Odisha: NRTS & Primary Scholarship Exam Postponed Due To Cyclone ‘Dana’

by Hemanta Pande

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

In view of the impending cyclonic storm 'Dana', the NRTS & Primary Scholarship Examination 2024 in Odisha, scheduled to be held on October 23 and 25, has been postponed until further orders, officials said on Monday.

Cuttack, Oct 21: In view of the impending cyclonic storm 'Dana', the NRTS & Primary Scholarship Examination 2024 in Odisha, scheduled to be held on October 23 and 25, has been postponed until further orders, officials said on Monday.

The Board of Secondary Education, Odisha, Cuttack issued a notification in this regard.

“In view of the Mid Weather Bulletin dated 20/10/24 issued by the IMD, Govt of India and subsequent press release by the SRC, Govt of Odisha regarding Cyclonic disturbance likely to develop over Bay of Bengal during 21st to 26th October, 2024, the NRTS & Primary Scholarship examination, 2024 scheduled to be held on 23rd & 25th October, 2024 respectively are hereby postponed until further orders. The fresh date for conduct of the said examinations will be notified late,” the notification reads.

“However the date of the evaluation of Answer Book of D.EI.ED Examination, 2024 is rescheduled to commence from 5 November, 2024,” it added.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) today predicted the ensuing Cyclone Dana may make a landfall between Odisha's Puri and West Bengal's Sagar Island during night of October 24 and early morning of October 25.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at many places with thunderstorms and lightning in costal district districts during the period, the IMD predicted.

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Diwali Gift! CM Mohan Majhi Announces 3% DA Hike For State Govt Employees, Pensioners

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, Oct 21: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday announced a 3 per cent hike in dearness allowance and dearness relief for State government employees and pensioners, ahead of Diwali.

ରାଜ୍ୟ ସରକାରୀ କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କ ମହଙ୍ଗା ଭତ୍ତାରେ ତିନି ପ୍ରତିଶତ ବୃଦ୍ଧି ବିଷୟ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ ମୋହନ ଚରଣ ମାଝୀ ଘୋଷଣା କରିଛନ୍ତି। ଏହା ଫଳରେ ସରକାରୀ କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କ ମହଙ୍ଗା ଭତ୍ତା ୫୦ ପ୍ରତିଶତରୁ ୫୩ ପ୍ରତିଶତକୁ ବୃଦ୍ଧି ପାଇଲା। ଏହା ଜୁଲାଇ ପହିଲା ୨୦୨୪ରୁ ପିଚ୍ଛିଲା ଭାବରେ ଲାଗୁ ହେବ। ଏହି ବର୍ଦ୍ଧିତ ମହଙ୍ଗା ଭତ୍ତା ଚଳିତ ଅକ୍ଟୋବର… — I & PR Department, Odisha (@IPR_Odisha) October 21, 2024

With this hike, the DA rose from 50 per cent to 53 per cent, effective July 1, 2024.

Additionally, the State government has increased 3 per cent dearness relief for pensioners, who will receive this adjustment in their October pension.

This decision will benefit approximately 7.5 lakh state government employees and pensioners from across the State.

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Cyclone Dana: Odisha CM Sets 'Zero Casualty' Target

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, Oct 21: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday set a “zero casualty” target, asking the concerned officials all necessary precautions to be taken to prevent casualties of people due to the Cyclone Dana.

ଲୋକସେବା ଭବନ ଠାରେ ସମ୍ଭାବ୍ୟ ବାତ୍ୟା ମୁକାବିଲା ସମ୍ପର୍କିତ ସମୀକ୍ଷା କଲି। ସମ୍ଭାବ୍ୟ ବାତ୍ୟା 'ଦାନା' ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଉପକୂଳ ଦେଇ ଅତିକ୍ରମ କରିବାର ସମ୍ଭାବନା ରହିଛି। ଏହା ଉପରେ ବୈଠକରେ ବିସ୍ତୃତ ଆଲୋଚନା କରାଯାଇଛି।

ରାଜ୍ଯରେ ଧନ ଜୀବନକୁ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ରଖିବା ସହିତ ବାତ୍ୟାର ସଫଳ ମୁକାବିଲା କରିବା ନିମନ୍ତେ ସରକାର ସଂପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ… pic.twitter.com/k9RgoRxbv7 — Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) October 21, 2024

The Chief Minister today reviewed the State’s preparations for the impeding Cyclone Dana, which is likely to make landfall between Puri and West Bengal's Sagar Island during night of October 24 and early morning of October 25.

Reviewing the preparedness for the cyclone with Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Secretaries of various departments and District Collectors, the Chief Minister said all measures should be taken to prevent the loss of human lives and damage the wealth of the State.

CM Majhi said that the State government is fully prepared to face the possible cyclonic storm and appealed to the people not to panic.

“A 24-hour control room has been set up in the office of the Special Relief Commission (SRC). The exact position of the storm is being closely monitored. The District Magistrates have been instructed to be alert and take necessary steps,” CM Majhi said.

The Chief Minister also asked the concerned officials to focus on the evacuation of people to safe places, communication, electricity, arrangement of food and drinking water, health services, supply of relief goods, control of hoardings of necessary goods and black market etc.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) today said that the Cyclone Dana is likely to make landfall between Odisha’s Puri Sagar islands of West Bengal during the night of October 24 and early morning of October 25.

The IMD issued red warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall over several coastal districts in the State on October 24 and 25.

It also warned about flash floods, water logging in low-lying areas, inundation of agriculture fields, Mudslides/landslides in vulnerable hilly areas, possible damage to roads, and wall collapse of vulnerable houses during the period.

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Odisha: Khandapada Police SI Caught Taking Bribe

by Hemanta Pande

Nayagarh, Oct 21: Cracking down on corruption, the Vigilance officials on Monday caught a police sub-inspector in Odisha's Nayagarh district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000 as a part of monthly installment from a complainant.

The accused cop has been identified as Sheikh Habibul Rehman, Sub- Inspector of Khandapada police station in Nayagarh district.

According to sources, Rahman has been apprehended by the Vigilance officials for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 3000 as monthly installment from liquor trader Sudarshan Sahu for allowing him to do his business, warning to book him in criminal case otherwise.

The entire bribe amount has been recovered from the accused SI Rahman in the presence of a witness.

Earlier the accused cop had taken a bribe of Rs 15,000 from the complainant, and he was constantly harassing him for more bribes, sources said.

In this connection, a case has been registered at the Bhubaneswar Vigilance police station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.