Odisha Samachar: International day for older people celebrated in O...

Odisha Samachar: International day for older people celebrated in O...: Bhubaneswar : October 1, is observed as the International day for older people. Each Year, HelpAge India marks this day by acknowledg...

Odisha Samachar: International day for older people celebrated in O...

Odisha Samachar: International day for older people celebrated in O...: Bhubaneswar : October 1, is observed as the International day for older people. Each Year, HelpAge India marks this day by acknowledg...

Role of civil societies in making of legislations

[Symposium on ‘Role of civil societies in making of legislations’ held on 28 Sept 2011 at 4.30 PM in Bar Association Hall, Odisha High Court, Cuttack convened by Lawyers’ Academy to mark 11^th Capacity Building Workshop

President – Sri Biswa Mohan Patnaik, Sr. Advocate and President of Odisha High Court Bar Association

Chief Guest and Synthesizer- Justice Sri R.K.Patra, Chairperson State Human Rights Commission, Odisha 

Welcome Address by Sri Santosh Kumar Nanda, Advocate

Introduction of the dignitaries on the dais by Mr. Gurudatta Kar, Advocate

Mr.Nigamanand Das, Advocate introduced Lawyers’ Academy and topic of the Symposium

Speakers –Prof Dr. Pradip Kumar Sarkar, Mr.Ram Chandra Ray Advocate, Mr. Basudev Pujari Advocate, Mr.Chitta Ranjan Behera Advocate and Socio-legal Activist]

Talk by Chitta Behera

Mr. Chitta Behera’s turn came following the talk delivered by Prof. P.K. Sarkar, and was followed by Justice Sri R.K.Patra who addressed the house as its Chief Guest and Synthesizer. Deviating from the pattern of speaking in English followed by other speakers, Mr.Behera spoke in Oriya, using English only where he felt necessary to use excerpts and quotes from other sources to elucidate his contention. He spoke as follows-

As of today, the question as to whether the civil society has any role in making of the laws, the topic of the evening is only a scholastic one, worth being taken up for the purpose of debates in schools and colleges, where the participating students are more concerned with the academic aspects, rather than practical implications of the given topic. Why I say so? Because, the strident march of events in last six months (April to September 2011) has culminated in conclusively establishing one very simple but profound lesson of history i.e. the civil society or for that matter the members of public are not an ordinary player, but a pioneer in the matter of giving articulation to what kind of legislation the nation requires on the pressing issues of the day. Everyone of this house knows that the Central Government, of course bowing before the Anna-led nation-wide agitation for Jan Lokpal Bill, agreed to constitute an 11-member Joint Drafting Panel on Lokpal Bill taking 5 persons from Team Anna representing the civil society side as its members and brought out a notification to that effect on 8^th April 2011. Then we also noticed that not only the Central Government, but also the entire Parliament, yielding to the overwhelming impact of Anna’s 2^nd fast from 16 to 28 August last declared to treat Jan Lokpal Bill version 2.3 as a crucial document for deliberations by the members of Joint Parliamentary Committee and by Parliamentarians at large. After this let’s not dispute as to whether the civil society has any role to play in making of laws or not. The proposition that the civil society has a pre-eminent role to play in the making of any law that concerns the life of common people is no longer a moral or intellectual precept, but a well acknowledged stark reality of our national life. In this sense, the topic of today’s evening is dated and devoid of relevance.

Given the above backdrop, the question that deserves to be debated by this august gathering of legal practitioners and pundits, is the very rationale of Anna phenomenon. To put the question more pointedly, why a person from civil society like Anna Hazare had to tell all of us that the entire corpus of anti-corruption legal-administrative dispensation that is in place across the country as of now is filled with a plethora of loopholes and deserves to be reformed and replaced by a new, fool-proof one? As most of you know, Sri Hazare whose formal education is less than matriculation won’t fit into this platform, because unlike you he doesn’t know the nitty-gritty of any law nor can he speak in English. How is it that a huge spectrum of people including cross sections from among the political leaders, Government personnel and legal fraternity could feel the resonance in Anna’s deadly critical discourse on the faulty system of governance that is in place today? It is simply because, every pillar of our State edifice, be it legislature, executive or judiciary has not only failed to curb corruption, but also directly or indirectly entrained and sheltered it. The common people, squarely fed up as they were with large scale corruption in every sphere of public life, could readily release their deep-seated anguish against graft and mal-governance by way of identifying and solidarising with Anna’s Jan Lokpal Bill as the one window beacon for a corruption free India.

But the question arises, is there no Constitutional scheme in place in respect of making or remaking of laws, especially as and when necessary to curb corruption? As you know, an overall Scheme for the purpose is very much laid out there in the Constitution.  Needless to say, it is the Parliament and State legislatures which are supposed to make laws in respect of every matter. The administration or bureaucracy is entrusted with making of sub-ordinate legislation in the shape of Rules and Regulations. The laws including sub-ordinate legislations are implemented by the administration. The Ministers who are members of the legislature head different departments and thus serve as leaders of the executive. It is now the Judiciary which is entrusted with the power to review as to whether the laws so made were proper and effective in respect of their construction and whether the implementation of the laws so made was undertaken properly as per their letter and spirit. Thus, it is the judiciary which has been endowed by the Constitution with the supreme power to set aright the faulty construction or faulty implementation of any law.

