Jagatsinghpur

Jagatsinghpur, Aug 3 (LocalWire): Ignoring COVID-19 restrictions, farmers in remote coastal villages of Jagatsinghpur district performed the “Benga Nacha” or frog dance in order to appease Lord Indra for getting good rains this year.

Farmers and agricultural labourers are worried due to inadequate work due to inadequate rainfall.

Nearly 20,000 migrant returnees have returned from different states during the course of the pandemic and are living in pathetic conditions due to non-availability of work.

This being the peak period in which labourers had hoped to generate some income through paddy cultivation work, inadequate rainfall has hit them hard as the cultivation work is getting delayed.

Due to scanty rainfall and drying of water level in different water resources, a drought like situation looms large with cracked fields and withered crops in different areas of Jagatsinghpur district.

In Kujang, Naugaon, Balikuda, Tirtol, Biridi, Erasama areas, rain-fed paddy fields have developed cracks and the crop has been damaged due to scanty rainfall.

Being thus harried, farmers and labourers have resorted to the old tradition of frog dance hoping that it would bring rain.

The villagers believe that the rain God won’t be able to tolerate the croaking of the dancing frogs and will definitely bring rain.

“The ritual involves bathing the frogs with turmeric water and smearing them with vermillion, after which they are tied. This causes them to jump and croak.

The tradition of frog dancing has been carried out in the villages for hundreds of years,” the villagers added.

It may be noted that paddy crop is being cultivated on 86,220 hectares of land in Jagatsinghpur district.

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Jagatsinghpur, Aug 2 (LocalWire): A teacher of Nuagaon panchayat of Naugaon block, who had been conducting tuition classes despite restrictions, was found to be COVID positive today.

Nearly 20 children and their family members have been placed under a 14-day home quarantine as part of preventive measures to check the spread of the virus.

Sources said that the 35-year-old Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir teacher has been afflicted by fever and cold since last week. Suspecting COVID-19, health officials collected his swab on 30th July, at which he was found to be COVID positive.

The teacher was conducting tuitions at his own house as well as some students’ houses to eke out his livelihood.

It may be recalled that all educational institutions have been shut till 31st August to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Coaching centers and tuition classes have also been asked to down shutters as per guidelines issued by Ministry Home Affairs.

Violating this directive, said teacher performed tuition classes in different villages. After the detection of his being positive, panic has gripped the children and other family members.

Sarpanch of Nuagaon panchayat Amina Swain said, “It is illegal to conduct tuition classes in the current climate.

He performed tuition classes in his own house and guardians’ houses in Mathsahi, Ganai, Gopalpur, Gandhan, Balishai, Nailikula, Bahaliashai of Nuagaon and Gajrajpur panchayats in which health department has sanitized their houses and have asked the 20 children and their family members to stay in quarantine.

Steps have been taken to check the health conditions of these students regularly,” she added.

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Jagatsinghpur, July 30 (LocalWire): The district administration has received the prestigious Skoch award in silver category for successful management of COVID-19 today.

Jagatsinghpur is the only district, not only in the state, but also one of the few in the country to implement e-office.

Talking to this publication, collector Mohapatra informed, “None of our official work has been hampered, despite implementation of the lockdown and shut down, which is the biggest achievement of our district.

For the last 120 days, even when a positive case was detected, none of the industries were closed, which is our biggest achievement.

“We made it a point that all the migrant labourers are working, no one should have to move, hardly around 500-600 moved because of family pressure and all others stayed and we provided them all the facilities in the industrial area.

Besides this, administration made 405 quarantined centers in 198 Gram Panchayats. In each panchayat, there are quarantine centers where any of the migrant labourer can come and stay for 14 days,” he added.

It may be recalled that this district, which is the only district of the state where all offices run by e-office under 5T, bagged the national level SKOCH crucible award for e-governance in June.

SKOCH Group is India’s leading think tank dealing with socio-economic issues with a focus on inclusive growth since 1997.

This Group has instituted India’s highest independent civilian honours in the field of governance, finance, technology, economics and social sector conferred by an independent organization.

It recognizes people, projects and institutions that go the extra mile to make India a better nation.

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Paradip, July 30 (LocalWire): Hundreds of contractual workers under Petroleum Products Handling & Carriers Employees Union held a dharana in front of Paradip Refinery of IOCL, demanding that Rs 50 lakhs be paid to a worker’s kin, if he dies of COVID-19.

Sources said that shutdown maintenance activity has commenced at Paradip Refinery after safe shutdown of running units.

Thousands of experts, engineers, technicians, contractual workers have arrived from different parts of the country. Now, the lives of the local contractual workers are under threat, because they are working with them during this maintenance work.

Many COVID positive cases have been discovered amongst employees and workers who have arrived from other states.

Local contractual workers are living in panic, apprehending the spread of Coronavirus, as all of them are working together. Meanwhile, the administration has asked them to stay in quarantine after completion of duty towards safety measures.

