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Media persons boycott Orissa Assembly proceedings

July 16, 2010 — IMC

Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India

The media persons of Bhubaneswar boycotted the proceedings of Odisha Assembly today as a mark of protest against apathy of the state government towards rising attack on journalists in the state.

Not a single media person covered the question hour of the House and even Orissa Television (OTV) which telecasts the proceedings live switched off the cameras to express solidarity with the Media Unity for Freedom of Press (MUFP) which had given the boycott call on Thursday during its demonstration before the Assembly in an attempt to wake up the Naveen Patnaik Government which is ignoring repeated demands of MUFP to punish the assaulters and ensure safety and security of the working media persons in the state.

For one hour, the media persons did not enter to the press gallery of the Assembly and squatted before the entrance to the gallery silently.

Bhupinder Singh, Leader of Opposition came near the squatting media persons and extended the support of the opposition to the cause of the media persons in the state.

On behalf of MUFP, senior journalist Prasanta Patnaik congratulated all media persons for taking such a historic step to express solidarity for the cause of the media and freedom of press which was in danger as the state government and its police were acting against the interest of the media persons.

The MUFP also expressed gratitude to the Editors, media houses and TV channels for supporting the cause of media unity for freedom of press.

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Journalists to boycott Orissa Assembly on July 16 in protest against attack on media

July 15, 2010 — IMC

By Prasanta Patnaik in Bhubaneswar

Media Unity for Freedom of Press (MUFP) has resolved for token boycott of the proceedings of Orissa Assembly during the question hours on Friday, 16th July, 2010 to register protest against rising attack on media persons in the State, and to create awareness among the public representatives to put pressure on the Government for creating an atmosphere of harmony to ensure freedom of press and safety of the media persons.

MUFP demonstration held as scheduled on Thursday forenoon was a huge show of solidarity of all media persons in cause of freedom of press and with journalists attacked by men in uniform and miscreants in nexus with them.

The media persons with placards and slogans demonstrated their wrath on the Mahatma Gandhi Marg before the assembly over administrative apathy to their demands for action against hooligans –official and private – in instances of assault and intimidation resorted to by them to gag the press.

They were shocked to know that the two uniformed men apprehended by the local police for misbehaving with a lady reporter on duty at ISKON car festival point and for injuries inflicted upon her accompanist cameraman Mr. Debasis Mallick , including destruction of his camera were enlarged due to inability of the police in prosecuting them. They demanded stern and exemplary action against non-prosecution of the rowdies in uniform in the instant case and called upon the state administration as well as the assembly in session to wake up against the alarming transgression of freedom of press.

The policeman who had brutally assaulted Dainik Bhaskar journalist Mr. S. Raiv Gourav have also so far not arrested. Though the police claim that they are unable to identify the culprit, photograph of the assaulter is available with many media men.

They resolved to carry out a token boycott of the Assembly proceeding for one hour when the House commences on July 16 in protest against inaction against the transgressors of freedom of press.

MUFP has thanked all media persons for their historic solidarity and has called upon the reporters ,cameramen Editors and the promoters of media houses , including TV channels to stand united in the token boycott of the Assembly proceedings in the first hour of July 16.

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Terrorists often funded by parent outfits based abroad

December 15, 2009 — IMC

As per available information, Militants/terrorists active in India are often funded by their parent outfits based abroad, particularly in Pakistan. These funds are often routed through third countries. Such funding poses a threat to the security of the country.

The Central intelligence/security agencies work in close cooperation with their counterparts in the States, which has, inter-alia, resulted in the arrest of a number of terrorists involved in facilitating funds/financing of terrorism.

The issue of terror funding has also been taken up with Pakistan at bilateral fora.

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs , Shri Ajay Maken in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

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Health programmes to be geared up in the underserved areas in Orissa

December 14, 2009 — IMC

Akhand in Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India

The health services in the underserved areas to be geared up through forgin effective partnership with civil society organisation. The emphasis would be laid on reducing maternal and child mortality along with controlling outbreak of epidemics and promoting family planning services. The decision cam to lime light in review meeting organised by Regional Resource Centre (Orissa) for Health and Family Welfare Dept, where activities of existing 20 NGOs (Mother, Field and Service) were reviewed. The meeting was held on 11th December 2009.

The review taken by Special Secretary, H&FW Dept Dr. Dussasan Muduli , Additional Director (PH), Dr. P. Sitaram, Joint Director (FW) Dr. Sarat Mohapatra, Joint Director , SIH&FW Dr. B. Mishra, Deputy Director, ( Malaria & Filaria) & RRC Cordinator Mr. Prasant Acharya along with Officials from NRHM etc. highlighted the impact made by NGOS in the Grassroot under served areas in health & sanitation activities within last three years. The programme also brought into table no. of innovations made by civil society organisations that aimed at making the healthcare services affordable, cost effective and easily accessible giving the marginalised a scope to access health service at door step. A sum of Rs 7.00 Cr was released to 18 MNGO and 87 Field NGOS in 22 districts out of which, around 6.06 Cr was spent. A large part of it was spent in RCH-II programme whereby mother and child care, adolescent health family planning are the key programme components.

It was decided that the MNGOs and FNGOs would be further involved in management of other disease control programme apart from the routine activities RCH services. Addressing the participants in the meeting Special Secretary Mr. Dussan Muduli Said” NGOs play a pivotal role in passing the health messages and programmes to the community in underserved area hence, their involvement should be emphasised in almost all the health programmes run by NRHM and different directorates.”

In the review meeting itself, it was decided that NGOS would be responsible for control and management of all types of diseases besides complementing and supplementing Govt run programmes. Action plan suggesting NGOS/ Civil Society organisation as well as CSR units would be prepared for next three years indicating a broad based involvement of NGOs in the programme.

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Trawler seized and 5 fishermen arrested in Marine sanctuary

December 14, 2009 — IMC

The Bhitarkanika forest officials, on Saturday, arrested at least five fishermen and seized a mechanized fishing vessel from their possession while they were catching fish illegally by entering unlawfully into the prohibited zone under Gahirmatha Marine sanctuary near Agarnasi, said Prasanna Kumar Behera, the DFO of Rajanagar Mangrove and Wildlife Divison..

According to Behera, while the forest officials were patrolling the sea within Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary to provide security to the endangered olive ridely sea turtle, they found fishermen were catching fish illegally by entering into the prohibited zone of the sanctuary with a fishing trawler. Later, the forest officials intercepted the fishing trawler and arrested the fishermen.

The arrested fishermen were the inhabitants of Ramnagar and Kharnashi village under Mahakalapada block .

The arrested fishermen were booked under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and are going to be produced before the JMFC Court of Pattamundai on Sunday ,informed the DFO.

Notably, the State Forest Department has imposed ban on fishing around 20 km off the shore from 1st November to 31^st May with an aim to protect the endangered marine turtles, which come en mass for laying eggs at Gahirmatha Marine sanctuary.

With the seizure of the trawler, the forest officials managed to seize five fishing vessels since November 1^st and arrested 26 persons on the alleged charge of fishing illegally after the forest official imposed ban on fishing activities inside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary .