Tag: Ashutosh Mishra

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: If newspaper reports are to be believed Odisha government had diverted more than 14,475 hectares of forest land for mining purposes in the last one decade. The mineral-rich Keonjhar and Sunergarh districts accounted for the bulk of this land. Though compensatory afforestation is taken up through Campa fund it can never […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: In its latest move to empower women state government plans to engage women from economically deficient background in services like running of Aahar kendras, managing community toilets and collecting water bills. These women will be part of the self-help groups (SHGs) formed by the state urban development agency (SUDA) under the […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: The last minute glitch in India’s moon mission broke the hearts of ISRO scientists. It was also a heart breaking moment for the rest of the country with lakhs of people glued to their TV sets to hear the news of lander Vikram’s touchdown on the surface of the moon. But as […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Has Odisha changed for the better in the last 20 years? With chief minister, Naveen Patnaik setting a record of sorts by winning five back to back elections any discussion on the state is bound to revolve around this question. While ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders can be biased about […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Odisha has reported 70 cases of acid attack between 2011 and 2019, according to an NGO engaged in helping acid attack survivors. Both government and the civil society need to take these statistics seriously because victims invariably are women, especially young women who are left with permanent scars on their bodies […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Within a span of less than two months POCSO courts in different parts of the state have awarded death penalty to three persons in cases of rape and murder of minor girls. The punishment will hopefully serve as a deterrent and curb the worrisome trend of rise in such cases. The […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Our capital city is being hailed as the new sports capital of the country. While that might be slightly over the top there is no denying the fact that Bhubaneswar now has world class infrastructure as far as hockey is concerned. It was accorded the honour of holding Men’s World Cup […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: A section of the media has reported that Keonjhar district administration has decided to use sal leaf plates and disposable paper cups in a bid to reduce the consumption of plastic. Sal leaf plates, popular known as “ khali”, have been part of socio-cultural life of Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts. They […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Chief minister, Naveen Patnaik seems keen to ensure that his 5T formula of governance is followed both by civil as well as the police administration. Ahead of the launch of his government’s Mo Sarkar initiative, which is one of the steps towards making 5T effective, he has urged police officials to […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Major political parties in the state are now gearing up for the upcoming by-poll battle in Bijepur, the assembly seat that has fallen vacant following chief minister, Naveen Patnaik’s decision to retain his traditional Hinjili seat in Ganjam district. Patnaik’s decision to contest both from Hinjili and Bijepur, the latter being […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: It is often said that the next world war would be fought over water which, considering its fast depletion, has become a resource more valuable than oil. Yet water conservation is yet to become a priority area for the government. While huge quantity of water is wasted daily in both rural […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Fake beneficiaries have pocketed more than Rs.170 crore disbursed under the KALIA ( Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation ) scheme, an initiative being widely hailed as the panacea for the problems afflicting the state’s farming community. This revelation has thickened the controversy surrounding this financial assistance programme that covers […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: The difference hits you in the eye once you arrive in the city of London. In fact, it was visible to us soon after landing at the Gatwick airport. Cleanliness and discipline were remarkable. Everything was orderly with the staff ready to help newcomers at every point. The long queues at […]

By Ashutosh Mishra London: As we came out of our apartment in Lewisham the sky was clear blue and the entire area was soaked in bright sunlight. It was a cheerful day inviting you to explore a bit of the city. The bus from Lewisham to O2, one of the landmarks of the city thronged […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Battle lines have been drawn in Bijepur with Election Commission announcing the by-poll schedule for the western Odisha constituency made famous by chief minister, Naveen Patnaik’s victory from there in the recent election. The bye-election has been necessitated by Patnaik’s decision to quit the seat in favour of his pocket-borough of […]