People of Western Orissa are opting for Kosli, Sambalpuri in census

Courtesy : Indian Express

By Ratan K Pani

Rudrani Pradhan, a housewife at Budharaja here, questioned the enumerator whether she can mention Sambalpuri as her mother tongue. The enumerator responded by saying it was up to her.

Rudrani’s not a solitary instance. Even as Andhra Pradesh is embroiled over the demand for a separate Telangana, there has been a silent move by the people of the region, through the ongoing census, to establish a different cultural identity based on linguistic affinity of their own.

Though the move might help the cause of Koshal Kranti Dal (KKD), a political outfit, ahead of polls, it is bound to widen the gap between the people of western and coastal Orissa.

The question relating to mother tongue was included in the Census for the first time in 1881. In the 1891 Census, the question referred to ‘parent tongue,’ which was defined as the language spoken by the parent of an individual. It was then changed to language ordinarily spoken in the household in 1911, while it was again replaced with the word ‘mother tongue’ in 1931.

While during the previous Census the mother tongue was mentioned as ‘Oriya’, in the ongoing Census, a large number of people of western Orissa are mentioning either Sambalpuri or Koshali.

The issue cropped up a couple of months ago when some outfits requested people to record their mother tongue either as Sambalpuri or Koshli in the Census. The outfits reasoned that socio-economic development of the region was not possible without the development of their language.

The KKD has taken up the issue and since then has launched a campaign urging people to record their mother tongue as Koshli.

KKD president Pramod Mishra, however, said the campaign has no political undertone and stressed their demand for inclusion of the language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.

He said the enumerators are ignoring the demand of the people to register their mother tongue as Koshli and informed that they had moved the Census Commission and directions have been issued to the District Collectors accordingly.

The move seems to have struck the right chord among the masses except perhaps in Rourkela, which has a large cosmopolitan population.

2,575 farmers' suicides reported in 9 yrs in Orissa State

As many as 2,575 farmers committed suicide in the State during last nine years from 2000 to 2008 of the BJD rule.

Replying to a question on the issue in the State Assembly on Tuesday, Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout admitted that as per the State Crime Record Bureau, alleged suicidal deaths relating to farm activities during the nine years was 2,575.

Besides, he said, during 2009-10 and 2010-11 (till February), a total of 64 farmers allegedly committed suicide as reported in the media.

However, there was no proof that the suicides were related to agricultural activities, he said while replying to a related question from Congress member Dambarudhar Ulaka.

Giving details of the 2,575 farmers' suicide, Dr Rout said the highest number of 378 suicidal deaths was reported in 2004, followed by 365 in 2003, 345 in 2002, 283 in 2006, 260 in 2008, 256 in 2001, 254 in 2005 and 199 in 2000.

On the alleged suicidal deaths during the last two years, he said the highest number of 11 farmers died in Sambalpur district, followed by eight in Bargarh, seven each in Sundargarah and Keonjar, three each in Balasore and Dhenkanal, two each in Balangir, Cuttack, Ganjam, Nuapada and Puri and one each in Boudh, Kalahandi, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur, Jharsuguda, Mayurbhanj, Koraput and Nabarangpur.

Dr Rout said that for development of agriculture and farmers, the State Government has taken a number of measures by continuously increasing the demand for grants for the department. While `344.58 crore was provided in the 2008-2009 Budget, it was increased to `747.72 crore during the 2010-11 Budget to implement pro-farmer programmes, he said.

Kosal Kranti Dal to launch issue-based stir

The Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) will go in for a change in its strategy and enter the arena of issue-based politics for enlisting greater support of the people, said the party’s secretary general Baidyanath Mishra here.

Speaking at a Press conference, Mishra said his party has enlisted some major issues of western Odisha in general and of the district of Sundargarh in particular to launch agitation. He explained how the western part of the State was denied the privilege of having the headquarters of the Commissionerate-II of Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax though earmarked for Rourkela 13 years back.

Mishra alleged of a conspiracy by the Rourkela Steel Plant and the State Government in not shifting the headquarters and in the process around `500 crore of revenue is siphoned off per annum from the western region. To facilitate a discussion on the subject an audience of the district Collector has been sought. Meanwhile to divert public attention a camp office of the Commissionerate-II is being opened at Rourkela which would be opposed tooth and nail, he said.

