negligent of doctor in sambalpur caused the death a young lady

The authority of the district medical hospital has come under severe criticism after the dead of a lady on Monday, a day after she delivered a boy child. While husband of the deceased claimed it because of the sheer negligence of the treating doctor, the medical authority has forcibly sent the body to his village with out informing the local police. The CDMO has assured to take up the matter and asked the ADMO to submit a report on this issue. The incident has triggered wide spread tension in the locality.
According to sources from the hospital, the lady Sudesna Behera (22) of Baduapali under Dhama police station was in advance stage and admitted on Sunday (26th July) after she was having severe pain. The doctor in the Gynec-ward advised the patient to go for cesarean and ultimately the lady was delivered a boy child on the same day. The condition of the mother was well on Sunday. Though she was heavily bled, the doctor did not take step to administer blood to her immediately after the operation.
“When we asked the doctor to give blood to the patient he remains silent. We had already arranged blood so when the doctor did not give importance, we kept the blood in the fridge of a medicine shop. But her condition was severe on Monday and we did not find the treating doctor despite out thorough search. On enquiry we found that the treating doctor did tot turn up on Monday as he was out of station”, husband of the deceased lady Anaryami Behera told.
“On out request another doctor came and administered the blood to the patient. But she died with in an hour of taking the blood”, Anaryami told in a broken heart. He did not know how to take care the new born baby with out the absent of his mother.
When contacted the CDMO RK Nath expressed his ignorance about the incident and assured to take appropriate step to investigate the issue. Since ADMO is in charge of the hospital I will ask him to give me a report on it. In case the operation was done on Sunday, I do not know why blood was not given on the same day. But unless i know the actual situation it is difficult to comment on it”, the CDMO Dr. Nath told.
The police have not yet taken step to send the dead body for autopsy or to register any case in this matter. “When we have not received any complaint from any one how can we register a case in the matter?” the Sadar SDPO Dilip Kumar Deo told.

sambalpur lawyers adopted Gandhian style of protest

Lawyers of Sambalpur seemed to have adopted Gandhian pattern of protest. Contrary to past, the lawyers were seen piling on the entrance road of the court for more than hours on Saturday afternoon. Dressed in their formal black court and fastening their mouths in black cloth, in a close look, the lawyers were actually protesting the visit of the chief Justice of Orissa high. But the chief justice (acting) Mr. I M Quddusi came well in advance to the scheduled time and went back inaugurating the 'mediation center' inside the court premises for which he purpose he visited Sambalpur. However the function was not attended by a single lawyer as they had decided to boycott his visit.
“As per the decision of bar association, the lawyers boycotted the programme of Chief Justice in protest against the delay in the high court bench matter. We organized a silence protest to show our anguish to the CJ of high court. We did it in a peaceful and silent way”, the president of the Sambalpur Bar Association Pradeep Bohidar told.
Sources said, the lawyers of the region are ups in arm since a long time demanding the establishment of high bench. The agitation includes ‘Bandh’, picketing and some time violent protest. Earlier in some occasions the lawyers have ransacked offices during their protest. “We have never crossed any limit except on few occasions. But now want to make our agitation in a peaceful manner”, the Secretary of the Bar Association Mr. CR Panda told.
On the other hand, in connection to the demand of the establishment of a high court bench, bar association of Sambalpur has taken a decision to oppose high court justices incase they visit to Sambalpur. Over the past few years, not a single justice of high court has ever visited Sambalpur. But the acting CJ Mr. Quddusi decides to visit Sambalpur soon he took over the charge of the high court.
“I came to Sambalpur to inaugurate the mediation centre. The center will be quite helpful to speed up the pending cases as through thus people will get justice in time”, Chief Justice I M Quddusi told However he denied any information about the protest of the lawyers in view of his visit to Sambalpur. “I have no such information about the lawyers’ protest”, Justice Quddusi told while talking with the press soon after the inauguration of the mediation centre.
On the establishment of high court bench, he refused to give any comment “Government will take decision on it after the report submitted by the Pal commission. So at present I can not give any comment on this issue”, Justice Quddusi told.
Sources said, on the first day the 42 cases were taken up in the ‘meditation centre’ where both parties of the cases related to land dispute, marriage, and other civil litigations were negotiated for an amicable settlement. “We have taken 42 cases on a single day. Both parties have attended and we hope an earlier solution of the cases”, district judge (Sambalpur) SC Mishra told.

Dam opened 33 gates : back water creates hevoc in Sambalpur

Hirakud dam authority has opened 33 gates to discharge the surplus flood water from reservoir as a result of which various river side areas of Sambalpur town have been submerged on Thursday. However the dam authority claims the situation is quite under control and nothing to be worried as reservoir level has started receding with decreasing in inflow water.
“We have decided to open another 6 gates on Wednesday night and Thursday morning with a total 33 gates to discharge the surplus water from the reservoir to control the ascending inflow. On Thursday morning the inflow of water went to 5.90 lakhs cusec. But slowly there was a considerable decrease in the inflow level and in the afternoon it came to 5.15 lakhs cusec. The water level of the reservoir that went to 622.12, was come to 622.06 in the afternoon”, the superintending engineer of the Hirakud dam project Janaki Ballav Mahapatra told.
However he hopes for a better in a day or two if the weather will remain dry for another couple of days “it all depends on the weather. I hope, we will bring the water level to 610 or slight below to 610 feet if the weather does not become rude to us since there is apprehension of another low pressure on 25th we need the water level under the control”, Er. Mahapatra added.
On the other hand, Sambalpur experienced a grimy situation due to the discharge of heavy water by the dam authority on Thursday. Hundreds of family living adjoining areas of River Mahanadi including Chandan Nagar, Charbhati, Cheptipulia, Mandalia, Kuluthkani and Binakhandi have been severely affected with the reservoir water. Few areas have been remained cut off as water comes to the road. The administration has identified 5 school premises to provide shelter to the affected families.
“We made announcement to advise the people to shift safer places in view of the huge discharge of water from the dam. We have also identified 5 school premises for the shelter of the affected people.”, district emergency officer Surendra Panda told. He also refused about information on casualty or house collapse so far due to flood water.
However the administration has not able to identify the numbers of families affected in the flood water as there was no attendance in the ‘shelter” centers opened by the administration. “Till Thursday afternoon nobody has been turned up to the identified centers’, Mr. Panda told.
The Hirakud dam control room source revealed that the water level of the reservoir was 622.06 feet on Thursday at 3 pm. While the inflow was 5.15 lakhs cusec of water, out flow was 5.50 lakhs cusec of water through power house canal and through 33 gates of the dam. While 3.4 mm rainfall was recorded in the upstream of the reservoir in down stream it was 3.24 mm. On Thursday generation of power remained 239.542 MW in Burla power house and 20.250 MW in chipilima power house.

