Tag: Ashutosh Mishra

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 […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Bhartiya Janata Party MPs from the state have made a fervent plea for state government adopting and implementing the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat scheme. There is no denying the importance of the scheme for the people but residents of the state are being deprived of its benefits because Odisha government has pitted its […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: What is it that makes BJP stronger in western Odisha compared to the state’s coastal belt? Right from the beginning the party has been winning more seats in the western region while it has found it difficult to penetrate the coast where currently the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) dominates. […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: There are fresh reports of depredation caused by elephants in different parts of the state. The pachyderms have been destroying crops and damaging houses, triggering anger among the residents of affected areas. In the past there have also been cases of jumbos killing humans and vice-versa. The truth is man-animal, especially […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Two black bucks (Antilope cervicapra) were recently found dead in Ganjam’s Polasara forest range. Both males their carcasses were recovered from different places in the same range. However, the carcasses did not bear any injury marks that led to speculation about consumption of pesticides being the possible cause of death. What […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: The spine chilling murder in a Keonjhar village of a 60-year-old tribal woman and her relative, both suspected to be practising sorcery, serves as a cruel reminder of how superstition continues to grip the minds of people even in 21st century Odisha. While most such incidents are reported from tribal-dominated areas […]