Article 141 of the Constitution says, “Law declared by Supreme Court to be binding upon all Courts- The law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all Courts within the territory of India.” It means that the law declared by Supreme Court is the law of the land. It is a precedent for itself and for all Courts /tribunals and authorities in India [Rupa Ashok Hurra v Ashok Hurra (2002) 4 SCC]. Article 32 of the Constitution confers unfettered powers upon the Supreme Court to issue direction to any public authority so as to remedy infringement of any fundamental right guaranteed to every citizen of India. Similar writ powers have been entrusted to High Courts under Article 226 to redress such cases of infringement within their respective jurisdictions. Thus the higher judiciary is in a position to review any law and suggest amendment to any law. But the moot point arises whether the Supreme Court and High courts have exercised such powers entrusted to them in respect of plugging the loopholes in the anti-corruption laws of the country. Has the Supreme Court or any High Court, for instance, suggested removal of Section 19 from Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, which requires the previous sanction of the concerned competent authority before investigating or prosecuting any public servant against whom the allegation of corruption has been lodged? In fact, as you might know, Section 19 of PC Act is the crux of the debate between Government and Anna Team, with the former insisting on its retention and the latter its removal. As a matter of fact, Section 19 of PC Act is the villain of the piece owing to which such investigating agencies as CBI at Centre or State Vigilance Wings are not able to arrest, enquire into and prosecute the public servants including the Ministers and bureaucrats, who are in the good book of the ruling party or coalition of parties. So long Section 19 is retained in the PC Act, there is absolutely no hope that CBI or for that matter State Vigilance would ever act as independent and autonomous bodies in the matter of deterrence to corruption. If Supreme Court or any High Court would have reviewed the PC Act and issued a direction for removing its biggest loophole i.e. Section 19, there won’t have appeared an Anna Hazare to voice such concern.  

It is not a fact at all that the judges of Supreme Court or High Courts are not aware about their powers in respect of review and amendment to laws in general and to laws related to corruption in particular. They are in fact very much aware about the sweeping powers entrusted to them. As you know, the apex Court formulated certain Guidelines on Sexual Harassment at Workplace [Vishaka and others V. State of Rajasthan and others (AIR 1997 SUPREME COURT 3011)], which are till date treated as having the force of law across the whole country. Similarly, Supreme Court had formulated elaborate guidelines on Adoption of Children while disposing of the case L.K.Pandey vs Union of India (WP No 1171 of 1982), which are still adhered to by all concerned agencies and parties involved in the process of in-country or inter-country child adoption. Such guidelines also informed the text of Juvenile Justice Act 1986, 2006 and amendment of 2006. It shows that if the Supreme Court or a High Court would ever wish, they could have directed the suitable amendment of anti-corruption laws. 

Rather, it has been found that some High Courts abusing the writ powers entrusted to them by the Constitution have issued such arbitrary directions as have caused substantial detriment to the public interest. For instance, in July 2008 Orissa High Court hearing the plea of Society of Retired Forest Officers Association issued a stay order on the implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006, which was vacated in August 2009. Due to this reason, Orissa lagged behind other States in respect of implementation of FRA 2006, which is a progressive Central law, enacted with a view to issuing of Patta over forest land to STs and other traditional forest dwellers. The retrograde stay clamped by Orissa High Court was a mark of arbitrary exercise of plenary power bestowed on it under Article 226 of the Constitution. The question arises, is there any mechanism to hold any judge of a superior court accountable for his mindless judgments or directions? The answer is an emphatic no. As a matter of fact, the Constitution has unequivocally granted the independence of judiciary, which is a sacrosanct principle under any democracy and it was expected that the judiciary itself shall evolve elaborate norms of transparency and accountability in respect of its own conduct. But during last so many decades, it has conspicuously failed to devise the same despite recommendation issued to that effect by several illustrious bodies including National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution chaired by Justice M.N.Venkatachaliah.   

On the contrary the higher judiciary was found to be involved in exercising the power to punish somebody for contempt of itself as permissible under Articles 129 and 142 of the Constitution with much gusto. Everybody knows the case of E. M. Sankaran Namboodiripad vs T. Narayanan Nambiar 1970 AIR 2015, 1971 SCR (1) 697 in which the apex court upheld the Kerala High Court’s verdict against EMS Namboodiripad for his liability for contempt of court. Then again, the apex Court applying its original jurisdiction held on 6^th March 2002 the noted writer Mrs. Arundhati Roy [SUO MOTU CONTEMPT PETITION (CRL) NO. 10 OF 2001] guilty of contempt of court for her critical writings and utterances on the role of Supreme Court in the context of Narmada Bachao Andolan. Applying the criteria underlined by Justice Markandeya Katzu for any superior court to exercise their original power to punish for contempt of itself, the above two instances would appear to be unwelcome aberrations committed by Superior Court. According to Justice Katzu, the contempt power of the court is like a Brahmastra, which can only be applied once and that too in an extreme situation, that is, when somebody or a group, by their acts of violence or vandalism make the functioning of court impossible. Otherwise, the court should look upon every piece of criticism however harsh or pinching against a judge or even an entire court as an exercise by the concerned individual of his or her fundamental right to freedom of expression as guaranteed under Article 19(1) of the Constitution.    

