A preparatory meeting on Patha Utsav was held by additional commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday to finalise the events, schedule and details of the street fest.

As per the decision, the first edition of Raahgiri will be organised on Janpath on December 24. The next editions will be held in Ekamra and Patia on January 7 and January 21 respectively.

This time, the BMC is planning to organise the event on a bigger scale with additional activities. There will be workshops, games, cultural shows and live events. Plans are also afoot to include various contests like painting.

“Two firms have submitted their proposals with presentations to the BMC. A team of experts will review the proposals and take a decision,” said a senior official of the civic body.

For first time, a ‘Kids Zone’ will be part of the festival for the children. There will also be ‘Pets Zone’ where people can showcase the talents of their pets. Besides, an ‘Old Age Zone’ will be created for entertainment and physical exercise of senior citizens.

Since the first edition will be held on the eve of Christmas, Santa Claus will entertain the children and various baked items of millet will be on sale during the event which will continue from 6.30 am to 9.30 am on Sundays.

Speaking on the occasion virtually, Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik said, “Children represent the present and the future, as they will be the leaders of our state tomorrow. My government has been unwavering in its commitment to investing in our children, primarily through initiatives aimed at providing quality education, healthcare, and supplementary nutrition programs. For children who have sadly lost their families, we have established robust support systems within the state machinery.”

“Under the Ashirbad scheme, we have provided support to 50,827 children who lost their parents during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights plays a crucial role in monitoring the successful implementation of these programs, ensuring that the needs of every child are met,” he said.
Minister of Women and Child Development, Mission Shakti Basanti Hembram opined that all of us together are not only protecting the rights of our children but also fulfilling their potential.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary Mrs. Shubha Sharma strongly hoped that the overall development of the children can be possible by working in harmony with each other.
Chairperson of OSCRPC Mandakini Kar called for collective commitment to protect child rights.
On this occasion, the theme ‘Ahwana – Let’s join hands to protect child’ were discussed. Hembram also felicitated Puri DCPO as the best child rights district and Kabisuryanagar MLA Latika Pradhan for the best MLA for child protection rights activities. Brave child warriors from different districts who fought against child labour and child marriage were also awarded on this occasion. Various posters related to child rights and advocacy and child marriage were unveiled.

MLA of North Bhubaneswar Sushant Raut, Chief Field Officer of UNICEF William Hanlon, Adviser of Women and Child Development Department Sumitra Jena and Secretary of OSCRPC Prabhat Kumar Sahoo were present.

Addressing the students and dignitaries, the CM said that technology is the pivot of our future. “Our growth, our wellbeing … everything is dependent on our hold on advanced and emerging technologies. We must therefore keep ourselves engaged with the latest technology, and stay ahead,” he said.

He said that the carnival has been conceived to engage students in technical, cultural and sports activities. “It will be a calendar event to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work, sincerity and dedication of our students.”

Naveen further said that Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) is a pre-eminent institution in the realm of technical education and has produced many brilliant technocrats contributing immensely to the development of the state and the country.

He emphasised that Odisha has made great strides in skilling its youth, making them employable and transforming the state into the skill capital of the World. “World Skill Center is a premier institute providing advanced skill training in several trades. Our efforts have been highly effective in making our children globally employable,” he said.

Foundation stone of the Rs 650-crore project, which is a joint venture of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), which is the administrative department of NISER, and Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) along with Tata Steel Foundation, was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May this year on the occasion of the National Technology Day through video conferencing. While the Centre will spend Rs 400 crore, the Tata Steel Foundation has committed Rs 250 crore for the project, which will come up 65.8 acres of land and have a 200-bed cancer hospital. The state-of-the-art facility and research centre is likely to be commissioned by December 2025.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that facility will be a great boost for people of Odisha in treatment of cancer and they no longer have to travel to Mumbai or other big cities. “Cancer patients of the neighbouring states like Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh will also benefit. The state government will provide wide access road, direct transport support through Mo Bus along with top class bus stops and a dedicated fire station in close proximity to the Cancer Hospital. This hospital will also be empanelled under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSYK) for providing free healthcare to patients of Odisha. An Aahar Kendra will also be set up on its the premises,” he said.

Naveen also informed that the state government has provided over 65 acres of land and financial assistance amounting to Rs 150 crore for a Medical Cyclotron facility here. “This will be the most advanced Research Level Cyclotron in Asia,” he said.

