By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Odisha, which once ranked among the most peaceful and crime-free states of the country, seems to have become an unsafe place for women. Crimes against members of the fair sex have been taking place in the state with alarming frequency. Of late newspapers have reported a spate of rape cases, some […]
By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: There is growing concern in the state over cases of pregnancy of teenage girls in schools and hostels run by SC\ST development department. The issue not only raises moral questions it also puts a question mark over the management of these institutions. For the record as many as 17 cases of […]
By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: A section of the media has reported that Chhattisgarh is planning more projects on Mahanadi, the river considered to be the lifeline of people in Odisha. One of the mightiest rivers of the country it caters to the water needs of people in around 15 districts of the state. It is […]
By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: In the last one week Maoist rebels have gunned down two alleged police informers in Kalahandi district where they have begun making inroads recently. Both the victims were contractors and seen by the radicals to be collaborating with the men in khaki. The so-called police informers have been at risk for […]
By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: The latest incident of farmer suicide from a village in Balasore district has raised a question mark over state government’s claim that factors like loan burden or crop loss have nothing to do with such cases. If media reports are to be believed the family members of the deceased, Sumant Kumar […]
By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: The victory of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate in Patkura has re-affirmed the party’s political supremacy in the state. Though the margin of win should have been higher going by the claims BJD leaders had made during the course of campaigning it was satisfying nonetheless. While BJD’s tally in the state […]
By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Tribal inhabitants of Laxmipur block in Koraput district have launched an agitation against the mining of bauxite from the Kodingamali hill in the area. Organised under the banner of Kodingamali Suraksha Manch (KSM) they blocked the road leading to the mines the other day and submitted a memorandum to the district […]
By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: There now seems to be a pattern to it that is beginning to look familiar. The Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) support for the Inter-State River Water Disputes Bill, 2019 that was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday comes as no surprise to political observers who have been watching […]
By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Nandankanan zoo on the outskirts of the capital city is among the major tourist attractions of the state. Carved out of the Chandaka forest its natural surroundings draw a lot of people who want to see wild animals in an environment that does not make them look like the members of […]
By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Effective major irrigation schemes being few and far between in Odisha it is important to support initiatives like tank irrigation. They can come in handy in times of distress for farmers. But sustaining such initiatives is not easy. When funds are not a problem lack of awareness and motivation among people […]
By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: The killing of seven Maoists in an encounter in Rajnandgaon district of neighbouring Chhatisgarh is certain to boost the morale of security forces on both sides of the border as they have been working in close cooperation to end the menace of left wing extremism. Both Chhatisgarh and Odisha have been […]
By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Modi government’s decision to scrap article 370 conferring special status on Jammu and Kashmir and to split the state into union territories, one with a legislature and another without one, has evoked a flood of contrasting reactions across the country. The J&K itself seems to be in a ferment with the […]
By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: In a clear indication that Odisha is determined to step up its fight against the controversial Polavaram project coming up in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh the state assembly has set up a committee comprising members from various parties to take up the issue with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. With the union environment […]
By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: State government’s much talked about KALIA Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation) scheme for farmers finds itself in the midst of another controversy with agriculture department initiating the process of vetting beneficiaries after a large number of them have already received the money in their bank accounts. It has asked […]
By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Empowerment of women has been one of the major achievements of Naveen Patnaik government. Mission Shakti, the most important initiative on this front, has become symbolic of dignity and self-reliance of the members of the fair sex. There are around six lakh women self help groups (SHGs) in the state engaged […]