It is in this context that we would do well to attend to what Justice Katzu says on the attitude of Judges towards the public whom he considers as their true masters. In an article ‘Contempt of Court : Need for a Fresh Look’ the then Judge of Supreme Court wrote inter alia the following -   “The basic principle in a democracy is that the people are supreme. It follows that all authorities, whether Judges, Legislators, Ministers, Bureaucrats, etc. are servants of the people. Thus, the preamble to the Constitution of India states: ‘We, The People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC …. IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixty day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUION’. These words emphasize the republican and democratic character of our Constitution, and show that all power ultimately stems from the People. Once this concept of popular sovereignty is kept firmly in mind it becomes obvious that the people of India are the masters and all authorities in India (including the Courts) are their servants. Surely the master has the right to criticize the servant if the servant does not act or behave properly. . . . The Constitution has no doubt been created by the people. But this instrument has itself created the Courts.”

 

This long quotation from Justice Katzu also throws light on the topic of the day. If the three organs of our State edifice, legislature, executive and judiciary have failed to discharge their obligations to provide good governance for the country during so many decades post independence, civil society persons like Mr.Anna Hazare representing the vast multitude of this nation and our true masters have an indisputable right to take any of the authorities to task, because the latter being the tax-payers are ultimately our task masters. And all the authorities including the judiciary have a bounden obligation to listen to them with respect and patience and carry out faithfully whatsoever is just and legitimate in their demands.  

International day for older people celebrated in Orissa by Help Age India

Bhubaneswar : October 1, is observed as the International day for older people. Each Year, HelpAge India marks this day by acknowledging the significant roles that the elders play in our society & brings the issues that affect them to the forefront. On this occasion, HelpAge India, Orissa branch  organised  a Walkathon  along with signature campaign for generating awareness among the public on the eve of “International day of older persons” followed by a meeting on 30th Sept’11 at  10 am at Jayadev Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.

The walkathon was flagged off by Sri Purna Chandra Sethy, Hon’ble MLA, Khalikote on 30^th Sept’11 at 8.45 am at master canteen square.  About 150 students  participated in the walkathon with the badges “I LOVE MY GRANDPARENTS”. HelpAge India started student Action for Value Education campaign on  this occasion. Sri Sabyasachi a famous actor  from the film industry of Odisha  joined  the walkathon at Master Canteen square at 8.45 am for our cause.

The walkathon was received by Senior citizens & other delegates at Jayadev Bhawan, Bhubaneswar at 9.30 Am. The students presented red rose to the senior citizens on this occasion.

The meeting was started at Jayadev Bhawan at 10.00 am. Mr. Jagadananda, State Information Commissioner inaugurated the function by lighting the lamp. The Students from BJEM School sang the SAVE (student Action for Value Education) Anthem.  Sri Suresh Chandra Mantry, IAS (Retd), General Manager, The Samaj was the Guest of Honor on this occasion. Mrs. Susmita Ghose, National Director- HelpAge India welcomed the guests & others present & gave a detailed presentation on the programmes of HelpAge India & also the objectives of SAVE on this occasion.

Mr. Jagadananda, State Information Commissioner highlighted the importance of formation of Citizen Assistance Centre in the state, district & block level & implementation of State Policy for Older persons in our state. Sri Suresh Chandra Mantry, IAS (Retd), General Manager, the Samaj spoke about the decline of family values. He gave importance on sensitization on elder care in the family and the community at large. He assured to take up the issues through their popular Newspaper daily “The Samaj”, so that the message could reach to each & every corner of the state.

HelpAge India Odisha branch felicitated  Sri Nrusingha Charan Tripathy, Sri Bhabani Shankar Pattnaik, Sri Ganesh Prasad Mohanty, & Sri jayakrushna Samal  on this occasion due to their immense contribution to  Society.

The students took pledge to love, respect & care for the elderly on this occasion.

The senior citizens & teachers shared their views & experience to the auspicious gathering.

Rashmi Mohanty , state head – Odisha  highlighted the  efforts of  HelpAge India in Odisha for the betterment of senior citizens & gave vote of thanks to all  for making the programme a success. Panchanan Pradhan, Programme Manager, Odisha was the master of ceremonies.

CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS By HelpAge India ON 30TH SEPT’11 AT JAYADEV BHAWAN, BHUBANESWAR.

Bhubaneswar : October 1, is observed as the International day for older people. Each Year, HelpAge India marks this day by acknowledging the significant roles that the elderly play in our society & bringing the issues that affect them to the forefront. On this occasion, HelpAge India, Orissa branch is organizing a Walkathon for generating awareness among the public on eve of “International day of older persons” followed by a meeting on 30th Sept’11 at  10 am at Jayadev Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.

The walkathon will start from Master Canteen Square on 30^th Sept’11 at 8.40 am & will end at Jayadev Bhawan.  About 150 students will participate in the walkathon with the badges “I LOVE MY GRANDPARENTS”. Few celebrities from the film industry of Odisha will join with the walkathon at Master Canteen square at 8.45 am for our cause.