Emphasising that Odisha is witnessing a massive transformation in healthcare sector, he added, “We are strengthening our health infrastructure, prioritszing health education, and making regular recruitments of doctors. New medical colleges are coming up every year creating a huge pool of trained doctors. Our flagship Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana is providing free healthcare to over 94 lakh families in top healthcare institutions across the country.”

Speaking on the occasion, senior journalist and writer of ‘Madam President’, a biography of President of India Droupadi Murmu, Sandeep Sahu said journalism requires sensitivity in tragic events. The job of a journalist has always been to work for the public’s sake — more specifically, to inform and educate them. If journalists really work for the people, they should factor in how to be sensitive and respectfully handle situations instead of shoving cameras in celebrities or grieving persons’ faces for reactions, he said.

Welcoming the students, Director of IMS Prof. Upendra Padhi assured students that the institute is a ragging-free campus and asked all senior students to welcome freshers as their own brothers and sisters. He advised freshers to use their precious time for building their career and future.

Chief Editor of Nandighosha TV Sisir Bhattamishra and Secretary of Bakul Foundation Sujit Mohapatra also spoke. While Course Coordinator of MJMC Manoranjan Panda coordinated the event, Raghunath Mandal from MSW Department proposed the vote of thanks.

It was decided during the State Working Committee meeting of Youth Red Cross held at Red Cross Bhawan here.

Speaking on the occasion, Nayak emphasised on intensive blood donation programme in far off districts like Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada. Red Cross should take up numerous endeavours like plantation programme, road safety awareness, HIV awareness, blood donation, gender equality, women development in a vigorous manner, he added.

He also praised the exemplary efforts of 400 volunteers, who had extended their support in rescue operation at Balasore’s Bahanaga railway tragedy.

Among others, Director of Higher Education Narahari Sethi, Honourary Secretary of Indian Red Cross Society Bibhuti Bhusan Patnaik, Youth Red Cross officer Dr. Ramesh Chandra Behera and Youth Red Cross representatives  from all districts were present.

The event, jointly organised by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the Payments Council of India (PCI), and the Fintech Convergence Council (FCC), convened on Wednesday in Mumbai.

The Global Fintech Festival 2023 serves as a vital forum for fintech leaders to cultivate partnerships and chart a course for the future of the industry. It is a platform that unites some of the brightest analytical minds in the fintech industry. Over the past three years, the Global Fintech Festival has played a pivotal role in showcasing the multifaceted fintech ecosystem’s transformative potential and its capacity to drive sustainable global progress.

Tusharkanti Behera underlined that India stands among the world’s fastest-growing fintech markets, rivalling the United Kingdom in funding volume. Highlighting Odisha’s participation in the fintech revolution, the Minister expressed the state’s commitment to innovation. Odisha has launched several citizen welfare schemes, leveraging technology for the delivery of public services and financial assistance, he shared.

The state’s financial inclusion has been recognised nationally and internationally for schemes like Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) and the Social Protection Delivery Platform (SPDP), which offer cashless, paperless, and faceless access to social benefits and services.

The Minister outlined Odisha’s efforts to create a conducive environment for fintech startups and businesses, offering incentives, promoting innovation, and attracting major players to the state. This commitment has already yielded promising results, with several fintech startups making a mark nationally.

Today, Odisha has a thriving fintech ecosystem, and a rapidly growing economy and the state’s strong focus on technology and innovation makes it an ideal destination for fintech ventures.

Manoj Kumar Mishra Principal Secretary E & IT, Manas Ranjan Panda, Special Secretary, E & IT also attended the program.

Inaugurating the programme, which was held for the first time, she welcomed the freshers and congratulated them for taking admission in Utkal University, which plays an important role in establishing for academic excellence in the State.

The common induction programme for 2023-25 academic session was jointly organised by Post Graduate Council and IQAC (Internal Quality Assurance Cell) sponsored by WB-OPEHEE Initiative. The objective of the programme was to make the students aware of academic activities and university norms etc.

Speaking on the occasion, chief guest Director General of Fire Services Dr. Sudhanshu Sarangi, IPS shared his experiences in academics and as a public administrator. He also motivated the students to touch new heights in academics.

Chairperson of PG Council Prof. Navaneeta Rath made an audio-visual presentation on anti-ragging to create awareness among the newly inducted students.

Among others, Director of IQAC & Coordinator of WB- OHEPEE Dr. Nigamananda Das and Hostel Warden Prof. Prabodha Kumar Hota also spoke. Assistant Professor of Political Science Department Dr. Swapna S Prabhu coordinated the programme and proposed the vote of thanks. Parents of the students were also present.

