Orissa’s capital is all set for a super massive civic revamp.Reports DHRUTIKAM MOHANTY
Bhubaneswar, Orissa’s capital, could be soon turn into a metro. Transforming the twin cities of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack into another Mumbai is what the city police and civic authorities now desire. In line with that, authorities have embarked upon a major drive against spitting, littering, dangerous driving and boorish public behaviour.“This is a great drive to make the cities clean and create consciousness among citizens to be more responsible,” Ganeshwar Mishra, noted writer and a former editor of `The Samaj’ told TSI. The government has authorised the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police to take action against violators, which would attract fine between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000. This is perhaps the second attempt in the country to impose fines to curn public nuisance. Taking a cue from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's vision of transforming Mumbai into another Shanghai, Mumbai civic authorities had embarked upon a major cleanliness drive which made spitting and littering punishable offences. In 2006, the Mumbai Police were granted stringent powers to execute this civic. Likewise, the Orissa government has empowered the Twin City Police to come down heavily on offenders. In an effort to introduce all round cleanliness and discipline, drunken driving and disorderly public conduct will also end up in heavy penalties. According to Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police sources, letting loose dangerous animals, bathing or washing in a pool not marked for the purpose, indecent exposure, using threatening and abusive language in public places, creating nuisance and smoking iside government buildings will also draw the wrath of the city police.Fines would also be limposed on those who are ignorant of traffic rules. This includes wrong-side driving, dangerous driving, causing serious traffic impediments or public annoyance, obstructing streets, pavements and public places by wrong parking of vehicles, all of which will invite strict penal provisions. Will this change the city? “Yes, but this needs large scale public support as well as a good understanding of law,” SK Mohanty, President of Bhubaneswar's oldest cultural organisation, Godavarish Sahitya Samsad, told TSI.According to the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner, Bijay Sharma, “The Orissa Urban Police Act, 2003, grants the state government with stringent powers, which will be given wide publicity for the information of general public. It has been decided that initially members of general public within the Commissionerate area shall be made aware and informed about the offences and compounding fees prescribed for such offences.” Police officials say that so far, no official communication has been issued to police stations regarding this new drive. It will take time for proper execution. Initially, members of the general public found to be committing such offences would be issued warnings and fines would be the last option, a senior police official said. He should know: police-public cooperation is one of the most onerous challenges before any administration.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sanitation by other means
Orissa, trying hard to meet targets, goes for broke.Reports Dhrutikam Mohanty.
As sanitation programmes go, this one would have to be unique in its conception. Those without latrines may not be able to contest panchayat elections in Orissa! The state Government is seriously contemplating amendments in the Panchayat election rules to make such a provision with the objective of promoting sanitation in rural areas.State Rural Development Minister, BB Harichandan, told TSI: “Like the two children norm, we will introduce the ‘no latrine, no ticket’ norm in panchayat elections.” In order to ensure the success of this rural sanitation programme, the Government of Orissa has now decided to take this exceptional measure to encourage people and public representatives to pursue hygiene at home – a measure not invoked since the days of Gandhi. The decision was the outcome of a ministerial-level meeting which reviewed the progress of Orissa’s total sanitation campaign (TSC) to be launched, kicking off celebrations for the International Year of Sanitation. The United Nation has declared 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation with an objective to put the global community on track to achieve sanitation as a Millennium Development Goal. Increased access to sanitation, especially for the poor, is fundamental for achieving all Millennium Development Goals, various resolutions at the international and local level have indicated.