The walkathon will be received by Senior citizens & delegates at Jayadev Bhawan, Bhubaneswar at 09.30 Am followed by a meeting at 10 Am.  Mr. Jagadananda, State Information Commissioner has given his kind consent to be the Chief Guest , Sri Sahadev Sahoo ,IAS ( Retd) ,Ex- Chief Secretary, Govt of Odisha  &  Sri Suresh Chandra Mantry, IAS ( Retd), General Manager, The Samaj  would be the Guest of Honor on this occasion. Mrs. Susmita Ghose, National Director- HelpAge India will also present on this occasion.

HelpAge India Odisha branch will be felicitated  Sri Nrusingha Charan Tripathy Sri Bhabani Shankar Pattnaik, Sri Ganesh Prasad Mohanty, & Sri jayakrushna Samal  on this occasion due to their immense contribution to the Society.

Students will sing the SAVE Anthem & take pleadge on this occasion.

Students will be performed a one act play on CARING FOR ELDERS AND PARENTS AGAINST THE DECLINING VALUES.

NLUO decided to join Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) of 2012

Bhubaneswar : National Law University, Orissa (NLUO) has finally decided to join Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) of 2012.  The decision was taken at the meeting of the University Executive Council chaired by Prof. (Dr.) Faizan Mustafa, Vice-Chancellor, NLUO. Executive Council members Hon’ble Justice Indrajit Mohanty, Judge, Orissa High Court, Ashok Mohanty, Advocate General, Prof. (Dr.) N.L Mitra, Former Vice-Chancellor, National Law School of India University, Bangalore, Gopalkrishnan Mohanty, Chairman, Orissa State Bar Council, Prof. (Dr.) Balraj Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor, Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow also attended the meeting.

NLUO, which came into being in 2009, was conducting its own admission test till date. For the last three consecutive years, the NLUO admission test was receiving highest compliments from renowned evaluators of law tests from all over the country. The university has already attained national stature as it comprises of students from 28 states. Every year the number of students appearing in its entrance test has been doubling. However, the Executive Council has taken a stand to become a part of the mainstream law entrance test because the students shall now give higher preference to NLUO due to good reputation carved by it in the last three years.

What sets NLUO apart from other law schools is its integration of knowledge by the adoption of an interdisciplinary approach: a student from a Social Science stream can opt for a Management course and vice-versa.  The introduction of courses like Mining Law, Food Law, Water Law, Energy Law, Agricultural Law and Legal Journalism also adds to the uniqueness of the university. In addition, NLUO has also launched a unique conjoint Ph.D-LLM program that will include intensive teachers’ training program, Educational Psychology, learning tools and stipends. Unlike other Ph.D courses offered nationwide, this research program by NLUO provides LLM degree as a by product.

Through the above mentioned educational innovations and many more to come, the Vice-Chancellor envisages NLUO to become the best legal destination in the country in the next five years. 

RDC directed dist admin to conduct an inquiry regarding false payment of Rs 44 lakh to fake beneficaries towards Posco compensation

Report by Amarnath Parida

JAGATSINGHPUR - By the direction of Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Central range, district administration issued notice against four Pro Posco villagers cum the members of Dadhibmanjew Gramya forest committee of Nuagaon panchyat for illegal payment of Rs 44 lakh towards compensation of prawn gheri by producing fake document and prawn gheri in pen and paper during land acquisition and chopping down of trees for Posco steel project.
Sources said that district administration had allegedly paid Rs 59 lakh to the members of this committee being identified as the supporters of Posco project towards the compensation of prawn gheri to expedite the chopping down of trees during land acquisition for Posco project and to generate the public support in favour of this project. As per the decision of Rehabilitation Peripheral Development Advisory Committee, administration disbursed Rs 2 lakh per acre of prawn gheri towards compensation in last July during land acquisition for Posco project.
District officials without verifying the land document, land receipt regarding payment of revenue towards lease of prawn pond and spot visit of these ponds, disbursed Rs 18.50 lakh to four groups while rest Rs 3 lakh has been given to other three members of Dadhibaman jew forest committee. After receiving these huge amount of compensation towards prawn gheri, nearly 100 members of these committee also shared this amount among themselves and also extended their full support and cooperation to the district administration to fell down the trees in which administration had acquired nearly 30 acres of prawn gheri and chopped down of nearly one lakh trees including casuarinas, fruit bearing trees from the region of Dadhibaman group in Nuagaon panchyat.
The villagers of Mathsahi of this panchyat who are protesting Posco project have claimed that district officials have disbursed Rs 44 lakh out of Rs 59 lakh to fake beneficiary by manipulating the document and showing fake 22 aces prawn gheri in the name of Posco supporters including the members of Dadhibamanjew forest committee to expedite land acquisition and chopping down the trees for Posco project. They have alleged that the villagers of Mathsahi have been taken the lease of these 22 acres of prawn gheri by giving revenue to the government but revenue officials have allegedly paid the compensation Rs 44 lakh to fake beneficiaries by ignoring them as they are protesting to Posco project.
Meanwhile, four villagers including Pursottama Das , Duryodhan Pradhan and two others of Mathsahi village under Nuagaon pnchyat have appealed near RDC, central range that revenue officials have allegedly paid Rs 44 lakh in favour of four fake beneficiaries Lalit Samantray , Raghu Mantry, Nandakishore Swain and Rasmiranjan Swain by developing nexus relation with district officials to expedite land acquisition process of Posco project. They have also produced land receipt (pauti) towards the lease of prawn gheri since 15 to 20 years but four members of Dadhibaman jew committee without taking lease and paying the revenue have received Rs 44 lakh towards compensation by manipulation and submission of fake document.
Pursottama Das has alleged ‘one racket is in active to expedite Posco work by paying lakhs of rupees to fake beneficiaries to expedite Posco land acquisition process. We have sought the intervention of RDC, central range to unearth racket by producing our genuine document to get our compensation towards prawn gheri’. He added.
After getting the directive from RDC, Kujang tahsildar Basudev Pradhan has also issued notice against four members of Dadhibaman jew committee for receiving Rs 44 lakh by producing fake land document and prawn gheri during land and acquisition process. Mr Pradhan has expressed that only one member Mr Rasmi Swain has received this notice while other three members have not yet received the same notice.
Posco supporter cum the member of Dadhibamanjew committee Mr Lalit Samantray has confessed’ he has no receipt regarding the revenue towards lease of prawn gheri but he and another one Sujeet Swain have received Rs 18.50 lakh towards compensation as we are occupying these prawn ghery. Land receipt is not sufficient proof regarding the lease of prawn gheri- he clarified.
Other members of Dadhibaman jew committee has expressed ‘it is totally matter of conspiracy the officials who have issued same notice regarding false payment of compensation have involved the identification of these beneficiaries to pay the same compensation’.
Special Land Acquisition Officer Mr Nrunsing Swain has expressed that payment regarding the compensation of prawn ghery has been made to these beneficiaries after getting the report of Kujang tahsildar and revenue inspector of Nuagaon so there is no question fake payment.

