Bhubaneswar, Feb 11 : Casual workers at the Nandankanan Biological Park in Orissa have gone on an indefinite cease work agitation over a demand for regularization of their jobs. This has caused hardship to about 1200 animals at the zoo.

The casual workers said that their job involved risks and complained of not receiving any health or social security benefits.

"We do not have any kind of healthcare facilities at all. In case of any mishap, there is no such relief," said Bhaskar Samal, a contractual employee.

The authorities, however, claimed that they have made alternative arrangements.

Jaypore, Feb. 11 : People in Orissa's Jaypore town are living in fear, after receiving threats from Maoists.

Naxals (local Maoists) have reportedly pasted posters at various places in the town, threatening the people and issuing death threats to local politicians and police officials.

The town is located in Koraput District, one of the worst Naxal-affected districts in Orissa.

Panic-stricken people hardly step out of the town fearing naxal attacks.

The minimized traffic movement in and outside the town is a testimonyl to the constant feeling of fear and uncertainty.

The clash between rational and disciples of astrology has been continuing for hundreds of years.

The first group believes that astrology is a mere superstition and a nice gambit to deceive people, while the later group has wide regards for it.

After the introduction of internet or other sophisticated technology, the attraction of Indian astrology knows no bounds.

The foundation of Indian astrology or Jyotisha is the idea of bandhu of the Vedas or scriptures, which is the link between the microcosm and the macrocosm.

In a bid to acquire a majority stake in Orissa Sponge Iron & Steel, three un-listed Indian firms have jointly made an open offer to acquire 26 percent of its equity, for Rs 300 per share.

Under the arrangement, Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd along with Titanic Steel Industries and Olympian Steel Industries would acquire stake in Orissa Sponge through open offer.

The open offer is for the acquisition of 52 lakh shares of Rs 10 each of Orissa Sponge from its existing shareholders. The offer will open on April 3 and close on April 23.

Shri Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, Governor of Orissa, has presented the prestigious ‘St. John Ambulance Award – 2008’ to Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh for its involvement towards training and promotion of First Aid not only among its staff, contract workers and other shareholders but also in whole region of Kalahandi, at large.

Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Company’s CEO received the award at the Annual General Meeting of St John Ambulance held at Raj Bhawan, Bhubaneswar on February 3, 2009.

Koraput, Feb 2 : Tribals of Koraput district in Orrisa are being provoked by Maoists to oppose the decision of the administration to give 400 acres of land for setting up Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) battalion to fight the Maoists.

Scared that the backlash by the Maoists and threat to intensify their movement, people are opposing the setting up of land in the area.

"Thirty villages in the district are opposed to this decision. We have written to the local representatives and collector. If the authorities do not listen then we would take out protests," said Sonu Majih, a villager.