Ginger Cultivation Spurs Employment Opportunities for Women
Rabindra Sahu news
Ginger Cultivation Spurs Employment Opportunities for Women

Nandapur: Ginger production has increased significantly in the Nandapur block of Koraput district. The demand for ginger has risen, but prices remain low. Processing of ginger is being carried out, benefiting both ginger farmers and women’s self-help groups (SHGs). This initiative has created employment opportunities for village women.

“In our village, 27 families reside. Earlier, to sustain our households, we had to travel to Nandapur and Semiliguda for daily wage labor. We used to leave for work in the morning and return in the evening. But now, our situation has changed. We can earn a livelihood while staying at home,” said members of the Maa Tarini Mahila Gosthi (women’s group) from Luhaba Maliput village in Nandapur.

With support, guidance, and collaboration from the state government’s Horticulture Department, the NGO Pradan, Nari Shakti FPC, and S for S Sanskar, 27 ginger processing machines have been installed in 27 households, allowing women to earn income. Every day, a family can process 3-4 bags of collected ginger, which includes washing, cutting, drying, and packaging. They earn ₹120 per 50 kg bag. After processing, S for S supplies the prepared ginger to Aurangabad, Maharashtra, said Maa Tarini Mahila Gosthi President Bhagabati Patra, Secretary Kamala Patra, Jaindev Mahila Gosthi President Gorimani Nayak, Secretary Tulasi Patra, Lukhma Mahila Gosthi President Gora Nayak, Secretary Subhadra Nayak, and other members.

The state government’s Horticulture and Mission Shakti Departments, along with Pradan Sanskar, field observer Shankar Prasad Nayak, Nari Shakti FPC’s Sarat Talab, and Dhanu Khemundu, provided consultation and support, which villagers appreciated.

In 2019, ginger processing initially started in five villages of Nandapur block—Khurji, Muliaput, Semiliput, Dagariput, and Galput—along with Subai Panchayat’s Luhaba Maliput. At first, five processing machines were installed, marking the beginning of ginger processing in these high-production areas. Now, 500 ginger processing machines have been set up in households, enabling 500 families to earn ₹400-₹500 daily while working from home.

The director of Pradan, Nikita Saikia, stated that if the administration sets up cold storage facilities in the region, it will facilitate better preservation of ginger and support the production of related products.

New Income Tax Bill Introduced to Simplify and Modernize Tax System
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New Income Tax Bill Introduced to Simplify and Modernize Tax System

New Delhi: After approval from the Cabinet, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today introduced the new Income Tax Bill in the Lok Sabha. This new bill will replace the Income Tax Act of 1961. The primary objective of this bill is to simplify and modernize India’s tax system.

After its introduction, the bill has been sent to the Select Committee for review. Once the committee submits its final report, Parliament will consider passing the bill. The Select Committee is expected to submit its report on the first day of the next parliamentary session.

Key Features of the New Income Tax Law

The new tax law consists of 23 chapters and 298 sections, covering personal income tax, corporate tax, securities transaction tax, and gift tax.

The language of the law will be simpler, making it easier for taxpayers to understand without relying heavily on tax professionals.

The government has introduced this bill to reduce tax disputes and simplify direct tax laws.

Implementation Timeline

The government aims to implement the new income tax law from the financial year 2026-27, i.e., from April 1, 2026.

For the financial year 2025-26, taxpayers will continue to follow the existing Income Tax Act for tax filings in March 2026.

Sufficient time will be

OUJ Submits Demand Letter Highlighting Key Issues in Nabarangpur
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OUJ Submits Demand Letter Highlighting Key Issues in Nabarangpur

Nabarangpur: Even after eight months of the new government taking office in Odisha, no concrete steps have been taken to fulfill the three-point legitimate demands of journalists. The promises made have remained unfulfilled. The Odisha Union of Journalists (OUJ) has been continuously urging the state government to implement security measures for journalists, establish a pension system, and ensure official recognition for journalists. Although the government had assured action on these demands, they remain unmet to date.

Meanwhile, 18 states in the country have already introduced pension schemes for journalists, but Odisha lags far behind in this regard. Therefore, today, the Nabarangpur district branch of the Odisha Journalists’ Union submitted a demand letter addressed to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi through Nabarangpur District Collector Dr. Subhankar Mahapatra.

During the submission of the demand letter, several prominent members of the union were present, including District President Sushant Kumar Behera, General Secretary Chidananda Sahu, Treasurer Khageswar Mahankud, Vice President Phalguni Patra, along with Chandrasekhar Jena, Maheshwar Behera, Munna Dalei, Shibashankar Padhi, Shibprasad Panda, Gautam Agrawal, Chidananda Sahu, Simadri Pattnaik, and Nanda Kumar Bishoi, among many others from the OUJ.