Mishra opposed the idea of mining in Khandadhar and Gandhamardan hills and suggested to develop them into international tourist spots so that the flora and fauna of these historic places are not disturbed.

On the demand of an ESI medical college and hospital at Rourkela, he was of the opinion that the hospital should be established at Sundargarhm which has locational advantage being nearer to the coalminers.

Declaration of entire Sundargarh district as drought-affected, shifting of the Claims Commissioner’s office from Bhubaneswar to Sundargarh and adequate teaching staff for all colleges of western Odisha were some of the other Mishra highlighted.

KKD general secretary Kedar Patel, leader of the youth front Hrudanand Behera, vice-president of the district unit Ramachandra Amat, spokesman Jaisingh Singh and tribal leader Santosh Minz were present at the Press meet.

Jam & chocos from desi mahua (Mahuli) soon

Courtesy-TOI

There's more to mahua than a pleasant headiness. The addictive bloom will now be used to makebreakfast essentials like jam and jelly. Chocolates and pickles could also be sourced from the intoxicating flower.

Nearly 90 per cent of mahua, which is grown primarily in western Orissa, was being used for the production of country liquor.Mahua is locally know as Mahuli in Western Orissa. But now the SC-ST development department and Agriculture Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa Limited (APICOL), will be exporting mahua to European countries for making pickles, jelly, chocolate and jam.

Experts from IIT, Kharagpur and IIT, Delhi will train mahua pluckers as to how to collect the flower and ready its components for the export market.

APICOL chairman Balakrushna Ratha said they have got the Central Union Certification (CUC) for exporting mahua raw materials. "We had a meeting with CUC officials recently and put forth this issue as result of which we got the permission to export the mahua," said Ratha.

He said this effort is primarily aimed at alleviating the economic conditions of marginal farmers and the landless poor of the KBK region.

"On a pilot basis, we have started this programme of training mahua collectors in Balangir, Padampur and Koraput. There will also be SHGs which will be entrusted with the collection work in a scientific way," said Rath.

Kosli Tribals demand action against fake caste certificates

Courtesy:- The Pioneer

Hundreds of tribals of Balangir, Sonepur and Boudh and other districts carrying their traditional weapons marched on the streets here on Friday, led by leaders Brajakishroe Singhbhoi, Nirnajan Bisi and Satyanarayn Bhoi of BalangirZilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangha They demanded action against the fake certificate holders and scraping of State level scrutiny committee, formed to look into the fake caste certificate issue.

"So far out of the 353 fake certificate complaints we have submitted to Government till today, only 11employees have been dismissed and three have resigned. While the district level scrutiny committee has cancelled 34 caste certificates, the State level scrutiny committee has cancelled only six fake caste certificates. If in a year the State committee have cancelled only six caste certificates, one can imagine it would take how many years to decide the fate of 353 fake caste certificate cases," questioned Niranjan Bisi.

"We demand immediate scrapping of the State level scrutiny committee and the certificate cancellation power be vested with the competent authority district who are issuing the caste certificate," demanded Bisi.

Even today the Kulis and Doras are enjoying the benefits of tribals even though they are not tribals .We demand the arrest of those people who have enjoyed the benefits of tribal's and recovery of the same benefits from these persons, Bisi further demanded.

Later they submitted a 32 point memorandum to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary through District Collector SN Dey and demanded revival of district level scrutiny committee. "When RS Gopalan was Collector, we submitted our demands of taking action against the fake caste certificate holders and immediate action against more than 36 fake tribal people were taken, informed Bisi.

The Collector who received the memorandum from the tribal leaders assured them of necessary action.

"We didn't take steps to paralyse the district administration as requested by it. We are waiting for one month. Unless concrete action is taken we will take further steps in this regard," he informed.

A three-tier police arrangement was made and seven platoons of police including armed police, SOG jawans were deployed during the protest, said Superintendent of Police Ajay Sarangi.