The meeting was organised by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India in collaboration with Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department, Government of Odisha.

Alka Upadhyay, Secretary, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India presided over the meeting. The secretary took a vivid review of the five states on the progress of the Central Sector and Central Sponsored schemes like LHDCP (Livestock Health & Disease Control Programme), NLM (National Livestock Mission), RGM (Rashtriya Gokul Mission), AHIDF (Animal Husbandry infrastructure Development Fund) and KCC (Kisan Credit Card).

Activities like vaccination of livestock under National Animal Diseases Control Programme, artificial insemination under Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme, schematic progress under National Livestock Mission viz. goat farm units, dairy farm units, fodder units and training programmes were discussed in detail and the difficulties faced by states in implementation of the programmes were taken note of. The Secretary has urged all states to work with much thrust so that targets in the above central sector schemes could be achieved in time.

Besides the above, review of physical and financial progress of all the schemes being implemented by the states, issues related to legacy data entry in PFMS, mapping of state linked schemes, interest payment through Bharat Kosh, transfer of funds from treasury to SNA account, liquidation of unspent balance lying with the states, submission of fresh proposal and review of existing proposal for 2023-24, entrepreneurship development programmes of DAHD, PM Gati Shakti Action Plan by states, issues in operation of MVUs, issues related to vaccination programmes, accelerate disbursement of AHDF KCC were also discussed.

Before the meeting, a workshop on disease surveillance including Geomic Surveillance for early warning system and disease forecasting has been held with brainstorming sessions involving participants from the participating States. Senior officers from DAHD, GoI and the participating States have attended the meeting. The Principal Secretary, F&ARD Department, Govt. of Odisha has delivered the welcome address in the meeting.

“The world is facing the danger of losing its languages several of which are already listed as endangered and loss of languages equates loss of culture,” Sahitya Akademi secretary Dr K Sreenivasarao said while addressing the inaugural programme of the meet which began at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) here.

The two-day conference, which has attracted around 70 tribal writers from different parts of the country, is being organised by Sahitya Akademi in collaboration with Centre for Preservation, Propagation and Restoration of Ancient Culture and Heritage of India (PPRACHIN), the conservation arm of SOA, to mark International Day of World’s Indigenous People.

“If we don’t care now, we will lose the culture and the associated ancient knowledge system which these communities possessed,” Dr Sreenivasarao said.

He informed that Sahitya Akademi was engaged in translation and publication of tribal literature into English and other Indian languages.

The event, inaugurated by celebrated writer and Padmashri awardee Dr Haladhar Nag, was attended by eminent scholar Prof. Jagannath Das, eminent writer and Sahitya Akademi’s Convenor of Odia Advisory Board Dr Gourahari Das, Santhali writer and Convenor of Sahitya Akademi’s Santhali Advisory Board Chaitanya Prasad Majhi and eminent writer and Head of PPRACHIN Dr Gayatribala Panda.

Also present was eminent linguist Dr Debi Prasanna Patnaik, while SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda presided over the programme, which was conducted by Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare).

Dr Nag, who addressed the inaugural session in his native ‘Koshali’ language, said he had studied up to Class III but had delved into literature as it was a way to show the path to society.

“My writings have been translated into other world languages and transcended international boundaries in spite of the fact that I have not studied much,” he said adding some of his writing have become part of the curriculum in several universities.

“My writings are rooted to the soil where I live and literary creations which show the way to the society are timeless,” he said.

Prof. Das, who delivered the keynote address, said tribal people, unlike those influenced by modernity, don’t drift away from their culture.

“Tribal people are inexorably linked to nature like hills, rivers and streams and express their feelings from the heart. We need to listen to their poetry and appreciate the same,” he said.

Majhi said around 40% of the world’s languages had already become extinct and called for urgent steps to arrest the trend. UNESCO has declared the period between 2022 to 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages for their protection and propagation.

Dr Panda said PPRACHIN was involved in some major programmes including publication of critical edition of the original Sarala Das Mahabharat which involved digitalisation, translation, prose rendering, production of corpora, dictionary and literary encyclopedia of Sarala Das.

The ‘Adi Parva’ edition of Sarala Mahabharat was released on the occasion. Ten of the 18 ‘parvas’ of the epic had already been published by PPRACHIN.

Multiple sessions of multilingual poetry reading, short story reading and analysis of tribal songs, Saora art and script marked the opening day’s programme.