Development of KBK+ Region in Orissa

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2009-11-02T17:21:00.002+02:00

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ESIC’s medical hanging fire

2009-06-01T15:03:00.000+03:00

Expressbuzz, May 29, 2009

ROURKELA: The proposal to set up a Rs 500-crore medical college and hospital (MCH) by the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) in the State has not made much headway as the State Government continues to dither over its location.

The State Government’s reported proposal to set up the MCH at Balangir was virtually turned down by the ESIC owing to inadequate ESIC stake-holders there. Sources said now the government has proposed the MCH in Bhubaneswar.

CITU Orissa unit general secretary Bishnu Mohanty recently met the ESIC director-general and impressed upon him to locate the MCH at Rourkela. Reiterating that Rourkela is the ideal location, Mohanty argued that since 70 per cent of the Insured Persons (IPs) of ESIC are concentrated in Sundargarh and its neighbourhood mining and industrial districts of Jharsuguda, Keonjhar and Sambalpur no other place in Orissa would best cater to the needs of the poor working class. Moreover, sources said, the MCH would also extend sophisticated health care to the general public of the areas at affordable cost.

At present, the Ispat General Hospital (IGH) at Rourkela caters to the needs of people of the industrial and mining belt apart from adjacent Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand states.

Election results mirror unequal growth pattern within Orissa

2009-05-28T22:43:00.000+03:00

The Pioneer, May 29, 2009

Digambara Patra

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) won overwhelmingly in the recently-held simultaneous Assembly and parliamentary elections in Orissa. However, it failed in the backward western and southern regions except Ganjam due to unequal growth within the State in the past decade.

It is normal that a small fraction of local population in an affected locality opposing industrial activities would vote against the ruling party, but percentage of such votes rarely played any role, whether it was Lanjigarh, Jharsuguda, Paradip, Puri or Kalinga Nagar. Supporting the belief further the BJD also got poor response in southern and western regions such as Bargarh, Nabarangpur, etc where there was no industrial activity.

Anti-industry protest was not an election issue by any major political party such as the BJP or the Congress in Orissa unlike the case of the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. For example, in Kalahandi anti-Vedanta protest rarely got any support outside Lanjigarh block, that too among the affected people and few groups in Bhawanipatna who had professional and political reasons. Most of the general public outside Lanjigarh block was never excited to oppose Vedanta. Vedanta being the only the major industry in the district, a large number of intellectuals in the district outside Lanjigarh region was indeed in support of the project. Thus, a theory put earlier based on anti-industrial sentiment was illogical.

Another theory argues that election results also rule out the possibility of Rs 2-a-kg rice scheme had any big role. Was 25 kg of rice every month at Rs 2 the reason in this election the BJD would have done wonders in southern and western regions, where higher percentage of voters is benefited from the scheme? The BJD did not receive any overwhelming response in backward and poverty zones of western and southern parts, including the KBK region, unlike the coastal region. This idea is also supported by a few others.

In fact, if the fate of first-phase elections comprising the western and a large part of southern region (32 seats out of 70, 46 per cent won by the BJD) would have been repeated in the second phase polls, the BJD would not have got a majority or might have lost this election.

Many analysts fail to explain why people voted overwhelmingly (71 seats out of 77, 93 per cent won by the BJD and alliance) to the BJD and alliance in the second phase election. BJD MP Baijayant (Jay) Panda reasoned the BJD’s overwhelming success is solely due to Naveen Patnaik and his Government’s developmental initiatives and success. Most of the people may buy this argument; however, in that case looking at the voting trend in the State, Panda fails to explain why the BJD failed in western and southern parts compared to rest of the State.

Scrutinising all the points, one thing is clear: The growth in Orissa is either not equal or not properly reaching the western and southern parts, except Ganjam district. Ganjam can also be classified as part of the coastal region rather than southern as per geography where the BJD also won overwhelmingly. If overall development is an indication in this election, the Congress would not have won in a huge margin for MP seat and overwhelmingly got four MLA seats in Kalahandi, an anti-Congress bastion, unlike any other district. Kalahandi had voted the BJD-BJP combine in the last two elections overwhelmingly. Kalahandi was the only Parliamentary constituency in the whole southern and western Orissa where the alliance had won all the MLA and MP seats including an Independent MLA in Nuapada, a rival BJD candidate who retuned to the BJD later on.

Out of the 15 parliamentary elections the country has gone through since Independence, the Congress has won only four times in Kalahandi; first time when the Congress wave was sweeping all over the nation under Indira Gandhi’s leadership after the fall of the Janata Party Government; second time when Indira Gandhi was killed and the nation voted sympathetically and overwhelmingly for Rajiv Gandhi; third time when Rajiv Gandhi was killed in 1991 people voted the Congress again sympathetically all over the nation; and this is the fourth time the party has won the Kalahandi parliamentary seat, of course with a huge margin.

When one compares the situation of main roads, bridges and educational institutions where the State Government has more role to play, unlike the case of railway, in Kalahandi, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Bargarh, etc, these are similar as before. The conditions of main roads are as they used to be decades ago, only exceptions being a few village roads built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. A bridge promised by the BJD Government since 2000 near Junagarh has not materialised yet after two elections. In contrast, the Bhubaneswar region is developing like never before.

In today’s India, even rural people can see what is going around. Visiting Bhubaneswar these days gives a pleasant feeling with wide roads whereas travelling from Balangir to Nabarangpur via Bhawanipatna on NH 201 gives a different impression. People from Nuapada district or Padampur almost spend the whole day to reach Jaipatna in Kalahandi district whereas Berhampur to Bhubaneswar or Sambalpur to Bhubaneswar can hardly require a few hours.

The unequal growth is clearly visible at the ground level and could be due to either unequal distribution or corruption. In both cases, it is the role of the State Government to distribute internally within the State and implement it properly at the ground level.

Unfortunately, the Chief Minister visits Kalahandi, Balangir, Koraput and Kandhamal (KBKK) and other backward western Orissa regions only during election time or unless there is serious trouble in the region like Maoists or floods which rarely occurs in five years. In the last five years he visited Kalahandi four times, out of which three times just before this election; one time for laying foundation stones and other two times for election campaigning to two different regions within the district; and first time was an aerial survey during a flood in the Aatigaon region.

Whereas one can find him visiting Ganjam and some other coastal pockets at least once, if not so often, in a year for some kind of inauguration, this or that, in addition to his visits during trouble hours. Such visit makes a difference in the ground level, as it puts officials in alert and helps to monitor the progress properly in an interval when the CM is supposed to be good, proactive and honest as people in the State thought.

This is the time a serious rethinking is needed on the basis of regional growth in the western and southern parts of the State if the BJD won this election only due to the development and nothing else, and the BJD dreams for a developed and peaceful Orissa for tomorrow, in the CM’s own language. Otherwise, it will encourage regionalism and divide people internally within the State.

-- The writer, a non-resident Oriya, is Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, American University of Beirut, Lebanon

IGNOU ties up with MS Swaminathan Foundation to open four community colleges: One in KORAPUT

2009-05-28T17:43:00.002+03:00

Times of India, May 26, 2009

CHENNAI: Emphasising the potential of community colleges to equip unskilled sections of the population with academic and professional capability, V N Rajasekaran Pillai, vice-chancellor, IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University), said that it was important to integrate such potential into the system of higher education.

Speaking on Monday at a regional meeting on community colleges here, organised at the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) by IGNOU in association with the Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU), Pillai said: "School dropouts will be eligible for admission in the third year of college after completing the two-year associate degree programme offered by IGNOU at community colleges; 89% of children enrolled in school across the country do not pass Class X, and 11% of those admitted end up being dropouts."

Pointing out that it was important to contextualise these programmes, Pillai said IGNOU had shortlised 71 colleges where the courses would be introduced and was hoping to be able to shortlist 200 more this year. "IGNOU in association with MSSRF will open in July four community colleges - at Koraput in Orissa, Wayanad in Kerala, Poompuhar in Tamil Nadu and in Pondicherry," he said.

Since the programmes were innovative and flexible, the course content could be modified by colleges to cater to the needs of the local population, such as translating it into local languages or addressing topics that are of relevance to beneficiaries. Pillai added that since community colleges were varied, there was a need to put in place an independent accreditation system, following an international pattern, to monitor them.

M S Swaminathan, chairman, MSSRF, said that community colleges could help provide vertical mobility to those in the unorganised sector. "Though the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) provides the rural population work for 100 days a year, community colleges can serve them for the remaining part of the year if they take off in terms of skill formation," he said. Swaminathan said he hoped to see a community college in each of India's 6,000 blocks as they could lead to a transition from unskilled to skilled work.

The event also saw the inauguration of IGNOU's virtual counselling and distance education centre at MSSRF, which will help academics connect with the rural population for educational counselling and assess their needs.

Classes in Central varsity to begin from August: V-C

2009-05-24T23:11:00.000+03:00

The Pioneer, May 25, 2009
Lalmohan Pattanaik | Jeypore

Addressing a Press conference here on Saturday, Vice-Chancellor of the Central University, Orissa, Dr Surabhi Banerjee informed that the classes in the university at Koraput would start from August this year. The university would function temporarily at the COATS (Council of Analytical Tribal Studies) and the courses would start from under-graduation to higher studies, she said.

On a two-day tour to Koraput district, the VC visited Deola village where the proposed university will be set up over 575 acres of land. She also visited Koraput Railway Station to inspect the connectivity. She thanked the district administration to locate such a suitable land and hoped that, after completion of construction and infrastructure in place, the university would be first of its kind at the international level. After visit of the representatives from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the construction work would be carried out on their approval, she said.

There will be an entrance test for taking admission into the university and the entrance test would be conducted in around 15-16 centres all over India and for Orissa in Koraput, Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur. Subjects like English, Oriya, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Tribal Studies and Journalism and Mass Communication would be taught in the university, besides other higher and professional courses. Different kinds of schools will be opened on the campus like the Jawaharlal Nehru University and the head office of the university would function at Koraput and the transit office to recruit lecturers, readers, professors, management and other staff will function at Bhubaneswar, the VC informed.

The Central Government has approved the university for five years for the time being and the classes would start in the COATS which is being managed by Sabara Srikshetra Jagannath Mandir Management Committee and the existing Gyan Mandir, library and tribal museum are an added advantage for the students of the university, she said.

Among others, Registrar BK Mishra, Financial Advisor P Pati and Liaisoning Officer and Coordinator Ganesh Chandra Roul attended the Press conference.

A View: Neglected South Orissa

2009-05-08T12:17:00.000+03:00

Contributor: Annada Prasad Udgata,
Email: apudgata@yahoo.com
May 8, 2009

We are called dakshini because we are from south Orissa. Are we considered second class citizens in Orissa itself? Are our area considered second to north Orissa? Is it because we accepted it like that? Is it because we are not aware of our rights? Or because we do not shout for it. Are we content with what we get? Do we have problems and grievances? If we have any, are all our ex and present chief ministers not aware of our problems? Do not they know that we do not have proper roads, proper schools, many are also unemployed? Do they know that there are many people leave Orissa for other states because they do not get two meals a day. What has the government done for south Orissa in their entire 60 years after independence? Orissa signed MOU with many companies for Rs. 4,00,000 crores investment for the year 2006-2007 and Rs. 7,00,000 crores for 2008-2009. Where is this investment gone? Did a part of that even reach south Orissa? Look at Bhubaneshwar -Rourkela road of around 400 kms, which is known as steel belt, look at kalinga Nagar. Every few kilometer has a factory. This Rs. 400000 crores and Rs. 700000 cr is gone there or going to go there. What we got is the news that Orissa is prospering at par with Maharashtra and Gujurat. Why can not they put those factories and that money in South Orissa?

Why our local elected representative could not even do anything for us? Why there are more number of ministers from north Orissa? Are they more intelligent? Why is this disparity? They cannot create employment, they can not industrialise our area, they cannot give us jobs, they cannot give us any guarantee of income. If not, then how do they become our leaders and guardians? Why should we elect them? We are a mineral rich state, yet we are not self sufficient. One look at other states will tell a different story. How do the other states prosper even though they are not mineral rich states? How is that possible for other states?

People out side Orissa do not know where the state is! If at all some body knows then knows by Kalahandi, death due to starvation, which was visited way back by Late Rajiv Gandhi.Then Rahul Gandhi visited Gunupur to brandise Orissa as a tribal state or by kandhamal for the recent riots. If we are a tribal state do our politicians do any thing for us? True, that people die in these areas due starvation and malnutrition. What did our politicians do for them? Did the govt. try to give an occupation or some work to the poor to feed themselves? Yet we elect them again and again and they betray us. Many of our intellectuals go out of the state by not finding enough opportunity to use their trained skill. How many people from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat come to Orissa or go to other states to earn their lively hood or to study? Why is this centralisation of resource? Orissa remains an ignored state because of our inefficient leaders. So what ever they got are channelised to northern part of orissa and they are content that they did a good job. Why cannot Infosys, TCS and Wipro have an office in Koraput or Bolangir. If Nagpur, Aurangabad and Baroda can become a prominent investment destination, why cannot Malkanigiri, Baudh, Nawarangpur or Mohanaa? Karnataka and Hyderabad can become cybercities not Bramhapur. Why?

Our farmers are not able to farm their land because of lack of water supply and other problems. Why have we less dams and canals? Who will make them? These farmers and their keens go to other states and work as labour. Few of them die unnatural death due to accident at site and incurable diseases due to overwork and expose to vulnerable conditions.

Why do our students go to other state to study? Why can not we have our own colleges? How many IAS or IPS officers Orissa generates a year compared to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh? Do you think we are not capable or intelligent to become IAS or IPS? Answer is, we are not trained. If it is true, who is responsible for that? Why can not we have our own facility, instead we depend on other states for every thing? Why business men go Raipur, Kolkotta and Vishakhapatnam for shopping? Why cannot people from these states come to Jaipur or Phulbani?

Why are not we connected with railways? Many people from south Orissa have not seen a train in their life. If there is no infrastructure development, then how do we prosper? Why there is no will, no political inclination to do that? How long we suffer? All our Ex/ current CMs are from north Orissa. Even if they are from south Orissa, they feel ashamed to say that they belong to south Orissa. No govt. does any thing special for south Orissa. But all Chief Ministers get elected from South Orissa to do better for North Orissa.

Do we have patience to tolerate them? They are here to commit for betterment and betray us. No. We will not trust these sweet talkers any more. The only cure is let us fight for our selves. Let the people of south Orissa get united raise our voice to help our selves and fight with the system to make a number one state. Join the movement. Jai Hind.

Second Campus of Central University of Orissa in rented house in Bhubaneswar!!!

2009-04-26T15:41:00.002+03:00

The Samaja, April 26, 2009

No central varsity in K'put

2009-04-26T15:24:00.000+03:00

Tathya.in, April 26, 2009
Koraput:26/April/2009

First it was Centre.

And now it is turn of officials.

All play with the fate of the much-awaited central university in Orissa’s Koraput district.

Centre took a lot of time for granting a central university for Orissa.

Though it was expected that the proposed new varsity will come up at Bhawanipatna, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik decided it to set up at Koraput.

That’s only keeping political advantage in sight.

And the centre after lot of noise sanctioned Rs 1.20 crore for the central university at Koraput.

However, now its officials were not in a mood to go to the tribal dominated district.

The reason: lack of facilities like airport and modern health care units.

Surabhi Banerjee had been appointed as the first vice-chancellor of the central university at Koraput.

But, Prof. Banerjee, are in no mood to move to Koraput.

Sources said, the VC had been persuading the state government officials to open temporary campus of the varsity in the state capital instead of going to Koraput.

The newly formed central university authorities claimed that the academic activities could begin from temporary campus here till the building was constructed at Koraput.

By the time, the building would be over; Prof Banerjee’s term could end.

Therefore, though the credit of becoming the first VC of the central university at Koraput goes to her, she will skip the tribal dominated district.

Prof Banerjee’s attempt to open temporary campus is, however, not supported by many in the state.

The authorities could find a suitable place for running the temporary campus in Koraput itself, they argued.

But Prof. Banerjee was not ready to accept the fact because of one simple reason that they would stay in Koraput.

Though Koraput did not have air link, it was well connected with rail line.

Therefore, the students and faculty should have no problem in making to and fro from the place.

Despite that, Koraput, the major district in the infamous KBK region, would be literally deprived up of getting a central university even as it had been sanctioned by the centre.

The central university in Koraput in all probability will face the fate of the Western Orissa Development Council (WODC) which had its headquarters in the state capital for a long time.

Orissa government: Has it done enough for the poor?

2009-04-19T10:58:00.000+03:00

Merinews, April 18, 2009
by pradeep baisakh

The Orissa government has not delivered on NREGS and therefore the ruling party lacks the moral right to ask for votes from rural labourers. It has faltered in terms of providing work and wages to the workers in time.

HAS THE Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government of Orissa led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is now the most popular Chief Minister of the country according to an ‘India Today’ survey, done enough for the poor labourers in the rural patches of the state by way of delivering on NREGS to plead for their votes in the ensuing general and assembly elections?

If you roam around several villages in Lamtaput, Nandpur and Machhkund blocks of Koraput district, you will find people just loitering around and wasting their time. When asked “why are you wasting your time? Do not you have any work available in your village?” The answer you get is a big ‘No’. In several villages like Enugu, Logum, Litiput among others no work under NREGS is available during this lean agricultural season forcing people to migrate or simply stay in the village and do nothing. Recently, thirteen 13 Logum village migrated to do work on railway tracks in Secunderabad.

Collector Gadadhar Parida (recently transferred elsewhere) says “As many as five out of14 blocks of Koraput have no regular BDO. In Lamtaput post office, there are no additional staffs to open passbooks of people for making NREGS related payments.”

After repeatedly asking, Parida with reluctance admits that the block and panchayat level officials are not showing much interest to take up NREGS work after introduction of the bank payment system. It may be noted that the bank payment system under NREGS has almost checked the prevailing PC (percentage cuts) culture (where a fixed percentage of the welfare expenditure is siphoned of by the officials involved in the implementation) existing in the panchayat and block levels. Therefore it obvious that the officials at these levels are demotivated!

During the survey on NREGS conducted in Orissa in October 2007 by G B Pant Institute, Allahabad, it was revealed that as much as 22 percent of the money goes as percentage cuts to the JE, BDO, Sarpanch, VLW, computer operator at the block level and others apart from the percentage that the contractor keeps for himself. The Collector laments “currently we are in a state of under utilisation of funds under NREGS”

Very poor performance in comparison to other states:

In several such districts of the state like Bolangir, Nuapada, Malkanagiri, Nawrangpur, Sundergarh, Ganjam etc where migration is rampant, NREGS has effectively failed check this trend. According to official figures, in the last financial year (2008-09) the total number of house hold provided jobs are meagre 9.4 lakhs as against about 51 lakhs job card holders in the state. Admittedly, all these card holders did not apply for work so not qualified to get job, the plea the government officials generally take- but people not applying for work does not qualify the perception that they are not needy but they are unaware about the demand driven character of NREGS. And the onus to generate awareness lies on the state. A inter state comparison till 5th March 2009, reveals that Orissa has been able to spend only 48.7 per cent to the total allocated fund whereas states like Bihar has done 63 per cent, Chhatisgarh 76 per cent and Jharkhand 63 per cent. Total percentage of work completed by this date is: Bihar-47 per cent, Chhatisgarh-51 per cent and Jharkhand-32 per cent and Orissa-a meagre 6.49 per cent!

Political and administrative will is lacking:

There have also been continuous complaints from different parts of the state about not providing work despite applications. In January, 2008 about 110 job card holders from Hanumal and Hantalput villages of Koraput district reportedly staged a dharana in front of the block office to demand payment of unemployment allowances as they were not provided work in time even after application for the same.

Complaints have also come about non payment and about in surmountable delay in payment of wages under NREGS to the workers. According to reports by the grass root activists, labourers of Hatipokna and other villages under Tentulikhunti block of Navrangpur district did not receive wages for more than five months till February 2009. Provision of compulsory payment of wages through banks and post offices has aggravated the already worsening condition of irregular payment. Though the bank payment system works well in Andhra Pradesh, in Orissa due to involvement of lengthy and cumbersome procedure and due to lack of any serious attempt by the government to streamline the transaction system, the statutory provision of wage payment within 15 days has been being unceremoniously flouted.

The grievance redressal system in the state is in complete disarray. Complaints of the workers lie unattended by the responsible officials at the block, district and state level for months together. A visiting delegation of Central Employment Guarantee Council (CEGC) in November 2007 submitted 20 complaints to the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Panchayati Raj department of the state. They are yet to be heard.
If this is the situation at the state level, it can well be imagined what the situation would be at the block and district levels. All these have accumulated to create a situation where people have started losing faith on the efficacy of NREGA to address their work need and poverty by consequence. Though distress migration is characterised by inhuman working condition and various forms of exploitation-physical, mental and sexual, with the political and administrative class taking no interest on delivery of NREGA, the people of the state have no option but to go for it.

With this dismal show on providing guaranteed employment to the rural mass, does the government command any moral right to ask for votes from the rural labourers? The government may not actually need to bother much as Umi Daniel of Action Aid puts it “About two lakh migrant workers from western Orissa and more than four lakh from Ganjam district will be completely away from the election in the state!” Yahan honge tabhi to hamare khilap vote de payenge!

Dongria Kondh demand Execution of Supreme Court’s Order on Niyamgiri

2009-04-14T13:03:00.002+03:00

Reporter: Kailash Tudu

Lanjigarh: The Dongria Kondhs are one of the primitive tribes living in Niyamgiri in Rayagada and Kalahandi Districts of Orissa, India. Though they reside above huge volume of bauxite, primary source of aluminum, development is yet to reach them after six decades of Indian independence. Literacy level is very low. Poverty and unemployment is everywhere. Through primary occupation is agriculture; a small land base and low agricultural productivity have led to their low income and poverty. Malnutrition and disease are very common among this Dongria Kondh community. Few Dongria Kondh villages are lucky have basic services such health facilities and education.

However, after the Supreme Court’s order on August 2008, about mining from Niyamgiri, a new hope has been originated among the community. Encouraged by the Supreme Court’s direction regarding mining from Niyamgiri by the Vedanta Aluminium, the Dongria Kondh community are hopeful that a new era of development is awaiting for them.

In the Landmark judgment, the Supreme Court directed the Vedanta Aluminium to spend Rs. 5 Crore or 10% of the profit, whichever is higher for development of people in the periphery area of the Alumina Refinery set up by the company. The money shall be spent through a Special Purpose Vehicle for Schedule Area Development – with Vedanta, Government of Orissa and Orissa Mining Company as its partner. The books of the account shall be audited by the Auditor General of Orissa and reviewed by the Supreme Court’s Central Empowerment Committee.

However, even after eight months of this land mark judgment, no initiative has been taken either by the company or the government. The Dongria Kondh community is waiting eagerly when the SPV will start function and their fortune will change. “We have no opposition to mining, as long as our development is ensured. We demand the government and the company should make the SPV operational,” said Senapati Sikoka. The voice is echoed by several other dongria kondh community members. All of them demand mining from Niyamgiri and investment for their development.

“The Dongria Kondhs stay in the immediate periphery of the plant. So with their fortune is going to change once the mining starts,” feels Dhan Majhi. The Dongria Kondh community is very encouraged to see various development interventions by the Company for Tribal development. Now they are getting regular health services at their door step though mobile health unit. Child Care Centers are also established for proper nutrition and pre-schooling of children. Roads and communication facilities in Lanjigarh has also improved. Vedanta has not only taken care of their basic need, but also started intervention for livelihood development of people in Niyamgiri. Recently, it has trained 120 Dongria Kondh women on leaf-plate making. The product has huge demand in local market and the company has also assured them to provide market linkage, once mass production starts. “We may need not to go to wage work once this leaf-plate business starts”, says Anda Majhi, a Dongria Kondh woman from Khemdipadar. They can earn more than Rs. 100/- per day sitting at home by making machine stitched leaf-plates.

As stated by the Chairman of Vedanta Mr. Anil Agrawal, Niyamgiri Bauxite Mine will be operational very soon. However, the tribals are not patient enough to wait for the ‘very soon’. They want immediate opening of Niyamgiri Bauxite mine and early operationalisation of Special Purpose vehicle, as per directive of the Supreme Court.

Reporter can be reached by email: ktudu1@gmail.com

Decades of struggle has not brought INC, BJD and BJP come politically to address problems in KBK

2009-04-09T16:48:00.000+03:00

To
Dr. Manmohan Singh, Honorable PM of India
Ms. Sonia Gandhi, President of Indian National Congress Party (INC)
Mr. Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Orissa and President of Biju Janta Dal (BJD)
Mr. Jual Oram, Vice-President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

CC: Media

Dear Dr. Singh, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Naveen Patnaik and Mr. Jual Oram,

Though your respective parties have come with your own manifesto for Orissa assembly and for national general elections, it has rarely promised anything towards long term development of KBK region.

The manifesto by INC, BJD or BJP do not mention important and urgent infrastructure requirement of KBK region such as in higher education, health, railway, industry, major bridges and highways.

Kalahandi, Koraput and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha constituencies are among the bottom five constituencies in India in socio-economic development by a survey carried out by India Today. Promised made by various political parties in Orissa during this election largely concentrates on subsidy in rice which is required for poor people in KBK but is not enough. Without addressing other important issues such subsidy will keep people in KBK region still in the same risky acute poverty level. Instead of making them self-dependent and respectful in the society it will by default drag them to live like beggar largely depending on Governmental aid.

KBK has to go a long way to meet national average standard in many social indicators and in human development index. To achieve long term sustainable growth KBK needs simultaneous major developments in intensive agriculture, highway infrastructure, railway, higher education, technical education, health and industries apart from generous promises such as subsidy in rice, pulses, free power, etc by political parties during this election time.

KBK at this moment needs intensive irrigation projects, new railway line, railway factory, Govt. medical colleges, state highway, new bridges and downstream industrial development. Many of the local demands have not been addressed since past two decades despite promised made by Chief Minister of Orissa and other leaders such as on a high laying bridge over Hati River near Junagarh, railway link between Balangir and Koraput via Nuapada, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur, a railway coach factory in Kalahandi in past two elections.

When there is similar policy adopted in other part of the state in a different name, tall claim of Biju KBK Yojana specially designed towards KBK development is meaningless and futile. On the other hand without any targeted goal and with a small budget Biju KBK Yojana is a political eye wash to the people of KBK region as this region is home to 20 % of Orissa’s population covering 31 % of geographical area of Orissa. Based on factual data and social need KBK region should have a budget at least not less than 30 % of the state budget which is not the case in infrastructure and social development programs.

