Ollywood ropes in Kashmira Shah for item song

By Subrat Pati
www.indusvalleytimes.com
Famous Bollywood item queen, Kashmira Shah is now in Ollywood. She is appearing in an item number 'Kiese Dakuchhi Kouthi Mote' for an upcoming Oriya feature film produced by Manjari Movies of Eastern Media Limited. Kashmira will be seen in a rapchik getup dancing to the tune of front-ranking music director Malaya Mishra. She will be dancing with dashing Anubhab Mohanty. Famous Ollywood singer Ira Mohanty has lent her voice for the item number 'Kanta lagi chiri gala lo chunira ghagara'.
In 1993 Kashmira won the 'Miss World University India' and won 'Miss Talent Award' in a national contest in South Korea. In 1995, she won the 'Miss Globe India' and was ranked in the top 5 of the Best National Costume awards. She did theatres too. Except expertise in dance (especially item numbers) she has also played important role in Hindi movies like 'Yes Boss', 'Pyar to Hona Hi Tha', 'Aakhen', 'Vaastav' and 'Jungle'. Her performance in item songs like 'Dilpe mat le yaar', 'Jawani se jung ye choli meri ab tang' and many others has made her fans crazy. Hosting famous reality shows like Nach Baliye and Big Boss is one among her numerous achievements.
Odia cine lovers are waiting to enjoy her performance in the upcoming movie.

Source: www.indusvalleytimes.com

ANOTHER "ERROR OF JUDGEMENT" CASE LOOMS LARGE

Home ministry busy in tracing out document to "save" PM

By Our Correspondent

Bhubaneswar, April 4: The Union home ministry is seemingly working overtime apparently to “save” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from a possible embarrassment that well may emerge in near future as yet another “P.J. Thomas-like error of judgement” case.

The home ministry has asked the Central intelligence personnel to find out details about a person who has been appointed in a highly constitutional post like “governor” despite pending criminal cases against him in Orissa High Court.

Sources said the Central intelligence officials, despite making desperate efforts, have failed to trace out the case file in the Orissa High Court.

The person is question, a senior Congress leader and former chief minister, faces the charges of “abetment” of “rape” and “murder.”

The Orissa High Court, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on the alleged abetment of “rape” and “murder,” asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in April, 2005 to inquire into the matter and submit the report within four weeks. The CBI has surprisingly not yet filed its report before the court.

Sources said the Central intelligence officials, during their search for the whole case file in the HC, got an “impression” that the document was “missing.” Instead of giving a concrete reply to the Union home ministry, the sources said, the intelligence officials have stopped the search for the document.

The search for the sensitive file began only after a veteran social activist wrote a letter to President Pratibha Patil citing impropriety “committed” in the “rehabilitation” appointment of the said politician in the post and prayed for taking corrective measures. On September 30, 2010, the President forwarded the letter to the Union home secretary as to what action has been taken on the basis of the information furnished by the petitioner.

On March 4, 2011, the Union home ministry asked the Central intelligence to trace out the file. However, after three-four days of hectic search by four superintendent level officials, the intelligence wing dropped the mission as it could not make any headway.
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Administration in tizzy as Maoists call upon youths to take up arms

By C.B.Singh
Rayagada, Feb. 28: Maoist posters calling upon youths to take up arms to fight against the administration appeared in several parts of Koraput district, sending signals that the rebels were back in their business after the recent nine-day hostage drama.
During the hostage period that began with the abduction of Malkangiri collector R. Vineel Krishna and Kudumuluguma junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi on February 16, both the state government and the rebels reached an armistice pledging not to use force against each other. Ever since, the police has remained calm and Operation Green Hunt has been suspended.
The posters – which appeared in Narayanpatna, Semiliguda and Sunabeda towns – reportedly said that since the state administration had failed to provide jobs to youths – an armed struggle was necessary to obtain the legitimate rights.
The appearance of large-scale Maoist posters come has come as a shock for the district administration and the police as they expected that the rebels would desist from their violence propaganda, especially after the recent assurance by the state government to execute all its promises made for tribal development and not to adopt coercive method while dealing local disputes in the scheduled areas.
Sources said the Maoist frontal organizations, which were until recently keeping a low profile, are out in the open after the state conceded to their 14-point charter of demands during the negotiation process to free the abducted Malkangiri collector R. Vineel Krishna.
Nachika Linga, the leader of Maoist-backed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh, on Saturday organised a huge peasants rally in Narayanpatna where he called upon the gathering to get united to forcibly free their lands occupied by the non-tribals.
Linga, who is one in the “most wanted” list of the police had gone underground for over two years.
Though the peasants rally marched through Narayanpatna town, the local police did not react to his presence. Instead, it waited for peaceful conclusion of the meeting.