Former Prime Minister of Nepal Visits KISS

Bhubaneswar : Former Prime Minister of Nepal, Hon'ble Shri Jhala Nath Khanal went around different campuses of KIIT University and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) during his visit to the institute recently. Shri Khanal, who led a 10-member delegation from Nepal, had a long interaction with 15,000 tribal children of KISS.

Addressing the students of KISS, Shri Khanal highlighted rich cultural, traditional and political contacts between India and Nepal. He informed about recent situation of Nepal. Shri Khanal advised the students to lead a disciplined life, citing examples from his own life in which he overcame many hurdles to become the Prime Minister of Nepal. He told them to make it a mission to remove poverty and exploitation from the society.

It may be mentioned that Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS had met him during his visit to Nepal for a programme in February this year. On that occasion, Dr. Samanta had briefed him about KIIT & KISS and invited him to visit the institutes. Shri Khanal, who resigned from the post of Prime Minister of Nepal within only 21 days, kept his assurance to visit KIIT & KISS. Wife, Ravilaxmi Chitrakar and son, Nirbhik, besides a delegation from Nepal, accompanied him.

Dr. Samanta expressed gratitude to Shri Jhala Nath Khanal for his visit to KIIT & KISS. Prof. A. S. Kolaskar, Vice Chancellor of KIIT University and Dr. P. K. Routaray, CEO, KISS were present on the occasion.                  

Handicap International has started Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Management Program in West Bengal

Bhubaneswar : ‘Persons with disabilities are more vulnerable to disaster impacts due to the physical conditions and social environment and they are often left out or invisible in the entire cycle of disaster risk reduction and response at the community level. This is an area where we all need to look at and work together to ensure that no one is left out’ said Debabrata Pal, Additional Secretary, Department of Disaster Management. ‘Government of West Bengal is happy that Handicap International has brought a new dimension of inclusive disaster risk management process in the state, from which both state and non-state actors working on disaster and disability issues would learn and can replicate the best practices’ he added. He was addressing the State level Concept Sharing Workshop on the project ‘Make Community Based Disaster Risk Management Inclusive in South Asia’ supported by European Commission Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) organized on Thursday, 22^nd September 2011 at Hotel Kenilworth, Kolkata, West Bengal. The project is being implemented in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan simultaneously and works at various levels to include communities, disaster risk management and disability organizations and policy making institutions in mainstreaming disability in disaster risk management.

Welcoming the initiatives, Mita Banerjee, Disability Commissioner, Government of West Bengal emphasized on the mass awareness generation on accessing the rights and entitlements of persons with disabilities at all levels by saying that her office has started a ‘Disability Census’ across the state to have a practical databank of various types of persons with disabilities with age specification, which is independent of the Census 2011.

The objective of the project is  reducing the vulnerability of Indian populations living in areas most affected by natural disasters, by increasing the awareness and the response capacities of local communities to potential and frequent natural disasters and to reduce the effects on the most vulnerable’ mentioned David Gauthier, Country Director, Handicap International India.

In India, the project is being implemented in two states – West Bengal and Orissa. In West Bengal, the project is focusing on 7 communities in Daspara Sumati Nagar II Gram Panchayat of Sagar block, South 24 Parganas district in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Management and the Office of the Commissioner, Persons with Disabilities (Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare), Government of West Bengal.

The broad activities planned under the project are enhancing capacities of persons with disabilities by understanding their needs, providing assistive devices and linking them with mainstream development activities including community based disaster risk reduction activities. Simultaneously, activities such as sensitization and training of the disability inclusive Village Disaster Management Committee and Task Force members, Panchayati Raj Institution members, government and non government actors are planned to enhance their capacities at different levels to mainstream disability in community based disaster risk reduction process. A major component of the program includes hardware activities, such as modification of the shelters to make them accessible for all, including persons with disabilities. Each shelter, it is planned, will have basic equipments of Search & Rescue and First Aid along with disability friendly equipments.