Kalyani Check Dam: Canal Construction Still Incomplete After 10 Years
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Kalyani Check Dam: Canal Construction Still Incomplete After 10 Years

Kalyansinghpur: It has been 10 years since the construction of the Kalyani Check Dam at the border of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, yet the canal has not been built, leaving farmers unable to benefit from irrigation. Despite multiple meetings regarding canal construction, no concrete results have been achieved, leading to growing dissatisfaction among farmers.

The Rayagada Minor Irrigation Department constructed the check dam near Kalkupa in Bijepur Panchayat of Kalahandi district at a cost of ₹2 crore. Before the 2024 general elections, the then-government inaugurated it in a virtual mode. However, the concerned department has been delaying canal construction. A year after the check dam’s inauguration, the department recently held a meeting with farmers at Singari Hatpada, discussing the possibility of providing irrigation water through underground pipes.

Similarly, another check dam built in 2014 was destroyed in the devastating 2017 floods. Although it was repaired at a cost of ₹1 crore, the absence of a canal meant that water could not reach the farmlands. While some lands in Kalahandi district receive irrigation, around 2,000 acres of farmland in Singari and Dhamunipanga panchayats of Kalyansinghpur block in Rayagada district remain deprived due to the lack of a canal.

Farmers are now urging the district administration and higher departmental authorities to take immediate action for canal construction to ensure irrigation benefits.

Bhanja Sena Submits 8-Point Demand Letter to CM for Better Electricity Supply
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Bhanja Sena Submits 8-Point Demand Letter to CM for Better Electricity Supply

Bangiriposi: Electricity consumers in Odisha continue to face difficulties due to poor electricity supply services. Since the power distribution system was handed over to private companies, the situation has worsened. The Electricity Regulatory Commission has also failed to protect the interests of the common people.

Raising multiple concerns and seeking solutions, the Bangiriposi branch of Bhanja Sena has submitted an 8-point demand letter to the Chief Minister through the block administration.

The key demands include:

Stopping the exploitation of consumers under the pretext of installing smart meters

Removing prepaid meters

Rejecting the proposal to increase electricity tariffs

Providing up to 300 units of free electricity to all domestic consumers as per election promises

Regularizing all contractual employees working in private electricity distribution companies and ensuring job security for them

The demand letter was submitted by Bhanja Sena’s block president Satyaprakash, district social media coordinator Santosh Giri, district vice president Manoranjan Giri, Bangiriposi branch co-secretary Mohanty, Barik, Sanjeev, and others.

Block-Level Legal Awareness Program Empowers Women with Knowledge of Laws
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Block-Level Legal Awareness Program Empowers Women with Knowledge of Laws

Umerkote: The Block-Level Legal Awareness Program was organized at the Umerkote Block Conference Hall by the Umerkote Child Development Project Department to educate people about laws related to women. The event was presided over by Umerkote CDPO Sanjukta Behera, with Umerkote Municipality Chairperson Radha Bhatra as the chief guest.

Among the distinguished guests were MP Representative Ram Nayak, Minister’s Representative Ashok Kumar Padhi, Zilla Parishad Member Chhaya Biswas, District Social Security Officer Draupadi Kanhar, BDO Dr. Jitendra Kumar Samal, BJP General Secretary Mandira Nayak, Umerkote Municipality Executive Officer Alok Anugulia, Women Lawyer Bhawana Tripathi, Police SI Purnima Tete, Kishani Pattnaik, Rama Pattnaik, and Fakir Charan Raut.

The discussion covered various laws and policies related to women’s safety and rights, including:

Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child) Scheme

Prenatal Sex Determination Prohibition Act

Prohibition of Child Marriage Act

Dowry Prohibition Act

Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act

Witch-Hunting Prohibition Act

Anti-Human Trafficking Laws

The event witnessed the participation of Anganwadi workers, MBKs (Mission Shakti Community Mobilizers), CRPs (Cluster Resource Persons), and college students.

