A detailed plan on JVM Team to take out a Padyatra (Walkathon) to cover 1,100 KMs in 50 days starting from January, 2013

Dear all,

Janata Vikas Manch (JVM)  wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a Great New Year 2013 !!!
As we have conveyed you all in the message last month, JVM has developed a Draft book – Road map for the Development of Odisha – based on around 40 experts and authors in various areas concerning the state. We have released more than 200 writes ups, research papers and articles written by them in four years between January, 2009 to December 2012.
In line with our decision, a Team of JVM will carry a Odisha wide Padyatra (Walkathon) for 1100 KMs (Eleven Hundred KMs) in 50 days [Mini-Marathan (21-KM)  as we will walk 22 KMs every day]. The Padyatra will start in the third week of January, 2013. The date and starting place will be decided in due course of time. The JVM Team will take the feed back of the people on the Draft book on development. And, after taking the feed back, we will finalise the book.
The Team will specially approach the people living in the backward regions – ten districts each in Western Odisha and Southern Odisha along with the Tribal dominated areas. The areas of Eastern Odisha will also be covered during this Padyatra.
Interested participants want to be the part of Padyatra Team:
A 15-Member JVM Team will take out the Padyatra. The interested people who want to join this Team can send us a mail at  janatavikasmanch@gmail.com by January 5, 2013. The participants should be healthy and physically fit  to walk a minimum of 22 KM every day.  
JVM requests all the individuals / civil society organizations to support this Padyatra in various districts of all the regions of the state. Those who want to receive and support the JVM Team in taking them to the people in various districts can send a mail at janatavikasmanch@gmail.com by January 5, 2013. We also request  civil society organizations to support us.
The first version of the Draft book on the Road Map for the Development of Odisha is pasted below along with the names of around 40 authors. An Editorial and Advisory Team is working on the Draft book to compile all the points.
JVM request all to the send us your comments and suggests at janatavikasmanch@gmail.com by January 5, 2013 to make the Padyatra and the book on the development of Odisha successful.

Looking forward,
Thanks & Regards,
Sai Prasan
Janata Vikas Manch
Mobile: 09702888261
Note: We request all to forward this message to the maximum people and groups.
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Draft Book Version I :  Road Map for the Development of Odisha
The entire world is facing an ideological crisis. After the disintegration of USSR, the capitalist system of US and Europe are also facing a big crisis. The need of the hour is to look how the best of both the world go hand in hand as both development and distributive justice is necessary to change the face of Odisha.
In fact, it is known to one and all that the global meltdown has hit India and Odisha too. The political parties must discuss and debate on these ideological issues in the Lok Sabha elections and Odisha Assembly poll scheduled to be held in April, 2014 to get the people’s verdict on the political and economic line for the country and Odisha.
The youth of Odisha must come forward to play a vital role in the political process. The political parties need to strengthen the political processes as the people’s participation in politics are key to the development of any state and country. The government should take the help of good people in the civil society in implementing the developmental projects.
JVM will chalkout a road map for the development of Odisha with the contribution of experts in Sixteen areas ranging from education, health, financial inclusion, agriculture, industry, youth, women and railways.
A special focus should be given to the development of the backward region -
Western Odisha, Southern Odisha and Tribal region. The development of the Tribals, SCs and minorities should be on the top of the development agenda. 
Following are the main points in the  broad areas:  
1. Industry
The global recession has hit both India as well as Odisha. In this context, the industrial policy of Odisha should be reviewed and renewed to tune itself to meet the challenges of globalization in the year 2013.
Both the people and government of Odisha should have an in-depth study whether the proposed 100 MoUs including POSCO, Vedanta and Tata Steel project will benefit the people of the state or they will be in loss at the end of the day. There has to be a cost benefit analysis of these projects. The state government conceded recently that the Rs 52,000 crore Posco project may likely to generate 4,000 to 5,000 jobs. In contrast, thousands of people are to lose their land and livelihood. Besides, the ecological impact of these plants needs to be properly assessed by the independent authorities.

