Lakhs of devotees witness Puri Rath Yatra

Over 10 lakh devotees witnessed the world famous annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath held here on Sunday with religious fervour and enthusiasm amid tight security as the practice of people climbing the chariots was stopped in a major reform initiative.

Devotees from across the country and abroad descended on the pilgrim town of Puri in Odisha for a glimpse of the presiding deities of the 12th century shrine of Sri Jagannath and mingled with the sea of humanity during the annual festival of chariots. “The festival was held peacefully in a smooth manner. There was no untoward incident as elaborate security measures were taken,” a senior police officer said.

Devotees poured in to the seaside town since early morning to watch the ceremony and pull the three majestic and colourful chariots on the ‘bada danda,’ the grand avenue.

A host of VIPs including Odisha Governor S.C. Jamir and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik witnessed the proceedings.

Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati did not visit the chariots before they were pulled accusing the Odisha government of interfering in religious matters by asking him to ascend the raths (chariots) alone without his disciples.

“The state government has dared to dictate terms to the Shankaracharya of Puri. I will not visit the chariots before they are pulled for Rath Yatra,” Saraswati had told reporters at the Govardhan Peeth in Puri on Saturday. The Hindu

At 43.7°C, Bhubaneswar hottest place in Odisha

Bhubaneswar was the hottest place in the state on Thursday with mercury touching 43.7 degree Celsius. This was the highest May temperature in the last five years.

The city's highest temperature touched 44 degree Celsius last on April 3, 2008. This year, on last Monday, mercury in the city touched 43.2 degree Celsius.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted on Thursday that severe heat wave condition would prevail at some parts of the state for the next few days.

"Fast urbanization is one of the major reasons for the sharp rise in day temperature in the city," weathermen said.

After Bhubaneswar, Chandbali was the second hottest place in the state at 43.5 degrees, followed by Titlagarh sizzling at 43 degree Celsius. Eleven other places saw mercury touching 41 degree Celsius.

Sunstroke toll confirmed by the government on Thursday remained 17, while unconfiremedurces suggested at least 39 cases. Source: ToI

Over one lakh Odia workers migrated to other States in 2014

Researchers termed the figure as grossly under reported

Over one lakh workers from the State have been sent through middlemen to work in other States in 2014, Odisha Legislative Assembly was informed here on Friday.

In response to a query of Congress legislator Naba Kishore Das, Labour and State Employees Insurance Corporation Minister Prafulla Mallick updated that as on March this year, 1,19,001 migrant workers were sent to other State through 3,044 labour agents under Interstate Migrant Workmen Act 1979.

Researchers, however, termed the figure as grossly under reported. They said over 3 lakh labourers including minor children from western Odisha districts had gone to work in brick kilns in States like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

“During past two years, 726 migrant workers were rescued from workplace outside the State. Under Interstate Migrant Workmen Act 1979, as many as 159 criminal cases were filed during past five years,” Mr. Mallick said.

The statistics presented in the Assembly points out highest 32,487 migrant workers from Bolangir had been engaged in other States by labour agents while 20,233 workers had gone from Khurda district.

The government information makes it clear that district administrations in western Odisha districts had no clue as to how many poverty stricken people migrated to other States in search of jobs. From last part of 2013 till March 2014, district police and labour department officials had tracked hundreds of migrant workers who were being sent to other States in Nuapada alone.

“We think more than 3 lakh workers from western Odisha districts migrate to other States, mostly through unregistered labour agents. These workers are forced to work in inhospitable condition and any form of protest by workers often leads to torture by employers,” said Umi Daniel, head of Migration Information and Resource Centre (MiRC), Aide et Action South Asia.

Mr. Daniel said, “Odisha surely sends more than 20 lakh migrant workers every year. While a large number of workers from Ganjam migrate to States like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa, destinations of workers from western Odisha are mostly brick kilns of southern States.”

He said the official figure on rescue of distressed workers also did not give a clear picture of hopeless situation the migrant workers were in. “Compared to 726 migrant workers claimed to be rescued by Odisha government, Tamil Nadu, erstwhile Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka had officially released more than 1400 workers after identifying them as bonded labourers.”

State Labour Minister said government was taking steps to provide a toll free numbers to register grievances of migrant workers who work in distress condition.

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In the past two years 726 migrant workers were rescued from workplaces outside the State

Often workers are forced to work in inhospitable conditions and are subjected to torture

Source: The Hindu 

Odisha govt. bars devotees from climbing chariots during Rath Yatra

Earlier, the Daitapati priests were opposed to the idea of putting any restriction on devotees climbing the chariots of Lord Jagannath. 

In a significant decision, the Odisha government on Wednesday said devotees would not be allowed to climb the chariots of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra on Rath Yatra day. “The devotees will not be allowed to climb the chariots. The Daitapati priests of the 12th century shrine have agreed to the proposal of the State government,” Law Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo told reporters after a three–hour discussion with the priests here at the Secretariat.

“The Daitapatis have agreed to the proposal to bar devotees from mounting the chariots, not just on Rath Yatra day, but also on Bahuda Yatra [festival during the chariots’ return journey] and Suna Besha [golden attire],” the Minister said.

On the controversial issue of devotees touching the deities on chariots, the Minister said: “It is a highly sensitive issue and needs wider consultation with all stakeholders.”

“We have accepted the State government’s proposal of not allowing the devotees to climb chariots on three days — Rath Yatra day, Bahuda and Suna Vesha from the security point of view. But the practice of devotees mounting chariots after they reach the destination will continue,” said Ramakrushna Mohapatra, the leader of the Daitapati Nijog.

He said they accepted the State government proposal in view of the suspected terrorist threat to the Lord’s festival.

The Shankaracharya of Puri, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, had earlier recommended to the Sri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, headed by Puri King Gajapati Divyasingha Deb, to ban devotees from climbing the chariots and touching the deities.

“Climbing chariots and touching the deities was against the Hindu religion. It is a sin,” the Shankaracharya had said. The Hindu