Latest news with #Bilaspur-based
New Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Hill brooms from Kotia find many takers in Chhattisgarh
JEYPORE: Hill brooms produced by the tribals of Kotia panchayat under Pottangi block in Koraput district have gained significant popularity in neighbouring Chhattisgarh. A Bilaspur-based agro company, BIOCART, has placed an order for 100 tonne of hill brooms in March following last year's encouraging market response. According to sources, the Pottangi block administration has actively promoted awareness among the tribal communities of Kotia region, encouraging them to engage in hill broom production to improve their socio-economic conditions. As a result, around 300 tribals have joined the Pottangi Agro Products Producer Company, a unit under the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS), to streamline the supply and marketing of hill brooms to other states. Last year, a trader from Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh's Bastar sourced over 50 tonne of hill brooms from Kotia, which sold rapidly due to their high quality. Building on this market momentum, BIOCART reached out to ORMAS and placed a large order for 100 tonne of brooms this year. Sources said the brooms will be procured in phases at Rs 43 per kg, amounting to a total business of approximately Rs 43 lakh this season. The company has already lifted two tonne from Kotia as part of the first phase of the order. District project manager of ORMAS Roshan Kartik said, 'We have supplied two tonne of hill brooms produced by Kotia tribals and will continue to fulfil the order in phases. More beneficiaries from Kotia will be engaged in the coming months to expand collection of raw materials and production of the brooms in the bordering villages.' Block development officer of Pottangi Ram Krushna Nayak said the rising demand for Kotia's hill brooms in Chhattisgarh is an encouragement for the tribals to strengthen their economic condition. 'We are committed to supporting the tribal communities of Kotia through various government schemes aimed at better livelihood for them,' he added.
India Today
01-05-2025
- India Today
Chhattisgarh professor arrested for forcing students to recite namaz at NSS camp
A professor of Guru Ghasidas Central University was arrested on Thursday in connection with an alleged forcible namaz recital by some students during a National Service Scheme (NSS) camp in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district, a police official Dilip Jha was taken into custody in the morning in connection with an FIR registered on April 26 against eight persons over the alleged incident, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Rashmeet Kaur and six faculty members of the Bilaspur-based central Guru Ghasidas Central University and a team core leader-cum-student have been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act for promoting enmity among groups on the basis of religion, outraging religious feelings and other offences, she said. The accused persons allegedly forced 159 students to offer namaz on March 31 during the NSS camp, held between March 26 and April 1, in Shivtarai village under Kota police station limits of the district, though only four among them were Muslims, the official said. A probe was instituted after students protested on their return, which also prompted right-wing outfits to agitate, demanding action against those Senior Superintendent of Police Rajnesh Singh had constituted a four-member team headed by City Superintendent of Police (Kotwali) Akshay Sabadra to investigate the matter. Based on the committee's report, the case was registered against Jha and others. Further probe into the matter is underway, Chawla IN THIS STORY#Chhattisgarh
New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Eight including seven faculty members booked for allegedly forcing students to offer Namaz in Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR: Seven faculty members and a student leader have been booked for allegedly forcing students of Bilaspur-based Guru Ghasidas Central University to offer namaz (Islamic prayer) during the National Service Scheme (NSS) camp organised in the district. The incident occurred on March 31 during the special camping program held in the Kota block from March 26 to April 1 this year. A total of 159 students participated in various community service activities during the event. After their return, several students alleged that a program officer and a coordinator had forced them to offer namaz on the day of Eid (March 31). As protests grew, the university formed a three-member committee to investigate the allegations. Some students also filed a complaint at the Koni police station in Bilaspur, demanding action against the program officer, coordinator, and other teachers involved. Some students claimed that after protesting against performing namaz, they were allegedly threatened with being denied certificates. A police inquiry was initiated after students returning from the camp protested, and right-wing outfits also held demonstrations demanding action. The Bilaspur Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajnesh Singh, formed a four-member committee led by City Superintendent of Police, Akshay Sabadra, to conduct the investigation. The report was submitted to the SSP on Saturday. According to the Bilaspur police, as many as 159 students were allegedly forced to offer namaz during the camp at Shivtarai village in Kota, although only four of them were Muslims. The police have registered a case against Professor Dilip Jha, Madhulika Singh, Jyoti Verma, Neeraj Kumari, Prashant Vaishnav, Suryabhan Singh, and Basant Kumar, all teachers at the Central University, as well as the team leader-cum-student, Ayushmann Choudhary. They have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Sections 196, 197, 299, 302, and 190, as well as Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act. 'We will continue our investigation into the incident,' the SSP said.
