Odisha

A casual attitude to safety

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday conducted a cabinet meeting online from Japan. This was his first cabinet meeting held from a foreign location. Patnaik, who is on a visit to the East Asian nation to attract investments to Odisha, presided over the cabinet meeting through the virtual mode from Kyoto, around 6,000 km from state capital Bhubaneswar. His cabinet colleagues also took part in the meeting separately through virtual mode. They held threadbare discussions and files were processed and documents signed online through the Odisha State Wide Area Network (OSWAN), a CMO statement said. "We have been a pioneer in leveraging the latest technology as part of our 5T charter to improve the effectiveness of the governance systems and delivery of public services. Technology has served as an enabling tool in transforming the delivery of good governance and public goods and services," Patnaik was quoted as saying in the statement. This digital cabinet pushes the boundary o

Japanese IT major Fuji Soft Group has proposed to open a centre of excellence (CoE) in Bhubaneswar, an official statement said. The proposal was made during the Odisha business delegation's visit to Japan, where Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led discussions with major players in the Japanese IT and IT-enabled services sector. The CoE would add to the burgeoning field in Bhubaneswar, which is already a happy hunting ground for marquee labels, the statement said. NITKAL (Nihon-UTKAL) has also tied up with Odisha University of Technology and Research to set up a dedicated skill development centre to cater to the huge demand for trained workforce in Japan. NITKAL is undertaking a dialogue with IIIT, Bhubaneswar for establishing a dedicated Japan-centric centre for skill development, it said. NYK Lines (Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha) evinced keen interest in setting up dedicated shipping lanes from Paradeep, Gopalpur or Dhamra port to transport green ammonia to Southeast Asia and ...

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is on a tour to Japan, visited the Kimitsu Steel Works of Nippon Steel Corporation on Thursday and discussed the use of green technology for the company's proposed facilities in the state. The plant in the east Asian country was established on land reclaimed from the sea and used environmentally sustainable green technologies, Patnaik was informed by the company, according to an official release issued by the Chief Minister's Office. Kimitsu facility produces diversified specialised steel products for various industries like automobiles. Patnaik appreciates the plant and discussed the use of similar green technologies for the plants coming up in Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts (of Odisha), the CMO release said. The proposed plants will also focus on specialised steel products which will enable downstream industries in Odisha, it said. The state delegation's visit to the Kimitsu Steel Works provided an opportunity for officials to le

Odisha received investment intent of Rs 26,000 crore in various sectors as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met Japanese industrialists in Tokyo on Wednesday. The investment intent was received in sectors such as logistics, steel, Green Hydrogen and IT/ITeS. An MoU for collaboration in the skill development sector was also signed between Nihon-Utkal and IIIT, Bhubaneswar, an official release issued by the chief minister's office said. The business meet was attended by representatives of more than 200 leading companies in Japan and the Indo-Pacific region. They were offered an opportunity to explore various avenues of collaboration with the state government and local companies in Odisha, it said. Patnaik also held a meeting with the senior leadership of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), who iterated their commitment to supporting infrastructure development in Odisha. Addressing the business meet, Patnaik said, "Odisha is one of the fastest growing states in India. We are

In a near rerun of the dark days of COVID lockdown, three destitute migrant workers from Odisha walked and hitch-hiked over 1,000 km to Koraput on their way home to Kalahandi from Bangalore in seven days. They reached their homes on Sunday, their pockets empty and holding on only to their water bottles, with tales of struggle, hardships, exploitation and gestures of help from unknown people during the long journey. The trio - Budu Majhi, Katar Majhi and Bhikari Majhi from Tingalkan village of Kalahandi district had undertaken the arduous journey after being denied their wages by their employer in far away Bengaluru. They had exhausted their meagre savings and had no food or money left. On reaching Koraput, they told locals at Padalguda in Potangi block that they had started their journey on March 26 and walked even at night over the seven days. At some places they managed to get lifts. Many people, touched by their ordeal came forward spontaneously and helped them. A shopkeeper ...

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will Monday embark on a week-long tour to Japan in a bid to attract investments in various sectors for the eastern state, officials said. During the visit, Patnaik is likely to attend programmes in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka and return on April 9, they said. We are optimistic about wooing Japanese investors as they are well acquainted with Odisha. Apart from a stable government, we have vast natural resources and business-friendly policies, the state's Industries and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Pratap Keshari Deb said. Odisha will seek Japanese investments in sectors like tourism, food processing, auto components, electronics, chemicals & petrochemicals, mining, metals and information technology, the officials said. Japan had earlier partnered with the state in 2018 and 2022 during the Make in Odisha' conclave.

In a continuing effort to be the country's leading investment destination, a high-level delegation led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will be visiting Japan from April 4 to 11 to promote investment opportunities in Odisha, said the Chief Minister's Office.The delegation includes the Minister of Industries, MSME, and Energy, Pratap Keshari Deb, Chief Secretary PK Jena, Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Hemant Sharma, Principal Secretary, E & IT Department, Manoj Mishra, and Managing Director, IPICOL, Bhupendar Poonia.From the Chief minister's Office, V K Pandian, Secretary to CM (5T) and Vineel Krishna, Special secretary to CM are accompanying the Chief Minister during the Japan tour.A business delegation from Odisha, consisting of select industries in the Steel, Aluminium, Textiles, Food and Sea-Food processing, and Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia sectors, will also accompany the delegation to explore opportunities for collaboration with Japanese business ...

