husband handed over his wife to her lover after 18 years of their marriage

In Hindi movie Hum dil de chuke sanam Ajay Debgan agrees to get his wife married with her lover Salman Khan after he knew their love affair . But the reel story becomes real story when a husband agrees to get her 18 years-long-wife married to her lover in Bargarh district couple of days ago when he finds her wife eloped with her lover. The incident took place in Padampur of Bargarh district, 130 km from here on Tuesday after police rescued both lady and her lover from a hotel room. Signing an agreement to allow his wife to marry her lover before the police, husband returns home with their 15 years old son and 10 years old daughter after both prefer to stay with father. The lady went with her lover happily leaving behind her 18years-long married life. “We rescued the lady from a hotel room along with her lover. We brought them to the police station but I became confused how to handle the case when she prefers her lover than husband. Her lover was also ready to marry her despite it legal complicacy. But surprisingly husband also agrees with her proposal. He requested me to do the needful for their separation. An agreement was prepared in the police station where all three agreed to abide and signed”, police inspector of Padampur police Station Biswapati Panda told TOI on Friday. “I have also asked them to take the advice of an advocate to get mutually divorced from the judicial court before going for a court marriage”, Panda told.

Sources said, Bhojraj Das (48) of Birmal village under Bargarh sadar police station was married to one Jashovanti (40), 18 years back and they had a 15 years old son and a 10 years old daughter. But the lady was having an extra-marital relation with a youth Nikunj Barik of the neighbouring Nileshar villager who visits her regularly. The husband warned his wife on several occasions to correct her. Recently the lady eloped with Nikunj and stayed in a hotel room at Padmapur. Bhojraj got the information and went Padmapur to bring her back. He also took help of the police to rescue her from the hotel. “It was matter of shame but I left with no choice to let her free. I have no objection if she wants to leave with her lover for ever” Bhojraj told police after she refused to go back with him. On the other hand, the lady complained of having physical and mental torture by her husband for which she such a decision but refuses to lodge any complaint against him.

NHRC sought report on maid burning issue in Jharsuguda

NHRC has sought a report from the collector and SP of Jharsuguda district on the alleged burning incident of a child labour by her employer that occurred on 8^th September 2009. Police lodged a case against the employers basing on the complaint of the victim’s mother couple of days after the incident. NHRC came to picture following an application of a social activist of Jharsuguda who sought the intervention of the commission.

“I have received a notice from NHRC in connection with the case where the commission sought a report on the incident with in 4 weeks. I am sending the report along with the action taken by the police in the case”, collector (Jharsuguda) Dhananjay Dash told.

Sources said, one 14-year-old tribal girl Radhika Nag sustained burnt injuries while working in the house of Dinesh Khandelwal a businessman of Jharsuguda town on 8^th September 2009. Radhika was taken to Hospital. However police at Jharsuguda did not initiate any step to lodge cases against the employer and allegedly tried to hush up the issue. But police booked the employer Khandelwal and his wife under the Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act and Juvenile Justice Act couple of days after the incident following the pressure of media report.

According to the complaint made by the victim’s mother, Radhika was beaten up mercilessly by her employer Dinesh Khandelwal and his wife accused her of stealing a saree. They asked her to return it. When she said she was innocent, they poured kerosene and set her on fire. The victim's mother, Suna Munda also alleged that Khandelwal did not let her daughter out till she paid the price of the saree.

On the other hand police received severe criticism for not taking immediate step to book the culprit. Though police were forced to arrest the culprit few days after the incident, accused got released on bail due to lenient attitude of the police.

“Police did not take any interest to book the culprit. But after being pressurized from various corners, Khandelwal was arrested but got court bail due to lenient attitude of the police. Till date police did not arrest his wife though she was equally involved in the crime”, Rakhyakar, eminent social activist and convener of Pragatisila Sramika Manch of Jharsuguda told.

According to him the victim Radhika has though survived from the incident, she becomes bed ridden after the incident. The poor family is unable to provide costly medical expenses for her treatment. “She should be properly compensated by the accused couple as they are quite responsible for her present condition”, Rakhyakar told

Jamenkira: farmers ups in arms against government

More than 10 thousand farmers have assembled in Jamenkira (50 away from Sambalpur and located on NH 6) on Monday to extend their support to the agitating farmers sitting on relay hunger strike over the past 43 days demanding their block area to be declared draught-hit. They entered the block office breaking the police cordon and locked both block office and tahasil office located in one premises. Police later declared them arrested.

The fury of the farmer was quite visible during the agitation following the government’s silence over their demand despite their agitation of relay hunger strike that reached on 43 days on Monday. The farmers called off their agitation of first phase and switched over to second phase of agitation what they called “civil disobedience”. “We have organized relay hunger strike for 43 days demanding the block area to be declared draught-hit. Pity is that officers of the district administration have visited Jamenkira on several occasions. They discussed with the agitating farmers and have assured to submit report to the government but till date no action has been taken by the government”, convener of the Jamenkira block farmers association Kusadhway Chaudhary told.

According to him Jamenkira block received record low rain fail this year as a result of which more than 75 percent crop has been damaged. “Unless they are not properly compensated and provided with seeds and fertilizers for ensuing crop, they will virtually come to road. Since it is a non-irrigated block government should also take immediate step to provide irrigation facility to the farmers”, Chaudhary told. The farmers of the block

have decided to close all government offices and all panchayat offices during their 2^nd phase of agitation that begins from Monday with a huge farmers rally. Peacefully “we continue our agitation for 43 days in front of the block officer in support of our demand. Officers have visited us to give us assurance but they have done nothings. Now we have decided to stall all government offices in Jamenkira in order to show our strength. We will continue this till government takes a positive step on our demand”, farmer’s leader and Convener of western Orissa farmers coordination committee Ashok Pradhan told. Huge police force was deployed in Jamenkira in view of the agitation. But every thing passed peacefully. “Heavy police arrangement was made in Jamenkira looking to the tense situation but every thing passed peacefully”, additional SP (Sambalpur) Labakanta Rana told

swiss activists advocated against GM crops

Switzerland’s social activist Teena Gothe expressed concern on the farmers’ plight in Orissa leading them to commit suicide. While speaking to the press at Sambalpur after retuning from worst affected Jamenkira block of the district, she appealed the civil society to form a pressure group for the survival of the farmers of the region.

