Voices

In schools we learnt that we plant trees for the grandchildren. It means we plant trees and our grandchildren enjoy the fruits, sheds, woods etc. That means we grow old and fed away and could not benefit from the recompense. So, the focus is on the grown up and old people. To this extend, the more the elder people work, the more “ changes” will take place in the future.                     But it is opposite in the development area we focus on the old and grown up people by giving a lot of trainings and instruction hoping that they will bring a change in the society. But in reality they are already old enough who starts journey towards their fading way. Thus, they could bear a little and the “ change” is being reduced. On the other hand, if we train and instruct the children and youths, they would bring much more change in the society, because they would be applying it in their day-today-life when they will be grown-up...

Fr. Ajay Kumar Singh, Mr. Dhirendra Panda and Dr. John Dayal The Tow Days Networking and Strategy Planning meetings of Selected Church Commissions of Odisha was organized at Kharvel Hotel, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar on 20th and 21st March 2014 by Odisha Forum for Social Action (OROSA). Around 52 participants throughout  Odisha had come for this meeting. Dr. John Dayal (an Indian journalist and civil rights activist who supports minorities such as Christians and Dalits), Mr. Dhirendra Panda (well known Human Right Defender of Odisha and Director of CSNR) and Fr. Ajay  Kumar Singh (A Prominent Human Rights Activist of Odisha and Director of OROSA) were the facilitators of the Day.   Several important issues, threat, challenges and opportunities of the development of Adivasi, Dalit, Minority, Women and Children were the center point of all discussion in the meeting. There were two group discussions on how to response to the rising RSS forces in our respective places and w...

As Christians we have The Bible and the following 10 major principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) to guide us to be perfect followers of Christ: 1.       Dignity of the Human Person : This is typically the protection and promotion on human rights. Thus, every Christian has to promote and protect the rights the people especially the targeted groups whose rights are being violated every day. 2.   Common Good and Community: Everyone is entitled with some responsibilities for the good of the society. Some people have completely dedicated their lives for the service of the society. Others are partially dedicated for serving people. But all people have personal responsibility to serve for the common good in the community. 3.     Option for the Poor: When we serve the community we have to always look for the most poor, the neediest and the most marginalized people in the community and society. Very often we serve the society in the name ...

Bhubaneswar: The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion visited Bhubaneswar on 21st Februbary 2014. The Special Rapporteur Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt met the various victim survivals from all over Odisha at Hotel Swasti Premium from morning 10.00 AM to 5. 00 PM. The main topic of sharing was the problem of how the right tribal, dalit, women, children and minority are being violated by some fundamentalist forces. There were many prominent community leaders and Civil Society leaders present in the gathering. From left: Fr. Ajay Kumar Singh (Director OFSA), Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt (UNSR), Mr. William Stanly (Chair Person) and Mr. Dhirendra Panda (Director CSNR) Some of the prominent leaders from left in the attached photo were: Fr. Ajay Kumar Singh (Director OFSA), Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt (UNSR), Mr. William Stanly (Chair Person) and Mr. Dhirendra Panda (Director CSNR). Mr. Jugal Kirshore Ranjit presented the issues of minority as a whole in the state of Odisha. Fr....

Bhubaneswar: There was two days state level workshop on Human Rights at Adhikar office, Bhubaneswar on 8th and 9th February 2014. There were about 60 participants who were youth from throughout Odisha. Mr. Sandeep Pattnayak a social activist and Humar Right Acitivist handle 1st day sessions. Mr. Chandranath Dani an Advocate and Human Rights Defender animated the second day sessions. Between the sessions Fr. Nicholas Barla and Fr. Ajay Kumar Singh gave encouraging talks for the youth. In the first day, the youths were taught about the history of Human Rights, International definition of Human Rights, Universal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR), Indian Constitutional provisions of Human Rights and the explanation of the Indian Preamble. In the afternoon there was group discussion where the youths came out with various Rights of  Adivasi, Dalit, Women and the rights of persons who are differently abled. On the second day, the youths learnt about the various duty bearers and s...

