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.

Delhi, NCR hit by “mild intensity” earthquake

New Delhi, Nov 26: The residents of Delhi, National Capital Region (NCR) had a harrowing start to the week as an earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale rattled the region early Monday. The Indian Meteorological Department, classified the quake that struck at about 4.43 am as a “light intensity” one. Despite the early morning chill terrified residents fled to open spaces, however there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

There have always been worries about Delhi as it lies in Zone 4 of an earthquake danger chart on which Zone 5 the category for areas most prone to quakes.

The epicentre of the tremor was at the Delhi-Haryana border at 28.6 N latitude and 77.9 E longitude. It was centred around 10 kms from Bahadurgarh in Haryana. Today’s quake was due to the re-alignment of the Sohana tectonic plate fault line that has been in the past lead to mild tremors in the region.

Although, the Sohana fault line is not as serious a problem as the fault lines in the Himalayan region nevertheless its resurgent activities lead credence to the claims that a major earthquake can happen anytime in the region.

Besides the capital, the tremor was felt in surrounding areas such as Noida (UP), Faridabad and Gurgaon (both in Haryana). Even people in areas as far as Meerut said that they felt the early morning tremors.

A tremor of a similar magnitude had hit Mumbai and the surrounding Konkan region on Saturday but caused no damage.

The last earthquake of any significant proportions to hit the area owing to the Sohana tectonic plate shift was in October 2005. However, the national capital had been also hit by the high-intensity quake that hit Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), completely devastating its capital Muzaffarabad.

An earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck Gujarat in 2001, killing nearly 20,000 people and causing damage in neighbouring Pakistan. The quake affected 15.9 million people in 7,900 villages.

Mideast Summit: Sibal leading Indian delegation

Washington, Nov 26: Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal, who is leading the Indian delegation at this week's international Middle East Peace Conference, has arrived in the US capital, where he will be attending a dinner party addressed by President George W Bush on Monday night.

The other members of the Indian delegation are the Prime Minister's special envoy for West Asia, Chinmoy Gharekhan and the Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs dealing with West Asia and North Africa, Manimekalai.

The Indian delegation, who will attend a dinner hosted by the State Department tonight, will be participating at the main plenary of the International Conference on the Middle East at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday.

The summit, which aims to revive the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations, is broken down into three sessions after the working lunch which will be chaired by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"The conference itself... Is a signal opportunity... To launch the bilateral negotiations between the parties," said David Welch, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.

More than 100 delegates from 50 nations and international and regional organisations like the Arab League, World Bank the International Monetary Fund, the quartet group and members of the UN Security Council are attending the conclave.

Washington has said the ultimate goal is the realisation of a Palestinian state. Key players in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia and Syria are attending the conference.

"...It's been the US policy. It's been the Israeli policy, that they would agree to a Palestinian state, as part of a comprehensive, complete peace agreement," senior Republican Senator and Presidential hopeful John McCain said on ABC News.

UP serial blasts rock Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, Nov 26: Serial bomb blasts in Uttar Pradesh rocked Rajya Sabha on Monday leading to adjournment of the Upper House till noon. As soon as the House met for the day, Opposition NDA and Samajwadi Party members raised the issue demanding resignation of Home Minister Shivraj Patil. They raised slogans and trooped into the well even as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri said the government was willing to make a statement on the blasts. Chairman Mohammad Ansari said the government was ready for a discussion on the issue today itself. This failed to pacify the Opposition members who raised slogans demanding Patil's resignation. As the din continued, the Chairman adjourned the House till noon.

'ICL a chance to guide young players'

It has been more than three years since Lance Klusener stepped onto a cricket field in the South African colours. Still such is the aura surrounding this 36-year-old, who was the Player of the tournament in the 1999 World Cup, that he remains the most high profile signing by the Indian Cricket League after Brian Lara (whose participation is still unsure).

During his eight-year international stint, Klusener did not believe in talking to the media. Instead, his performance spoke for him. But times have changed. And so has Klusener.

"I had my share of international cricket. I don't have any regrets about not being able to play more international cricket," Klusener, who quit international cricket in 2004 after disputes with the authorities and the team management and moved to England to play county cricket, told the Hindustan Times on the sidelines of a warm-up tie between the Kolkata Jets and the Mumbai Champs at the Western Railway ground on Friday.

After having a fairly long stint with Northamptonshire as a professional, Klusener has put his county future in doubt by joining ICL, which is not recognised by the Indian cricket board.

"I don't think I will have any problems in continuing to play in England," Klusener said. "But the decision of a couple of boards not to allow the ICL players to participate in first-class is not fair."