“I have come from a country where only 3 percent of the population depends on agriculture. But government never overlooks them because most of the food grains and vegetables come from this sector. Contribution of farmers is always high in the development of a country. But here I experience a worst ever situation. When more than 80 percent of the population depends on this sector, government hardly address to their problems. Really it is quite unfortunate”, Ms. Gothe expressed.

Ms. Gothe has come to motivate the farmers to discard genetically modified (GM) crops as according to her the newly customized method has a very bad effect on the human beings in long run. She also said that genetically modified food needs few more experiments before government allows its production. “Researchers have apprehended a serious negative effect on human body in long-run incase of regular consumption of GM crops. GM crops has become a big threat for the survival of mankind. For the benefit and business motive of few big companies, government should not play with the lives of the crores of people of the country”, Ms Gothe told.

Sources said, Switzerland government was forced to put a ban on the production of the GM crops in the country following the pressure of the farmers and social organizations. “We fought a long battle with the government to get a ban order from the on the production of GM crops” Ms. Gothe told.

Gothe was accompanied with Biswadeep, a Bangalore based social activist and Ashok Pradhan local farmers association when she visited Jamenkira block area to meet the farmers on Wednesday.

SU Registrar was sacked for resufsing to pass an illegal payment

In a surprised move the vice-chancellor of Sambalpur University relieved the Registrar from his post after latter’s refusal to pass a cheque in favour of a black-listed company on Thursday. A senior lecturer Padmavati Gahan took over the charge of the controller of finance while SS Rath takes over the charge of Registrar on the direction of the vice-chancellor.

Sources said, Prof PC Samal was appointed by the Governor as the Registrar of Sambalpur University 3 months ago on the recommendation of the Higher Education department. He was also discharging additional duty controller of finance. On 31^st Oct, there was a dispute between the vice chancellor and registrar in connection to the payment of dues lying against a computer company that was banned by the government for a year in Dec 2008 for breech of trust. However Sambalpur University had selected the company to supply video conferencing system for its e-governance project in March 2009. So the registrar refused to pass the payment with out verifying the audit report of the company. “VC insists me to pass the payment Rs.54 lakhs to the Bhubaneswar based HCL firm but since I was in additional charge of the controller of finance I told the VC to wait till a regular controller of finance joins in the post. Since government has blacklisted the company for breach of trust with out making the system operation I was not in favour of the payment”, Dr. Prafulla Chandra Samal told TOI over phone.

According to him university has selected the Bhubaneswar based firm to supply video conferencing system for its e-governance centre during March 2009. The system has not yet been operational. The materials are kept in a storeroom. “Before the system is operational university should not release the payment. But I do not understand why VC insists on the payment before the system becomes operational”, Dr. Samal told.

I was surprised to get the order of relieve from the post of Registrar when I asked him to relive me only from the post of controller of finance. It was totally illegal. Anyway I brought it into the notice of my department while I joined in my parent Higher education department on Friday”, Dr. Samal told. Meanwhile Padmavati Gahan, the new in-charge of the finance of controller has yet to pass the payment in favour of the company as she has gone to Bhubaneswar on official duty, sources said.

Sagarpali :a village on the reservior but no water for irrigation

Sagarpali villagers in Jharsuguda district are suffering from injustice ever since the construction of the Hirakud dam. Located on the bank of the Hirakud reservoir, the village is one of the reconstructed villages that are yet to include in the revenue record of the state. The suicidal death of a farmer of the village who died on 4^th Oct has become an eye opener for the farmers of the locality who feel government would do nothing unless they raise voices against the injustice. The farmers have taken the issue seriously to bring a massive agitation to bring the attention of the government.

“It is really a matter of regret that farmer of our village dies committing suicide for crop loss due to poor rainfall. Sagarpali is a village that has been reconstructed after it’s submerged in Hirakud reservoir. Though we reside on the bank of reservoir we do not get reservoir water for irrigation due to wrong government policy”, a villager of Sagarpali, Bhaskar Pradhan told. “Our plight can be well imaginable when 70 percent of our village has been submerged in the reservoir but now we can not use the water. There is no reward for the contribution that our forefathers have made than”, Pradhan added.

Sources said, heavy loss of crop due to poor rainfall has broken the back bone of the farmer of the Lakhanpur block of Jharsuguda district. Farmers of the block do not even get water from the reservoir as the lift points are remained defunct since a long time. Neither the administration nor the local people representative takes any action to get the lift points functioned. Gourahari Patra, a villager of Sagarpali committed suicide on 4^th Oct due to heavy crop loss. “He has taken a loan of Rs. 20 thousand from cooperative society. The lift point that is located besides his land remains defunct since a long time. He was mentally upset and committed suicide consuming pesticide leaving his widow and 4 son and daughters” another villager Panchan Saa told.

