Latest news with #RadhakantaTripathy
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Master Canteen Square may get a new name reflecting state's legacy
Bhubaneswar: Master Canteen Square, located at the heart of the city, may get a new name. The state govt has asked the departments of general administration and public grievance (GA & PG) and the revenue and disaster management to take appropriate steps on a fresh appeal to consider renaming the square to something that will reflect the state's rich cultural and historical legacy. Supreme Court advocate and activist Radhakanta Tripathy, in a fresh appeal to the state govt earlier this month, said the area, considered as the central business district of the state capital, be renamed after culturally resonant symbols such as Kalinga, Utkal, Paika or freedom fighters like Jayi Rajaguru and Saheed Laxman Nayak. "Adding suffixes like Chowk, Circle or Square to these names could instil pride among Odias," he added. Tripathy said the current name fails to do justice to Odisha 's civilizational heritage. The activist has been raising the issue since March 2021 through multiple letters and reminders. Deputy secretary to the govt, Sanghamitra Behera, has forwarded Tripathy's petition to the departments concerned for necessary action, with copies sent to the chief minister and chief secretary's attention. Prominent businessman Sunjoy Hans, whose forefathers established the original Master Canteen eatery in the late 1940s during the construction of the new capital city, said the name has historical significance. "We are leaving the decision of renaming Master Canteen Square to the govt. But the name is etched in the minds of the people of the city; it would be difficult to erase," Hans said.
New Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
NHRC directs Odisha government to submit ATR on old age pension fraud in two districts
KENDRAPADA: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Odisha government to submit an action taken report (ATR) regarding alleged misappropriation of old age pension funds in Kendrapara and Jajpur districts. Acting on a petition filed by human rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, the commission issued a second notice on May 16 seeking the ATR within two weeks. Tripathy had alleged that welfare fund allocated for old age pension scheme was being grossly misused by people with connection and influence in Aul block of Kendrapara and Binjharpur block of Jajpur districts. He said that without proper verification, individuals below 60 years of age were receiving old age pensions, thus depriving the eligible beneficiaries of the welfare fund. The commission had previously directed the principal secretary on March 3 to investigate the allegations and submit a report within four weeks. Despite the directions of the commission, the authority had not submitted any report. The NHRC has now cautioned that it would invoke its coercive powers under section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 if the report is not submitted within the stipulated time. Old age pension scheme provides financial assistance of Rs 1,000 monthly to elderly individuals aged 60-79 years and Rs 1,200 to those aged 80 years and above. Last year, police had booked around 65 individuals from Argala gram panchayat under Aul block in connection with an alleged scam related to disbursement of old-age pension to them on the basis of fake documents under sections 319 (2), 318 (4), 336 (2), 338, and 340(2) of the BNS following a complaint by Minati Jagdev, block development officer of Aul.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
NHRC asks for action taken report on old age pension ‘fraud' in 2 districts
Kendrapada: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a second notice to Odisha's principal secretary demanding an action taken report (ATR) on the alleged misappropriation of old age pension funds in Kendrapada and Jajpur districts. NHRC's action follows a petition filed by human rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, who alleged that young individuals fraudulently claimed old age pensions by manipulating age documents in Aul block of Kendrapada district and Binjharpur block of Jajpur. Under the state's pension scheme, seniors aged 60-79 years receive Rs 1,000 monthly, while those above 80 years get Rs 1,200. However, the petition alleges that many beneficiaries below 60 years have been receiving payments due to their political connections, depriving genuine recipients. NHRC had initially sought an ATR within four weeks on March 3. Following non-compliance, the commission has now given a two-week deadline, warning of invoking coercive powers under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, if the report is not submitted. The development comes in the wake of a similar case last year when police charged around 65 people in Argala gram panchayat under Aul block for pension fraud. The case was registered following a complaint by block development officer Minati Jagdev, with charges including cheating by personation and document forgery under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. NHRC, which holds civil court powers during inquiries, can examine witnesses, require information, enter premises and seize documents in pursuit of justice for the affected elderly people. Kendrapada: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a second notice to Odisha's principal secretary demanding an action taken report (ATR) on the alleged misappropriation of old age pension funds in Kendrapada and Jajpur districts. NHRC's action follows a petition filed by human rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, who alleged that young individuals fraudulently claimed old age pensions by manipulating age documents in Aul block of Kendrapada district and Binjharpur block of Jajpur. Under the state's pension scheme, seniors aged 60-79 years receive Rs 1,000 monthly, while those above 80 years get Rs 1,200. However, the petition alleges that many beneficiaries below 60 years have been receiving payments due to their political connections, depriving genuine recipients. NHRC had initially sought an ATR within four weeks on March 3. Following non-compliance, the commission has now given a two-week deadline, warning of invoking coercive powers under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, if the report is not submitted. The development comes in the wake of a similar case last year when police charged around 65 people in Argala gram panchayat under Aul block for pension fraud. The case was registered following a complaint by block development officer Minati Jagdev, with charges including cheating by personation and document forgery under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. NHRC, which holds civil court powers during inquiries, can examine witnesses, require information, enter premises and seize documents in pursuit of justice for the affected elderly people.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
NHRC seeks report on ‘plight' of settlers in Bagapatia
1 2 3 Kendrapada: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Kendrapada district collector to submit an action taken report (ATR) regarding the alleged deterioration in living conditions at Bagapatia rehabilitation directive comes in response to a petition filed by human rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, highlighting the plight of families displaced from the erosion-hit Satabhaya gram established in 2008, houses 571 families who were forced to relocate from seven villages after the sea swallowed their homes. Over the past four decades, more than 600 houses and vast agricultural lands have been lost to coastal erosion along the 12-km to the petition, residents face severe challenges including inadequate housing infrastructure, lack of safe drinking water, poor sanitation facilities, limited access to healthcare, insufficient educational resources and defective drainage system causing frequent flooding."The rehabilitation colony turns into a virtual pool during rain, with even moderate rainfall flooding houses in low-lying areas," Tripathy stated in his petition. He urged the NHRC to conduct an independent investigation and recommend comprehensive measures to the chief recommended measures include construction of cyclone-resistant housing, improved medical facilities, all-weather road connectivity, implementation of social welfare schemes and better educational acting under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, has given the district collector four weeks to submit the report.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
NHRC directs Koraput collector to expedite road projects in 191 villages
Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked Koraput collector to take necessary action and execute road projects connecting 191 villages in the district. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The commission gave the order on Friday after hearing a petition filed by human rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy. In his petition, he alleged that ambulances could not enter several villages in the tribal-dominated district due to lack of all-weather roads. Tripathy mentioned a case involving pregnant Pushpanjali Khora, 35, of Haldisil village under Dusarsuni panchayat in Koraput district. She was shifted to Dasmantpur community health centre on a stretcher because an ambulance could not reach her due to the poor condition of the road in August last year. The petitioner alleged that 35 such cases were reported since 2016. He requested the intervention of the commission so that all-weather road connectivity could be provided to the tribal villages in the district. Accordingly, the commission directed the state govt to submit a report on the issue and on Feb 6, the Koraput collector submitted a report, stating that an earthen road from Ankarguda to Haldisil was constructed. The panchayati raj department secretary also submitted a report regarding the matter. Furthermore, the collector submitted a block-wise report on the status of all-weather road connectivity to the unconnected villages. The report suggested that there are still 191 unconnected villages with populations of more than 100 in the district and the district administration is taking concrete steps to complete those road connectivity projects under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Upon perusal of reports, it is clear that the Odisha govt has been taking steps towards creating rural infrastructure, but the report of the collector is worrisome. There are still 191 unconnected village habitations with populations of more than 100 in the district and the district administration is yet to connect them. Let direction be issued to the Koraput collector to expedite and take all concrete steps to complete those road connectivity projects and submit an additional report within 12 weeks," read the NHRC order.
