08 April 2010

Angry scribes protest inaction

Journalists are an angry lot in Odisha. A considerable number of members of Media Unity for Freedom of Press ( MUFP) representing the print, electronic (TV) and Web media are fuming over the increasing attack on the media by the police, anti-socials and the corporate-Government nexus. Despite repeated demands before the Chief Minister to put an end to the atrocities on the media and allow them to operate freely as usual Government is not taking any action in this regard. Led by Sampad Mahapatra, senior journalist and many other scribes demonstrated their protest here. The erring officials, politicians and the corporate goons who are threatening the media freedom in very many ways are having free time, feel members of MUFP. The Media persons of Bhubaneswar and elsewhere to assembled under the Freedom Tree, in front of " Soochana Bhavan " on 7 April to protest inaction and demanding exemplary action against the offenders. The meeting demanded that the Government should provide professional protection to all media persons and who will create any threat while exercising their duty should be immediately arrested and dealt with heavy punishment. Since media persons were allowed to freely cover the war, riot and other critical events for the interest of the State/nation and the people to feed them with correct information. Most importantly the State Government should not impose any restrictions on their movement to any area in the State to cover corporate conflict, demanded they.

07 April 2010

Lack of awareness hinders Nabarangpur development

Development still eludes the tribal-dominated district following lack of awareness among the inhabitants while illiteracy and poverty rule the roost here. Carved out of the undivided Koraput district in 1992 during the then Chief Minister Biju Patnaik’s regime, Biju Babu’s sole motive was to provide better administration, promote education, agriculture and social-economic development of the tribals. But, the dream of late Biju Patnaik is yet to be materialised. Though the Government sanctions funds through various programmes and schemes for the development of the tribals here, improper utilisation of funds and implemention of the programmes have resulted in no remarkable development despite being a separate district for over a decade-and-half. Frequent droughts and callous attitude of the Government mechanism here have rather failed to check migration to other States for eking out a living and falling prey to the inhuman labour contractors. It is well-established that a large number of Bangladeshis immigrated to this district and are illegally settled here posing a security threat. The State Government has identified a number of such families, but yet to initiate any positive actions for their deportation. They have been receiving political patronage due to the vote-bank politics following which they have been emboldened to grab the land of the poor tribals and even managed to get a Government job. The violence of 2001, between the tribals and the Bangladeshi immigrants in Raighar block, reflects complete failure of the administration in dealing with the problem. The tribals are still under the shadow of development, the basic needs like food, education, healthcare, water and electricity are yet to reach many a village. The Centre and the State have launched different welfare programmes and to educate the general public on the programmes, huge amount is being spent. Despite the fact, a majority of the people are not aware of the programmes launched in their own district. They think that the Government launched programmes are being properly implemented by the officials. The gullible lot even fail to find how the officials indulge themselves in corruptions and some of the works being made on pen and paper are just an eye wash. Initiative for awareness among the people is highly essential in the district and the administration should take steps in this regard. It is high time the people should come forward to use their rights to know about the programmes and its progress. Incidentally, the Right to Information Act is one such powerful weapon to bring transparency in this regard.

Birth centenary of Sadasiv Tripathy celebrated in Nabarangpur

PNS | Nabarangpur A district-level celebration of the birth centenary of eminent freedom fighter and former Chief Minister Sadasiv Tripathy was held here and Umerkote on Sunday and Monday. The celebration was organised by the Culture of Tourism and Information and Public Relations Departments and the district administration of Nabarangpur. District Collector Roopa Mishra garlanded the late leader’s statue at the Sadasiba Park near the Municipal Office here to mark the occasion. Earlier, rich tributes were paid to a decorated portrait of the leader at the Shastri Bhawan here. IT Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi was the chief guest, while MLA of Nabarangpur Monahor Randhari, MLA of Babugam Bhujabala Majhi, Zilla Parishad president Bhagirathi Nayak and former Minister Raghunath Patnaik were the other guests at the meeting that was presided over by the Collector. IT Minister Majhi said that his Government has taken several steps to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of Sadasiv Tripathy. He thanked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and MP Pyarimohan Mohapatra for their support to organise a State-level function. The illustrious son of this soil, Sadashiba Tripathy, who was born on April 21, 1910, served as a teacher and was associated with the National Congress. After the formation of Odisha as a separate State in 1936, the freedom struggle gained momentum in the undivided Koraput district. Tripathy played a pioneering role in leading the people of Koraput in the freedom movement and was responsible for the political awakening of the people of this tribals-dominated region. He was imprisoned for a year during the individual Satyagraha movement and was also under detention during Quit India movement. Tripathy was a Minister in the State for a period of 12 years, and throughout his Ministerial tenure his main portfolio was Revenue. He was also the Chief Minister for a short period in the late 1970s. As an expert in revenue administration, he piloted the Odisha Zamindary Abolition and Land Reforms Bill in the legislature. He was also the secretary of the Odisha Bhoodan Yajna Samiti.