Panicky grieved workers have demanded provision of food to them during quarantine, free masks, soaps, sanitizers and other safety equipment.

The family members may be paid Rs 50 lakh in case of death of the workers by Corona, as circulated by the Union Government. They have also demanded job opportunities for their kin, in case of death by COVID-19.

Union leader Sanatan Behera and others said, “Our association had submitted a memorandum to the administration to resolve our issues, but it yielded no result.

Paradip Port Trust, a Central Government autonomous body, is following the direction of government for payment of Rs 50 lakh to the families after the death of workers due to corona.

Despite promulgation of prohibitory order, harried workers held a dharana for fulfillment of their demands as their lives are under threat.”

Meanwhile, IOCL officials led by IIC of Abhayachandpur police station Jugal Kishore Das, pacified the workers and gave assurance to resolve their issues through discussion tomorrow, at which irate workers called off their stir today afternoon.

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Jagatsinghpur, July 29 (LocalWire): The Temporary Medical Camp of Bishnupur Panchayat has set an example of communal harmony and brotherhood between the Hindu/Muslim community as Muslim migrant returnees offered album of Lord Jagannath as a gift to the local Sarpanch and Panchayat Samiti members.

After last month’s incident in which a mob ha set fire to a police vehicle and ransacked a police outpost for restricting Azaan, it was a challenging task for the police and administration to maintain peace and tranquility in the area.

However, the efforts of the Sarpanch of Bisanpur Panchayat Basant Mohapatra and Panchayat Samiti member Amulay Kumar Mohapatra have succeeded in bringing between both Hindu/Muslim migrant returnees.

Twenty Muslim migrant returnees recently expressed their satisfaction with the activities and behaviour of the Sarpanch and TMC personnel.

“20 Muslim returnees thanked the Sarpanch and Panchayat Samiti members for their good treatment and hospitality, which has created an atmosphere of brotherhood here,” said Sarpanch Mohapatra.

“The returnees also collected funds amongst them gifted an album of Lord Jagannath and his siblings to the Sarpanch and the Panchayat Samiti to express their satisfaction,” he added.

Arshad Ali, a migrant who returned from Karnataka and stayed in the TMC for 14 days said, “The supply of food, sanitation and behaviour of the personnel was extremely hospitable for which we did not feel isolated at all.

There is no difference between Allah and Lord Jagannath, hence we gifted a memoir to the TMC personnel in order to continue our good relationship with them”.

Returnee Ramesh Chandra Sahoo said, “The gift given by the returnees was a sign of good faith and brotherhood amongst us.

We appreciated their gesture and efforts very much.”

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Jagatsinghpur, July 27: 102-year-old freedom fighter Biswanath Das hailing from Bhagaban Sindhola under Arilo Panchayat has been selected for the President’s Award for his contribution to India’s Independence Movement.

Sources said that the President’s Award will be conferred on 10 freedom fighters of Odisha on August 9 for their contribution to the independence movement of India.

Every year, the President of India felicitates freedom fighters in New Delhi on the Quit India Day, August 9.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, this ceremony will not be organized in New Delhi, for which, collector Sangram Keshari Mohapatra will felicitate and honour the freedom fighter Das in his house 9th August.

Das, who recently turned 102, has never suffered from any disease. Born in 1918, he travelled everywhere on his bicycle, a habit which has apparently kept him fit and active.

“I don’t have any bad habits but I do eat sweets like Chenna Poda and Rasagola every day. I am happy with everything I’ve done and being fit enough to do it.

I am very thankful for my good health which is the greatest gift of all. Take care of your health, because if you lose your health it never comes back,” he added.

Das is a little deaf due to his old age, however, he still holds the position of village chief. Villagers flock to him for dispute resolution, instead of the local police station.

Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, he joined the freedom struggle. Local freedom fighters Sarala Devi, Nitayananda Kanungo, Maguni Charan Kanungo, Bhagirathi Mohapatra and others united to spread ideas like boycott of foreign cloth, court of law and government institutions.

During the Quit India movement, he was imprisoned in 1942 and once again in 1943.

Das said, “The young generation does not understand the value of Gram Swaraj. Social justice is still a distant dream for Dalits, and everyone should fight against corruption, which still has a hold on our society.”

Sarpanch of Arilo panchayat Jostana Rani Barik said, “Freedom fighter Das is the pride of our village. We are inspired by his ideology and follow his directions.

Villagers have not seen the police station till date because our issues and disputes are being solved by his leadership.
We have decided to felicitate him on 9th August in a big way in the presence of Collector Mohapatra,” she added.

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Jagatsinghpur, July 27 (LocalWire): The Erasama Community Health Centre has come a long way from its poor sanitary conditions and irregular doctor care to becoming a role model for a good health centre, with improvement of health services and early redressal of issues, good sanitation & atmosphere, parking, gardening and other infrastructural development.

This turn-around is the work of Dr. Amiya Kumar Swain, who has been the doctor-in-charge of the CHC for the past 2 years.