Serious health problem and diseases such as malaria, AIDS are becoming acute in the region. A proposal of a downstream industrial park in Kalahandi is in cold storage since past five years. No initiative was taken for directly connecting various district headquarters within KBK districts by state highways.

Unfortunately, even after decades of struggle INC, BJD or BJP have not yet come politically together to addresses problems in KBK some of which were badly expected such as new irrigation projects in Nabarangpur, Balangir, Koraput, Sonepur, Nuapada, Malkangiri, Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, high over bridge near Jungarh over NH201 which is heart line in connecting KBK internally, approval of Kantabanji-Jepore and Lanjigarh road –Angul via Phulbani railway lines, railway coach factory in Kalahandi, Government polytechnique colleges in all KBK districts and Government medical colleges in Kalahandi, Balangir and Koraput, a KBK state highway to connect Bongomunda (Balangir) with Raniguda (Koraput) via Sindhekela, Kegaon, Dharamgarh, Moter, Jaipatna and Mukhiguda and completion of Khordha-Balangir & Lanigarh road- Jungarh railway lines.

Without political involvement and consensus, solution to socio-economic problems in KBK, one of the most socio-economically backward regions in the nation will be impossible.

Therefore, I urge to immediately address and include the above in your party manifesto towards long term development of KBK.

Thank you and with kind regards

Digambara Patra

Tribal Leaders vow to oppose false propaganda by NGOs

2009-04-08T12:27:00.000+03:00

Reporter: Kailash Tudu

“Villages still exist in the foothill of the mining site and people are engaged in agricultural activities. However, the NGO people misguided us by saying that our entire hill be destroyed and rivers and streams shall dry up. I will reveal this reality to entire Dongria Kondh Community”. This was the first reaction of Taalu Sikoka, after he visited Panchapatmali bauxite mining site and interacted with tribal villagers in the periphery area. Taalu was not only persons to have such reaction. Seven others from Dongria Kondh Community had similar reaction.

In order to verify several misinformation by some of the NGOs regarding bauxite mining from Niyamgiri hill, a team of eight persons, from Patsali, Guma, Luma and Dangamati villages visited Panchapatmali bauxite mining site, Asia’s largest bauxite reserve. The tribal leaders were amazed to see the positive impact of bauxite mining. In spite of repeated propaganda that bauxite mining will dry up all rivers and streams from the hill, they found that water flow in the streams is as usual and in some cases more than usual. “Forest Cover is also increased with the plantation by the mining company”, said Maandi Sikoka.

While interacting with local villagers they found that the villagers were doing double crop. None of the villagers is displaced; neither the hill has been collapsed. Rather the development activities taken up by the mining company has enhanced lives of people in the area.
“We won’t allow these NGOs to misguide us further. Now we see the reality and will let others know about this in our villages. If mining can change our lives so positively, then it was our foolishness to oppose the Mining from Niyamgiri,” said Drika Kadraka.

Some of the NGOs were mobilizing people against bauxite mining from Niyamgiri with their false propaganda. They were telling that the entire hill will collapse due to mining. Similarly, the rivers and streams will vanish. And agricultural activities will be severely affected. There will be lot of tree cutting and the tribal cannot collect any livelihood from the forest. Even the villagers shall be displaced.
In order to check the reality, they visited the nearest operational bauxite mining site. “It has opened our eyes,” said Taalu.
Reporter can be reached by email: ktudu1@gmail.com

India Yatra, Hindustanf Times review present aspiration of Kalahandi

2009-04-07T17:44:00.001+03:00

India Yatra, Hindustan Times, April 3, 2009
http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/india-yatra/2009/04/03/there%e2%80%99s-no-hunger-in-hunger-capital/#more-236

........... The new demands reflect the new aspirations: A central university in Kalahandi; colleges for engineering and medical sciences; more teachers in schools; better prices for farm produce; and a railroad network to help improve business......
... railway line and railway coach are being damanded in Kalahandi (in video & voice)

Advani raises hope for people in KBK region

2009-04-02T22:52:00.001+03:00

The Pioneer, April 3, 2009
PNS | Bhubaneswar

LK Advani’s announcement to construct a Kantabanji-Jeypore railway line if the NDA comes to power, has raised high hopes among the people of Koraput, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi.

Coming to know about the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate’s assurance, leading NRO Digambara Patra has appealed to the civil society in the State to highlight the advantages of this lifeline for these three underdeveloped districts. Addressing an election meeting at Khariar on March 31, Advani had said a Kantabanji-Jeypore rail line via Khariar, Dharamgarh, Ambapani and Nabarangpur would be sanctioned if the NDA is voted to power.

The proposed rail line covers Balangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Koraput districts, said Patra, who belongs to Kalahandi and teaches in the American University of Beirut. It was also proposed for survey in the 2008-09 Railway Budget speech made by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, he said.

The three Lok Sabha constituencies — Nabarangpur, Koraput and Kalahandi — are at the bottom of the socio-economy ladder in India, a recent India Today survey showed. Railway development in these areas will not only boost infrastructure but also bring employment in the region, feels Patra.

A railway factory in Kalahandi will also bring about development as there is no Government-run industries in the region, whereas Koraput and Balangir have got HAL and ordnance factories, respectively, from the Central Government. A railway factory in Kalahandi has been a longstanding demand, said Dr Patra.

Not a single rail line has been sanctioned in Kalahandi, Balangir, Koraput, Nuapada, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts in the last 10 years, he pointed out.

Advani promises Kanatabanji Jeypore through Nuapada, Kalahandi and Nabrangpur Railway Line

2009-04-01T00:38:00.001+03:00

Advani assures Kanatabanji Jeypore through Nuapada, Kalahandi and Nabrangpur Railway Line
and Promise to include Bargarh dist with KBK

The Pioneer, April 1, 2009

Advani on recovering black money from Swiss banks

Nimai Charan Sahu/Rakesh Joshi | Sambalpur/Bargarh/Nuapada

NDA prime ministerial candidate LK Advani on Tuesday said black money is crippling the economy of the country and there should be efforts to bring back the million crores of rupees deposited in Swiss banks by Indians. He was addressing an election campaign meeting of the BJP at Paikmal in Padmapur sub-division in Bargarh district.

“I have requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to raise this issue in the coming G-20 nations’ conference,” he said. Once recovered, this huge money could be invested in health, education, rural development, irrigation and all other developmental sectors, he added.

Surprisingly, unlike other BJP leaders, including Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley who visited Orissa recently, Advani did not utter a single word against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik or his BJD in his entire address. He only appealed to the people to vote for the BJP and the NDA both in the State and for the Centre for strong and stable Government.

However, BJP State president Suresh Pujari, BJP candidate from Bargarh Lok Sabha seat, Radharani Panda, Padmapur Assembly seat nominee Pradip Purohit and the party’s State secretary Aswini Sarangi, in their speeches, severely criticised Patnaik and the BJD. District party president Sauri Charan Barik presided over the meeting.

Advani strongly criticised the Congress and UPA Government at the Centre for the present crises everywhere. Price rise of all products including essential commodities severely affects poor people of the country in spite of the tall claim of the UPA Government on low rate of inflation, he said. He assured that if the NDA comes to power, Padmapur sub-division of Bargarh district would be included under the KBK programme for its socio-economic development.

Earlier, launching the election campaign in the State from Khariar in Nuapada district, Adavani said his Government would stress on providing good governance including transparent and progressive Government to the people.

Lauding the efforts of the Vajpayee Government, he said besides making the India an atomic power, the Government was putting stress on connecting the entire country with roads. “While I had laid the foundation stone of road from Gandhinagar to Silichar, I was not able to see the completed road in Silchar which incidentally comes in Assam from where Manmohan Singh has been elected. Development of agriculture and farmers will be the priority of the BJP which had given the farmers a Kisan credit card,” he said.

Though his speech centered mostly on national issues, he touched on local issues and said their demands of a railway line between Kantabanji and Jeypore through Nuapada Kalahandi and Nabrangpur would be fulfilled if the BJP is voted to power.

Orissa as a special catagory state

2009-03-29T22:53:00.001+03:00

The Pioneer, March 30, 2009

While inducting former State Youth Congress president Rohit Pujari into his party, BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik said last week how national parties like the Congress and the BJP are not interested in making Orissa a special category State for speedier economic development. It is strange such a realisation has come to him after a decade of his association with the BJP during half of which the saffron party was in power at the Centre. The timing of airing such realisation is undoubtedly self-serving. It is to hammer home his oft-repeated point that only a regional party like the BJD can do justice to the State. But the hollowness of his line of thinking is self-evident. See what happened to the special treatment given by the Central Government for the development of the KBK districts. Selected as a test-bed for economic regeneration by no less a person than PV Narasimha Rao, the former Prime Minister, the districts were smothered with wheel-barrow loads of cash. Though it is difficult to get the exact amount of money that was pump-primed into that area, it can be safely said that not less than Rs 1700 crore of special assistance was spent there during the ten year period from 1997 to 2007. But, economically, the districts remain where they were before the start of the grandiose development plan. If Patnaik wants a similar economic uplift to be replicated throughout the State through his demand for special category status, then the State is economically doomed for all time to come. Funds are not a problem. The problem is commitment to development and a corruption-free administration. Demand for special category status is a political slogan disguising as an economic catchphrase. And again, not much of a disguise, at that!

BJD expects more from Congress camp

2009-03-27T15:55:00.000+02:00

Expressbuzz, March 27, 2009

BHUBANESWAR: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is waiting for the announcement of the Congress list for finalising candidates for some Lok Sabha and Assembly seats going to polls in the first phase on April 16.

Sources said the BJD expects that some senior leader of the Congress will join the regional outfit after the Congress list is out. BJD today did not announce its candidate for the Kalahandi and Sundargarh Lok Sabha seats. While the Sundargarh seat is likely to go to CPM, speculation is rife on its candidate from the Kalahandi seat.

The Congress is also yet to finalise its candidate from the Kalahandi seat. While Congress working president Bhakta Charan Das is interested to contest from the parliamentary seat, there are also other strong contenders including former minister Bhupinder Singh and former MP Rahas Behari Nayak.

The seat will witness a triangular contest after the snapping of ties between the BJD and BJP. Bikram Keshari Deo of the BJP who won from the seat for three consecutive terms is seeking re-election for the fourth time.

Former State Youth Congress president Rohit Pujari was awarded with the Sambalpur seat after he joined the BJD yesterday only hours after resigning from the Congress. The BJD is now in search of a suitable candidate who can challenge Deo.

The BJD has not announced candidates for the Bissam Katak (ST), Chhatrapur (SC), Aska, Sanakhemundi, Kantamal, Narla, Sambalpur, Talsara (ST), Brajrajnagar, Bonai and Bijepur Assembly seats. Out of these, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has announced candidates for the Narla, Sambalpur and Talsara seats.

However, the BJD has objected to the unilateral announcement of the list by the NCP as it does agree with some of the constituencies and candidates.

The BJD was scheduled to announce the list of candidates jointly with the CPI and CPM.

However, seat-sharing talks though going on well are yet to be over indicating that there are some differences on a number seats. While the delay over announcement of candidate for the Bissam Katak (ST) seat is yet to be clear, the Chhatrapur (SC), Aska, Sanakhemundi and Brajrajnagar seats may go to the CPI. The CPM may get the Kantamal, Bonai and Bijepur seats.

Excise collections surge 25.96% till February

2009-03-27T15:51:00.000+02:00

Businessstandard, March 27, 2009

The collection of excise duty in Orissa surged by 25.96 percent in the first eleven months of the current fiscal, compared to the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. It increased to Rs 479.35 crore from Rs 380.59 crore during this period. More than 40 percent growth in the collection of excise duty during February has contributed to this growth.

The government collected Rs 45.47 crore in February 2009 compared to Rs 32.36 crore in February 2008. If the present trend continues, the collections for the current fiscal will exceed the target, sources said. The state collected Rs 524 crore in 2007-08 with the March 2008 collection being Rs 144 crore. Since, the model code of conduct is in force, no license shop could be opened in March this year. Despite that the department hopes to achieve the target set for 2008-09.

“We require Rs 130 crore in the current month to touch the target set for 2008-09. Since the Orissa State Beverages Corporation (OSBC) will pay Rs 30 crore for the renewal of the wholesale license, there will not be any problem in achieving the target”, an official associated with the process said.

It may be noted, the OSBC has already paid Rs 340.1crore upto the end of February 2009 compared to Rs 266.18 crore paid during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Sources said, the growth of excise duty collections up to February this year was 39.45 percent in Nawarangapur district compared to the previous year. While growth of excise duty collections increased by 31.2 percent in Bolangir district to Rs 6.13 crore, Jagatsinghpur recorded a growth of 30.27 percent to Rs 8.79 crore. However, the performance of districts Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Dhenkanal was not satisfactory.

List of candidates reflects void in BJD

2009-03-27T15:36:00.000+02:00

The Statesman, March 27, 2009
Statesman News Service

BHUBANESWAR, March 26: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik will contest from his home constituency of Hinjili for the third successive term while as many as five of his ministerial colleagues and 22 sitting MLAs have found place in the list of candidates announced for the first phase polls on 16 April.
The first phase is to be held in the western and southern parts of the state comprising of 70 Assembly and 10 LS seats. This belt was by and large dominated by the BJP which has snapped ties with the BJD, hence most of the candidates nominated by the BJD today were new faces.
The list of eight LS candidates reflected the void in the BJD ranks as it had to pitch in many sitting MLAs for LS seats and even nominate rank defectors.
The BJD has nominated Oriya film actor Sidhant Mohapatra for the Berhampur LS seat which had been allotted to the BJP in the 2000 and 2004 elections.
Interestingly, the dearth of candidates for the BJD in this belt was evident from the fact that a couple of turncoats and relative green horns like Mr Rohit Pujari, the youth Congress president who had joined the BJD yesterday was rewarded with the prestigious Sambalpur LS seat. Mr Nityananda Pradhan, a former CPI state chief, who had deserted the party has been given the BJD ticket for Aska LS seat even as the BJD is in seat adjustment with the CPI.
Surprisingly, the BJD dropped one of its former ministers Mr Nagendra Pradhan from the list of MLA candidates.
Equally, baffling was the omission of any candidate for the Kalahandi LS seat. Speculations are that Mr Bhakta Charan Das, the working president of the Congress is unhappy and he may switch over to the BJD to contest from the Kalahandi LS seat.
Mr Das lost the elections continuously for the last three times as far as Kalahandi LS seat is concerned and the Congress is unlikely to nominate him. So he is likely to join the BJD and try his luck, said reliable sources here.
The eight nominated for the LS by the BJD today are Mr Jayaram Pangi, a sitting MLA for the Koraput LS seat, Mr Dambaru Majhi for the Nawarangpur LS seat, Mr Sidhant Mohapatra for Berhampur, Mr Nityananda Pradhan for Aska, Mr Rudramadhab Ray, a sitting MLA for the Kandhamal seat, Mr Kalikesh Singh Deo, another sitting MLA for Bolangir, Mr Rohit Pujari for Sambalpur and Mr Hamid Hussain for Bargarh.

Politics over aam admi

2009-03-27T15:35:00.000+02:00

The Statesman (Kolkata), March 27, 2009

Against the BJP’s last election slogan of “India Shining”, the Congress is desperately trying to project that the UPA’s five-year rule has amply benefited the aam admi and reduced their sufferings.
Congress leaders are certain that these people will remain obliged to them for the welfare schemes launched by the UPA government ~ the NREGP to provide 100 days’ guaranteed jobs to villagers, Bharat Nirman to build infrastructure and thereby create more jobs, the Indira Awaas Yojana to build homes and the Rajiv Gandhi Urban Renewal Mission to facilitate urban infrastructure and ensure jobs in urban areas. These are the major flagship projects of the UPA regime which are expected to yield huge electoral dividends.
Pranab Mukherjee, acting finance minister, could not desist from campaigning for his party while presenting the interim budget by saying that the aam admi will definitely recognise the hand that has vastly removed their distress.

UNEMPLOYMENT

But what is the reality? Are the ordinary people really better off, particularly when the dual economic crisis of inflation and recession has been plaguing their lives for the past three years without any government safeguard? It is clear that the economic growth during the past five years, whatever shine it might have had, has remained mostly jobless.
A comparison of the two decades ending and beginning in 1993-94 shows that unemployment grew from 6.06 per cent to 8.28 per cent a year. As a result, the number of people employed registered a negative growth of 5.02 per cent in the latter decade when it actually increased by 1.73 per cent in the former. In conformity with declining population growth rate, both of labour force and work force grew lowly in the latter decade. But what is more worrying is the fact that although the gap between the two was negative by 0.31 per cent a year in the former decade, it has become positive by 0.22 per cent a year in the latter, implying labour force growth outweighing the work force growth to cause unemployment.
While the fall in employment in recent years is more acute in the organised sector, a fallout of recession, unorganised sector jobs have largely been low paid as well as irregular in nature. Thirty seven crore of unorganised workers countrywide, 93 per cent of the total work force, are still deprived of social securities and a protected national minimum wage law. Suggestions of the Second Labour Commission, National Commission on Enterprises in Unorganised Sector and the National Campaign Committee for Unorganised Sector Workers to bring legislations in these regards were ignored by the UPA government.
Minimal success of providing jobs under the NREGP has grossly contributed to the growing gap between labour force and work force growth in the rural areas. While persons registered under this scheme was only 28.2 per cent in 2007-08, the average job availability nationwide was only 21 days in 2008, with the states varying widely in respect of its success.
Similar is the outcome of other job providing schemes introduced one after another without tightening the operating mechanism at the state levels. This failure has intensified rural people’s distress to accentuate the poverty problem. Mani Shankar Ayer, Congress leader and Union panchayat minister, himself asserts that 84 per cent of the rural people have to live on a paltry Rs 20 or even less. Even a sizeable portion of them can earn only Rs 9 or even less per day.
This is the real condition of the rural masses who constitute the Congress’ aam admi. Against this, India has four in the list of top 10 billionaires in the world. What a glaring disparity!
FARMERS’ SUICIDE

The ordinary Indian citizens are mostly farmers whom our leaders forgot while signing the agricultural treaties under the WTO; this paved the way for unrestricted import of agricultural produce, preventing farmers from getting supportive crop prices and thereby pushing them, hugely indebted, towards committing suicide. This is no doubt the saddest event since independence; the much hyped dazzling economic growth over the years pales into insignificance.
In the decade since 1997 as per the National Crime Records Bureau, 1.83 lakh farmers committed suicide, while it is more than 1 lakh in the past five years. Maharashtra, the home state of Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, who is one of the prime ministerial aspirants this time, heads the list with more than 5,000 suicides, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.
The much publicised loan waiver scheme of Rs 60,000 crore has only benefited the rich farmers and the banks without reaching the needy.
The UPA leaders are feeling relieved that a huge sum of Rs 2,29,341 crore has been spent on rural economy, apart from fertilizer subsidy and special packages, to boost agriculture and infrastructure, including roads, health, water and sanitation. In it, NREGP and Bharat Nirman, the UPA’s two mostly favoured job providing schemes, took Rs 30,000 crore and Rs 40,900 crore, respectively. But where has the money gone?
A Wardha farmer says that the money has travelled to the city markets through the village rich to be mostly used in urban real estates and has never reached areas like Bundlekhand, Kalahandi, Vidarbha, Telangana, Hassan or Wynad where incidence of suicides is growing alarmingly.
P Chidambaram in the past four years and Pranab Mukherjee this year have provided enough sops and freebies to the agricultural sector without any noticeable uplift. The problem lies more in marketing the crops than production. This simple truth has never been understood by our leaders. Our farmers have never got the assured markets and lifting the quantitative restriction on imports of major farm crops has put the last nail in the coffin.
Another very vulnerable sector is hand weaving which has also been pushed to the brink of ruin by the unrestricted import of cheap silk or imitation silk cloth from China and embroidery machines under the liberalised import regime of the WTO. Already 47 weavers are reported to have ended their lives in the Varanasi sub-division of Uttar Pradesh, being unable to meet the basic needs; government schemes have only helped the rich traders to prosper instead of the weavers.
Unorganised farmers in search of a voice seem to have found one. Kalavati, an uneducated village widow, is now a very famous name as she leads an association of farmers’ widows in Yavatmal district of Vidarbha in Maharashtra under the banner of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti. It is now a growing army of 1.6 lakh-plus widows. The samiti members are demanding compensation from the government for the death of their husbands. It also wants proper facilities of marketing instead of government doles, without which, as Kalavati has rightly realised, farmers will refuse to sell food, making agriculture a losing proposal. Then half of the farmers will flee the villages, while the other half will stick to farming only to ensure survival of their families.
It’s high time our leaders took this warning seriously and acted without delay to strengthen and extend cooperative societies, so that agriculture is sustained for the real benefit of the aam admi and economic growth becomes an inclusive one.
BISWADEB CHATTERJEE
(The writer is Reader of Economics, Durgapur Government College)

Why should we vote, ask Balangir villagers

2009-03-27T15:26:00.001+02:00

Merinews, March 27, 2009
Satyajit Nayak

Balangir district in western Orissa is fast heading towards an extreme shortage of both food and water. Balangir needs special attention. At the government level, it needs quick release of funds and execution of programmes on a war-footing.

IF IT was Kalahandi in the mid-1980s that was known for its abject poverty, frequent droughts and stark hunger, it is Balangir’s turn now to cry for help. This district in western Orissa is fast heading towards an extreme shortage of both food and water. The continuous drought has resulted in over 80 per cent loss of paddy crop. And the drinking water sources are fast drying up. There is a surfeit of only despair and desolation.

A vast majority of the people do not have money to buy food. Even government statistics admit that more than 87 per cent of the people in the district are below the poverty line. With the paddy harvest lost to drought and no other work to be found, over two lakh people from Balangir have migrated to other states.

The situation is worse in Balangir because only five per cent of the land is covered by irrigation. Drought and migration may not be new to Balangir -- this season has seen the largest migration since 1960s. At least 40,000 people have left Balangir this year by train alone, according to official figures.

Balangir’s present plight is the result of years of neglect by the State Government and the lack of initiative on the part of those who represent the district in Bhubaneswar and Delhi since Independence. The region has bad roads, poor irrigation, degraded forests and little industry.

Since decades, Balangir has been continuously represented by the royal family members both in State Assembly as well as Parliament. They are millionaires but still their district is the poorest in India. They prefer to work from there bunglows in Bhubaneswar and Delhi rather than opting to stay in their own constituency.

They might be doing some developmental work for the people but it is insufficient as they have ruled for decades, much more was expected from them.

Lakhs of people from Balangir are forced to migrate in search of livelihood. Be it pulling rickshaws in Raipur, slaving at brick kilns in Vizianagaram or working at great risk on high-rise buildings in Mumbai. They are all devoid of their basic rights.

A villager from Bongomunda village in Balangir district told me a year back: “These politicians only remember us during elections. They will send money, desi liquor etc to get our vote; but after winning we again becomes strangers for them...so why should we vote? Nothing has changed since decades.”

Balangir needs special attention. At the government level, it needs release of funds within hours and execution of programmes on a war-footing. Help from voluntary agencies is also required. Two international agencies -- CARE and UNDP -- have already come forward to help on the request of the district administration.

Sahara Power to set up 1,320 Mw project in Orissa

2009-02-10T12:23:00.001+02:00

Businessstandard, Feb 10, 2009
Press Trust of India / New Delhi February 09, 2009, 20:52 IST

Sahara group firm Sahara India Power Corporation today said it would set up a 1,320 Mw coal-based thermal power project in Orissa.

"Sahara India Power Corp would set up a 1,320 Mw coal-based thermal power plant at Balangir in Orissa at an investment of Rs 5,604 crore," a company release said.

To be built on an area of 1,500 acres, the first unit of 660 Mw capacity would commission in about four years. The second unit is expected to be commissioned in nearly five years time, it said.

The plant would be set up through joint venture participation with power companies from different parts of the world, the release said.

The company would also develop non-conventional power plants using the latest and emerging technologies. It would set up a 5 Mw Grid Interactive Solar Photo Voltaic Power Plant at Dhenkanal in Orissa at an investment of Rs 125 crore.

Sahara Power has tied up with Solar Integrated Technologies (USA) for supply and installation of the required plant and equipment.

The company is also planning to set up 25-Mw wind power projects in Orissa. It has proposed to set up a 2,000 Mw coal-based power plants in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh at an estimated investment of Rs 8,000 crore each.

Call for government medical colleges in Orissa

2009-02-10T12:16:00.001+02:00

Merinews, Feb 10, 2009

Central government has upgraded five more medical colleges to the standard of AIIMS all over the nation. It has also sanctioned two more premier referral institutes on the lines of AIIMS, at Raiganj in West Bengal and in Uttar Pradesh..

IN A letter, Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik was urged to take new initiative to convert either VVS Medical College, Burla to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) standard or proposed a similar institution in backward regions such as for Western Orissa Development Council (WODC) initiated medical college in Jaring or Balangir.
Recently, Central government has upgraded five more medical colleges to the standard of AIIMS all over the nation. Central government has also sanctioned two more premier referral institutes on the lines of the prestigious AIIMS, one at Raiganj in West Bengal’s North Dinajpur district and the other in Uttar Pradesh.

Despite high profile foundation ceremony for both the private medical colleges at Balangir and Jaring in Orissa before the election, they have not yet met the expectations even after five years. Situation of proposed private medical college in Balangir is worst among the three proposed private medical colleges through WODC initiative in Rourkela, Jaring and Balangir. In future, private medical college in Rourkela may be successful like in state capital region.

Though Orissa has severe shortage of medical professionals such as doctors and has less number of government medical colleges compared to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra etc, medical college is more than an educational institution for local people in backward pockets. It serves as a hospital for secondary and tertiary health facilities providing better service and facilities for local people in backward region, where finding good quality private hospitals like Apollo, Kalinga Hospital, etc is very difficult.

Private medical colleges and hospitals rarely meet what government medical colleges provide towards local health facilities to poor people who have little support to even travel to the state capital from Koraput, Kalahandi or Balangir regions or pay the required fees.

Keeping backward regions in mind, West Bengal government has proposed to establish similar AIIMS like institution in North Bengal, whereas Chhattisgarh government has established government medical college in Jagdalpur region. Similarly, Tamil Nadu government is establishing a medical college in Tiruvarur and Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka governments are focusing in other backward pockets in their states.

