Orissa To Get New Medical Colleges Soon

It is uncertain if a second medical college will ever come up in the Western Orissa region, but there is no dearth of expression of intentions on the part of the State government. Western Orissa Development Council (WODC), after // its failed negotiation with an Andhra Pradesh based entrepreneur, struck another deal on August 17th with a Delhi based businessman to set up private medical colleges in Bolangir and Rourkela. The Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jassar Dental and Medical Education and Health Care for these two proposed medical colleges.

As per the agreement, the two medical colleges in Bolangir and Rourkela would be completed by 2007, the budget of which is tentatively fixed at Rs 200 crore. One would be a hundred-seated college while the other would have strength of 150 and private management would control both. The Council has acquiesced to supply 25-acre land to both these institutions and Rs 10 crore funds to each of the projects.

In 2004, the Council had signed an agreement with a Rajamandri based entrepreneur to set up two medical colleges, post Naveen election rhetoric on the issue. The MoU never materialized as the party backed out midway through.

Grant of $7 million for Orissa Medical College from Japan

"The grant assistance would enable the Sardar Vallavbhai Patel Postgraduate Institute of Paediatrics (in Cuttack) to improve its medical facilities and effectively contribute towards dispensation of healthcare to a wider population," said a statement from the Japanese embassy.

Notes concerning the project were signed and exchanged here Thursday by Japanese ambassador Yasukuni Enoki and Vivek Mehrotra, additional secretary in India's finance ministry.

The grant will help the institute - a pioneer centre in dispensing healthcare to undernourished children - to provide improved diagnostic and medical health services in Orissa and neighbouring states.

India is the largest recipient of Japanese Overseas Development Assistance. Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, during his visit to India three months ago, repeated that Tokyo would continue to support New Delhi's efforts at accelerated economic development, particularly in priority areas like infrastructure, including transportation and power, and environment.

Koizumi's visit cemented growing bilateral ties and initiated an "eight-fold initiative" of cooperation in key areas spanning security, economic engagement and science and technology.

Campaign Against Witchcraft In Orissa

Narendra Naik, the President of Federation of All India Rationalists Association, is presently on a 13-day campaign in the villages of Orissa to spread awareness against witchcraft.

In a typical example Naik, asks them to applaud the "mother" – a 11-year-old girl when her "supernatural" strength ignites the contents of a vessel on its own. Naik explains to them how the "link" is achieved.

The campaign was started from Sundergarh, district which is reported to be accounting for nearly 60 percent of these cases.

The Government of Orissa has a law, which prohibits anybody practicing witchcraft and includes a fine and even imprisonment. Interestingly, the majority of practitioners and victims of witchcraft are women.

But while actual instances of practicing occult are known, innocent women are the ones who are usually branded as witches by a few individuals. Many of these women are widowed or with no familes and have their own lands.

Naik, who is heading the campaign, says he is optimistic that his entertaining way of communication will bear results and create awareness among the primarily tribal region.

"The main benefit of this campaign is that people will now try to understand the cause and effect relationship of any issue. Now, if anybody is sick in their house, they will rethink whether that ailment was actually caused by a witch or due to some other reason," says Naik.

The campaign will travel to other regions of the State in the coming days and is getting the cooperation of police authorities. "It has come down now and we hope that after awareness is created the situation will definitely improve," says S. Saini, Superintendent of Police, Sundergarh.