Family Rejects Woman’s Body Over Inter-Caste Marriage

Bargarh: A shocking incident has emerged from Amapali village in Bargarh district, where a woman’s family allegedly refused to touch her body, let alone perform her last rites, simply because she had married outside her caste. Her in-laws had already reportedly severed ties with the couple long ago. As a result, her body remained at the hospital for hours after her death. Finally, the police arranged her last rites with the help of a social organization.

Love and Rejection

According to sources, a young woman from Sahajibahal village had fallen in love with a man from Patharla village. However, caste differences became a major obstacle in their marriage. Despite family opposition, the couple went ahead and got married, leading to their families disowning them. Her parental family even performed her symbolic funeral rituals while she was still alive, completely cutting her off. With nowhere to go, the couple settled in Amapali village, living in a rented house, but they struggled with mental distress due to family rejection.

Tragically, the young woman lost her mental stability and allegedly took her own life last night. Upon discovering the incident, locals informed both her family and the police. Her body was taken to Bargarh District Headquarters Hospital for postmortem.

Applications Now Open for Prashanta Mohanty – Dr. Narayani Panda Scholarship

Sambalpur The Lok Sevak Mandal, under the Western Odisha Development Council, has invited applications for the Prashanta Mohanty – Dr. Narayani Panda Scholarship. This scholarship is aimed at meritorious and economically disadvantaged students from 10 districts of Western Odisha: Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Balangir, Sonepur, Boudh, and the Athmallik sub-division.

Students pursuing +2 (Higher Secondary), +3 (Undergraduate), and Postgraduate (PG) courses with a minimum of 60% marks in their last examination are eligible to apply.

For the 2024-25 academic year, applicants must submit the following documents by April 15:

Complete address

Permanent residence certificate

Annual income certificate of parents

Certification from the head of their educational institution

Copy of the previous examination mark sheet

Copy of Aadhaar card

One passport-size photograph

Copy of the first page of their bank passbook

Applications can be sent to Dr. Radhanath Rath Community Center, Mudipada, Sambalpur – 768002, Odisha. Interested candidates may contact Mobile Number: 8917244517 for further details.

About the Scholarship Fund

Dr. Narayani Panda, a renowned doctor and social worker from Sambalpur, has donated ₹70 lakh to the Lok Sevak Mandal, Sambalpur branch through the Prashanta Mohanty – Dr. Narayani Panda Educational Scholarship Fund. The interest generated from this fund will be used to provide scholarships to meritorious but economically disadvantaged students.

Mid-Day Meal Scheme Expanded: Class 9 & 10 Students to Benefit

Bhubaneswar: The School and Mass Education Department has issued a directive stating that all government and grant-in-aid schools will provide mid-day meals to students of Class 9 and 10 starting from the 2025-26 academic year.

The funding for this initiative will come from the Chief Minister’s Nutrition Scheme, with the government allocating ₹570.71 crore annually for its implementation.

Additionally, starting from April 1, students from Shishu Batika (pre-primary) to Class 10 will receive nutritious laddus as part of their diet. Each student will get three laddus per week, specifically on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, eggs will be provided, with an extra egg on Fridays as per the new decision.

Chief Minister Launches Antodaya Housing Scheme Virtually to Boost Affordable Housing

Koraput: On Sunday, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the Antodaya Housing Scheme at Shri Krishna Nagar Padia, Risigaon, in Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi district. On this occasion, apart from the Koraput district headquarters subdivision, block administrations in 13 other blocks organized events in the presence of Group Development Officers, local MLAs, block and panchayat-level leaders. The Chief Minister inaugurated the program via live streaming, allowing beneficiaries at various locations to witness the launch.

Panchayati Raj Minister Ravi Nayak, along with MLAs, MPs, and the District Collector of Kalahandi, were present at the event. The housing scheme aims to provide pucca (permanent) houses, ensuring the development of Odisha. The scheme primarily benefits differently-abled individuals, widows, critically ill persons, families of martyrs, victims of house fires, elephant attacks, floods, and cyclones.

The Chief Minister announced that ₹7,550 crore will be invested in the scheme over the next three years. Additionally, infrastructure development projects worth over ₹600 crore have been inaugurated and foundation stones laid. In the first phase, 2,934 beneficiaries from 14 blocks in Koraput district have been sanctioned ₹1,02,000 each. Beneficiaries who complete house construction within four months will receive a ₹20,000 bonus.

At various block locations in Koraput district, beneficiaries were granted work orders:

Koraput Block: 162 beneficiaries

Dashmantpur Block: 161 beneficiaries

Laxmipur Block: 172 beneficiaries

Bandhugaon Block: 180 beneficiaries

Narayanpatna Block: 190 beneficiaries

Similiguda Block: 232 beneficiaries

Pottangi Block: 186 beneficiaries

Nandapur Block: 301 beneficiaries

Lamtaput Block: 133 beneficiaries

Baipariguda Block: 274 beneficiaries

Kundra Block: 45 beneficiaries

Kotpad Block: 234 beneficiaries

Boipariguda Block: 465 beneficiaries

Jeypore Block: 199 beneficiaries

Additionally, in Kotpad block, certain Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and 27 SHGs in Jeypore block were provided with ₹1.87 crore under the Jal Jeevika Mission to promote self-reliance among women.