AIIMS, Bhubaneswar Inagurated [ PTI ]

Feeling the deficit of doctors and hospitals with super specialty facilities in the country, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday declared to upgrade two medical colleges- MKCG at Berhampur & VSS at Sambalpur- to super-specialty centres in the State.
“39 hospitals in the country will be upgraded to super specialty centres among which two medical colleges of Odisha- Berhampur and Sambalpur- will get the facilities soon,” Azad said while inaugurating All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar.
Azad praised the UPA-I & II government for its initiatives in setting up 51,000 government hospitals across the country. He appreciated state government’s cooperation in coming up such premier institute like AIIMS in Odisha.
On the demand of Odisha for one more medical college, he assured to recomend for upgradation of Baripada hospital to a medical college. He said three colleges have already been sanctioned to Odisha which will be set up in Balasore, Jeypore and Bolangir respectively.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik termed the inauguration as a historic day for the State. He said the AIIMS will be an asset for the citizens of Odisha and eastern India. Demanding one more medical college for Odisha, he said that the State had requested four such institutes while centre sanctioned only three.
“We had requested Centre for four medical colleges, but it gave only three. So, I requested Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad to sanction one more college” Naveen said. On the issue of lack of medical staff, he said shortage of doctors is a global problem and the State government is trying its best to provide better health care.
Union Chemical & Fertilizer minister and Balasore MP Srikant Jena, who spoke on this occasion, lauded PM Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Azad for theirsupport to Odisha in sanctioning more funds for more hospitals for the people of the state.
On this occasion, Jena declared to open ‘Jan Ausodhi’ store in AIIMS-Bhubaneswar centre. “If AIIMS authorities would provide us place, we will open the generic medicine store, ‘Jan Ausodhi’, in the campus soon,” Jena promised.

It’s too early: Naveen says on Left-secular parties meet [ PTI ]

BJD supremo and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who was the first to advocate an alternative government minus Congress and BJP at the Centre, today said it was still too early for such a move.
“I think, the moment is still in early days as I have said earlier,” Patnaik told reporters here in reply to a question on the BJD’s absence at the meeting of Left and secular parties in New Delhi during the day.
BJD had sent a representative, Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda, in an earlier meeting in Delhi on October 30 last year.
Though today’s meeting at New Delhi was attended by JD(U), Samajwadi Party, AIADMK, JD(S), Jharkhand Vikas Morcha and four Left party leader, the BJD and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta’s Asom Gana Parishad were absent.
CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told a local news channel that the BJD supremo Patnaik had informed that he could not attend the meeting bacause of prior engagement.
While BJD’s absence indicated that Naveen was not interested in a pre-poll alliance, according to political observers, ruling party insiders speculated that Patnaik kept away to prove BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narenda Modi wrong.
Modi, during his February 11 rally here had categorically claimed that the proposed Third Front was a combination of parties who supported the Congress in crisis.
“As Naveen is totally opposed to Congress, both in the state and in the Centre, he does not want to share dais with the other parties at this moment,” said a senior party leader.
BJD, he said, was in a strong position in Odisha, and therefore not in favour of seat sharing with CPI and CPI(M) with whom the regional outfit had entered into adjustment in 2009 general elections.

Odisha signs MoU with ANCF to save elephants [ PTI ]

The Odisha government on Saturday entered into an agreement with the Asian Nature Conservation Foundation (ANCF) to protect elephants in the state.
“The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will remain in force for two and half years during which the state government has to spend Rs 49.51 lakh towards the survey and protection measures by the ANCF,” an official said.
The ANCF would make a detailed survey on the elephant population in the state, which was on the decline recently and take steps for their protection.
The ANCF is a charitable trust dedicated to the conservation of Asian elephants, they said.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik says People will vote for BJD again [ Odisha Diary ]

BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik boasted with confidence when he announced in three public meetings in Kandahamal district on Saturday that his party will sweep the polls in Odisha again. Downplaying the opposition claims that he would be unseated from the creddle of power in the state in the coming assembly polls, the BJD supreme remarked that enriched the with wonderful support of the people of state, his party will make it four in a row and form government again. While addressing public meetings in Raikia, Dandapadar and Phulbani, he reasoned despite all the negative talks by the opposition, his party with its development initiatives during the last 14 years and support of the mass will retain power in Odisha. He also inaugurated and laid foundation stones of as many as 40 different projects and programmes.

