08 December 2013

Block Level Mondei Fest Enduring

The whole Nabarangpur district witnessing festive mood with lot of enthusiasm as the block levels Mondei festival continuing in the district.  The talents picked from the block level cultural festivals are to perform in the district level grand celebration.

On Saturday evening Nabarangpur block organised celebration at block office premises, Collector Yamini Sarangi, was chief guest, local MLA Manohar Randhari,  district council of culture secretary and DIPRO
Bhujang Bhusan Rao, Block Chairman Bedabysa Bhatra,  BDO Anil Kumar Sethi, were chaired.  Speaking to the gathering MLA Mr.Randhari said ‘Mondei’ is the culture ritual of the tribal peoples of the district, nowadays the national level cultural festival flourished into international reputation.

 Ms. Sarangi said the Mondei festival is not simply to watch performances   but an opportunity and platform to facilitate interaction among different groups as well as platform in which we want to create facilities for them to know each other. The annual event was started in 2002 by Dr.Aurabinda Padhee with an aim to preserve and propagate the rich tribal folk culture of the district and providing opportunity to the local talents.This year about 100 stalls will be set up by various organisation and ORMAS organising an exhibition of traditional handicrafts Pallishree Mela  at the Mondei ground which will be a special attraction. For the first time UNICEF supporting to Mondei festival Ms. Sarangi said. Different cultural troupes from Grama Panchayat levels performed at the function.

07 December 2013

Complaints against irregularities in MBG HP Gas distribution

Nabarangpur: Basant Rath.
On the alleged unfair trade practice several complaints has been filled on the irregularities in distribution of HP gas at Nabarangpur. The district consumer disputes redressal forum has issued notice against Rasmi Acharjya, the Proprietor of Maa Bhandar Gharani (MBG) HP Gas agency, Nabarangpur and Hundustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Mumbai, Zonal Office, Kolkata and Chief Regional Manager, Bhubaneswar, Including Civil Supply Officer, Nabarangpur for the irregularities in the distribution of gas cylinders and demanding additional money from the consumers. It has been alleged that many of the consumers of the MBG HP Gas have been victimized by the unfair trade practices adopted by Rasmi Acharjya, the Proprietor of HP Gas even the same has also reported to the district Collector, Nabarangpur, Said Sunil Sahu, one of customer” after hearing our complaints the collector directed Civil Supply Officer to conduct inspections of the gas agencies in view of the complaints of irregularities in LPG distribution. But the officials enquiries whimsically and submitted a report to Collector.

The Customers of the gas alleged that the Proprietor of HP Gas collecting Rs.650/- for preparation of Know your consumer (KYC) format affidavit and verifying the kitchens. During the issuing of new connections they are demanding more than Rs, 5000/- for Cylinder and regulator instead of Rs.1600/- Apart from that they are forcing to purchase stove along with lighter, fire extinguisher, gas stand etc without bill in this regard. Queried to the civil supply officials they said customers has at liberty to purchase them from any source and the New Connection price is Rs.1600/- we don’t have any information about any affidavit and the know your consumer format charges if any fixed by the HP Gas company. The customers’ also alleged that they MBG gas agency not displaying the booking number of the LPG cylinders being distributed, price of new cylinder and regulator etc

Also available at The Pioneer / The Statesman / The political & business daily / IV Times / IM Observer / odishadiary.com / odishabarta.com / odishabook.com

06 December 2013

Mondei festival kicked off to a colourful start


Nabarangpur: Basant Rath
Amid much fanfare, the State-level annual mega tribal festival of Nabarangpur district, Mondei-2013, was inaugurated by Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi on Wednesday.
The inaugural Puja was performed at the Rajchauria temple of Kodinga under Kosagumuda block by Minister Majhi, Dabugam MLA Bhujabal Majhi, district Collector Yamini Sarangi, ZP president Motiram Naik Superintendent of Police Brajesh Kumar Rai, ADM Bhimman Seth, Sub-Collector Parakhita Sethi in the presence of other district officers and members of the civil society who came from across the district.
A congregation of local tribal dance troupes brought the Mondei Mashal to the venue. Minister Majhi said cultural festivals like this create awareness among the people about their age-old tradition and heritage of a region and local artists get a rare opportunity to exchange views with their counterparts of the country. He also spoke on the development programmes of the State Government.
Tthe Dabugam MLA said the tribals of this district are participating in Mondei at different places, including at Kodinga, but the mega cultural festival celebrated by the District Council of Culture is definitely a bold step which symbolises the traditions of the tribals.
Presiding over the meeting, Collector Sarangi said the district which has completed 22 years of its formation could proudly claim that it produced patriots, freedom fighters, eminent men of letters and harbingers of its rich culture.
Mondei is now in its 12 years and it has succeeded in integrating the people as is evident from the enthusiasm with which thousands of tribal men and women participated in the festival from the panchayat to district levels. Besides local tribal folk dances, troupes from other districts of the State and outside it have been performing in this event.
Different cultural troupes from the gram panchayat level performed their dances and music besides drama Atrupta Atma being staged in the evening. Various Government departments and SHGs showcased their crafts and schemes in their stalls. The guests released the Mondei-2013 poster and handed over the Mashal to different blocks for their respective celebrations. The block-level festival will continue till December 9.

Also available at The Pioneer / The Statesman / The political & business daily /  odishadiary.com / odishabarta.com