However, Orissa government has only initiated, through WODC, private medical college in backward and less deserved regions. It does not make sense, when state government is establishing fully government medical colleges in capital region such as Capital Hospital medical college, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) medical college at the same time encouraging private player to open medical college in regions like Balangir, Kalahandi etc and as a result such institutions in backward places are struggling to meet local expectation even after five years, where as other proposed private medical colleges in Bhubaneswar region have already started their courses and hospital by this time.

In fact, it creates a wrong impression that Orissa state government is more concerned towards establishing government institutions in state capital region such as Law University, Capital medical college, ESIC medical college, Culture University, Ravenshaw University, IIT, NISER, WCCU, etc by ignoring other backward parts except consolation given to Kalahandi and Berhampur regions recently for their respective local demand for national institution since decades in the form of engineering colleges.

Orissa government should write to central government to establish a similar AIIMS type institution in KBK region or upgrade VSS Medical College to an AIIMS type institution along with completely taking out medical colleges proposed in Balangir and Jaring from private players.

Converting regional diagnostic centres at Baripada, Bhawanipatna, Koraput and Sundergarh to full fledge government medical colleges will be an excellent idea for the state government as these locations were chosen based on backwardness, tribal population and geographical requirements. Similar regional diagnostic centre in Capital Hospital has been converted to a government medical college. Indeed, it will serve in greater interest of the state along with present government medical colleges in Cuttack, Berhampur, Burla and Bhubaneswar apart from recently proposed medical college in Talcher/Angul by Central Coal Ministry which will be logically expected to be equivalent to government medical colleges.

Develop rail network in kandhamal

2009-02-04T15:18:00.000+02:00

Expressbuzz, Feb 4, 2009

BHUBANESWAR: Agami Odisha and several organisations staged a demonstration in front of the headquarters of the East Coast Railway here today demanding development of railway network in Kandhamal and other backward regions of the State.

In a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the organisations maintained that Kandhamal and Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) regions are most backward areas of the country.

Similar backward areas in the country like the north-eastern states have received special treatment from the Railway Board but the KBK region has been neglected for decades, the memorandum alleged and demanded a special package for the region.

Alleging step-motherly attitude of the Railways towards the State, the memorandum maintained that Khurda Road- Balangir and Lanjigarh Road- Junagarh railway lines in Orissa were approved much earlier than Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi and Sultanganj-Deogarh railway lines in Bihar, but only 10 per cent work has been completed.

But both the projects in Bihar have been completed.

During last 15 years more lines were approved in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal than in Orissa, it alleged and demanded that a Kandhamal rail link should be sanctioned.

Former MP and CPM leader Shivaji Patnaik participated in the demonstration.

NRI seeks rail infrastructure in Orissa’s backward region

2009-01-31T13:20:00.000+02:00

Thaiindian.com, Jan 31, 2009
January 31st, 2009 - 4:05 pm ICT by IANS - Send to a friend:

Bhubaneswar, Jan 31 (IANS) An Oriya NRI based in Lebanon has urged the government to develop railway infrastructure in Orissa’s most backward districts to ensure the economic prosperity of the region.The Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) region, known for its economic backwardness, has been neglected by the central government for years, Digambara Patra, an Oriya academic based in Beirut, told IANS in an email.

Patra said he had Friday written letters to President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stressing the need for developing a railway network in the region.

“Railway infrastructure development is one of the keys to success and can bring economic prosperity to such a backward region,” Patra, who works as an assistant professor at the department of chemistry in the American University in Beirut, wrote in the email.

“Unfortunately, in railway development, the Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput region is being neglected…In the last couple of years, Indian Railways has committed Rs.50,000 crore (Rs.500 billion) investment only in Bihar for various ongoing and new projects, but it has neglected Orissa, especially the KBK areas,” Patra said.

He pointed out that the central government had in the past has established a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) project in Sunabeda, Koraput and an ordinance factory in Balangir and both had increased the employment potential in the regions. But the neighbouring Kalahandi region has not been considered for any major industrial project, Patra said.

He added that “setting up a new East Coast railway division in the region would help speed up railway projects in the impoverished western and southern Orissa, which are poorly connected by railways”.

NRO reminder on KBK rail

2009-01-31T11:02:00.001+02:00

Tathya.in, Jan 31, 2009
Bhawanipatna:31/January/2009

Critical infrastructure like national highway, railway line and telecommunication is poorest in Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) region in Orissa.

And Naxalism takes advantage of the backward region due to hilly and forest terrain.

However, infrastructure owes in general and rail connectivity in particular in KBK is being neglected severely and has not yet been considered by the Centre.

It is clearly evident from struggling ongoing projects since decades in KBK region such as Lanjigarh road – Junagarh and Balangir – Khordha road lines.

In last couple of years Indian Railway has committed Rs.50,000 crore investment only in Bihar for various ongoing and new projects where as Orissa, especially KBK, is being continuously neglected since decades by Indian railway.

Politicians have often used backwardness of KBK in general and Kalahandi in particular to show case their eagerness towards the poor people in the society though they fail to scrutinize high rate of unemployment rate among semi-skilled and skilled laborer in the region.

While Indian Railway has proposed to establish new factory in UP, Bihar and Kerala, it has coolly forgotten Orissa, alleged Digamabara Patra in a memorandum to Dr. Man Mohan Singh.

Lanjigarh road is located in the border of Kandhamal, Rayagada and Kalahandi.

A factory based at Lanjigarh road/Bhawanipatna will enormously benefit Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajpati, Sonepur and Malkangiri equally as it is centrally located to all the districts, feel Dr. Patra.

A leading Non Resident Oriya (NRO) argues for a new East Coast railway division in Lanjigarh road/Bhawanipatna.

This will help to speed up the railway projects in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajpati, Sonepur and Malkangiri districts many of which are poorly connected by Indian railway.

Completion of Lanjigarh road – Jungarh line completely in 2009-10 , conneting Khordha road – Balangir line in Eleventh Plan has been urged.

Immediate approval of the projects like Lanjigarh road – Phulbani – Angul line Junagarh – Nabarangpur – Jeypur – Malkangiri – Balachandar road line and Kantabanji – Khariar – Dharamgarh – Ampani – Nabarangpur – Jeypur line has been urged by Dr.Patra, who teaches in American University of Beirut.

Centre approves 4 polytechnics

2009-01-26T11:08:00.000+02:00

Tathya.in, Jan 24, 2009
Bhubaneswar:24/January/2009

Centre has approved to open 4 polytechnics in Malkangiri, Boudh, Gajapati and Samabalpur district

In order to lure the youth of the Maoist predominant areas for technical education the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has chalked out program to establish more diploma engineering institutions.

So Orissa being largely affected by Left Wing Extremism has been benefited handsomely.

Malkangiri, the worst affected by Maoist menace has been allotted a polytechnic.

Each polytechnic will cost Rs.12 crore and the MHRD has provided Rs.8 crore as the first instalment.

Vir Vikaram Yadav, Director Techinal Education, speaking to tathya.in said that the State Government is trying to cover all the districts with polytechnics.

While the State Government has 13, there are 7 private polytechnics imparting diploma in engineering.

With these 4 new institutions, many other districts are left.

Districts carved out in 90’s like Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Nayagarh, Nawarangpur and Sonepur also do not have any polytechincs.

Mr.Yadav said that the State Government has also decided to cover all the blocks with Industrial Training Institute (ITI).

Accordingly plans are afoot to cover 125 blocks which are yet to have an ITI.

In the meantime the Directorate of Technical Education & Training (DTET) has prepared a Vision Document keeping in view the growing demand for technical education.

Government of Orissa is also preparing a memorandum for the National Knowledge Commission, which will be included in the agenda of the Centre to provide future course for technical and technological development.

Tribal Central varsity to be set up in Koraput: Union Minister

2009-01-16T15:26:00.000+02:00

The Pioneer, Jan 16, 2009
PNS | Sunabeda

The Union Government would set up a tribal Central university in Koraput district, said Union Minister of State for Rural Development Chandrasekhar Sahu while addressing the annual function of the women’s college here.

Attending the function as the chief guest, Sahu advised students to be self-sustained and utilise their knowledge acquired due course of their academic pursuit for social development. Education should not be confined to getting a job only, he added.

Attending as the chief speaker, DAV College principal Harisankar Mishra said eradication of poverty is must for bringing an improvement in education. The function was presided over by college principal Pabitra Kumar Bedanta.

Among others, former Minister Raghunath Patnaik, Koraput MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati, Ayodhya Samal and Indira Priyadarsini Patnaik also spoke. Sahu distributed prizes to the deserving candidates.

Civil Society favor K'mal rail

2009-01-09T15:41:00.001+02:00

Tathya.in, Jan 9, 2009
Bhubaneswar:9/January/2009

Civil Society of Orissa will demand railway connectivity to Kandhamal.

So the members of the Civil Society will stage dharana in front of the Orissa East Coast Railways (ECOR) headquarters here on 3 February.

They will also present a detailed picture of the continuous neglect and step motherly attitude of the Indian Railways to Orissa

It seems that they have lost high hopes pinned on Kalyan Coomar Jena.

People from all walks of life in Orissa were very happy as Mr.Jena took over reins of Indian Railways.

Least said is better about the Chairman of Railway Board, said many members of the Civil Society.

During Jena’s tenure, Bihar got the maximum and Orissa as usual suffered a lot.

There are only cosmetic changes and lollypops for Orissa, lamented they.

So the leading members of the Civil Society are furious with the Indian Railways authorities.

They have decided to vent anger in public in a peaceful way on 3 February here.

Their main demand is to connect Kandhamal with railways network.

People from all walks of life participated in the meeting held here on 7 January and they voiced the demand for new rail line in Kandhamal.

They were unanimous over the issue as they felt that once the connectivity will be there, the problem will eased.

Professor Chitta Baral, leading voice of NROs gave out details how Orissa has been neglected during Lalu Prasad Yadav regime when Mr.Jena is the Chairman of the Board.

Among others Braja Kishore Tripathy, MP, Sibaji Pattnaik, former MP, Dhananda Mishra, Narendra Mishra, Sudarsan Das also raised pertinent issues.

Engineer BC Praharaj, Ajaya Pattnaik, Bimal Mishra,Rajesh Mishra and SN Mishra pointed out the requirement of the state so far railways infrastructure is concerned.

Political personalities including Sura Jena, Biswanath Mohapatra,Tapasi Praharaj, Deba Parija, Bikram Swain vented their ire against the authorities.

Social activists like Tusar ray, Sashiprabha Bindhani, Madhu Bhai, Manoj Jena, Abhaya Singh, Pradipta Pradhan, Dillip Sabat also spoke on the occasion.

More than 70 members of the Civil Society and at least 20 from Kandhamal participated in the brain storming.

ECOR was represented by TK Joshi and Sanjay Mishra.

Civil Society has decided to organize a meeting prior to 3 February in Kandhamal to raise awareness.

It has been decided to publicize a composite document on Rail neglect in Orissa.

The meeting was organized by Agami Odisha, Swabhiman Odisha Munch, Loksamukhya and Focus Orissa.

All Participant organizations almost vowed to make the people of Orissa aware about Railway neglect and fight for the Railway infrastructural development in Orissa.

Er.Lalit Mohan Pattnaik of Agami Orissa coordinated the meeting.

Letter to CM: Proposal to Convert Govt Auton. College Bhawanipatna to Unitary University

2009-01-07T15:53:00.003+02:00

Orissadiary, Dec 25, 2008

Dear honorable Chief Minister, Mr. Patnaik,
Unitary University provides many additional advantages to autonomous college to design/introduce new courses depending on local need in the graduate and post graduate level, to substantially improve research activities, to employ permanent faculties who can support in research and education in the long term development of the institution and importantly ushers in more funds from the state and UGC to improve infrastructure, teaching programs, and research facilities.

Recent decision by the state Government to convert Ravenshaw College, UCE Burla and Khallikote College are welcome decision in that respect.

Coincidentally, these institutions were affiliated with Utkal University (Ravenshaw College), BPUT (UCE Burla) and Berhampur University (Khallikote College) representing Central (Ravenshaw College), Western (UCE Burla) and South (Khallokote) Orissa regions. However, none of them belong to KBK region or are affiliated with the Sambalpur University (except UCE’s association in the past).

UGC has recommended “College with Potential for Excellence” (CPE) status so far to only five Colleges from Orissa, out of which two of them, Ravenshaw Autonomous College Cuttack and Khallikote Autonomous College Berhamapur, are (being) made Unitary University by the state Government. Other three are GM Autonomous College Sambalpur, Govt. Autonomous College Bhawanipatna and Fakir Mohan Autonomous College Balasore.

Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna, being one of the prides of the KBK as well as Western Orissa regions, caters to the flame of learning since about last 50 years. It is enjoying the status of “College with Potential for Excellence” (CPE) since September 2004 being one among the first 47 colleges of the whole nation. It is among the first 3 colleges and only College in KBK region to receive CPE honor.

Despite being located in a backward and underdeveloped region, Government (Autonomous) College Bhawanipatna has established itself for maintaining high quality in education in this part of the state. Students of this College have been securing top ranks at the University level as well as state level in various fields of education.

KBK region is known to be backward in higher education and research facilities. Lack of sufficient teachers/lecturers in major Govt. Colleges in the region has been a serious concern.

Unitary University would facilitate highly skilled professionals in the various fields to join as permanent faculties, such as, as Assistant, Associate and full Professors, in such institutions and will fulfill deficiencies in shortage of lecturers in Autonomous College in Kalahandi.

In major Govt. and private institutions in Kalahandi shortage of lecturers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, optometrists, agriculture and horticulture professionals etc are always noticed as there are only few professionals in various fields at the local level.

Where as local students in Kalahandi are struggling to get employment in the local level and some of them are forcefully migrating to other states in search for opportunities. There is a high percentage of local youth with bachelor degree without any employment. Many of them [such as Mr. Ajit Barik (OBC), Mr. Surudhan Hans (OBC), Mr. Raita Hans from Gambhariguda, P.O. Khairpadar, Dharamgarh], are working as barber or daily laborer despite having bachelor degree and OBC certificate with them. This contradiction in place like Kalahandi is surprising but it is a real fact and mainly due to improper planning in higher educational policy, specially, at the local level.

On the other hand, there is no state University in Kalahandi or KBK region to meet local requirements. Being an autonomous college, Government Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna has limited flexibility to introduce new courses on nursing, pharmacy, optometrist, agriculture, horticulture, banking and services, metal processing, information processing, computer science, medicine etc in the diploma, bachelor as well as postgraduate level course to fulfill local demand.

A Unitary University, however, will give this institution independency to introduce new courses not only in the discipline mentioned above but also in the field of medicine, agriculture, technology etc based on local requirements as a “Real University”.

Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna is located on NH 201 and has 60 acres of land and towards its north-east more than 100 acres of land are under the possession of the State Government and some private individuals which are lying vacant and can be utilized for horizontal structural growth. If situation arises like for Ravenshaw University, there is sufficient of land near to Bhawanipatna for future possible expansion of a new separate campus.

Recently, Human Resource Development, Govt. of India has selected locations for IIT/IIM/WCCU based on region and not based on population and other parameters. In fact, as per Government notification Amarkantak was chosen for “Indira Gandhi National Tribal University” because it is centrally located tribal region in Maharastra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh.

Kalahandi is the central district in KBK region. Even including other backward districts of Kandhamal, Boudh and Padampur sub-division, Bhawanipatna, could be ideally suited as a central location in this region. All major towns/districts of KBK as well as Boudh, Kandhamal and Padampur (Bargarh Dist) could be easily reached within 200 km by state/national highways from this place.

Based on location, available infrastructure, local & regional requirements, quality and importantly merit Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna deserves to be a Unitary University.

Making Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna a Unitary University will help this institution to improve its infrastructure to introduce new courses and improve its research facilities in this part, specially, in a backward part of the state that does not have any state University to meet all local requirements in employment and education.

We urge you to immediately approve and make the Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna to a Unitary University in the next cabinet meeting.

Thanking you

Best regards

Dr Digambara Patra
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
Email: digpatra@rediffmail.com

Meeting on “Railways in Orissa” & our demand to sanction a Rail Link in Kandhamal

2009-01-07T15:21:00.002+02:00

Respected Sir,

We would like to invite you to our session on Railways in Orissa and our demand to sanction a Rail Link in Kandhamal. The gathering will comprise of concerned Odia Budhijibi inside and outside of Orissa as well as political activist and representative from different Political party. Agami Odisha member Prof Chitta Baral from Arizona University ( USA) will give a presentation on Railways.

This programme is being conducted jointly by Agami Odisha. Swabhiman Odisha Munch , Lokasamukhya and Focus Orissa. Being convener of this programme, I will be highly obliged for your august presence in our meeting on 7th January’09 at Red Cross Bhawan by 10.30 AM. Please find our leaflet attached.

Thanking You,

Yours Truely

Programme;
Date & Time-7th Jan’09 at 10.30AM to 2PM ( Lunch)
Redcross Bhawan, Unit-9,Bhubaneswar

Convener) Er. Lalit Pattnaik.
Working President Agami Odisha
Organisers- AGAMI ODISHA, SWABHIMAN ODISHA MUNCH & LOKASAMUKHYA

Naveen's pre-poll gift to Kalahandi

2009-01-07T14:59:00.000+02:00

Expressbuzz.com, 28th December, 2008

The State Government has decided to open an engineering college and an agriculture college in Kalahandi district. This was decided at a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here today. Naveen has directed the authorities concerned to start the construction of the two colleges immediately.
Work on the two colleges will start during the current financial year. A provision of Rs 5 cr each will be made for this. The engineering college will be established at Bhawanipatna with 240 seats. The seats will be filled up through joint entrance examination and admissions will start from the next academic year. The proposed college has got the approval of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
The new agriculture college, with 48 seats, will function from the next academic year in the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) at Bhawanipatna. This will be the third agriculture college in the State after Bhubaneswar and Chiplima.
The Chief Minister said establishment of these two colleges in Kalahandi will help in the economic growth of the district. Among others, Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy, Development Commissioner TK Mishra and senior officials attended the meeting.
Spokesperson of Kalahandi Central University Kriyanustan Committee Akshaya Kumar Nanda welcomed the decision and said in Bhawanipatna that the move will boost higher education in technical field in the district having no technical college.
However, the proposed two colleges are no alternative for Central university for which the people are fighting. Similarly, president of Sikshya Vikash Committee Gopabandhu Behera said setting up of a Central university is the prime demand of the people

500 acres to be provided for Central Varsity in Koraput

2008-12-19T10:11:00.000+02:00

The Pioneer, Dec 19, 2008
PNS | Bhubaneswar

The State Government would provide 500 acre of land to the Centre to facilitate the establishment of a Central University in Koraput town, said Higher Education Minister Samir Dey in the State Assembly on Thursday.

Dey on the floor of the Assembly said the Ministry of Human Resources Development has already constituted an inspection committee to identify the land.

“A committee under the Deputy Secretary Sunil Kumar would soon visit the State to examine the lands. After the Committee completes its work, the establishment work for the university would start,” he said, adding that the land would be provided at free of cost.

A serious debate took place during the Question Hour regarding the establishment of the Central University in Koraput.

Koraput-Bhawanipatna-Rayagda Tribal Tourism Triangle in Orissa

2008-11-28T16:55:00.002+02:00

Dharitri, Nov 28, 2008
Toursim attraction in between Bhawanipatna and Indravati Artificial Lake

Comment:
Similar to golden triangle comprising Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar, Koraput – Bhawanipatna – Rayagada could be marketed as Tribal Tourism Triangle by Orissa tourism Department.

Koraput (temple) – Kolab (water reservoir and power station) – Raniguda - Tentulikhunti (Temple) - Mukhiguda (water reservoir and power station) – Indravati dam (water reservoir) - Thuamul Rampur (tribal life, tea/coffee garden, waterfall) –Karlapat (sanctuary, wildlife) – Phurli Jharan and Jakham (water fall)– Bhawanipatna (temple) – Asurgarh(historial place, ruins of a fort) – Bisam Cuttack (tribal: dongria kondh) – Gadgada (water fall) - Therubali (temple) – Rayagada (temple) – Hati Pathar (waterfall) - Laxmipur – Damanjodi (natural beauty) – Koraput (temple)

Letter for Tribal Tourism Triangle in KBK

2008-11-21T15:50:00.001+02:00

Dear Director, Dept of Tourism, Govt. of Orissa,

Similar to golden triangle comprising Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar, Koraput – Bhawanipatna – Rayagada could be marketed as Tribal Tourism Triangle by Orissa tourism Department.

Koraput (temple) – Kolab (water reservoir and power station) – Raniguda - Tentulikhunti (Temple) - Mukhiguda (water reservoir and power station) – Indravati dam (water reservoir) - Thuamul Rampur (tribal life, tea/coffee garden, waterfall) –Karlapat (sanctuary, wildlife) – Phurli Jharan and Jakham (water fall)– Bhawanipatna (temple) – Asurgarh(historial place, ruins of a fort) – Bisam Cuttack (tribal: dongria kondh) – Gadgada (water fall) - Therubali (temple) – Rayagada (temple) – Hati Pathar (waterfall) - Laxmipur – Damanjodi (natural beauty) – Koraput (temple)

Doing so other tourist places near to Koraput (like Jeypore, Duduma, Nandapur, Gupteswar etc), Bhawanipatna (like Junagarh, Ranipur Jharial, Khariar, Bhim Khoj near Dharamgarh, Dokrichanchra, Patalganga, Sunabeda in Nuapada, Gudahandi etc) and Rayagada (Minajhola, Devgiri, Padampur, Gunpur, Daringbadi in Kandhamal, etc) will also get more emphasis and importance as Koraput, Bhawanipatna and Rayagada would facilitate as the center for them encouraging more nature and tribal loving tourists to KBK-Kandhamal regions.

A state highway is required to connect Raniguda with Indravati dam via Singpuru, Jagganathpur and Tentulikhunti for tourism development in the area, particularly natural and tribal beauty of Thuamul Rampur, Karlapat (wildlife) and Indravati dam could be well exploited through it.
Similarly connecting Indravati dam with Ranipur jharial, Patalganga, Sunabeda in Nuapada via Moter, Dharamgarh, Sindhekela by a state highway would also encourage tourists in KBK region.

Tribal dance like Ghumura, Dalkhai, Danda, Kondh dance, Paraja dance, Bonda dance etc could be associated at various tourist locations.

Thanks and best regards
Digambara

Govt to restructure State’s 314 blocks

2008-11-01T21:54:00.001+02:00

The Pioneer, Nov 2, 2008

The Orissa Government has decided to restructure all the 314 blocks of the State. A decision to this effect was taken at the all-secretaries meeting chaired by Chief Secy Ajit Kumar Tripathy.

It was decided in the meeting that Government would seek financial assistance from the 13th Finance Commission to go ahead with the restructuring of the blocks. Steps would be taken to build up the cluster of different categories block wise.

At the time of restructuring of the blocks, existing population, the socio-economic condition of the people would be taken into consideration. The SC and ST population and the population of other backward class would be taken into consideration. The block would be restructured to improve the administrative efficiency and augmenting the delivery mechanism. Most of the funds now straight come to the block. A lot of money under NREGS and other programmes is being spent by the block unit.

Tripathy asked the officials to take steps for expediting the establishments of ITIs in block level. In yet another development, the Planning Commission has asked the State to submit an- eight year action plan for the KBK districts for which fund can be released.

Single Window authority clears 2 projects: one in Balangir

2008-10-28T12:56:00.000+02:00

The Pioneer, Oct 28, 2008

The State level- Single Window Clearance Authority on Monday cleared two proposals in power sector. It approved the NTPC's 4, 300 megawatt power project. Rs 19,840 crore would be invested and the project would come up in Dhenkanal.

It also approved another proposal in the thermal sector. Sahara India Power Corporation in collaboration with Goudin of China will set up a thermal project at Bolangir. Rs 5,604 crore will be invested in the project. Chief Secretary Ajit Tripathy presided over the meeting.

KBK still limping

2008-10-27T14:24:00.000+02:00

The Statesman, Oct 27, 2008
Statesman News Service

BHUBANESWAR, Oct 26: Two decades of focused intervention, entailing pumping in crores of rupees, seems to have had little impact on the notoriously backward KBK region (erstwhile undivided Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi districts) according to the Food Security Atlas released by World Food Programme and Institute for Human Development.
"It is surprising that the efforts put into the development of the region have not yielded tangible results," states the report, while dealing with KBK region and noting that widespread malnutrition and mortality levels are a pointer to the dismal situation.
The region is characterised by wastelands, scrublands, low agriculture development, abysmally low literacy levels and high malnutrition levels.
The KBK region accounts for 31 per cent of the total area of the state, but only 20 per cent of the total population indicating low density of population. A huge part of the region is unfit for cultivation and is mostly degraded forests and scrublands. Koraput, for instances, has more than 1,000 sq kms of its area under wastelands.
Low levels of land development in the region have resulted in poor performance on the agricultural front. Despite all talk of wasteland development, the fact is that the region has not benefited from the programme as yet.
Consequent to this is the fact that very small area can be cultivated twice in an agricultural year and the cropping intensity is low. Only 19 per cent of the total area of Rayagada district is under cultivation while it is barely 20 per cent in Malkangiri district, 35 per cent in Koraput, 37 per cent in Bolangir and 41 percent in Kalahandi. The KBK average works out to 35.5 per cent in terms of area under cultivation.
The food grain yield per heactre in KBK region is 590 kg with the yield per hectare in some districts like Nuapada being as low as 221 kg, Bolangir 302 kg and Kalahandi 491 kg said the report.
Less than five per cent of the surveyed tribal population were found to be in a food secure situation in these districts. The proportion of extremely food insecure tribal households that can hardly manage one square meal a day is highest in Rayagada district at almost 12 per cent of the tribal population being unable to get one meal per day for major part of the year. Five of the eight districts in the region have a less than 10 per cent urbanisation level and these districts have a very high proportion of STs, almost twice the proportion of tribes in other parts of the state.
Other parameters too show that KBK is lagging behind the rest of the state. Koraput, Nawarangpur, Malkangiri and Rayagada have a rural female literacy rate of less than 20 per cent. The food insecurity status of the region manifests itself in high mortality and malnourishment. Most of the districts in the region record over 150 child deaths per 1000 live births and over 40 percent of the children are in the moderately underweight category.
Shockingly, the situation prevailing in KBK region is despite special interventions in the form of Area Development for Poverty Termination (ADAPT) in 1988 followed by the Long Term Action Plan ( LTAP) in 1993 and the Revised Long Term Action Plan ( RLTAP) in 1998. Each of these schemes involved expenditure of crores of rupees towards overall improvement of the region, feeding programmes, water harvesting etc.