Odisha CM kicks off Biju Gaon Gaadi scheme [ PTI ]

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik kicks off 'Biju Gaon Gaadi' scheme on Saturday  from the state secretariat. The scheme to be implemented in 1,180 routes covering 118 scheduled blocks of 12 districts in 1st phase.

Koraput, Malkangiri,Nawrangpur, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Phulbani, Gajapati, Sambalpur, Sundergarha, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanja and Balangir are covered under Biju Gaon Gaddi Yojana. The Yojana with an objective to provide transport to un-serviced and under-serviced villages in the hilly, tribal and backward areas of the state. 

As many as 1180 routes have been identified to provide transport service benefitting about 80 lakh people. In the next year the scheme is proposed to be extended to more such areas.

Under the scheme while the government would identify the route. The entrepreneurs would procure their own vehicles and operate on the routes with fare structure approved for that route taking commercial viability and reasonableness into consideration. The government would exempt road tax and permit tax for a maximum period of five years and an interest subsidy up to five per cent on the capital borrowed.

While 3 per cent base subsidy would be provided on interest rate, an additional 2 per cent subsidy would be given to those who would repay their loan regularly. The scheme would provide assured transport service in the morning and evening to enable the students to attend their educational institutions and the public to access various facilities in the urban areas.

BJD renews call for special status to Odisha [ OTV ]

The special category status tag recently accorded to Seemandhra, the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh has drawn flak from the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) here which accused the UPA govt of “narrow mindset” and playing a “vote bank politics” when the general elections are round the corner.
Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) president Sanjay Dasburma addressing media persons on Sunday said the party is not against special status tag to the newly formed state, but is raising voice for a genuine and justified right.
“We are deeply shocked that Seemandhara has been accorded special category status and the UPA govt is still silent on this for Odisha which we have been demanding for long.”
Claiming that a special category status was Odisha’s ‘genuine’ right due to its backwardness, Dasburma said, “We are not at all denying special status to any state because it is sole discretion of the Centre to decide about it. But why Odisha is ignored when the Raghuram Rajan committee in its findings has already placed the state as the most backward one in the country.
This definitely shows the narrow mindset of the UPA Govt and the move has too exposed its dirty vote bank politics,” Dasburma rued.
The youth president said the youth wing would stage a dharna in front of the Raj Bhawan tomorrow protesting against the Centre’s apathy, and the statewide agitation would begin from Wednesday.
“We’ll stage a sit-in beginning February 26 at all thirty Collectorates of the state till our demand is met,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state Congress has downplayed move of the youth wing terming it as “false propaganda.”
Senior Congress leader Narasingh Mishra said, “Leaders cutting across party line must be united for a noble cause of the state but here a single political party which wants to take mileage if the tag is granted to Odisha in future.”
“I believe a cumulative effort must be initiated rather than an approach by a single party,” stated Mishra hinting at the ruling BJD.
He added, “Its nothing but the party wants to show the people of Odisha that it is more concerned about the state than any other.”
On Thursday Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said special status will be given for five years to Seemandhra region – the residual state of Andhra Pradesh following creation of a separate Telangana.

BJD alone can provide stable govt in Odisha: Naveen Patnaik [ PTI ]

Exuding confidence that the BJD will retain power for a fourth consecutive term in Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday said his party alone could provide a stable government in the state.

"The political scenario in Odisha indicates that the BJD alone can form the government in the state," Patnaik said at a public meeting here during his whirlwind tour of Kandhamal district.

Opposition Congress and BJP "are known as synonym to instability" and BJD alone could provide a stable government in the state, he said.

Stating that the people had extended their "wonderful" support to the BJD in the past, Patnaik hoped they would again do so in the ensuing elections as well to help BJD carry out all-round development of the state, including Kandhamal.

The reference to development of Kandhamal assumed significance as the district was marred by consecutive ethno-communal riots in 2007 and 2008 and relief and rehabilitation measures were still underway.

Patnaik said the BJD government was committed to fulfil the dreams of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik and the government could realise the same only with the people's support for another term in the office.

Patnaik addressed three public meetings at Phulbani, Dandapadar near Baliguda and Raikia, and inaugurated as many as 40 projects and programmes including 108 Ambulance service and the zonal office of Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) at Baliguda.

