Tag: Ashutosh Mishra

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Carcasses of three Irrawaddy dolphins including a calf were found recently on the Pentha beach within Gahirmatha marine sanctuary limits. This should be a matter of concern for wildlife officials and Nature lovers alike because these man-friendly mammals are an endangered species covered under Schedule I of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: The joy of bird watching in Chilika, Asia’s largest brackish water lake that plays host to lakhs of winged guests coming from as far as Russia and Kazakhstan, has been tinged with concern for their safety. Poaching continues to be rampant in the lake area spread over three districts with more […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: The very fact that chief minister, Naveen Patnaik felt the need to clarify his party’s stand on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) demonstrates his insecurity vis-à-vis the Muslim votes in the wake of his party’s support for the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the parliament. Muslims, who constitute a sizeable vote […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: If reports in a section of the media are to be believed the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has decided to suspend the tiger translocation programme that had brought the Satkosia tiger reserve into focus. The NTCA is apparently miffed with the state wildlife wing officials’ mishandling of the project that […]

Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: With loss in Jharkhand fifth Indian state has slipped from the grasp of the Bhartiya Janata Party. The aura of invincibility that had come to surround the party and its mascot, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi seems to be withering, much to the relief of its opponents. What is more worrisome for Modi […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: ‘Mo Sarkar,’ Naveen Patnaik government’s much-vaunted initiative to bring the administration close to the people, seems to be floundering rather early. It had begun with a flourish but the initial enthusiasm about its implementation by various departments has, from all appearances, petered out. Things are back to square one almost everywhere. […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: As the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) celebrates its 23rd foundation day there is no denying its tremendous success as a regional party. It has an enviable electoral record which no other regional outfit in the history of the state can match. With the right kind of strategy and a generous dose […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States who also drafted the Declaration of Independence, once famously wrote: “[W]ere it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” Modern politicians, […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Former Congress MP, Pradeep Majhi was recently caught on camera asking someone over phone to keep petrol and diesel ready and set things on fire once instructions were issued. The video showing Majhi making the call was apparently shot during the Nabarangpur Bandh organised by his party to protest the alleged […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Maoist rebels recently ransacked the camp office of a road contractor in the Jagdalpur area of Rayagada district, torching JCB machines engaged in road construction. The radicals left behind posters threatening villagers who cooperated in the project work. This has become a pattern with the ultras who appear determined to oppose […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: A countrywide debate is raging over Meerut SP (city) Akhilesh Narayan Singh’s alleged ‘ go to Pakistan ’ comment made during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). It has come to light via a video purportedly shot during the protests in the communally sensitive city of Uttar Pradesh. The video, […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: The suspension of an IAS officer in connection with graft is likely to restore people’s confidence in the government’s resolve to tackle corruption in high places. Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, who holds the Home portfolio, has been facing criticism for being soft towards the officers of the elite administrative service while […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Fuelled by grinding poverty trafficking of women from different parts of the state has emerged as a major challenge for the law-enforcing authorities. The social dimension of this inhuman trade is just as shocking as its criminal aspect. In most cases, young women are practically sold by impoverished families to middlemen […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: The good news is that Odisha’s forest cover has increased. The latest India State of Forest Report, as quoted in a section of the media, says that the state has added 274 sq km of forest in the last two years. Currently, our forested area extends up to 51,619 sq km […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Koraput administration recently organised a mega awareness camp at one of the villages under the disputed Kotia panchayat bordering Andhra Pradesh to inform people about the various social security schemes of the state government. Old age pension was distributed among the eligible beneficiaries and health check-ups were also carried out. The […]