Stray Dogs Killed Kosli Migrant Labourers Child

Here is one of the many incidence where the migrant labourers of KOSAL have lost it all again ......

ORISSA GOVT...PLZ GIVE WORK & FOOD TO OUR PEOPLE SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO MIGRATE TO OTHER PLACES AND GET KILLED OR EXPLOITED....

ANUALLY 80,000 PEOPLE FROM BALANGIR & NUAPADA DIST MIGRATE OUTSIDE THE STATE IN SEARCH FOR LIVELIHOOD ....

The lives of the family members of Prashant, who was mauled to death by dogs, are no better than dogs.

Prashant’s parents, Sukhdeep and Kaikeyi, had migrated from Nuapada district in Western Orissa to Bangalore, lured by their contractor Gonti Yadav. Their dreams of securing a decent life in the city were shattered once they landed and became bonded labourers at a brick kiln in Bagalur.

They are among the thousand of families from the Balangir and Nuapada dist of Western Orissa brought to work in the brick kilns in the city and paid a very trivial amount.

"We work from 3 am to 10 pm. If we object to the poor working conditions, we are beaten up badly," said a brick kiln worker. All the labourers in the brick kiln are from tribal regions of Western Orissa and Bihar. They say that the touts keep doing rounds in their States in search of ‘preys’ and bring them to the cities to work as bonded labourers.

"Anyone can enter our houses as there are no doors. The roof (made of hay, leaves and plastic) leaks during rainy season. There is none to listen to our plight," said another labourer.

Meagre payment

The workers are paid Rs 50 for every 1,000 bricks they make. It is difficult for an individual to meet the target of 1,000 bricks. In spite of the families roping in children also to work day and night, they hardly achieve their target. Children in the age group of five and 15 work at the brick kilns.

"Here every rule is flouted. Neither Prevention of Child Labour Act nor the Minimum Wages Act is followed. The employers here have not provided basic amenities to the workers," said a social worker living nearby.

The report prepared by the Yelahanka Tahsildar, to be submitted to the government, confirms that minimum wages are not paid to the workers and children are employed here. Workers are deprived of all basic facilities that an employer must provide, the report said.

Wednesday’s incident hasforced the administration out of its deep slumber.

NHRC asks Orissa govt to reply on food security in KBK region

Courtesy:- PTI

Expressing 'concern' about the 'food security' of poor people in poverty-stricken KBK (Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput) region, National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday directed the Orissa government to present status of its recommendation on implementation of welfare schemes in the area.

"The state government has been directed to depute an officer to be present before the commission on March 21, 2011 giving status on the implementation of recommendations of the commission," NHRC Chairperson Justice K G Balakrishnan said after completion of the two-day camp here.

Stating that the NHRC aimed to wipe out the cause of alleged starvation deaths, malnutrition and other problems faced by people in the KBK region, Balakrishnan said the commission wanted to know about the status of its recommendations on different welfare schemes including public distribution system, health, and special security schemes in the area.

"The commission has also directed the state government to effectively co-ordinate and implement various schemes for the KBK districts," he said.

Worried over no substantial development in the KBK region despite implementation of different welfare measures, the commission held a separate session to discuss issues relating to the area.

Issues of poverty, unemployment, deprivation, hunger, starvation and malnutrition in the KBK region were discussed in the presence of senior state government officials, NHRC member Satyabrata Pal said.

While rejecting the state government's claim that no one died of of starvation in KBK region, the commission observed that though none was directly a victim of hunger, the prevailing situation may lead a person to that fate.

It came to the observation while disposing a case relating to the alleged starvation death if 12 children in Nabarangpur and Balangir districts.

As most of the people died of anemia or malnutrition, this could be due to prolong poverty in the region, the commission observed adding that people might be facing shortage of food.

"The state government has also been directed to send detailed report on the issue of bogus ration cards, particularly in the KBK region," Justice Balakrishnan said adding that action taken by the state government against the corrupt officials would also be informed to the commission.

“PUSPUNI”- An important agricultural festival of Koshalanchal

Info abt Puspuni Provided by Susil Kumar Panigrahi of Dalaipara, Sambalpur.