Initiative by Er Lalit Patnaik for Lanjigarh road-Phulbani-Angul Railway Line

2008-10-21T18:58:00.003+03:00

Yesterday in an Action Plan for Khandhamal, I proposed our Rail Line demand for growth of Khandhamal to be included. The rail line should connect Lanjigarah Station to Angul via Phulbani that will almost bisect Khandhamal District. The chairman Dr Bhagaban & Prof Radhamohan appreciated the proposal but there were very few in public who could fully visualise the would be impact of our demand in peace making process.

In the mean time many a reporter and public of Bolangir region have telephoned me and have highly appriciated our proposal about Khandhamal that came out in a local news paper after our meeting at Bolangir. ........................

Yours,
Lalit Mohan Pattnaik

Poor infrastructure in K'mal escalates conflict

2008-10-08T16:04:00.001+03:00

The Pioneer, Oct 8, 2008
Pioneer News Service | Phulbani

The Kandhamal ethno-communal violence seems to have lost some of its force. Ground-level intelligence sources, however, feel that the truce may be a temporary phenomenon.

Thanks to new DGP Manmohan Praharaj's direct initiative - 107 alleged conspirators and instigators, including Hindu and Christian fundamentalists, have been arrested. On Saturday morning, the police apprehended two Christians carrying crude bombs. The VHP has accused the Government of arresting Hindu activists while being soft towards the perpetrators of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati's murder. Long term improvement of the most backward environment of Kandhamal district, the basic cause of conflict, are not being addressed, lamented a former chief administrator of KBK. Though till date Kandhamal has not been included in KBK fold, but situation is more pathetic than KBK, he revealed.

Poor communication is one of the most nagging problems of the district, said an NRO, Sandip K Dasverma. He in a letter to the Chief Minister has detailed out the both physical and cyber connectivity for the district and KBK. After 61 years of Independence, Kandhamal continues to be one of the districts in the country without any railway connectivity. Khurda Road-Kandhamal-Balangir railway line will go a long way to serve the backward zone in a big way. The funding for the Khurda Road-Balangir railway track by the Railway Ministry is woeful. With the present level of funding it will take another half a century to complete the link, alleged Professor Chitta Baral.

Just like Ranchi-Vijayawada Highway intended to counter Maoists, the road connectivity inside the Kandhamal district will go a long way to serve the hapless tribals, he said he.

Equally concerned for the people of Kandhamal, Dhirendra Kar, a pro-active NRO said all the 12 blocks of the district from the district headquarters are ill served by the road network. In an e-mail to the Chief Minister, Kar has also harped on the infrastructure owes of the unrest-hit zone. t is very much difficult to contact people in the interior areas of the district. Internet service is equally dismal and it is non-existent even in the Block Headquarters.

Given such poor infrastructure, the ability of the administration and police to contain the raging frenzy is seriously compromised, said a senior police officer posted at Baliguda.

Orissa to explore bauxite in Keonjhar, Koraput

2008-10-08T16:00:00.001+03:00

Business Standard, Oct 8, 2008

With a view to augment the availability of bauxite for the aluminium plants coming up in the state, the Orissa government plans to start exploration of bauxite in the Keonjhar and Koraput districts during the current fiscal.

It will take up exploration in the surrounding areas of Dholkata Pahar in the Keonjhar district and small and medium size plateaus in Dashmantapur block in the Koraput district to assess the availability of bauxite there.

An exploration was undertaken in Dholkata Pahar by the directorate of geology between the field seasons 1975-76 and 1981-82 and a reserve of 5.09 million tonnes of metallurgical grade bauxite was found.

Preliminary investigations carried out in the surrounding areas of Dholkata Pahar, like Unsir, Serenda and Samrajpahar, also indicated the presence of bauxite.

Drilling in Dholkata Pahar has revealed the thickness of laterite profile of up to 18metres, with bauxite being encountered up to a maximum depth of 16 metres from the surface. As Unsir, Serenda and Samraja Pahar are adjacent to Dholkata Pahar and have similar geological set up, the directorate hopes to get bauxite of the same nature there.

Keeping that in view, it plans to carry out geological mapping for bauxite in these areas, followed by drilling wherever necessary. While geological mapping will be taken up for 100 square kilometres, trial excavation, drilling and sampling are proposed to be taken up if necessary, sources added.

Similarly, assessment of bauxite and gemstone potential in Dashmantpur block in the Koraput district is proposed to be taken up during the current fiscal. It may be noted that the area around Girliguma in Dashmantapur exposes the ‘Eastern Ghat Super’ group of rocks.

While the eastern part of Girliguma is occupied by about 36 plateaus of various dimensions, the valley part of the area exposes basic granulites, pegmatites and quartz veins. The gravels, derived from the pegmatites and their contact zones, are often panned by the local people to recover fibrolite with cat’s eye effect.

In this backdrop, an exploration will be undertaken in these plateaus for bauxite.

Open Letter to PM on Kandhamal violence - proposed long term solutions

2008-10-05T22:53:00.002+03:00

To:
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India

Cc: Mr. Naveen Patniak, Chief Minister of Orissa
Cc: Shri Muralidhan Chandrakant Bhandare, Governor of Orissa

Subject: The common thread of large scale violence in Orissa in 2008; proposed solution to be taken on war footing

Dear Dr. Singh:
While the nation's eye is focused on the recent Kandhamala violence, I would urge you to go over the following news reports about large scale violence, most initiated by Naxalites and Maoists, in Orissa in 2008. These large scale violent events happened in Nayagarh, Malkangiri, and Kandhamal districts, and have spread to nearby districts such as Gajapati and Boudh. To really solve the Kandhamala violence and to ensure that it does not happen again, one needs to dig a bit deeper and find the fundamental issues that need to be addressed. Just more police is not enough as we can never have enough police to guard over the thousands of villages in these areas. The news snippets are:

February 15 2008 (Deecan Herald): "Fifteen people including 13 policemen, a civilian and a gram rakhi (village guard) were killed when armed Naxalites unleashed a wave of attacks on police establishments like stations, district police armoury and police training centre in Nayagarh town … Twelve policemen and women have also sustained injuries in the attacks and have been hospilised. The condtion of some of the injured police personnel is stated to be critical. In a daring and meticulously planned wave of attacks, the ultras virtually laid a siege to the town. The Naxals who included women cadres have looted huge quantities of arms and ammunitions from the district armoury in a truck and a bus they hijacked, besides setting on fire the police stations and vehicles. The arms looted by the ultras included light machine guns and assault rifles. … According to Rajesh Kumar, the Superintendent of Police(SP), Nayagarh, nearly 400 to 500 armed Naxals launched simultaneous attacks on the police stations and other establishments taking the security personnel by surprise."

June 29 2008 (AFP): "At least 39 members of an elite Indian anti-insurgency unit were missing feared drowned in the east of the country Sunday after their boat capsized following an attack by Maoist rebels, police said. The boat, which was carrying 64 people, came under heavy rebel fire while patrolling a reservoir near Malkangiri in the south of the coastal state of Orissa, police said."

July 16 2008 (Times of India): "In the second major strike by Maoists in Orissa in less than three weeks, 21 Orissa policemen were feared killed in a land mine explosion and firing by the ultras in Malkangiri district on Wednesday. The van carrying the members of the Special Operations Group was on its way from MPV 126, 50km from here, to MPV-41, when the landmine went off. The SOG personnel were going to the place where the house of a BJP leader was attacked by the Maoists on Tuesday night."

Dec 27 2007 (Times of India): "Eleven churches and prayer houses were ransacked and torched in several areas of Kandhamal district in Orissa in the early hours on Thursday. Seven churches and prayer houses were attacked and set afire in Gandapadar, Badahapanga, Bhandarapada, Pisupadar, Masapadar, Minia and Adigara under Phulbani Sadar police station area, police said."

August 23 2008 (Times of India on Oct 3' 2008): "Many Christians have been killed, and an estimated 50,000 forced to flee their homes in the eastern state as attacks on Christians have escalated across the country after a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides were shot dead by unidentified gunmen at his Jalespata Ashram in Kandhamal district on August 23."

Oct 4 2008 (The Hindu): "The Orissa State committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) on Saturday claimed that it killed Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda in Kandhamal district on August 23. Talking to a team of journalists from Bhubaneswar in a forest in Kandhamal, the spokesperson of the party's Orissa unit, Sabyasachi Panda, alias Sunil, said it became necessary to eliminate the Swami as he was forcing tribals and Dalit Christians in Kandhamal to convert to Hinduism. "After the December 2007 communal violence in Kandhamal, we threatened to kill him if he and his supporters did not refrain from harassing tribals and Dalit Christians to change their religion," said Mr. Panda."

Now let us dig into the geography of Nayagarh, Malkangiri and Kandhamal.

Nayagarh is about 100 kms from Bhubaneswar close to the Dasapalla forest. It is also 65.6 kms away and the fifth station from the Khurda Rd station on the Khurda Rd - Balangir railway line which was sanctioned in 1994-95, but has made very little progress. The other proposed stations from the Khurda Rd side include Dasapalla (110.25) and Boudh (198). Dasapalla is considered deep jungle and an often used hide out for the Maoist rebels. Boudh is the town where disturbances spread to from Kandhamala.

Malkangiri is to the southwest of Koraput, the farthest district heard quarter town from Bhubaneswar and close to Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh, and again a major operation area of the maoists. It is the second major town (Motu on the border is the first) on the Orissa side on the proposed Vijyawada-Ranchi highway. Also, for several years now the Orissa government has been proposing survey of a Railway line linking Jeypore to Malkangiri and beyond.

The Kandhamal district (earlier called Phulbani) is probably the worst connected district of Orissa, with large tracts of dense and open forested areas. One way to connect it would to the mainstream is to have a railway line from Lanjigarh Rd in Kalahandi cutting across the district, touching Boudh on the under construction Khurda Rd - Balangir line and then go across Mahanadi to Talcher.

The attached map shows these districts are surrounded by large tracts of dense and open forested areas, and partly explains why the naxalites and Maoists are able to make them their base.

(NOTE: Phulbani is now called Kandhamala)

(Note: The lines in red are the ones that are needed to bring rail connectivity to the Kandhamala, Nayagarh and Malkangiri districts and criss-cross the big connectivity gap in the heart of Orissa. The crossed segments are already approved but progressing very slowly.)

Dear Prime minister: As an economist and a world leader you must know that lack of connectivity, entrenched forest and mountainous areas together with a different population base is a recipe for the sprouting of troubled areas. This is true all across the world; from J& K and North eastern areas of India to caucuses in Asia. While one cannot and should not get rid of the mountains or the people, the problem can be solved by making the areas well connected and bringing development. The Indian government is doing that in J & K and in the northeast; but has mostly forgotten about the similar areas in Orissa, Chhatisgrah, and Andhra Pradesh, which are the favorite bases of the naxalites and Maoists.

Sir: We would like you to pay the same attention to these areas in terms of connectivity as you do to the North east and J & K. In particular we would request that following be done in a war footing within the 11th plan.

(i) The Vijaywada-Ranchi highway that passes through many of these areas be completed.

(ii) Broadband connectivity be brought to these districts with adequate access locations.

(iii) Two Railway lines, parts of which have already been sanctioned by the Railways but are progressing slowly, are completed and made operational. Those lines are:

a. Khurda Rd – Balangir (passes through Nayagarh and Boudh) – This line was sanctioned in 1994-95 is progressing very slowly.

b. Bhadrachalam Rd (Andhra Pradesh) – Malkangiri – Jeypore – Nabarangpur – Junagarh – Lanjigarh Rd – passing through Kandhamala – Boudh – Angul – Talcher – Bimlagarh: Several segments of these lines are approved but progressing slowly. Those segments are Junagarh – Lanjigarh Rd and Talcher – Bimlagarh. Angul – Talcher is operational.

(iv) With the above lines operational, development should be brought into Kandhamal, Boudh, Gajapati, and KBK districts (including Kalahandi and Malkangiri) through 1-2 Rail factories and public sector units that can use the steel and aluminum and power produced in abundance in Orissa.

Sir: You may be advised by the Indian Railways, which has no qualms in taking profits made from Orissa to its other projects outside Orissa that the cost of the above lines would be too much, but let me point to some data.

(a) As per the calculation in http://kbkrail.orissalinks.com/ Indian Railways is scheduled to make profit of 2679.72 crores/year from its operations in Orissa. If 1500 crores of this money (the rest may go to Indian Railway's current plans for Orissa) is put into Orissa, in just 2-3 years the above mentioned lines could be completed.

(b) While we do not begrudge IR related developments in the rest of India, we would just like to point the following to counter the common IR retort (including one given by the Railway Board chair to an Oriya-American gathering in Canada earlier this year – please see http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/archives/1550 ): The Indian Express article at http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Rlys-brochure-lists-what-Lalu-has-done-for-Bihar/355013/ says the following:

That Bihar has been one of the top beneficiaries of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's largesse in the last four years is no secret. Now, armed with an 18-page brochure, his ministry is going all out to drive home the point that Bihar bagged railway projects worth Rs 52,323 crore during his term.

Sir: We are very happy for Bihar and also for the regions benefitted by the IR's other 11th plan grand plans such as the freight corridor, metro rails and high speed rail corridors, none of which touch Orissa.

But shouldn't immediate attention be paid to bringing connectivity to the backward, forested, badly connected areas of Orissa that includes the trouble spots of Kandhamala and Malkangiri. This is especially puzzling when IR makes a lot of profit from Orissa (details at http://kbkrail.orissalinks.com/) and spends only a small part of it in Orissa. We understand that redistribution of profits and tax collections across regions of a country are normal, but does it make sense to take from the poor (Orissa) and give to the rich, especially when this act creates chaos with the poor (Kandhamala, Orissa).

Sir: We sincerely hope that you will now see the common thread running through the several large scale violent events in Orissa in 2008 and address the key issues of lack of connectivity and development in these areas.

Sincerely

Appendix:

1. Estimated profit Indian Railways will make from Orissa in 2008-09:

Zone in Orissa Total Route Kms Route kms in Orissa Estimated Orissa's proportional
2008-2009 share of the profit
profit in 2008-2009
(in crores)

ECOR 2430 1607 3077.15 2034.97 crores

SECR 1599 51 2529.89 80.69 crores

SER 2577 589 2467.88 564.06 crores

Total 2247 2679.72 crores

2. One of the earlier planning commissions has noted in http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/stateplan/sdr_orissa/sdr_orich2.doc

"Railways have always played an important role in economic development and rapid social transformation in all parts of the globe. It is one of the key economic infrastructures. However, it is most unfortunate that in a poor and backward state like Orissa, development of rail networks has received much less attention of the Central Government in the post-independence period. There are as many as seven districts like Boudh, Kandhamal, Deogarh, Nayagarh, Kendrapara, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur out of the 30 districts of the state, which do not have any railway line passing through them. In the year 1998-99, the density of railway route length per 1000 sq. km of area in Orissa was only 15.03 km as against 42.66 km in West Bengal and 19.11 km. at all-India level".

3. The tribal population percentage of the KBK districts are as follows: Malkangiri 58.36% ST (+19.96% SC), Rayagada 56.04% ST (+14.28% SC), Nabarangpur 55.27% ST (+15.09% SC), Koraput 50.67% ST (+13.41% SC), Nuapada 35.95% ST(+13.09% SC), Kalahandi 28.88% ST (+17.01% SC), Sonepur 22.11% ST (+9.5% SC), Balangir 22.06% ST (+15.39% SC). Two adjacent districts also have high tribal population. They are Kandhamala 51.51% ST (+18.21% SC) and Gajapati 47.88% ST(+8.77% SC).

4. The literacy rates in the KBK districts are abysmally low. Malkangiri 31.26%, Nabarangpur 34.26%, Rayagada 35.61%, Koraput 36.2%, Nuapada 42.29%, Kalahandi 46.2%, Balangir 54.93%, Sonepur 64.07%. Two adjacent districts also have low literacy: Gajapati 41.73% and Kandhamala 52.95%. The state average is 63.1%.

5. Population below the poverty line in southern Orissa (of which KBK is a part) is reported to be 89.17% of the people according to the 1999-2000 NSS data and 72% of the families according to the 1997 census.

--
Chitta Baral
Professor and Chair
Department of Computer Science & Engineering
Arizona State University

No President Rule but Stop violence in Kandhamal: Letter to the PM

2008-10-05T22:50:00.001+03:00

To
Dr. Manmohan Singh, Honorable Prime Minister of India, New Delhi, India,

Copy to:
Smt Pratibha Patil, The President of India
Smt. Sonia Gandhi, President: Indian National Congress
Mr Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Orissa
Shree Somnath Chaterjee, Speaker of Lok Sabha
The Media

Dear honorable Prime Minister Dr Singh,

I am surprised to read in few media section on possibility of President Rule in Orissa though statements issued by both central Government and Orissa state Government clearly indicate there was an infrastructure failure in Kandhamal for which security people from out side the district could not reach on time.

Unfortunately, cooperation between state and central Governments is missing in the latest violence in Kandhamal and has been become a political battle field for both UPA and NDA due to up coming national and state elections next year.

Practically if the state Government has failed to stop communal violence in Orissa, then morally union Government of India has also failed to stop terrorism and communal violence in other states which is clear from recent consecutive terrorist activities in Bangalore, Ahemadabad, Delhi, Maligaon and violence in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala etc.

Along with Kalahandi, Balangir and Koraput (KBK), Kandhamal is also one of the backward districts in the country.

Since independence, there is no railway line passing through this district though it is geographically located towards the center of the state. Theoretically, the district has potential to act as bridging point to connect North-East to South-West and South-West to North-East of Orissa. However, this was not the case due to severe failure of road infrastructure in the district.

Though officially NDA Government declared NH217 passing thorough some of the small towns in Kandhamal, in actual road condition have not yet improved as there was no support from the present central Government to this project.

Except a heart line like road from Tumudiband to Phulbani via Baliguda and G.Udayagiri there is no alternative road in manageable condition to Phulbani or Bhanjanagar from Tumidibandh.

Blockade of this route can easily make difficult for security movement in the region as was in the recent case. Most of the buses which were traveling from state capital to KBK districts are now diverted to some other routes as these routes passing through Kandhamal are in worst in condition. Other state roads in the district such as Lanjigarh road – Tumudibandh-Simanbadi - Daringbadi- Bhagbanpur-Gunduribadi –Bhanjanagar, G.Udayagiri – Paburia – Bandhaguda – Nuagaon and Raikia – Simanbadi are unusable in normal standard.

If there was no political ill treatment then Vijawada – Ranchi highway which was proposed by Orissa Govt. recently should have passed though whole Kandhamal district from Tumudibadh to Puruna Cuttack instead of just few kilometer as proposed now and brought more development in road infrastructure in Kandhamal.

Our railway minister is now also eager to implement President Rule in Orissa, however, no proposal has been considered yet for Lanjigarh road – Phulbani- Anugul railway link passing through whole Kandhamal district, the rail route that is one of the major hopes for railway development in this backward and highly tribal and Christian populated district.

On the other hand most of the railway projects in KBK are hanging since decades. Kantabanji – Khariar – Dharamgarh – Nabarangpur – Jeypore which passes most backward pockets in the country (Nabarangpur, Koraput and Kalahandi parliament constituency were recently ranked at the bottom 5 Lok Sobha constituency in Socio-economic development by India Today, Sept 22, 2008) is not yet surveyed and approved whereas railway minister’s home constituency gets railway projects of tens of thousands of crores in last 3 years.

When both state and central Government has equally failed since decades to develop road and railway infrastructure of a remote and backward place (which was already known for communal tense between tribal and minorities since years) then it is foolish to think that President Rule in Orissa would solve the problem permanently.

A sensitive issue like communal violence in Orissa can not be solved unless there is a political seriousness to solve the problem. Kandhamal is not a new issue, tension between two tribes, one supported by missionary group and other by Viswa Hindu Parisad in Kandhamal was there since years. Most of the major national political parties are well aware of this thing.

The story on communal tension as presented in the national media and by national political leaders is not all about the case, one need to unearth the hidden tension between two tribes of Kandhamal in the context of communalism.

It would be nice if both state and central Government look the matter in the local level before bringing national politics to it and bring more infrastructure and educational development to this remote pocket which would help to solve the problem permanently.

Implementing President Rule may satisfy some of the UPA partners but will never solve the problems in Kandhamal permanently. Rather it would bring a dark spot for a Prime Minister (who is largely respected among intellectual mass in the country) simply due to toppling a democratically elected Government not because Naveen Patnaik Government has failed but because when Central Government itself has been failing to control terrorism and communal violence in other places in the country.

On the other hand politically it may bring more controversy as when Graham Strain was brutally killed in Orissa with his children there was no implementation of President Rule in Orissa at that point of time (the time when both center and state were rules by Indian National Congress party). Thus, it may further help Hindu fundamentalists to spread their ideas and bring more communal tension to a naturally beautiful place like Kandhamal and rest of the country.

President Rule in Orissa would also add another political struggle to the list severely affecting state and center relation in years to come.

I sincerely hope your Government would not take such a step which would harm Orissa state and the nation in general and request both Orissa state and central Governments of India to come forward and cooperate to stop communal violence and bring back peaceful normal life to Kandhamal.

Thank you and best regards

Digambara Patra

Dr Digambara Patra
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
American University of Beirut
Bliss Street-P.O. Box: 11-0236
Beirut, Lebanon
Email: digpatra@rediffmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/digpatra/index.html

Plea of not getting land for Central varsity in Kalahandi false

2008-09-24T09:54:00.000+03:00

The Pioneer, Sept 24, 2008
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar

To divert public demand of a Rs 350-crore Central University in Kalahandi since two decades, the State Government is rather generating false propaganda saying that the district does not have land for a Central University though there are plenty of lands available in Kalahandi, alleged leading non-resident Oriya Digambara Patra.

Patra, who is Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the American University in Beirut, in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has stated that if the State and Central Governments could use forestland, unused land and even agricultural land for IIT, Central University, industries in other parts of the State and country, it is foolish to argue that such a step cannot be taken in Kalahandi.

The State Government is providing thousands of acres of lands to Posco, Arcelor-Mittal, Vedanta, Tatas, Jindal and Bhushan, across the State which are not only agricultural, private and Government lands but also large section of the lands acquired for industrialisation in the State comes under forest lands.

Kalahandi has a geographical area of 7920 sqkm out of which 2538 sqkm (32 per cent) are forest land (private independent sources claim in actual only 10-18 per cent are left over as forest land in Kalahandi by now due to deforestation and rest of the forest lands are only unused land by now (though officially it belongs to Forest Department).

Despite high population and congestion major cities like Pune, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Mumbai, Delhi can find land for establishing new Central institutes, universities in their vicinity for development, then it is useless to repeat Orissa Government cannot find land in Kalahandi and it can find in Koraput when Kalahandi has plenty of land like but not limited to forest and unused lands in Karlapada and Jaring near Bhawanipatna and agricultural land near its vicinity, stated Patra.

The population density of Kalahandi is 169 per sq km, much less than the State (236 per sqkm) than Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack. Vedanta Alumina could easily acquire 2000 acres of land in Kalahandi for its refinery therefore arguing Kalahandi does not have 500 acres of land for a central University is based on false propaganda, political ill motivation and ignorance towards Kalahandi rather than factual data by the State Government, alleged Patra.

Alumina smelter in Koraput soon: Pangi

2008-09-19T10:13:00.000+03:00

The Pioneer, Sept 19, 2008

Sunabeda: The State Government plans to establish an alumina smelter plant in Koraput district in order to utilise the alumina powder in State instead of exporting it to other countries, said Pottangi MLA Jayaram Pangi at a meeting organised by the Nalco Mazdoor Sangh on the occasion of National Labours Day. It is to be noted that about 50 per cent of the alumina powder is being exported to other countries. Pangi, who joined the meeting as the chief guest, advised the members of the Sangh to work for the development of Nalco. ARGM of Nalco Bira Narayan Mohanty was the guest of honour, while All India Secretary of the Sangh Paban Kumar joined as the chief speaker. RD Biswal proposed the vote of thanks.

Vedanta to Invest $9.8 Billion

2008-09-17T15:37:00.000+03:00

World Street Journal, Sept 10, 2008

LONDON -- Vedanta Resources PLC, an India-focused metals and mining company, said it will invest $9.8 billion to boost its aluminum-smelting capacity in a bid to become one of the world's biggest producers of the metal.

London-listed Vedanta said it aims to increase capacity to 2.6 million metric tons a year by 2012, up from the 396,000 tons it produced in the fiscal year ended in March.

"Upon completion, Vedanta is expected to be Asia's largest and among the top five integrated producers of aluminum world-wide," the company said. The world's biggest aluminum producers include Rio Tinto's Alcan, Russia's United Co. Rusal and Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Inc.

Vedanta's investment plans will focus on projects in India, where the bulk of its operations are. Of the total investment, $5.65 billion will be spent expanding the capacity of the Jharsuguda II project; $2 billion will be spent on the Korba III project, and the remaining $2.15 billion will be invested in expanding the Lanjigarh project.

Vedanta, which has a market capitalization of about £4.5 billion ($7.92 billion), also said the company will be restructured into three commodity-focused divisions: copper, zinc and lead; aluminum and energy; and iron ore. The restructuring will simplify Vedanta's corporate structure, eliminate conflicts of interest, and increase efficiency, the board said. The restructuring is expected to be completed by March.

Merrill Lynch said, "Inasmuch as this is finally a step toward simplification of the group shareholding structure, we view this transaction as a positive."

Kalahandi’s alma mater remains neglected

2008-09-16T14:54:00.001+03:00

Express buzz, Sept 16, 2008

BHAWANIPATNA: Despite government’s avowed policy of universalisation of education, many old educational institutions are going into the oblivion.

Brajamohan High School of Bhawanipatna, the oldest educational institution of Kalahandi, is now suffering due to the district administration’s apathy. The institute was set up in 1916 by the erstwhile Kalahandi princely state for higher education of the area. Building of the school is treated as one of heritage in the State. Many luminaries of that period like Mayadhar Mansingh and Rajkishore Ray were part of the faculty.

However, after the 70s, performance of the school started declining due to negligence of the authorities. The school building, at present, is dilapidated. The building has developed cracks and there is seepage in walls.

The headmaster post has been vacant since February last and a teacher is in-charge of the post without having any financial power. The students’ strength has come down to 343 from 3,000 four decades ago.

Many government offices have come up on the premises of the school and this has been hampering the school’s ambience.

The office of the Inspector of Schools, District Culture Office and library of the Culture Department are functioning on the premises. Recently, Rs 9 lakh was allotted by the Government for repair of the school building. However, this amount is not sufficient for complete renovation.

The school will celebrate its centenary in a few years. The authorities feel that there is need for concerted effort by the government to develop the school.

Kalahandias angry over Naveen

2008-08-18T15:14:00.000+03:00

Tathya, Aug 17, 2008
Bhawanipatna:17/August/2008

Naveen Patnaik will have tough time in Kalahandi.

Educated youths of district in general and intelligentsia in particular are angry with the Chief Minister.

With their aspiration to have the First Central University at Bhawanipatna being shattered, they have branded Mr. Patnaik as a ‘manipulator’.

The Chief Minister’s recent controversial decision to ask the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to set up the proposed Central University at Koraput instead of Kalahandi have irked them.

According to them, Bhawanipatna was more suitable for the World Class Institution, but allegedly misguided by political and bureaucratic advisors, the Chief Minister decided in favor of Koraput.

“The unusual behavior by the Chief Minister indicates his lose of rationality”, lamented Digambara Patra, leading voice of Kalahandias in the international forum.

Professor Patra in a scathing letter has charged Mr.Patnaik being politically motivated and a leader of myopic vision.

The budding educationist has alleged that Mr.Patnaik has ignored the educationally backward areas of KBK in view of the impending general and state elections.

A politically motivated Chief Minister has done more damage to the areas of Kalahandi than any body else, lamented Prof.Patra.

Prof.Patra has said that without studying the ground realities, the decision to establish the Central University was taken.

This decision is hurting Kalahandias most as they were lobbying hard with the MHRD for the Central University, while not a soul from Koraput ever raised a voice for the same.

He has appealed the President Mrs. Pratibha Patil to look into the matter and give justice to the most backward areas of KBK.

An appeal letter to the Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh has also been made to provide justice to the millions of people of Kalahandi by forcing the State Government to change its decision and place the World Class Central University at Bhawanipatna, said Dr.Patra.

Row over location of proposed varsity in Koraput

2008-08-11T18:31:00.000+03:00

The Statesman, Aug 11, 2008

Statesman News Service
BHAWANIPATNA, Aug 10: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik’s suggestion to locate the proposed Central University at Koraput has evoked strong protests here.
The Kalahandi Kriyanusthan Committee which was canvassing for the varsity has described Mr Patnaik’s decision as 'whimsical.' Denouncing the CM for having gone back on his earlier promise, the organisation threatened to launch an agitation in the district.
Convenor of the Kalahandi Kriyanusthan Committee Dr Lambodar Sahu said: "Since two decades people of Kalahandi have been demanding a central university."
Terming the CM’sdecision as an act of betrayal, the organisation said on 6 April 2008 an all party delegation from Kalahandi had met the chief minister and apprised him about the demand.
The chief minister agreed and instructed the Kalahandi district collector to locate suitable land for the proposed varsity.
A suitable and feasible site was identified near Karlapada.
The site had all the pre-requsites ~ an air strip at a distance of just 9 km, the World Bank financed super high way passing through the site and its distance from the district headquarter was barely 20 km.
The land details along with the map was submitted to the CM through the collector on 8 July.
After all this the CM suddenly shot off a request letter to the Central government asking it to locate the proposed central university in Koraput district, decried Dr Sahu.
"Kalahandi is perpetually neglected and despite being rich in natural and human resources it continues to remain in the poverty zone.
Citing another instance of neglect, he said the KBK headquarter ought to have been in Bhawanipatna but for some strange reasons it was not done.
Similarly there is no effort to locate the headquarter of the Western Orissa Development Council, at Kalahandi, he noted.
Mr Sahu informed that a delegation will once again call on the CM and try to impress upon him that the central varsity should be established in Kalahandi district.
Meanwhile the Kriyanusthan Committee has drawn up plans to launch a mass movement from next week.

Row over location of proposed varsity in Koraput

2008-08-11T18:27:00.000+03:00

Statesman, Aug 11, 2008

Statesman News Service
BHAWANIPATNA, Aug 10: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik’s suggestion to locate the proposed Central University at Koraput has evoked strong protests here.
The Kalahandi Kriyanusthan Committee which was canvassing for the varsity has described Mr Patnaik’s decision as 'whimsical.' Denouncing the CM for having gone back on his earlier promise, the organisation threatened to launch an agitation in the district.
Convenor of the Kalahandi Kriyanusthan Committee Dr Lambodar Sahu said: "Since two decades people of Kalahandi have been demanding a central university."
Terming the CM’sdecision as an act of betrayal, the organisation said on 6 April 2008 an all party delegation from Kalahandi had met the chief minister and apprised him about the demand.
The chief minister agreed and instructed the Kalahandi district collector to locate suitable land for the proposed varsity.
A suitable and feasible site was identified near Karlapada.
The site had all the pre-requsites ~ an air strip at a distance of just 9 km, the World Bank financed super high way passing through the site and its distance from the district headquarter was barely 20 km.
The land details along with the map was submitted to the CM through the collector on 8 July.
After all this the CM suddenly shot off a request letter to the Central government asking it to locate the proposed central university in Koraput district, decried Dr Sahu.
"Kalahandi is perpetually neglected and despite being rich in natural and human resources it continues to remain in the poverty zone.
Citing another instance of neglect, he said the KBK headquarter ought to have been in Bhawanipatna but for some strange reasons it was not done.
Similarly there is no effort to locate the headquarter of the Western Orissa Development Council, at Kalahandi, he noted.
Mr Sahu informed that a delegation will once again call on the CM and try to impress upon him that the central varsity should be established in Kalahandi district.
Meanwhile the Kriyanusthan Committee has drawn up plans to launch a mass movement from next week.

Orissa CM Mr Naveen Patnaik betrayed Kalahandi

2008-08-06T14:04:00.002+03:00

Reference:
1. Report on May 8, 2008:
Central varsity: CM promises to use his good offices with Centre
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has assured a delegation from Kalahandi district that he will pressurise the Centre to set up a central university in Kalahandi district.

A 25-member delegation led by Minister of State for Law and Employment Pradipta Kumar Nayak met the Chief Minister at the Secretariat on Tuesday. The delegation impressed upon the Chief Minister about the need for establishment of a central university in Kalahandi district as it is educationally backward.

The district has all infrastructure facilities for establishment of a central university and the demand has been pending since 1988, the delegation comprising former ministers Balabhadra Majhi, Himansu Sekhar Meher and legislator Pushpendra Singhdeo said.

After hearing from the delegation, Naveen assured that he will write a letter to Human Resources Development (HRD) ministry about setting up the varsity in Kalahandi.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20080507225928&Page=Q&Title=Orissa&Topic=0

2. Report On 6th August 2008:
CM wants Central varsity at Koraput
BHUBANESWAR, August 5: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik suggested the establishment of the proposed Central university might be at Koraput and demanded for setting up IIT near Bhubaneswar to start as soon as possible.
In two separate missives to Union minister for human resources development Mr Arjun Singh today, the chief minister noted the establishment of proposed Central university at Koraput would reduce the existing disparity in education in the state. Maintaining that Koraput has been a backward region as far as education is concerned, Mr Patnaik said that besides 500 acres of land, the proposed site has water, power, road and rail connectivity.
"The Jeypore airstrip is just 30 km away from Koraput," the CM pointed out. "The Union government should send a technical team and start the university work soon," Mr Patnaik suggested.
He also put emphasis on the early set up of the IIT. The state government has identified 500 acres of land for this purpose and can make available more land. Assuring that the state government would provide all sorts of required support, the chief minister urged for early start of construction work. n sns
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=217152

Bad news for Kalahandi on Central University

2008-08-06T14:01:00.002+03:00

List of fully state or central Government funded higher educational institute established since the demand of central university in Kalahandi, 1988.

Coastal Orissa region:
National Institute of Science Education and Research Bhubaneswar
IIT Bhubaneswar
World Class Central University Bhubaneswar (proposed)
IIIT Bhubaneswar
Ravensha University, Cuttack
Capital Medical College, Bhubaneswar
Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal
Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications, Bhubaneswar

North Orissa region:
Fakir Mohan University, Balasor
North Orissa University, Baripada
Orissa School of Mining, Keonjhar
Biju Patnaik University of Technology Rourkela

South Orissa region:
IIIT Berhampur (proposed)
Paral Maharaja Engineering College, Berhampur (proposed)
Central University, Koraput (proposed)

Western Orissa and Kalahandi region:
NIL

CM wants Central varsity at Koraput

2008-08-06T14:00:00.001+03:00

The Statesman, Aug 6, 2008

BHUBANESWAR, August 5: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik suggested the establishment of the proposed Central university might be at Koraput and demanded for setting up IIT near Bhubaneswar to start as soon as possible.
In two separate missives to Union minister for human resources development Mr Arjun Singh today, the chief minister noted the establishment of proposed Central university at Koraput would reduce the existing disparity in education in the state. Maintaining that Koraput has been a backward region as far as education is concerned, Mr Patnaik said that besides 500 acres of land, the proposed site has water, power, road and rail connectivity.
"The Jeypore airstrip is just 30 km away from Koraput," the CM pointed out. "The Union government should send a technical team and start the university work soon," Mr Patnaik suggested.
He also put emphasis on the early set up of the IIT. The state government has identified 500 acres of land for this purpose and can make available more land. Assuring that the state government would provide all sorts of required support, the chief minister urged for early start of construction work.

IIPA meet focuses on KBK region issues

2008-07-29T09:42:00.000+03:00

The Pioneer, July 29, 2008
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar

KBK Additional Chief Secretary and Chief Administrator Rajalaxmi highlighted the major issues and progress in the implementation of the KBK development programmes at a seminar on KBK organised by the Orissa Branch of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) here.

She dwelt on various intervention programmes and narrated a few success stories like installation of non-conventional energy plants utilising biomass at the seminar held on Saturday.

She also pointed at the challenges posed by Left-wing extremism and by natural calamities in the region.

Information Commissioner-designate Jagadananda and CYSD member-secretary spoke on the structural causes of poverty and backwardness. He suggested for fast track courts for land records, ownership and development and implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006.

In his presidential address, IIPA branch chairman SC Misra analysed the pace of development in KBK districts and hinted at the economic cost of Left-wing extremism and corruption.

He also drew attention to the reluctance of the Government employees to work in those areas which caused a hindrance in their development. He urged for active involvement of the civil society in the successful implementation of the KBK programmes.

Initially, vice-chairman of the IIPA branch Prof GC Kar introduced the subject, and finally, secretary Dr JK Misra proposed a vote of thanks at the end.

Economic constraints of tribal development in KBK

2008-07-26T19:24:00.000+03:00

Merinews, July 26, 2008
by Basant Rath

Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi (KBK) are the poorest regions of the country comprising mainly of tribals. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Still rooted in ancient beliefs the tribals do not make serious attempts to raise their wealth..

THE UNDIVIDED districts of Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi popularly known as KBK is one of the poorest region in the country. The KBK regions have been divided into eight districts, ie Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Balangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi and Nuapada. These eight districts comprise of 14 subdivisions, 37 tehsils, 80 CD blocks, 1437 gram panchayats and 12,104 villages, Almost 75 per cent of the total population is reeling under the poverty line even after 58 years after independence.

The KBK districts account for 19.72 per cent population for over 30.59 per cent geographical area of the state. About 89.89 per cent people of these districts still live in village and remote areas. As per 1991 census about 38.72 per cent people of KBK districts belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and 16.63 per cent of the population belongs to Scheduled Castes (SC) communities. Literacy rates are far below the state as well as national averages. Female literacy is only 24.72 per cent. As per the 1997 census of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families about 72 per cent families live below poverty line. Nuapada ranks as the district with highest number of BPL families of 85.70 per cent and Bolangir ranks as the lowest with 61.06 per cent of BPL families. As per an estimate based on 1999-2000 NSS data 87.14 per cent people in southern Orissa, are below poverty line.

Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Nearly 80 per cent of the tribal workers earn their living as cultivator and agricultural labourers only 10 per cent of the people work in construction trade and commerce, nine per cent of the people works in mining, quarrying and the rest of the population is engaged in house hold and manufacturing. The traditional occupation was agriculture, hunting and gathering forest products but now they depend on wage labourers. They work as agricultural and casual labours. A few of them have their own agricultural lands.

Basically the tribal people believe in eat, drink, and be merry principle. There is no place for economic competition, due to free availability of land and minor forest produce followed by low population pressure, the competition has not been felt by the tribals.

Tribal economy mainly comprises of subsistence farming, wage earning from forest works and government sponsored programmes. Subsistence farmers grow food crops barely enough to meet their own farm and family requirements. Diffusion of technological changes in agriculture does not take place properly as this is the main constraint.

More than 80 per cent of the total population depends on agriculture; most of the tribals are landless and work as wage earners. Owing to their illiteracy, superstitions and conservative practices, they are deceived and exploited by moneylenders and other non tribals. Tribals who do not have a permanent income live in perpetual poverty. No doubt that the government is implementing a number of projects for the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of tribals, but due to illiteracy, they are unaware of several developments around them.

On the other hand poor irrigation, bad infrastructure has taken a huge toll on agriculture, the main source of livelihood. Unemployment has soared with even seasonal jobs under various schemes becoming scarce. Almost 75 per cent of the total population is reeling under the poverty line even after 58 years after independence.

Most of them do not even get a single meal a day due to acute poverty. Also, per capita availability of land continues to plunge, coming down to 70 per cent. Due to the practice of slash and burn farming locally called Podu, denudation of forest and forcible occupation of their land, they are compelled to go to other places in search of employment.

Want of an organised marketing is a big bottleneck of tribal economy, weekly markets are held in big villages and small villages on roadside but remain defunct for six months in a year. Retail traders and hawkers visit these markets and purchase agricultural and forest produce. In return they sell manufactured items of daily requirements to the local tribals. There is complete absence of profit motivation in the tribals with the result the tribals cannot enter into commercial undertaking in any sale.

In a recent tour to different parts of KBK region revealed that in most of the villages there are several traders and businessman who have found their roots in the shops, also purchase of agricultural and forest products. But to ones surprise none of these are of tribal origin, all are new settlers who have come either from Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, West Bengal, or other parts of Orissa. The landless agriculturist are either with zero ownership or ultra marginal ownership of land. Rural poverty of ST and SC population is rampant and 75 per cent were found to be land less and living below poverty line. The growth of tribal population and the rise in the burden of agricultural workers on land also made them landless workers. Social values of the tribals play an important obstacles for raising wealth capital and income.

The tribals of KBK region believe in ghosts, ancestors worship and also believe that the fortune of man is controlled by their super natural power. Hence they do not make serious attempts to raise wealth. What ever they produce on their lands 90 per cent of it is consumed as food and drink and seven per cent of the produce is utilised for meeting other expenses, three per cent on clothing. Food, shelter, sex and clothing are the only important wants of the tribal people. These wants are locally satiable without paying any substantial cost. Education, modern medicines and conveyance are still far cry, which could hardly catch the imagination of most of the tribal peoples of KBK region.

Non-resident Oriyas rue Railway Board chief's attitude towards Orissa projects

2008-07-16T09:24:00.001+03:00

The Pioneer, July 16, 2008
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar

Non-resident Oriyas (NROs) are quite unhappy over the railway authorities' attitude towards the long-delayed projects in Orissa, including the Khurda Road -Balangir rail line.

Railway Board chairman Kalyan Coomar Jena, who hails from Orissa, was invited to the convention of the Orissa Society of Americas (OSA) recently held in Toronto in North America. Jena dismissed speeding up of the Khurda-Balangir project projects without significant contributions from the State Government on the plea that it is a social line.

The NROs repeatedly reminded Jena that the three zones operating in Orissa -- East Coast Railways (ECoR), South Eastern Railways (SER) and South Eastern Central Railways (SECR) -- are the highest profit-making zones, but Orissa and Chhattisgarh have the lowest railway densities.

The areas of concern are the connectivity to KBK districts and the other tribal districts of Orissa like Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundargarh, which are among the most backward areas in the country. The proposed rail lines include the Khurda Road -Nayagarh - Balangir, Talcher - Bimlagarh, Naupada-Gunupur- Theruvali, Lanjigarh Road -Bhawanipatna -Junagarh-Nabarangpur-Jeypore - Malkangiri - Bhadramchalam - Bhadrachalam Road, Buramara - Chakulia and Bangiriposi - Gurumahisani-Keonjhar.

The NROs pointed out that the minerals extracted and transported from those districts are the contributing factors in making these railway zones highly profitable. If only Indian Railways had listened to the plea of Orissa and completed the Khurda Road-Balangir line, which it started 15 years ago, and the line from Jeypore to Malkangiri and beyond, the Maoist mayhems in Nayagarh and Malkangiri would have been avoided.

Some participants at the meeting like Purna Mishra and Chitta Baral were armed with statistics from various IR publications and web sites to counter the arguments of Jena. They rubbished the contention that the Indian Railways was only going after profitable routes. Prof Baral pointed out that the IR priorities include gauge conversion of 12,000 km, most of which is not profitable.

What made some of the participants really sad that the Railway Board chairman did not even sympathise when pointed out that while huge profits are made by ECoR, SER and SECR, the big money of the 11th Plan is going to freight corridors, high-speed rail and metro rails, none of which benefits Orissa. The NROs were of the view that the Railway Board Chairman was pursuing a highly bureaucratic approach.

Jena repeated that he has Rs 1,000 crore for Orissa, and breaking that up to various projects leaves little for social projects like Khurda Road-Balangir.

It was pointed out to him that when ECoR is estimated to make Rs 3,600 crores of profit during 2008-09, he is talking about only Rs 1,000 crore.

In addition, the NROs demanded that the IR, the largest employer in the world, must make two production units in the backward and tribal areas of KBK so that it indeed gives a fair employment opportunity to the tribals.

Online move for rail network

2008-07-09T15:04:00.001+03:00

Tathya.in, July 7, 2008
Bhawanipatna:7/July/2008

Poor communication links of rail and road has resulted in expansion of Red Corridor in the tribal districts of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh.

While most of the Maoist activities are centered round the KBK Region of the State, the ultras are expanding their tentacles to the nearby underdeveloped areas.

While Prime Minister Dr.Man Mohan Singh is dubbing the Red Menace as the “ most dangerous virus”, in deciding the connectivity plans for the country, case of KBK has been ignored time and again.

So under the leadership of Digambara Patra, a leading Non Resident Oriya (NRO), the intelligentsia of Orissa has taken up the cause of rail expansion in a big way.

An online signature campaign is underway to raise awareness on the issue of rail connectivity.

More than 60 have signed the online petition and many are joining the league.

Making a full fledged research on the subject, they have demanded for special treatment by the Indian Railway Board in declaring the Kalahandi-Balangir- Koraput (KBK) region in Orissa, other adjacent tribal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh as a national project.

KBK is the poorest and most backward region in India.

While other backward regions in India like North Eastern States, J&K and Himachal Pradesh have received special treatment by Railway Board, KBK region has been neglected since decades, lamented Dr.Patra.

Naxal activities are predominantly high in the border regions of Orissa, Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh due to poor communication and infrastructure, said he.

And recently it is spreading to other bordering and backward districts like Balangir, Nuapada and Kalahandi districts.

The railway infrastructure in Orissa and Chhatisgarh is substantially low compared to national average despite both the states are in the profit making zones, where as railway infrastructure in Bihar and West Bengal are remarkably high though they are the loss making zones.

East Coast zone and South Eastern zone covering Orissa state and South East Central zone covering Chhatisgarh are among top most profit making zones.

And large amount of profit made by Indian Railways comes from the transportation revenue from coal, ores and minerals for which both the states substantially contribute.

However, Indian railway has ignored KBK region of Orissa and Chhatisgarh since decades.

Indian Railway Board has always danced to the tune of the political bosses ignoring the genuine requirement of the states, lamented Madhusmita Panda, another online petitioner.

For example, Khordha Road – Balangir and Lanjigarh Road – Junagarh railway lines in Orissa which were approved much earlier than Muzaffarpur – Sitamari and Sultanganj-Deogarh lines in Bihar are still struggling to be completed, where as other two lines in Bihar are completed, said she.

Pratyusa Mandhata asked for uniformity in approving projects and said that during last 15 years, more railway lines were approved in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal than Orissa and Chhatisgarh.

In last 5 years Indian Railway has set up 3 factories in Bihar (loss making zone) and one in Kerala (another loss making zone), but none of the plants including the recently proposed power plant by Indian Railway, was being established in Orissa or Chhatisgarh, said Mr.Mandhata.

Sandip Dasvarma, leading NRO said that since decades less funds are allotted in the Railway Budgets to profit making zones like East Coast Railway (ECOR) and South East Central Railway (SECR), which is much lower than that of loss making zones.

The petitioners have requested the Orissa and Chhatisgarh Governments to provide land free of cost for railway development in the backward region.

And they have requested the Government of India is to declare all the railway projects in KBK and bordering regions in Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh as national projects in the line of North Eastern states of India immediately.

They have demanded to complete Khordha road – Balangir railway line to connect the KBK region with state capital

Approval of Junagarh – Ambaguda line proposed under extension of Lanjigarh Road – Junagarh is needed.

Approval is requested for Bargarh – Padampur - Nuapada road - Kantabanji – Khariar- Ampani-Navarangur- Jeypore – Makangiri – Kottagudem (Andhra Pradesh) new line in the backward region, which would help to control Maoist menace by bringing development in the region

The petitioners have demanded to carry out new survey and approve Rajim (Chhatisgarh) – Gariaband (Chhatisgarh) – Deobhog (Chhatisgahr) – Junagarh – Lanjigarh road – Simanbadi (Kandhamal) – Asika- Berhampur – Gopalpur line to directly connect Raipur with Gopalpur port passing through one of the most backward regions of India.

They have also demanded that new survey of Dhamtari (Chhatisgarh) – Umarkote (Orissa) – Nabrangpur (Orissa) line, an alternative direct access to Gopalpur and Visakhapatnam ports from Raipur and other mining region in Chhatisgarh is to be developed.

Carrying out of fresh survey of the Simanbadi -Phulbani-Angul line is needed to benefit NALCO by further reducing the distance between Damanjodiand Angul, said the online petitioners.

Reminiscing KBK Plan: Myth and Reality of Development in India

2008-07-06T19:03:00.000+03:00

Reminiscing KBK Plan: Myth and Reality of Development in India
Rajat Kumar Kujur
Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict
Article No:87, September 27, 2006

Recently during Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s maiden visit to Orissa, once again it was re-established that the most powerful word that drives the politicians and bureaucrats in contemporary Orissa is the infamous three-letter word KBK (Kalahandi–Bolangir–Koraput). It has been more then a decade that KBK area has been showered with specially designed programmes, grants and so many high profile visits. Unfortunately, the benefits of all these assistances are yet to reach the people of the region. While the state government is making no stone unturned to make the state a mining hub and a new destination for industrial investment, the ghost of KBK is still a force to reckon with the politics of Orissa.

In its recent report the New Delhi based Institute of Applied Manpower and Research, which is entrusted by the Union government to review the KBK programme revealed that despite of the Central aid of Rs.4544 Crore under the KBK head (1995-96 to 2005-06), it has not really changed the living condition of the people. Consequently, the Governor of Orissa, Rameswar Thakur recently observed that despite a huge chunk of money has been spent; it has not really changed the situation what it was in early 1990s.

The undivided districts of Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput are universally known as the most backward regions in India. After the reorganizations of districts in Orissa, these three districts were divided into eight districts, i.e. Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bolangir, Sonepur, Malkangiri, Koraput, Gajapati, and Nabarangpur. Statistically speaking the total area of these districts are 47.646 thousand square kilometer; the total population is of 72,490,691; and among all the 80 revenue blocks, there is only one block which is developed, three blocks are developing, 28 blocks are backward and 49 blocks are declared as most backward.

It was during early nineties that Union government recognized that those areas being backward had been grossly neglected in the fields of agriculture, education, health, industrialization, irrigation, employment, social and economic development. To bring about rapid economic growth for minimizing the economic gap in this region, then Prime Minister of India, PV Narasimha Rao declared a special Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput or KBK Yojana in 1995 at Koraput. It was declared that from 1995-96 to 2001-02 a total sum of Rs. 6654.44 Crore would be spent through KBK Yojana under the Revised Long Term Action Plan.

Despite the much-hyped declaration, subsequent events suggest that no separate provision were made in the Union budget in the name of “KBK Yojana”. It was mentioned in the third Revised Long Term Action Plan that in the field of rural development other then the allotted money of central plan there would be an additional requirement of Rs. 715.15 Crore. Similarly, in the field of agriculture, health and family welfare, employment etc. there will be an additional requirement of Rs. 789.35 Crore. Going through such calculations the Union Ministry of Finance decided to provide an additional amount of Rs. 1503.85 Crore only. Subsequently, another Central delegation headed by Yugandhar, the then Secretary of PMO, after holding discussion with the state government observed that at both the stage the required amount is Rs. 4859 Crore. In addition, after deducting the already allotted central assistance of Rs. 4282.39 Crore in those areas, it calculated that another Rs. 576.61 Crore could be provided for these areas. Finally, the grant amount came down to only a sum of Rs. 389.21 Crore. In the subsequent years what was provided in the name of KBK Yojana or Revised Long Term Action Plan was far below from what was announced originally.

The undivided districts of K-B-K are predominantly tribal inhabited and majority of its population are deprived of the bare necessities of life, forget about the comforts. Taking account of the deplorable socio-economic condition of these districts, the KBK programme would have been a milestone had it focused on Primary Education, Higher Education (Medical College, Agriculture College, Mining school), Irrigation (small and medium), Livelihood, Health care and sanitation, Agro based industries, cooperatives etc. But this was not done. Instead the government took a short cut and marginally increased central aid to these districts; as a result the people of KBK did not get any major benefits from these programmes.

Arguably, KBK is a national issue, it’s a challenge on India’s concern for human development and the goal along with the whole implementing mechanism of KBK Yojana needs a strong revision. If this is not done then whatsoever amount may be sanctioned it will never reach to the hungry stomach of the poor and needy people of KBK.

