Central team visits diarrhoea-hit Orissa region

A team of medical experts on Monday visited the Kalahandi district of Orissa to take stock of the situation after an outbreak of diarrhoea killed 24 people there and hit thousands over the past one month.

"A three member team led by Uma Chawla, joint director of National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), reached the region on Monday. They are visiting the affected areas," joint director of state health department Bikash Patnaik told IANS.

The outbreak was first reported early this month from a hamlet in Kalahandi, about 450 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, and it later spread to dozens of nearby villages.

Patnaik said doctors have treated hundreds of people in hospitals and temporary camps set up at various places during the past 30 days. He said unhygienic living conditions and contaminated drinking water led to diarrhoea in the district.

"The situation is under control now. There is no report of death or outbreak from the region since Aug 21," he said.

Bhakta Charan Das, who is representing the region in the Lok Sabha, alleged that diarrhoea has claimed at least 38 people. "At least 38 people have died. There are no adequate doctors in the region to tackle the crisis which has taken an epidemic form," Das told IANS.

However, the state health department maintained that diarrhoea has claimed 24 lives.

Kapil Sibal inaugurates Central Varsity of Orissa in Koraput

Union Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal on Saturday inaugurated the Central University in Orissa痴 Koraput here. Sibal delivered a speech on 'Innovations and Reforms in Higher Education and Modern India' on the occasion. Vice chancellor Surabhi Banerjee, Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, higher education minister Debi Prasad Mishra and other senior Central and state government officials were among those present. Incidentally, the university has already started functioning and offering courses in English, Oriya, Journalism and Mass Communication, Anthropology and Sociology. Meanwhile, the counselling for English and Anthropology has been extended till September 8. However, the University does not have a permanent campus yet. The varsity is all set to commence classes from September 8 from the temporary Council of Analytical Tribal Studies (COATS) campus.

Election in Educational Institutions in Orissa

Recent violence in Utkal University came into lime light because it is situated in the heart of the state capital where media coverage is the highest in the state and the nature of the violence was high.But this is not the only violence happening in Orissa in recent times or in the past in colleges and universities.It is common for all government institution weather small or big.Six bused were set on fire , six ATM were broken ,one Bank office was damaged , and even one hospital was attacked by some students of Utkal Universityin the recent incident .

What a society can expect from such so called educated students who do not hesitate to attack a hospital where half dead patients are struggling for life and damage public property.One question is that "had they dare to destroy their own property for the sake of strike".On the other hand, the administration is so incapable that few actions has been taken against such students in the past. Either the officials are influenced by the politicians or threatened by the students.

The motto of college election is representation of students in the general activities of colleges and allow them to present their demands.But those who have ever be a part of such institutions in Orissa can realise that the actual positive impact is very less .The represented candidates only interested in corruption , bribe from several companies etc. But one certain result of such election is violence ,damage to government property,interruption of regular classes etc.

So ,why we need such election if the objective deviates from the reality ? There are few colleges in Orissa, where election is restricted or only indirect election is possible. G.M college in Sambalpur conducts such indirect election .The procedure for such election is that first each class will select their leader and the head of the institution (President ,Secretary and others) will be nominated by the selected candidates.Such type of election procedure fulfill the objective of representation and at the same time reduces violence.

The government should think to adopt the indirect election procedure across the state .It will helpful in reducing unnecessary ferocity and will helpful in continuance of peace education in the state.

Student agitation intenfies in Orissa

The students, angry over arrest of their leaders in connection with Utkal University violence, were divided into groups to commit vandalism at several places in Bhubaneswar. At least six buses were set on fire, six automatic trailer machines (ATMs) and branch office of a nationalised bank were damaged and two private hospitals here attacked here.

The violence which began at around 2 am continued till the noon. The agitators also reportedly fought pitched battles with police at different places in Bhubaneswar leading to injuries to at least a dozen people from both sides.

However, no arrests have been made.

Police said the students owning allegiance to students’ wing of the Congress indulged in violence.

The student unrest began after two rival groups attacked each other at the Utkal University here three days ago over union elections, which are barely a month away. Six student leaders including state president of students’ wing of the Congress Chinmoy Sahu were arrested in connection with the incident. All of them were released on bail on Tuesday.

The colleges in Bhubaneswar and other parts of the state recorded thin attendances as the state unit of National Students Union of India, a frontal organisation of Congress, threatened to intensify the stir.

