Latest news with #PravatiParida
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Odisha DyCM, ministers to visit Kotia to review development initiatives
BHUBANESWAR: In a move to intensify its outreach programme in Kotia group of villages under Koraput district and counter intrusion of Andhra Pradesh officials, the state government has decided to send ministers at regular intervals to oversee implementation of welfare and developmental programmes in the border area. As part of the outreach, deputy CM Pravati Parida is expected to visit the border villages soon and review implementation of Subhadra Yojana and other welfare programmes. The objective is to find out if the scheme is reaching the beneficiaries and its impact on their lives, sources said. Revenue minister Suresh Pujari said his Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare counterpart Krushna Chandra Patra will also visit the area to distribute ration cards to beneficiaries. Asserting that the influence of Andhra Pradesh government over the Kotia residents is waning, Pujari said the district administration is closely monitoring the situation at the ground-level and taking all steps to improve the situation by delivering services at the people's doorsteps. He further informed that a police outpost will be set up in Kotia to prevent unwanted interference of Andhra Padesh officials and their activities. The minister said he had spoken to the district collector on the impending visit of the ministers and other initiatives of the government. The Koraput administration has held a mega health camp by a team of specialist doctors in Kotia panchayat where free medicines were also provided to those found suffering from different ailments. The state government has constituted a 16-member committee headed the Revenue minister to study the situation in the Kotia villages and frame an administrative mechanism to solve the basic problems of the people.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Raise voice against sexual harassment: Pravati
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Wednesday urged working women to fearlessly raise their voice against sexual harassment at workplaces and fight for their rights. Speaking at an orientation programme on POSH Act (2013) at the State secretariat, Lok Seva Bhawan, Parida said, 'Sexual harassment is not a stigma or taboo. If we remain silent, we empower the harasser. Saying 'no' is your right—use it. The government stands firmly with victims.' Parida, the only woman minister in the Mohan Charan Majhi-led BJP government, also heads the Women and Child Development department. She addressed over 600 government employees, both men and women, at the session designed to raise awareness on Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (POSH) Act. Emphasising institutional accountability, she said, 'Strict directives have been issued to set up Internal Committees in all institutions and colleges to ensure proper implementation of the Act. Action will be taken against both offenders and those making false accusations.' Parida has been the target of the Opposition BJD and Congress over a brutal attack on a 15-year-old girl in Balanga, under her Nimapara constituency, who was set ablaze by unidentified assailants. Taking aim at the previous BJD regime, Parida said the POSH Act had been neglected since its introduction in 2013. The orientation programme was attended by renowned lawyer Manasi Padhi, who delivered a detailed presentation on the POSH Act during two dedicated sessions. She explained the provisions, rights, responsibilities and redressal mechanisms under the Act in depth. Opposition BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty, however, in an X post said, 'The Deputy Chief Minister must ensure that when a victim speaks, it is not met with institutional silence from the government or her party. Justice should not end with video messages, it must be delivered in action.' He cited the case of a student from FM College, Balasore, who reportedly faced harassment but failed to get justice due to delays and inaction by the college ICC, police and political leaders. 'The common people, along with Opposition parties, are now fighting for justice for our sister. Meanwhile, a minor girl from the area represented by Madam Pravati Parida, was set ablaze and is now fighting for her life,' Mohanty said in the social media post, adding that across Odisha, incidents of sexual harassment are being reported almost daily due to the breakdown of law and order under the BJP government. Meanwhile, in a post on X, Parida, who flew to Delhi after addressing the programme, said: 'I met the victim from Balanga, who is undergoing treatment at Delhi AIIMS. She hails from my constituency. I spoke to her family and relatives. During this visit, I discussed her health condition and treatment with the medical team and specialists providing her care. I pray to the Almighty that she recovers quickly.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
State to hold programmes on women's safety at workplaces
Bhubaneswar: The state govt is planning to conduct orientation programmes on women's safety at the workplace in various offices to raise awareness about the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Deputy chief minister Pravati Parida urged all women employees to raise their voices against any kind of harassment at the workplace while addressing an orientation programme for employees of the state secretariat here on Wednesday. "The state govt is firmly committed to creating safe and dignified workplaces for all," said Parida, addressing over 600 govt employees. She stressed the need to foster a culture of respect, equality, and zero tolerance towards sexual harassment in workplaces. "Such orientation programmes should be conducted in all govt offices. Both men and women can be victims. Everyone must be aware of the POSH Act and speak up against any form of harassment. Mutual respect and understanding are essential to ensure not only safe workplaces but also a progressive society," Parida added. She further informed that the govt has issued strict instructions for the formation of internal compalints committees in all institutions and colleges to ensure the effective implementation of the POSH Act. "While genuine complaints will be addressed with due seriousness and appropriate punishment will be meted out after proper investigation, those filing false allegations will also be dealt with as per the law," she added. Legal expert Manasi Padhi conducted two in-depth sessions during the programme, explaining the provisions, responsibilities, and redressal mechanisms under the POSH Act. She sensitised employees and informed them how to prevent and respond to workplace harassment. Apart from women employees of the state secretariat, director of women and child development department Monisha Banerjee and other senior officials were present.
India Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
15-year-old Puri girl doused with petrol, set on fire. Naveen Patnaik blasts BJP
A 15-year-old girl was doused with petrol and set on fire in Odisha's Puri on Saturday, coming on the heels of the death of a college student who self-immolated herself after complaining of sexual harassment by a minor, who has suffered 70% burn injuries, has been to AIIMS Bhubaneswar and is critical. The incident happened in Bayabar village when the girl was going to her friend's house. She was waylaid by three miscreants, taken to the banks of the River Bhargavi and set on incident happened just 1.5 km away from the Balanga police station. The trio fled after the incident. The police have launched a manhunt for the miscreants.A senior police officer said that the girl suffered burn injuries to her back, abdomen and other victim's cousin brother said she was kidnapped, tied up near the river and set on fire. He said the incident happened barely 500 metres from their house. "My sister was going to her friend's place carrying some books. On the way, three people kidnapped her. They tied her up near the river and set her on fire using petrol. We don't know why she was attacked. We have filed a complaint with the police," he media reports said the girl's family has ruled out personal enmity or a love affair angle as possible CHIEF MINISTER REACTSDeputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said the police have been instructed to immediately arrest the culprits."I am deeply pained and shocked to hear the news that some miscreants in the Balangir region poured petrol on a fifteen-year-old girl on the road and set her on fire... All necessary arrangements are being made for her treatment. The government will bear all medical expenses," Parida said."The police administration has been directed to arrest the culprits immediately and take strict action," Parida, who also holds the Women and Child Development portfolio, PATNAIK SLAMS BJPTearing into the ruling BJP government, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said such incidents against women had become almost daily across the state."These are not stray cases of violence. These incidents occurring with shocking regularity point to a deep systemic failure of governance. It shows that criminals have become emboldened under the present government and are not worried about being punished," Patnaik squarely blamed government inaction for Odisha becoming highly unsafe for women."Will the government wake up from this deep slumber and take speedy action so that the criminals are arrested? And more importantly, will the government respond so that such incidents are not repeated?" he MODI HAS BLOOD IN HIS HANDS'Calling it an incident of "criminal negligence", the Trinamool Congress lashed out at the ruling BJP government, remidning it of its 'Beti Bachao' slogan."BJP, where is your Beti Bachao slogan now? Where is NCW hiding? Or are they too busy witch-hunting opposition voices instead of protecting India's daughters? This isn't governance. It's criminal negligence. PM Modi, blood is on your hands!" the TMC, which has an axe to grind with the Odisha government over the alleged detention of Bengali migrants, incident comes at a time when tempers are yet to soothe in Odisha over the death of a student of Fakir Mohan 20-year-old student set herself on fire on July 12 after her repeated sexual harassment complaints against a professor allegedly went unaddressed by the college second-year student suffered 95% burns and passed away at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Monday.- Ends
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Puri stampede: Congress demands resignation of Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi
'The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Monday (June 30, 2025) demanded the resignations of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy CM Pravati Parida and Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, holding them accountable for the stampede in Puri that claimed three lives and left more than 50 injured,' a statement by the party said. 'The party also demanded ₹50 lakh ex-gratia for each of the deceased devotees and ₹25 lakh for those seriously injured. While Majhi had announced ₹25 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased,' the Congress said the amount was insufficient. Three persons, including two women, were killed and more than 50 others injured in a stampede near Shree Gundicha Temple in Odisha's Puri on Sunday (June 29, 2025) during a ceremony related to the ongoing Rath Yatra festivities. The incident took place at around 4.20 a.m. when thousands of devotees had gathered near the chariots parked in front of the temple. Calling the tragedy a result of gross mismanagement, the party has demanded a judicial inquiry led by a sitting district judge, rejecting the State Government's administrative probe headed by the development commissioner. A fact-finding OPCC team led by former party president Prasad Harichandan visited the holy town on Sunday (June 29, 2025) to conduct an inquiry into the stampede incident. The team visited the spot and met the injured persons being treated at the district headquarters hospital. "The team was shocked and saddened to learn that two critically injured patients — whose legs were reportedly completely crushed — had been discharged without proper treatment," the party said in a statement on Monday (June 30, 2025.) 'The team alleged that the government was making all efforts to downplay the incident while turning a blind eye to the treatment of the injured devotees,' it said. The party insisted that the judicial inquiry's recommendations be implemented within 10 days of the 'Niladri Bije' ritual, the return of the deities to the main temple, marking the conclusion of the Rath Yatra. Meanwhile, Congress MP from Odisha, Saptagiri Ulaka, and leader Arabinda Das addressed a press conference in New Delhi on the same incident.