Naveen kicks off campaign from Hinjli [ PTI ]

Apparently taking a cue from Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) nationwide ‘Jhadu Chalao Yatra’ against corrupt politicians, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday formally launched BJD’s election campaign from Hunjilikatu, his Assembly constituency in Ganjam district highlighting the UPA’s govt’s neglect towards state.
The CM blew the conch, the regional party’s election symbol before addressing a massive rally. Later, he joined a similar rally at Duburi in Jajpur district.
The party’s statewide 13 day campaign ‘Sankha Bajao Swabhiman Banchao’ (Blow conch, save self respect) will continue till March 5.
According to party leaders, the aim of the programme is to highlight the Central neglect of Odisha in all spheres.
The campaign will also propagate the welfare schemes launched by the state government from its own resources.
A massive membership drive will also be carried out during the campaign. “We are expecting to add five lakh more to the nearly 35 lakh who are already members of the party by the end of the campaign,” a senior BJD leader said.
The party will also hold three mega congregations on March 5, the birth anniversary of Biju Patnaik after whom the party is named. While a youth congregation will be held in Bhubaneswar, a women’s congregation will be held in Berhampur.
A convention for farmers, and construction workers will be organised at Sambalpur.

Odisha CM lays foundation stones for two hospitals [ PTI ]

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today laid the foundation stones for two hospitals which are being promoted by Tata Steel at Gopalpur and Kalinga Nagar in the state’s Ganjam and Jajpur districts, respectively.
The two hospitals will have a combined capacity of 700 beds and house modern facilities. The steel major is to invest Rs 115 crore in the two projects.
Although both hospitals will begin with 200 beds each, the one at Gopalpur would be gradually upgraded to 500 beds.
The hospitals would have facilities for surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, pediatrics, ENT and pathology.
Tata Steel Chairman Cyrus P Mistry stressed on his company’s commitment to providing affordable healthcare infrastructure through various collaborations.
For the two hospitals inaugurated today, Tata Steel has joined hands with Medica Hospitals, a Kolkata-based healthcare specialist.

Naveen hits back at Modi, says he insulted people of Odisha[ PTI ]

Almost 10 days after Narendra Modi’s claim that people migrated to Gujarat in search of a livelihood, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said that the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate had insulted the people of Odisha.
“What he (Modi) has said is insulting to the people of Odisha. I am surprised that none of the BJP state leaders protested such words,” Patnaik told a public meeting in Ganjam district.
“Modi has been trying to divide people in terms of states. This is not acceptable for the country and its people,” Patnaik said.
State BJP spokesman Suresh Pujari, however, defended his party’s Prime Ministerial candidate and claimed that he did not attempt to insult the people from Odisha working in Gujarat.

Odia language gets classical tag [ OTV ]

Odias have a reason to cheer as Union Cabinet today gave its approval for classifying Odia as classical language. It is the sixth Indian language to get such prestigious tag after Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.
Even though the proposal of classical status to Odia language got approved in the National Language Commission, it was delayed for presentation in Union Cabinet due to some procedural delays in Home and Law departments. However, the proposal drew the attention of expert committee of the Ministry of Culture after MP Ramachandra Khuntia discussed the matter with the two ministries. Later, it moved to the cabinet secretariat.
The classical tag will give impetus to scholarship in this language. This apart, other benefits will be available for the Odia scholars like other five classical languages.
The benefits are- (i) Two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in Odia language. (ii) A ‘Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages’ can be set up. (iii) The University Grants Commission can be requested to create, to start with at least in Central Universities, a certain number of professional chairs for classical languages, for scholars of eminence in Odia language.
There has been a long-standing demand that Odia, which is one of the oldest languages and has no resemblance to Hindi, Sanskrit, Bengali, Telugu, etc, be declared as a classical language.

Odisha selected for Pilot Project for Vocational Education at Secondary Level

Because of State Government initiatives and efforts of Odisha Madhyamik Sikshya Mission, State has been included in the Pilot Project for vocational education at Secondary Level. A high level meeting to this effect was held today under The Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra in secretariat conference hall. 

