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Saturday, Nov 17, 2007
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PARAB festival begins

Correspondent

KORAPUT: “Koraput has given the most valuable thing to the world in the form of rice,” said Surendranath Nayak, Agriculture Minister, on Friday.

He was the chief guest at the PARAB-2007 celebrations which was inaugurated at the Police Parade Ground here. Highlighting the importance of agriculture in places like Koraput, which had the history of great contribution to the agricultural strength of the State, he said that efforts would be made to green the barren patches in the district.

Known for women with great courage and bravery, Koraput could face greater challenges like poverty with self sustainable measures. Women here were more hard working than in other parts of the State and hence could bring more laurels to the region, he said.

Taraprasad Bahinipati, MLA, Koraput, and Jayaram Pangi, MLA, Pottangi, favoured reintroduction of the celebrations at the panchayat level from next year. Rabi Narayan Nanda, MLA, Jeypore, and Balakrishna Sahu, district Collector, also spoke.

While Sudarshan Pattnaik, the sand artist of international fame, was honoured with this year’s PARAB Samman, Gobardhan Paika, a textile weaver from Kotpad, Kamulu Khemundu, a musician from Nandapur, and A.V. Giri, a tailor from Jeypore, were felicitated on the stage by the chief guest for their lifetime achievement in their fields.

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