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The proceedings of the Odisha Assembly were disrupted for the fourth consecutive day on Friday, following frequent adjournments as the opposition BJD and Congress demanded resignation of Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling over the fire incident in a hospital that left 12 patients dead. The House witnessed noisy scenes from the very beginning when it assembled for the Question Hour at 10.30 AM. Holding placards and shouting anti-government slogans, the opposition members trooped into the well of the House and demanded resignation of the minister holding the state government responsible for the death of 12 patients at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. The fire incident took place at the trauma care ICU of the premier government hospital early on March 16. The agitating members attempted to climb the Speaker's podium and were prevented by the marshals. Opposition MLAs raised slogans like "Ram Naam Satya Hai" and "(CM) Mohan Majhi Hai Hai" when Speaker Surama Padhy allowed Scho
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan on Sunday disbursed over Rs 5,100 crore for more than one crore women beneficiaries of the state's flagship Subhadra Yojana, coinciding with International Women's Day. Majhi disbursed the fourth instalment of the Yojana at a special event held in Puri. Several state ministers joined the programme virtually from different districts. An amount of Rs 5,000 each was credited to the bank accounts of 1.02 crore women, who have already received a similar amount in three instalments. Addressing the gathering, Majhi said his government has succeeded in empowering the women of the state through the Subhadra Yojana. The scheme has socially and economically empowered the women and made them self-reliant. Becoming financially independent, the Subhadra beneficiaries have created a special identity for them in society, he added. The chief minister said the empowerment of Subhadra beneficiaries will accelerate the process to build a prosperous and Viksit Odisha.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday laid foundation stones for a Rs 100-crore textile park and a Rs 187-crore disaster recovery and data centre in his native Keonjhar district. Addressing a meeting on Dharanidhar University campus, Majhi said, "The state government is committed to making Keonjhar a diversified industrial hub. The mineral-rich district will witness a multi-sector hub of industrial growth. Our vision is to build a golden Keonjhar." Hindalco will set up a garment manufacturing unit on seven acres, producing 24 lakh garments annually, including brands such as Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly and Peter England, for domestic and global markets. "It's a matter of privilege for all of us and this project supports Odisha's broader goal of expanding value-added industries beyond mining and heavy manufacturing," he added. Hindalco's president (corporate affairs) Ardhendu Mohapatra said, "This apparel manufacturing unit reflects our commitment to creati
The Odisha government on Tuesday invoked the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1988, prohibiting strikes by doctors and other healthcare staff, as agitating doctors carried on with their boycott of outpatient department (OPD) services across state-run health facilities. Under the order, strikes in the form of cessation of work by doctors, nursing officers, pharmacists, paramedics, technicians and Class III and IV employees, including contractual staff, engaged in government hospitals and dispensaries have been banned for six months with effect from Tuesday, an official notification said. Doctors in government hospitals and health centres have been boycotting OPD services since December 26, initially for one hour a day, which was extended to two hours from 9 am to 11 am starting January 5. Emergency services, inpatient care and surgeries, however, have continued uninterrupted. The agitation, under the banner of the Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA), has been ongoing sinc
The high-pitched election campaign for Nuapada by-election in Odisha ended on Sunday evening after weeks of rallies and road shows by senior leaders. The bypoll, necessitated following the death of BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8, is the first electoral battle after the BJP formed the government in the state last year. Though the electioneering started from the 11th day memorial meeting of the late MLA, it gained momentum after Dholakia's son Jay joined the BJP on October 11 after quitting his late father's party, BJD. Dhokalia was elected to the assembly on a BJD ticket in 2009, 2019 and 2024. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, his Chhattisgarh counterpart Vishnu Deo Sai, BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, deputy chief ministers from Odisha and Chhattisgarh, Union minister Jual Oram, a dozen ministers and MPs and around 100 MLAs from the two states campaigned in the seat. The seat also saw road shows for the first time. The Congress has fielded Ghasiram Majhi, a local tribal le