PUSPUNI (Pousha Purnima), an annual festival based on agriculture is observed on fullmoon day of the month of Pousha. The festival is celebrated throughout Western Orissa, both by the rural and tribal folk.

In some areas, it is also called Pousha Parva or Pausha Punei. But the most popular name, specially in rural areas as “Chher-chhera”. The term chher-chhera has probably evolved by corruption of the word ‘char-char’ meaning a drum. Drum is an integrated part of the Pausha festival, as drum beating and dancing to the tune of beat is a must.

PUSPUNI is different from other agriculture festivals of this area. It is largely a communal jubilation related to the new harvest and celebrated through feasting and merrymaking. The festival is characterised by two important events for the farming community – the annual contract of land labouers comes to an end and payments by landowners and agreements on fresh contracts are finalised for the ensuing year.

Interesting and enjoyable scenes are enacted in the streets of villages. Jubilant boys and girls raise funds for ‘chher-chhera’ feasts from the families in the village, regaling them with their dance and music. In some villages, mock quarrels between angry old grand mothers and naughty children are organised. These events are entertaining and create a great deal of amusement and laughter among the audience.

Among the tribals too, it is a festival of merry-making. After harvest men and women enjoy the day by community dancing to the rhythm of drummers.

JAIKOSAL BLOG WISHES ALL THE PEOPLE OF KOSAL, A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS PUSPUNI...

JAI KOSAL

"Aamar Sanskruti Aamar Gaurav"

Deaf & Dumb Orissa Govt Silent On Farmer Suicide In Kosal

Courtesy - NDTV

In a small village in Western Orissa's Sambalpur district, in a small house, a family looks to its neighbours for support. 61-year-old Shukla Chand killed himself by drinking pesticide. In this part of Western Orissa, this has become a frighteningly familiar story. Since November, 11 farmers from here have killed themselves.

Farmers have been catapulted from one crisis to another in Western Orissa since 2009. Floods, drought, and then exceptionally heavy rainfall last year before the harvest. The deaths of 100 farmers have officially been registered as suicides. The state government says it wasn't their failed crops that drove them to their death.

For farmers whose crops were wiped out by pre-harvest rains, the Centre has sanctioned Rs. 400 crore for Andhra Pradesh and another Rs. 600 crore for Maharashtra. No compensation for Orissa has been announced so far.

The state government, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of the Biju Janata Dal, has offered to pay farmers Rs. 400 per acre for rain-fed areas and Rs. 800 per acre for irrigated land - only if the farmers can prove he has lost his entire crop. But farmers point out they invest at least Rs. 9,000 per acre for their paddy crop. So the compensation being offered is worthless.

For farmers like Shukla Chand, it seems like there's no one on their side. His suicide note says after his last crop of paddy failed just before the harvest, the loans he owed seemed insurmountable. He had cultivated eight acres of paddy with an initial investment of Rs. 80,000. He then took a bank loan of five lakh to buy a tractor, and another three lakh from private money lenders. When heavy rains destroyed his standing crop in November last year, he could no longer cope.

"The Centre and state are playing a cruel joke on our farmers. The policy to compensate for losses due to calamities has not kicked in. There are thousands of farmers like Shukla Chand who are not dead as yet, but on the verge of death," says Saroj, the leader of a local cooperative of farmers.

Western Orissa awaits so-called promised hospitals since decades - Another Example of Criminal Negligence By Orissa govt towards Western Orissa

Three medical colleges were proposed in 2004 for western Orissa, facilitated by Western Orissa Development Council (WODC), but they are yet to see the light of day. Other subsequent proposals are still in very early stages.

The planning and coordination department sanctioned Rs 10 crore each for medical colleges in Rourkela, Jaring (Kalahandi district) and Balangir and the state government had provided 25-acre land each to these proposed colleges.

Officials said the proposed medical college at Balangir has faced a dead-end. After WODC advertised seeking private partnership for the proposed colleges, there were two responses. But both the parties failed to qualify in the technical expertise criteria.