dam authority opened 27 gates to discharge suplus water from the reservoir

Heavy rain fall in the up-stream area has forced the Hirakud dam authority to open 27 gates of the reservoir to discharge the flood water into river Mnhanadi on Wednesday. To maintain the water level of the reservoir, dam authority has decided to open few more gates till night. However district administration has directed its subordinate officials to keep close watch with the situation as there is a possibility of evacuating the people living in low land areas of the town incase the dam discharges more water in the night.

Sources said, the water level of the Hirakud reservoir was gone up to 621.37 on Wednesday with heavy rain fall in the up-stream area. While the inflow was 5, 57,109 cusec it was expected to rise up to 6 lakhs cusec. The dam authority was forced to open 21 gates in the morning discharging the surplus water coming in to the reservoir. But till evening another 6 gates were opened looking to the increase in the inflow level. Through 27 gates, the dam authority was able to discharge only 4.5 lakhs cusec of water leaving about more than one lakh cuses of water in the reservoir. If the situation will continue than the water level of the reservoir may touch the danger mark in a day or two. Dam control room sources revealed that reservoir receives a rainfall of 55 mm in the up-stream area and 19 mm in downstream areas on Wednesday.“We have been forced to open 27 gates till evening to discharge the surplus water coming into the reservoir. Since the water level of the reservoir has already crossed 621 feet we it is not advisable to rise the water level further as there is every apprehension of increase in the inflow of water. If we do not discharge surplus water in a day or two than the water level may go up to danger mark of 630 feet soon ”, the superintending engineer of the Hirakud dam project Janaki Ballav Mahapatra told.

According to him the dam authority is continuously monitoring the water level at Munduli and Naraj (Cuttack) as the water level in those places are nearing the danger mark. “We are not in a position to discharge surplus flood water from the reservoir because Mahanadi is in full spate at Mundali and Naraj touching the danger level. However we will discharge the surplus water in a day or two to maintain the level of the reservoir at 610 feet”, Mr. Mahapatra told.

On the other hand the district administration is quite aware of the situation. All the district level officials have been directed to keep close watch of the situation. “I am quite aware of the situation with regular tough with the dam authority. I have also directed the district level officials to keep close watch of the situation”, collector (Sambalpur) PK Patnaik told.

flood in sambalpur

Incessant rain over the past 24 hours made the normal living of the people miserable in sambalpur town on Tuesday. Many parts of the town submerged in rain water creating a havoc situation in the town. Many houses in housing board Colany, Modipara, Malipara, Danipali, JM colaony and SRIT colony waterlogged because of the poor drainage system of the town. People living from the low land have been evacuated and given shelter in safer places. “I have directed the officials to keep a close watch of the situation”, collector PK Patnaik told. The meteorology department records 246 mm of rain fall during last 24 hours. On the other hand the Hirakud dam has closed all gates except one opened earlier in view of the heavy rain in the down stream. On Tuesday the dam discharged on 47, 829 cusec water through one gate and canal. The water level of the reservoir is 417.71 on Tuesday with an inflow of water 3, 33,088 cusec
watch few photographs avilable after the heavy rain fall
women are going to a safer place a house is submerged in rain water the railway underbridge Nandapara balunkeswar temple submerged Debadutta barik holds a cobra appeared in the town after the rain
people gathered to watch the cobra

Year's first flood water was released from Hirakud Dam

It was a moment for every one to celebrate. Hundreds of people including the top government officials of the region gathered here to celebrate this occasion. The anxiety and passion of viewing the year’s first flood water was come to an end on Friday afternoon after the opening of 5 slues gates of world famous Hirakud dam reservoir one after another. The sight of gushing water through the gate was worth watching for every one awaited hours earlier of the scheduled time outside the fence. Though it is a regular job of the dam authority that keeps open few gates of the dam every year during the months of July-Sept to discharge the extra water from the reservoir in anticipation of heavy inflow of water from the catchments areas, but every year it begins in the name of almighty. The Dam authority organizes a small function at the Dam site inviting all dignitaries of the region to make the beginning in pious atmosphere. This is a part of the convention that started since the inception of the dam 50 years ago.