The state government claims to sign 100 MoUs. The parties in power – BJD – should spell out how many of these MoUs have been materialized. And, it must make all the MoUs public.
JVM wants the government , political leadership and Civil Society to follow following things:
1. Odisha government may resolve the problems it is facing in projects like Posco, Tata's Kalinga Nagar project and Vedanta on the following lines:
Ø  It should take the people of the area into confidence and democratically sort out the issues in a transparent manner. It may hold referendum too, if necessary, to seek public opinion in the project affected areas.
B. Only paying the compensation to the people against their land and offering them jobs may not be enough. Apart from this, the political parties should explore other options too. The valuation of the land can be done.
And, a portion of the value of the cost of the land can be converted into equity which can also make the land owners shareholders / stakeholders in the project. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) can be created for this purpose. Like in Japan, the land from the people may be given to the private companies on the lease basis and the land losers may be given bulk money for starting their new life and they may be given annual rentals to ensure sustained livelihood.
Ø  C. The government should also ensure a percent (may be 60%) of the jobs across the board to be reserved for the locals of Odisha.
2. The state industrial policy must emphasize on how to attract capital from the people of Odisha origin living outside the state to invest back at home in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector for the purpose of employment generation.
3. The state has a lot of scope to develop agro and forest industry. The development of the cold storage and the soft skills like honey-harvesting can be encouraged as a SME sector.
4. Odisha has a long marine / coast line. Fisheries and other similar coast related means can be developed as a SME sector.
5. Orissa has a natural beauty which is attractive. The tourism sector has the potential to develop it as an industry both for the tourists as well as Bollywood and film industry which can provide employment and generate revenue for the state. The sea-food can be developed in such a way that it can attract more and more tourists.
6. Similarly, if Andhra Pradesh government can develop Tirupathi Temple and Maharashtra can focus on Shiradi, then Odisha government can also develop Jagannath Temple on similar lines.
7. The globalization has hit the deprived section of society the most in terms of jobs. The state government should ensure that the SC & ST population consisting of 40% of the population gets proper facilities for starting their venture.
8. The government should direct even the private professional institutes to reserve seats for this category and financial arrangements be made to pay their fees.
9. Odisha government, along with the private sector, should educate youths telling that the self-employment is the order of the day. They can also be job-providers by adopting SME model.
10. The people oriented industrialization requires mass education. The Tribals, SCs, minorities and women should be given a proper education so that they can understand how to participate in the industrial-developmental process.
2. Youth
The power of youth is the power of the State. This is true for Odisha where the youth, with their immense capability and limitless energy, can bring about developmental change in the state.
In order to measure up to the desired expectations, the youths would do well to pull its socks together by taking corrective steps. To cope with the challenges ahead, the youths have to equip themselves with the required arsenal. The youth need to develop work culture and they should have conducive environment to grow like dignity of labour.  
JVM asks the political parties to formulate a youth policy and adopt the following points for the development of the Youth in Odisha.
Ø  Political awareness is the power to choose between right and wrong. The political parties should encourage more and more youth to come forward and join politics to shape the future of the state.
 Ø  40% seat for youth in LS and Assembly poll: JVM asks the political parties to impart political education to the youth. And, give a minimum of 40% of seats both in the Lok Sabha and State Assembly polls. The age of the youth can be considered upto 45 years.
Ø  Youth Fund: The political parties after coming to the power should constitute a Youth Fund which should be 25% of the total budget plan outlay of the State. The money from this fund should be spent on sports and employment generation programmes. They should be professionally and vocationally trained so that they can start their own venture. The youth should be given a loan from this corpus at the cost of the funds. A special purpose vehicle (SPV) can be formed to manage this fund.
Ø  Entrepreneurial Attitude: A study of the Indian youth suggests that in metro cities youth are opting for 'self-employment' ways, leaving behind the 'employment seekers' mindset. Instead, they are employment providers by generating employment through self-employment. This is a healthy trend for a country like India where more than thirty crore educated youth is unemployed! In Odisha, entrepreneurial mindset can be developed to work in the field of agriculture, floriculture, fisheries, tourism, small scale industries and several other untapped sectors. The political parties should work towards this direction.
Ø  Communication Skill: Communication is a vast subject and it has several connotations. But the topic which is very relevant for the youth of Odisha, in general, is to have a sound understanding and command over English, which is now the language of the global world. Certain manners and etiquettes associated with English should also be learnt. The youth should be encourage to be good both in the written and spoken language.
Ø  Information & Communication Technology: In the wake of the global economic crisis, the major IT companies have taken a beating. This gives the understanding that the youth must update his / her knowledge with the time and opt for the advanced studies like Information & Communication Technology. Scores of computer-ignorant youth should learn the basics of computer and its application in day-to-day life. And, the political parties should take initiative to hold such kind of programmes.
Ø  Political parties should promote sports by organizing inter-district and inter-state tournaments in Volleyball, Football and Hockey. Sports will built up team spirit and inculcate collective leadership.
3. Secularism:
The violence in Kandhamal has tarnished the secular image of Odisha before the national and global community. It was a failure on the part of the state government due to which the violence lasted for more than a month leading to the killing of innocent people and several thousands of people became homeless. All the political parties need to do following things if they come to power in the state:
Ø  A fast track court should be set up to punish the people involved in the communal violence.
Ø  The conversion and re-conversion politics of both the sides should be stopped.
Ø  The government should take a special care for the development of SC and ST who are mainly the target of the conversion and re-conversion politics of Christian and Hindu organizations.
Ø  The people who have become homeless in the communal violence should be given adequate protection for their return to their homes in their respective areas.
Ø  The land dispute between SC and ST should be settled and the ownership of the land to the original owners should be restored.
Ø  The fake ST & SC certificate holders should be identified and they should be punished for the violation of law.
Ø  The state government should ensure that the communal violence in area of the state should be brought under control within seven days of its eruption. If the government fails to control it within the stipulated time, then it should step down.
Ø  Government should strictly monitor the inflow of the foreign funds for the religious purposes in Kandhamal areas.
4.. Women
The women, in Odisha, though account for a considerable chunk of population, have largely been unnoticed in the state’s political and economic scenario. It is rather unfortunate to note that the women have still not woken up to the reality; they are far from exercising their rights bolstered through women empowerment. Odisha is pacing up its effort to size up the impact of the global meltdown affecting its financial health.
The women need to think beyond the four walls; they need to lift themselves up. In the age of machines and computers, Odisha requires large participation of women. Physical power, the emblem of feudal mindset, is passé; mental power is the new mantra. It's time to dream big. Emancipation waits for them at the door.
In this backdrop,
Ø  JVM calls upon all the political parties to give 33% reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assembly poll. And, out of 33%, 23% seats should be reserved to the SCs and STs.
Ø  The political parties should ensure that the atrocities against women whether domestic or in public  life should be settled within 120 days of the registration of the case in police station. And, the guilty should be punished during the said period.
Ø  Special vocational and professional education should be given to the girl students and the government should bear 75% of the cost of this training programme.
Ø  The government should ensure that women get loans at very reasonable interest rates for setting up their ventures.
5. Policy on land:
The rapid industrialization in the state has led to displacement of poor farmers and tribals. The political parties should ensure that a proper R&R policy is in place.
Ø  The consent of the people affected on the nature of public interest.
Ø  The land acquisition act 1894 allows people not to be displaced without their consent, in the name of public purpose which is yet undefined. Thus, it abrogates the democratic rights of the people. The political parties should ensure that the first principle of a law or principle should be followed while carrying forward industrialization. 
Ø  The need to minimize displacement.
Ø  Rehabilitation as a right.
Ø  The principle based on justice that none be displaced without rehabilitation, which has to be viewed as a right of those who are paying the price of development. 
Ø  A caste / tribe and gender perspective.

Ø  The tribals, dalits and other service castes are its worst sufferers. Even among them women feel the most negative impact. So special attention has to be paid to the needs of these groups. The policy should have caste\ tribe\gender biasness in looking into special and specific attention.
Ø  The government should distribute unutilized land among the landless farmers, SCs and STs.
6. Agriculture
The globalization has affected the farmers of the state most. They are facing several problems which need to be addressed by the political parties.
Ø  The political parties should ensure that the water is properly given to the agriculture sector instead of diverting it to the industrial houses.
Ø  The farmers should get good seeds at a concessional price.
Ø  The banking network in the rural sector needs to be expanded so that they do not fall in the trap of money lenders.
Ø  The bank loans should be offered at reasonable rates.
Ø  The farmers’ consent should be taken while introducing organic farming
Ø  The state government should work on the rural electrification,
Ø  The setting up cold storage should be encouraged in the state.
Ø  The concept of Rayutu bazaaru should be introduced on the Private-public-partnership model from village to urban area level.
Ø  An irrigation network should be expanded.
Ø  Mechanism needs to be evolved for tackling both draught and flood in the state.
Ø  Farmers’ crop should be insured.
Ø  Farmers’ consent should be taken into consideration before the Corporatization of the farming. 
The farmers should get electricity at lower tariff and equipments along with lift irrigation facility which will help in increasing food production ratio which has come down drastically in the recent years.
The government should set Farmers’ Commission which calls for appointment of accomplished and competent people in planning and decision-making body and ensure reasonable and justified price mechanism to the farmers by fixing the support price among other things. It could ensure a reasonable and justified price mechanism to the farmers by fixing the support price among other things.
Government should priority to bio-diversity, setting up of food-processing unit at every village panchayat, scientific management of crop planning etc. Agriculture should be the biggest sector of employment.
Role of banking institutes is very important in addressing farmers’ issue; these institutes need to be more active and they need to fix responsibility.
Government should set up cold storage in every GP and agro specialists in every Gram panchayats.
  5.  Financial Inclusion
All the indicators of financial inclusion in Odisha is very weak. The people should be conveyed the importance of financial literacy for managing their financial needs. According to a special report prepared by Union government on the financial inclusion, only three districts out of 30 districts meet the national standard of banking in the state. The state needs a proper banking network for a proper implementation of government schemes like NREGS. The political parties should ensure following things:
Ø  The state government in consultation with Union finance ministry should recommend RBI to open new bank branches through out the state.
Ø  The political parties should educate people about the importance of financial literacy. They should be conveyed the importance of insurance sector and new investment destinations like Mutual Funds.
Ø  The people should also be conveyed which are the banks that offer loans at a reasonable interest rate.
1. Governance
The basic necessities like health and education still remains in a bad condition in the state. The political parties should work for the proper health and education facilities for the people of the state.
   1. Health
Ø  The state government should have a proper health policy.
Ø   The budgetary allocation toward health sector should be increased.
Ø   The political party coming to power should ensure that each village in the state has a proper medical facility.
Ø  The government should offer special remunerative package to the medical staff including doctors to work in the rural sector.
Ø  All the private medical institutes and hospitals should be properly regulated so that the people can get health facilities at a reasonable fee.
Ø  The political parties coming to power should immediately take steps to set up cancer hospital in the state.
1. Education
Ø  The political party coming to power should have a proper education policy.
Ø  The public spending on the education should be enhanced.
Ø  Compulsory free education should be provided till high secondary.
Ø  The permanent teachers should be appointed from primary school to university level.
Ø  Special emphasis should be given on SC, ST, minorities and women education.
Ø  More vocational and professional colleges should be set up.
 Ø  The fee in the private engineering and management colleges should be strictly monitored. 