Collector goes missing, Maoists’ hand suspected

Police clueless about Krishna's whereabouts
By Gurudatta Behera

Malkangiri:, Feb.17: Mr R. Vineel Krishna, the district collector of Malkangiri, went missing on Wednesday evening while returning from public relations camp in a cut-off area inside the Chitrokonda reservoir in the district.

The police suspects that Mr Krishan could have been abducted the Maoists.

Malkangiri, located nearly 750 km from state headquarters, is one of the worst Maoist-hit districts in Orissa.

According to reports, Mr Krishhna had gone to attend a Jana Sampark Yatra (public relations camp) at Badapada village under Kudumuluguma block. He was accompanied by District Rural Development Agency project director Balabant Singh, Kudumuluguma block junior engineer Pabitra Majhi and an employee of Paribartan, a local non-governmental organization.

From the Jana Sampark Yatra place, the collector along with Mr Singh, Mr Majhi and the NGO activist left for Papermetla area by motorcycles to monitor implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Vidyutkaran Yojana, a rural electrification programme. On the way they were intercepted by a group of Maoists who took them to forests.

The released the NGO activists and project director of DRDA sending a letter in their hand demanding release of all Naxal cadres from various jails within 48 hours.

Additional director general of police, Sanjiv Marik said all communications with the collector got disconnected soon after he left the meeting place at around 4 pm.

In Cuttack, the state’s police headquarters, director general police Manmohan Praharaj said: “Nothing could be said at this moment. I will reply at the appropriate time”

Southern range director general of police Soumendra Priyadarshi could not be contacted for his comment as his mobile phone answered “switched off.”

Last year, the rebels had killed at least 38 greyhound jawans of the Andhra Pradesh police they were returning from a combing operation atAlampaka near Gudulguma.

Sources said the collector had not taken adequate security forces with him since the rebels never targeted any senior government officials.

KIIT to host 99th Indian Science Congress in association with NISER

By Our Correspondent
Bhubaneswar, Jan 8: Come January 2012, all roads would lead to KIlT University, Orissa, to have a glimpse of the mammoth congregation of scientists, scholars, students and host of other people from all walks of life.
This congregation would not be for a formal meet for the distinguished scientific brains but for the prestigious 99th Indian Science Congress which has been scheduled to be held in the lush green campuses of KIlT.
Indian Science Congress, singularly the most important meet for the scientists across the globe in India has remained the most coveted event, every state desiring to hold in its geographical boundaries.
The promise for smooth conduct of the session backed by scrutiny and inspection by the Indian Science Congress Association, went in favour KIIT to be the venue of the session.
It is a matter of great pride that Orissa where the Congress has its earlier session in 1977, after a gap of 33 years could get the scope to hold 99th Session of the Indian Science Congress, thanks to consistent efforts of KIlT University and its Founder, Dr. A. Samanta.
One year of tireless efforts by KIlT followed by the visit of several important functionaries bore fruit on January 7 at Chennai, where the Indian Science Congress had its 98th Session.
The General President Dr. Geetha Bali declared the holding of the 99th Session in KIlT University to be organized with academic partnership of National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar and handed over the necessary documents to Dr. A. Samanta.

Orissa government should publish a whitepaper on the Industry : Janata Vikash Manch

By Our Correspondent/www.indusvalleytimes.com

Bhubaneswar: Janata Vikash Manch, a leading forum of intellectuals have demanded that the Orissa government should come out with all the details on how many MoUs have been signed and how many have been materialized in the last ten years i.e. between the calendar year 2000 to the calendar year 2010. They should come out with all the details on how many will lose their land and livelihood and how many jobs will be created through these MoUs.