The eight-year-old TSC, which is currently being implemented in all the 30 districts of the State, aims at providing sanitation to all households by 2009-10. While the Government has targeted over 70 lakh households under total sanitation, the achievement so far has been 18 lakh, which is only 25 per cent, but marks a good beginning. Statistics show why Orissa, like the rest of the country, needs sanitation. “Only 34,000 out of 70,663 schools have toilets and the facility is available in 11, 000 of the 25,160 Anganwadi centres. Yet, it has succeeded in achieving only 23.2 per cent of target till date,” Ranjan Panda, convener of Water Initiative of Orissa (WIO), told TSI. “This achievement also seems inflated considering that most of the targets fixed for home latrines have been done in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category, which has a subsidy provision. Target achievement in the APL category is as low as eight per cent,” Panda alleged. According to government facts and figures, the Naveen Patnaik-led government is in a hurry to achieve complete sanitation in rural Orissa. The Rural Development department is going to launch an ambitious awareness campaign called ‘Sanjog’ from June 16 to November 19 in association with Women & Child Development, Family Welfare, Panchayati Raj and School & Mass Education departments and in collaboration with Unicef and Water Aid. Gram panchayats will work as major instruments to achieve the goal. The state government had also launched a novel cash incentive scheme, namely the Parimal Mitra Award in 2007, in an effort to inject much-needed dynamism into the sanitation campaign. Under this scheme, each sarpanch (village headman) has been asked to persuade villagers to construct 500 to 1000 household toilets in their respective village panchayats and be eligible for the award.Clearly, in its eighth year of implementation – with just two more years left and an achievement rate of only 25 per cent - the government has now introduced a slightly coercive and compelling model linking latrines with sanitation. It seems the chief minister is also egging the bureaucracy to achieve results. In pursuance of that, Pattnaik will also write a letter of request to chairpersons of all zilla parishads and panchayat samitis reiterating the state government’s commitment to sanitation. And the crying need for making latrines mandatory in every home. Point is will this mantra of Navin’s government work where cash awards and other incentives have failed?
Sunday, May 25, 2008
The sun shines here too
People think this place is plagued with problems, but Orissa packs in enough surprises to make it more than worthy of a holiday destination, feels Dhrutikam Mohanty
A fter reading about frequent Naxal attacks, cases of sexual assault and attack on tourists, you might think, 'well, it's definitely not worth going to Orissa for a holiday.' You may be correct, but don't you think that problems are omnipresent? Take Goa for example. It's one of the hottest tourist spots in India, but it has a drug problem as well. So, such problems should not be a hindrance for a traveller when he is looking forward to visit a new place, with calculated risks, of course. In this context, Utkal Pati, Deputy Manager of Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) avers, "These days, natural calamities and man-made disasters are common, you can't do much about them. But that doesn't change the fact that Orissa, no doubt, has terrific locations for tourists at affordable prices." And when it's about Puri and Konark, even the Indian tourism map agrees that they are some of the best tourist spots in the country. Sitting on the pristine golden beaches in Puri, you can perhaps enjoy the best ever sunrise and sunset of your life. And if you are a person who enjoys Indian architecture and culture, then these places become a must see. Of the numerous tourist spots in Orissa, the best one is – undoubtedly famous for its culture, tradition and breathtaking golden beaches – Puri. To enjoy it, you must plan your stay at a beach-side hotel or resort in Puri. The scenic view of the Bay of Bengal touching the golden beach from these holiday homes will stay with you for a lifetime. When the sun rises in the morning, the colour of the sea changes from blue-black to golden, absolutely mesmerising. Even the beauty of sunset is no less. Another interesting fact is, as the Puri sea shore is not very deep, one can actually enjoy a bath here without the fear of drowning (but of course, one must confirm that it's not a full-moon day as the tides then are quite high). The 800-year old Lord Jagannath temple is another attraction for anyone coming to Puri. However, the biggest advantage of staying here is that you can see four to five other spots, as good as Puri!