Among others Shyam Sundar Vinayak, Asst. Commissioner, Disability, Subhasish Debnath, UNDP, Subhalaxmi Basu, Disaster Management Officer and Tushar Chattapadhyay, District Social Welfare Officer, South 24 Parganas, Bharat Mandal, Pradhan, Daspara Sumatinagar II Gram Panchayat, Sagar, Rina Mohanty, SMRC, Bhubaneswar, Handicap International India officials Bindya Vachhani, Srinibas Panda, Shyamal Kishore Das, Annie Patri, John Animesh Gomes and around 50 dignitaries were present in the workshop and shared their views.

Accenture Picks up 251 KIITians in Campus Placement

Bhubaneswar : Dream run of KIIT students in the ongoing campus placement continues as 251 students bag job offers from Accenture on 22^nd September 2011. This comes on the heels of job offers to a record 708 KIIT students by Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) earlier this week. The selected students, who would be passing out in 2012, belong to B.Tech, M.Tech and MCA streams of the University.

Recruitment team of Accenture, a top IT company, was overwhelmed with the profile of KIIT students with 251 out of 412 candidates who participated in the selection process making it to the final list. KIIT is a regular talent hunting ground for the company. Excellent performance of students selected in previous years might have proved an encouraging factor for the company this year resulting in such a large number of job offers.

KIIT is the only campus of Odisha where Accenture visited for campus recruitment. Campus visits of Accenture, like two other reputed companies - Deloitte and Kennametal, for recruitment are very limited and includes only IITs and KIIT.

Like previous years, KIIT graduates are in high demand both in IT and core companies. Besides TCS and Accenture, companies including Shapoorji Pallonji, TATA Steel, Atkins, SAP and Deloittes also selected more than 100 KIIT students, whereas campus placement by companies like Wipro, Siemens, Capgemini, Aricent, Siemens and Punjlloyd are scheduled during the month end.

It is just the start of placement season at KIIT and most of the students of 2012 passing out batch are placed. At the end of the placement season, each student is likely to have two to four job offers. Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS expressed his happiness at the continued success of KIIT students.

       

     

KISS inks MoU with Intel Technology

Bhubaneswar: Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) and Intel Technology India Private Limited agreed upon a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 22nd September 2011. The MoU was signed between Ms. Valsa Williams, Head, Corporate Affairs (N & E), Intel and Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS.

Briefing about the MoU, Ms. Williams said that most of the Intel’s programmes are run in association with Central or State Governments. This is the first-time Intel will be sharing its programme with a non-government organization. Describing KISS as a wonderful initiative by Dr. Samanta, she said that it is an excellent opportunity for Intel to express its corporate social responsibility through KISS.

The MoU focuses on introducing sustainable professional development practices for the teachers in the K-12 segment through Intel-Teach curriculum and promoting inventions and innovations among students through IRIS-Intel. It also seeks to promote literacy among tribal youth and out of school children through the Intel Learn Programme. Focus would be on hands-on approach to ICT learning for under-served children in the age group 8-16.

Expressing gratitude to Ms. Williams and other officials of Intel, Dr. Samanta said that various programmes to be undertaken as a result of the MoU would provide exposure to tribal students of KISS on modern ICT technology.         

Mr. Indranil Samaddar, Manager, Business Development, Intel; Mr. Srinivas Tadigadapa, Programme Manager, South Asia, Intel World Ahead Programme; Mr. K. C. Mishra, Director, eKutir; Mr. Sriniwas Garudachar, Director, Grameen; Prof. Ashok S. Kolaskar, Vice Chancellor, KIIT University; Dr. Sasmita Samanta, Registrar; Dr. P. K. Routray and other officials of KIIT, KISS and Intel were present at the signing ceremony.

Intel is an ultimate subsidiary company of Intel Corporation and has been developing technology, which enables the computer and internet.

Ananada Marga plans to open agriculture cooperatives in flood-hit pockets

Bhubaneswar: Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT), a leading social arm of Ananda Marga, plans to launch agriculture co-operative forums in the flood-hit pockets of Orissa. The proposed forums would serve as platform to provide minimum support to the affected farmers to resume their activity.

Speaking to reporters here, Acharya Lokatitananda Avadhut, central AMURT coordinator, said the peasants would be supplied with seeds, manure and technical knowhow to undertake cultivation.

“We are deeply shocked to see the sorry state of affairs in the flood-hit pockets. The farmers are the worst-hit. They have lost their standing paddy crop. They need support to resume the Ravi crop and we are planning to support them in the best possible ways,” said Avadhut.

The seer also stated that AMURT was planning to launch Adarsh Jagaran Pathsala, a special programme for the all-round development of children of socio-economically weaker sections.

“Besides, AMURT is planning to start yoga classes and spiritual programmes for the villagers. Special skill development training programmes are being chalked out for the socio-economic empowerment and self-reliance of the village youths and the women,” he added.

It may be mentioned here that AMURT activists undertook massive relief and rescue operations, sanitation and healthcare drives in the flood-affected pockets such as Marsaghai, Mahakalapara and Garadpur in Kendrapara district, Gop, Delang and Kanas in Puri district; Banki and Tigiria blocks in Cuttack district.