“Every year during the month of July we discharge the first floodwater from the reservoir to make the reservoir ready to store heavy inflow of water coming from upspring. As per the curb rule, the water level of the reservoir should be kept at 603 to 606 in the month of July. Since water level has already crossed 613 feet till Friday we immediately decided to discharge the extra water to maintain the level for ensuing flood water coming from upspring catchment areas”, the superintending engineer of the Hirakud Dam project Engineer Janaki Ballav Mahapatra told
According to him, the dam has a convention of discharging the first flood water in presence of the senior level officials of the district that followed after a ceremonious puja to the almighty. “It is a faith and with out this it is difficult to run things properly”, Engineer Mahapatra told. “It is a believed that warship to Biswakarma, the engineer god at the beginning of any work yields good result. So every year during July when we open the first gate we use to warship”, he added
Sources said, the world biggest earthen dam has a total 64 sluice gates (40 on left and 24 on right side of the dam) and 34 crest gates (21 on left and 13 on the right side of the dam) with a total length of 10,759 miters long right dykes and 9,337 miters of left dykes. The total length of the main dam is about 4840 miters that connects Burla in right side and Hirakud town in left side. About 15 thousand cusec water is approximately discharged through one sluice gate.
The Revenue Divisional commissioner of Northern Division (Sambalpur) Mr. Jamil Ahamed Khan switched on crane to open the first gate at about 3.30 pm on Friday after breaking the coconut allowing the flood water gushing out through the gate. The IG of police YB Khurania, Mr. PK Patnaik, Collector (Sambalpur) and Suresh Padhi, Collector (Bargarh) and superintending engineer of the Hirakud man dam project JB Mahapatra were also following the same action switched on one by one gate in a row.
The gates are opened through an EOT (electric operated travel) crane built in German technology. To open the gate one has to switch the push button to operate the EOT crane. Surprisingly the crane that was installed during the time of inception is still in working condition with out any fault. “Built by the MAN Company of Germany approximately 50 years back, but the technology is still functioning smoothly till date” SE Mr. Mahapatra told.
“I was thrilled to participate in the ceremony. It was a beautiful sight for me to see the water gushing out the gates forming a beautiful sight. This is not a new thing for me as last year also I attended the same. But every time I see it, it makes me thrilled.” Collector (Sambalpur) P K Patnaik said.
According to him the purpose behind the construction of the dam was power generation, irrigation and flood control and water to industry was added recently. Even after 50 years the Dam continues to serve the purpose. “We feel proud for the gigantic engineering technology that keeps the dam helpful for the state in flood control. Siltation has though reduced the water storage capacity of the Dam still we need water for irrigation water supply and power generation.”, Mr. Patnaik said.

Position of the reservoir on Saturday (afternoon)

Discharge of water
through gates 1, 70,808 cusec

Through
1. Power channel 30,728 cuses
2. Bargarh canal 2200 cuses
3. Sasan canal 61 cuses
4. Sambalpur distributaries 500 cuses
5. Hirakud canal 07 cuses

No of gates opened - 13 gates
Water level of reservoir – 614.25 feet
Inflow of water. 2, 40.304 cuses
Outflow of water 2, 40.304 cuses
Power generation
PH 1(Burla) — 207.500 MW
PH2 (Chipilima) -- 25.375 MW
Rainfall up-stream 01.69mm
Rainfall down-stream 10.16mm
NB: there is no record about the water taken by the industrial houses

women assembled demanding arrest of Paikmal rapists

Thousands of women stalled the streets of Paikmal town for hours on Wednesday demanding the immediate arrest of the accused persons including the local block chairman in the much hype dalit girl gang-rape case occurred two month ago (May 11th). Female activists across the party line assembled under the banner of “Nari Jagaran Manch’ at local Dharmasala, where a brief meeting was organized under president-ship of woman activist Hina Tripathy who addressed the gathering. Agitators went round the street and submitted a memorandum to the government through BDO. They also demonstrated before the house of block chairman on the way to the block.
“This gathering was aimed to give moral support to the rape victim and to protest against the delay in arresting the accused persons. Our demands include the arrest of accused persons involved in the case including Kunal Singh Barhia, the relation of a local minister. We also demand immediate arrest of block Chairman Mahesh Agrawal and his removal from the post of block chairman and social and moral protection to the rape victim”, Hina Tripathy told.
Sources said, a 24 years unmarried Dalit girl of Bhukhamunda under Paikmal police station of the Bargarh district had been to Paikmal block office on Monday (11th May) and met the chairman Mahesh Agrawal to enquire about her employment in the Anganwadi post for which she had applied earlier. The chairman sent her with one Gananidhi Nag to look after the matter. Gananidhi took her to a godown belongs to one Sajan Agrawal where she was raped by more than 3 persons including Gananidhi and Sajan Agrawal. Later they threatened to do away with her if she made it public. Police registered a case against Gunanidhi, Sajan, Pintu Pradhan and block chairman Mahesh Agrawal but could not arrest them as they managed to abscond after the incident. Later the case was handed over to crime branch police following the name of a cabinet minister of Naveen Patniak’s government was associated in the case for shielding accused persons.
Crime branch police arrested one accused Gunanidhi from Raipur soon after it took investigation but the other accused are still at large. The CB police could not arrest the block chairman as he managed to get an interim bail order from the High court. “Crime branch police should move to the Supreme Court against the order of High court to arrest the prime accused Mahesh Agrawal”, congress leader Asima Mahanand contented.
On the other hand the activists made severe allegation of political pressure on both local and crime branch police to keep accused Kunal out from the case. “Being the nephew of a cabinet minister, police tried to keep name of Kunal away from the case. Why he was not brought before the victim during TI parade”, asked the BJP leader Sushama Barik.
“We have given an ultimatum of 7 days to the government to take up the matter as per our demand. In case government fails to arrest the accused persons of the gang rape, we have decided to intensify our agitation.” Rudana Bhoi, activist and chairman of Gandhamardhan Surakhya Parisad told. “I received the memorandum of Nari Jagaran Manch addressed to the Chief Minister. I will send it to the government immediately”, the BDO of Paikmal block Laxman Amat told.