Before this, three private parties, selected for Balangir college, quit at various stages. First, GSL Trust of Andhra Pradesh was selected for medical colleges at Balangir and Rourkela and a MoU was signed on January 31, 2004. But the MoU was cancelled since the trust did not commence work. The government signed another MoU with Sri Balaji Educational and Charitable Public Trust on October 6, 2006 for Balangir. After its delay in the start of work, the MoU was cancelled and RVS Educational Trust was selected as a private sponsor. The trust expressed its inability on February 17, 2010 to execute the project.

Work for the medical college at Jaring in Kalahandi, being undertaken by Selvam Educational and Charitable Trust, Tamil Nadu, is under way, after a MoU was signed on January 30, 2004. A 500-bed hospital was supposed to function by January 30, 2008, (five years from the date of MoU). But as of now the hospital is ready in part. While a building for the 300-bed hospital, three operation theatres and a seven-bed ICU is ready, the hostel buildings are yet to be ready.

"The outcome of the inspection by the Medical Council of India in May 2008 was not satisfactory. The trust filed a fresh application before the MCI on November 30, 2010, and the team visited the site once again in April-May," a senior health department official said. Construction of the Rourkela college is being undertaken by Vigyan Bharati Charitable Trust after the government signed a MoU on July 4, 2008. Construction work is on. WODC officials are, however, optimistic. "Barring the Balangir college, the other two projects at Rourkela and Jaring are doing reasonably well. They should be commissioned as early as 2012," said WODC chief executive officer Aswini Mishra.

While neglecting the cause of Western Orissa...Orissa govt went ahead and gave full funding for setting up an ESI medical college in Bhubaneswar which was initially proposed at Balangir then was moved to Rourkela due to our ineficient local leaders.

Time has come for people of Western Orissa to stand united and starts a bloody revolution for our basic rights from the currupt Orissa administration who are more than busy blaming center for everything.

Eunuch Politicians and local Leaders are good for nothing...How many more years they will be fooling us like this ???

Note:- Some of the Contents were taken from Times Of India

Kosli Naat Badi - The Week Long Kosli Drama Fest Starts 15 Jan at Balangir

To promote Kosli drama and to give further boost to Kosli language, a State-level drama festival, Kosli Naatbadi, will be held at Sadeipali in Balangir district from January 15 2011. The main purpose of organising the festival is to revive the regional Kosli Theater, which is facing a lot of challenges these days.

SITE Cultural Society will organize this state-level Kosli Naatbadi. It is infact the oldest Kosli drama fest in Orissa.The Kosli festival will stage the play in colloquial languages.

With the winter still on, it is a wonderful season for theatre lovers to flock together and enjoy the dying art of the area as well as skills of artistes from other parts of the state. SITE secretary Srikara Mishra said since it is the harvest season, the farmers and labourers are in the mood to celebrate. It is the best time for any cultural body to offer this kind of entertainment. "Our objective is to showcase the local flavour of land through these plays to enthrall the average audience. Apart from that, we will also felicitate outstanding artistes and plays too," said Mishra. In the seven-day long festival, 22 plays will be staged.

A theatre lover, Sashi Sekhar Panda, said the organization is making a rare effort to revive the theatre culture in the region. "Although there were doyens of drama here in Balangir, there have been no opportunities like this. This effort will definitely help improve the theatre culture in Balangir and contribute greatly to India's theatre potential," said Panda.

Last year following Kosli dramas of 22 different cultural outfits of eight districts were showcased. Khapara (Balangir), Ashra (Baragarh), Dalari (Bhavanipatna), Remu (Baragarh), A Phula (Bheden), Paiaan (Mahada), Sagharsha (Khtkhatia), Bimbadhar ra Katha (Padampur), Akuha Manar Bhasa (Sonepur), Annapurna (Balangir), Kaanali Patar (Boudh), Annath Ashram (Belpahad), Mun ra Aakar (Balangir), NaaT (Balangir), Laaja (Balangir), PalataBahga (Sambalpur), Agathkatha Kehehez (Baragarh), Phalsa Phul (Kalahandi), Haldipali ra KeluRam (Sambalpur), Rath (Padampur), Naatua (Sambalpur) and Udelia Utpath (Baragarh).