Ø  The government should ensure the teachers across the board are properly paid in time.
Ø  Student Unions elections, including in the private educational institutes, should be held regularly. Teachers and parents associations should be encouraged for the proper functioning of the educational institutes. The students, teachers and parents elected representative should be given place in the management board of the private educational institutes and colleges.
9. Social Change:
A. ST development:
Tribals have been at the receiving end in the recent past due to the rapid industrialization and communal violence. The political parties should take following steps for the tribal development:
1. PESA should be implement both in letter and spirit. Land rights of the tribals must be protected strictly. The government should not take their land for setting up industries without taking their consent.
2. The political parties should ensure that their justified demands and problems should be solved politically. Their rights should not be muzzled in the name of countering ultra-left by setting up Salwa-judam kind of forces.
3. Tribals must get the right price for their forest produce like Kendu leave.
4. The government should ensure that the tribals should also have a say in the mining policies of the government.
5. The political parties should implement reservation in the jobs in the private sector. And, a minimum of seven jobs should be reserved in the private sector. And, after coming to power, they should ensure that all the vacancies reserved for the tribals should be filled up.
6. The political parties should take proper steps to identify the fake ST certificate holders in the state. And, take criminal action against them.
7. Government should help them in setting up their forest based ventures and made available the loans at a concessional interest rate for setting up small units.
B. SC  development
The SCs in Odisha still face social discrimination. There were reports of their entry being resisted by the upper castes in the temples. The state needs a big social movement on the lines of Tamil Nadu and UP to put an end to the social discrimination. The economic and social development of SCs is necessary for the overall change of the SCs in the state. The political parties should implement following points:
Ø   Criminal action should be taken against those who violate the human rights of SCs.
Ø  The political parties should ensure that all the vacancies reserved for the SCs should be filled up in the educational institutes and government. The political parties should ensure 15% reservation for the SCs in the private sector for setting up small units.
Ø  Government should help them in setting up their forest based ventures and made available the loans at a concessional interest rate.
10. For physically challenged section
There are 10% physically challenged people in the society. Hence, Govt must reserve 3% of the seats in the educational institutions and jobs in the public and private sector for the physically challenged people in the society.
And, the political parties should give 3% reservation to the physically challenged people in the Lok Sabha and Assembly poll.
11. With reference to the tribal development, Orissa Village Forest Rules, 1985 needs to be amended for :
1. Legal recognition to the community forest management practices in Orissa.
2. Power to the local inhabitants / forest dwellers / forest user groups to manage the forest.
12. Infrastructure specially railways
Orissa must develop its infrastructure facility which is very important for the development of the State. Apart from roads, railway network is very vital for the development of the state.
Indian railways has neglected Orissa specially KBK and Kandhamala district since independence.  Railway is one of the cheapest mode of transport in the world compared to other means. And, the development of the state is very much linked with the railway network.
All the political parties, irrespective of power in Union and state government, must put pressure on the government/s to complete the three lines within five years.
o   The Kandhamal-KBK line: Bhadrachalam Road (Andhra) – Malkangiri- Jeypore – Junagarh – Lanjigarh Rd – across Kandhamal District  –
o   Khurda Road – Balangir line & Talcher – Bimlagarh
Indian Railways should pump more money in developing rail network in the backward regions in Odisha. It can certainly recover its investments and offer profits in the long run. Indian Railways should finish Kandhamal-KBK line and the Khurda Balangir line in the next five years.
13. Change of Mind Set is a MUST
The most important reason for the backwardness of the Odisha is the Mind Set. The historically priviledged class has less concern for the deprived. The attitude is negative. The people spend more time in leg-pulling than concentrating on the development of their own self.
There is a Crab mind-set which is prevailing in the entire state. There is a lack of trust among themselves, absence of mutual respect as well as sense of gratitude. The general attitude is to adopt short cuts and corrupt methods  to go up in the ladder instead of through sheer hard work. Odisha is one of the few states in country where the general trend is to sleep during the afternoon hours.
Both the work culture and dignity of labour is missing in the state. There may be historical, environmental, social, economic and political reasons for this psychological behavior which needs to be analysed.
The people of the state should understand that work is a continous process and it is not meant just for getting just two times meals only. Similarly, the employers should also understand that the workforce in the new economy sectors is as important as they are. They should shun the feudal mind-set and should learn how to treat their co-travellers. The youth of Odisha specially in the backward regions should be motivated to work hard like the developed states – Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh or Telangana youth are doing. And, at the same time, the employers should also take a leaf on the HR management from their counter parts specailly from Gujarat and Punjab in keeping them in good humour in various ways and getting the work done.
14. Development of Backward Regions
The regional imbalance and social disparity is a major concern in Odisha. All the indicators of development of Coastal Odisha are at par with the national benchmark whereas the Western and Southern Odisha specially the KBK region are very poor in all  para-metres and Tribal regions. 
Lot of discussion and debate is going on the backwardness of the Western region. The people in the region are unhappy with the neglect of the Western region. They are demanding the inclusion of Kosli in 8th schedule.
The completion of incomplete medical colleges and promised universities is a major concern among the people of Western Odisha.
The Balangir medical college, Kalahandi medical college, agriculture university at Sambalpur is yet to see the light of the day. Burla needs to be upgraded with modern facilities.
The infrastructure – rail network and roads  is also very bad in the Western region. The people want railway lines from Bargarh to Nuapada and Khordha and Balangir Road.
The agriculture is also in a bad state. A large number of farmers committed suicides due to several reasons.
The location about the setting up a separate High Court bench in Western Odisha is still debated. The office of WODC is still located at Bhubaneswar and the government is not willing to shift it to any place in Western Odisha. The worst situation is the school education and health in the Western part of Odisha.
The water, land displacement, unemployment, mining and migration are other major issues of the region.
Similarly, there are number of issues related to Southern region and Tribal areas.
Here, we need to draw a clear cut blue print for the development of the Western Odisha. The major questions which we need to address are:
1.      Why the region is neglected ?
2.      Is the political leadership of the region is responsible ?*
3.      Is the political leadership of the Bhubaneswar  is responsible ?*
4.      Is the mind-set of the people of Odisha are responsible for the backwardness?
5.      Is the indifferent attitude of the people towards Tribals and SC responsible as the area consists a sizeable population of these two communities?
6.      How to make the political leadership accountable to the development of the region ?
7.      Similar, other issues.
15. Media should be people-centric
Odisha mdia has always been under attack for being passive in its functioning. It is considered non-professional in its approach and depends more on the handouts rather than having an investigative reports and an in-depth analysis of the current issues confronting the state.
The attack on the Odisha media intensified following a large number of senior politicians were put behind the bars due to their involvement in the 2G scam, Common Wealth Games (CWG) at Centre and mining scam in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The credit, by and large, goes to media for unearthing these multi-crore scams.