[Rajat Kumar Kujur, Research Associate, SSPC, New Delhi.]

State road in between Titlagarh and Raniguda via Jayapatna in KBK: A letter to Orissa CM

2008-07-05T23:41:00.000+03:00

To
The Chief minister of Orissa

Copy to: The chief secretary of Orissa

Dear honorable Chief Minister Mr Patnaik,
I had the chance to go through the recent major state road proposed by
the state Government.

However, among them which was totally not addressed is a road
connectivity between Titlagarh and Raniguda via Jayapatna as per the
following route.

Titlagarh (Balangir dist) ? Ailabhatta (Balangir)- Kegaon (Kalahandi
dist)-Khaliakani-Dharamgarh (Kalahandi)? Moter ? Jayapatna
(Kalahandi)-Sunamal ? Tentulikhunti (Nabrangpur
dist)-Jagannathapur-Singpuru (Koraput dist)-Raniguda -Koraput

Following reasons made this road route urgent and important to be established.

(1) Kegaon region which is in the border to Kalahandi and Balangir
districts, is neither porperly linked with Kalahandi dist nor with
Balangir district. A bridge construction near Kegaon is required for
the proposed road route.

(2) Upper Indravati project in Mukhiguda/Jayapatna (being one of the
largest hydropower generating unit) needs a special road connectivity
with NH201 and with Nabarangpur and Koraput districts.

(3) Similalry Tentulikhunti region in Nabarangpur and Singpur region
in Koraput need better road connectivity due to cumbersome
infrastructure.

(4) KBK is a special region and improving infrastuture only will bring
development in the region.

(5) If the state Govt. take proper inititative, the proposed state
road project between Titlagarh and Raniguda could be easily
materialized through funding from WODC project, Biju KBK project,
national KBK project and NREG shceme and bring more development in
backward and tribal pocket of Odisha.

I urgue to immediately survey the above road route and declare this
route as a major state road through financial support from WODC, KBK &
Biju KBK projects and NREG scheme.

Thank you and kind regards
Digambara Patra

Letter to CM to speed up central university in KBK

2008-07-05T23:39:00.000+03:00

Dear Chief Minister of Orissa,
Tamil Nadu Govt. has taken initiative on the second central university in the state, Tiruvarur Central University, to start functioning from this year.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/20/stories/2008062050140100.htm
It has also taken the initiative to allot land for another World Class Central University in Coimbatore.
However, Orissa Govt. has not taken any initiative for the other proposed central university in the state except for the world class central university at Bhubaneswar.
Instead recently state Government is establishing institutes like Engineering College, Medical colleges and universities solely funded by state Government in those regions which have already similar state Govt. funded institution.
Bhawanipatna is a right place to establish the other proposed central university as it has all necessary infrastructure.
(1) NH201 and NH217 pass through Bhawanipatna and connect all the major KBK towns and other major towns such as Berhampur, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Bhubaneswar in the state as well as with Raipur. In fact location of Bhawanipatna, one of the major towns in KBK, over NH201 is such that it equilibrates the distance between Malkangiri and Sonpur as well as between other two major towns Jeypore and Balangir.
http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/india_roadway_map.jpg
(2) Kesinga railway station is 25 kms from Bhawanipatna and is directly linked by railway to Bhawanipatna .
(3) Raipur airport is about 220 kms from Bhawanipatana and there is another aerodrome in Bhawanipatna which can be a regular airport in the future.
(4) KBK needs special attention for the solely government funded higher educational institute and Kalahandi is geographically the epicenter for all the KBK districts.
(5) Govt. Autonomous College Bhawanipatna which was awarded as the Potential Center of Excellence among 3 colleges in the very first year from Orissa by UGC has all the infrastructure to start a central university temporarily.
Tirivarur in Tamil Nadu is smaller than Bhawanipatna in regards to the population and has the similar infrastructure like that of Bhawanipatna. However, the Tamil Nadu Govt. is working hard to establish the other central university in that place for which the Tirivarur Central University is going to function from this academic year. Where as our state Govt. has little towards establishing the other central university in Bhawanipatna.
A long standing demand of fully Govt. funded institution in KBK has not yet been fulfilled, Kalahandi and Nuapada regions have been demanding a university since 1989, but our state Govt. has fulfilled many other demands like National Law School, Capital Medical College, Ravensha University, Engineering College in Berhampur, etc. recently in other parts of the state except similar demand in KBK.
Even for central Govt. funded central university the state Govt. has not taken initiative to establish in KBK, whereas similar central university is going to function from this year in other states.
I request you to take your action in this regard
Thank you and regards
Digambara Patra

Separate ministry demanded for KBK

2008-07-05T23:38:00.000+03:00

The Statesman, June 24, 2008

Separate ministry demanded

Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, June 23: Former law minister and Congress legislator Mr Narasingha Mishra strongly pleaded for a separate ministry at the central level for tribal dominated districts and the KBK area like the north eastern states’ ministry. He said that these areas were still in acute distress and were proving a fertile ground for Naxalite operations.
"Creation of such a ministry will help in ensuring speedy development of the KBK area and Baster district of Chhatisgarh," he said before insisting that the proposed Central University and IIT ought to be established in the KBK region.
KBK districts of Orissa and Bastar district of Chhatisgarh are amongst the most backward areas of the country. Of the eight districts of KBK region, four have more than 50 per cent tribal population. Ninety per cent of the population live below poverty line, in Bolangir.
In his letter to AICC president Mrs Sonia Gandhi, he mentioned that barely three per cent of the land is irrigated, health care services are non-existent and more than 50 per cent of the posts of teachers and doctors are vacant.
Every year a lot of people migrate from these regions to other states in search of livelihood.
“Inspite of efforts like the KBK long term action plan and implementation of NREGA, there has been no material change in the distressed situation,” he said.
Urging upon Mrs Sonia Gandhi to consider formation of a separate ministry which could include 10 districts of Orissa and Bastar district of Chhatisgarh, Mr Mishra said: “the central government should also consider establishing the proposed central varsity either at Bolangir or any other place within the KBK districts”.

Petition: Declare rail project in KBK as national project

2008-07-05T12:24:00.000+03:00

Click here to sign the online petition

To: All

Sub:- Declare railway projects in multi-facet backward KBK and bordering regions in Chhatisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh as National Project in the Line of North Eastern States of India

To
The President of India
The Prime Minister of India

Copy to:
The Union Railway Minister
The Chief Minister of Orissa
The Chief Minister of Chhatisgarh
Planning Commission of India
Chairman, Indian Railway Board
Media

Dear honorable President and Prime minister of India,

Kalahandi-Balangir- Koraput (KBK) region in Orissa is a multi-facet backward region due to hilly backwardness, tribal populated backwardness and backward due to natural calamities.

Similar backward regions in India like North Eastern States have received special treatment by railway board where as KBK region has been neglected since decades. Even hilly region like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand have received special package in railway by Govt. of India. Unfortunately, KBK region where backwardness is multi-facet has not yet received similar treatment.

Naxal activities are predominantly high in the border between Orissa and Chhatisgarh/ Andhra Pradesh due to poor communication and infrastructure and recently it is spreading to other bordering and backward districts like Balangir, Nuapada and Kalahandi districts.

The railway infrastructure in Orissa and Chhatisgarh is substantially low compared to national average despite both the states are in the profit making zones, where as railway infrastructure in Bihar and West Bengal are remarkably high though they are in the loss making zones.

Ref: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/maps/all_india.htm

East Coast zone and South Eastern zone (under which Orisss state comes) and South East Central zone (under which Chhatisgarh state comes) of Indian railways are among top most profit making zones and large amount profit made by Indian railway comes from the royalty by transporting coal, metals, ores, and minerals which Orissa and Chhatisgarh substantially contribute, however, Indian railway has ignored Orissa, specially KBK region, since decades.

Ref: http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/archives/489

Politically, Indian railway was being always misused by railway ministry and development in the important backward but profit making states like Orissa and Chhatisgarh was being marginalized.

For example, Khordha road – Balangir and Lanjigarh road – Junagarh railway lines in Orissa which were approved much earlier than Muzaffarpur – Sitamari and Sultangang-Deogarh railway lines in Bihar are still struggling to be accomplished, but other two lines in Bihar are completed by now.

Ref: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/

During last 15 years, more railway lines were approved in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal (all of them comes under loss making zones) than Orissa and Chhatisgarh (both are in profit making zones). The lines accomplished in Orissa are solely due to mineral transportation for railway’s own interest unlike in those above states mentioned earlier.

In last 5 years Indian railway is establishing three railway plants in Bihar (loss making zone) and one in Kerala (another loss making zone), but none of the plants including the recently proposed power plant by Indian railway, was being established in Orissa or Chhatisgarh despite profit making zones and rich in coal. Such railway plant through Govt. initiative in multi-facet backward region like KBK is imminent for social development.

Since decades, funds allotted in the railway budgets to profit making zones like East Coast railway (ECOR) and South East Central railway (SECR) is lower/comparable as/to that of loss making zones like Eastern railway, North Eastern railway and Southern railway zones. The large amount of funds allotted to ECOR is towards mineral transportation and there was very little fund towards social need of the state.

We do not have any objection towards development of railway infrastructure in Bihar, West Bengal and any other states in India rather would like to see their well being, but we are totally against the marginalization of Indian railway towards backward state and region like Orissa, Chhatisgarh and KBK.

We propose Orissa and Chhatisgarh State Governments to give land free of cost for railway development in the backward region and Central Government of India to declare all the railway projects in KBK and bordering regions in Chhatisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh as national projects in the line of North Eastern states of India as soon as possible, and

(i) Accomplish immediately Khordha road – Balangir railway line to connect the KBK region with state capital

(ii) Approve Junagarh – Ambagura line proposed under extension of Lanjigarh road – Junagarh line

(iii) Approve Bargarh – Padampur - Nuapada road - Kantabanji – Khariar- Ampani-Navarangur- Jeypore – Makangiri – Kottagudem (Andhra Pradesh) new line in the backward region, which would help to monitor naxal acitivities by bringing development in the region

(iv) Carry out new survey and approve Rajim (Chhatisgarh) – Gariaband (Chhatisgarh) – Deobhog (Chhatisgahr) – Junagarh – Lanjigarh road – Simanbadi (Kandhamal) – Asika- Berhampur – Gopalpur line to directly connect Raipur with Gopalpur port passing through one of the most backward regions of India.

(v) Carry out new survey and approve Dhamtari (Chhatisgarh) – Umarrkote (Orissa) – Nabrangpur (Orissa) line, an alternative direct access to Gopalpur and Visakhapatnam ports from Raipur and other mining region in Chhatisgarh.

(vi) Carry out new survey and approve Simanbadi -Phulbani-Angul line to benefit NALCO by further reducing the distance between Damanjodi (Asia’s largest Alumina plant) and Angul and passing through tribal backward region.

Thank you and best regards

Click here to sign the online petition

A tottering lifeline

2008-06-15T11:59:00.000+03:00

The New Indian Express, June 14, 2008

KORAPUT: Jolaput bridge, the lifeline of the people of Orissa and bordering villages of Andhra Pradesh awaits repair for the last two years. It was damaged after the release of Jolaput reservoir water in 2006.

For the residents of the two small project towns, the Orissa side called Right Flank (RF) and the AP side Left Flank (LF), the bridge is the only means of communication but in the absence of railings or parapet wall crossing the bridge, for many, is just impossible.

The 150-metre-long bridge was constructed 60 years back as a passage for the residents and traffic when the Machkund project was in progress. Unfortunately half of the bridge was washed away when the dam痴 gates were opened in 2006.

Though the Machkund project is the oldest and the highest profit- making power sector for both the states, earning about Rs 100 crore per annum, the dilapidated bridge continues to be neglected. No government has shown interest in it.

The ITDA of Andhra Pradesh put some wooden logs on the damaged portion of the bridge. Many, fearing for their lives, prefer not to cross the weak structure.

A local resident Udaya Kumar said Oriya and Telugu students are the worst affected. The alternative dam route is far more dangerous, he said.

The two governments should hold talks on repairing the bridge, feel the locals. The residents have threatened to boycott the 2009 general elections if the bridge was not constructed immediately.

Next weekend you can be at ... Laxmipur

2008-06-15T11:42:00.000+03:00

The Telegraph, June 15, 2008

Laxmipur is a hamlet in the hills in the wild western part of Orissa. It was unheard of by tourists even a decade back. The launch of the 160 km-plus Koraput-Rayagada line put it on the map of those willing to go off the beaten track.

The new line branches off the Kirandul-Visakhapatnam route through the Araku Valley, covering Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Chhattisgarh. The tracks were laid mainly for transportation of minerals mined in the region and development of tribals who populate the stretch.

The route, with numerous waterfalls and over 40 tunnels, is one of the most picturesque in the country. The 1.5-km tunnel near Tikri is the longest on broad gauge tracks in India. There are also more than 50 bridges.

At an altitude of 3,000 ft, Laxmipur is surrounded by thickly forested hills. The forest envelops even the station, which is 3 km from the village. It is deserted after evening, when wild animals often drop by.

According to the station master, a stray dog that lived in the compound was carried away by a leopard in front of his eyes. Bear, hyena, wild boar, neelgai, sambar and peacock are some of the other inhabitants of the forest.

Several streams gurgle through mango, jackfruit, mahogany, tamarind, sirish and akashmoni trees to merge with rivers like the Marbeguda, Apreboda and Godlam. There are several water bodies which are frequented by animals. Tribals constitute the only human presence.

Clouds stretching several kilometres hang over the hilltops from monsoon to winter. This has earned Laxmipur the epithet of Darjeeling of Orissa. Nights can be cold even in August-September.

Damonjodi, Kakrigumma, Tikri, Rauli, Lilligumma, Bhalamaska and Kentuguda are some of the stations near Laxmipur that are also known for their wild natural beauty.

The largest bauxite mine in India is at Damonjodi. Bhalamaska was named after bears that overrun the forest.

There are many places of tourist interest in the vicinity. Koraput, Kolaba, Gupteswar, Duduma and Chitrakoot and Tiratgarh falls are worth a visit.

Going
Howrah-Koraput Express touches Laxmipur. If you are staying at Rayagada, get off there. Cars are available on hire for the 60 km-plus journey to Laxmipur.

Staying
Rayagada and Koraput have plenty of hotels. Contact the divisional forest officers at Rayagada and Koraput for government-run accommodation. There are also a few lodges at Laxmipur, along the Rayagada-Koraput road.

Public protest for delaying Khordha-Balangir railway

2008-06-12T14:38:00.000+03:00

/Satkodi+Hota,+Prafulla+Kar+and+Sibaji+Pattnaik+at+Khurdha+meeting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210959466158880706" />

Prafulla Kar speaking about Swabhiman and Satkodi Hota looks on
Satkodi Hota, Prafulla Kar and Sibaji Pattnaik at Khurdha meeting
The audience at Khurdha meetin
Source: Er Lalit Patnaik

Unimaginable ignorance towards KBKK in higher education by Odisha State Government

2008-06-06T11:04:00.000+03:00

Dear Chief Minister, Intellectuals and Journalists of Odisha,

Father bought a sophisticated toy and gifted it to the elder son who knew how to play with it. Looking at that the, younger son, who had the capability to learn but did not know how to play with it, started crying. Noticing it the mother immediately put a Rasagola into his(younger son's) mouth to shut him up. The youngest son was in awe without understanding anything till the end.

In this daily routine of a middle class family, the role played by central and Odisha state governments are like that of the father and the mother and that Bhubaneswar, Berhampur and KBK regions are the respective elder, younger and youngest sons.

The central Government announced an IIT for Odisha and people around Berhampur wanted to establish it in their region, which is all right.

Nonetheless, consistent persuasion of central Govt. and policy makers to have an airport in the vicinity of IIT, the dream of Berhampur region started getting marginalized. Taking into notice the frustration of CM's home district, the state Govt. immediately announced an engineering college in Berhampur opening the Pandora box of the beloved state.

If the state Govt. wanted to establish a new engineering college, it's a very welcome decision. However, it should reflect the practical and social requirements for the whole state.

Except undivided Kalahandi, Balangir, Koraput and Kandhamal (KBKK)districts in Odisha, rest of the undivided districts have at least one government institutions solely funded by state Government like a state university, engineering college, medical college or agriculture college. For many of them second institution through PPP or state Govt. funded are under consideration and few of them are lucky to have 3 government institutions funded completely by the state government.

What these poor undivided KBKK districts did to the Odisha state Government that their demands always fall into deaf ears?

Secondly, state Govt. is not getting enough funds to establish a new state Govt. institute in other parts of Odisha, therefore, it is encouraging private parties to participate through PPP to build higher educational institutes importantly in KBK districts, and none of them have succeeded so far. Then suddenly the same state Govt. is able to announce new Govt. Engineering College in Berhampur ignoring KBKK districts, does not it sound funny?

Are our policy makers mad reasoning PPP mode institutions in Koraput/Balangir and complete state Govt. funded institution in Bhubaneswar/Berhampur?

I am not saying Berhampur does not deserve a state Govt. engineering institute which is like saying Punjab did not deserve an IIT. However, the timing, location and political bargaining have made the present situation so easier that any intellectual could easily realize the ignorance towards KBKK districts by state Govt. is unimaginable and deeply shameful.

If the state Government needed to establish an Engineering institute in South Odisha, wasn't Koraput more suitable choice to satisfy every aspect, or, south Odisha means people of Berhampur and framers of Ganjam district only?

Engineering colleges in smaller towns such as Gunpur (private), Pralakhemundi (private), Sarang (state Govt.) etc are being very much successfully run in Odisha. Amazingly, why can't Koraput/Jeypore, Bhawanipatna, Balangir, or Phulbani, those are considered as major towns in Odisha representing major chunks of regions, make for an engineering institute?

Is it the reason our CM wanted to establish a new engineering college in his home district like our HRD minister and Prime minister tried and exposed them-selves to the whole nation?

Berhampur already has a state university, medical college and a diploma engineering college solely funded by the state Government and there are also few good private engineering institutes in its vicinity.

Do we mean the farmer and economically weaker sections in Berhampur region deserves more a state Govt. engineering institute than the same sections in Koraput, Bhawanipatna, Balangir or Phulbani regions?

Before taking the decision hurriedly, it should have been practical to bring regional balance to all regions regarding solely state funded Governmental institutes to every region in Odisha.

If the state Govt. feels KBKK is only for backwardness and poverty, it's a shame to the state and its people. Balangir, Kalahandi, Nabrangpur regions are top districts in rice production (Balangir and Kalahandi are among top 3). In industries too KBK is not that backward while contributing to her mother state, such as hydroelectricity project like Upper Kolab, Upper Indravati, Balimela, Machhakund,
Duduma etc., aluminium mining and projects in Damonjodi, Rayagada, Lanjigarh, etc, and ferro silicon industries in Rayagada, Koraput etc, in addition to supplying forest resources mainly Kendu leaves, Mahul, bamboos and woods; all of them are equally contributing to the state/nation.

It's the step motherly attitude and ignorance of the state Govt. which is making KBKK more backward.

Is it not the role of the state Government to equalize every region of the state, so that each of them would feel confident and equally participate in state's overall development?

Instead of doing that the state Government is acting like a mother who knows the trick to put a Rasagola into the mouth of those crying children to appease them each time they create a hue and cry about such a situation.

Thank you and best regards

Sincerely

Digambara Patra
American University of Beirut
Lebanon

Jagannath Patnaik meets Sonia: Discussed KBK and requested Central University in Kalahandi

2008-05-31T13:34:00.000+03:00

The Pioneer, May 31, 2008
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar

Senior Congress leader of the State and former Revenue Minister Jagannath Patnaik met AICC president Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi on Friday.

He informed her about the present political situation of the State and "failure" of the BJD-BJP Government in executing the various Centrally-sponsored projects.

Patnaik informed her about the various dimensions of the KBK schemes and stressed upon a review of their implementation at the Central level. He also requested for establishment of a Central University in Kalahandi district.

Patnaik also held talks with Union Planning Minister Narayan Swami and AICC secretary in charge of Orissa Ajay Maken, according to a release here.

Medical colleges on PPP mode in Balangir, Angul, Mayurbhanj and Koraput

2008-05-23T13:24:00.000+03:00

Medical colleges on PPP mode
Tathay.in, May 22, 2008

Bhubaneswar:23/May/2008

The government run hospitals in rural areas are experiencing huge vacancies of doctors which is running over 1000 plus.

Vacancy position will be more alarming in days to come as there is serious dearth of physicians.

That is why government of Orissa is planning to set up medical colleges in Angul, Koraput, Mayurbhanj and Balangir, revealed a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Initiative document.

On social sector front, little money is percolating from the private players for which the state is lagging behind as there is not much funding from the state exchequer.

Keeping this in view, Department of Health & Family Welfare has initiated to take up feasibility studies and to float expression of interest (EOI) for setting up medical colleges in the backward and tribal districts.

Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Department of Health & Family Welfare has taken the initiative.

Mr.Pandey is known his innovative social initiatives.

The PPP Plan revealed the medical college attempts by another mandarin always concerned for social cause, Gagan Kumar Dhal, Commissioner-cum-Secretary PPP of the Government of Orissa during the workshop organized by the Planning Commission recently.

According to sources, the Chief District Medical Officers (CDMO) of these districts has been asked to identify at least 25 acres of land nearby the District Headquarters Hospitals (DHH).

These DHH will be attached to the medical colleges to facilitate practical training to the students.

Similarly to improve the vacancy position of the physicians, sponsoring and subsidizing of students from these districts and other such schemes in the existing private medical colleges along with a bond for serving the government in the parent district, revealed Mr.Dhal.

Inorder to overcome the large vacancies of nurses, Nursing Schools are also planned on PPP mode.

These schools will come up in backward and tribal districts of the state.

The state support will be provided for the same, said an official.

Centre boost to backward regions- 15 districts to be on industry map

2008-05-22T15:51:00.000+03:00

The Telegraph (Kolkata), May 5, 2008

Bhubaneswar, May 5: Focusing on inclusive growth, the Centre today asked the state government to identify 15 industrially backward and under-developed districts and draw up sector-specific plans.

The 15 districts would be among the 600 industrially backward and underdeveloped districts across the country.

Union minister of state for industries, Ashwani Kumar, who met chief minister Naveen Patnaik this afternoon, told reporters that they discussed several major issues, including improving the pace of development, special priority to backward KBK region and need to diversify the industrial map.

Stating that the Centre is focusing on inclusive growth, the minister said Orissa’s industrial development had been largely mineral-based and resource-based. “We need to diversify,” he said, emphasising on the promotion of agro-based, food processing, leather, steel intermediaries, automobile and other related industries.

“We should not just concentrate on Bhubaneswar and Cuttack alone and should create conducive atmosphere for industries in the districts which are backward and underdeveloped,” he said.

It is being said that the chief minister appreciated the idea of promoting industrial development in backward areas and assured to fully co-operate with the Centre in this regard.

The chief minister also asked officials to formulate sector-specific plans to promote potential industries in the backward areas.

The Union minister’s is visiting states to identify the industrially backward areas.

“By the end of June, we will be able to complete the interaction with the state governments and by July we will formulate a policy which will be placed before the Union cabinet,” the Union minister said.

The clear emphasis in the meeting was on the need for development of infrastructure to facilitate industrial investment in backward areas, as stressed on by the chief minister.

Naveen Patnaik suggested the upgradation of the NH-215 and construction of Ranchi-Vijaywada highway passing through the rebel-hit areas of Orissa.

The chief minister also urged the Centre for better rail connectivity for Malkangiri and incentives for entrepreneurs and traders in the KBK region.

JNU first, UPSC now: Hearing no handicap for ‘hunger belt’ man

2008-05-20T22:49:00.000+03:00

Expressindia, May 21, 2008
PALLAVI SINGH

New Delhi, May 20 K Manoranjan Nayak was the first from his family to enter a college in Malkangiri district of Orissa. At the time he travelled from his village Upperkatinga in neighbouring Koraput district to Malkangiri every day for his classes.
Despite the toil, he seldom missed classes, though he knew he couldn’t hear the lectures.

But being hearing impaired by birth was never a handicap for 26-year-old Nayak, who later made it to the Jawaharlal Nehru University as a Sociology student. For, he wanted to “make a difference”. Coming from the hunger-stricken Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput region of Orissa, Nayak, son of a forest guard, perhaps had learnt early to not give up easily.

And, last week, his constant efforts towards a better life led him to another laurel when he made it to the Civil Services in the physically handicapped category. “When I enrolled at JNU five years ago as an MA student, I knew I was the only student with hearing impairment. Yet, this was the last thing that bothered me,” he says in answer to a question passed on to him on a piece of paper.

And that is exactly how he appeared for his final interviews for the Civil Services as well. “There was a computer on which questions were typed for me; I read them and answered,” he explains.

At JNU, Nayak would quietly take notes and later write questions for the teachers to answer. “Three professors at my Centre helped me immensely with written notes in response to my questions,” he says.

His friend and senior research student at JNU Netajee Abhinandan says Nayak never let his handicap come in the way of his happiness. “You will always find him smiling,” Abhinandan says. “He is always forthcoming with his participation in sports and other extra-curricular activities and never lets himself be sidelined in any group.”

Nayak today is not just a student with hearing impairment — for many at the campus he is a symbol of achievement despite odds. Back home, he continues to inspire four younger siblings with his courage and ambition. His younger sister, too, has made it to JNU this year as a post-graduate student.

But Nayak seems tireless. “I will appear for the Civil Services exams again next year to improve my rank of 726.”

Did Union Human Resource Development minister steal the proposal by Orissa state government?

2008-05-11T20:12:00.000+03:00

The idea for a central tribal university was suggested by Orissa CM, on 24th October 2005:
(Source: http://rc.orissa.gov.in/index3.asp?sublinkid=133&linkid=30)

Union HRD minister, Mr Arjun Singh appreciated the rationale of having a Central University in the KBK region and sought a formal proposal in this regard from the State Government.

Later on Mr Arjun Singh liked the idea of Multi-campus tribal university in KBK idea so much that UGC created a committee headed by respected educationalist D. Swaminadhan and recommended the establishment of a tribal central university in the home state of Mr Arjun Singh.

This first appeared in Hindu on 19th November 2006, after one year of Orissa CM's proposal.
(Source: http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/19/stories/2006111900750900.htm)

The Orissa government did submit a detailed proposal of a multi-campus Central Tribal University for the KBK regions; but after seemingly stealing the idea Arjun Singh has paid no attention to this demand.