The negative attitude of the district administration on issue fueled the anger of the farmers of the locality. They blamed administration responsible for the death of the farmers. “When every one that visits our village could realize that Gourahari’s death got a direct link with his crop loss, surprisingly administration failed to realize the truth behind the incident”, villager Loknath Sahu opined. It may be mentioned here that elder brother of deceased’s father Sanyasi Patra had adopted Gourahari since he was child. Since deceased was the only son of his adopted father, dispute with his brothers regarding lands does not arise in any point of time. “I am once again become alone after his death. I do not know how I live with out him”, adopted father Sanyasi Patra said in a tearful eye.

On the other hand the widow of late Gourahari does not know how to take care of the family member after the death of her husband. “His demise brings a desperate atmosphere in the family and I do not know how to over come such a trauma”, deceased wife Saraswati told.

In the name of Maoist ...............

Sambalpur police busted a gang of 11 criminals including a news reporter on Saturday who were posing themselves red-rebel involved in as many 8 decoity incidents over the past 45 days putting the police force on their toes. Police also seized looted 2 mobile sets, huge quantity of gold and silver ornaments and country pistols from the criminals. Police also seized the Bolero that was used by the criminals.‘Maoist activity has come down in Sambalpur and Deogarh district in the recent past because of the heavy movement of the police force. But taking the benefit of the situation some local youths have formed a gang a gang to start decoity in the region. Posing themselves red-rebel members once they make villagers frightened, it becomes easy for them to rob the people’. IG of police (northern Division) YB Khurania told while briefing media persons on Saturday evening about the activity of the gang.

Police identified them as Pintu alias Mukesh Makar of Keseibahal, Balaram Rana of Kumbharpara, Sk. Sazid and Binod Sahu of Bamra, Amritlal Dung Dung of Mahulapali, Suresh Luha of Ulunda and Balaram Pradhan of sonepur and Manoj Sahara of BTM, Kartik Budek of Buromal, Rohit Kusum and Khirod Karali of Jharsuguda where police investigation revealed that Sk Sazid was the mastermind of the gang who claimed to be a news reporter working for a Rourkela based vernacular news paper. The gang was mainly active in Charmal (Sambalpur), Riamal (Deogarh) and Birmaharajpur and Sublaya (Sonepur) during last 45 days and involved in as many as 8 decoity cases in these areas. “The gang was active where mobile network does not work or low and because of it getting immediate information about decoity was not possible. We first could not understand but when they repeated their activities in same styles, we confirmed that it was not Maoist but fake one” Khurania told.

“It was a joint efforts of our forces, we use both technical and manual intelligence to trap the gang”, IG Khurania told. However he did not disclosed the worth of gold and silver ornament police seized from the gang.“We have to calculate it as we apprehend the gang sold few ornament before it come to out hand. We are trying the seized it from the receivers”, I G Khurania told. SP (sambalpur) Sanjay Kumar and other police officials were present on the occasion.

“We have to calculate it as we apprehend the gang sold few ornament before it come to out hand. We are trying the seized it from the receivers”, I G Khurania told. SP (sambalpur) Sanjay Kumar and other police officials were present on the occasion.

a day to be remembered

They even hardly know much about Jawaharlal Nehru and his contribution to the nation and it may not be usual for them if some of them do not know that they have assembled in one place on the eve of the children’s day that commemorate the birth day of that great personality. What ever may be reason they feel it an auspicious day in their lives which provides them an opportunity to make marry making and fanfare for whole day with good delicious food to eat. Yes, we are talking about the hundreds of boys and girls residing in various orphanages located in and around Sambalpur town who assembled here at Deer Park to celebrate the occasion. Thanks to the efforts of ‘Utsarga’ for creating such an occasion which brings smile on the gloomy faces.

With the active support of the smile India foundation, the premier blood donation organization ‘Utsarga’ cultivated the idea to bring orphans of the locality under one banner to celebrate the children’s day in a new style in order to boost their inherit quality and talent. The eminent poet Haldhar Nag inaugurated the programme. “I really thank the organizers for cultivating such an idea where children of the oppressed section of the society get an opportunity to express their feeling and talent’, poet Nag told.

“We try to give a massage that you do not feel lonely and distressed. The whole society is with you. You are no less than any other boy living with their parents”, the coordinator of the programme and senior member of the ‘Utsarga’ Sudhir Pujari told. “We decide to celebrate children’s day with orphans boys and girls of the locality as we feel the day has a special importance to such children residing in various orphanages”, Pujari added.

Sources said, 250 numbers of boys and girls imamates from various Orphanages including Dhankauda, Phuljharan, Chhachhanpali and Pradhanpali located outskirt of Sambalpur town have assembled in Sambalpur Deer Park on the occasion of the children day on Saturday. Eminent personality of the town have also present on the occasion to spend sometime with the orphans. “It was a nice occasion for me to spend sometimes with distressed boys and girls of the society. I would never forget such an occasion”, eminent social workers and feminists Basant Kumari Panda told. “I am happy to be part of the programme. Works become noble when we work selflessly.’ eminent physician and owner of the ‘healing touches’ nursing home Dr. Ashok Singhal told.

While they sing songs, play music, participate in musical chair, funny sports and yoga, they also get good and delicious food to eat.

“This is an auspicious day in my life and I will never forget it”,Bikash Murmu, an inmate residing in Vikash Ashram of Pardhiapali. Murmu is a native of Mayurbhanj district but now reading in class five through the Ashram. “I have attended several social programmes but the pleasure I get from this particular, I never get in any others”,, another member Satya Narayan Thakur told

CM gave green signal on autonamy status to VSS Medicals

In order to make the college one of the country’s best medical institution, Chief minister Naveen Patniak has given green signal on the autonomy status to VSS medical college. While speaking at the golden jubilee function of the VSS medical College of Burla on Friday he announced to set up an ultra modern sickle cell centre at Burla to provide medical facilities to the anemic patients of 13 surrounding districts. Inaugurating the function CM Naveen Patnaik did not forget to express his love and compassion towards the institution.