Odisha also witnessed a large number of scams in the last couple of years. The state is also under the grip of mining mafia which is responsible for the multi-crore mining scam. The mining scam in Odisha is expected to be as big as it is in Karnataka or Andhra Pradesh or Goa. Some reports indicate that it is bigger than all these states combined.  Apart from the mining scam, the MGNREGS, Dal Scam and other scams also run into several thousands of crores.
Compared to the national media and in most of the other states, Odisha media both regional language media and the state representatives of the national media lack sharpness which is required to present the correct picture of the happenings in the state. The civil society members are very critical of the passive media role in exposing the multi-crore scams that has taken place in the recent past in the
state. The irregularities have been identified, but the media has not been able to bring the minute details of these multi-crore scams. A section of the civil society is of the view that the big bunglows allotted to the media persons by the state government under the Discretionary Quota is responsible for not exposing the scams. It is also alleged that a section of the senior journalists get lot of other sops from the government which deters them from performing their duties.
But, any individual having an inside view of the Odisha media will not fully agree to these allegations. Let us accept that of late the media persons are  performing their duty better within the  given constrains.
Odisha mediapersons have several challenges before them. First of all, the media houses of the state are mostly controlled by the political families who are either in the ruling or in the opposition camp. They run the newspaper having a political stand points than really serving the society by disseminating information to them. The selection and presentation of news and views are politically motivated. The reporting and the desk team are fully aware about the nature of the news and views that suits the interest of  the management both from the political and business point of view since many of the media owners have also stakes in the mining, entertainment, hospitality and other  business ventures. The political and business interest of  the owners of the media houses really kills  the professional spirit of a journalist.
The mind-set of most of the media owners in Odisha is still feudal and authoritarian. They pay more attention on the journalist’s  personal loyalty to them than his performance at work. In national media and in the developed states, the owners and editors treat their colleagues at par in terms of day to day behaviour. The organizational hierarchy is a functional necessity which does not determine the performance of the journalist. The journalists known in the public domain due to the kind of reports and analysis they do instead of what position they hold.
But, in Odisha, the management and the editors treat their colleagues as workers like any other industrial office. And, they think that the journalists working in their organizations survive at their mercy.
Hence, a change of mind-set is required both at the management and editorial rank and file.
Another major problem with the Media houses in the state is that most of  them do not implement wage board announced by the Union government for the journalists. The company pay packet in the state is very meager. And, except in the state capital, the majority of the media houses employ the same person for the news gathering as well as for marketing in the district headquarters; though the major three newspapers Sambad, Dharitri and Samaj are exception to this rule.
The media houses have money to spend on the big hoardings throughout the state, brand-buidling and other expenses. But, when it comes to implement the wage board for the journalists, they express their inability to do so because of the so called financial constrains. The media management should understand the financial requirements of their editorial staff and they should implement the new wage board throughout the state in Odisha.
Odisha media houses need to distinguish the role between the owner and editor of a newspaper. In most of the cases, the owners themselves are editors of the publication, online edition and TV channels.  This is a gross infringement of the editorial spirit and freedom.
There is a lot of scope for the media in the state to work. Odisha is not only has mines of natural resources, but it is also has a mines of stories. There can a large number of good investigative reports in the education, health, industry, business, mining, governance and all other areas. The reporters need to go beyond the news and investigate and analyse various issues. Similarly, there is an immense scope for the developmental journalism in the state. There can be good reports and forward looking outlook in the field of industry, agriculture, tourism and other fields.
There is a huge scope for the journalists to investigate the number of scams including mining scam, NREGS scam, Dal scam, land allotment under the discretionary quota and other similar scams which are currently under discussion in the state.
Another major problem which the state journalists are facing  is the state repression while covering the state repression on the innocent tribals, poor dalits and marginalized classes. The journalists reporting on the forceful acquisition of the land of the tribals  and dalits by the state machinery for giving land to the corporates to set up industries is termed as having sympathy with the naxals. The mediapersons who are sympathetic towards the poor of the state are branded as naxal sympathizers. The civil society and the political parties should support the journalist fraternity performing their duties in the interest of the common man of the state. Inspite of several constrains, Odisha media has started doing some investigative reports for which it has been attacked by the different
quarters including from the government agencies. The media fraternity of the state already got united to fight the attempts of the vested interest to muzzle the freedom of expression in the state. They need to further intensify this fight.
Inspite of all challenges within and outside the media, the journalists of the state should pay a special focus on the issues related to the backward regions – Western Odisha and Southern and the deprived classes – tribals and SCs of the state. The media houses should also ensure that they recruit young talented aspiring journalists from these neglected areas and groom properly to emerge as successful journalists in the state.
Finally, I would like to address the issue of paid journalism which is under discussion nation-wide following the Press Council of India (PCI)’s recent ruling in one or two cases of paid news in the political process. This is basically a fallout of the market forces in the post globalization era. The media houses are following the unwritten rule, `Jo bikta hai, voh jhapta hai’. (The news which is saleable gets a space in print). And, in this process of commercialization of news, some of the leading newspapers have also introduced the concept of paid news which is very dangerous for the sanctity of the journalism as a profession. The media houses should realize that the paid news can not be a source of revenue and they should not encourage this trend. Instead, they should explore other sources of revenue to sustain their operations.
Odisha media needs to be professional to meet the challenges of the emerging new economy and changing role of the state. They should use technology, both mobile and web, for bringing the news to the public domain. The WikiLeaks recent discoveries demonstrate that the media convergence is doing wonderful job globally in exposing the misdeeds at high places . The journalists of Odisha should also adopt the model of media convergence to bring the truth in the public domain.  Then only, they can match with the mainstream media and can come upto the expectations of the people of Odisha.
16. Mining
Currently, Shah Commission is investing the multi-crore mining scam. And, it is expected that the it will suggest some concrete suggestions to run the mining sector in a transparent manner. However, there are few suggestions in this regard:
Central government should be involved in the policy of the  strategic minerals and the state government should look after the rest of the mining. There should be international bidding for offering the mining lease.
There are environmental concerns and all should think for a sustainable development.
The displacement is another area of concern. And, the government should implement a proper R&R policy.
There should be Mineral Development Board to monitor the mining sector. There are several ways to check theft in the mining sector. There should be centralized online system to monitor the theft in the mining sector.
The state pollution control board should adhere to a proper environmental impact assessment in case of major development projects in the state. There should be online controlling system. The policy must change and the downstream industries must be encouraged.
Note: We need to chalk out the developmental plan in the power, water and other sectors also.
About the Authors:
Around 40 authors have contributed more than 200 write-ups, research papers and articles between January, 2009 to December, 2012. If we have missed to mention the name of any author, then inform us, we will do the needful.  A number of authors have written more one write up.