Erasama CHC had a bad reputation for poor attendance of doctors and terrible sanitary conditions with heaps of garbage and litter around the hospital.

Ever since Swain took charge as medical officer from 2018, the scenario has changed and patients from different areas throng to this hospital for treatment.

Talking to LocalWire, Swain said, “Service to man is service to God.

I have accepted this truth. Diseases or illness can occur at anytime, anywhere and can affect any section of the community.

All public health facilities and the service providers should get mentally prepared to accept the challenge.

After taking charge as a medical officer, I have provided free of cost health services for 24 hours at the CHC, my home and OPD.”

Sarpanch of Erasama Panchayat Gitanjali Swain said, “As a doctor, Swain is a man who has never neglected patients.

He does not even charge a single paisa from his patients.

Through his efforts, infrastructural development like use of open space as garden, parking, repairing and renovation has been done for which this hospital has turned into an ideal hospital.”

One Rashmiranjan Swain of Jaipat village said, “I am a daily wage worker and it was very difficult for me to arrange money for a major operation of my mother. Dr. Swain donated Rs 30,000 from his own pocket for her operation last year.”

Besides this, he donated Rs 40,000 to the CMRF for COVID management while the hospital welfare fund donated Rs 50,000 to the family of the Pulwama martyr in Naugaon block recently.

During the corona crisis, Swain has taken an important role to redress the health issues of migrant returnees of all temporary medical camps in Erasama block.

He has been working regularly from 7 am to 10 pm daily without availing any leave.

One rapid response team including two mobile teams have been pressed into round the clock service for migrant returnees.

Meanwhile, senior citizens of Naradia and Goda Panchayats have felicitated and awarded Doctor Swain for his efforts to curb the COVID-19 crisis.

A resident, Dipti Ranjan Khandual said, “Earlier, local patients hesitated to come to this hospital due to different issues including lack of health services and bad sanitation.

After Swain took charge of the medical office, everything changed.

Even shoes have been restricted to this hospital to check pollution.

During his service period, Swain has donated money from his own pocket to treat poor critical patients.”

Meanwhile, Swain has adopted innovative methods to provide services to poverty-stricken people.

Seven doctors have formed a “hospital welfare fund” in which they donate money in order to provide financial assistance to poor critical patients.

Chief District Medical Officer Bijaya Panda has expressed his satisfaction with the activities of Swain, for not only infrastructural development but also taking key roles for implementing all government sponsored programme.

LocalWire

Jagatsinghpur, July 25 (LocalWire): The Jagatsinghpur district administration on Saturday arranged a bus to send back nearly four dozens of workers who were brought by a middle man from West Bengal, a corona hotspot, for agricultural work, an official said.

The middle man had engaged 46 such workers in Biridi area without informing the local administration. The workers were kept in a private building.

Based on the local complaints, the district officials visited the site.

They provided the workers food and sent them back to their home in a bus, he said.

Authorities in the district have restricted the entry of people from the corona hotspot area to the district to prevent the spread of infections.

Although police have been deployed to monitor the district border, the workers had allegedly entered the region through village roads, he said.

Almost every year hundreds of daily labourers come from West Bengal to work in the agriculture sector as farmers face manpower shortage

86,220 hectares of land in Jagatsinghpur district, in which paddy seedling and transplantation have started in full swing.

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Jagatsinghpur, July 22 (LocalWire): A 29-year-old pregnant woman hailing from Tirtol in Jagatsinghpur has named her new-born son after the Collector of Jagatsinghpur Sangram Keshari Mohapatra, as her delivery was possible only after the intervention of the collector.

Sources said that the husband of the woman, who is working in a private company in Bhubaneswar, hails from Tirtol and has settled with his wife and other family members in Bhubaneswar.

His wife, who was pregnant, had been given a delivery date of July 24 by her doctor, who also advised her to get tested for COVID before delivery.

The wife was allegedly found corona positive, for which the private hospital refused to admit her and advised the couple to get admitted to AMRI or Apollo hospital.

Meanwhile, BMC officials shifted the woman to the COVID ward of the SUM hospital. When the husband asked for his wife to be tested again, the staff refused as the second test can only be done after 6 days of the first.

The husband then sought the intervention of the Jagatsinghpur collector, Sangram Keshari Mohapatra, for a quick COVID test of his wife so that her operation can be done quickly as she had been suffering from labour pain for 4 days.

Mohapatra sought the intervention of the Khordha collector and BMC authorities, after which the woman was tested again and found to be COVID negative.

As such, her operation was done and she delivered a male child in KIMs Hospital.

“Collector Mohapatra has saved our family, as his timely intervention helped save the life of my wife and child.

As we are all going through a period of ‘sangram’ (meaning struggle) and the Collector’s name is also “Sangram”, we decided to name our child Sangram,” said the father.

Collector Mohapatra expressed his satisfaction that he was able to help the couple.

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