Murdered girl’s father approaches Rights Panel
The girl was allegedly kidnapped on March 26, 2011 and a FIR was filed in the night. The police filed a case against unknown persons the next day on charges of kidnapping. The body of the girl was found on March 29, 2011 near Malisahi village. Patra alleged that though the body had several injury marks, the fact was missing in both the police inquest and the postmortem reports.
Patra alleged that though 10 months had elapsed, the culprits are yet to be nabbed because of their close association with Panchayati Raj Minister Maheswar Mohanty.
8 convicted in Kandhamal riots case
PHULBANI: A fast-track court at Phulbani has convicted eight persons for their involvement in the 2008 Kandhamal riots case. Belonging to Raibhanja village under Tikabali police limits, they were sentenced to five-year rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 5,000 each.
They were involved in torching the houses of Christians of the same village during the riots. The riots occurred in Kandhamal in the aftermath of the killing of VHP leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati at the Jalespata Ashram on August 23, 2008.
JSPL attack: OHRC intervention sought
The members took out a protest rally to OHRC and submitted a petition saying security guards of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) attacked hundreds of people on January 25 when they went to the company office to present their demands. The injured included residents of 40 villages, who were affected by the JSPL project in Angul.
Tension had erupted when the villagers were demonstrating near Kaliakata gate of the steel plant last Tuesday, demanding jobs and proper rehabilitation in the project when the security personnel of JSPL chased them. The villagers and security personnel pelted stones on each other, leading to a brawl.
In their petition to the OHRC, civil society members said the company's 'hooliganism' and the 'silence' of the administration has made life of poor people affected by the project unsafe. They sought the commission's intervention to ensure people's safety and proper treatment of the injured.
Those who lost their land to the project were not getting proper compensation and were frustrated of approaching the company time and again to no avail, the petition said.
Most people injured in the incident have been simply lying in the verandah of the Angul district headquarter hospital and are not receiving proper treatment. The injured include at least 50women, the petition pointed out.
Lokshakti Abhiyan president Prafulla Samantaray, who visited some of the injured in the Angul district hospital and participated in Tuesday's rally, said there is an urgent need to ensure proper medical care to them.
"They have been beaten up mercilessly on their lower limbs and back. It appears to be a planned attack by the security guards," he said.
Speaking to reporters about the situation in Angul, chief secretary B K Patnaik said the district collector has been told to take steps to bring normalcy in the area.
"Bringing normalcy also includes compensation and rehabilitation of the affected. We will see if the company had followed the cabinet decision and properly compensated the people," he said.
State moves to take action against those involved in illegal land deal
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/article2836203.ece
The State government has held an enquiry against Bikash Kujur, former Sub-Registrar of Patnagarh in Bolangir district, for his role in alleged irregularities committed in recording of hundreds of acres of land in favour of 10 fake companies in a fraudulent manner.
About 358 acres in Bolangir was acquired by nine companies from New Delhi and one from Agra
When hue and cry was made by people, the State government had ordered an inquiry with the Revenue Divisional Commissioner. But no action was taken based on the recommendations of the RDC. Last year when the RDC report was obtained in exercise of RTI Act, the issue came to the fore again. People demanded action as RDC had then clearly found fraudulent transaction of land.
Direction was issued to inquire and verify if lands were recorded at prices below the market value and charges should be framed against Sub Registrar and District Sub Registrar concerned if there was any truth. Mr. Kujur, who is now working as District Sub-Registrar, Kalahandi at Bhawanipatna, will face the departmental proceeding for committing irregularities and misconduct during his tenure as Sub-Registrar, Patnagarh, under rule-15 of Orissa Civil Service Rules, 1962. The senior revenue official has been directed to submit written statement of defence within 30 days from the date of receipt of this memorandum if he desires to be heard in person. “If Mr. Kujur fails to submit his representation within the stipulated period of 30 days from the date of receipt of this memorandum, it will be presumed that, he has no explanation to offer and action will be taken as deemed proper ex-parte,” Revenue and Disaster Department order says.
358 acres in Bolangir was acquired by nine companies from New Delhi and one from Agra
Villagers threaten to halt plant operation at JSPL, Angul
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-therstates/article2842033.ece
Villagers submit 20-point charter of demands to district Magistrate
Thousands of villagers on Saturday threatened to prevent Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) authorities from operating the steel plant at Angul if their 20-point charter of demands were not fulfilled.
Tension continued to mount around the plant site after the violent clash between villagers and security personnel engaged by JSPL on Wednesday last. Since then villagers have been picketing at different locations to press their demands.
A joint committee of villagers, who lost their land for making way for mega steel plant in their vicinity, submitted 20-point charter of demands to Additional District Magistrate. Agitators threatened of dire consequences if the district administration failed to solve the problem within 30 days.
They were demanding compensation of Rs. 50 lakh per acre of land, proper rehabilitation of the displaced villagers and pension for elderly villagers. District Bar Association has lent support to the agitating villagers.
Demands ignored
“The administration has remained silent all through turbulent period. Villagers' just demands have been ignored for months together. Finally the brewing resentment burst into a bigger conflict. The company instead of admitting its fault launched attack on villagers,” said Amarnath Pradhan, local Member of Parliament.
Mr. Pradhan said the company ignored local people while providing employment (direct and indirect).
On Saturday, representatives of different political parties rushed to Angul to console the beaten-up villagers.
The JSPL has proposed to set up six million tonne per annum steel plant on 3,789.98 acres of land at Angul. Of the total land, the company acquired 2,819.64 acres from individuals. The company has recently requested the State government to extend validity of MoU for another three years.
The company had signed MoU with the State government on November 3, 2005 promising to complete the project within five years. Subsequently, the validity of MoU was extended to November 2, 2011.
However, the company was accused to have not respected the employment guidelines which say priority should be given to local people. According to statistics presented in the State Legislative Assembly, candidates from outside State have outnumbered local people in direct employment provided by the company.
Collectors asked to undertake mapping on anganwadi coverage
District magistrates have been asked to undertake mapping to verify all habitations including brick kilns, paddy fields, construction sites and sugarcane fields are covered under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
After Union government asked the State government to put forward proposals for ‘anganwadi on demand', the State government has moved to survey habitations.
According to guidelines, the rural communities or slum dwellers will be entitled to an ‘anganwadi on demand' in case a settlement has at least 40 children under six, but no anganwadi.District magistrates have been asked to furnish proposals to set up ‘anganwadis on demand'.
The Centre has expressed concerns that vulnerable population including migrant labourers are not getting benefits of ICDS.
As of now 71,134 anganwadis have been sanctioned in the State. Of which 67,501 anganwadis are in operation. About 24,81,470 children below the age of three years have been covered under Anganwadi centres. Children aged between three to six years have got the benefits under the scheme.
The State has a number of scattered habitations those lack anganwadi centres. Besides, thousands of migrant labourers from western Odisha districts move from one place to another with their family members to work in brick kilns and other earthen work.
After parents go to workplace, children are left behind in huts.
No comments:
Post a Comment