Welcoming all the Kosli people to be a part of the Kosli Naat Badi and feel proud to promote the Kosli cultural heritage

CENSUS 2011 - REGISTER KOSLI AS YOUR MOTHER TONGUE

Maa sikhala SAMALPURI_KOSLI

Master padhala ODIA,

Maa'r gude phul chadhei

Master k dema Nadia...........

hele v bhai mane Master nu Maa j kete Badhiaa.

Dear Friends,

Next month i.e february 2011, The Govt of India will conduct the national Census(LOK GANA OR JANA GANA) and in that process they will ask people to register their mother tongue...

Therefore I request each and every people of Western Orissa to register their mother tongue as "KOSLI" ...It is in our hand only to make our language prosper..

Just imagine other language like Santhali and all who have much less speaker than KOSLI but still have been included in the 8th scheduled of the Indian constitution ...

We have more than 2 crore people speaking KOSLI through out western orissa,part of jharkhand and chattisgarh and we are yet to get recognition..

Finally we request everyone to please inform your family members to register their mother tongue as KOSLI ..so that our language can be introduced in School and our people can learn in their own mother tongue...

PLEASE GO THROUGH THE TWO ATTACHEMENTS AND PLEASE FORWARD THIS IT EACH AND EVERY INTERNET SHAVVY PERSON OF KOSAL (WESTERN ORISSA)...

ISSUED BY

http://www.jaikosal.blogspot.com

Note:-The quote in the starting is contributed by Bhakta Prasad Babu and pampletes shared by Manas Ranjan Pradhan

World Famous Dhanu jatra Starts 9th Jan 2011

Bargarh Dhanu Jatra 2011

World' Largest Open Air theater

9th January 2011 to 19th Jan 2011

The KOSLI (western Odisha) town of Bargarh is gearing up for the famous annual Dhanu Yatra that will begin on January 9. The 11-day cultural extravaganza is globally known as world’s largest open-air theatre. The tiny town, spread over a few square kilometres, will turn into the epic city of Mathura while the nearby villages, rivers and buildings will take names as described in the Mahabharat. Amapali village will be known as Gopapur while the Jeera River that flows between Bargarh and Amapali will be named as Yamuna. The festival will begin with enactment the marriage of Vasudev and Devaki followed by the birth of Krishna to conclude with the death of King Kansa.

Dhanu Yatra is celebrated as a commemoration of Lord Krishna visit to Mathura. It is a distinctive form of annual festivity, in which the small isolated Bargah town of Kosal region turns into a massive open-air theatre. The basic idea behind this festival is to celebrate the victory of Lord Krishna over his autocrat uncle Kansa, who was a very cruel man. During the Dhanu yatra period, Bargah serves as the classic town Mathura, which is also the place where Lord Krishna took birth.

FOR LATEST PHOTOS AND NEWS ABOUT DHANU JATRA , VISIT :- http://www.navratnanews.com

2010 had its own kaleidoscopic impacts on Balangir

Written by Sudhir Mishra

Courtesy:- Daily Pioneer

The intense cold wave situation prevalent is all set to sweep out the year 2010 to pave the path for 2011, but as the remarkable past remains indelible in the annals of history, the district in 2010 was marked with the unprecedented presence of the Maoists, cultivation of banned Bt cotton and maize promoted by Monsanto, move to set up thermal plant besides having already hogged the headlines for the embarrassing starvation deaths.

Red Signal: A band of suspected red ultras, numbering around 100, had reportedly enquired about the village and nearby localities to a local youth while scouting their ways through the forest near Masina village in Khaprakhol block on August 25 night.

The Maoists launched their Jan Sampark Abhiyan in Masina and other villages in a bid to induct new recruits.

As per the police sources, the red rebels have been holding meetings since February while their presence was well-felt in August.

“We carried out combing operation on August 26 and 27 and with joining of the Special Operation Group (SOG) jawans, the operation was intensified from August 28,” informed SP Ajaya Sarangi.

Meanwhile, the ultras have divided into several small groups and are still pursuing their Jan Sampark, sources confided.

Hunger Beckons: The death of five members of Jhintu Bariha family of Chhabripali village due to alleged starvation, even after six decades of Independence, yet again attracted the media attention and rocked both the State and Centre.