collectorate work suffers with the agitation of subordinate staff

With cease-work of the ministerial staffs of the revenue department, the normal work of the collector office has come to stand still for 3 days consecutively on Wednesday. They are now ups in arm in protest against the illegal arrest of a colleague on a false charge leveled by one lady officer. Demanding the immediate transfer of the officer they are agitating since Monday.
Sources said, the ministerial staffs of Sambalpur district have been demanding the transfer of a lady officer Samikhya Nayak. While she was posted as Addl. Tahasidar of Sambalpur, she made a complaint with town police in January 2009 alleging a forgery of her signature in a particular mutation case. Basing on her complaint town police arrested one of her subordinate Krushna Chandra Pati and forwarded to the judicial custody in Feb. 2009. He was finally released on a court bail 2 days after his arrest. Terming the arrest ‘illegal’ the ministerial staffs demand her transfer from the district.
Meanwhile Tahasildar had conducted a probe in the matter and found lady officer’s allegation was not based with truth. In his report submitted to the Collector, Tahasildar mentioned that the lady officer’s signature was varied in various occasions. .”She even fails to recognize her own signature because of the diversity in it”, Tahasildar’s report says
On the other hand district administration, even after receiving Tahasildar’s report on the issue did not initiate immediate step to transfer the lady and ‘purposefully’ delayed issue despite the repeated demand revenue staffs Finally the ministerial staffs under the banner of the ‘Odisha Rajaswa Amala Sangha’ have decided to cease all official works from Monday (13th July) till government takes step to transfer the officer. The normal functioning of the offices of the revenue department in the district marred with the agitation of the sub-ordinate staffs. “We demand the transfer of the lady officer immediately from the district as she has sent one of our staff under a false charge. The Tahasildar has already made a probe and found the claim of the officer as ‘false’, the general secretary of the Sangha Braja Bihari Dash told. “Since district administration has been purposefully delaying the issue we have paralyzed the office work since Monday. We will continue the agitation till government removes the officer”, Mr. Dash added
However the Sambalpur collector expressing concern over incident he requested his staffs to refrain from the agitation. “I have already recommended the government for her transfer as per their demand. It is now with the government to take a decision on this matter. So I have requested the staffs to refrain from the agitation as it creates disturbances in discharging regular works of the district”, collector (Sambalpur) PK Patnaik told.

private nursing home ransacked over death of a patient

Irate mob went amok and ransacked the belonging of a private Nursing Home in protest against the death of a patient admitted in the home on Tuesday evening. They alleged the patient was not attended timely by a physician despite the request due to the negligent of the nursing home’s staff. Town police rushed to the spot and registered a case. However No arrest was made so far.
Sources said, one Arun Sarkar (45) of Badbazar area of the town was admitted in the Sambalpur based ‘Sanjivani’ nursing home on Tuesday. His condition was serious because he was suffering from diabetics. The nursing home staff admitted the patient and informed that a medicine specialist would arrive soon to look after the patient. But neither the specialist was arrived not any other alternative was made by the nursing home authority to look after the patient in time. The patient died with in few hours.
When the news was spread, about 30 youths of the locality barged into the nursing home and ransacked it. They blamed the nursing home authority for its negligent attitude that took a life,
“He could have survived if timely treatment was made. If they do not have such provision they should refuse such patients during admission in to nursing home It is quite unethical and such practice should be banned”, a relation of the deceased alleged. .
On the other hand the nursing home authority denied of any negligent in treating the patient. “The patient was attended by our own physician. The condition of the patient was quite serious when he brought to us. Our physician tried hard to treat him but could not save him.” an official of the nursing home stated. The town police registered a case basing on the complaint made by the nursing home authority. ‘A case has been registered and investigation is on”, the town IIC RN Deo told

engineering students of WO want employement on priority

The engineering students of western part of the state have demanded employment in various industrial houses set up in the region on priority basis. The students under the aegis of ‘western Orissa engineering students’ association’ met the district administration to put forth their demand the activists have also submitted a memorandum to the district administration addressed to Chief Minister in support of their demands.
“Local employment does not mean only clerical and lower categories post but the industrial houses are trying satisfying the local people only with few such posts. now we demand employment to the engineering graduates of the locality. They should be provided employment on priority basis by the industrial houses’ coordinator of the association Sourav Ranjan Mahapatra told.
About 100 of engineering students studying in various engineering institution across the state have assembled here and met the ADM to put forth their demand of local employment in the industrial houses. The memorandum includes the demand of setting up engineering collages in western Orissa, statewide holiday for Nuakhai and sital sasti and preventive measures on college ragging.
“We met the ADM who assured us to take immediate step to recommend the government for a final decision in this matter”, vice-president of the association JK Pradhan told. (the end)