On the occasion of Utkal Diwas, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, launched the ticket sales of an international flight from Bhubaneshwar to Dubai, the Odisha government informed in a press release

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday disbursed Rs 877 crore to over 43 lakh farmers under the KALIA scheme on Utkal Dibasa (Odisha Day). The assistance was provided for agricultural activities in the current kharif season. Farmers from all regions of the state, except the by-poll bound Jharsuguda district received it. The farmers were given the assistance through their bank accounts, a statement issued by the CMO said. Patnaik said that the state's development is closely linked with the welfare of the farmers. Therefore, we started the new financial year by providing this assistance on this auspicious day. The Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) is Odisha government's flagship programme for farmers. Apart from being self-reliant in the food grain production, Odisha has also been contributing to the country's food reserves, he said and credited the state's farmers for it. The state has taken many measures for the development in the agricultur

In the face of criticism from some quarters, Odisha government has allowed opening of beach shacks which can serve food and liquor in the state to promote tourism. This is part of the Odisha government's new Excise Policy for the year 2023-24 which will be implemented from April 1, 2023. The policy also increase excise duty for Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) marginally besides increasing a few other costs for bars, which may increase retail alcohol costs. The new policy provides of opening of beach shacks in the state to promote tourism. However, the license for these shacks will only be granted to the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) and not to any private operator. The shacks can be opened near different water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and dams, apart from sea beaches, the new policy said adding that the beach shack license will be considered a special category of restaurant ON' license, and the OTDC will have to decide on selecting operators for beach shacks

Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal on Wednesday said the National Education Policy 2020 will help students acquire knowledge and skills relevant to an evolving job market. He also said the policy was formulated on the foundation pillars of access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability. "The NEP aims at creating a new system aligned with the global aspirational goals of 21st-century education while remaining consistent with India's tradition and value system, the governor said, while addressing the 24th convocation of Berhampur University here. The most significant feature of the NEP-2020 is that it aims at promoting both inclusion and excellence, he said. The Centre is working to make the country a five trillion dollar economy by 2024-25. "The realisation of the goal is incumbent upon the capability of education and training institutes to equip the young men and women with knowledge and skills relevant to an evolving job market. The NEP will help realise the aspirations of th

Odisha will have about 2 mn metric tonnes of surplus rice after meeting all its requirements, CM Naveen Patnaik said in a letter to the central govt asking for the evacuation of surplus rice

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth a total of Rs 2,000 crore in his home district of Ganjam. During his visit to Ganjam, he held separate rallies in his own constituency Hinjili, besides Kabisuryanagar and Chhatrapur, focusing mostly on development schemes. However, Aska MP Pramila Bisoi appealed to the people to make Patnaik the CM for the sixth consecutive term after the 2024 general elections. Patnaik inaugurated and laid the foundation of projects worth Rs 1,000 crore in Chhatrapur, Rs 590 crore in Hinjili and Rs 316 crore in Kabisuryanagar. Patnaik also distributed 'gram-kantak housing pattas' (record of rights) to over 20,000 people who have been living on government land for generations. The chief minister also distributed interest-free loans of Rs 619 crore to self-help groups (SHGs). These loans were given to 2.24 lakh women of 22,200 SHGs.

The children who lost their parents or main earning person of the family on April 1, 2020 or thereafter to Covid-19 have been covered under the scheme

India's top oil company IOC will invest Rs 61,077 crore in building a petrochemical complex at Paradip in Odisha - its largest ever investment at a single location - as it doubles down on its transition plan. In a statement, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) said its board has given "Stage-1 approval for setting up Paradip petrochemical complex at Paradip, Odisha at an estimated cost of Rs 61,077 crore." "This mega project will be the largest-ever investment of Indian Oil at a single location," it said but did not give timelines for completion of the project. This is a part of its transition plan including boosting petrochemical intensity to help protect against volatility. Petrochemical intensity refers to the percentage of crude oil that is converted directly into chemicals that are used to make plastic and other material. Crude oil, pumped out of the ground and from below the seabed, is processed in refineries to make petrol, diesel and other fuel. It can be processed to make ...

A large amount of explosives suspected to have been dumped by the Maoists along the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha has been seized, police said. Acting on a tip-off, police seized 50 kg of explosive codex wire, 100 detonators and 15 radio sets in Lamataput area in Koraput district, Superintendent of Police Avinav Sonkar said. He said the explosives are suspected to have been dumped by the Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit for future use against security forces.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday wondered how investors are making a beeline in the state if there is lawlessness as alleged by the opposition BJP and Congress. All over the country, investors talk about the fact that how peaceful Odisha is, Patnaik said while replying to the debate on home and general administration demands in the Assembly. "Getting investment to a state is a reflection of its law and order situation. No investment comes when the law and order situation is poor in a state. Odisha gets one of the highest investments in the country," he said. Claiming that the opposition parties have insulted the people of Odisha by making allegations of lawlessness, Patnaik asserted that the state has registered a record highest growth rate continuously and revenue generation is increasing year after year. As maintenance of law and order is good, the state has record industrial production and record agriculture production, while major events like the World Cup Hockey

The Supreme Court Tuesday held that the abolition of the Odisha Administrative Tribunal was constitutionally valid. A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud rejected the challenge to the decision by the tribunal bar association. "We hold that abolition of Orissa Administrative Tribunal (OAT) was constitutionally valid. Article 323A (dealing with Administrative tribunals) does not preclude the Union of India to abolish state administrative tribunals. The decision to abolish the tribunal is not violative of Article 14 of the Constitution," the bench also comprising Justice PS Narasimha said. The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by the Orissa Administrative Tribunal Bar Association against a high court order that upheld the notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training of the central government on August 2, 2019, which abolished OAT. The high court had noted in its order that there was sufficient material to support the view of the state government that O

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be on a two-day visit to Odisha this month when she is likely to call on her counterpart and Biju Janata Dal President Naveen Patnaik