AIDS project for migrant workers

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) on Thursday launched a project in 10 districts of the state for migrant workers. The project was launched at Ganjam, Khurda, Cuttack, Balasore, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Bolangir, Titilagarh. Study has revealed that the number of HIV positive victims is higher in the districts which have the maximum number of migrant labourers.

Most of the persons who tested positive, had contracted the disease from their place of work. About 8 lakh people from rural areas work in industries like textiles and diamond cutting in Surat and Ahmedabad, respectively. For the migrant labourers, OSACS distributed the leaflets and for inter personal communication on HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support by installing a kiosk at the railway station.

This was done to make the people of railway stations aware the general people at railway stations on AIDS prevention and services through films shows in collaboration with railway. OSACS with the help of ministry of railway, started the migration project at Cuttack and other 9 districts.

Demonstration

CUTTACK: Mahanadi Banchao Andolan (MBA) activists on Thursday prevented work on laying of pipes to draw water from the river for the Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) refinery project at Paradip.

The activists led by former minister and BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra, former MP Anadi Sahu and MBA committee convenor Gauranga Charan Hota stopped the pipe laying work along the banks of the Mahanadi river at Nehrupalli, Gandhipalli, Kanheipur and Bhadimula under Chauliaganj police limits.

Fire mishap

KENDRAPARA: In an electrical short- circuit induced fire mishap on Thursday, a 25-year-old woman and her son of nine months were burnt to death in Srirampur gram panchayat’s Mathasahi village.

The deceased duo, according to police, are Soni Samal and her infant child Soumya.

"It was ascertained that electrical short-circuit led to the outbreak of fire. We have registered a case in connection with the mishap,” said inspector of Pattamundai police station, Rashmi Ranjan Sahu.

Black money

BHUBANESWAR: The state vigilance department has referred 32 cases of disproportionate assets to the Directorate of Enforcement.

"As per the Prevention of Money Laundering Act amended in 2009 for confiscation of ill-gotten money, enquiry will be conducted by them to ascertain how black money was converted to white money,” said vigilance director Anup Patnaik.

Vigilance officials said the decision was also challenged in high court.

"From 2008, till September 2009, the vigilance has won in 18 disproportionate assets cases in vigilance courts,” said Patnaik.

AICC members

BHUBANESWAR: The All India Cricket Council (AICC) has included 65 persons from the state as members of the AICC.

Among them are Jayanti Patnaik, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Niranjana Patnaik, Chiranjeeb iswal, Ranjib Biswal, Giridhar Gomang, Hema Gomang, Sarat Patnaik, Narasingh Mishra, Hemananda Biswal, Ranijb Biswal, Sri Ballavbha Panigrahi, K.P. Singh Deo, Srikanta Jena, Bhupinder Singh, Amar Pradhan, Kanhu Charan Lenka, Nalinikanat Mohanty, Kishore Patel and Prasad Harichandan.

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