heavy rain makes hevoc in sambalpur

zilla school old-boys set an example

Teachers of the Chandra Sekhar Behera Zilla School, one of the premier educational institutions of Sambalpur have expressed gratitude to the gesture of old-boys of the institution for felicitating the top-student of the institution in the high school certificate examination. Satyajeet Behera was awarded cash prize along with a citation for securing highest marks among all students of the institution. The old boys have decided to honour the top scorer of the institution every year.
In a simple function held in the school premises on Friday, the old boys handed over the chaque of Rs. 5000/- to Satyajeet Behera. Securing total 562 marks, Behera was also in the list of top 100 students published by the board of secondary, orissa. On this occasion, Teachers and students of the institution were also present among the old boys.
“We have decided to honour the top scorer of the institution every year. This will definitely to bring a healthy competition among students to become the top scorer. We want to take all measures to bring back the lost-glory of the institution”, the president of 79 CSB Zillaites PR Sahu said.
Sources said, Zilla School named after the eminent freedom fighter Chandra Sekhar Behera is one of the premier educational institution in the region. The students passed from the institution have brought glory to the institution for their commendable work in various fields. But over the past few years the institution has been facing series of problem because of the government’s apathetic attitude. The institution does not have a regular head-master and runs with acting teacher over past few years.
The land belongs to the school has been under illegal occupation of few nearby habitants due to the callousness of the school administration. Taking the benefit of the loose administration, criminal elements enter the school premises even during school hours and create vandalism inside the school despite the protest of the teachers.. “We have made several complaints with the police but thing remained unchanged. Incase of any complaint with the police, we get regular threatening from the criminals and vested interest-people. So we have to remain silence”, a teacher of the institution alleged.
The old boys have decided to bring the issue with the higher authority to get a solution in the matter. “The dignity and scantily of the institution have been slowly ruining because of the poor administrative support. We try to bring the problems of the institution before the competent authority and district administration for a meaningful solution”, the secretary of the 79 CSB Zillaites Sunil Kumar Panda told.
“It is a noble idea and we thank the old students who cultivated such an idea. This will encourage the students as well as the teachers of the institution”, RS Padhy, senior teacher told thanking the effort of the old boys.

Police hauled huge quanity of pirated CDs in Sambalpur

The district police hauled huge quantity of pirated and blue film cds from Sambalpur after series of raids on the video parlors and CD shops on Wednesday night. The police also arrested 10 shops owners in this connection and forwarded them to the judicial custody under violation of Indian copyright act.

Sources said, acting on the request of the Western Orissa album producers association, police raided various video parlors and seized more than 10 thousands pirated and duplicate CDs on Wednesday night. The raid was continued for more than 3 hours. “We seized more than 10 thousands CDs along with 200 blue cds raiding 10 such shops under Town, Ainthapali and Dhanupali police stations of Sambalpur town. We have also arrested 10 persons involved in the racket. We forwarded them to the judicial custody on Thursday”, the SDPO (sambalpur) Dilip Kumar Deo told

It may be informed that a racket that active weill under the nose of the district administration in Sambalpur town since a long time was engaged in nafarious activitites with the active support of the few government officials. the western orissa album producers assiciation had organised a demonstration infront of the RDC office demanding action against the buying a selling of pirated CDs in the marker. However action could not intiated because of the political connection of the accused persons.They had even asked the admintartion to find out the main culprits who engaged innocent youths in this nefarious activities.

xavier high school inaugurated in the University campus

Sambalpur university authority has finally allowed the Xavier organization to inaugurate the proposed high school inside the university campus on Wednesday. The Vice-Chancellor prof. Arun Pujari and district Collector PK Patnaik were prominent among others dignitaries of the school management present on this occasion. The vice chancellor Prof. Arun Pujari while inaugurating the proposed school declared the school to be functioned in an official quarter of the University till the construction of the new school building in university land provided to the management.

“When such a proposal was received we agreed to it after consulting the senior citizens of Burla town and university employees. Xavier’s being country’s one of the best educational institution every one should feel proud for the efforts of the university authority”, the VC Prof. Arun Pujari told. However he did not give any satisfactory answer on the proposal of setting of a central school inside the campus even though latter was received prior to the Xavier. “Central school proposal did not come during my tenure so I cannot say why it was not implemented than,” Prof Pujari said reluctantly.

“When a proposal of central school was pending with the university authority what made the authority to prompt on establishment of a private managed educational institution in the campus” a official of the university said on the request of anonymity. According to him the ministry of HRD Govt. of India has sent proposal through UGC for establishment of a central school in the university campus during Feb 2008. The syndicate has also approved the proposal and set up a committee comprising Prof AK Panda, Prof DK Behera and Prof Sukdev Nayak to speed up the matter. But the proposal did not carry out due to negligent attitude of the authority.
On the other hand, the local political leaders and senior citizens expressed concern over the attitude of the Sambalpur University for not availing the opportunity of establishment of a central school inside the campus. “There is no problem for establishment of Xavier as it is one of the best educational organization of the country. But when a central school proposal was there by the ministry of HRD, I do not think any logic of the university for not taking that opportunity immediately”, eminent citizen and senate member Karunakar Supakar said.
“It was definitely a mistake on the part of the university authority for not availing the opportunity. I suggest the university authority to peruse the matter once again”, the former MP and eminent citizen Bhawani Sankar Hota told.
When Contacted the Sambalpur collector PK Patanik expressed his ignorance about the central school proposal of the ministry of HRD. “I have no knowledge about such a proposal of central school in the university campus. The university authority had even not informed me about this. “However action will be initiated for establishment of the proposed central school incase we get any positive response from the ministry of HRD”, Collector Mr. PK Patnaik told.

visarad in tabla: blind youth begs for livelihood

There is no dearth of talent in India. But with out getting proper scope and platform many talents are extinct from the society every day. Take the example of Surdas, a blind young music expert of a remote village of Bargarh district; his talent does not even able to provide him square-meal to quench his hunger for which he has to beg. Though he feels ashamed of it but he is left with no option. Despite of his every huddle his is quite optimist about a bright future of him. He has acquired ‘visarad’ degree in Tabla and worked for some of local musicians on few occasions in All India Redio (AIR) if Sambalpur station but his blindness comes on his way every time he tried to do something good.“I don’t feel comfortable when I beg in the train compartment but to meet my expenditures I have no other choice. I beg only when I come to Sambalpur or any other places to pursue my long cherished dream of becoming a famous musician. I am confident that days are not far when my dream would become true”,
Surdas Pradhan, a native of Ludurapali-Bhukta under Ambhabona police station of Bargarh district came to the office of RDC (Revenue Divisional commission) on Saturday to request him to provide Tabla, harmonium and other necessary instruments so that he would able to open a music school at Bargarh or Amabhona to earn his livelihood. “He has requested for a harmonium and a tabla so that he will start a music school at Bargarh to train the kids. Though we do not have such provision officially, we will take step to help for his endeavor on our personal level”, the secretary of the RDC told.

