MCA Students on Hunger Strike at CITE

--By Orissa Times Online Correspondent

The MCA students of the Centre for IT Education, Bhubaneswar went on a hunger strike on Monday to protest the administration apathy towards the students' demands on placement and other issues. According to the students, despite being one of the reputed MCA Colleges of the state, CITE hardly conducts any placement drive, whereas other colleges manage to invite many software giants like Wipro, Infosys, TCS, Mindtree and others for an on-campus recruitment drive.

A large number of students of the CITE were hired by various software companies last year, thanks to their skill set and determination. They achieved this distinction while attending the off-campus recruitment drive, conducted at other colleges. Based on their performance and track record on the off-campus recruitment drive, the students demand on-campus placement in the campus, which will give them more exposure and options.

Although CITE charges on an average more than Rs 40,000 per annum to each student, it's an irony that they cited lack of money as a reason for their inability to conduct an on-campus recruitment drive in the college. Despite their best efforts, the students failed to prevail upon the authorities on this issue. Finally, they had to resort to a hunger strike to press for their demands. According to latest reports, the Vice Chancellor and other officials are holding talks with the agitating students to resolve the crisis.

CAG to probe NREGS Scam

A recent survey conducted by a Delhi-based NGO, revealed that bulk of the NREGS (National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) money in Orissa had gone to the pockets of officials and politicians. The scheme is currently being implemented in 24 out of 30 districts of the state. The scheme guarantees minimum 100 days of work per annum to interested people. Ironically, only Rs. 87 crore has been spent against availability of Rs. 497 crore.

Union Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has requested the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) to probe into the scam. According to the Minister, the government cannot absolve itself of the scam, it failed both in implementation and monitoring the scheme. The allegations of irregularities in the implementation of NREGS had been reported from 69 districts across the country, however, Orissa is worst-affected.

BPUT Students apologize for Vandalism, Admitted Congress Role

After being severely criticized for the recent vandalism in Bhubaneswar, the BPUT Engineering students apologized for the inconvenience and damage caused to public. However, they maintained that the existing "year back" system is badly affecting them in the examinations. They also urged the state government to repeal the system that is ruining their career.

In a press conference, the students said that it were the Congress workers who joined the students and started the rampage on the road that damaged public and private property including over 150 vehicles. According to the students, nobody is giving a patient hearing to them and the colleges are putting tremendous pressure on their mind and body through the rescheduling of examination.

The students also said that about 2,000 students selected through campus recruitment cannot join their jobs because of the year back system. The BPUT academic council will meet on Friday to decide upon the students' demand.

BPUT Students went on Rampage in Bhubanseswar

--By BNO Correspondent

People, who advocate student power, this is the least they may have expected. About 200 Engineering students from the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) went bersek in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, attacking common people and damaging properties worth millions of rupees.

The immediate provocation for such an action was attributed to the failure of talks between BPUT Administration and the students over the latter's demand for withdrawal of the "year back system". This system already criticism and protests from all quarters, as it allows detention of a student for an academic year if he or she fails in more than four out of 12 subjects.

When the students went on rampage, police remained mute spectators. The students took control of the long road between Master Canteen Square and Ram Mandir Square. To the utter surprise of the public and media persons present on the spot, they used stones, iron rods and sticks to damage vehicles and attack the common people. According to sources, at least 100 two-wheelers and over 50 four-wheelers have been damaged in the mayhem. At least 20 civilians were injured.

Police personnel reached the spot only when the violence was over. They then picked whoever present on the spot. Ironically, the Kharavela Nagar Police Station is not too far from the road where the violence took place. The police had arrested about 80 students, including girls, but all of them were released on bond. According to the police officials, the rampaging students will not be sent to court and no further action will be initiated against them.

The student violence came just in the eve of the Orissa Bandh planned by the opposition parties on September 10. That's why people smell foul play in this unprecedented incident. According to confidential sources and eye-witnesses, some students were seen discussing with Congress workers inside the premises of Congress Bhavan hours before the students resorted to violence. It has also been reported that local goons and Congress workers joined the students to damage the public and private property and attack the passers-by. The police and administration are investing the matter. Truth is expected to come out within a few days.

The latest episode put a question mark on our education system and law and order. Can we trust and rely on such students who are said to be the future of our country. Can we trust such a callous police administration that remain mute spectator to such a condemnable incident. And finally, who will compensate those car and motorcycle owners who have been punished for no fault of theirs? They might have invested their hard-earned money to buy a vehicle for their family. But everything is lost in a moment of madness. Will the CM address the concerns of people, who have been suffered on this unfortunate incident? He must, as he claims to be the people's CM. Let's hope that the better sense prevails at last.

Double Murder inside OUAT Campus in Bhubaneswar

A 78-year old woman and her grandson were murdered by a youth who used to be a close friend of the deceased Debabrata Pani. The murder took place in a government quarter inside the OUAT campus in Bhubaneswar. The killer, Arun Kumar Dora later surrendered before the police. According to him, he was forced to take such a drastic step, as he was fed up with deceased Debabrata's constant pressure to have 'unnatural sex' with him.

When the police reached the spot, the deceased were lying in a pool of blood with their heads crushed by a stone. The dead bodies have been sent for postmortem. According to the police and local residents, Debabrata was working as an executive with the ICICI Bank also acted in several Oriya Albums. Arun planned the murder in advance, as he knew that family members of Debabrata had gone out on a pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi.

Family members of the deceased have been informed. The police is not convinced with the statement made by the accused. They suspect the involvement of other people in this murder. Investigation is still going on and truth may come out soon.

Orissa Government launches New Portal

The Orissa Government has launched its new portal called http://www.orissa.gov.in/. Chief Secretary Ajit Tripathy inaugurated the portal. The dynamic-content driven portal aims at providing all administrative departments an opportunity to manage their own information an display those to the public. According to government sources, each department will be able to update news on a regular basis.