AMURT Orissa chapter coordinator Er Kanhu Charan Behura informed that at least 15 sadhus and over one hundred trained AMURT activists participated in the relief work.

“AMURT has decided to adopt at least one village in the each worst-hit pocket in Cuttack, Puri and Kendrapara district. The basic motto behind this is to ensure education to all and skill upgradation of the youth to address the unemployment problem. Once successful, the village will be showcased as a model unit which will be replicated in other areas,” added Mr Behura.

The press conference, among others,  Mr  Natabar Behera, Mr Bisnucharan Rout, Mr Balaram Behera, Mr Pramod Sahoo, Mr Birakishor Behera, Mr Saroj Mahapatra, Mr Sanatan Behera, Mr Naba Samantaray, Mr Umakanta Parida, Mr Pramod Dev, Mr Sarbeswar Barik and Mr Haladhar Das, Acharya Mahidevananda, Acharya  Satyasudhananda, Acharya Gopikrishnananda, Acharya Guniindrananda, Acharya Navodvashananda,Ac harya Pramatishananda, Acharya Japakrishnananda, Acharya Chiranjayananda and Acharya Rathiindrananda.

Flood Death Toll increased to 41

Bhubaneswar : The Flood Death Toll increased to 41 . The Special Releaf Commissioner Pradip Kumar Mohapatra told here that about 1 Lakh 16 thousand 706 Houses has been gamaged and production of  3 Lakh 23 thousand 705 Hector Agriculture land has been loosed. People of 19 District,102 Block,1067 Villages,and 163 ward affected in the current fllod. The details of flood damage attached here with. 

Executive Engineer in Vigilance net

Jagatsinghpur : Executive Engineer of Roads and Buildings Kumarabara Swain is in the Vigilance net. At least five special team of Vigilance has raided his office and residence at Jagatsinghpur, Paradip, Bhubaneswar and at his father in law house simoultaneously today on the alegation of disproportionate wealth in comparison to his income. During the time of raied, the vigilance team has seized buildings, Vehicles, gold and many Bank Pass Books. 

False encounter : Odisha High Court diredts state government to pay Rs 3 Lakh as compensation

Cuttack : Honourable Odisha High Court has directed the state Government to give Rs 3 Lakh compensation to the family of victim  shoot dead in Police fireing.

As per the information , one Kartru Huria of Talamitingi village under Kakiriguma Police Station shoot dead in Police Fireing on 13 April 2009. Police stated it was an encounter. But Simakari Huika , wife of Huria prayed in the Odisha High Court for compensation of her husband as it was a false encounter of Police. Polica has shoot dead her husband. Earlier the State Human Rights Commission had directed the state government to pay her compensation of Rs 1.5 Lakh . But the Odisha High Court has directed the state government to pay her compensation of Rs 3 Lakh . So the state government to pay more 1.5 lakh as compensation.

MCL Donated Rs 2 Crore to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund

Bhubaneswar : Mohanadi Coal Fields Ltd (MCL) has donated Rs 2 Crore to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund for the assistance to the recent  Flood Victims . Chairman and Managing Director of MCL Animesh Nandan Sahaya and Finance Director Kulamani Biswal to day meet with the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the Odisha Secretariat and handed over the Cheque.

Radio Choklate “Prakruta Bandhu”

By Radio Choklate

“A friend in need is a friend indeed “is the noble sentence which is being exemplified by Radio Choklate, 104 FM, Orissa’s no. 1 FM in the form of “Prakruta Bandhu”. Prakruta Bandhu means a true friend who is always with us in the good and more importantly the bad times as well.  Radio Choklate is playing the role of Prakruta Bandhu for the flood affected people by holding their hands. Of course we cannot make over the loss completely but definitely we can help them to overcome the situation. Prakruta Bandhu is designed as the Corporate Social Responsibility of Radio Choklate.

 The three fourth of the beautiful landscape of Orissa is submerged with water leaving sorrow, destruction and poverty behind. In this traumatic situation, team Radio Choklate is venturing deep into the water logged areas with Boat, walking miles, without any transportation facility and putting their lives at risk in every step ahead to help its listeners and the people of Orissa.

Radio Choklate had arranged  for relief which has been distributed in the water logged areas such as Gop, Nimapada, Delanga, Banki, Nuagaon, Tikarpada, Hurhura, villages of Puri, Cuttack, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur district  etc. We have distributed basic needs like- Pressed Rice, Matchsticks, Candle, Clothes, Drinking Water, Water purification tablets, Rice, Pulses, Vegetables, Cooked food and provided  makeshift shelter for more than 25 Thousand families

In many places, team Choklate was the first and only responder to distribute relief to reach out the flood victims. Our RJs including RJ Sangram, RJ KP. RJ Neil, RJ Mani, RJ Anil, Marketing, Technical, Administrative, support staff and each and every member of team Choklate joined hands together to help our listeners. Each one of them put extra effort to help people after completing their respective duties of FM successfully and realized immense pleasure by contributing      meaningfully in such a cause.

The vigorous announcements made on Radio Choklate is inviting numerous people who  want to help the people in this sorrowful situation and Radio Choklate has created euphoria by acting as an intermediary for the common man who wants to extend their helping hand.