Meanwhile, Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee working president Lalatendu Vidyadhar Mohapatra warned the state government to refrain from its “anti student suppression” activity and threatened that there would be state-wide agitation if the arrested students’ representatives of various colleges and universities were not freed immediately.

“What crime the students have committed? Is it an offence if the students’ leaders tried to expose the Naveen government’s involvement in theft of valuable mineral resources of the state? The state government wants to silence a students’ movement against its corrupt activities,” Mr Mohapatra observed.

'Kaminey' faces ire of Jagannath priests

A day after priest of the famous Jagannath temple burnt posters protesting against hindi film "Kaminey " for containing ‘‘derogatory reference’’ to Orissa’s reigning deity, the local police on Monday filed a case against the producer of the film alleging blasphemy.

‘‘There’s a scene in the film in which a well-known Hindi phrase, Apna haath Jagannath (self-help is best) is written on the toilet door. A photograph of a scantily-clad woman is alongside. This desecrates the image of our revered god,’’ said Damodar Mahasuar, temple priest.

Police said Kalinga Sena, a Puri-based cultural outfit, had lodged an FIR, alleging blasphemy.

‘‘We have registered a case against the producer for hurting Hindu religious sentiments,’’ said Puri inspector Sudhakar Sahoo.

FIR against KAMINEY film producer UTV

A police complaint on Monday has been filed against UTV motion pictures for the controversial remark in the latest bollywood movie Kaminey.

According to sources, the FIR lodged by Jagannath Sena, has accused the makers of the movie for hurting the sentiments of thousands of devotees of Lord Jagannath. The Sena is actually protesting a particular comment in which the name of Lord Jagannath has been written on a wall, above a nude picture.

“FIR has been registered and our investigations are on,” Sudhakar Sahu, IIC town PS said.

“We have also submitted a memorandum seeking for a law so that nobody defames religion and God of others,” Priyadarshan Patnaik, Convener of Jagannath Sena said.

Earlier, the sevayats on Sunday burnt the posters of Sahid Kapur and Priyanka Chopra starer movie Kaminey.

Maheswar Mohanty, MLA Puri has also said to discuss the issue with the government. “ I will bring the issue to the notice of the government and ensure that the controversial comment is immediately deleted from the movie,” Mohanty said.

Following the state wide stir against the bollywood film, the authorities of Sruti theatre in Bhubaneswar deleted the controversial scene today.

“Following the stir we have deleted the scene for the film,” Ravi Moharana, manager of the theater said.

As per the authorities, they have also informed the concerned distributors in this regard. Meanwhile, the audiences have also welcomed the movie of the cinema hall owners.“ Being a devotee of Lord Jagannath, such kind of comment is not accepted by us,” Sangita, audience said.

Leader of Prince dance Group Met Orissa CM Patnaik

After scripting history, founder and member of Prince Dance Group, T. Krishna Mohan Reddy arrived in the state and met chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday.

Patnaik congratulated Reddy who enthralled the audiences’ world wide with their magical performance throughout the competition.

“The magician of Orissa has now returned home. The Prince Dance Group is like the, ‘Diwali ka anaar’ for the rest of the rest of the world and they have made us proud,” Patnaik said.

Patnaik also congratulated the entire group for the achievement. “The moment I watched them performing on Sare Jahan Se Acha, I thought that the act was of international standard. Since then we have been under the magical spell of Krishna and his group. The government is also planning something wonderful for the Prince Dance Group,” Patnaik added.

After the talks with Patnaik, Reddy expressed his gratitude towards the people of the state for love and support for Prince Dance Group. Moreover, Reddy has also informed that Patnaik has assured of all possible help for them.

“It was really nice to hear that CM has assured to assist us in our efforts,” Reddy told.

Reddy also thanked the OTV and other corporate houses for supporting them all throughout the show. Prince Dance Group on Sunday won India’s got talent reality show on channel Colors. With this victory, they have won Rs 50 lakh in cash and a Maruti Sukuzi Ritz car.

To a question on whether the group would continue to work as labourers, Reddy replied life is all set for a new beginning. “When we had left for the competition we had no money and now things have changed and we will continue our hard work and bring laurels for the state in international competitions as well,” Reddy said.

Meanwhile, other members of the group are expected to arrive at Berhampur tonight. The entire Ambabua village is also set to welcome their hero’s who have made the entire state proud.