There are reports that the England and Wales Cricket Board would strike a balance to appease their affiliated units as well as their counterparts by deciding to bar the ICL signings from their Twenty20 Cup.

Then what draws Klusener to the ICL?

"Well, first the opportunity to come back and play in India," Klusener said, reminiscing about his Test match debut in Calcutta in 1998, where he took eight for 64 - his best Test figures.

"It is also an opportunity to guide some of the young players. I believe coaching is something I am good at."

Does that mean he is looking forward to coaching as his next career option? "I am not sure," Klusener said. "I am good at it, but I don't think I can do it for a longer period of time."

Klusener has come to India after being associated with organised and professional first-class structure in South Africa and England. Does he think the Indian first-class cricketers are as professional as those in some of the other countries?

"It's a difficult question to answer," he said. "A lot of these cricketers have never tasted top quality cricket, so it would be difficult for me to compare them with others.

"There are some who have played a lot of first-class cricket, and they are professionals."

Done with international cricket, says Klusener

MUMBAI: The idea of Twenty20 and Lance Klusener has an instant connect. Few would forget his batting in the 1999 World Cup that nearly helped South Africa break their World Cup jinx of entering the final. Wouldn’t he have loved to play Twenty20 at the international arena? Much as the fans would have liked to see him wielding his willow at this format of the game, Klusener remains circumspect about it.

“Who is to say I would have done well at Twenty20 internationally. I am done with international cricket. I don’t miss international cricket anymore and am looking forward to playing in the ICL,” he says in a nonchalant, matter-of-fact manner.

His team in the ICL, Kolkata Tigers, are stretching and limbering after their practice match win over Mumbai champs. Seeing his enthusiasm, one will find it hard to believe that he’s the one of the senior members of his team, which also has Craig Macmillan, Upul Chandana, Darren Maddy and Rohan Gavaskar.

When asked about the responsibility that comes along with being among the seniors, he says, “I look at it as a challenge, the youngsters seem eager. I expect them to push me to perform, this is different. I take this as an opportunity to have fun and I hope I’ll be able to provide entertainment to my fans.”

Of course, this will be different. There will be no one speaking Zulu or Afrikaans in the dressing room, and it will take a little time before they establish a bond between them. “There can be some communication problems. There are people in the dressing room whose English is not that good and conversely my Indian is not breathtaking,” he said. “It looks like a batsman’s game, though that doesn’t mean bowlers here are lambs to the slaughter,” he says. Being an all-rounder he will have a balanced perspective on the issue.

“I’m sure if bowlers bowl well, stick to the basics there’s plenty that one can do as a bowler even in such batter-friendly conditions,” he adds.

Speaking of all-rounders, were the South African selectors right to drop Jacques Kallis from the Twenty20 squad? “It’s not right for me to comment on that but I think if I were a selector I would have picked Jacques in my Twenty20 squad,” he says straddling diplomacy and forthrightness. He’s optimistic about South African cricket, which he confesses he hasn’t seen much of late.

“I think they have been performing well with Dale Steyn and other youngsters coming good,” he said before getting into another bout of training.

2 arrested for train dacoity

JAJPUR ROAD, Nov.22: The Keonjhar Railway police arrested two persons on charges of looting a railway passenger on board the East Coast Express today. They are Babuli Mohapatra (38) and Pabitra Rout (35). According to sources, one Shaik Sultan, was returning to his home in Bada Biruan when the duo befriended him. The looters forced him to take a cold drink with intoxicants and fled with his luggage. A vendor raised an alarm. n sns

CM demands inclusion in ICDP project

BHUBANESWAR, Nov. 22: The chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik today expressed deep concern over the exclusion of Orissa in the World Bank-sponsored Integrated Child Development Programme and demanded immediate inclusion of the state in the project. In a missive to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, the chief minister wrote that the state government has always emphasised on combating malnutrition. The state government’s effort should be strengthened, Mr Patnaik stated and added that the inclusion of the state in the programme will be an appropriate step in that direction.
It may be mentioned here that 7,83,535 women and 42,01,526 children of the state are included under the programme. At present, there are 41,697 anganwadis functioning in the state.
The state government has sent a proposal to the union government to open 22,000 more anganwadi centres.
n sns

Firing by MCC alarms

Statesman News Service
ROURKELA, Nov. 22: Blank firing by the MCC on the bordering villages has panicked the villagers and they are reported to be in a state of constant fear.
According to information, the MCC is reportedly trying to re-establish itself and gain some of the lost grounds in the bordering villages. The cadres are going around the villages like Badmal, Sadhumunda, Tarkera and others and are collecting facts and figures regarding the movement of the forces. And this movement of the cadres has continued for three days in these areas. Yesterday evening, they resorted to blank fire in some of these areas. Villagers were threatened with dire consequences if they divulge any information regarding the cadres. However, some of the villagers, were reported to have lodged complaints at the Kutra PS. The villagers requested not to disclose their identities fearing reprisal from the MCC.
Meanwhile, a police officer, on condition of anonymity, said: “It is yet to be ascertained whether they were real cadres or dacoits trying to capitalise in the name of MCC.” The villagers of Lanjiberna and other nearby areas are also scared as MCC posters were found to be pasted in some of the areas.