The flooded areas have no communication and the people are completely cut off from the external world. In such a situation, where the relatives and their well wishers are not able to communicate with them, Radio Choklate is playing a vital role by passing on their message and bring back smile on their faces. This was a great relief to both of them as a result they could live a comparatively relaxed lives after knowing about the well beings of their own.

India Likely to test Shaurya on Sept 24

Balasore: The Interm Test Range (ITR) , Chandipur  is likely to conduct a test of medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, K-15 or Shaurya missile on September 24 , which will be used by the Army.

In this regard, already a meeting between the district administration and the ITR authorities has been held on Monday. ITR authorities  have approached the district administration to evacuate people   of   Jaydevkasba pahi, Sahajinagar Kasaba pahi, Khadu pahi and Kusmuli pahi which are within 2 km radius of range of Chandipur to safer places. About 401 families and livestock would be evacuated to the safer shelters to be erected at Gudu Pahi and Kalimandap area as told by the sadar tehsildar Pinaki Patnaik . They will be provided Rs140 (Adults) and Rs 70  (minors) .Similarly, on account of livestock, each household will be given  Rs 50 as compensation.

Angul Municipality Chairman loses noconfidence motion

Angul: Angul Municipality  Chairman  Binodini Das defeated in a no-confidence  motion  by 17-0 .

While Das herself belonged to the Congress, all 17 Congress members in the council, excluding her voted in support of the motion.

No confidence motion was brought against her by  10 Congress councillors . The Biju Janta Dal councillors left the council hall before the votes were taken.

Odisha Government serves partial closure notice to 26 sponge iron plants

Bhubaneswar: Odisha state  government on Monday issued partial closure notices to 26 sponge iron plants for  failure  of complying with the stipulated pollution control norms.

Minister of  forest and environment  Debi Prasad Mishra told here that Initially 68 units were served with show cause notices. However, 42 of them have responded and enhanced their bag filter. But rest  26 others have not yet to modified .

All 104 sponge iron plants in the state were inspected by IIT, Kharagpur and asked to enhance their bag filter and dust handling system in order to decline the pollution level.

These 26 units, maximum of seven plants were located in Sundargarh district followed by five each in Keonjhar and Sambalpur districts. Others were located in Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Cuttack and Mayubrhanj districts . 

Joda : Municipality Chairman to face No Confidence motion on 24th September

Keonjhar : Joda Municipality Chairman Rabindra Kumar Dash to face No confidence motion on 24th September. Out of 14 Councellors 10 Councellors had brought the No Confidence Motion. Out of 14 Councellors 7 members of Congress, 4 members of Biju Janta Dal, 3 of Bharatiya Janta Party . 


9 Councellors have requested for security arrangement to take part in the no confidence motion.

Odisha High Court Granted Conditional Bail to Polish Shoe near a renouned Temple

Cuttack : Odisha High Court today granted conditional to a youth who was arrested by the Puri Ghat Police alleging misbehaving a young girl and threatend her family near a marriage party. The Odisha High Court has granted bail with a condition that the youth to polish shoe near Chandi Mandir for three months. 
People of different sphere has welcomed the decission of the Odisha High Court.

Committee framed under the Chairmanship of the Odisha Governor to stop ragging in Educational Institution

Bhubaneswar : A high Power committee has been framed under the Chairmanship of the Governor of Odisha Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare to stop the ragging in the educational Institutions. 
As per the notification of the Higher Education Department the Minister of Higher Education, Minister of Health and Family Welfare , Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Industries, Chief Secretary, Secretaries of Higher Education, Health and Family Welfare, Agriculture, Industries, Tourism and Culture,Vice Chancellors of all the Universities of the State, Vice Chancellors of the Central Universities in the state will act as member of the committee and the Secretary of Higher Education Department will act as Member Secretary of the Committee. 

KIIT Campus Placement: 708 Students Picked Up By Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

Highest Placement Record in Eastern Region

Highest in India in Terms of Percent

Bhubaneswar : KIIT University’s strong brand continues to charm India’s top recruiters with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) picking up a whopping 708 students in the campus placement on 18th September 2011. The selected students, who would be passing out in 2012, belong to B.Tech, M.Tech and MCA streams of the University. Job offer to so many students by a single company in campus placement on a single day is a record in Eastern India as well as another record in entire country in terms of percent.

Recruiters from the Indian IT behemoth, who conducted the campus placement, were overwhelmed with the students’ profile. KIIT students fared extremely well with 708 out of 915 students who went through the selection process making it to the final list.

Over the years, KIIT University has emerged as the favorite recruiting ground for TCS. Last year, the company had picked up 658 students in the campus placement from KIIT. It is being possible due to the quality of the students of KIIT.

Like previous years, KIIT graduates continue to be in high demand both in IT and core companies. Besides TCS, companies including Shapoorji Pallonji, TATA Steel, Atkins, SAP and Deloittes also selected more than 100 KIIT students, whereas campus placement by companies like Wipro, Siemens, Capgemini, Aricent, Punjlloyd and Accenture are scheduled in the end of the month.

It is just the start of placement season at KIIT and most of the students of 2012 passing out batch are placed. At the end of the placement season, each student is likely to have two to four job offers. Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS expressed his happiness at the selection of so many students (708) by TCS.