Surdas has been blind since his childhood, but he has completed his schooling in Titilagarh and Burla blind schools and after successfully passing maturation but his desire of taking high education did not fruitful because of the poverty. Than he decided to take music as a career and he completed the 7 years course of ‘Visarad’ in Tabla from Prachin Kalakendra of Chandigarh through its Bhawanipatna centre. “I have completed the ‘visarad’ in Tabla but I can play harmonium, Casio and other musical instruments because I have deep inclination towards music. But for this I need a scope to prove my ability”, Surdas told.
Surdas does not want to a burden to his poor parents and he wants to stand on his feet. “Parents have done their duty and now I want to stand on my feet and do not want to a burden to them any more”, Surdas told. he feels himself just like a “Ghungru” When he sings Kishore Kumar’s Ghungru ki taraha bajta ………and wants to sing till he lives with out any regret.

Burla Medical issue : turning to be a massive agitation

About 47 mass organizations including member of Bar and Press organized a demonstration in front of the RDC office on Saturday where the activists blamed the state government as well as the local political leaders accusing them responsible for the present condition of the Medical College. The blood donation organization of Sambalpur ‘Utsarga’ convened the rally that attended by various walk of life including senior citizens of the locality. Addressing in the rally the BJP state president Suresh Pujari expressed his gratitude to the local people to voice against the injustice unanimously. “I don’t want to blame any one for the present condition at this time. Now we should think how to improve the standard of the institution and get back the additional 43 seats that was withdrawn from the institution”, Pujari said.

The activists have decided to intensify the agitation against the injustice to the premier medical institution incase government does not take immediate step to restore the situation. “We organized this demonstration to give a massage to the government on this issue. We would bring out a massive agitation shortly incase government does not act immediately”, the coordinator of the Utsarga Jayadev Bagarti told. A memorandum was given to the chief minister through the RDC demanding immediate action to retain the prestige of the premier medical institution of the state. “In every field people of Western Oriisa suffer because of the state government’s apathy. But this time it crossed all the limits” said Pradeep Panda, the convener of the Jaaga, Sambalpur. Among the locals Sudhir Pujari, Bhagwat Nanda, Prasanta Mohanty, Siva Nanda, Dr. Anil Das, Narayan Pati were prominent among others who spoke on this occasions.

Irony is that health ministry has been given to a local legislature and senior member of BJD Prasanna Acharya who is quite aware on the problem of the medical college and hospital prior to he became the health minister of the state. “If he had taken the Burla issue immediately soon he got the ministry than matter would have been different”, a party colleague remarked. But a source close to the minister revealed that the Burla issue becomes the priority of the health ministry for the time being, The minister Acharya however was not available for his comment on this issue.

Burla Medical issue: acid test for the health minister

Withdrawal 43 seats from VSS Medicals College citing poor infrastructure with insufficient teaching faculty has triggered severe discontentment among the locals. While eminent citizens believed it an out come of the negligent attitude of the state government on the institution, local BJP legislature tried to make it a political issue against the present government. “On several occasions I put forth a proposal of converting the medical college as autonomous one. But due to the negligent attitude of the state government the proposal remains in the cold storage. The state government did not take step to make necessary arrangement for infrastructural development of the college as assured 2 years back. So we have decided to make it an issue to stall the state legislative assembly in the coming session”, legislature Jay Narayan Mishra told while demonstrated in front of the office of the RDC on Friday. Sources said, Medical Council of India has withdrawn 43 seats from the VSS Medical College from the current academic session. The MCI had granted 43 seats each to all three medical colleges of Orissa directing the state government to fulfill the required guidelines of infrastructural development along with filling up the vacancies of teaching faculty. While government took steps to develop the infrastructures of Behampur and Cuttack colleges, the condition of the VSS Medical College was left unchanged. The condition of the college can be well imaginable when out of the total sanctioned 205 posts 64 posts are lying vacant since a long time. Surprisingly important department likes orthopedic, microbiology, forensic and physiology departments are run with a single lecturer as these departments do not either a professor or an assistance professor. Out of the 120 post sanctioned of lecturers, the college has only 32 lecturers. All most all OTs of the institutions do not have proper facilities due to poor maintenance.
“Veer Surendra Sai Medical College and hospital of Burla is the only Medical institution of its kind of the region where people from entire western Orissa and parts of Chhhatisgarh are coming for medical care. The oldest institution of the country does not facilitate with modern infrastructure because of the constant apathetic attitude of the state government”, the former MP Surendra Lath criticized while speaking in the demonstration.

The BJP later handed over a memorandum to the chief Minister through RDC of Sambalpur demanding the immediate steps to revamp the standard to meet the requirement of MCI. The memorandum also demanded the government to convert it a autonomous institution.