Konark should be first on the list, just 35 kms away, it has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The superb art of the world famous Konark Sun Temple is bound to astonish you. Just don't forget to carry your camera! The second on the list should be the Chilika lake. Located just 60 kms away from Puri, it's perfect for boating and also famous as a bird sanctuary. Thousands of birds come to Chilika, all the way from places as remote as Siberia, in the winter. You can start your boating session from Satapada, which is also famous for Iriwadi Dolphins. The best way to experience Chilika is to just rent a motor boat and go cruising. Oh yes, don't forget to carry some food with you because no doubt, you won't feel like coming out of the lake before a good 4-5 hours. If you have some time on your hands after your boat ride, you should extend your trip to Astaranga, which is famous for Olive Ridley turtles. The estuary of Devi River situated near Astaranga is actually one of the very few nesting places of endangered Olive Ridley turtles. Last but not the least is the state capital Bhubaneswar, also known as the temple city. There are many temples, like Lingaraj, Kedargouri, Mukteswar, Rajarani etc, in Bhubaneswar, which are rich in terms of art and architecture. It also has a famous zoological park, Nandankanan, where you can enjoy the one-of-its-kind white tiger safari. Dhauli Santi Stupa is situated on the way to Puri, a reminder of the bloody battle between Kalinga and Emperor Ashoka. This was the battle that made Ashoka battle for peace and not land. Take the time to read Ashoka’s inscriptions, etched in the stone, nearby. Maybe, by choosing Orissa as your holiday destination, you can display the same courage as Ashoka. The rewards are certainly going to be worth it.
These 'oriyans', we say
The new craze for world records has completely taken over the state
Isn't it strange that while other countries have individuals who are getting into record books for brilliant inventions and discoveries, Indians seem to have only sick routes to fame: long moustaches, longer nails... and worse! Ever since Keshab Swain from Orissa got into the Limca Book of Records last year by breaking 135 green coconuts in seven minutes and 26 seconds with his elbow, it has started a craze among people to set records by doing bizarre things like pulling heavy vehicles with the teeth, crunching on razor blades, breaking wine bottles and running backwards etc. Mohammed Zakir challenged Keshab's achievement after only a few months. Zakir, 36, a resident of Pipili town in Puri district, Orissa, broke 200 green coconuts in three minutes and 16.6 seconds with his elbow on January 21, 2008 in Bhubaneswar. He said, "My objective is to set a world record and get my name in the Guinness Book." Besides breaking coconuts, people of Orissa also eat sharp blades. Prabhakar Das of Balasore has been doing it regularly for 30 years now. "I am a poor mason living miles away from the state capital and have not had the opportunity to set a record," he said. Likewise, 22-year old Sheikh Masalaudin, who is a resident of Soro in Balasore district and an aspirant for the Limca record, pulls Maruti vans and mini trucks with his teeth. He recently hit headlines when he pulled a Tata Sumo with his hair. Sharat Pradhan, a 17-year old from Nayagarh, has also been making efforts to find a place in the Limca Book and Guinness Book of Records. He has demonstrated acts like eating raw eggs along with the shell, pulling four wheelers and peeling dry coconuts with his teeth. Balkrishna Rout, Sharat's coach, says, "This boy has inherent qualities which will make Orissa proud." Purnachandra Tripathy, a 38-year old resident of Subarnapur village in the coastal district of Cuttack, works as a guard in the local forest department and dreams of making a world record while running backwards for more than 50 km at a stretch. He claims that he can run backwards for 100 metres in just 12 seconds. In this context, Romio Ranjan Parida, 21, from Naxal hit district Malkangiri, broke 100 tube lights and 185 wine bottles in 10 minutes and five seconds with his bare hand to register his name in Limca records. Sigh... These Indians, we say...
-Dhrutikam Mohanty
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The last mile...