Acknowledgement: Thanks to Prof Chitta Baral, Arizona State University for the documents.

‘KBK still the poorest’

2008-05-11T20:11:00.000+03:00

The New Indian Express, May 11, 2008

BALANGIR: Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi (KBK) are the poorest districts in India, where 87 percent people and nearly 12 lakh families live below poverty line. KBK is still the most backward region even though funds for development programmes continue to flow to these districts over the years.

Deputy Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said this quoting the 2007-08 CAG report. The CAG report clearly pointed out the erratic use of funds meant for agriculture, forest, irrigation, communication and drinking water facilities.

It specifically reported that as many as 1450 projects were either closed or remained incomplete. It said, ‘‘Participatory management was poor as contribution in respect of ‘pani panchayats and watershed development funds’ failed to take off creating apprehension about future maintenance of projects. Mainly, the Sampoorna Gramin Rojgar Yojana failed to generate employment days targeted under RLTAP, Indira Awas Yojana couldn’t provide dwelling to targeted group and short supply of rice and dal affected emergency feeding to the beneficiaries. And above all safe drinking water couldn’t be ensured in most of the habitations. More so, only 6 percent BPL families were covered under KBK schemes against the targeted 30 percent.

Mishra attributed this abysmally low economic progress to poor performance of developmental programmes undertaken in KBK. He said education is extremely dissatisfactory in KBK. ‘‘Proper education will clear bottlenecks in the way of development. State’s first priority should be education,’’Mishra said. He demanded that Central University should be established either in Balangir or any KBK district for socio-economic development.

Mishra warned that due to poor socio-economic growth and the failure of government to meet the development targets, Naxalite menace is growing. ‘‘To check the Naxal menace, a separate post of RDC should be created in KBK,’’ he added.

Rahul urged to correct Arjun steps

2008-05-11T08:29:00.000+03:00

Tathya.in, May 11, 2008
Bhawanipatna:11/May/2008

Will Rahul Gandhi get back to Orissa the multi-campus tribal central university that Arjun stole from Orissa?

This billion dollar question is haunting the minds of the educated youth of the state on the eve of the visit of Rahul Gandhi.

Will the fourth generation icon of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, which boasts as the savior of the poorest of the poor region of the country, Kalahandi take corrective steps in restoring the central university in the most deserving area.

Non Resident Odias (NRO) are asking this question to both Sonia Gandhi and heir apparent of the Congress party, Rahul.

It has been reported widely that Rahul will request the Central Government to establish a central university in the tribal inhabited KBK districts.

However, Does Rahul Gandhi knows that the original proposal for a multi-campus tribal university came from Orissa and was allegedly stolen by the Union Human Resources Development (HRD) minister Arjun Singh to his home state Madhya Pradesh.

With the visit of Mr.Gandhi to Orissa on 13 May, this question is being asked by Professor Chitta Baral, Professor Digambara Patra, Professor Digambar Mishra and Mr.Dhirendra Kar.

All of them are serious about the issue of setting up of a central university in Kalahandi.

The leading educationists are bemoaning over the matter as instead of supporting the Kalahandi with a Central University, Mr.Singh high jacked the idea and shamelessly decided to set up the institution at Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh.

Now as it has been brought to the notice of Rahul, will he take steps to correct it?

The Orissa Government which submitted a detailed proposal of a multi-campus Central Tribal University for the KBK regions had paid no attention to this demand afterwards.

Orissa must get another multi-campus tribal central university that it proposed and that seems to have been stolen by Arjun Singh to his home state, said Professor Patra.

One may wonder why not we can just establish one of the already announced central universities in a KBK town and why we need to demand another tribal central university for KBK, said Professor Patra.

This is because the tribal population in these areas of the state is much more vis-à-vis other tribal populated areas.

Secondly Rahul must understand that being the Union HRD Minister steeling the idea of a Central Tribal University; he has done great damage to the aspiration of the young and educated masses of the region.

Till date the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, who has tom tom the KBK zone for their political benefits have never bothered about the real development of the area, alleged Mr.Kar.

So Rahul will have to take corrective steps in this regard, said he.

Is the babalog listening ?

Narasingha demands Central university at Balangir and IIT in KBK

2008-05-11T08:22:00.000+03:00

The Pioneer, May 11, 2008

Narasingha demands Central university at Balangir
Pioneer News Service | Balangir

The Central Government should establish at least one model school in each of the 89 blocks of the KBK districts to provide excellent standard of education to students of the region, observed deputy leader of Opposition in the Assembly Narasingha Mishra speaking to mediapersons here on Friday.

As education is vital for development, qualitative and standard educational institutions should be established in this backward region of India, he said.

It was a matter of regret that even after 60 years since Independence, 87 per cent of people in the KBK region were living below poverty line, as per the CAG report of 2007-08, he pointed out.

The proposed Central University for the State should be established at Balangir so that people of Balangir and nearby districts would get quality education.

Moreover, the proposed IIT should also be established anywhere in the KBK region, he said further.

He has written letters in this regard to Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, Governor MC Bhandare and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, he said.

The vacant teachers' posts at the primary, upper primary and high school levels should be immediately filled up, he also demanded.

Does Gandhi-Nehru family more interested in using backwardness of Kalahandi and KBK for political purposes rather than on the actual development?

2008-05-10T16:20:00.000+03:00

To
Ms. Sonia Gandhi
UPA, Chairman
President,
Indian National Congress
24, Akbar Road,
New Delhi - 110011
INDIA

Copy to: The President of India
The Prime minister of India
The Chief Minister of Orissa
The HRD minister, Govt. of India
The Chairperson and members, National Knowledge Commission (NKC)
The members of Parliaments
Deputy, Planning Commission
The media

Sub:- Does Gandhi-Nehru family more interested in using backwardness of Kalahandi and KBK for political purposes rather than on the actual development?

Ref:- Announce main roads, airport and railway projects in KBK region as national project similar to the North Eastern states and establish a Central University, a National Medical College and a National Institute of Technology (NIT) in this region

Dear Ms Gandhi,
With reference to the recent suggestion made by Mr Pitroda (NKC chairperson) to honorable Prime minister on “glaring regional imbalance in engineering education”, I fully agree with him and suggest that the central government should focus on some of the remote pocket (similar to north eastern states) like Kalahandi, in general KBK of Orissa, for such establishments.

Though places like Kalahandi has been long associated with Nehru-Gandhi dynasty since decades due to its acute poverty and backwardness, frustrations are running high in the region as during the leadership of Gandhi-Nehru dynasty Kalhandi, KBK in general, has received little in national developmental policy on railway, highway, infrastructure, industries, airport, higher education etc despite the fact that Gandhi family has often publicly sympathized backward Kalahandi and KBK region for their three generations.

Late PM Ms Indira Gandhi, late PM Mr Rajiv Gandhi, UPA chairperson yourself and recently 3rd generation youth leader icon, Mr Rahul Gandhi (who referred himself that his is the soldier of Kalahandi in Delhi), visited undivided Kalahandi district and showed their sympathy towards development.

Infrastructure is important for any kind of development. Problems in Kalahandi, KBK as a whole, are poverty and backwardness which actually are originated from unemployment and poor infrastructure.

Apart from agricultural development like irrigation, infrastructure in road, national highway, railway, airport and industries bring developments to a remote and backward place.
Gandhi family has often publicly sympathized backward Kalahandi and KBK region since their three generations however, statistics show 15 years of Gandhi leadership at the central government has done little for this region.
Examples of major projects in Kalahandi in post independence period are:
(1) Upper Indiravati Irrigation Project was proposed and foundation stone was laid by late Morajee Desai (a non-congress government)
(2) Lanjigarh road – Junagarh railway line (though not yet completed) was proposed during late Mr Chandrasekhar government (non-congress government)
(3) Bargarh – Boriguma national highway (NH 201) which passes through Kalahandi and whole KBK (though it is still like a state road without any improvement) was initiated by Vajpayee government (a non congress government)
(4) Even the most publicized KBK project was initiated by Mr Rao government which was a congress government but Nehru-Gandhi family had least role in it.

None of the above was proposed during a Nehru-Gandhi leadership. Both you and your son, Mr Rahul Gandhi, have considerable influence in the present central government but have done little for development Kalahandi, in general KBK.

When a multi-campus university in KBK was proposed by Orissa government to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the ministry hijacked the idea and established a similar university in the home state of the concern minister and KBK region was ignored.

The central government announced 8 IITs, 7 IIMs and 30 central universities in major urban region in the country, unfortunately, not a single one in places like KALAHANDI (a central place to KBK region) to which Nehru-Gandhi family has routinely voiced as poor and backward region. A national institute will not only bring effectiveness in education in this lower literacy rate region but also bring new opportunities as business and infrastructure to the region.

Both the prime minister and HRD minister has proposed to establish more than 5 national institutes in their home states (IIT, IISER, 2 Central universities, Tribal University, SPA, NIB, NIN), but never proposed a single one in place like Kalahandi, KBK in general.

On the other hand railway link and a railway engine factory in KBK region will support other form of employments in these regions. The concern railway ministry is establishing the railway wheel factory in his political constituency where as need of that kind in a backward region such as KBK is being totally ignored.

Statistics is proving that Gandhi-Nheru dynasty is more interested to exploit backwardness of poor KBK region for political causes rather than the actual development of KBK region.

KBK region and specially Kalahandi has been a symbol of poverty and backwardness for the media and is it that impression the politicians and Nehru-Gandhi family want to play?

KBK region is as large as size of Punjab or Kerala, we request you to focus more on development of KBK region such as announcing main roads, airport and railway projects in the region as national project similar to the North Eastern states and propose to establish a Central University, a National Medical College and a National Institute of Technology (NIT) in this region, as promised by the congress party in past decades.

Thank you and kind regards

Sincerely

Digambara Patra

Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
American University of Beirut
Bliss Street, Beirut
Lebanon

NROs urge Rahul Gandhi not to play politics with KBK

2008-05-06T11:52:00.000+03:00

The Pioneer, May 6, 2008
Pioneer News Service | Bhawanipatna

The country's most backward region, KBK, till date has only received lip service from the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. Statistics reveal stunning truths.

Sample these: The Upper Indravati Irrigation Project was proposed and its foundation-stone was laid by late Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who headed a non-Congress Government at the Centre. The Lanjigarh Road-Junagarh railway line, though not yet completed, was proposed during the Chandra Sekhar Government (non-Congress). The Bargarh-Boriguma National Highway (NH-201), which passes through Kalahandi and the whole KBK region, was initiated by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government (also non-Congress).

Even the most-touted KBK project was initiated by the Narasimha Rao Government, which was a Congress regime, but the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty had played the least role in it.

All this is being debated amidst reports that AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi will pay his second visit to the region in two months.

A leading non-resident Oriya (NRO), Digambara Patra, who teaches at the American University of Beirut, has presented the hard facts to the Nehru-Gandhi family's fourth generation icon Rahul Gandhi to ponder over the matter and take corrective steps. Prof Patra, in a fact finding report, has said Kalahandi has long been associated with the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.

Indira Gandhi, Rajiv, Sonia and, recently, Rahul visited the undivided Kalahandi district and evinced their interest in development of the region.

Though people of Kalahandi were offered lots of promise and development in the region, unfortunately, statistics show that Kalahandi has not received any major national developmental project under the leadership of the Nehru-Gandhi family. Infrastructure is important for any kind of development.

Problems in Kalahandi in particular and KBK in general are poverty and backwardness which actually have originated from unemployment and poor infrastructure. Apart from agricultural development, infrastructure in road, national highway, railway, airport and industries bring developments to a remote and backward place. The Nehru-Gandhi dynasty has often publicly sympathised the people of Kalahandi but done precious little for the region, Prof Patra has pointed out.

During his recent Discovery of India journey from Nuapada (undivided Kalahandi district) Rahul referred himself as the "Soldier of Kalahandi in Delhi". However, the present Central Government, over which he has considerable influence, is yet to do anything for the starving region.

When a multi-campus university was proposed by the Orissa Government to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the latter hijacked the idea and established a similar university in the home State of the concerned Minister, ignoring the KBK region.

The Union Government announced eight IITs, seven IIMs and 30 Central universities in major urban centres in the country and, unfortunately, not a single one in places like Kalahandi, which is centrally located in the KBK region, Prof Patra has pointed out.

Another NRO, Chitta Baral, Professor at Arizona State University, has also echoed Prof Patra's feelings.

According to Prof Baral, statistics is proving that the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty is more interested in exploiting backwardness of the poor KBK region and Orissa for political causes rather than working for the actual development of the region. The KBK region is as large as the size of Punjab or Kerala. As a youth and future leader of the country, Rahul should focus more on development of the region, he has pleaded.

Prof Baral has suggested that Rahul Gandhi impress upon the UPA Government to set up a railway engine factory, a Central university, a national medical college and a national institute of technology in the region.

Rahul, no politics plz

2008-05-05T11:53:00.000+03:00

Tathya.in, May 5, 2008
Bhawanipatna:5/May/2008

The worst backward region of the country, KBK till date has received only lip service of the Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty.

Statistics reveal stunning truths.

Sample the revelations.

Upper Indravati Irrigation Project was proposed and foundation stone was laid by late Morarjee Desai (a non-congress government)

Lanjigarh Road--Junagarh railway line (though not yet completed) was proposed during late Chandrasekhar government (non-congress government)

Bargarh--Boriguma national highway (NH 201) which passes through Kalahandi and whole KBK was initiated by Vajpayee government (a non congress government)

Even the most publicized KBK project was initiated by Narasimha Rao government which was though a congress government but Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty had played the least role in it.

Digambara Patra, a leading Non Resident Oriya (NRO) teaching at the American University of Beirut has presented the hard facts to the fourth generation icon to ponder over the matter and take corrective steps.

Professor Patra in a fact finding report has said the Kalahandi has been a long associated with the Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty.

Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and recently yourself, visited undivided Kalahandi district and showed their sympathy towards development.

Though people of Kalahandi were offered lots of promise and development in the region, unfortunately, statistic shows Kalahandi has not received any major national developmental projects under the leadership of Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty.

Infrastructure is important for any kind of development. Problems in Kalahandi, KBK as a whole, are poverty and backwardness which actually are originated from unemployment and poor infrastructure.

Apart from agricultural development like irrigation, infrastructure in road, national highway, railway, airport and industries bring developments to a remote and backward place.

Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty has often publicly sympathized backward Kalahandi but has done little for this region.

During the recent India discovery journey from Nuapada (undivided Kalahandi district) Rahul referred himself as “Soldier of Kalahandi at Delhi”, however, the present central government where he has more influence Mr.Gandhi had done little to bring any sort of new project to this backward and starving region.

When a multi-campus university was proposed by Orissa government to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), the ministry hijacked the idea and established a similar university in the home state of the concern minister and KBK region was ignored.

The central government announced 8 IITs, 7 IIMs and 30 central universities in major urban region in the country, unfortunately, not a single one in places like KALAHANDI (a central place to KBK region) to which Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty has routinely voiced as poor and backward region.

A national institute will not only bring effectiveness in education in these low literacy rate regions but also bring new opportunities as business and infrastructure to the region, said Professor Patra.

Chitta Baral, Professor at Arizona State University also echo the hard feelings of Professor Patra.

Professor Baral said statistics is proving that Nehru-Gandhi dynasty is more interested to exploit backwardness of poor KBK region and Orissa for political causes rather than the actual development of KBK region.

KBK region and specially Kalahandi has been a symbol of poverty and backwardness for the media and is it that impression the politicians want to play.

KBK region is as large as size of Punjab or Kerala, as a youth and future leader of this country we request you to focus more on development of KBK region.

KBK needs good roads, airport and railway projects as national project similar to the north eastern states.

Professor Baral suggested Mr.Gandhi to impress upon the UPA Government to set up a railway engine factory, to establish a central university, a National medical college and a national institute of technology in this region.

Desperate need for improved rail and road connectivity to the Tribal areas of Orissa: Prof Baral's letter to Mr Rahul Gandhi

2008-05-04T22:20:00.000+03:00

Draft Letter (PDF file)

Subject: Desperate need for improved rail and road connectivity to the Tribal areas of Orissa: declaring unfinished lines to KBK and other tribal districts as National projects and completing them during the 11th plan

Dear Esteemed Rahulji:
Welcome back to Orissa! Your last visit to Orissa left deep impressions on the people of Orissa, in particular on the tribals of the backward KBK districts of Orissa.
Sir: I would like to convey a request from a lot of people from that area as well as from the concerned intelligentsia of Orissa.
We all are of the opinion that one of the most important factor in bringing KBK back from its bottom of the barrel status in all developmental measures is to improve its connectivity, both via road and rail.
Sir: KBK is a forgotten non-traditional frontier of India and it shares many of the characteristics of the traditional frontier of India in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeastern states. Like J & K and the northeastern states, it is hard to access, covered with forests, and is infested with terror groups. Like the north eastern states it has large percentage of tribal population . In addition, KBK is the most backward area of not just Orissa but India with extremely low literacy rates , low scores in health parameters, and very high poverty rates .
Sir: Special programs both in terms of road and rail connectivity are in place for J & K and the northeastern states. In particular, several Railway lines under construction in J & K and the northeastern states are labeled as National projects and get funding from the central government for their completion. As a result they will be completed in a time bound manner within a few years.
Sir: The people of KBK and other tribal areas of Orissa would be ever grateful to you if you were to convey to and convince the central government to declare some of the proposed railway lines to these areas as national projects with a dedicated budget to complete them during the 11th plan. Parts of these lines have been approved for more than a decade and at the rate they are progressing they may never finish (annual budget allocation often less than the inflation) or if they do perhaps not in our life time. The lines connecting KBK are:
(i) Khurda Rd-Balangir
(ii) Lanjigarh Rd – Bhawanipatna - Junagarh – Nabrangpur – Jeypore – Malkangiri – Bhadrachalam Rd (Andhra Pradesh) – Will lead to an alternative Hyderabad-Ranchi route.
(iii) Gunupur – Therubali
The key missing line connecting the state capital to the Sundergarh district is: (iv) Talcher – Bimlagarh
The key missing line that will properly connect the Mayurbhanj district is: (v) Bangiriposi -Gurumahishasini and/or Buramara-Chakulia.

In regards to roads to these areas, the central government is considering the Ranchi-Vijaywada highway that passes through the KBK districts and has called for an RFP for consultancy services of this project. (http://morth.nic.in/writereaddata/noticeimages/Ultimate_RFP4418252769.pdf) Your help in speeding up this process would be most appreciated by the people of Orissa, and again, especially the people of KBK.
Sincerely,

Prof Chitta Baral
Arizona State University
USA

Utkal alumina refinery project hanging fire

2008-04-22T16:58:00.000+03:00

The New Indian Express, April 21, 2008

KASHIPUR: WITH both the displaced and company officials sticking to their guns, the construction work of Alumina Refinery of Utkal Alumina International (UAIL) has been delayed further.

The work of the Rs. 4,000-crore refinery project of UAIL at Duruguda in Kashipur block came to a halt since February last after those affected went on an agitation demanding benefits recently fixed for other projects.

The UAIL refinery was conceived in early 90s but from the beginning, it was targeted by the environmentalists and the project-affected persons.

The construction work started during 2005 and gathered momentum. The promoters wanted to commission the unit in 2010. However, the agitation by those displaced from February has hit the work, including the land acquisition process.

The affected families have been demanding increased compensation for land and permanent jobs. But the company has not obliged them and pointed out that the affected persons had been given ex gratia in early 2005 over and above the compensation paid in 1996 as per the guidelines.

On the demand for permanent jobs, the company claimed that all such persons had already been engaged through the contractors. Still the case can be taken up but only after the plant is commissioned.

According to Nabaghana Pani, a senior official of UAIL, the company has already spent over Rs. 530 crore and placed orders for about Rs. 1,800 crore worth equipment.

Besides, the company has decided to speed up the work by enhancing the workforce to 5,000. The company is also imparting vocational training to the affected persons to enhance their employability.

If all these are taken into account, the benefits given by the UAIL would be much more than those prescribed by the rehabilitation policy of the Government, he claimed. He also said that around 96 affected families had already been resettled in the rehabilitation colony constructed by the company.

Meanwhile, the Rayagada district administration is also making efforts to restore normalcy at the plant site and convince the agitators to withdraw their stir but in vain.

Special Porgramme to train KBK tribal for IIT, IIM and NISER entrance test

2008-04-22T16:51:00.001+03:00

The Samaja, April 20, 2008

ASSISTANCE FOR KBK REGION UNDER AIBP

2008-04-22T16:47:00.000+03:00

PIB, April 22, 2008

ASSISTANCE FOR BACKWARD STATES UNDER AIBP
RAJYA SABHA

Under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) central grant of 90 per cent is provided to the major/medium projects and surface water minor irrigation schemes of the special category states and Koraput, Bolangir and Kalahandi districts of Orissa. Major and medium projects of non special category States benefiting drought prone/tribal/flood prone area are eligible for upto 90 per cent grant under AIBP depending on the extent of such area benefited from project and included in AIBP.

Surface water minor irrigation schemes of non special category states (as per eligible criteria specified in AIBP guidelines) benefiting drought prone/tribal area are eligible for 90 per cent grant under AIBP. All other major/medium projects are eligible for 25 per cent grant of project cost included in AIBP.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Water Resources, Shri Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav in response to a question by Shri Pyarelal Khandelwal in the Rajya Sabha today.

NROs battle for Central varsity at Bhawanipatna

2008-04-22T16:43:00.001+03:00

The Pioneer, April 22, 2008
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar

In an effort to provide better education facilities, the Non-resident Oriyas (NROs) from various parts of the world demanded a Central University at Bhawanipatna, the headquarters of Kalahandi district, which is the epicentre of Orissa's most backward KBK (undivided districts of Kalahandi, Balangir and Koraput) zone.

After the Government of India announced to set up two Central Universities in the State, officials and planners are busy finding sites in the developed urban areas. But nobody is thinking about the rural and remote areas, lamented leading NRO Digambara Patra, who teaches at the American University of Beirut. He feels in the current scenario no importance is given to the rural and remote area in the matter of technical and higher education.

"Unfortunately, many in our political and administrative circles do not have a complete idea of a backward area like the KBK region in Orissa, which is reflected in their very poor judgment while establishing national institutes," echoed Madhusmita Panda, an NRO from Lebanon. She pointed out that the Central University in the North-Eastern States, which are inaccessible, hilly and extremist torn areas, have done quite fine. The NERIST in Arunachal Pradesh http://www.nerist.ac.in/ is doing quite well. When IIT Guwahati was established, many academicians were thinking nobody would go to teach there, but today it is one of the best technical institutes employing the best brains across the country as its faculties, she said.

Lingaraj Patra from Tokyo said that unless a chance is provided to the KBK area on the assumption that the Central University that they would not get the right kind of faculty, the people there would never get out of their backwardness. Two decades ago, Assam was inaccessible; today it is a destination for higher education because of its IIT and Central Universities.

Detailing out the facilities, Digambara Patra said that Kalahandi in fact has many advantages for location of a Central University. It is not only the epicentre of all the KBK districts having its borders with the other five KBK districts and additionally with other backward districts of Boudh and Kandhamal. It is well connected by road through NH-201 and links Visakhapatnam, Raipur, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Berhampur and all the headquarters of KBK, Boudh and Phulbani districts. The Kesinga railway station is located within 26 km of Bhawanipatna, and the direct railway link to Bhawanipatna via Lanjigarh is almost complete.

Besides, Raipur airport is directly linked by road and located about 220 km from Bhawanipatna. Raipur has daily air connectivity to most of the major cities in India. Moreover, an aerodrome at Utkela is hardly 12 km away. To start with, the Government Autonomous College of Bhawanipatna is one of the best colleges in the KBK region imparting teaching up to PG classes, said Madhusmita Panda. The achievements of the college include the status of Potentiality for Excellence by the UGC. It is one of the three colleges in Orissa to have been honoured with this award in the first phase.

To start the university at present, the built-up area of the Government College campus at Bhawanipatna is 60 acres of land, and towards its north-east more than 100 acres of land is lying vacant, pointed out Patra.

Complete Khurda-Balangir Project: Lenka

2008-04-13T13:43:00.000+03:00

The New Indian Express, April 13, 2008

BHUBANESWAR: Former Union minister Kanhu Charan Lenka has said that the Railways should complete the Khurda-Balangir railway line project in the next five years.

Alleging that the delay in completion of the project has sparked off resentment among the people of the State, Lenka said that the work on the railway line has been going on for the last 14 years.

The proposal for the Khurda-Balangir railway line was given by the Bengal-Nagpur Rail (BNR) company in 1945. Survey work for the project was completed by 1993.

Besides giving a boost to the development of backward regions of the State, after completion of the railway line the distance between Bombay and Bhubaneswar will be reduced by 250 km, he said. Lenka said that he will meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to apprise them of the situation.

Singh was the Finance Minister when he approved the project in 1993 while Pranab Mukherjee was chairman of the Planning Commission, the former Union minister said.

Infrastructure to be thrust area of Biju KBK plan

2008-04-12T17:45:00.000+03:00

The New Indian Express, April 7, 2008

BHUBANESWAR: Development of power and road infrastructure and provision of drinking water will be the thrust areas of the Biju KBK plan which is being implemented with the State Government’s funds.

Official sources said that the slogan of ‘bijli, sadak, pani’ given by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during the last Assembly polls is being translated into reality through the new scheme.

The Biju KBK plan had a budget of Rs 120 crore during 2007-08 financial year. Out of this, Rs 9.88 crore was earmarked for power, Rs 59.91 crore was for road sector and Rs 36.9 crore for drinking water. Besides, Rs 13.31 crore was provided for implementation of other programmes.

Power sector development will include village electrification including street lighting. The programme includes construction of concrete roads within the village or any other form of connectivity. Creation of irrigation and drinking water sources will also be taken up under the scheme. Funds will be made available for implementation of any other scheme having inadequate budgetary provisions.

Official sources said Rs 20 crore was provided for the implementation of the Biju KBK plan during 2006-07.

Out of this, Rs 3 crore each was allocated to Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi districts while Rs 2.5 crore each was earmarked for Nabarangpur and Rayagada districts.

About Rs 2 crore each was provided to Malkangiri, Subarnapur and Nuapada districts. Construction of 87 hostel buildings for girls, 247 buildings for women self help groups (SHGs), 165 buildings for anganwadi centres and 165 bridges/culverts have been taken up in all the KBK districts with the funds.