“I feel quite happy when even I visit to this institution. Our government is committed to take all necessary steps to make the institution one of the country’s bests. We have planned to give special allocation to make the over all development of the college. We are planning to take autonomy issue very shortly”, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told while addressing a large gathering in the auditorium of the VSS Medical College on Friday on the eve of its inaugural function of the Golden Jubilee celebration.

Amidst tight security Naveen Patnaik went straight to Burla on road after he landed here coming in a chopper. Heavy security was made to make the trip of the CM hassle free as apprehension of disturbances by the oppositions was there in connection with the farmer suicide and students unrest in the region. Police took preventive measures by detaining several BJP leaders including the local legislature. He was accompanied with by the state health minister Prasanna Acharya returned back immediately to Bhubaneswar soon after the function was over.

Speaking on the occasion, health minister Prasanna Acharya said that each and every staff of the college hospital has to play a role to for the development of the institution. He revealed that government has already started process to give the autonomy status to the medical colleges of the state. “Gone are those days when government was taking interest for the development of only one institution and one area. Our government is planning to end the regional imbalance by treating equal status for every region by giving importance for over all growth”, Mr. Acharya said. Expressing concern over the non-utilization of several sophisticated medical equipment owing to no-availability of technicians and experts he suggested the college authorities to change their mindset “I know there are several sophisticated machines and equipments that are dumped in the storeroom of the medical colleges of the state for non-availability of technicians and experts. So why you will place order when you do not have experts”, Mr. Acharya said. The Principal of the college Dr. Jenet Khalkho, superintendent of the hospital Dr. GD Das and former health minister Sanatan Bishi were prominent among other attended the function.

police arrested local lagilature hours before CM's arrive

In anticipation of serous law and order during the visit of Chief Minister Naveen Patinak, police arrested about 50 workers of the BJP including the local legislature Jay Narayan Mishra on Friday. Mishra was invited as the guest of honour to the golden jubilee function of the VSS medical college held at Burla on Friday where Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik attended as the chief guest to inaugurate the function.

Sources said, golden jubilee function of VSS Medical College was scheduled to hold on Friday on which Chief Minister was attended as chief guest to inaugurate the function. Local legislature Jay Narayan Mishra was also invited to the function as guest of honour. But before his departure to Burla police arrested him from his house.

When contacted, legislature Mishra criticized local administration for arresting him on the eve of the chief minister’s visit to his constituency. “It was totally undemocratic and unethical to stop a legislature” Mishra told. “Perhaps administration is frightened over the farmers issue and does not want to face the reality. By detaining me administration has proved it”, Mishra added.

It may be mentioned here BJP has taken the farmers issue seriously after the suicidal deaths of 8 farmers in the region over the past 3 months. BJP also decided to drag Naveen government on this issue. Earlier BJP worker had blackened the face of a senior agriculture officer in protest against the failure of the government on farmer suicide issue. So administration is hopefully not ready to face another such incident during the visit of Chief Minister. So to take preventive measures, administration has arrested BJP workers along with the legislature, sources said.

However police denied such allegation. The IG (NR) YB Khurania told that legislature Mishra forced the police to arrest him after the arrest of few party workers. “When he asked for his arrest we take him into the custody”, Khurania told.

articifical limb: provided new hope by Marwadi Yuba Manch

Ramakrishna’s world crushed down before him when he lost his right leg in an accident 2 years back. He was depressed thinking a dark future ahead. But thanks to the efforts of local Marwadi Yuba Manch, Ramakrishna regained his strength and walked just like a normal human with an artificial limb

Kabita Pradhan, a 22 years old girl of Pallahada of Deogarh district was unable to walk from the very beginning as she was affected with polio in her childhood. But her dream to walk like a normal human came true when she joined the artificial limb camp organized by Marwadi Yuba Manch a year ago.

Like Ramakrishna and Kabita, the ‘free artificial limbs camp’ that is organized by the Marwadi Yuba Manch every year in Sambalpur helps many persons to bring their long cherished dream into reality. Moreover, they have to spend not a single penny for this as cost of materials and lodging a boarding of the patients during the camp is borne by the organization. “This is a part of our mission to make every one physically sound and to make the country deformity-less”, member of the All India Marwadi Yuba Manch of Sambalpur chapter and camp convener Sankar Pansari told. An artificial limb camp is presently under progress at Khetrajpur’s Dharmasala in the town where at least 18 people have been selected for providing artificial limbs. The camp that concludes on Tuesday was organized to commemorate the silver jubilee year of the All India Marwadi Yuba Manch.

“I was totally depressed whan an accident took away my right leg bellow from the knee 2 years back. But now with the artificial limb I am able to walk like a normal human being. I am thankful to the member of Marwadi Yuba Manch for their benevolent job for which I regain my strength”, Ramakrishna, a 55 years old farmer of Sindurbahal village of Bargarh district told TOI while he was in the camp organized by the Yuba Manch on Tuesday.

