Ahead of BJD's 28th foundation day on December 26, its chief Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday urged members to remain dedicated to serving the people of Odisha, while the party announced a mass demonstration in Bhubaneswar on January 6 to highlight the price rise of essential commodities and other issues. Patnaik asked party supporters to "raise voice against the BJP government's 'anti-people' policies" and also highlight the impact of high inflation, which hits the poor and middle class. "The party leaders and workers need to create awareness among people on the state BJP government's failure in checking price rise of essential commodities and in fulfilling the promises made to the people," the BJD president said. In an open letter to all the party functionaries, Patnaik said the BJD's 28th foundation day "will be observed in all the assembly constituencies." Noting that the regional party is "totally dedicated to the service of people of Odisha since 27 years," Patnaik said though the
Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam is expected to visit India in January, during which he will also visit Odisha
More than 59,000 people became victims of online trading frauds in Odisha during the last six years, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the Assembly on Monday. In a written statement, Majhi said 769 online trading fraud cases were reported in the state between 2019 and November 2024 and 59,437 people were victims of such frauds. Most of the online trading fraud cases reported in 2023 and 2024. Altogether 190 cases involving cheating of 18,994 people were reported in 2023, while 40,270 people were cheated in 472 cases the next year, the chief minister said in question of Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati. In 2023, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Odisha police registered four online trading fraud cases against cyber criminals, who allegedly cheated 18,804 people, he said. Similarly, the EOW has registered three such cases in the current year, in which 40,219 people were cheated during online trading, Majhi said. Stating that steps have been taken to control online trad
The Odisha government has deployed special enforcement teams in various districts to curb the illegal inflow of paddy from neighbouring states during the procurement season, the state government said on Friday. So far, 84 enforcement teams have been deployed in various districts, including 10 in Bargarh district and 21 in Sambalpur district, it said. While the central government's minimum support price (MSP) for paddy is Rs 2,300 per quintal, the state government has announced an additional Rs 800 per quintal as assistance to farmers. This has triggered concerns that some traders may attempt to bring paddy from other states to sell it in Odisha at a higher price. The government has set a target of procuring 80 lakh tonnes of paddy during the current Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25. According to the statement, the teams will monitor vehicles entering Odisha with paddy from neighboring states, as well as vehicles moving from mandis (paddy procurement centres) to mills and ...
Odisha Police has made extensive security arrangements to tackle any potential threats ahead of the three-day All India DGP/IGP conference beginning here on Friday. The national conference is scheduled to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other dignitaries, officials said. In response to queries about a purported threat issued by Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to disrupt the meet, Additional Director General (Law & Order) Sanjay Kumar told PTI, "We are aware of all the threats and have made extensive security arrangements. We will ensure that no untoward incidents take place." On the specifics of security measures, Kumar said around 80 platoons (1 platoon consists of 30 personnel) of Odisha Police, along with 10 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), including CRPF and BSF personnel, have been deployed at key locations. "The meeting venue and other important places are secured with three-tier security, while
The Odisha government has rejected an application of senior IAS officer Sujata R Karthikeyan for extension of child care leave (CCL) and asked her to join the duty, an official said on Wednesday. Karthikeyan is the wife of V K Pandian who was a close aide of former chief minister Naveen Patnaik. The General Administration and Public Grievance department through a letter on Tuesday informed Karthikeyan to join duty on Wednesday as her application for an extension of child care leave has not been accepted by the government, the official said. "I am directed to invite a reference to your letter of dated 04.11.2024 (sanction of extension of CCL for six months from November 27) and say that after careful consideration, your leave application for extension of CCL is not acceded to. You are, therefore, requested to join on 27.11.2024 i.e. after availing of the CCL from 31.05.2024 to 26.11.2024," said letter issued by Manoj Mohanty, additional secretary, General Administration and Public .
