Red Ribbon Express a big draw with youth in Berhampur

By Sib Kumar Das

320 get tested for HIV during the two-day stay of the train at Berhampur

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  During the visit of Red Line Express in 2008, there was no testing facility
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  Inside the Red Ribbon Express there were five counselling units

The two-day stay of the Red Ribbon Express in Berhampur to reach out to inhabitants of Ganjam district, the most HIV-prone area of the state, made them break the silence. Before the train left for Bhubaneswar on Saturday night, 320 persons had got themselves tested at the HIV testing facility inside the train. A large chunk of them were youths. Some of them also got themselves tested for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) infection. There were also girls among the youths who opted for HIV test. These volunteers had to undergo TriDot test. One among them was found to be HIV positive. He was referred to the MKCG medical college hospital for confirmatory test.

ERHAMPUR: As a welcome change in psyche, common men especially the youths in Orissa have started to come out for voluntary testing to ascertain their status regarding HIV infection.

Inside the Red Ribbon Express there were five counselling units. Four of them were for HIV/AIDS while the other was for STD. These counselling chambers remained packed throughout the time when the train remained open for the public, said Manoj Kumar Sahu of mircrobiology department of MKCG medical college, who served as a counsellor. Mr Sahu said the greatest welcome change in attitude was that the persons who opted for the HIV test did not feel shy that they had opted for the test. There were many from rural areas who came back after a day to collect their reports regarding HIV infection, said Mr Sahu.

Lokanath Mishra, regional coordinator of the Orissa State AIDS Control Society (OSACS), said during the last visit of the Red Line Express to the city in 2008, there was no facility for HIV testing. But this time testing facility was a huge draw. “It is a welcome change that the youths who thought they may be having risky life style preferred to voluntarily approach the counsellors and opt for HIV test,” he said. According to him this psychological acceptance of HIV test among the youth would prove to be a great catalyst in checking HIV menace in this high prevalence area.

There were also some youths from rural areas for whom the HIV test was a thing of pride and importance. A youth from Khallikote area who used to work as a migrant labourer in a textile mill in Surat got himself tested to get a report that he was free from HIV infection. “For me this report that I am free from HIV infection would be a gift to my spouse who always suspects I may have got infected by the killer disease like some of my migrant labourer friends,” he said................ Read Full Story............ Source: The Hindu  

Congress Memo to Railway Minister includes issues of Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: The state Congress has demanded enhanced allocation for the ongoing railway projects and sanction of new lines to give a boost to the process of industrialization in Orissa. In a memorandum submitted to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, president of the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committe KP Singhdeo has demanded sanction of four railway line projects for which survey was completed several years back. Referring to the Bargarh-Nuapara rail link for which survey was completed in February 2003 with a favorable rate of return of 18.32 per cent, Singhdeo said that this will pass through Nuapada and Balangir districts in Western Orissa. Requesting the minister to sanction the project in 2010-11 budget, he said that this could also be used as an alternative route for transport of coal and other minerals. Survey report for the 245-km Talcher- Gopalpur rail link was submitted to the Ministry of Railways with a favourable rate of return. With Gopalpur port being developed into an all-weather port, connectivity between Talcher and Gopalpur by rail will ensure smooth flow of raw materials and finished products, he said. The survey for the Rupsa-Bangiriposhi line sanctioned in 2005-06 had already been completed. This link will serve as an alternative route besides providing access to states in the hinterland which do not have a port. The conversion of Nuapada-Gunupur line from meter gauge to broad gauge will be completed by March 2010. However, on its own this railway line project will barely provide any freight movement, Singhdeo said, adding that the extension from Gunupur to Theruvali will not only connect the hinterland of KBK districts but provide port connectivity to Gopalpur. He said that the project should be sanctioned in the 2010-11 budget as this will enable the alumina/aluminium industries located in the KBK districts to import and export via Gopalpur port. Separately mentioning about the 289-km Khura Road-Bolangir railway line project, Singhdeo said that allocation for this line should be increased and progress closely monitored to ensure timely completion. He said that though this project was sanctioned in 1994-95, the progress has been tardy. Detailed estimate for 36 km-112 km has already been submitted to the ministry for sanction. Singhdeo demanded that the section from Khurda Road up to 36 km should be commissioned by 2010-11. He also requested the minister to sanction Puri-Kanyakumari, Titlagarh- Bhubaneswar (via Rayagada, Vizianagaram, Berhampur), Hatia-Chennai/Bangalore (via Sambalpur, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur), Puri-Jammu Tawi, Sambalpur-Howrah (via Angul) trains and intercity express between Koraput and Visakhapatnam for Orissa. Thanking the Railway Minister for proper allocation of funds in the last railway budget, Mr. Singh Deo has pointed out that Orissa has only 2500 km of railway route length at an average of 15.3 km per 1000 km as against the national average of 19 km.