While the district administration toiled hard downplaying the sham as death due to malaria and malnutrition, scores of visitors, including the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Rapporteur had visited the village and the villagers had shown him the wild seeds and roots they consume during the lean period.

Empowering ‘no-industry district’ via Thermal Plant: Just to ward off the ‘no industry district’-stigma, an attempt was made by the local young and energetic MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo and under his initiative, the Sahara group of companies is going set up a 1,320 MW Thermal Power Plant at Lutherbandh in Titiligarh, which evokes sharp opposition from the locals apprehending land and livelihood losses.

However, the company seems to be proceeding in its efforts by launching the welfare measures like ambulance and health camps in its peripheral areas.

Craze for banned Bt Cotton, Monsanto Maize: Unprecedentedly, the craze for the banned Bt cultivation soared up among the farmers across the district here without knowing its long term implications on soil and ecology.

To tackle the pest menace on crops and act quickly, an e-pest surveillance scheme was also launched in the district on a pilot basis.

Saviour rain turns Monster: Erratic rain wreaked havoc on agriculture. While deficient rainfall had augured in a drought-like situation earlier, the unseasonal rain, on the eve of paddy harvest, played spoiled sport hitting further a bolder blow on the backbone of the farmers.

Democratic Uprising: For the first time, the townsfolk protested before the Shailashree royal palace against the apathy of the local MP and MLA in fulfilling the longstanding demand of filling up the vacant teacher posts of Rajendra College and other colleges of the town.

Nonstop Labour Migration: It all seems to be a perennial stream as there is no stop to the usual migration of large number of labour force in quest of greener pastures despite the hullabaloos on violation of Human Rights, protection measures, poverty alleviation schemes and policies and steep decline in the traditional water harvesting structures.

A damn to healthcare: Besides other deadly diseases, HIV/AIDS is spreading fast both in the rural and urban pockets of the district having claimed 46 death toll and gripped 368 persons with no medicine and vacant laboratory technician posts turning the ART centre a mere bill-board.

Silver lining: Amid such dark spots on the bright moon of the district’s firmament, the silver lining had been with the boys here having excelled in the Inter-State Junior Badminton Championship and Kabbadi.

While local BJD MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo went on a visit to the USA and Israel to acquaint himself with the nuances of management and development along with other young Indian MPs, former Law Minister and former local MLA Narsingha Mishra was appointed member of the National Law Commission, former minister and incumbent Patnagarh MLA KV Singh Deo as leader of the BJP legislature party in the Assembly and Kantabanji Congress MLA Santosh Singh Saluja created history by hurling the pen stand at the Assembly Speaker.

Sniti Mishra excelled in the Zee Saregama competition, students excelled in the HSC examination et al. Notwithstanding that, the optimistic denizens of the district are hopeful that the year 2011 brings in cheers in the faces of all.

Republic Day 2011: Delhi to dance to Sambalpuri tunes

Coutesy:- Indian Express

After winning hearts across the globe, the foot-tapping beats of traditional drums of western Orissa will reverberate at Republic Day Parade at Delhi on January 26. A group of 170 school students will be presenting ‘Parbha’, a folk dance of the region, in front of President Pratibha Patil.

The group will perform for 2.15 minutes on the Rajpath and choreographer Ranjan Sahu is working overtime to showcase the grandeur of the dance form within the specified time.

As per Sahu of the famed ‘Ukia’ group, which has the distinction of performing across the country, the students are being trained in the intricacies of the dance form at Hindi High School ground in Sambalpur.

The team will represent Eastern Zonal Cultural Council and was selected after competitions at various levels, said Ranjan Sahu.

Students have been handpicked from schools of the town. While 31 students are from CSB ZIlla School, 49 have been selected from Hindi High School, 27 from Town High School, 28 are from Lady Lewis Girls’ High School, 15 are from Police High School while nine artistes belong to the ‘Ukia’ group. They will be accompanied by 11 officials, Ranjan added. Prior to this, ‘Ukia’ had led a 180-member team in 2004 Republic Day Parade and had performed ‘Dalkhai’ dance.