Odisha forums launch ‘Commons Climate Connect’ Monday, 01 November 2021  |  AJIT PANDA  | NUAPADA SHARE       T T   T T     0   https://www.dailypioneer.com/2021/state-editions/odisha-forums-launch----commons-climate-connect---.html In the first week of November, world governments will gather in Glasgow for the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) to identify climate change action targets and spearhead new projects to meet objectives under the Paris Climate Accords. Three Odisha-based organisations – The Water Initiatives, SWATI and the Foundation for Ecological Security – have seized upon the occasion to launch “Commons Climate Connect” with support from the US Consulate General in Hyderabad. Commons Climate Connect will mount a social media campaign that will push COP26 to address conservation as a means to combat climate change.  “This initiative will call on the negotiating parties...