Following is the list of authors:


1
Mr.Achyut Das
Without natural-cultural farming, the poor will go hungry
2
Alka Mohanty
Shun Male Chauvanism, Educate Girls to develop state
3
Anurjay Dhal
Orissa in the grip of Red ultras due to the neglect of the deprived section
4
Mr. Asis Senapati
Odisha govt should take preventive measures to check suicide cases among fishermen in Kendrapada 
5
Baibhav Mishra
Odia youth should assert to get jobs
6
Mr.Bidyut Mohanty and Mrs.K .Anuradha
Globalization induced R & R policy 2006, Orissa– Myth and Reality
7
Mr.Biraj Mohapatra.
Youth should join politics for nation building
8
Mr.John Dayal
Charity, not the pursuit of justice, is easy
9
Mr.Charudutta Panigrahi
Look within Then speak and write.
10
Mr.Chittaranjan Behera
Challenges before Right to Education Act,2009
11
Dr.V.V.Ln Sashtry
ICT can be a good tool to educate  all
12
Mr.Ghasiram Panda
Forest management and people's participation
13
Mr.Gladson Dungdung
Does democratic government listen Adivasis ?
14
Prof.Haribabdhu Panda

15
Mr.Jagdish Pradhan

16
Mr.Lalit Pattanaik
Indian Railways step motherly treatment is responsible for the backwardness of Odisha
17
Manisha Goutami.
Youth should take the lead to develop Western Odisha
18
Ayashkant Das
Odia should develop enterprenural skills
19
Mr.R.L Francis
Christian society cries for development
20
Ms P.Diptirani
Odisha should use ICT to impart quality Education
21
Mr.Pranab Doley
Sukhina: A never ending story
22
Mr.Pravas Mishra
Finacing Elementary Education in Odisha
23
Mr.Nilambara Rath

24
Mr.Rupak Johnson
 'New Year resolution for Orissan Youth'.
25
Mr.Sai Prasan
Odisha Government should have an inclusive Education Policy for the ST and SC students.
26
Mr.Sanjay Pradhan
Women of deprived section should a special quota in the women reservation bill
27
Sailabala Behera
Shiksha adhikar Aain 2009 re Anagrasara gosthira pilamananka sthana
28
Mr.Shyamrudra Pathak
Re-visit IAC campaign for the future course correction
29
Mr.Sudarshan Chhotray
Allow uniform land use to curb tribal uprising in Odisha.
30
Mr.Pravin Patel
Quality Education is the crying need in rural Odisha.
31
Mr.Umasankar Das
Information technology (IT) Industry and Growing Hitec City in Eastern India 
32
Umi Daniel
Let us work for a different KBK
33
Mr.Vidya Das
To whom state prefers - Gandhians or Maoists ?
34
Dr.Subhas Mohapatra
Poverty in Odisha
35
Mr Anand Mohapatra

Reasons for the darkness in power sector
36
Ms Geeta Sesu
Threat to media functioning in Odisha
37
Mr.Sudarshan Das
Secular policy should be developed for the holistic development of Odisha.

Differently-abled women should get a due place in the women reservation bill

By Dr Sruti Mohapatra

‘Women have been waiting for this since the last fourteen years. We have heard many assurances but we hope that this time the government is going to deliver on the assurance. As far as my party is concerned, 100 percent support is assured the day they bring the bill into parliament for passage.’ Brinda Karat, Politburo member, Communist Party of India (Marxist) .

‘The manifestos of many political parties talk about women empowerment. Especially the Congress Party has it in their manifesto. Girja Vyas, Congress Party leader

Women constitute half of the society throughout the globe and so is the case in India too. But majority of women in our country, burdened with domestic responsibilities, remain illiterate, exploited and dominated by men. Women’s best interests and priorities are thus neglected in a male dominated patriarchal society of which the present parliament is an extension. With growing literacy levels, exposure and economic strengthening, in recent years, women have become concious of the stigmatized life they are leading and also of their under-representation in elected decision making bodies.

Presence of women in such bodies will make a qualitative difference in increasing the empathy for their concerns. So to undo centuries of discrimination and exploitation and redress gender imbalances some sort of reservation or affirmative action is needed.The understanding of such affirmations, reservation, includes notions such as equality of opportunity, social justice, positive or protective discrimination, compensatory discrimination and so on. Reservation is not thus an insidious and invidious discrimination but is a benign, positive, acceptable and necessary discrimination to tilt the balance in favor of hitherto historically deprived, oppressed and repressed classes of our society.

In 1992 Rajiv Gandhi made a move to earmark 33% of all seats for women in panchayats. Today, panchayats in thousands of villages in India are headed by women, and chief ministers of several states are - or have been - women. Yet, any attempt to advance the presence of women in the chambers of Parliament itself has failed time and again. Only 10.8% of the directly elected national representatives - 59 members of the present Lok Sabha's 542, - are women. Even in the Rajya Sabha, where members are appointed and therefore can be more easily chosen to represent a wide spectrum of India, only 10% seats are held by women. And not even one of them is a woman with disability.

Unless the visibility and representation of women is enhanced in parliament the representation of women with disability will remain a dream. Hence, the passage of this bill must be dealt with utmost urgency. Disability is a relevant social matter, and with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) coming into force from May 2008 it is now mandatory for all countries to ensure protection of rights and active participation of persons with disabilities and thus give them the right to citizenship. Key elements of citizenship include being part of a community and making choices about your own life (such as where you live, or the type of work you do). Citizenship gives a person rights but it also carries responsibilities. All citizens should have equal rights and equal responsibilities. However, almost all disabled people, in India, are not able to enjoy their human rights and freedoms on an equal basis to other citizens. This is because of general lack of knowledge and understanding within society about disability, and also to the lack of disabled people participating in decision-making processes around policy or services that affect them. By promoting an increased understanding of disability and supporting the participation of disabled people in public life, political process and policy making, for example, the rights of citizenship for disabled people will more likely be respected and ensured.

The Disability Scenario In India
Government of India has passed the PWD Act for equalization of opportunities, protection of rights and full participation of persons with disabilities in mainstream society. The PWD Act, 1995, provides for reservation of 3% of funds in all poverty alleviation schemes, 3% of seats in educational institutions and 3% of job vacancies for the disabled. But the main problem is that these schemes, policies and legislations are not easy to access.

Lack of information is a major barrier to the progress of disabled people. Besides, the PWD Act has broadly adopted a multi-sectoral approach, which is not effective as except the nodal Departments, no body owns the program. Very few organizations are penalized for not providing barrier-free environments. Even government organizations have not managed to meet the 3% job reservations for persons with disability.

Inclusive education too has largely been a failure: mainstream schools do not have facilities for children with disability thereby effectively excluding them from the first level of social interaction that would help towards developing a more sensitized and aware population. In light of all this, the implementation of the Act needs clear focus, goals and sense of accountability. This is possible with active involvement and participation of persons with disability in mainstream activities.

Women With Disabilities

Concerns of women with disabilities continue to remain marginal in India where they do not even have access to basic needs. Women with disabilities face discriminatory treatment vis-à-vis women and men without disabilities. According to the Indian Census of 2001, women constitute 42.457% of the total population of persons with disabilities in India. Despite the numbers, their voices remain unheard and the existing legal framework fails to address specific problems faced by women with disabilities.

Infanticide of the disabled is widespread, with baby girls being at higher risk. A newborn with Spina Bifida was starved to death by her parents and family in Haryana despite the intensive counseling, support and medical assurances of an NGO and the doctors. The medical, nutritional, educational, emotional, psychological, sexual, recreational and employment needs of a disabled daughter are the last in the list of priorities of a family.

In a research study, the percentage of girls with disabilities going to school (38.34 percent) was found to be much lower than the percentage of boys with disabilities (61.66 percent) getting an education. In India, only 54.16 percent of all women are literate. With such a high rate of illiteracy among women in general, the chances of girls with disabilities of getting an education are extremely poor. Thus, many women with disabilities spend tedious hours employed in cottage industries, in work for which little education is necessary, whereas with a proper education they could be lawyers, administrators, etc. The problems that confront women with disabilities are even more severe in the rural areas. The inadequate or total lack of access to information, health care and rehabilitation services is further compounded by much higher illiteracy rates, longer distances to services and facilities, if they exist at all, and more severe conditions of poverty than in urban areas. In addition, traditions and prejudices that discriminate against women are more widely practiced in the rural areas. Decisions regarding the lives of women in India are generally taken by their fathers, brothers or sons. And again, it is more so for women with disabilities.