Sources said, All India Marwadi Yuba Manch, an all India level youth organization of the Marwadi community has devolved its own-system to prepare artificial limbs at the camp site. ‘After selection we take the size of the receiver and as per the specification we prepare the artificial part of the hands or legs as per requirements’ Binod Kumar Sharma of New Delhi told. We get maximum satisfaction when a person is able to walk with our efforts, he added He along with few other technicians has come with the raw materials to prepare artificial limbs at the camp site. “We are planning to organize a camp to rectify deformity of the polio patients through scissoring very soon”, Sankar Pnasari told revealing the future plan of the Sambalpur unit

another farmer commited suicide in Bolangir

Yet another debt-ridden farmer committed suicide in Keseipali village under Agalpur block of Bolangir district on Thursday. This is 8^th such incident in a row in western Orissa alone in the current kharif session. The recent victim is identified as Baldev Barik (35) of Keseipali village of Bolangir district. He was rushed to Bolangir hospital where doctors declare him dead. Police registered a case and sent the body for autopsy. This was 8^th farmers of western Orissa to die committing suicide in the current Kharif session

Sources said, deceased Baldev Barik (35) of Keseipali village was a small farmer of the village having only one and half acres of cultivable land of his own. But taking loan from the local cooperative society he cultivated 5 acres of land belongs to other villagers on contract basis. He was having 2 sons and one daughter within 1-6 years of age group. On Thursday early morning he went to his field to see the paddy. Earlier part of his paddy got destroyed due to swarm insects but he managed to kill it by spraying pesticide. But to his bad luck crop again got damaged with the attack of Chakada poka (another type-insect). He could not hold his patience and consumed pesticide to kill self. He informed his family about it.. He was soon taken to Loisingha Hospital and later to Bolangir hospital where he was declared dead. “We brought him to the Loisingha PHC soon he told about consumption of poison, later we took him to the Bolangir where doctors declared him dead”, one of his family members told. “He has taken a loan of Rs.10 thousand from the local cooperative society. So he might have taken such a step to avoid himself from the debt burden”, he added.

Looking to the seriousness of the case, police rushed to the hospital and recovered the dead body Police registered an unnatural death case and handed over the body to his family member on Sunday after conducting autopsy. “We registered a case and handed over the body to his family after autopsy was over”, a senior police officer of the district told.

On the other hand farmers of the district demanded compensation of Rs.5 lakhs to the deceased family and to declare Bolangir as draught hit district. A delegation of farmer led by Sudhir Parichha met the collector and handed over a memorandum to her in support of their demands.

“I have received memorandum from the farmers. I will recommend the government in support of their demand”, collector (Bolangir) Aswasti S told. “However Investigation is on to know the exact cause of committing suicide. Once I receive the report I will send it to the government for the compensation to the deceased family”, Ms Aswasti Told.

It may be mentioned here that on August 12th Pandab Bhoi (38) in Rengali block, on 4th Oct Gourahari Patra (48) in Lakhanpur block, on 7th Oct. Bidyadhar Bagh (40) in Rengali block committed suicide by consuming pesticide. On 18th Oct Angad Barik (65) in Jamenkira block committed suicide by coming under a running train. Like wise Kusha Majhi of Tarbode (Nuapara), Maharshee Narang of Hemgir (Sundergarh) and Kartik Mahakud (60) of Karnapali village (Subarnapur) have committed for the same cause. Another 3 farmers from coastal and southern Orissa had committed suicide over the past on week

VSS medical celebrates golden jubilee

Veer Surendra Sai Medical College is going to celebrate 5day long festival on the eve of its golden jubilee year that begins from Friday. But even after 50 years the institution has hardly fulfill the purpose behind its establishment. When the college hospital is only of its kind in the region, rotten equipments and shortage of doctors and technicians cause to close down several important departments round the year. Encroachment of land belongs to the college and nuisance by anti-socials bring a bad atmosphere inside the hospital. While the college authority blames the administration for not providing timely support to deal with the situation, few teachers feel college authority is responsible for the present situation.

“We know the encroachments are not made over night. Everybody is aware on it. But college authority does not take any action to prevent the encroachment. Now when situation has become worst, administration is reluctant to evict them as they are backed by few political parties. Most of the land belongs to the institution has been under illegal occupation. But for this we just can not blame the administration when college authority is equally responsible for not preventing them at the initial stage”, associate professor of VSS Medical college Dr. Chittaranjan Kar said.

Sources said, the VSS Medical College Hospital that was set up in Burla in 1959, is only health care center of its kind in the region on which people of entire western Orissa and part of the Chhatisgarh have been depending since its inception. However wrong policy and poor management coupled with shortage of doctors has left the patients to switch over to other places during emergency. Super specialist departments like Neuro-surgery, Urology, Nephrology and Skin VD are run with a single doctor and when the doctor goes on leave the department comes to close down.

“We are trying our level best to provide all possible heath care to the patients. But some times we fail because of some unavoidable circumstances. Several equipments need to replace and certain new machines are to be installed, but due to prevailing process and government’s policy things are going up slowly. However we are hopeful for a change in near future”, the superintendent of the VSS Medical college hospital Dr. Gunasagar Das told.

However he does not express full-satisfaction over the services available in the hospital at present. “We do not have sufficient teaching and non-teaching staff. Neither have we had adequate equipment still we are trying to provide beat medical services to our patients. However I am not fully satisfy over the provision”, Dr.Das told.

Dr. Das reveled that the golden Jubilee function is not just a function for fanfare and merrymaking but it is a time for retrospect the happening of last 50 years and to make further development of the intuition. “We have decided to celebrate the function to retrospect the past. We know the medical college and hospital is one of the best institutions of the country. Many famous doctors of the country are the alumni of the college. MRI and Kath lab along with few sophisticated equipments are going to install in the college. So I think things will improve soon”, Dr. Das told.

On the other hand, the college authority is not sure whether the administration is fully cooperative on the college affairs to evict the encroachment in the golden Jubilee year. We are going to construct golden jubilee gates on both side of the college. We are also planning to construct a golden jubilee guest house to commemorate 50 years. But this is possible only after the eviction of encroachment. So we are not sure when we get our land freed from the encroachment. We have approached the district administration on several occasions,” principal of the VSS medical College and chairman of the golden Jubilee celebration committee Prof Jenet Khalkho told

sexual exploitation charges against the swami of Kriyayog ashram

The dispute in Kriyayog Ashram of Rairakhol was exploded on Saturday when a tribal lady leveled charges of sexual exploitation against its managing head, Swami Kalikananda. She also demanded parenthood of a child fathered by the Swami. The Rairakhol police registered a case against the swami basing on the complaint of the lady.

