Tag: Columnist 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: 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: 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 recent appointment of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders to various boards and corporations has triggered a debate about chief minister, Naveen Patnaik using political patronage to rehabilitate leaders who were either denied party tickets in the last elections or had been working in various organisational capacities in the hope of […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: The proposal of Odisha and Chhatisgarh to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to notify the Sunabeda wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve is a welcome move but the state government needs to move with caution in this regard after its recent experience in Satkosia which is our second tiger reserve […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Water management is a huge challenge. It is a much bigger challenge in states like Odisha where a lot of water is wasted on a daily basis either through unplugged leakages or overflowing taps and overhead tanks, an example of our carelessness. As far as our rivers are concerned bulk of the […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: There seems to be no end to the exploitation of minor girls studying in residential schools in the state’s tribal-dominated areas. If reports in a section of the local media are to be believed a class IX student has been found pregnant in Dasmantpur block of Koraput district after being allegedly […]

By Ashutosh Mishra Bhubaneswar: Odisha BJP is likely to get a new president with organisational changes in the offing. While the names of some probables are already being bandied about the pertinent question to ask is what will be the challenges before then new party chief. Though the party has emerged as the main opposition […]

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 […]