The Assembly Committee on Planning and Coordination Department has, however, taken strong exception to the failure of the poverty alleviation programmes in reducing poverty in a spectacular manner. It has asked the State Government to fix time limit for reduction of poverty.

Pupil-teacher ratio poor

2008-04-12T17:42:00.000+03:00

The New Indian Express, April 12, 2008

BHAWANIPATNA: Rationalisation of pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) and universalisation of education is one problem that has been haunting primary education in Kalahandi.There has long been a debate in maintaining an equilibilibrium in PTR ratio in the district but this hasn’t yielded any result so far. As a result, there is heavy concentration of teachers in urban pockets whereas schools in rural area have comparatively less number of teachers.For instance, in Bhawanipatna Municipality, the PTR is 19.16 whereas in rural pockets and interior blocks like Thuamul- Rampur, it is 51.90, Lanjigarh 44.08 and Golamunda 40.78.In Bhawanipatna Municipality, for 39 primary schools there are 222 lady teachers and 34 male teachers, a total of 256 as against the requirement of 148.In Dewan Shebpada School, for 54 students there are eight teachers as against the requirement of two. In Dhobapada, for 57 students there are three teachers, in Golap Manjari for 59 students there are six teachers.Similarly, in Shaktinagar for 47 students there are four teachers and in Police Children School for 85 students there are nine teachers. But in Belur Primary School in Madanpur-Rampur block for 126 students there is one teacher, in Ainlajore school of Dharamgarh block for 239 students, there are just two teachers, in Nichemask of Thuamul-Rampur block for 110 students there is only one teacher.The matter was raised in the ZP meeting held in January this year at Bhawanipatna. It had been resolved to weed out surplus teachers from urban areas to the schools in rural areas.Accordingly, it was decided to send surplus teachers from Bhawanipatna Municipality on deputation to the nearby rural schools having shortage of teachers. Basing on the decision, 79 women teachers from Bhawanipatna Municipality have been served with deputation order but this led to agitation.The women teachers who were picketing in front of the office of DI of Schools called off the strike after the Collector did not concede to the demand and the ZP meeting too did not show concern.

Kalahandi deserves central univ

2008-03-21T21:51:00.001+02:00

Tathya.in, March 21, 2008
Bhawanipatna:21/March/2008

Digambara Patra sitting thousands of miles away from Kalahandi is worried for the most backward and poverty stricken zone of the country.

A leading educationist non resident Oriya (NRO) Dr.Patra, who teaches at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, has demanded the proposed KBK Central University to be established at Bhawanipatana, district headquarters of Kalahandi.

While politicians are maintaining eerie silence over the establishment of the demand of a Central University in Kalahandi, Dr.Patra has prepared the road map for the same and has demanded it with all sorts of justifications.

In a memorandum to the President of India, Dr.Patra has outlined the urgent need for a Central University in this part of the country.

While lauding the agenda of the Centre to establish KBK Central University during the Eleventh Plan, he demanded it with full justifications for placing it at Bhawanipatana.

To begin with he said that the concept KBK originated from Kalahandi, where Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and of late Rahul Gandhi visited the worst poverty stricken zone of the country.

Kalahandi is located at the epicenter of KBK (Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput), where due to political reasons economic and social development has taken a back seat.

For example recently the state Government of Orissa decided to establish its Headquarters of KBK at Koraput without considering other parts of KBK and rather bringing a regional/local confrontation among local people in KBK.

The central government has established IIT, IIM and central universities in northeastern states and a proposed tribal Central University in Amarkantak, but Kalahandi was never in considered for such opportunities.

This shows lack of seriousness of our great leaders and Gandhi dynasty for development of Kalahandi and KBK.

Geographically Kalahandi happens to be the Centre of the entire KBK districts and including some other backward districts like Gajapati, Kandhamal etc.

The headquarters of these districts are about 200 kms from Bhawanipatna.

Kalahandi, moreover, is a link between Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh and other parts of Orissa State through air, railway and road.

Historically, present day Kalahandi served as Political hub and cultural sanctuary of ancient Atavika [4th-3rd century B.C] and Mahakantara [4th –5th century A.D] to which modern KBK districts forms a part.

It is predominantly a tribal area, where primitive tribes like Khond, Gond, Brinjal, Saura and Godva etc live since time immemorial.

Their archaic tribal culture adds luster to the existing natural resources and cultural relics of Kalahandi in particular and Orissa in general.

Kalahandi has only one Government college situated at Bhawanipatna namely Government Autonomous College imparting teaching upto Post Graduation (PG) classes.

This institution has the status of Potentiality for Excellence by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

A high powered committee of the UGC visited recently and have expressed great satisfaction with the progress.

No other college of KBK districts has received such rare distinction by the UGC of India.

NACC team visited this college in 2005 and has conferred B++ grade.

The grade could have been higher if the staff position would have been 75% of the UGC norm.

It is the State Government which appoints people for teaching and non teaching activities.

This premier college has been catering to the academic need of the students of the neighboring areas such as Nowrangpur, Nuapada, Khariar, Saintala –Titilagarh, Muniguda-Gunpur, Rayagada etc of KBK districts.

The college is ideally situated on the side of NH that connects Visakhapattanam and Raipur [Andhra- Chhatisgarh State] on the one hand and Bhubaneswar–Sambalpur- Berhampur–Jaipur-Bolangir-Phulbani of Orissa on the other hand.

An aerodrome at Utkela is hardly 12 Km away from the college campus.

The Kesinga railway station is located within 26 Km of its reach and the direct railway link to Bhawanipatna via Lanjigarh is being established.

Available Infrastructure is enough for the proposed Central University, said Dr.Patra

The college is imparting teaching in 18 diverse disciplines of Arts, Commerce and Science including M.Phil courses in History and Culture, and Oriya [Regional language and Literature] besides technical [Job Oriented] subjects like PGDCA, ARCHAEOLOGY- MUSEOLOGY, BFC, PGDPLT, EPET, P.G Diploma in Pathology laboratory Technology and Opto-Electronics.

Keeping the above facilities in view, it will be eminently suitable for the proposed KBK Central University, said Dr.Patra.

Protests over rail services in KBK

2008-03-03T22:19:00.000+02:00

The Statesman, March 3, 2008

Statesman News Service
BHAWANIPATNA, March 3: Alleging continuous negligence by railways to KBK districts and Kalahandi in particular, “Kalahandi Rail Yatri Sangha” demonstrated at Kesinga railway station recently.
The general secretary of the Sangha, Mr Jatin Das sat on hunger strike before the station master’s office, which was later withdrawn following assurance of consideration of demands from the Sambalpur division office. Mr Das maintained that if their demands including running of Raipur- Bhubaneswar inter-city through Kesinga are not fulfilled, he will resort to indefinite hunger-strike.
The Sangha had seven demands in all, the main among them being direct connectivity to state capital. The other demands are stoppage of express trains at Kesinga station, extension of frequency of Samata express to five times a week from the present three times, direct train to Hyderabad from Sambalpur via Kesinga and express train between Puri and Allahabad via Vijayanagaram – Kesinga.
The Sangha alleged that the region has always been neglected by the railway authorities. They charged that despite local MP’s missive to chairman of railway board on 5 January 2008 and request of collector to railway east coast railway authorities on 2 November 2007, regarding direct train between Bhubaneswar and Kesinga, no steps were taken.
The divisional commerce Manager Mr J L Jena later assured that the grievances would be forwarded to railways authorities.

Un-aided college teachers from KBK rally for demands

2008-02-23T11:18:00.001+02:00

The New Indian Express, Feb 23, 2008

BHUBANESWAR: Teachers of un-aided Plus Two and Plus Three colleges of KBK region on Friday took out a rally in the city demanding sanction of grant-in-aid.

Despite repeated representations and demands from the local MLAs, Government has been sitting on the issue, they said. There are 87 Plus Two and 46 Plus Three colleges which are operating in the KBK area since 1991. They are gathered under the banner of Un-aided College Teachers amd Employees KBK Forum.

In a memorandum, they said, a special discussion was held on their demands in the Assembly in 2005 and Higher Education Minister had assured action. After that, MLAs cutting across partylines have recommended, at least twice, their demands to the Government, but in vain.

Naveen repeats for central university in KBK with Arjun Singh

2008-01-23T23:15:00.000+02:00

Decision on IIT & IIM soon, Arjun tells CM

The Statesman, Jan 24, 2007
Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, Jan. 23: A decision on setting up of an IIT/IIM in Orissa would be taken soon by the Union government, said the Union minister for HRD, Mr Arjun Singh, when the chief minister, Mr Naveen Patnaik, called on him in New Delhi today.
Mr Patnaik had iterated the demand for the elite technical institute and the B-school and pointed out that since Orissa is on the verge of a rapid industrial movement, it would provide a big potential for research and development activities.
It may be noted that a sustained campaign by the state government and the ruling party MPs on this issue had failed to evoke a positive response till date. To assuage the feelings of the state government, Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has promptly laid the foundation stone for an elite science institute in Bhubaneswar under the atomic energy department.
The establishment of an IIT, during the 11th five-year plan, will greatly facilitate in intensifying the process, Mr Patnaik observed, while repeating his plea to the HRD minister today. The IIT would become the hub for quality managerial professionals required for various sectors of the economy.
Given the current industrial boom in the state, it is necessary to bring in a professional culture and management, Mr Patnaik said and demanded the establishment of a Greenfield Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Orissa. Mr Patnaik also demanded the setting up of a Central university in the KBK region, which would educate youths in both traditional as well as modern disciplines.
Since the quality of human resource holds the key to the development of any region, there is an urgent need to set up a top-class multi-disciplinary Central university in the KBK region, covering disciplines like basic sciences, humanities, law, medicine, agriculture and horticulture.
The chief minister observed and hoped that the Central university in KBK will indirectly help in combating left-wing extremism in the region. Later, Mr Patnaik called on the urban development minister, Mr S Jaipal Reddy to voice certain demands of the state relating to his ministry. Mr Reddy is said to have assured Mr Patnaik to extend maximum assistance to improve urban infrastructure and environment in the small towns of the state.
He also stated that the centre will help the state in building housing complexes at a affordable rate for the economically weaker sections of the society.
Bhubaneswar and Puri will be developed as world-class cities, Mr Reddy said.
The chief minister requested Mr Reddy to increase the allocation of funds to the state to at least Rs 2,500 crore under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and Rs 1,000 crore under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for the Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT).
So far, only Rs 504 crore under the Urban Infrastructure Governance (UIG) component of JNNURM and Rs 144 crore under UIDSSMT have been sanctioned, the chief minister informed.
The chief minister reiterated the state government's commitment to undertake various mandatory and basic reforms in order to strengthen the resource base and delivery system of the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the state.

Sickle cell research unit holds out hope in KBK

2008-01-02T14:54:00.000+02:00

The New Indian Express, Jan 2, 2008

BHAWANIPATNA: To combat sickle cell disease, a Sickle Cell Disease Research Centre has started functioning in Sardar Raja Medical College in Jaring of Kalahandi district under the leadership of project director Dr. Gyana Ranjan Padhi.

Padhi, a medicine specialist, after retiring from health Department services joined the medical college recently. He hails from Dasigaon of Kalahandi.

In 1994, Padhi developed the DTN (Disease Trait Normal) formula of genetic counselling to save the next generation from the dreaded disease.

According to the formula, blood will be examined by Electrophoresis Card and marriage should be avoided between diseased and diseased, diseased and trait and trait and trait so that a chain is broken. A special counselling is part of the formula.

The project proposal of Padhi was approved by Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi.

The then Director of health Services, Orissa, on March 29, 2005, had approved and suggested the Government to implement the research project of Padhi in Western Orissa.

Ironically it could not be materialised despite Padhi approaching various quarters and running from pillar to post.

Sickle cell is a type of anaemia in which red blood cells become sickle in shape. The clumps of sickle cells block blood flow in blood vessels that can cause severe pain, serious infection and organ damage.

It is also responsible for increased infant and maternal mortality rate and is found mostly among specific castes in Kalahandi, Koraput, Balangir, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Boudh, Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal and Ganjam districts.

It is prevalent mostly among various SC/ST groups, agria, kultha, chasha, paik, banka, goud, dumal, bholia, kurmi, mali and komar castes.

Govt taking steps to improve KBK healthcare

2007-12-25T20:06:00.000+02:00

The New Indian Express, Dec 24, 2007

BHAWANIPATNA: Non-joining Of doctors posted in the KBK districts and inaccessible pockets is a matter of concern for the State Government.

Health Minister Duryodhan Majhi said this while inaugurating a three-day mega health camp on Bhawanipatna Government Hospital premises on Friday.

He said State Government is taking all possible steps to improve health services and staff position in KBK region.

To provide doctors suitable accommodation Rs 22 crore has been provided to KBK districts for construction of quarters, he said.

It is also contemplated to introduce two-year mandatory stint in KBK districts for doctors, the Minister informed.

Among others, MP Bikram Keshari Deo, MLA Pradip Kumar Naik and Kalahandi Collector Pramod Chandra Patnaik attended.

The health camp is being organised by National Rural Health Mission.

Villagers besiege barrage, seek bridge over

2007-11-18T12:37:00.000+02:00

The New Indian Express, Nov 6, 2007

BHAWANIPATNA: Thousands of people besieged the Mangalpur barrage on Monday demanding stop to release of water into the river Hati.

They were also seeking construction of a high-level bridge over the river at Karmel ghat and construction of embankments on both banks of the river to check river erosion.

The agitation was being conducted under the aegis of Kalampur Bikash Manch. Members of the Manch alleged that the surplus water of the Indravati Project is being discharged into the Hati through Mangalpur barrage. Due to this, the river faces floods five or six times a year during the rainy season resulting in widespread damage to property and lives besides causing river erosion.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid foundation stone for construction of a bridge over the river at Karmel ghat in 2004. The project, however, is yet to be started.

Dharamgarh Sub-Collector Jagannath Mohanty said that though the situation had been brought under control, people are still camping at the Mangalpur barrage site.

BJP attacks UPA for ‘negligence’ towards KBK region

2007-10-30T09:26:00.000+02:00

The Statesman, Oct 30, 2007
Statesman News Service

BHAWANIPATNA, Oct. 29: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit today played the ‘central negligence’ card.
It urged the state government to focus on education and proper rehabilitation of the displaced people in various industrial projects.
In the two-day state executive meeting which was held here, it was alleged that central government is neglecting NDA ruled states.
It was further alleged in the resolution that the Central government had deprived Orissa from institutions like Central University, IIT and Indian Medical Institute.
It was alleged that even though there is a reduction in kerosene, wheat, sugar and LPG gas quota in Orissa, the Central government neglected the state by not alloting Rs 200 crore Central Relief Assistance to the flood victims of Orissa despite the Prime Minister 's assurance.
It was demanded that they should look into these matters urgently. It was further demanded that the Centre should control the current price rise situation.
Similarly it also demanded the increase of the supporting price of paddy by Rs 1,000 and to provide adequate funds to improve and repair the National Highway which passes through the state.
To include all the districts under village electrification programme and to increase funding to KBK districts which was reduced by 50 per cent by UPA Govt.
Special attentiom would be given to strengthen the party network. Addressing a Press meet, the president of the state BJP unit, Mr Suresh Pujari said that mass agitation would be launched soon against the inaction and negligence of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
The Western Orissa Development Council (WODC) would be made an autonomous with adequate funding. Mr Pujhari also expressed his dissatisfaction about the sorry state of higher education in the state. He called for an improvement in the higher education system. The state government has been requested to post an adequate number of lecturers and to withdraw the block grant system for high schools and colleges and to introduce the regular grant system.
He also stated that Kalahandi district needs special attention, particularly in the field of road communication and education which is in a very sorry state.
Regarding the present industrial policy of the state government, he said that there should be proper rehabilitation measures and the affected people should be given priority.A public meeting was organised on Sunday in the Ghodaghat field of Bhawanipatna where the state level BJP leaders lashed out at the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Mr Vinaya Katiyar, the state president Mr Suresh Pujari, ministers Mr Biswabhusan Harichandan, Mr Manmohan Samal, Mr Sameer Dey, Lok Sabha member Mr Bikaram Keshari Deo, Mr Dharmendra Pradhan, and former Union minister Mr Debendra Pradhan also participated in the commitee meeting.

Uncertainty shrouds fate of medical college at Balangir

2007-10-24T21:17:00.000+03:00

The Pioneer, Oct 24, 2007

At a review meeting held in the capital on Monday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed dissatisfaction over the inordinate delays found in the construction works for the medical college and hospital at Balangir by Balaji Education Trust even after the State Government has provided 25 acres of land to the trust for the purpose.

The State Government has issued a notice to the trust to clarify its stand for the hospital within 15 days.

Sources said that Balaji Education Trust had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Government for establishing a medical college and hospital with the capacity of 300 beds at Balangir.

The medical college and hospital was to be made with an expenditure of Rs 200 crore on July 6, 2006.

The Government had also signed MoU with two other private companies to set up another two medical colleges, one each at Rourkela and Bhawanipatna.

While the construction work for the medical college of 300 bed capacity at Jaring of Bhawanipatna by Sardar Raja Education Trust has already started with an expenditure of Rs 15 crore, the State Government has provided Rs 4 crore to it.

It is expected that the construction work would be finished in 2007-08 and from 2008-09, enrolment of students would also take place with due permission from the Sambalpur University.

Connect KBK with Rail

2007-10-08T21:39:00.000+03:00

Tathya.in, Oct 8, 2007

Bhubaneswar:7/October/2007

Sample the rail infrastructure owes of Orissa!

While the country is set to march ahead with high speed rail and freight corridors, at least seven of the 30 districts of Orissa do not have any rail line passing through them.

The density of railway route length per 1000 sq.km of area in Orissa was only 15.05 km as against 42.66 km in West Bengal and 19.11 km at All India level.

Orissa do not have any of the production unit of Indian Railways.

Under this backdrop office bearers of Orissa Society of the Americas (OSA) have demanded a fair deal for the state in general and KBK in particular.

Presenting a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Pratap Das, President, Asutosh Dutta, Vice-President, Priyadarsan Patra, General Secretary and Sandip K. Dasverma, Treasurer of OSA have urged upon Dr.Man Mohan Singh to bridge the ever expanding gap of rail infrastructure between Orissa and the country.

They have pointed out that backward districts like Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Boudh, Kandhamal, Deogarh, Nayagarh and Kendrapada do not have a single inch of rail line.

While the Railway Ministry has grand plans for the Eleventh Plan period that includes two freight corridors, high speed rail, and metro rail in several areas and it has a budget of Rs 251,000 crores, none of these high flying plans are in Orissa.

We are not in a position to rue over that; rather we, request that when the most backward and poorest of the poor KBK districts should not lag behind due to central apathy.

Non Resident Odiyas (NRO)s have also requested Dr. Montek Singh Alhuwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning commission to give proper funding to the Khurda Road – Balangir, Gunupur--Theruvali, Lanjigarh Road –Bhawanipatna – Junagarh – Nabarangpur, Jeypore – Malkangiri – Bhadrachalam Road (Andhra Pradesh) and (d) Talcher – Bimlagarh rail projects.

OSA has expressed happiness that Indian Railways is already considering lines related to connectivity to ports and mineral transportation such as Talcher-Sukinda Road and Bhadrakh-Dhamara.

But they have pointed out to Dr.Singh to provide better access to KBK area, which is infested by the Left Wing Extremists (LWE).

NROs have impressed upon the Prime Minister to ask the Railway ministry to establish a production unit in the KBK area of Orissa as the raw material requirement of the unit can be taken care by the steel plants and aluminum complexes, which are coming up in the state in a big way.

KBK: Where was the money spent?

2007-09-04T07:03:00.000+03:00

Dharitri, Sept 4, 2007

People continue to suffer in tribal areas

2007-09-04T06:23:00.000+03:00

The Pioneer, Sep 4, 2007
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar

... despite Rs 250 cr being spent in Kashipur, Rs 1,300 cr in KBK in last 20 years
A whopping Rs 250 crore has been spent over a period of 20 years in the tribals-dominated block of Kashipur in Rayagada district. But nothing has been changed. People continue to become victims of the wrath of the nature.

The outbreak of cholera has not happened this year only which already claimed 178 lives in the tribal-dominated area of KBK so far. As many as 52 people alone from Kashipur block became victims of this killer disease.

Earlier, it had taken away the lives of hundreds. The first cholera outbreak reportedly occurred in the recent history way back in 1987 in the Kashipur block. More than 200 people died of cholera at that time. They all died just because they were unable to get the proper food stuff and safe drinking water. All were the victims of adulterated foods and polluted water.

The tragic incident at that time compelled the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to made a whirlwind tour to Kashipur. His tour opened the floodgate of financial assistance for the development of Kashipur and other backward regions of the KBK areas.

Later, the Centre gave an assistance of Rs 10 crore for the development of Kashipur. Under the International Far-mer's Development Fund, Rs 106 crore was released for the overall development of Kashi-pur. A new scheme Orissa Tribal Development Project was initiated for this purpose.

Official sources said, in 1995, Rs 12 crore was provided under the special assistance scheme of the UNICEF. In 1998 watershed mission programme was initiated with the assistance from Germany in 1998. A programme was initiated under the banner TDH with an assistance of Rs 15 crore.

Under the much-hyped KBK and Biju KBK scheme, Rs 40 crore has already been spent over the years. But noting has been changed. People have not yet get the minimum needs to fulfil their requirements. In the last five years, many programmes under Pradhan Mantri Grama Sadak Yojana, National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP), many works have been taken up. But it has not been able to change the lives of the people of Kashipur.

Kashipur boasts of 1.35 lakh population. Out of it, 62.50 per cent belongs to tribal and 19.94 per cent belongs to SC categories. The Kashipur block comprises 20 panchayats and 498 villages.

Out of the 1014 tubewells in the blocks 550 tubewells have been lying defunct over the last several years. This has compelled the tribals to fetch water from the nearby rivulets. The block has only one community health centre and five primary health centres. The sanctioned strength of doctors for these hospitals is 12. But only two doctors are working in the areas on a permanent basis.

Official sources said, the block officials have not been able to reach 70 per cent of the remotest part of this block. Sources further said that most of the rice under several scheme never reaches to the beneficiaries but later it reaches to the rice-miller for the recycling purposes.

Planning and Co-ordination Minister Padmanava Behera said, "Certain development has been made in the KBK areas. But more things have to be done particularly in the field of creating public awareness."

He further informed that Rs 1300 crore has already been spent for the overall development of KBK areas.

Official sources claimed as most of the NGOs working in these areas stress on the welfare of their organisations, people continue to suffer. Similarly is the case of the Government officials working in KBK areas. Vigilance officials maintained that the officials working in KBK areas , try to siphoned off the money as much as they can from different Government programmes implementing in the area.

Unclean water, few doctors add to crisis in KBK

2007-08-31T08:12:00.000+03:00

Hindustan Times, Aug 31, 2007

DEFUNCT TUBEWELLS, food scarcity during the monsoon and the chronic absence of doctors is being blamed for the 81 cholera deaths in three Orissa districts. “Almost 80 per cent of tubewells are defunct, so people are forced to drink water from contaminated nullahs and rivers,” said Koraput MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati.

The massive scarcity of doctors has added to the death toll. Dasmantpur block, for example, has a community health centre (CHC), an area hospital and three dispensaries with a total of three doctors against the sanctioned strength of 12 to cater to a population of 74,091, spread over 558 square kilometers. Needless to say, when the health crisis struck, the doctors could not cope.

Lack of food in inaccessible areas like some villages in Kashipur block of Rayagada district is another factor responsible for the deaths. “We have nothing to eat. Sometimes, we eat mango kernels and sometimes mushrooms,” said local resident Turkuti. Bahinipati alleged the emergency feeding in Dasamantpur stopped four months ago, forcing people to eat contaminated food.

A health and sanitation awareness campaign has started with the rural water supply and sanitation department planning to put up red flags near contaminated water sources. “Red flags will be put up prominently near water sources that have not been disinfected. Green flags will be put up near water sources that have been disinfected,” said Usha Patnaik, director of health services in the state.

“Apart from 15 medical teams, village-level workers and anganwadi workers have been mobilised to bring affected persons to the nearest dispensaries and hospitals. Twenty vehicles have been engaged for this. The situation is gradually stabilising,” said Satyabrata Sahu, revenue divisional commissioner.

Low level bridge over Hati river near Junagarh

2007-08-27T14:08:00.001+03:00

The low level bridge (as shown above) over Hati river near Junagarh has been a very serious concern for cummuters on NH 201 during rainy days since decades, despite that to construct a new high bridge over Hati river near Junagarh is pending since long.

Visit the sites for more analysis and news coverage on this issue.

Cholera spreads, KBK areas quarantined

2007-08-27T14:01:00.000+03:00

The New Indian Express, Aug 26, 2007

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Saturday rushed medical teams and senior health officials to Rayagada as samples collected from the patients in Kashipur and Dasmantpur confirmed the presence of ‘vibrio cholera bacteria.’

The MKCG Medical, Berhampur on Friday confirmed the presence of the deadly bacteria and sought immediate steps to contain cholera from spreading.

As a precautionary measure, the Government sealed the area as unofficially over 100 deaths were reported from the two blocks and more than 2,800 people were being treated at various hospitals. Considering the gravity of the situation, 18 medical teams were rushed to the blocks.

Agriculture Minister S N Naik rushed to the area to take stock of the situation. The Government alerted all the KBK districts to take precautionary measures to prevent the disease from spreading. The affected areas have been quarantined to ensure that the disease did not assume an epidemic proportion.

All the chief district medical officers of KBK districts have been asked to mobilise doctors and medicine to the affected areas.

Official sources so far claimed that 46 people had died in Rayagada district. Neighbouring blocks in Koraput, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi districts reported diarrhoea and gastroenteritis creating panic among the tribals.

Reports of spreading of cholera have been pouring in. About 300 tribals are undergoing treatment for acute diarrhoea and vomiting in Dasmantpur block.

Rayagada Collector Bhasakar Jyoti Sharma is camping in Kashipur and Koraput Collector B K Sahu is in Dasmantpur block to monitor the situation. Ten years ago, cholera had assumed epidemic proportion at Borrigumma block in Koraput district claiming 200 lives.

More news covergare in this subject.....
The Pioneer, Aug 27, 2007
The Hindu, Aug 26, 2007
Times of India, Aug 24, 2007
The Samja, Aug 24, 2007