Voting or (for) farmers?

Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, Nov. 22: The Opposition is only interested in votes, whereas the government is interested in the farmers problems, claimed the ruling BJD leaders, only to evoke a curt snub from the Congress which said that one can pin down this government to keep its promise only through a vote in the House.
Nobody trusts this government when it says that not a single drop of water meant for irrigation will be diverted for industrial use. Hence the only option is to have the issue voted in the House and get a commitment from the government, stated the leader of the Opposition Mr JB Patnaik.
How else can one make this government keep its promises? Mr Patnaik countered. The leader of the Opposition wondered why the chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik is shying away from a vote on this issue.
Mr Patnaik said that not a drop of water will be diverted, he has the numbers in the House, so let him agree for a debate and get a vote on the motion. Once this is done everybody, including the farmers of the state, will be duly assured, Mr JB Patnaik observed.
The chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik, however, insisted that his government accords top priority to agriculture and to the farmers. Right from day one we were eager to discuss the issue of the Hirakud waters in the House, but it is the Opposition which is confusing matters and continuing with their rowdy behaviour, Mr Patnaik charged.
When asked about the demands for the motion to be under the provisions of seeking a vote, the chief minister quipped that they (Opposition) are interested only in voting, we are interested in the farmers.
Meanwhile, for the fourth successive day no business, not even the Question Hour, could take place in the Assembly today.
With both the ruling and the opposition parties refusing to budge from their respective stands on the motion to discuss the use of Hirakud waters, nothing moved in the House.
The only step forward was in terms of a motion figuring in the order paper for the day’s business.
But even this sparked a heated debate with the Opposition members Mr SB Sahu and Mr Narasingha Mishra questioning the powers of the Speaker to change the wording of the motion submitted by them.
It has been tailored to suit the provisions under which it is to be moved, contended the Speaker, but this did not satisfy Mr Mishra.
Several members from both the sides, Mr Nalinikanta Mohanty, Mr Arun Dey (Oppn), Mr Raghunath Mohanty, Mr D Rout ( treasury bench) tried to clarify the position as per their perceptions.
The Opposition trooped into the Well carrying posters against the government, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House without transacting any business.
Outside the Assembly, political circles felt that the coalition partners-the BJP in particular is in a fix over the Hirakud waters issue. Once there is a vote, the BJP will have to vote against the Opposition motion and this will be politically counterproductive to them in the western parts of Orissa.
On the Congress side, chances of dropping guard on the issue were sealed with the AICC, dashing off a letter asking the state leadership to stick to their stand on getting the motion voted.

Mittals to make own arrangement
Saturday November 17 2007 08:02 IST

Express News Service

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BHUBANESWAR: In the backdrop of Orissa farmers agitating against supply of water to industries, world�s largest steel maker Arcelor-Mittal has decided to prepare a long term plan to meet requirement of its proposed 12 metric tonne per annum greenfield steel plant in the State.

Arcelor-Mittal�s group management board member Malay Mukherjee said provision of water was a major problem for industries in Orissa. Mukherjee and other senior executives of the steel major, on Friday, discussed the progress of the Orissa project with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy.

The company had signed a MoU with the State Government for setting up a 12 mt pa steel unit with an investment of Rs 40,000 crore in Keonjhar district.

Replying to queries, Mukherjee said the steel major is aware of the recent developments where farmers in Western Orissa have strongly opposed the government�s decision to supply water from Hirakud reservoir to industries.

Though the steel major would make its own arrangement, it felt that this might to not be enough to meet the requirement of a mega steel plant.

Therefore, it is planning a permanent solution to overcome water scarcity, he said. Expressing satisfaction over the project�s progress, Mukherjee said the detailed project report (DPR) will be completed by June 2008. Though the rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) package of the company has been finalised, it will be made public after transfer of land.

A high-level team from the company had finalised Patna tehsil as the site of the plant. Out of the 16, land acquisition is going ahead in 15 villages.

The company will soon open district office at Keonjhar. An ITI will be set up to train the youth of the area. Mobile health vans will also be pressed into service, he added.