By Dhrutikam Mohanty
Biranchi Das, who shot to national fame and courted controversy as the trainer of a four-year-old marathoner, is felled by gangsters’ bullets
In this record-crazy country, Biranchi Das became a household name when he made a four-year old boy, Budhia Singh, run a 43-mile marathon. But fame gradually gave way to controversies and this week, the embattled coach was shot dead when he allegedly tried to mediate between a TV actress, Leslie Tripathy, and a gangster, Raja Acharya. Police reports indicate that the gangster was “harassing” the actress to marry him, and the controversial coach, known to Leslie, tried to play the role of a mediator. Speaking to TSI, the Commissioner of Police, Binay Behra, spoke of a “possible love triangle.” Raja is the prime accused in the murder of the coach. The police is also probing an angle that involves a scrap smuggling racket. Some scrap dealers were interrogated by the police. Incidentally, earlier the gangster managed to give the police the slip when his hideout was raided. The commissioner, while speaking to the media, felt that some police personnel could possibly have alerted the gangster. He said: “I suspect some people are not above board. We treat them as criminals and not police personnel.” Das was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen on the evening of April 13. As he was about sip a “pana (a traditional Oriya fruit juice)” with his students and family in a judo hall, he received a call on his cell phone, according to an eyewitness account. This was around 6:45 pm. “As he stepped out of the hall, all of a sudden the power went off,” a student of Das who was present at the spot, revealed. The coach was then heard screaming, “Raja ruha (stop Raja)”. The students, who then heard gunshots, rushed out. “We found him lying in a pool of blood,” one of them said. Das was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead. It was then that Biranchi Das’s brother Susant, who claimed to be present during the incident, accused Raja of committing the murder. He told the police that the gangster, along with two accomplices, stood in front of the hall and fired at Biranchi when he stepped out. The actress had earlier lodged a complaint against Raja, accusing him of “harassing” her. Biranchi, who was trying to protect Leslie, became the target. However, after the murder, the actress seemed to have gone into denial mode. Leslie claimed that she had “never approached" Biranchi for help. With regard to the multi-crore “illegal railway-scrap smuggling” racket, Das was a whistle blower. He had reportedly tipped off the police. This could also have been a reason for the murder, since scrap smuggling was one of the activities the gangster was involved in. The Opposition, however, is trying to give the case a political twist. For them, Das’s murder is “glaring proof” of Orissa’s “worsening” law and order situation.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Naveen spares no one
By Dhrutikam Mohanty
Naveen spares no one, when his clean image is at stake. Once again the Orissa Chief Minister has displayed that he will not allow any stain on his spotless kurta. He finally acted tough over the alleged sexual harassment scandal to save his own image as well as the image of his party and the government. He did not hesitate to oust his closest associate Debasis Nayak and a trusted lieutenant Maheswar Mohanty to give an end to the week long political crisis and turmoil over sexual slur.
On 25th March, the only lady marshal of Orissa Legislative Assembly Gayatri Panda had dropped a bombshell when she leveled the charges of sexual harassment against the Speaker Maheswar Mohanty. “He would make inappropriate gestures and send his driver and staff to persuade me to indulge in a physical relation with him,” she had charged, adding that Mohanty had sent his official car to her house around midnight on two occasions. As assembly was on session, Speaker gave a personal clarification on the floor of the house, 'It’s a conspiracy against me. Big wigs are involved in the plot. And I will not sit on the Chair till the Assembly Committee does not give its report.' The Opposition parties led by the Congress had stalled the proceedings of the assembly demanding an independent probe of the allegations. Leader of Opposition J.B. Pattnayak demanded the resignation of Speaker and a CBI probe. Interestingly, chief minister Naveen Patnaik who normally on any sensational issue instantly reacts - "law will take its own course"; did not agree for any 'impartial enquiry' nor did he ask the speaker to step down as demanded by the opposition. Situation took a new turn when Media reports suggested that Minister of State for Information and Public Relation Mr. Debashis Nayak was behind the conspiracy as the suspended female employee Gayatri Panda is reportedly close to him. Even some local media published photographs establishing the link.
This u-turn made it clear that the whole scenario is an outcome of murky political rivalry between two stalwart leaders of ruling Biju Janta Dal. Maheswar Mohanty was also in a combating mood. His supporters came down to street and organized road shows and protest rallies in his constituency and capital city Bhubaneswar openly condemning Mr. Nayak and Ms.Panda as conspirators. This foul play hampered the image of BJD in public and opposition congress utilized this opportunity to make mockery of Chief minister. Meanwhile senior party leaders and workers had alleged that it was Nayak, the person behind the conspiracy to tarnish the Speaker's image. Naveen, who is known for taking quick decisions whenever such issues come to the fore threatening to blemish his own clean image or the reputation of his party or government. But this time he took a long time to react. Although the prediction was that Naveen would not dare to touch Debasis as he is privy to all his secrets, but all was proved to be wrong. He preferred to sack him and directed the other stalwart of the party, the Speaker to resign.