On the other hand the eminent citizen of Sambalpur and former vice-chancellor of the Berhampur University Prof. Aditya Prasad Padhi reacting sharply on the decision of the MCI of withdrawing the 43 seats from the Burla medicals, asked the Chief Minister to make necessary arrangement immediately to restore the situation. In a letter to the CM he has suggested an autonomous status to the institution “it is a part of the constant apathy of the state government on western Orissa. I hoped government would take some step to restore the situation”, Prof. Padhi contented The former Parliamentarians including Sriballav Panigrahi and Bhawani Sankar Hota have also reacted sharply over the issue. Social activist Dilip Padhi and engineer Karunakar Supkar have also demanded immediate intervention of the government on this issue.

marriage of the slain cop's daughter went as scheduled

Every thing went as he had planned 15 days before. Rather in a gorgeous way to his plan. But what he did not plan, was about the gathering of so many VIPs in the marriage that attended the marriage not as guest but as host to the marriage. Senior officers including RDC and IG remained hours in the marriage to see the arrangement. Hundreds of eminent personalities including politicians, corporate officials and senior citizens attended the function. Sambalpur SP supervised the arrangement along with his counter part of Bargarh, Jharsuguda district. Barat came and marriage was solemnized as per scheduled. Every one of the department was involved in such away in the marriage that his absent was hardly felt. However, it was his family members especially the bride daughter who seemed unhappy in his absent. The sorrow and despair for losing a near one was clearly visible in her face. Yes, the marriage of the slain cop’s daughter was solemnized as per scheduled on Wednesday evening in a ceremonious way with the active participation of the district police department.
“He was not with his now. We made all possible arrangement to conclude the marriage as per scheduled. The police department is proud for him. I am personally happy we could finish the job he left for us”, the Sambalpur SP Sanjay Kumar told The police sub-inspector Narasingh Mahakud was killed in Maoist operation on 15^th June near Kishinda jungle of the district, just 15 days before his daughter’s marriage. The marriage was fixed by him and he was happy to get his daughter married. But with his sudden death the marooned family became hopeless. But thanks to his department every one come forward and decided to arrange the marriage as it was scheduled.
“As a neighbour I feel extremely sorry for losing a good friend of mine. It was his last wish to get his daughter married. We all arranged the marriage with the active support of our senior officers as we have decided not to give any burden to his family members for this marriage”, sub-inspector SK Panda told.
The mixed feeling of happy and sorrow was clearly visible in the face of Sujata, the bride and daughter of the slain police officer. She tried to bring smile on her face when senior officials and dignitaries met her. “I am happy for the cooperation and feel proud for my father”, this all she could uttered with a broken heart. The groom Binod Nayak of Ramdiah (Angul) arrives in time with his barat. He feels proud to be part of a brave soldier. The death of his father-in-law, just few days before his marriage is however quite unfortunate for him. “It was an unfortunate incident. I did not get occasions to talk much to him. Still I feel proud to be a part of the brave family”, groom Binod told.

farmer attempts suicide : unpaid debt was the reason

A farmer of Sambalpur has tried to kill himself consuming pesticide to evade the mental tension for delay in sale of his paddy on Tuesday. But he was saved the villagers reused him and brought him to the hospital. Though his condition is static doctors said he is out of danger. He took such a step after he was unable to sell his paddy due to non-cooperation of a mill owner. Police registered a case against him u/s 309 and resumed investigation.
Police sources said, Sanjib Pradhan lives in his native Gambharikanta village under Sadar police station of the district along with his family and brothers. Since they do not have other profession all family members depend on the agriculture.
Since market yards of the district were shutdown two weeks ago, he tried to sell his paddy directly in a mill named Kalinga corporation located nearly his village. But he was unable to sale his paddy as the mill owner did not allow to unload it and asked him to wait incase he wanted to sale it. Smelling a foul play by the mill owner he requested the RMC secretary to intervene “when he described the situation I immediately requested the mill owner to do the needful”, RMC Secretary Ashok panda told.
Sources said, Sanjib was desperate to sell his paddy as he was to repay his dues and to meet other expenditure. He persuaded the mill owner to take the paddy immediately. Apprehension of paddy-damage in possible-rain and the vehicle rant that was compounding every day was enough for him to increase the mental tension. On Monday he requested the mill owner for the last time and returned to his house in desperation. His mental agony increases on the next day when people started ask him repay the dues. He went to his farm and consumed pesticide kept in the farm. The family members smelt a rotten when he started vomiting. The villagers brought him immediately and admitted in Sambalpur hospital. “Timely treatment has saved his life but he would remain under treatment for few days more before he gets fully recovered”, a doctor of sadar Hospital told on Wednesday.
“The desperation and hopeless situation forced him to take an ultimate way to get rid from the situation. Since mill owner has tempted him to take such step, we also request the police to start criminal proceeding against the mill owners”, farmers leader and convener of the western Orissa farmer associations co-ordination committee Ashok Pradhan told.
Criticizing the act district officials, farmer leader Ashok Pradhan alleged that the officials have been dancing on the tune of the mill owners. :”A mill owner of the district would not have dared to behave in such a manner unless he gets sufficient protection from the concerned officials. We apprehend noxious relation of the mill owner with the officials. We want thorough investigation in this incident. The mill owner should be booked under criminal charges for playing with the sentiments of a farmer”, Ashok Pradhan demanded.
On the other hand, “police registered a case and incvestigatrion is on to find out the reasons behind the killing. “We will definitely book the mill owner incase we find any evidence against him”, the Dy. SP (crime) Mr. Dinabandhi Patel told. It may be mentioned here that 3 farmers of the district have already committed suicide consuming pesticide and handing on the tree after they failed to get proper return from the agriculture. “Unless the government takes proper measures to strengthen the agriculture market, more farmers will commit suicide in future”, farmer leader Ashok Pradhan told.