Secretary School & Mass Education Smt Usha Padhee outlined the objectives of the scheme and placed the proposed Action Plan for discussion. It has been decided in the meeting that in the first phase the scheme will be piloted in 30 schools in different districts of the State from coming academic session. 

Chief Secretary Mohapatra has advised the department to choose those vocational trades which will link up students to the higher technical education and enhance their employability in job market after completion of formal education. Sri Mohapatra has also directed the department to link up the training with laboratories and workshops for hands on practice. It has also been decided that the programme will be carried on in close collaboration among of School & Mass Education, Employment Training and Technical Education, Higher Education and SC & ST Development departments.

Outlining the key elements of the programme, Secretary School & Mass Education Smt. Padhee said that it will be implemented within the broad principles National Vocational Education Qualification Framework ( NVEQF) and the State Level Vocational Education Monitoring Committee functioning under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary will be State level monitoring committee for the programme. The programme will provide for multiple entry and exist between vocational education, general education and job markets. The programme will be run in partnership with NSDC (National Skill Development Council) , NCERT ( National Council for Educational Research & Training) and Board of Secondary Education, Odisha. The department of School & Mass Education Govt of Odisha will be the apex authority of the project. It will be implemented through Odisha Madhyamik Sikshya Mission (OMSM). The State Project Director of OMSM has been designated as the Nodal officer for implementation of the project.

It has been decided in the meeting that the subjects like IT & IT enabled Services, Automobiles and Construction will be taken up as vocational trades. Each subject will be taught for 200 hours in class 9th and 10th.

 This will be an additional qualification for the students passing out BSE exam and will have no relations with general examination of HSE. It will be piloted in 30 schools in first phase. The students passing out with good performance in these subjects will be given extra weightage for their admission in to diploma and ploy technique institutions. Secretary E and T & TE Dr Chndra Sekhar Kumar, present in the meeting has been advised by Chief Secretary to locate good laboratories and workshops where students will be provided practical training and hands on practice. Available data shows the total project cost is around Rs 940 lakhs which will be shared by both the Central and State Government on 75:25 ratio. Out of this Rs 470 lakhs have been released by Central Government.

 State Govt will release Rs.87.6 lakhs the funds very soon as and when central share is received as per the provisions. Sources say, the funds will be utilized at the rate of Rs 33 lakhs per school. Chief Secretary has directed the departments of School and Mass education to strengthen computer labs of the schools. The E and T & TE department has also been asked to strengthen the laboratories and workshops of Poly Technique Institutions where these students will be given practical training. Additional Chief Secretary Finance Sri U.N.Behera, Secretary Higher Education Sri Gagan Kumar Dhal, Secretary SC & ST Development Sri Sanjeeb Mishra along with other high officials of respective departments participated in discussion.

 

Odisha State Road Transport Corporation plans to raise its fleet strength to 1000 in 5 years

Odisha State Road Transport Corporation has procured 103 new buses for providing services in hilly and backward areas of the State during the year 2012-13 and 2013-14. It has started planning to raise its fleet strength to 1000 in the coming 5 years. 

The Government have also given consent to provide 8 crores rupees per year for this purpose. OSRTC has also purchased 100 new buses this year providing much needed passenger connectivity in L.W.E. affected areas of the State.

Today 29 Hi-Tech buses are all set to press into service for the traveling of passengers in remote areas. These buses will operate through 14 depots of O.S.R.T.C. The Government of Odisha has provided Rs 8 crores towards share capital contribution and OSRTC also invested Rs 17 crores from its own resources for purchase of above buses.

As the Hi-Tech buses are equipped with high quality technology, these will ensure the passengers for comfortable and safe journey. After operation of these 29 buses, the fleet strength of OSRTC has gone upto 470.

It is matter of pride that OSRTC has been awarded the “State Transport Corporation with least cost of operations” prize during the National Conference of All State Transport Corporation held in Jodhpur in January’14. This award includes 1 lakh cash prize and a trophy.

Besides above, OSRTC has also been awarded for least accident rate among the all S.T.Us of the country for the year 2011-12.

Odisha Govt signs MoU with JK Trust-Gram Vikash Yojana for 64 Integrated Livestock Dev. (ILD) Centers in 3 districts

A Memorandum of Understanding is signed today between the Government of Odisha and JK Trust-Gram Vikash Yojana in the presence of  Minister Agriculture & F & ARD and H&UD Sri Debi Prasad Mishra.