The Saxena Committee and Meena Gupta Committee report on Posco project in Jagatsinghpur and Saxena Committee on Vedanta project at Niyamgiri and Odisha High Court order on Vedanta University land issue show that the ecological impact of these plants needs to be properly assessed by the independent authorities before giving clearances to any project.

While interacting with the media persons here recently, the JVM members Sai Prasan, Pritikant Panda, Devi Prasad Tripathy, P. Deepti Rani and Manoj Jena told reporters here today that Odisha government may resolve the problems it is facing in projects like Posco, Vedanta and other projects. It should take the people of the area into confidence and democratically sort out the issues in a transparent manner. The rule of law should prevail. It may hold referendum too, if necessary, to seek a public opinion in the project affected areas like it has been done in the RIL’s SEZ project in Rayagada district of Maharashtra.

The JVM Team said that only paying the compensation to the people against their land and offering them jobs may not be enough. Apart from this, the state government should explore other options too. The valuation of the land can be done. And, the value of the cost of the land can be converted into an equity which can also make the land owners shareholders / stakeholders in the project. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) can be created for this purpose.

The political leadership both at the Union and Odisha government/s should rise above the party lines and work together to resolve all the issues concerning these projects in interest of the people of the state. They should follow the rule of law and work in a democratic and transparent manner in the interest of the state, they said.

JVM members Sai Prasan, Pritikant Panda, Devi Prasad Tripathy, P. Deepti Rani and Manoj Jena said that Odisha government should come out with a White Paper on the Industry containing all the facts and figures in the last Ten Years.

The industrial scenario of the state in the last one decade clearly shows that few people have got jobs and more people have lost their livelihood. Hence, the development of the agriculture sector is necessary for the development of the 85% of the population living in rural Odisha. However, the continuous suicides of the poor farmers shows the health of the agriculture sector is also not good. The Farmers Commission has submitted its interim report.

JVM members Sai Prasan, Pritikant Panda, Devi Prasad Tripathy, P. Deepti Rani and Manoj Jena said that it needs to address several important issues in its final report to be submitted in February or March next year. The farmers are mainly committing suicides, recently two in Balasore, due to the higher interest rates, weak irrigation facility and absence of the land Patts to the poor farmers as they are not able to avail the benefit offered by the governmental agencies.

They said that the state government should release the Draft final report of the Farmers Commission in the public domain and seek the opinion of the various stakeholders including farmers. It should finalise the report only after taking the opinion, suggestions and comments of the people. And, immediately take all measures for the development of the agriculture sector.

JVM members Sai Prasan, Pritikant Panda, Devi Prasad Tripathy, P. Deepti Rani and Manoj Jena said that currently, Naveen Patnaik is in New Delhi to meet PM. He should forcefully ask Dr Manmohan Singh to announce a special package for the farmers of Odisha, the way PM had earlier announced for the farmers of Maharashtra and now assured the AP farmers of similar package. Similarly, the state CM should settle all the disputes between the Centre and State amicably, they said.

The farmers have committed suicides because of their inability to repay higher interest rates. The state government should ensure that the micro-finance companies do not charge higher interest rates.

They said that like Andhra Pradesh government, Odisha should also make a law to cap the interest rate charged by the non-banking channels including the micro-finance institutions (MFIs).

JVM members Sai Prasan, Pritikant Panda, Devi Prasad Tripathy, P. Deepti Rani and Manoj Jena said that Odisha government should take special measures to strengthen the banking network in the state. It should ask the Union finance ministry to recommend RBI to direct all the banks – private, public sector and multi-nationals – to open new branches in rural Odisha.

The state government should take special measures to develop agro-industries in the state which will help in generating employment in the state.

Odisha government should also make all the information regarding the mining scam public and book all the guilty responsible. Similarly, it should take criminal action against those who are involved in the MGNREGS Scam.

In reply to a question, JVM Team said that Odisha government should be democratic and transparent in its functioning in the year 2011. And, it should make the entire government accountable and responsible to the people of Odisha