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‘Dhanu Jatra’ the 11-day long festival begins at Bargarh in western Odisha

The famous 11-day long ‘Dhanu Jatra’, considered as the largest open-air theatre festival of the world, that finds a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records, begins at Bargarh in western Odisha. The annual festival came into being in 1947-48 to celebrate Indian’s Independence and to symbolize the victory of good over evil.

The Jatra is based on the mythological story of Lord Krishna and his demon uncle King Kansa. It is about the episode of Krishna and Balaram’s visit to Mathura to witness the Dhanu ceremony organized by their (maternal) uncle King Kansa.

Over 70 artists performed and another 45 artists played different roles at Gopapura during the festival. Around 3,000 artists of 120 cultural troupes from across the state and from neighboring states will perform at the Raj Durbar, Nanda Durbar, and Rangamahal during the festival.

The department of Culture of the Government of India has accorded National Festival status to Dhanu Jatra in November 2014.

E-certificate project launched by Odisha government

The Odisha government has launched a unique “people-friendly” project to provide official documents such as income, residence and similar other certificates online without any fees and without visiting government offices. The e-certificate project launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the Revenue and Disaster Management department as part of the 5T model of governance aims at benefiting over 5 million applicants annually, revolutionising peoples life.

Patnaik also launched “Pauti”, an App to facilitate online payment of land revenue and people need not visit government offices for the purpose. They can download the application and make payment.

‘Go Green’ campaign launched in Bhubaneswar

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation launched a campaign for the protection of the environment and encourage exchange eco-friendly gifts this new year. The ‘Go Green’ campaign was carried out in five different places in the city where municipal officials distributed saplings, books and cotton bags.

The campaign was launched at Chandrasekharpur, Ganganagar, Saheed Nagar, State Museum and ‘I Love Bhubaneswar’ plaza on Janpath road. Similarly, officials in collaboration with Axis Bank launched ‘Mu Safaiwala’ public van.

Bhubaneswar: 1st edition of Khelo India University Games

The 1st edition of Khelo India University Games is scheduled to be held at the KIIT University in Bhubaneswar, Odisha from February 22 to March 1, 2020. Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled the logo and jersey of Khelo India University Games.

Khelo India University Games will witness over 4,000 athletes from 100 Universities across India vying for top honours in 17 different disciplines namely archery, athletics, boxing, fencing, judo, swimming, weight-lifting, wrestling, badminton, basketball, football, hockey, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, rugby and kabaddi.

Bhubaneswar declared as ODF++ city

A day before commencement of Swachh Survekshan-2020, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared the Capital an open defecation-free (ODF) ++ city. BMC Administrator and Director of Municipal Administration Sangramjit Nayak stated the ODF++ status will be open for third party verification following the declaration. Nayak also pinned hope that the Smart City will do better in the Swachh Survekshan this year.

ODF++ status is accorded to a city where not a single person is found defecating and, or urinating in the open, all community and public toilets are functional and well maintained, faecal sludge and sewage are safely managed and treated with no discharge or dumping of untreated in drains, water bodies or open areas at any point of a day.

As many as 4,830 urban local bodies will participate in the survey to be carried out by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs across the country from January 4. The total mark for the survey is 6,000 of which 25 per cent will be given to cities on the basis of the performance in Swachh Survekshan League 2020 held in three different quarters last year.

Odisha’s 44 underprivileged children to get their 1st flight experience

44 Divyang children from Odisha will experience the joy of flying aboard in a special Alliance Air flight from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar. The children includes 21 girls and 23 boys coming from poor families, who will get this opportunity. It will be a 40 minute tour and the special flight will take off at 9:30 am.

The initiative is a result of joint collaboration of Ministry of Civil Aviation, Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Alliance Air with Government of Odisha. The AAI has waived all the cost of flying and Odisha Government has extended full support to this initiative.

Waste to energy plant commissioned in Bhubaneswar by East Coast Railway

Indian Railways has commissioned country’s first governmental waste to energy plant at Bhubaneswar. The national transporter has put in place the governmental Waste to Energy plant in Mancheswar Carriage Repair Workshop which falls under East Coast Railway. The waste to energy plant has been constructed in three months.

The new plant has been installed at a cost of ₹1.79 crore while the maintenance cost will be ₹10.4 lakhs per year and the estimated income from the byproducts will be ₹17.5 lakhs per year. The waste to energy plant uses a patented technology called POLYCRACK, is first-of-its-kind in Indian Railways and fourth in India.

It is world’s first patented heterogeneous catalytic process which converts multiple feed stocks into hydrocarbon liquid fuels, gas, carbon and water. The process is a closed-loop system and does not emit any hazardous pollutants into the atmosphere.

NABARD estimates credit potential of Rs 90,000 crore for Odisha for 2020-21

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development on Monday projected an overall credit potential for Odisha under priority sector at Rs 90,395 crore for 2020-21. The credit potential of the state was estimated in the State Focus Paper for Odisha, released in the credit seminar for 2020-21.

Ot of the total credit potential for priority sector, an amount of Rs 43,282.11 crore has been assessed under agriculture, Rs 40,227.79 crore is estimated under farm credit which comprises both crop and term loans for agriculture and allied activities. Other sectors consisting of export credit, education, housing, renewable energy and social infrastructure have 18.43 per cent share in the total credit potential under priority sector.

BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise 2020 launches in Bhubaneswar

BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise 2020

BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise 2020 has been launched in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is managing the BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise 2020 on behalf of the Government of India.

“Mission Shakti” a department for SHGs to be opened in Odisha

Mission Shakti

An exclusive department for Self Help Group (SHGs) called “Mission Shakti” will be opened in Odisha. With this, Odisha will become the first state to have such kind of department. It targets for the development of women & is dedicated to all the women of Odisha.

Utkal Diwas or Odisha day is celebrated on 1 April

Utkal Diwas
  • Utkal Diwas, meaning Odisha day, is celebrated on 1 April in Odisha annually. The day marks the establishment of the state in 1936.
  • The day cherishes the contributions and sacrifices by the people of Odisha.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnayak honored by PETA for feeding animals

naveen patnayak
  • Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnayak has been honored by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals(PETA)  with the “Hero to Animals Award
  • He has been conferred with this award by PETA for feeding animals during the period of COVID-19  pandemic with a total cost of Rs. 54 Lakh.

“Mo Prativa” competition held in Odisha

mo prativa
  • Odisha Government in collaboration with UNICEF has launched “Mo Prativa” an online competition portal.
  • The aim of this portal is to keep students engaged in interactive activities during the lockdown period due to COVID-19.
  • Theme” Being at home during Lockdown and My responsibility as a young citizen during COVID-19.

“Bande Utkala Janani” receives state anthem status in Odisha

Govt. of Odisha
  • The Odisha Cabinet on 7th June recommended a proposal to give state anthem status of Odisha to ”Bande Utkala Janani”.
  • Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh said that the Cabinet led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik agreed with state anthem status to ”Bande Utkala Janani”.

Odisha to be the first state to get ISO certification for tribal hostels

ISO
  • Odisha has become the first state in the country to obtain International Organization for Standardization(ISO) certification for hostels for tribal students.
  • The ST&SC Welfare Department had earlier began the ‘Mission Suvidya’ project to give all the tribal hostels of the state uniform standards of infrastructure, amenities and human resources.

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