The Odisha government will implement the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, in all state-run universities and affiliated colleges from the current academic year, a statement said. The decision was taken by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, aiming to bring many reforms in the state's education system, it said. In accordance with the NEP, four-year undergraduate programmes will be started, replacing the regular three-year courses. A student can earn a certificate, diploma, degree and degree with honours after completion of each year in the four-year programme, it added. The state government has developed a credit framework on the basis of guidelines set by the University Grants Commission (UGC), under which, the students can involve themselves in skill development, internship, community service and extra-curricular activities, NCC and NSS to earn credits, the statement said. It will help students to choose their subjects on their own and complete their degree course within seven
The Odisha government on Friday gave its nod to 15 new industrial projects with a total investment of Rs 3,353 crore, which is expected to generate 4,637 jobs. The approvals came during a meeting of the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA), chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja. These projects cover a wide range of sectors, including Chemical/Renewable Energy, Steel, Aluminium, Food Processing, Manufacturing, Textile & Apparel, Tourism, Pharmaceuticals, and Cement. They will be implemented across several districts, such as Koraput, Khurda, Baragarh, Puri, Cuttack, and Jharsuguda. In the chemical/renewable energy sector, Reliance Bio Energy Limited will set up a compressed bio-gas and organic manure plant in Puri with an investment of Rs 121.21 crore. The project is expected to create 69 jobs, officials said. In the steel sector, Beekay Steel Industries Ltd. plans to invest Rs 750 crore in Cuttack, expanding its operations with sponge iron, billets, ferro alloys,
The collectors in the state have been ordered to make sure that the amount reaches all the affected during the cyclonic storm within seven days
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi asked the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department to provide three months of rice in advance to the beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System (PDS). Majhi issued this direction after he reviewed rice distribution under the Public Distribution System, the chief minister's office (CMO) said in a statement on Tuesday. The chief minister's direction is significant as it came after allegation of delayed rice distribution among people at Mandipanka village in Daringbadi block of Kandhamal district. Two women died and six others fell ill in the village after consuming mango kernel gruel allegedly due to scarcity of foodgrains. As per the chief minister's instructions, each beneficiary of the National Food Security Act and State Food Security Scheme will get 15 kg of rice for three months (October to December). Although the rice distribution process started from October 1, about 40 lakh families have not received rice yet. Therefore, th
Power supply was yet to be restored in around 50,000 households in cyclone-hit areas in Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore districts, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has said. Briefing reporters here on Sunday evening after reviewing the post-cyclone situation, Majhi said the restoration work has reached the last stage and obstructions on roads have been removed. Power supply has been restored in 98 per cent of the affected areas. Out of 22.84 lakh power consumers affected by the cyclone, power supply has been restored in 22.32 lakh households. Nearly 50,000 households of Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore districts are yet to get back power supply as the villages remained marooned, he stated. For restoration of power supply in the affected areas, about 7,000 workers have been engaged and they are working hard to restore power in those areas as well, Majhi said. More than 8 lakh people in the cyclone-affected areas had been evacuated to 6,210 shelter centres. Most of them have
Despite comprising only 17% of India's east coast, Odisha's 480-km coastline is affected by nearly 35% of all cyclonic and severe cyclonic storms that impact the eastern seaboard, according to a 2021
A total of 35.95 lakh people in Odisha have been impacted by cyclone Dana and subsequent flooding in 14 districts, the state's Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Sunday. Pujari also said as many as 8,10,896 people were evacuated to 6,210 cyclone relief centres. The worst-hit districts include Kendrapara, Balasore and Bhadrak, while the human casualty still stands at zero, he told reporters here. By 10.30 am of Sunday, evacuated people were sheltered in 1,178 cyclone relief centres and they are being provided cooked food and other essential items, the minister said. Polythene sheets are being given to people who lost their houses in the calamity. He said cyclone Dana, which struck early Friday, affected people in 1,671 gram panchayats under 108 blocks spread across 14 districts. According to preliminary reports, around 5,840 houses have been fully or partially damaged due to the cyclone and subsequent flooding, Pujari said. Whenever there is a disaster
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday said 1,600 of 4,431 pregnant women relocated to relief centres due to cyclone Dana have given birth. The state has evacuated altogether 5,84,888 people, and the number could exceed 600,000 by Friday morning, he said. "These people are lodging in 6,008 cyclone shelters, where they are being provided with food, medicine, water, and other essential supplies," Majhi said. The chief minister said Balasore district saw the highest evacuation, with 172,916 people taken to safety, followed by Mayurbhanj with 100,000. Additionally, 75,000 people were evacuated from Bhadrak, 58,000 from Jajpur, and 46,000 from Kendrapara. He clarified that the state government initially aimed to evacuate 10 lakh people, and the target was adjusted based on the changing trajectory of Cyclone Dana. "We have successfully evacuated all people from high-risk areas," the chief minister said. Majhi also updated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Am
The State Selection Board (SSB) of Odisha Police has declared the official notification to increase the number of openings to be filled via Sepoy/Constable recruitment examination in 2024
Both states have closed schools in the areas that are expected to be bear the brunt of the storm and asked fishermen not to venture out to sea
As per the notification, the Development Commissioner cum Additional Chief Secretary will suggest the measures to be taken up for the implementation of the NEP 2020 in the state
The Odisha government will release the first instalment (Rs 5,000) to more than 40 lakh beneficiaries under its flagship women-centric programme Subhadra Yojana on October 9, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said here on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the ambitious Subhadra scheme of the BJP government on his birthday, on September 17 this year. On that day, the first instalment of Rs 5,000 was sent directly to the bank accounts of about 25.11 lakh beneficiaries. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, in the presence of several other dignitaries, would release the first instalment of money to over 40 lakh women on October 9 at Baripada in Mayurbhanj district during the Durga Puja festival, she said. Stating that about 96 lakh women have registered themselves under the scheme so far, she informed that all those who can apply on or before October 7 and become eligible, will get the money on October 9. Mayurbhanj was selected for the second phase of release of the .
The state Cabinet has approved investment proposals worth Rs 44,682 crore, achieving 90 per cent of the annual target
The district administration has expressed concern of misuse of internet for spreading communal violence