Coaching termials

Congress Party has also reiterated the need for establishment of coaching terminals at Koraput and Berhampur

Sources: New Indian Express and The Hindu

Citizens angry as Berhampur is repeatedly ignored by the Railways

Following is an excerpt from a news report in http://www.tathya.in/

It seems the nerve centre of the Southern Odisha is on boil.

Angry citizens are sending e-mails to the CM Naveen Patnaik and other high functionaries of the State and Central Government over the callous attitude meted out to Berhampur.

And the BJD MP from Berhampur is facing flak due to his lip seal approach on burning issues.

Intelligentsia, young students and social activist are sending e-mails venting their anger and frustration over apathetic approach of the BJD Government as it is ignoring the genuine problems of the area.

Taking the lead R P Tripathy has blamed both State and Centre in neglecting the Berhampur time and again.

While the Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri railway stations are being developed as World class and Modern Railway Stations, Berhampur Rail Station does not figure in the list of Indian Railway Board.

Echoing his voice Prasanna Kumar Mishra, former Union Secretary lashed on the authorities leaving Berhampur like a way side Railway Station.

Berhampur station must be developed into a terminal facility with trains going to Koraput, Parlakhemundi, Chennai, Kolkata,Surat etc.

It is a pity that the station still has the look and facility of yet another roadside station, lamented he.

Abhisek Mishra, an angry young man from the southern zone has blamed it on the cine-actor turned BJD MP from Berhampur .

Mr.Mishra alleged that Siddhanta Mahapatra has turned out to be a puppet politician playing inconsequential role in state and national politics.

Siddhanta a leading actor of Ollywood joined politics in 2009 and has won as the BJD MP with huge votes from Berhampur Lok Sabha seat.

His performance inside the parliament is far from satisfactory and even tribal first time MPs of South Odisha and his colleagues from Nabarangpur, Phulbani and Koraput are doing better job than him.

This is really a pity that Berhampur parliamentary seat which has sent national stalwarts to the Lok sabha has come to be represented by undeserving leaders like the present one.

There are so many issues that confront Berhampur and South Odisha, said he.

Starting from water crisis and negligence by Indian Railways, undue delay in NH-5 golden quadrilateral project and NH-217 bypass for the city, undue delay in STPI project to establishment of IIIT and NID in Berhampur, inclusion of Berhampur under JNNURM to Unitary University status for Khallikote College, list is unending.

But, the MP stays in Bhubaneswar and hardly visits the city, let alone stay in Berhampur city and understand the problems of the people, though claims to be a Son of the Soil, lamented Mr.Mishra.

Even inside parliament he hardly asks questions or raises any issue of public interest, pointed out he.

It is still to be known whether the MP is serious about his role or just thinks his present job to be an extension of his acting profession.

But, one thing the MP must keep in mind that in Politics if some one fails to deliver there is no chance for a re-take and people just dump lock stock and barrel though they may continue to appreciate acting talents of the Ollywood star, warned Abhisek.

Siba Prasad Tripathy on a positive note has pointed out that Berhampur and Rourkela happen to be the two largest cities of Odisha, after the State capital.

And both are primary rail heads of Southern and Western Odisha respectively catering to millions of the people.

But, it is unfortunate that people have time and again brought to the notice of the Chief Minister the greatly felt need for a direct train service between these two cities.

In fact, till the year 2000, the Hirakhand Express used to connect these two cities but the train was withdrawn causing severe inconvenience to the general public and commuters.

A direct train service between Berhampur-Rourkela needs to be considered which may take the route Berhampur-Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Keonjhar-Chakradharpur-Rourkela route.

This will not only connect almost 10 districts and four major urban centres i.e., Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Rourkela but will bring South Odiissa and Western Odisha a closer to each other leading to their development. In view of its need and being a long standing demand of the masses may kindly be considired at the earliest.

Ajay Sahu has also pointed out that approximately 10 lakh Ganjam people stay at Surat since many decades.

Mr.Sahu has demanded with the Indian Railway Board authorities should add a few coaches which can be de-linked at Khurdha junction and can proceed to Berhampur-Paralakhemundi and Gunupur.

This will benefit the commuters in a big way, said he.