Farmers To Receive Rs 3,100 Paddy MSP Per Quintal, Says Odisha Minister

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Thursday announced that paddy will be procured from the farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 3,100 per quintal in the current Kharif season.

Bhubaneswar, June 20: Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Thursday announced that paddy will be procured from the farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 3,100 per quintal in the current Kharif season.

The hike in paddy MSP is one of the major promises made by the ruling party during the recently held elections.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Thursday, the Food Supplies minister said: "We will ensure the procurement is conducted as per the procedure and will not allow the 'katni chatni' (forcible deduction of paddy by millers during procurement). As we had declared in our manifesto, farmers will receive Rs 3,100 as paddy MSP and the amount will be deposited in their accounts within 48 hours. We have already issued directions in this regard and work has already been started accordingly."

Patra also announced that the farmers would receive the enhanced MSP amount for paddy during procurement from this Kharif season.

The Minister also made another major announcement that, with technological support from the United Nations World Food Programme, 'Rice ATM' will be inaugurated in Bhubaneswar soon.

The ration card beneficiaries can get rice from the ATM using a card provided to them.

Patra also stated that the authorities of the World Food Programme have been requested to open such rice ATMs in different districts of the state as well.

--IANS

Top American Leadership Extends Greetings For Diwali

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Washington DC, Nov 1: As Diwali celebrations continue across the world, leaders from the top brass of the American polity expressed their heartfelt greetings towards the South Asian community which celebrates this festival with fervor.

Through personal messages and official posts on X (formerly Twitter), the leaders conveyed their wishes, underscoring the international significance of this revered Indian festival.

American Vice President Kamala Harris on X shared how the Vice President's Residence lit up to celebrate Diwali. She shared on X, "In celebration of Diwali, we illuminated the Vice President's Residence and remember to see the light in our world, in each other, and in ourselves".

Harris had also participated in Diwali celebrations with the members of the Indian-American community.

Kamala Harris is the daughter of Shyamala Gopalan who was an Indian immigrant scientist in the US and worked extensively in the field of cancer studies.

Tim Walz, who is running as the Vice-President candidate for the upcoming US Elections, also took part in the Diwali celebrations in the country.

In his post on X, he said, "Honored to light a diya today to celebrate Diwali and recognize the many contributions South Asians have made to our nation".

He added, "Diwali is a reminder that light always triumphs over darkness. I'm inspired by the love, community, and joy I felt today".

"Happy Diwali to everyone! You can feel the sense of community here. You can feel the sense of love". He said to the Indian American community.

On these days of light over darkness, I hope you all find peace, find the calm", Walz said in the video message shared on the social media platform, X, where he interacted with the Indian American community for the Diwali celebrations.

On X, Foreign Secretary Anthony Blinken said, "Diwali is more than just a festival; it's a powerful reminder of the values we all cherish: patience, togetherness, kindness, and unity".
He noted in the post, "To all who celebrate, all over the world, and with us here in the U.S., I wish you a Diwali filled with joy, peace, and prosperity".

Anthony Blinken is the top diplomat of the US who is currently serving as the 71st United States Secretary of State.
Wishes have been pouring in from people across the world for the celebration of the festival of Diwali. (ANI)

Six Trains Remain Cancelled On Guwahati Line, After Derailment Of Goods Train's Wagon

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Guwahati, Nov 1: Train services continue to remain disrupted in Assam’s Lumding-Badarpur Hill Section after the derailment of a loaded goods wagon though efforts are on in full swing to restore the rail traffic.

According to Railway officials, at least six trains continue to remain cancelled on Guwahati while some others being rescheduled.

A wagon of goods train carrying food grains derailed inside a tunnel near MUPA in Lumding-Badarpur Hill Section of Assam’s Maligaon on Thursday evening.

Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said that repair and restoration work is going on in the derailment site.

“Senior Railway officials are at the site for monitoring the restoration work and normal train movement is expected to be restored later Friday,” he added.

The CPRO, sharing information on cancellation of trains said that due to the derailment, six trains were cancelled on Thursday and Friday, partially cancelled three trains and rescheduled two trains.

The trains which remain cancelled till Friday include Guwahati-Agartala, New Jalpaiguri-Guwahati, Guwahati–Dullabcherra, Guwahati-Silchar and Silchar-Guwahati.

The mishap happened when the rice laden goods train was heading towards Silchar in Southern Assam.

Earlier this month, the normal train services were affected on October 17 and 18 also, when six coaches, engine and the power car of Mumbai-bound Agartala-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express derailed on the same Lumding-Badarpur Hill section.

Notably, many express and local trains connecting Manipur, Southern Assam, Tripura and Mizoram pass through the single track of the Lumding-Badarpur Hill section located in the mountainous Dima Hasao district.

People of southern Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur bear the brunt of floods during monsoon every year while the railway tracks, stations and other infrastructure get damaged due to flooding and landslides during the four-month-long monsoon from June to September.

--IANS

Farmers To Receive Rs 3,100 Paddy MSP Per Quintal, Says Odisha Minister

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