Political pundits feel that the immediate problem for the BJD Boss is over and the opposition parties was made flat by the double dhamaka. But the future of BJD in Puri and Jajpur district of Orissa will be in jeopardy, they apprehended. Naveen has once again shown his political acumen in turning a crisis into an opportunity. On 31st March, while a serious crisis was looming large, Naveen handled the situation with a much-matured manner than his predecessors.
Naveen spares no one, when his clean image is at stake. Once again the Orissa Chief Minister has displayed that he will not allow any stain on his spotless kurta. He finally acted tough over the alleged sexual harassment scandal to save his own image as well as the image of his party and the government. He did not hesitate to oust his closest associate Debasis Nayak and a trusted lieutenant Maheswar Mohanty to give an end to the week long political crisis and turmoil over sexual slur.
On 25th March, the only lady marshal of Orissa Legislative Assembly Gayatri Panda had dropped a bombshell when she leveled the charges of sexual harassment against the Speaker Maheswar Mohanty. “He would make inappropriate gestures and send his driver and staff to persuade me to indulge in a physical relation with him,” she had charged, adding that Mohanty had sent his official car to her house around midnight on two occasions. As assembly was on session, Speaker gave a personal clarification on the floor of the house, 'It’s a conspiracy against me. Big wigs are involved in the plot. And I will not sit on the Chair till the Assembly Committee does not give its report.' The Opposition parties led by the Congress had stalled the proceedings of the assembly demanding an independent probe of the allegations. Leader of Opposition J.B. Pattnayak demanded the resignation of Speaker and a CBI probe. Interestingly, chief minister Naveen Patnaik who normally on any sensational issue instantly reacts - "law will take its own course"; did not agree for any 'impartial enquiry' nor did he ask the speaker to step down as demanded by the opposition. Situation took a new turn when Media reports suggested that Minister of State for Information and Public Relation Mr. Debashis Nayak was behind the conspiracy as the suspended female employee Gayatri Panda is reportedly close to him. Even some local media published photographs establishing the link.
This u-turn made it clear that the whole scenario is an outcome of murky political rivalry between two stalwart leaders of ruling Biju Janta Dal. Maheswar Mohanty was also in a combating mood. His supporters came down to street and organized road shows and protest rallies in his constituency and capital city Bhubaneswar openly condemning Mr. Nayak and Ms.Panda as conspirators. This foul play hampered the image of BJD in public and opposition congress utilized this opportunity to make mockery of Chief minister. Meanwhile senior party leaders and workers had alleged that it was Nayak, the person behind the conspiracy to tarnish the Speaker's image. Naveen, who is known for taking quick decisions whenever such issues come to the fore threatening to blemish his own clean image or the reputation of his party or government. But this time he took a long time to react. Although the prediction was that Naveen would not dare to touch Debasis as he is privy to all his secrets, but all was proved to be wrong. He preferred to sack him and directed the other stalwart of the party, the Speaker to resign.
Political pundits feel that the immediate problem for the BJD Boss is over and the opposition parties was made flat by the double dhamaka. But the future of BJD in Puri and Jajpur district of Orissa will be in jeopardy, they apprehended. Naveen has once again shown his political acumen in turning a crisis into an opportunity. On 31st March, while a serious crisis was looming large, Naveen handled the situation with a much-matured manner than his predecessors.
Temple turns Haven of miscreants !
