Odisha targets to turn total open defecation free by 2017

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has set the target to become a total Open Defecation Free (ODF) and asked all District Collectors today to work to achieve the goal between December, 2016 and December, 2017.
The Collectors have also been asked to make at least five to 15 gram panchayats open defecation free by August 15, 2015 and one block by October, 2015.
Chief Secretary G C Pati asked the Collectors during a video conference during the day to focus on behavioural and attitudinal changes of the people towards toilet and sanitary practices.
Pati also directed Collectors to adopt Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach and ensure active participation of volunteers, village community, SHGs and individual beneficiaries in carrying forward the campaign.
Rural Development secretary P K Mohapatra asked the Collectors to take up construction of toilets in saturation mode so that blocks can be made open defecation free one after another.
He also directed executive engineers of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation of all districts to achieve targets within scheduled time and warned that failure to do so would be viewed seriously.
The state government has fixed construction of 20 lakh toilets under rural sanitation campaign and accordingly targets have been fixed for districts as per preliminary base line survey, he said.
A total 1500 CLTS volunteers have been trained and engaged in various districts. Each panchayat will be given one trained volunteer to help it, Mohapatra said.
Chief Executive Officer, State Water & Sanitation Mission, Abhaya Biswal said steps are being taken to get Unicef and DFID support for success of the ODF campaign.
Steps are being taken to declare Deogarh, Boudh and Sonepur total open defecation free by March, 2016, Biswal added.

The Centre’s decision to set up Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Odisha in Sambalpur has welcomed by the people of western Odisha.
As soon as the news about the cabinet decision started getting flashed on news channels, people are seen started celebrating in many parts of the region.
“It’s the blessings of Lord Jagannath and Goddess Samaleswari that we have got IIM in Sambalpur. Definitely it is the victory of the youth who fought for their right supporting the overall development of western Odisha” an elated Sarat Pujari said.
Congress leader Amar Pradhan said, “It is really a good step taken by the Centre. And we are happy that the premier institute is going to be set up in Sambalpur.”
Talking to reporters, State supplies minster Sanjay Das Burma said, “The State government is ready to extend all logistic support needed for the construction of the premier institute.”

Odia shooter bags silver in Asian Sr Airgun Shooting C'ship

In her first achievement in senior category at the international level Odia shooter Sriyanka Sarangi on Friday bagged a silver medal in the 5th Asian Senior Airgun Shooting Championship in China.

Ethnic tribal cottages to be built in Similipal

Tribal ethnic cottages will soon be set up in the famous Similipal National Park to boost tourism activities involving local tribal people.

World's biggest sand ribbon at Konark beach

Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik on Friday claimed to have created the world's biggest red ribbon at Chandrabhaga beach here during the 2nd International Sand Art Festival organised by Odisha Tourism.

Carrying identity cards mandatory

Carrying identity cards will be mandatory for train passengers in all reserved classes from December 1 as part of railways move to facilitate bonafide travellers and to reduce misuse of reserved ticketing system by unscrupulous elements.

Chess player wins Eklabya Puraskar

International Chess player Debasis Das won of the prestigious 'Ekalabya Puraskar' for 2012 in recognition of his outstanding performance in sports.

HC asks govt to make laws to protect water bodies

The Orissa High court today asked the Odisha government to make laws within two years to ensure that the water bodies in the state were protected and preserved properly.Water bodies inside the cities have great use not only to keep the environment cool but they act as water absorbers to keep the city free from water logging, the HC observed while disposing of a PIL filed by advocate Pravat Ranjan Dash.

Migratory birds begin arriving in Chilika

News is out that migratory birds have begun arriving at Chilika lake. "We have spotted birds of different species in the sanctuary," DFO(wildlife) B P Acharya said.

Computer learning gets compulsory in Plus II

The state government has decided to introduce basic computer education ( BSE) course as a compulsory subject in Plus II first year in all the three streams of arts, science and commerce from the current academic session.
The government has decided to impart both theory and practical knowledge in the first year itself contrary to its earlier decision that theory of the course will be taught in first year and practical in second year, Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) chairman Nihar Ranjan Pattnaik  told TOI.
"If the students study theory in first year, by the time they would do practical they would have forgotten it. That is why the government decided to conduct both theory and practical in first year itself," he said.
Patnaik said students who are already in second year now will also study the subject this year as there was no such course when they were in the first year. From next academic session, the course will be offered to first year students only, he said.

The theory course will be taught in 30 hours and practical classes in 10 hours. The respective colleges will conduct examination of 100 marks at their level and award A, B, C or D grade to the students. The government would engage guest faculties or outsource it. A guest faculty would get consolidated remuneration of Rs 5,200 a month. As per the government decision, conveyed to higher education  department and Council of Higher Secondary Education on Friday, the colleges will provide at the rate of one computer for a group of 32 students and create other necessary infrastructure on their own.