Forming part of two disadvantaged and minority groups (disabled people, and within these women), they find themselves up against a double discrimination, as well as various barriers which make accomplishing objectives essential in everyday life very difficult. Higher unemployment rates, lower salaries, less access to medical care, lack of education, poor or no access to programmes and services aimed at women, and a higher risk of suffering physical and/or sexual abuse are just some of the social aspects which women with sensorial, physical or mental disabilities face. This discrimination is the worsening of the age-old discrimination women have always suffered, more severe but harder to fight, which affects aspects such as education, employment, marriage, family, economical status, rehabilitation.

Disability has a profound impact on an individual's ability to carry out traditionally expected gender roles, particularly for women. Although both men and women with disabilities face difficulties in fulfilling their expected gender roles, as long as a disabled man earns a living, his chances of getting married and having a family are much more than those of a disabled woman. A disabled woman is perceived as one who is unable to perform her traditional roles of wife, mother and home-maker because of her disability, even if she may be able to do so in reality. For example, a woman with mobility impairment may be perceived as one in need of physical assistance in self care and grooming, and therefore unable to carry out the domestic tasks that require mobility and physical labor.

Some studies report that women with disabilities are less likely to be married than disabled men. This is largely due to negative attitudes and stereotypes about what disabled women can or cannot do, particularly in societies where marriages are arranged by the elders and is a contract between the concerned families rather than the individuals. There is misconception that because of her physical disability, a woman may not be competent in any sphere. In addition, because there are few positive role models for women with disabilities, many myths prevail about them. As a result, many disabled women come to consider themselves as 'non-persons, with no rights or privileges to claim, no duties or functions to perform, no aim in life to achieve, no aptitudes to consult or fulfill.'

In this dismal scenario we need leaders, who are women with disabilities, in positions where they can influence laws, policies and attitude by their voice and visibility.

UNCRPD And Women With Disabilities

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, the first internationally binding instrument on disability rights, acknowledges in its preamble, ‘the difficult conditions faced by persons with disabilities who are subject to multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic, indigenous or social origin, property, birth, age or other status’. It also recognizes ‘that women and girls with disabilities are often at greater risk, both within and outside the home, of violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation’ and emphasizes ‘the need to incorporate a gender perspective in all efforts to promote the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities.’ The substantive provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities pertaining to women with disabilities is summarized below:
Article 3 (g) – Principle of equality between men and women.
Article 6 – Responsibility of the State Party to recognize the multiple discrimination faced by girls and women with disabilities and undertake measures to ‘ensure the full and equal enjoyment by them of all human rights and fundamental freedoms’, and to enable the realization of the rights by ensuring ‘full development, advancement and empowerment of women’.
Article 16 – Protection from exploitation, violence and abuse. Ensuring of ‘gender sensitive support’; providing of ‘information and education on how to avoid, recognize and report instances of exploitation’; formulating women-centric policies and legislations to address violence, its identification, investigation, and punishment.
Article 28 – Ensuring access of all, ‘in particular women and girls with disabilities…to social protection programmes and poverty reduction programmes’.

Sub Quota In Women’s Reservation Bill

Women are not a ‘single entity’ in themselves and are themselves divided into weaker and empowered sections. There is a concern that while 33 per cent quota will help women from the upper caste to enter Parliament it will not be ensure representation of those from the most backward classes. Hence, sub-quota in the reservation bill is as much needed and based on the same philosophy of Dr. Ambedkar when constituted reservation for SC and ST in Constitution. According to S R Ilyas of the Muslim Personal Law Board, Muslims have been ‘historically under-represented’ in the Indian Parliament.’ In this scenario sub-quota for Muslim women is need of the day. In the present Parliament itself representation of the community is 50 per cent of the proportion of their population. As per Dr B R Ambedkar Sewa Dal and Samajik Nyay Morcha a quota without a sub-quota will augment inequalities in the country and fail to serve its purpose as Dalit women, who are the most backward in the country, need representation to get their due share in mainstream society.

Quota For Women With Disability in Women’s Reservation Bill

The proposed women’s reservation bill calls for reservation for women at each level of legislative decision-making, starting with the Lok Sabha, down to state and local legislatures. Further, if the Bill is passed, one-third of the total available seats would be reserved for women in national, state, or local governments. The bill also states that ‘in continuation of the existing provisions already mandating reservations for scheduled caste and scheduled tribes, one-third of such SC and ST candidates must be women.’ Women with disability have not got much recognition by the traditional women’s movement activists and hence in this context quota for them within the reservation is required to attract attention to their issues.

This sub-quota is unlike other sub-quota demands:

Women with disabilities have been marginalized by mainstream women’s movements in India. These women face a triple handicap and discrimination due to their disability, gender and developing world status, mainly poverty. They have been consistently denied the traditional roles assigned to women. It is assumed that they are incapable of undertaking family responsibilities or obtaining gainful employment. Further, with rampant female foeticide and the unwelcome girl-child, a disabled girl-child is at the receiving end of even more contempt and neglect.
33.3 percent seats in panchayat elections have been reserved for women already. A million women are being elected to the panchayats in the country every five years. This is the largest mobilization of women in public life in the world. But there is not a single woman with disability amongst this million.
Although women have occupied seats in the legislatures, it is simply that they have not addressed the questions which pertain to the problems of women with disability at all. The demand behind the sub-quota in Women's Reservation Bill is that women representatives from disability sector should address the specific problems of their constituency and also highlight the disability issues pertaining to women.
In India the citizen has been conceptualized abstractly as someone who holds rights that are common to all. This bearer of rights or the citizen, note, has no name, no gender, no caste and no class. It has now been recognized that universal rights alone do not serve the least advantaged in a deeply in egalitarian society. For instance, the rights to land do not mean anything in a society where women with disability, especially the mentally challenged, have traditionally been excluded from inheritance of property. Because our society is unequal, different sections of citizens need different rights that address their specific condition, in addition to universal rights. Therefore, women with disabilities need special rights to guard their person and their dignity.
Provision of sub-quota within the bill is constitutionally illegal as the constitution prohibits reservation on religious and caste grounds in the Parliament except for the SCs and STs for which it has made an exception. But the Parliament has already passed a law to protect the rights of persons with disability (PWD Act 1996), hence conceding to the above demand will not require any amendment of the constitution.

Close on the heels of appointing Meira Kumar as the country's first Dalit woman speaker of the Lower House (Lok Sabha), UPA has now committed itself to reserve 50% of its seats for women in village councils and city municipalities in its 100-day action plan. This radical move will give a substantially larger representation to Indian women in a country with a population of 1.1 billion - an increase from their current entitlement to a third of the seats in urban and rural councils. When viewed along with the government's commitment to push for the path-breaking Women's Reservation Bill - that seeks to reserve a third of the elected seats in parliament and in state legislatures for women - this move will ensure the largest-ever political space to Indian women compared to any other country in the world at any time. And, at this hour, it is pertinent to lobby for a sub quota for women with disabilities, to give a voice to the ‘invisible minority’ in India’s women movement.

The author is the founder member of Shared Entertainment and Recreation (SHARE). You can send your feed at janatavikasmanch@gmail.com. Please visit www.janatavikasmanch.blogspot.com for more details.

Chalta hai attitude will render Orissan youth a mere spectator

By Rupak Johnson

The youth of Odisha have developed a very casual attitude toward every spheres of life, be it professional, social or political. By refusing to shape their attitude in tune with the time, they have developed a habit of showing indifference or a lack of concern for the matters of grave concern often by giving a simple explanation — what can we do?
This regularly repeated behavior pattern i.e. habit, is admissible in certain cases but when it becomes a general inclination or tendency — that is, the attitude is then geared towards ‘Chalta hai’ mode. It is an ominous sign which renders youth powerless in the matter of decision-making. This is a big stumbling block which is responsible for keeping youth from being a ‘mature and contributing citizen’. Not only it affects the health of a society but the state’s overall progress is hampered too. Do the youth understand that they are responsible citizens of this beautiful land endowed with minerals, natural resources and a vast coast-line? Shouldn’t they feel they need to stand up and raise their voice against any injustice or discrimination whether by the State or the Center? It is rather unfortunate to note that they do not know how to belong to the State.