“We have registered a case against Swami Kalikanada Giri basing on the complaint of Tilottama Mirdha. Investigation is on. However we have not yet arrested the accused as he is not available in Rairakhol” additional SP Labakanta Rana told. “Since it is a case u/s 3 sc/st act SDPO (Rairakhol) has been assigned for investigation”, Mr. Rana added.

Sources said, a tribal lady Tillottama Mirdha was working in the Rairakhol based Kriyayog Ashram more than a decade back. She was working in the Kitchen of the Ashram where she was sexually exploited by Swami Kalikananda few years ago. When she objected the act of swami she was threatened and assured to get her marred incase she maintains secrecy. Tillottama then succumbed to his lust and swami fathered her 2 children. But swami managed to abort one through herbal medicines but unable to kill the last one because she left the Ashram.

“Swami had assured to get me married. So I did not express it before any one. But now I need fatherhood of my child before she grown up”, Tilottama alleged while speaking to press on Saturday with the help of Justice Party of India.

“But we have taken up the issue to provide justice to a poor tribal lady. Party has nothing to do with the dispute of the Ashram’, Sanjay Kumar Sahu, the vice president of the Justice party of India told.

On the other hand the head of Kriyayog Swami Sankarananda Giri rubbishing such allegation against one of his followers said it aims to malice credibility of the Ashram. According to him few vested interest persons are eyeing on the property of the Ashram with the active support of a senior staff of the ashram. “We have recently driven out a senior lady staff of the ashram for violating ashram rules. So with the help of the lady she wants to create trouble to defame our credibility. Very soon every thing will crystal clear”, Swami Sankarananda Giri told. However Swami Kalikananda is not available for his comment.

It may be mentioned here that there are two schools running under the Kriyayog foundatioon namely Prabhuji English medium school at Rairakhol and Prabhuji Sevasram School at Laxamjhuli just 10 km away from Rairakhol. While free lodging and boarding is providing to the tribals and poor children of the society at Sevasram, the society charges money in the English medium school. At present about 200 students are residing in Sevashram and about 500 students in English Medium School the lady Tilottama was working as daily wage earner in the Sevasram at Laxamjhuli when the incident allegedly took place.

LATER SWAMI SANKARANANDA REFUTED ON SUCH ALLEGATION AND SAID HIS FOUNDATION IS PREPARE FOR DNA TEST OF THE ACCUSED SWAMI

In the alleged swami Kalikananda’s sexual exploitation on a tribal lady, the president of Kriyayog foundation Swami Sankarananda Giri declares that his foundation is prepared for DNA test of the accused swami to prove him innocence. Briefing to the press media persons on Monday Swami Sankarananda accuses former vice-president of the foundation as the ‘king-pin’ of the whole episode. ‘After her removal from the foundation’s vice-president ship, she wants to ruin the credibility of the foundation by creating a false story against one of the swami of the foundation’, Swami Sankarananda said countering the allegation of a tribal lady who lodged a complaint against Swami Kalikananda with Rairakhol police station on Saturday where she claims him to be father of her daughter.

According to swami Sankarananda of ‘Kriyayog foundation’ under which the Prabhuji English Medium School and Prabhuji Sevasram are running at Rairakhol (60 km away from Sambalpur), the present vice-president Swami Kalikanada is innocent and the entire allegations that are made against him is false and baseless. “We are ready to go for DNA test of both Swami and the child to prove him innocent”. Swami Sankarananda told.

It may be mentioned here that a tribal lady Tillottama Mirdha made a complaint with the Rairakhol police on Saturday against Swami Kalikananda accusing him to have sexual relation with her and fathered her girl-child a decade ago when she was working in the Ashram. She also claimed that swami had administered her herbal medicine to terminate her first pregnancy. The police registered a case against Swami Kalikananda basing on the complaint of the tribal lady and failed to arrest him as he remains ‘abscond’ since after the police case. .

On the other hand Swami Sankarananda revealed that Sudhama was earlier vice-president of the foundation for a long period but recently she was sacked from foundation when misappropriation of official fund was found against her. ‘I know she is mastermind behind it to demolish our credibility by bring such a heinous allegation against a swami’ Swami Sankarananda told. Swami Sankarananda also reveals of getting constant life-threatening from anti-socials that are possibly instigated by Sudhama, the former vice-president of the foundation.

accept the truth:civil body suggests state government

The former high court justice Chaudhary Pratap Keshari Mishra suggests the state government to accept the truth on the draught situation occurred in the western part of the state as a result of which farmers are committing suicide one after another owing to heavy crop damage. “It is better to face the consequences by accepting the truth than to drag poor farmers to commit suicide” justice Mishra told while talking to the media on Thursday at Sambalpur.

Accepting the request of various civil societies and mass organizations of the state, justice Mishra led the fact-finding team, comprising former central minister Braja Kishore Tripathy and secretary of Kranti Mnach Chiita Ranjan Mohanty that visited draught hit areas of western Orissa and the villages where farmers have committed suicide owing to crop damage. During the two-day visits on Wednesday and Thursday the team also met the farmers of Jamenkira block sitting on a Dhrna over the past 18 days in front of the Tahasil office.

“It is a heinous crime on the part of the government not to take appropriate action to safeguard the interest of the farmers of the region even though farmers have expressed their apprehension much earlier about the situation to the government”, justice Mishra alleged.

