ODISHA

From one of the bottom-ranked states in the last ranking,Odishahas now been marked as an Achiever along with some of the industrially developed states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh in the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) 2020 assessment report of the department for promotion of Industry and internal trade (DPIIT), under the Union ministry of commerce.

Other states in the achiever category include Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, read the report released by Union finance ministerNirmala Sitharaman.
The report is a boost to the state and comes a day after chief ministerNaveen Patnaikheld his first overseas investors meet in Dubai to showcase Odishas business ecosystem and manufacturing prowess and invited investors from the region to invest here. The state also received Investment intents of more than Rs 21,000 crore from the meet.

States like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Punjab,Tamil Naduand Telangana have been categorized as Top Achievers in the ranking.

Odisha had got 29th rank (placed among the bottom states) in the Ease of Doing Business ranking as per the previous BRAP evaluation report, released in September 2020. Odisha has shown remarkable progress in the current cycle by implementing over 90% of the 301 reforms suggested by DPIIT and achieving more than 80% positive user feedback, said state industries secretary Hemant Sharma.

The Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar, the award instituted in reminiscence of late poet laureate Kuvempu, has been awarded to famed Odia poet Dr Rajendra Kishore Panda for the year 2020. The prestigious award consists of a cash award of Rs 5 lakh, a silver medal, and a citation.

He was Born on June 24, 1944, Dr Panda writes in the Odia language. He has published sixteen poetry collections and a novel. He is a primary Indian poet who suggested the course of contemporary Odia poetry to brilliant heights. He was awarded the Gangadhar National Award in 2010 and the Award in 1985. He was awarded a DLitt by Sambalpur University.

About the Award:
Founded in 1992, Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Trust instituted this countrywide annual literary award in 2013 in the name of Kuvempu to apprehend litterateurs who had contributed in any language diagnosed via the Constitution of India.

Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Bishweswar Tudu visited Gajapati district for laying the foundation stones of various developmental projects.

Tudu first inaugurated a memorial temple of the founder of Shabar Samaj Kalyan Samiti and eminent social reformer late Pradhani Gamang at N Jhalar Singh under Nuagadh block and then attended a programme on the occasion.

Acting president of Shabar Samaj Kalyan Samiti Trinath Shaba presided. Mohana MLA Dasharathi Gamang, State BJP leader Bhrigu Baxipatra, Shabar Samaj Kalyan Samiti editor Krishnachandra Gamang were present.

Later, Minister Tudu participated in the ground-breaking and foundation-laying ceremony of Eklabya Adarsh Residential School at Tekubul in Nuagadh Block and Subhadrappur in Rayagad Block.

In order to provide good and quality Education to tribal students in India, the Modi Government has decided to build more than 700 Ekalavya residential schools across the country and 87 of them will be established in Odisha, Tudu said.

The has initiated steps to implement a new scheme, Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chatra Protsahan Yojana (MMSPY) very soon.

Principal Secretary Higher Education Bishnupada Sethi has taken an initiative in this regard, said sources in Department of Higher Education.

Existing three types of scholarships given to the students for pursuing higher studies, such as e-Medhabruti, Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Medha Bhasabruti and Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana, will be brought under one umbrella, that is the

Electricity dues worth Rs 10,266.73 crore have been pending against different types of consumers including industries in all the four distribution company areas of Odisha.

This was informed by Energy Minister Pratap Keshari Deb in the State Legislative Assembly.

In a reply to a question of MLA Nityanand Gand, the Minister said highest Rs 4,578.93 crore electricity dues are pending against the consumers in the Tata Power Western Odisha Distribution Limited (TPWODL) area while Rs 3,115.17 crore is pending in Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL).

Similarly, electricity dues worth Rs 1,782.57 crore are pending in Tata Power North Odisha Distribution Limited (TPNODL) and Rs 750.06 crore is pending in the Tata Power South Odisha Distribution Limited (TPSODL).

As per the statement of Deb, Rs 7,872.95 crore electricity bills were pending against the domestic consumers in the four discom areas, of which highest Rs 3,650.14 crore is pending in TPWODL area, followed by Rs 2231.44 crore in TPCODL area, Rs 1,298.35 crore in TPNODL area and Rs 693.02 crore in TPSODL area.

Similarly, a total electricity duty of Rs 386.04 crore is pending against industries and Rs 996.98 crore is pending against different commercial establishments.

As the ninth-largest state, the state has rich mineral Resources. It is a major supplier of raw materials such as coal and iron Ore, and its raw materials are distributed all over the country. On April 1, 193 Odisha state was established. It was established as a British Indian Province on April 1, 1936. It was named Orissa. The English name was changed to Odisha on 4th November 2011.

In the 3rd century BC, the state was ruled by Emperor Ashoka. Later it was ruled by Harsha’s and other monarchs. In the 8th century, the state was called the kingdom of Kosala and Utkala. Even today, the anniversary of the founding of the nation is celebrated as “Utkal Divas”. In the late 16th century, Odisha was ruled by the Sultanate of Bengal. In the mid-18th century, Odisha was under the rule of Marathas. After the Carthage War, it was ruled by the Madras Presidency of the British.

The on Thursday came out with a plan to verify certificates of doctors by May 31 following anOrissahigh court order to identify fake medical practitioners.

According to the notice, the allopathic doctors will submit their certificates to the authorities concerned by March 10. The CDMPHOs will submit a consolidated report along with the list of non-respondents to director of Health Services (DHS), Odisha and list of doubtful cases to registrar, Odisha Council of Medical Registration (OCMR) for verification by March 31.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday inaugurated 30 Police stations across the state including one in Bhubaneswar. The new police stations, created by upgrading beat houses and outposts, are meant to ensure better policing and effective handling of law and order situations. With this, the number of police stations in the state have gone up to 642. The new police station in the capital city has come up at Maitri Vihar by upgrading the Salia Sahi outpost.

Three of the new police stations have been created in Cuttack while two each are in Angul, Ganjam, Jajpur and Kendrapara districts. In Cuttack district, Maniabandh, Judum and Bhadreswar outposts were upgraded to police stations. Beguniapada, Kotinada outposts in Ganjam, Bagedia and Gopalprasad outposts in Angul, Olakunda and Bramhabarada outposts in Jajpur, Chaudakulat and Kudanagiri outposts in Kendrapara districts were upgraded to police stations. Talapatia beat house in Jharsuguda district was upgraded to airport police station.

The has sought Rs 7,600 crore in theUnion Budgetfor the development of rail Infrastructure with emphasis on strengthening rail connectivity to various Ports, mining belts and tribal-dominated districts.

Official sources said the demand include fund for various on-going projects, sanctioning of new lines, station modernisation, introduction of new trains, extension of existing trains, improved passenger amenities at stations, on-board Services, establishment of rail-based industries and multi-modal Logistics parks.

Major port connectivity projects for which fund has been sought in the annual budget include Rs 100 crore forJajpur Keonjhar Road-Dhamra Portvia Jajpur and Aradi (95 km), Rs 300 crore forTalcher-Gopalpurrail link, Rs 50 crore for Paradip-Dhamra rail link and Rs 200 crore for Gopalpur-Sambalpur link.

As creation of rail infrastructure is the responsibility of the Centre, the official said the government has already partnered with Indian Railways to fill the viability gap wherever it has been asked for.