Reject Orissa Draft Climate Change Action Plan

Various Civil Society Groups The draft CCAP of Orissa prepared at the aegis of the World Bank and DFID does not consider the concern and interest of common odia, neither reflect state’s seriousness towards self-discipline, sobriety and adaptation, rather vociferously reiterates and exposes its nexus with neo-liberal lobby which propounds reckless industrialization and unwarranted investment. Notwithstanding the fact that its citizens are either the victims of Climate... Read More

Hindu radicals dominate Orissa’s schools

By Ajay Kumar Singh, Bhubaneswar Radical Hindu groups in the Indian state of Orissa may have stolen a march on Christians by developing a large network of schools in rural areas of the state neglected by the Church, an education expert fears. Since 1978, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS, national volunteer corps) has built a network of 793 schools in the eastern state with a faculty of 12,000 teachers, local reports say. “The RSS has spearheaded the movement, successfully... Read More

2008 Kandhamal riots: BJP MLA sentenced to 7 years in jail

PTI Bhubaneswar: A sitting BJP MLA Manoj Pradhan was on Tuesday sentenced to seven years in jail by a fast track court in a case of murder during the 2008 communal riots in Kandhamal in Orissa. Fast track court-I judge S K Das awarded the seven year rigorous imprisonment to Pradhan after convicting him for his role in the murder of Parikhita Digal, a Christian from Budedi village under Raikia police station limit on August 27, 2008. Pradhan, who represents the communally... Read More

Draft Climate Change Action Plan – Our urge to the CM of Orissa.

Water Initiatives Orissa Dear All, Greetings from Water Initiatives Orissa ! As you are aware the Govt. of Orissa has drafted a Climate Change Action Plan and has sought public comments and suggestions on it just in 20 days of time. We at Water Initiatives Orissa (WIO), who have been at the forefront of water and climate change action and advocacy, have urged upon the Chief Minister of the state to give more time to the people to decide on the future of the state. We have... Read More

“Do not renew MoU with POSCO”, urges New Petition.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For More Information Contact: Sirisha Naidu <sirishacnaidu@gmail.com> or Ravi <ra.ravishankar@gmail.com> June 27, 2010: The Mining Zone People Solidarity Group (MZPSG) strongly condemns the stated intent of the Orissa government to renew its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian subsidiary of the Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO) of South Korea. The MoU, originally signed on June 22, 2005, proposed an investment of US $12... Read More

Three Workers Killed In Coca-Cola Factory Explosion in India

Police Arrest Three Coca-Cola India Officials India Resource Centre San Francisco: Three workers were killed and at least five others seriously injured at a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Khurda in the state of Orissa in India on Friday. The workers were engaged in the maintenance of a boiler in the factory which exploded. Company officials in charge of the boiler operations were out to lunch when the explosion occurred, according to reports from local media and groups in the... Read More

“Do Not Renew the POSCO MoU” Petition

The POSCO- Orissa govt MoU is set to expire today, exactly five years after it was first signed.  This MoU, which basically restricts the government’s role to that of a mere “facilitator” for the project and an agency for land acquisition, is highly unethical and should not have been signed in the first place.  Five years later, having witnessing the state’s brutal repression of the local opposition to this project, and how the state has repeatedly... Read More

Press Conference in front of POSCO

A Joint Press Conference on the recent violent crackdown on Anti-POSCO demonstrators Prepared by Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS), Gong-Gam (Public Interest Lawyers’ Group) , and Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Date and Time: May 25th 2010, 11:00 am Venue: POSCO headquarter in Seoul, Korea On May 15th, a violent crackdown on anti-POSCO demonstrators took place in Orissa state of India, by police force. Due to the bloodshed, 2 got seriously... Read More

Push POSCO project: Centre tells Orissa

Last Updated : New Indian Express NEW DELHI: Ahead of External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna’s visit to Seoul, the government Wednesday said it has given all requisite clearances to the $12 billion POSCO steel project and left it to the Orissa government to take it forward.”The central government has given all clearances. It’s now for the state government to move the project forward,” Gautam Bambawale, joint secretary in charge of East Asia in... Read More

Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti to observe black day on June 22

Special Correspondent, The Hindu Public meet of the people opposing the steel project will be held at Dhinkia tomorrow Samiti to observe June 22 as ‘Black day’ Navnirman Samiti flays PPSS leaders BHUBANESWAR: A day after its leaders held a meeting with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti on Monday said it was planning to take various steps to intensify its agitation against establishment of the proposed steel project of Posco India Private... Read More