By Dhrutikam Mohanty
Irresponsible behaviour of few sevayats & the loopholes in administrative arrangements has put a question mark in the sanctification of the famous shrine of Sri Jagannath in Puri, Orissa . The 'Koili Baikuntha' piligrim of this temple is considered to be the Kunjaban of Lord Krishna & Radha, but it's quite shocking to know that, such a heavenly place has turned into a haven of drug peddlers . In spite of strict safety rules & security arrangements by the temple administration, a miscreant named Shyam Pallai has successfully managed to deceive all and run his business of heroine for months. On 19th March, police caught him red-handed with 10 packets of heroine from the temple premises. In 1996, Palai was arrested by the town police station under NGPS and sent to jail for the same offence. Last year he was released from the jail and started drug peddling in and around Jagannath temple, as per the sources.
The ongoing deviation has affected the sanctity of the temple. This drugs peddling was not only taking place in Koili Baikuntha but in different places within the premises of the temple. This incident reveals that many people inside the temple campus have been regularly using drugs. According to a senior police official, ‘some persons, who are in the responsibility of serving the Lord & attending the devotees are addicted to such intoxicating drugs . Many among them are not only misbehaving the tourists and devotees but charges of plundering are also against them.’
A number of detestable incidents had occurred in the past which reveals how the shrine premises has turned into a center of criminal activities. On 20th March 08, just a day after the ceasure of drugs, police found a revolver from a person named B. Panda from the west gate of temple . The matter was suppressed by police since it would bring shame to the sevayat community. Besides this a dancer who came from Chennai along with her mother to visit Jagannath temple, few months ago, was forcefully asked for money and was misbehaved and a lady teacher, who came from Bhubaneswar, along with her daughter had to face the same situation there. In 2005 many arms along with bottles of liquor & condemnable things were ceased from the kitchen of the shrine. The incident of a minor girl lifted away from the stairs of the temple and sexually assaulted has still remained fresh in the minds of people. Few years back, a sevayat named S. Senapati molested a lady tourist from Bengal near Garuda Khumba. Such incidents has disgraced the fame of shrine & has raised a feeling of fear in the heart of devotees & tourist. Hare Krishna Mahasuar, Secretary of Sri Jagannath Sevayat Sammilani reacts, in cases of misbehavior to devotees and other criminal activities the temple administration should take strong actions against the person concerned. For the misconduct of few the whole sevayat community has to pay the price.
All though such unlawful activities, deviations & incidents of misconduct are rising day by day, yet both the police as well the temple administration is yet to take any immediate step. Instead of taking strict actions against the accused, they are pleaded for mercy. Such situation has compelled to think whether the sevayats are under the mercy of Lord of the temple or 'Lord Jaganath' is under the mercy of sevayats !
Irresponsible behaviour of few sevayats & the loopholes in administrative arrangements has put a question mark in the sanctification of the famous shrine of Sri Jagannath in Puri, Orissa . The 'Koili Baikuntha' piligrim of this temple is considered to be the Kunjaban of Lord Krishna & Radha, but it's quite shocking to know that, such a heavenly place has turned into a haven of drug peddlers . In spite of strict safety rules & security arrangements by the temple administration, a miscreant named Shyam Pallai has successfully managed to deceive all and run his business of heroine for months. On 19th March, police caught him red-handed with 10 packets of heroine from the temple premises. In 1996, Palai was arrested by the town police station under NGPS and sent to jail for the same offence. Last year he was released from the jail and started drug peddling in and around Jagannath temple, as per the sources.
The ongoing deviation has affected the sanctity of the temple. This drugs peddling was not only taking place in Koili Baikuntha but in different places within the premises of the temple. This incident reveals that many people inside the temple campus have been regularly using drugs. According to a senior police official, ‘some persons, who are in the responsibility of serving the Lord & attending the devotees are addicted to such intoxicating drugs . Many among them are not only misbehaving the tourists and devotees but charges of plundering are also against them.’