withdrawl of seats created tension

Wide spread tension mounted among the locals following the decision of the Medical Council of India to withdraw additional 43 seats allotted to the VSS Medical college of Burla from the current academic year. Shortage of teaching faculty and non-utilization of medical equipments lying in the college were cited in the council’s letter addressed to the principal of the institution as the reasons behind the withdrawn of the seats.
Blaming state government’s constant apathetic attitude on the institution that led the MCI to take such a decision, locals demanded immediate steps to save the medical the institution. A delegation of eminent persons have even rushed to Bargarh, the home town of the state Health minister Prasanna Acharya to appeal him for an immediate action for the development of the institution. “we have urged the health minister to take the matter immediately to save the college hospital”, a member of the delegation team Narayan Pati told
Sources said, Veer Surendra Sai Medical College and hospital of Burla is the only Medical institution of its kind of the region where people from entire western Orissa and parts of Chhhatisgarh are coming for medical care. But over a past few years the college is facing acute shortage of teaching staff because of the apathetic attitude of the state government. Most of the sectioned posts are lying vacant for years. Few of the departments of the institution including cardiology, anatomy are run with only one or two junior lecturers. The patients coming to the medical college and hospital do not get proper health care due to the shortage of the treating staff.
Out of the total sanctioned 205 posts 64 posts are lying vacant since a long time. Surprisingly orthopedic, microbiology, forensic, physiology departments do have neither a professor nor an assistance professor. Out of the sanctioned 120 post of lecturers, the college is running with only 32 lecturers and rest are lying vacant. The institution is having 10 OT but none of these OT is maintained properly, sources said.
“Every one of the department knows about the precarious condition of the college and hospital. Even it was raised by the members of the MCI during their recent visit to the college. They had asked to improve the standard of the college and to fill up the vacant posts. But since it was not taken up immediately the MCI might have taken this decision on the report of the visiting members”, the superintendent of the college hospital Dr. GS Dash told.
Meanwhile coming down heavily on the state government, the Sambalpur MP Mr. Amar Pradhan accused the state government for the present condition of the college and hospital. Government did not take steps to improve the standard of the institution even after the remark of the MCI members during their visit. “This is nothing but a negligent attitude of the state government on the VSS medical College Hospital. The state Health minister should take immediate steps to improve the standard of the college”, Mr. Pradhan told

Irony of the fact is that leaders from western part of the state have become health minister in most of the occasions. Starting from veteran leader like Hemandan Biswal, Ghasiram Majhi, Praksh Chnadra Debta, Duryodhan Majhi, Snatan Bishi to present health minister Prasanna Acharya are from western part of the state. “But the fate of VSS Medical College and Hospital remained unchanged every time” eminent social activist Dilip Padhi told.

muslim performs Ratha Yatra 3 days ahead the scheduled date

Ratha Yatra is though organized in each and every village of the state still Remda has some unique feature that separates it from others. The unique is not only for date but the persons who does it. When every where it is celebrated on 2^nd day of Ashadha here it is organized 3 days ahead it is on 5^th day of Ashadha. But this not only the unique feature. Here surprisingly a Muslim family organizes the festival since generations. .when the non-Hindu are forbidden to enter the famous shrine of Puri, here a Muslim has even performed the Chhera pahara. Is not it unique? The family being the Gountia of the village performs the festival since last 3 generations.

When country is reeling under severe communal tension, the Muslim family of Remda sets an example of Communal harmony by commencing the Ratha festival every year uninterruptedly. Remda, a remote village near Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district becomes renowned with the act of the Gountia family. The famous Ratha festival was organized in the Remda village of Jharsuguda district on Saturday just 3 days after the Puri’s Festival.
“I belong to Muslim but I am also the member of the gountia (head) family. So I am performing the duty that my fore fathers were doing in past. Though the system of Gountia is no more in force but for the villager I am still Gountia” informed Mohammed Zamir-ul-lah.
Recalling experience in his child hood, Mr. Zamir-ul. Lah informed that as a child he got several opportunities to witness the festival and slowly it becomes a part of his life. He witnessed how his grand father and father had involved actively in the festival during those days. “I have seen those days and it became part of my life. I become devotee to lord Jagannath.” Zamir-ul-lah told.
According to him his great grand father Mr. Masud Ali had appointed as the Gountia of the village by the British ruler. Later his son Hanif became the Gountia and he started Ratha festival in the village. Hanif’s son Khalil became the gountia after the death of his father. Khalil is the father of present gountia Zamir-ur-lah.
Zamir has been performing chhera-pahara during Yatra of lord Jagannath ever since his father died. He became the first non-Hindu person to get the honour of the Chhera Pahara before the lord Jagannath. “Earlier my fore fathers were organizing the festival but I decided to perform the ritual of Chhera pahara because I wanted involved completely in the festival”, Zamir told.
The interesting part of the Ramda’s Ratha is that here festival is organized 3 days after the actual date. When the Ratha festival is observed on 2^nd day the Ashadha (dwitiya) here it is observed on 5^th day of Asadha. “It is nothing but an adjustment. Earlier we did not have our own; we were depending e idol of lord Jagannath on other temples. So we performed 3 days ahead the scheduled date to ensure the availability of lord’s idol. Though we purchased idols for our use still we did not change the date and it becomes our convention to celebrate the festival on 5^th Ashadha.
Earlier the village was not having a temple so the family was depending on the other villages for idol of lord Jagannath. Earlier lord Jagannath was brought from Kulshar (now submerged in the Hirakud reservoir) and later from Sunari village. Later they purchased the idols of Balabhadra, Jagatnnath and Subhadra but the scheduled date was never changed. “Since we do not have Brahmin priest in our village for warship, we keep the idols in Sunari village and during Ratha Yatra only we bring them to our village” Zamir-ul-lah told.
Each and every village members are celebrating this occasion as one family despite their difference of religion. “We have never experienced any dispute in our village as we live in peace”, a villager told.