Youth: reaction to issues
Recently, the Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government presented Railway budget and subsequently the Union budget. Prior to that, Delhi High Court passed a landmark judgment decriminalizing homosexual acts between two consenting adults. But there were hardly any collective reaction from Odisha youth on these issues. As far as Railway budget was concerned, once again Odisha got a raw deal compared to its neighbours. For development of poverty-stricken State, there have been legitimate demands for having railway lines linking whole of Odisha, but nothing happened. Instead of raising funds for this purpose, the Centre reduced budgetary allocation from Rs 949.34 crore last year to Rs 715.22 crore, a drastic cut of Rs 234 crore or 25%. In addition, demand for development projects like coach factory to generate employment was turned down despite the fact that the Indian Railways gets more revenue from Odisha than any other State in the country. The youth of Odisha face a lot of problem as a result of insufficient railway facilities but they remain silent; they are not bothered about their rights and privileges; they leave everything into the hands of God. Call it suffering in silence !
Talking about the Union budget, it was pointed out that Odisha’s shares in Central taxes were reduced from Rs. 8,849.49 crores to Rs. 84.95. 93 crore. That means the State would receive Rs. 353.56 crore or 4% less assistance from Centre. If an annual gross devaluation of money (inflation) of 10% is taken into considered, then it was a reduction of around 35% and 14% for the railway and general budget respectively. Such a drastic cut! And that too when Odisha is reeling under the impact of global economic meltdown! Should the youth not raise their voice over this step-motherly behavior? Instead, they remained silent and once again, left everything into the hands of God. Call it saintly behavior!

Now take the much-talked-about issue relating to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT). This topic generated a lot of heat in the country and the youth from other parts of the country expressed their views and opinions. But, in Odisha, the youth did not bother to attach any importance to the topic; they feel it is not their prerogative to discuss the ramifications of the Order. Their common refrain: it’s too hot a topic to discuss in the public domain. Call it piety!
Well, this indifferent attitude is visible even in matters related to their education, the very essence of their survival in this cut-throat world. Despite facing several problems at the education front, they keep mum, for reasons best known to them. Call it ‘Chalta hai’!
Youth: Way forward
Getting over this unhealthy attitude requires a reorientation of the mind with its thoughts, feeling and behavior. The youth need to stimulate themselves for a greater activism — both social and political. It has to be a state of mind, from regressive to progressive, from worrisome inhibition to joyful exhibition. For this to happen, the youth, first, need to recognize their fault and then work on it with a sense of urgency. Catching up with the forward-moving world demands a lot of character and tenacity of purpose. There are certain following points that can serve as guiding principals to be effective as well as politically correct:

Professional Attitude: It goes without saying that professionalism is the key word in today’s competitive world. It is in great demand not only in the big business world but also in the political world. A professional person is the one who keeps one’s word, sticks to deadline and delivers on promised line. Commitment is an integral part of professional attitude and is appreciated by one and all. Compare Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha with any other capital city of the neighbouring state like Andhra Pradesh and the difference is there for everyone to see. This State can not afford to lose its image any further; the youth have a task cut out for them.

Accountability: A majority of the youth in society has a herd mentality; they lack the ability to think as individuals and therefore, find it difficult to face situations where accountability is required. This is the very reason why there is a great dearth of leadership quality among Odisha youth. Accountability calls for practicing restraint i.e. nurturing an inner discipline which is a pre-requisite for playing roles of greater responsibility in the public arena. There is no place for arrogance or so-called super-ego which is a sign of individualistic attitude. The youth should learn humility which comes along with accountability; it’s a virtue that unites and is very much needed for the State.

Competency: Before putting the house in order, one must put one’s own self in order. If the youth have to achieve success, they have to create such a workforce that demonstrates the knowledge and competencies for superlative performance on the job. It requires a killing instinct, dedication and a desire to perform at a higher level on a regular basis. Bangalore or Hyderabad have become IT hub of our country because of its competent youth brigade. It is high time that Odisha youth woke up to the reality in the larger interest of the State.

Political Understanding: The youth, in the State, have a very vague and narrow idea about politics often terming it as activities associated with criminals and people with malicious intentions. And, therefore, they avoid it even going to the extent of ignoring their right to franchise! This is because of a lack of understanding about the power relationships in politics that is interrelationships between the people, groups or organizations.
This power relationship is a strong means to build a force which can ensure transparency and accountability in the matter of governance. A need has arisen in the State to cultivate the culture of politics among the youth through debate and discussion/s. And for this, the youth need to come forward.

There are greater challenges ahead for the youth as the competition is getting tougher day by day; global standards have left no place for complacency. Doing away with ‘Chalta hai’ attitude would be a wise step; otherwise the development work of the State would go into the hands of `Outsiders’ and the state youth would be rendered mere spectators !!!

The author is a communication expert and regularly writes on Youth affairs. Please send your comments and suggestions at janatavikasmanch@gmail.com and visit http://www.janatavikasmanch.blogspot.com/ for more details.

