AIDS patients refuse pension

MANOJ KAR

The government-run HIV diagnostic centre in Paradip. Telegraph picture

Paradip, April 15: Fear of getting identified haunts the HIV positive patients of Jagatsinghpur district. Here, barring a few, majority of the HIV/AIDS carriers are shying away from receiving their monthly pension introduced by the state government.

Of the 462 persons diagnosed as HIV/AIDS carriers, tiding over social stigma, only 38 persons have come forward to receive their cheques of the Madhubabu pension scheme. Of them, around 13 persons are from urban areas, while 25 others are from rural areas. The rest have opted to live in anonymity as the disease carries with it stigma and threats of social ostracisation.

If civil society activists are to be believed, the virus-infected persons of both the urban and rural areas think it prudent to skip the miserly Rs 200 monthly incentives. Receiving the sum means exposing themselves to identification as AIDS patients in front of other villagers.

On April 1, 2008, the state government had launched the Rs 200 monthly pension for HIV infected people. The scheme was named after Madhubabu, a prominent nationalist Oriya leader.

“It is a matter of concern that AIDS patients are keeping themselves away from social security pension scheme. According to reports that we are receiving, it is a fact that fear of exposure has distracted them from availing pension,” said Bijoy Kumar Swain, deputy director, Orissa State AIDS Control Society (OSACS).

“The fear of identification might have led these people to skip their monthly pension. It is a disturbing trend. We are looking into it. In some cases, the infected persons wanted the pension to be sent to their homes. But it could not be disbursed as they gave wrong postal addresses,” said Sudhakar Biswal, medical officer of the government-run Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC).

(sourced from the telegraph)

INDIAN COAST GUARD SAVED SIX LIVES IN MID SEA OFF PURI

INDIAN COAST GUARD OFFICERS WITH RESCUED FISHERMEN

INDIAN COAST GUARD RESCUE WORK

FISHING VESSEL MAHADEV-III

 PARADIP: 19 DEC2010 -COAST GUARD SHIP (CGS) RAZIYA SULTANA RESCUED SIX FISHERMEN FROM A FISHING VESSEL UNDER FIRE. FISHING VESSEL MAHADEV-III WAS OPERATING SEVEN MILES EAST OF RAMACHANDI, PURI WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO BLAST OF LPG CYLINDER. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 1230 HRS WHEN THE CREW WAS PREPARING THEIR LUNCH.

ON RECEIPT OF MESSAGE BY COAST GUARD DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS PARADIP IMMEDIATELY DIVERTED CGS RAZIYA SULTANA WHICH WAS ENGAGED IN OPS OLIVIA TO RENDER ASSISTANCE.

        THE SHIP ARRIVED IN THE AREA AT 3 PM AND RESCUED ALL THE SIX FISHERMEN FROM SEA. THE SHIP PROVIDED MEDICAL AID AND FOOD TO THE AFFECTED FISHERMEN. THERE AFTER THE SHIP EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE USING ITS FIREMAIN, HOWEVER THE BOAT SUNK AT 5:30 PM DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND INGRESS OF SEA WATER FROM DAMAGED HULL. ALL THE SIX FISHERMEN ARE BEING BROUGHT TO PARADIP BY CGS RAZIYA SULTANA.

Port city welcomed the lord of all craftsmen and architects in a cyclonic weather

In spite of cloudy weather and intermittent showers due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, the famous Viswakarma Puja of Paradip  started from September 17 here with much fanfare and enthusiasm.

Various worker unions, truck owner  associations,trawler owner association,dumper owner associations, electrical, public health and marine departments of the Paradip Port Trust were  organized the puja . Viswakarma Puja was also  celebrated in various industries in and around Paradip like IFFCO, PPL etc.

Many temporary shops and eateries had been opened for the visitors. information centers had also opened near the puja venues from municipality. Many reputed opera (jatra) groups and melody parties of Odisha as well as outside States had perform and entertained visitors with a wide range of entertainment programmes.

Paradip police had handled the traffic and low and order very efficiently. paradip municipality had engaged its men to keeping the city and puja venue clean and checking the quality of the food item sold near puja venue.PPT fire fighter were also camped and alerted near the venue to prevent any kind of fire accident,  the co-ordination between PPT,municipality and police department made the event very successful.peoples from every religion enjoyed the puja.