According to him district administrations of both Sambalpur and Jharsuguda district are purely responsible for such a situation for not initiating appropriate steps in non-irrigated areas to involve the poor farmers in NREGS programme when these areas receive a very low rainfall this year. “From the records of the deceased Pandab Bhoi of Kamatikra (Sambalpur) who committed suicide on 12^th August it is well established that district administration is not at all serious on the NREGS schemes. The empty pages of his job card shows that he never got a job under the scheme”, Justice Mishra told.

“Forget about the pre-action when the administration has even failed to include the wife of the deceased persons in any of the welfare schemes of the government months after the suicide of their husbands. When there are hundreds of welfare schemes with the government, the deceased families have been left with abject poverty”, justice Mishra told.

The members of the team alleged that most of the farmers of the non-irrigated areas have been supplied with kerosene pump-sets on the interest of the government officials. ‘But the officials take no step to supply kerosene to the farmers” former central minister Braja Kishore Tripathy told.

The team will submit a report to the governor to press the government to take immediate step to declare the area as draught hit by supplying all necessary materials free of cost to the farmers to strengthen them for the next crop. “We will submit a report to the governor to seek his intervention immediately”, the secretary of Kranti Mnach Chiita Ranjan Mohanty

congress wants to take political mileage from the existing situation

Congress workers seem jubilant over the overwhelmed support of the general public to make the ‘western Orissa bandh’ a successful on Monday. The senior party leaders are now thinking to take political advantage from the situation by highlighting failure of the government in both farmers and students issues. Party leaders have decided to keep this issue alive till the next session of assembly.

“The anguish of the common people got reflected during the ‘Bandh’. Government has totally failed in solving the problem of common people. The post occurrence of Farmers’ suicide and student unrest shows how government fails to tackle sensitive issue”, Sambalpur district congress president Sureswar Mishra told.

Congress has decided to begin a massive agitation against the state government on the farmers’ issue. Party leaders accuse the state government for not taking the issue seriously even after farmers of the region are continued to commit suicide one after another. “The government is not at all serious on the issue. When farmers of the state are committing suicides government is not ready to take its responsibility”, senior congress leader and Sambalpur MP Amarnath Pradhan told.

Congress begins its political campaign against the state government form western Orissa as the issue of farmers and recently occurred police excesses on student in Bolangir have become two major issues where congress gets opportunity to attack the government. “We have decided to continue our agitation to create awareness among the people regarding the failure of the government” senior congress leader and Sambalpur MP Amarnath Pradhan said.
According to the party source Agriculture minister of state PC Thomas is scheduled to visit Orissa on 10^th November. During the visit the minister will visit various places of the region to study the situation. Congress has decided to organize a massive farmers rally at Bargarh during the time of visit of the central minister.

“We are planning to organize a big farmers rally at Bargarh where central minister will take part and address the farmers. He will also visit several places to study the condition of the farmers”, Jharsuguda legislature Naba Das told.

The NSUI (student congress) on the other hand expressed deep gratitude to the people western Orissa for giving wholehearted support to make the Bandh successful. “We shall continue our agitation against the government to safeguard the interest of the student-mass. We further demand a compensation of Rs. 20 lakhs in place of Rs.5 lakhs to each of the deceased students’, the president of the NSUI of Sambalpur unit Debashis Dash told.

12 hours Bandh of congress passes peacefully

The 12-hour bandh call given by students’ congress threw life out of gear in western part of the state on Monday as rail and road traffic remained severely affected. Train movement was hit in the Sambalpur division for over more than six hours as congress activists stopped trains in various stations. The rail authority had to cancel 3 trains originating from Sambalpur on Monday Morning. Plying of buses was also stopped in view of the Bandh. Schools colleges, offices both private and government, banks, commercial establishments were closed down due to the picketing of the party workers. BJP workers and Bar associations of various places come forward in support of the Bandh.

According to the railway sources 3 trains including sambalpur-Puri intercity, Sambalpur-Rayagada intercity and Sambalpur-Rourkela DMU were cancelled and another 8 trains were detained on the route in view of the bandh. While Sambalpur-Nizamabad was detained in Sambalpur station, , Amritsar-Visakhapatnam Hirakud express got detained at Brajarajnagar station. Howrah-Keraput express was detained at Jharsuguda and BBSR-LMT express got detained at Boinda. The Ispat express was also detained at Hirakud station. “Train service was resumed at noon when all detained trains were allowed to run” an official of the division told.

“It was spontaneous as every one supported the Bandh”, District congress president Sureswar Mishra told. According to him though it given by the student congress against the police excesses on Bolangir students killing two of them, district congress with the help of various associations including bus owners, truck owners and merchant made the Bandh successful.

On the other hand looking to the bandh heavy police arrangement was made in various districts. While northern division IG Yogesh Bahadur Khurania was stationed at Bolangir, DIG (western) Lalit Das was stationed at Sambalpur to handle the situation. “It was quite normal in Bolangir. Except office of collector, all other offices remained close due to Bandh. About 18 platoons of police forces were deployed in Bolangir”, IG Khurania told.

Police arrested 87 persons in Jharsuguda and 31 persons in Bargarh during Bandh but no arrest was made in Sambalpur. Congress workers blocked roads on various places with burning tyres which restricted movement of private vehicles. However no unto ward incident was reported in any place of the region. “We deployed 18 platoons of police forces in Sambalpur, 3 platoons in Jharsuguda, 6 platoons in Bargarh and a platoon in Sonepur to tackle the situation. However thing passed peacefully every where in the region” DIG Lalit Das said.