MP Pradeep Purohit Advocates New Bargarh-Bhubaneswar Intercity Train Service
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MP Pradeep Purohit Advocates New Bargarh-Bhubaneswar Intercity Train Service

Bargarh: Bargarh MP Pradeep Purohit has advocated for the introduction of a new intercity train service connecting Bargarh and Bhubaneswar. He emphasized that such a service would enable daily commuters to return home the same day, addressing a longstanding demand of the local populace. Purohit highlighted the perceived neglect of Bargarh by the East Coast Railway authorities, noting that despite being under the jurisdiction of the Sambalpur Division, Bargarh has not received adequate attention. He urged the Union Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, to consider this proposal, emphasizing the necessity of improved train services for the development of underrepresented regions like Bargarh. Additionally, Purohit proposed extending the existing Puri-Sambalpur Intercity Express to Bargarh or Balangir and advocated for renaming the Paikamal railway station to Nrusinghanath Temple railway station, reflecting local sentiments. He also suggested converting the Jan Shatabdi Express into a daily intercity service, allowing passengers to travel to Bhubaneswar in the morning and return to Bargarh by evening. These initiatives aim to enhance connectivity and address the transportation needs of the residents in western Odisha.

Empowering Schoolgirls: Menstrual Hygiene Education Takes Center Stage
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Empowering Schoolgirls: Menstrual Hygiene Education Takes Center Stage

Tentulikhunti, Nabarangpur: The ITIPA Foundation conducted a Menstrual Hygiene Management and Education Program at Divya Hridaya Girls’ High School and Anchalgumma High School in Tentulikhunti Block for students of 8th and 9th grades.

Under the leadership of ITIPA Foundation Director Vijaya Bajpai, the program aimed to create a hygienic and supportive school environment for menstruating students.

Distribution of MSM Kits

During the event, Ashayee Intake Limited Company’s Tech-Omi Oswa attended as the chief guest and distributed MSM kits to 106 schoolgirls. The initiative also set a goal to extend this distribution to 10 more high schools in the block in the coming days, as announced by Vijaya Bajpai.

Participants & Organizers

ITIPA employees Vinit Juve, Snehlata Uthi, K. Naina Patra, and Sulekha Suna managed the program.

The event was supported by:

Lalit Bag, Principal of Anchalgumma High School

Teachers: Sabi Tripathi, Parameswar Maharana, Ramprasad Nayak, Jugal Harijan, and Dilip Pradhan

Indira Pattnayak, Principal of Divya Hridaya Girls’ High School

Teacher Simanchal Khura

The initiative aimed to educate and empower young girls about menstrual health while ensuring better hygiene management in schools.

Route Map Errors Leave Many Villages Without Rural Bus Service
Rabindra Sahu news
Route Map Errors Leave Many Villages Without Rural Bus Service

Jharigaon: The previous state government had introduced the Lakshmi Bus Service to provide affordable and safe travel for people from panchayats to block headquarters and sub-divisions. However, due to errors in preparing the route map for buses operating in Jharigaon block, many remote villages have been deprived of bus services. Some residents have also complained that they have to walk 4 to 5 kilometers to access bus services.

In particular, such complaints have been raised in Palia and Bhalukanadi panchayats under Jharigaon block. Villagers from places like Saharamsa, Badani, Dumuripada, Meradanaguda, Nuaguda, Baghguda, and Sirmaguda demand that buses should pass through these villages so that they can benefit from the service.

Currently, two buses operate through Bhalukanadi panchayat—one running between Jharigaon and Mundapadar and the other between Jharigaon and Bhitar Karamari. However, these buses only pass through Sariapada village bus stand, leaving many villages in the panchayat far from the bus route. Since several

Teachers Denied Protest Permission at Lower PMG Due to Space Constraints
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Teachers Denied Protest Permission at Lower PMG Due to Space Constraints

Bhubaneswar: Thousands of primary school teachers from various parts of the state were preparing to gather at Lower PMG on Friday to stage a protest. Many teachers from different districts had already reached Bhubaneswar by Thursday night. However, since other organizations had already occupied the protest site, the Commissionerate Police denied permission for the protest, citing a lack of adequate space for around 20,000 teachers.

Educational Information

Former opposition leader Mohan Charan Majhi had previously participated in a teachers’ protest and assured them that once his government came to power, teachers would no longer have to protest on Gandhi Marg. However, even after eight months of the new government, teachers are still forced to protest at Lower PMG. He claimed that attempts were being made to suppress the movement but stated, “We will not sit back. In the coming days, this teachers’ movement will reach the Chief Minister and the main policymakers.”

Various teachers’ organizations have opposed the Commissionerate Police’s decision. Sukanta Kumar Behera, the general secretary of Alocha, stated that the police had taken away their fundamental right to protest. He announced that in the future, the movement would shift from the capital to villages, involving teachers, parents, and students to strengthen the education system and uphold their rights.

According to sources, the Primary Teachers’ Association had applied for protest permission as early as the 5th of this month for a demonstration on the 14th from 10 AM onwards. However, no permission was granted until the day of the protest, and authorities outright refused to approve it at the last moment. The association alleged that the previous government had also attempted to suppress teachers’ protests in a similar manner.