JK Trust-Gram Vikash Yojana is currently implementing a programme for Cattle Bred Improvement in 13 tribal districts namely Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangapur, Kalahandi, Ganjam, Nuapada, Baragarh, Sundargarh, Balasore, Mayrbhanj, Keonjhar and Boudh of Odisha. This programme complements the efforts of F& ARD Department, government of Odisha in strengthening the animal breeding and vet. support services in tribal and remote areas of the state. The programme which is being funded by the ST & SC Dev. Department, Government ofOdisha envisages setting up of 620 ILD Centers and these centers have already been established and functioning very satisfactorily since last 1 and half years. The ILD Centers provide Artificial Insemination and other veterinary support services at the door steps of the farmers. 

Till January 2014, a total on 1,35,00 AIs have been performed and more than 6000 crossbred and upgraded calves produced, Besides, these centers also performed about 35,000 castrations, attended 96,000 first aid cases, provided vaccinations of 4,00,000 lakhs animals and deworming to 85000 animals. JK Trust-Gram Vikash Yojana is also operating 4 Mobile Veterinary clinics covering about 250-300 centers in 6 districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nawarangapur, Rayagada and Ganjam to provide expert veterinary services to the farmers.

In order to extend the above services to other uncovered areas, the F&ARD Department, Government of Odisha decided to start 64 Integrated Livestock Development Centers in 3 districts of Cuttack, Dhenkanal and Nayagarh. The project will cover about 1000 villages in 100 GPs. During the implementation of this 5 year cattle breed improvement project, it is expected that about 15,000 cross bred cattle breed improvement project, it is expected that about 15,000 cross bred and upgraded calves of high genetic merit and having higher milk production potential will be produced thereby providing a sustainable livelihood to the dairy farmers of these areas.

Among others Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sri Bishnupada Sethi, Director ARD Sri Srikant Prusty, Joint Secretary Sri Raghunandan Mishra, Joint Director Dr. Uma Shanakr Patra, Regional Director JK Trust P.V.K. Parikar, State Project Convener JK Trust Sri Arun Upadhaya, Chief Executive Officer Odisha Livestock Resources Development Society were present.

 

CM Naveen Patnaik launches E- Vidyalaya program

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today launches ambitious E- Vidyalaya program at Bhubaneswar. On this occasion CM Patnaik addressed the students through video conferencing.

In first phase E- Vidyalaya program will be implemented in 4000 high schools and second phase it will be implemented 2000 high schools. On this program the state government will set up ICT Lab and Multimedia Internet Lab in these schools. 

During this occasion School and Mass Education Minister Rabi Naryan Nanda, Chief Secretary JK Mohapatra and other officials present. 

 

Odisha CM urges Union Law Minister to initiate steps to establishment of High Court Benches in Western & Southern Odisha

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today  urges Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal to initiate steps to establishment of High Court Benches in Western & Southern Odisha. CM Patanik today writes a letter on this regard to Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal.

CM Patnaik in his letter said that, “Kindly refer to my letter dated 28th September, 2013 wherein I had requested you to urgently initiate steps with regard to establishment of High Court Benches in Western and Southern Odisha to meet the justified aspirations of the people of these two regions. I had also conveyed the assurance ot the State Government for provision of adequate funds and other resources required for establishment of these two benches.”

Patnaik further added that, “You were kind enough to reply to my above letter vide your D0. of 23rd October, 2013 stating inter alia that the request of the State Government has been forwarded to the Chief Justice, Orissa High Court to examine the case and send his views in the matter. In the said letter you had also stated that further action would be taken by Govt. of India based on the response from the High Court.”

CM Patnaik said that, “In View of the persisting agitation by the people of both the regions I would urge upon you to engage with the Orissa High Court for an early response based on which I am hopeful that a favourable solution can emerge to fulfill this long pending demand.”

Earlier today Finance Minister Prasanna Aeharya, Industries Minister Niranjan Pujari and BJD MLAs from Western Odisha met the Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik at Secretariat and discussed about the issue of High Court Bench and the Letter to Union Law Minister Shri Kapil Sibal in this regard.

It may be recalled that the Central Action Committee, Sambalpur also met the Law Minister Maheswar Mohanty on this issue.