Five killed in elephant attack in Odisha
Talcher: Five people, including a woman and two girls, were killed when a wild elephant strayed into human habitation in different villages of Angul district, officials said Friday.
The tusker entered Sandha village near here from a forest late on Thursday night and trampled to death three members of a family, who were sleeping in the verandah of their house.
A man and his two-year-old daughter were among those killed in the first incident. The family was staying in Sandha village since the man was working in a brick kiln in the locality.
A woman was also killed by the jumbo in the same village while she was asleep in the verandah of her house.
The tusker then proceeded to Santhapada village where it crushed to death a 70-year-old man, the official said.
Angry over the incidents, residents of the two villages staged a road blockade on Friday morning demanding adequate compensation to the family of the deceased.
The blockade was lifted after financial assistance was provided to the families of the deceased. Steps were being taken for payment of ex-gratia as per rules, he said.
Efforts were on to drive away the wild elephant into the forest, a forest official said.
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Min. Priyank Kharge to expresses concern over implementation of VB-G Ram G
Bengaluru: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the proposed VB-G Ram G scheme, stating that the MNREGA programme, which has been a lifeline for rural India for nearly two decades, appears to be facing an uncertain future.
Speaking to media, Kharge said that as March 31 draws to a close, there is no clarity on the rollout of the new scheme from April 1. He pointed out that the central government has not yet issued the necessary guidelines for implementing the scheme for rural workers and villages.
He criticised the Centre for its lack of preparedness, stating that there is no clarity on fund allocation, no final parameters for classifying gram panchayats, and key processes such as social audits have not been defined.
Kharge said the situation comes at a critical time, as summer marks a peak period for rural employment demand, when many people depend heavily on wage employment for their livelihood.
He added that reports have emerged of delays in approvals and families not receiving work despite demand.
He further alleged that the Centre’s move to shift from a statutory employment guarantee to a rule-based allocation system is already showing negative consequences.
Kharge also raised concerns over provisions such as a mandatory 60-day halt during agricultural seasons, which he said would further limit employment opportunities for rural workers.
The BJP-led central government had claimed that the new scheme would transform rural India, but in reality it is turning out to be detrimental to people’s livelihoods, he said.
“The crisis in rural India due to the stalling of MNREGA is beginning to unfold. Given the Centre’s past record in handling such situations, there is growing concern over the impact on rural livelihoods,” Kharge said.