The student congress on the other hand expressed gratitude to every one for the success of the Bandh. ‘It was possible because of the support of several organizations and association’, the president of the district Chhatra congress Debashis Dash told. We warn the government not to play with the sentiment of the students. “We demand a compensation of Rs. 20 lakhs to each deceased students in place of Rs. 5 lakhs”, Dash added.

standing committee to expidite VSS autonomy issue

The standing committee of state assembly has assured to expedite the proposal of giving autonomy to status to VSS Medical College and Hospital of Burla during their visit to Sambalpur on Friday. The committee members expressed concern on the non-functioning of the various equipments and machines only because of the absent of experts and technicians.

“Shortage of faculty members and technical staff becomes the real problem of the institution. we assure to expedite the autonomy issue as we feel every thing will be set right once the institution will be made autonomous”, the chairman of the committee and legislature Bishnu Das told.

Sources said the committee visits the district to assess the health and social welfare programme that are undergoing in the district. The committee comprises of the legislature Sipra Mallick, Sarojini Hemram, Adikanda Seth, Dr. Pramod Mallick and Hitesh Bagarti have visited VSS Medical College and Hospital on Friday. During their visit they review the vacancy position of both teaching and non-teaching staff, requirement of infrastructure and buildings. They also examine quality of health services available in the Hospital. “We find non-functioning of various equipments as there is not technical experts to run the machines”, Mr. Das said.

The members expressed concern over the volume of encroachment inside the campus. ‘Unauthorized occupation inside the campus is growing due to loose administration. We have directed the authority to take strict action against the illegal occupants’, Mr. Das said.

The committee also visited one roadside school to assess the position of the mid-day-meal schemes. Later they review the situation of the district by sharing their experience with district level officials in the DRDA conference hall.

“The members have discussed with the district level officials of various department before they leave for Bhubneswar in the evening”, the collector (Sambalpur) PK Patnaik told.

painless treament through mantra

Faith and believe on god some time does miracle in the human society. This was evident from a large gathering of patients that throngs in a camp organized by the Central Rotary club of Sambalpur on Wednesday where Nimesh Bhai Saha of Gujarat’s Ahemadabad was supposed to provide painless treatment to cure them. Sitting in chair on a stage he murmured few Mantras for 10 minutes and waving his right palm he claims to treat them through the radiation of the Mantra.

“About 5 thousand patients suffering of various deadly diseases have participated in the camp to get the free treatment. It is a treatment through Tantra and Mantra. When we hear the visit of Nimesh Bhai Saha of Ahemadabad to Orissa we immediately contact him to fix up the date. We have heard his power of his treatment through mantra. So we have thought to provide his power to our people”, the president of the Rotary Club of Central, Sambalpur Ramesh Kedia told.

Sources said, Nimesh Bhai Saha of Ahamadabad receives a godly power on 15^th August 2007 to treat patients through Jain Navokar Mantra. It is such a powerful mantra that it can treat deadly disease like diabetics, cancer, thyroid, heart diseases and many more related to human body. “I have cured about 5 lakhs people through this mantra by organize more than 40 camps across the country It is a simple process to treat patients. I have received the power from god. People have experienced the changes minute after the treatment”, Nimesh Bhai Saha claimed

“But to keep the disease out from the body one has to perform satiwk style of living. No non-veg, no boozing, no tobacco and no stress in the life. Help to humankind and live disease free life”, Saha added.

However for few this is yet another form of superstition. “In the living world when people spend lakhs of rupees to get cured from a disease how a Mantra can cure a person. I just attend the camp to quench my curiosity”, diabetic patient RK Agrawal told.

But still it is a last resort for many patients who fail to recover even after spending huge money. “I do not know how this work. But I have a firm faith on Indian culture and Sometimes Mantra works more than the medicines” Madhusudan Kedia told

Oriya artists makes sai alive through his animation

Good news for the Devotees of the sirdi Saba who keep a great faith on the godly saint. Soon they will see his life history through animated version A young talented person hails from Orissa has taken the challenge to make the animated film of basing on the life history of Sirdi Saibaba. For the one hour life picture of the human god, the Siridi Sai foundation is going spend more than two crores rupees on his project.

Santosh Kumar Sahu has his own set up of an animation institution ‘Fantasia arts’ at Sambalpur and perhaps he is first Oriya to start his own venture to produce animation film in Orissa. He has got this technique from Singapore when he was involved in import-export trading few years back. A native of Baripada, Sahu is a promising Oriya who aims to give a new dimension to the animation world by highlighting Indian culture through his animation.

“Children are fun of animation and cartoon picture. But now American’s Disney or Chinese’s Jodo and fighting are prominently ruled over the croton world. So we can not blame our Children for going away from Indian culture. We have to produce more such cartoon like Krishna and Hanuman to highlight our culture among our children”, Santosh Sahu told.

According to him when he had been Berlin and Singapore during 2007 and 2008 in connection with his import-export business, he came in touch of the animation world. “After visiting several institutions in Borlin and Singapore couple of years back, I came in touch with the animation world. I was thrilled to experience technological development in animation.. Than I decided take animation as my career. I was having interest in animation since my child hood. So it was easy for me to take up the challenge”, Santosh added. a global merchant diploma holder from Global Maritime distress and safety communication (GMDSS) of Madras in 2004, Santosh, started his career in import-export business after completion of his diploma...

Coming back to India, Sushanta went to Bhopal and met famous animator KR Ghosh and with his active support he begins his career in animation technology. During his training period he worked for several animation projects including ‘Krishna’. “I have got an assignment to animate Siridi Sai’s life history. For the one hour picture I visit many villages related to Sai and collect many photographs of the persons that were in touch with Sai while he was alive”, Santosh told.

“We are also planning to start 2 Dimension and 3 Dimension animation diploma course and certificate in graphic design which helps to generate employment in various sectors. We have also decided to give animation training to school children to create interest among the children in animation work”, Santosh told.