Centre has always betrayed Orissa due to meek State leadership

By Sanjaya Kumar Pradhan
Finally, Congress Led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) got majority, 261 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats, surprising not only the opposition camps (BJP-led NDA, Left led third front and fourth front) but the Congress itself. People have once again proved all pre-poll and exit-poll wrong.
Was it really a mandate for Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), or against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) or the so called third and fourth front? Is the victory not that of UPA but the defeat of opposition (Third and Four Front)? Is the new ruling alliance UPA worthy?
These are the questions which have cropped up in the post-poll. This article has a detailed analysis of politics in India with special reference to Orissa. Do voters have really an option to choose their government or are they forced to vote a political entity into the power due to lack of a better choice? Above all, the straight question is whether UPA at the Centre and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Orissa have done any significant work for the people to win their mandate again?
National scene
Congress emerged as a single largest party getting 202 seats and UPA - 262 seats. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajvadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janational Dal Secular- JD (S) have extended their unconditional support to UPA taking the tally to 320, surpassing the magic figure of 272 to form the government. However, there are some key concerns and myths that need to be analysed.
First, we need to analyse, how UPA got 261 seats. People have not voted for UPA but against the opportunistic, unworthy, unrealistic parties (especially third and fourth front). Third and fourth front were really threat for the country, who were all set to blackmail the central government for their selfish and local issues to fulfil short term goal of their party, compromising the national integrity. They have completely lost the faith of people. Third and fourth front dominated states like Andhra Pradesh (TDP), Tamil Nadu (AIDMK), Kerala, West Bengal (both LEFT), Bihar (RJD, LJP) and UP (SP, BSP) have given huge success to UPA, which has helped UPA to occupy the power at the Centre.
Popular Myths:
Congress is trust worth party: Is completely false. The party, which has ruled the country for more than 40 years and still have slogan that it will work for the poor people. The previous prime ministers of the party have been promising for upliftment of poor, to provide basic education and healthcare and to create employment opportunity improving agriculture. But it has failed completely. In fact, the poverty and unemployment have gone up drastically. It has neither worked for poor people nor it will work in future. Every time the party has come to power has created new scams. It doesn’t create employment but without fail create scams.
Rahul Gandhi charismatic leader: After result declaration, Congress senior leaders have started praising Rahul Gandhi for his charismatic leadership. They gave all credit of the success to Rahul for his extensive tour and public meetings across the country, experimentation of youth leadership, eklachalo in UP and Bihar. The media also joined in the line of chamchagiri Congress leaders. Congress even didn’t recognise hard work of its two Congress chief ministers of Delhi and Rajasthan. Delhi swept all seats; Rajasthan got 20 seats against 4 previous elections. While talking to media, a senior Congress leader continuously denied contribution from Sheila Dixit for the victory in Delhi. The blind followers and chamchas of Congress only know to praise Gandhi family to be in their good book. They keep admiring Rahul and Sonia without understanding the reality on the ground. Do you think that he is a Charismatic leader? Has he really brought more seats to UPA kitty? He has toured all states. Why Rahul’s charisma didn’t work at all in states like Bihar, Orissa, Karnataka and Jharkhand.
In Orissa, NDA alliance was broken, BJD contested alone leaving BJP aside. There was huge possibility for Congress to come to power. The changed leadership, Rahul visited many times but result is very pathetic. Even this time, it got less assembly seats than previous. Congress is claiming that it has given so much resource to Bihar, NDA ruled state. Why did it get less seats (now only 2) than 2004 (4 seats) in Bihar. Where is Rahul’s charisma in Orissa and Bihar?
Youth Leadership: This is a hype that Rahul Gandhi “youth icon” has brought many young bloods into Indian politics. It is true that there are many young MPs in Parliament, but who are they? He himself has admitted without political ground, it is almost impossible to come to Indian politics. They are from the family of previous political strongholds like Chief Minister, Ministers and party leaders. Example – Rahul Gandhi, Son of Rajiv & Sonia Gandhi; Varun Gandhi, son of Menaka and Sanjay Gandhi; M Azhagiri, M Azhagiri and Dayanidhi Maran, whole extended family of Karunanidhi; Milind Deora, son of Murali Deora; Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Powar; Jyotiraditya Scindhia, son of Madhavrao; Nilesh Rane, son of Narayan Rane; Agatha Sangma, daughet of P.A.Sangmamany, Sachin Pilot, son of Rajesh Pilot and more. These all are political heir, industrialists.
When these so called political heirs and industrialist or their children study in the best schools (private) in the country, best colleges in the world (LSE, Oxford, Harvard etc) and dream to be astrophysician, IAS etc (otherwise at least they can easily be a doctor, engineer, manager). But at the same time, children in rural and tribal area are struggling to complete their primary, secondary education and rarely go for college education as they can’t afford. They hardly dream to be a teacher, clerk, police habildar, peon, Anganwadi etc. Now, one can imagine the gap between the real Indian youth and the so called “youth icons”, projected by Rahul Gandhi. The rural poor, educated youths are treated as real untouchables and there is no entry to any major political party. All parties are controlled by political heavy weights and reserved for their children and relatives. This is called Political Corruption. Can Rahul Gandhi stop this political Corruption, which is very much in Congress?
Loan waiver and NREGA winning factor: Congress is claiming these two areas like Loan waiver and National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) brought huge success. Congress should introspect. If the loan waiver got success, how many more seats, it has got in the infamous farmer suicide Vidharbha region, Maharashtra. The number has gone down. NREGA is another form of exploitation of labour and decentralisation of corruption. NREGA has given 100 days employment opportunity to one person of each BPL family as unskilled work. It shows that the mindset of Congress. It wants to suppress and exploit people as master and indulge in misappropriation.
Congress knows very well how to rule poor people keeping them away from the real power. They talk about the success of NREGA, which has given the 100 days of employment to rural poor. This is just like throwing roti at barking dog to stop shouting. They provide unskilled labour to rural educated young people paying Rs 10,000 per year (Rs 100 daily for maximum 100 days), when their children are earning in lakhs/ crore per year (as it has been shown that more than half of MPs are crorerpati and have earned 1600% in five years) and spending thousands of rupees daily for their lavish life. This is the attitude of Congress to maintain status quo and poor people should never think about the real power. The money has come to district level through NREGA, so it has to be spent. Therefore, the district wants to achieve their target % of utilisation and spend without really strategic plan for future development and creating community assets. Earlier only the top politicians took benefit, got huge money using their power fulfilled their vested interest. The local politicians also forced them to share some. That is NREGA, which has shown the way for local politicians at Panchayat level to get money providing false documents, doing their work with public money it means the corruption has come to Panchayat level.

Orissa Politics
Now let’s find out the reality in Orissa. The state is blessed with natural resource, potentials human resource (educated, intelligent) but it stands at the bottom of development. Lack of political will and central leadership, Orissa is always betrayed by the Centre. Congress leaders ruled the state maintaining their chamachagiri to Gandhi-Nehru family to retain power. Congress had ruined the state leaving Orissa, one of the poorest states in country. Congress government each term involved in corruption and misused the resources.
The state has been ruled by higher caste (Brahim and Karan) for 95% time and for 40 years by Patnaiks only. However, Biju Patnaik was among the very few national level and vocal leaders from Orissa. He worked hard for the development of Orissa. After the death of Biju Pattanik, Mr. Naveen Patnaik was brought by the party to gain power in Orissa, who led the newly formed Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
Mr. Patnaik claims of corruption-free good governance but what is in the field. The BJP-BJD government did not do any significant development, as it was unable to check the forced out station migration of educated youths in search of employment, to develop agriculture providing irrigation and introducing technology, to provide quality education (primary, secondary or professional), to use existing natural resource, to use grants/ schemes for the welfare of poor.
The government has started selling natural resources of the state at cheap rate only. The frustration of unemployed educated youth and underdevelopment has resulted extremism in the form of Naxalism in Orissa. This discontent is gradually growing in the state. Now government is spending so much resource for empowering police, law & order, which was not required at all. The so called clean government led by Patnaik has created huge corruption in ground for a lay man. Whether, the common people can get the IAY without giving bribe of at least Rs 5,000 (out of Rs 25,000), can get old age pension with giving Rs 500, resident/ income/ caste certificate without giving Rs 100-200 in Tehsil office, school leaving certificate without giving bribe of Rs 50, etc etc, The amount may be small for our political biggies but it really matters for the people to give their hard earnings. Can any development work happen / sanction without giving a share, 30% of the total budget to engineer and BDO at Block level, so contractor takes 30% and the remaining is spent for construction of road, bridge, community buildings. What quality of work, you can expect? The BJP-BJD government did nothing for youth and farmers.
The government claims that it has given rice at Rs 2 per Kg. This is another form of dominance and showing sympathy like congress government to the poor Oriyas. These short-sighted politicians neither worked for inclusive growth nor now working to empower people and making them self-sustainable. The government should empower people to manage (to earn) their family, to educate their children in good schools, to get better health services, to construct own house with hard work etc.
Road map for future
The politicians should give high priority to create employment with dignity (not only unskilled labour) for all, using existing natural resource. The government should work for agricultural development, creating basic infrastructure (irrigation, food storage yard and market), introducing technology and scientific agriculture practices, establishing food-processing units across the country.
The government should provide quality education and other services to all. The basic healthcare will ensure better health human resource, who will contribute for the development of the country. The rural infrastructure, community infrastructure has to be improved very fast. The legal system has to be improved drastically.
Mumbai based writer works in the developmental sector. You can send your comments at janatavikasmanch@gmail.com and visit www.janatavikasmanch.blogspot.com for more information.