Suppose, somebody buys a beautiful gift for you, and you aren't aware about it. What will happen!!!  Obviously you will not be asking for it even if someone else takes away. This is the scenario in our governance system in our country. Our Cabinet prepares a lot of Acts and provision for the development of the economically backward communities, however, it is not known to these communities. This is because the beneficiaries are not involved in the decision making. And this  kind of negligence is   violation to the fundamental rights of the targeted communities, which is the violation of Human Rights. Thus, a Networking Forum is organizing a two days state level Human Rights training on 8th and 9th February, 2014 at Bhubaneswar for 50 selected youths of Odisha. They will be working for protection and promotion of Human Rights at their respective places. Extend your supports through valuable suggestions, which will be included in the action plan, for pr...

Tigga Amritlal: Two Days State Level Workshop on Minority Rights : Date: 1 st and 2 nd February 2014 Venue: Adhikar office, Bhubaneswar, Odisha Organized by Odisha Regional Organization for Social ...

Date: 1 st and 2 nd February 2014 Venue: Adhikar office, Bhubaneswar, Odisha Organized by Odisha Regional Organization for Social Action (OROSA) Bhubaneswar: 1 st Feb 2014 : The Minority communities from different parts of Odisha have gathered at Adhikar office, Bhubaneswar, to discuss   rights and issues of the minority communities of Odisha. Mr. Dhirendra Panda (Director of CSFHR), Fr. Ajay Kumar Singh (Director of OROSA) and Mr. Jugal Kishor Ranjit (from NCDHR) were the facilitators of the day. Mr. Dhirendra Panda explained about three pillars of the minority rights are: Non-discrimination, Protection of Identity and Effective Participation. Fr. Ajay spoke about the hate Campaign that is carried out since 1930 by Sangha Parivar killed many Christians in 2007 and 2008 in Odisha. Mr.Jugal led the participants to identify the issues related to discrimination, loss of identity and non-participation in the decision making.  He explained about the variou...

An Inter-faith dialogue meet among different faith leaders was organized by OROSA at Adhikar Office, Kalinga Vihar, Bhubaneswar on 20th January 2014. The participants were from different faith like Hindu, Christian, Muslim and Budhist. The Sikhs were called but due to unavoidable circumstances they could not attend the meeting. However, they have extended their solidarity. Mr. Dhirendr a Ponda was a chief facilitator of the meeting. A strong network is build among the different faith leaders and expressed that this meeting was first time in State of Odisha and this kind of meeting should be conducted every year to extend solidarity with each other and promote brotherhood. All the faith leaders have decided to prevail peace and fight against all sort of communal violence. They said that we are all brothers and sisters in the eyes of one God whom we are calling by different names. From rightside; Fr. Mohan Nayak represented the Catholic Christians, Mr. Laxman Mallick represented the B...

Just for the sake of providing education to the tribals, in the name of quota the state is providing poorly qualified teachers, who provide poor quality of education, with poor interest in teaching, in poor functioning system, for poor chil dren. Everything is poor, how can they go for higher education. A few who gets admission in good university, again our government provides poor scholarship which is not even 10% of the total expenditure in an academic year. How can the student then will be able to go for higher study? http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/Only-10-of-students-have-access-to-higher-education-in-country/articleshow/28420175.cms?intenttarget=no#.UsviOmJYaJg.facebook

Every bit of criticism from the opposition should be learning for AAP, however certain things are necessary for good governance in the State. Moreover, AAP should not forget that it is decentralizing its power to the common people. Demolish ing the VIP culture, moving around like a common man for a CM would mean that there should be complete protection of the whole common people, which doesn't takes place in all of a sudden. Therefore Delhi police has high responsibility to extend the high alert and protection of whole Delhi city. It is easy to criticized the one who is taking responsibility, but difficult to take up the responsibility. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voChFitpl0s