A number of detestable incidents had occurred in the past which reveals how the shrine premises has turned into a center of criminal activities. On 20th March 08, just a day after the ceasure of drugs, police found a revolver from a person named B. Panda from the west gate of temple . The matter was suppressed by police since it would bring shame to the sevayat community. Besides this a dancer who came from Chennai along with her mother to visit Jagannath temple, few months ago, was forcefully asked for money and was misbehaved and a lady teacher, who came from Bhubaneswar, along with her daughter had to face the same situation there. In 2005 many arms along with bottles of liquor & condemnable things were ceased from the kitchen of the shrine. The incident of a minor girl lifted away from the stairs of the temple and sexually assaulted has still remained fresh in the minds of people. Few years back, a sevayat named S. Senapati molested a lady tourist from Bengal near Garuda Khumba. Such incidents has disgraced the fame of shrine & has raised a feeling of fear in the heart of devotees & tourist. Hare Krishna Mahasuar, Secretary of Sri Jagannath Sevayat Sammilani reacts, in cases of misbehavior to devotees and other criminal activities the temple administration should take strong actions against the person concerned. For the misconduct of few the whole sevayat community has to pay the price.
All though such unlawful activities, deviations & incidents of misconduct are rising day by day, yet both the police as well the temple administration is yet to take any immediate step. Instead of taking strict actions against the accused, they are pleaded for mercy. Such situation has compelled to think whether the sevayats are under the mercy of Lord of the temple or 'Lord Jaganath' is under the mercy of sevayats !
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Superfast, but going nowhere
Dhrutikam Mohanty narrates the tale of the only train that links Baripada to Bhubaneswar but is shunned by the very passengers on whose persistent demand it was introduced
the Baripada-bound superfast express is ready to depart from Bhubaneswar. The compartment that I am in wears a sparse look. With a lot of free seats available, the passengers on board are lolling about. “This is perhaps the only train that gives you ‘sleeper’ class comfort for the price of a chair car seat,” says Abinash Baboo, casting a glance at his relaxed co-passengers.I cannot help wondering whether this is how empty this train is everyday. “Yes indeed,” says Baboo. “This is how it is everyday.” That’s surprising, given that 2892 Baripada Superfast was introduced on popular demand and in response to decades of agitations and petitions. It’s the only train that connects Baripada, the headquarters of Mayurbhanj district, to Orissa’s capital city. The train has six reserved inter-connected chair cars, besides two general compartments. I decided on a walkthrough. It isn’t just my compartment, D-1, that is almost empty. The rest of the train is no different. Each bogie has 64 cities, and none is carrying more than 15 to 20 passengers. It’s obvious why most people are reclining, rather than sitting, on their seats. I ask the travelling ticket inspector—his lapel badge identifies him as S.C. Saboto—why the train is so empty. “The reserved compartments have fewer passengers because it costs Rs 15 more than an unreserved coach,” he replies rather casually. But the explanation doesn’t quite wash because I am aware that the bus fare is Rs 75 to Rs 100 more than the train fare. So why do people prefer to travel by road to Baripada from Bhubaneswar? I direct my question to a senior citizen seated in front of me. He’s reading the evening edition of a local daily. He lifts his gaze and answers: “This is the handiwork of the bus owners. There is a nexus between them and a few railway officers. That is why the timing of this train is so inconvenient that passengers are compelled to opt for a bus.” The gentlemen, Naba Kishore Swain, a retired Baripada-based government employee, regularly boards the train to Bhubaneswar in a bid to expedite the clearance of his pension papers at the state accountant-general’s office. He should know. The train leaves Baripada at an unearthly hour, 5 am. On the trip back from Bhubaneswar, it reaches Baripada after 11 pm.
“It is really badly timed. When someone comes to Baripada from Bhubaneswar, you reach almost at midnight and on the other side if you want to go Bhubaneswar by this train you have to leave for the station before sunrise. That is why ladies and senior citizens do not prefer to travel by this train,” says another co-passenger, Prashant Sahoo. He works for an NGO and has been living in Baripada for the last three years. “When I travel with my family, I prefer the bus,” he adds. “Moreover, over 60% of the passengers alight in Balasore. That’s why people have started calling it the Bhubaneswar-Balasore Express.”Baripada is an important town of North Orissa. This was where the Australian missionary Graham Staines did his philanthropic work. The town also attracts tourists because it is the gateway to Simlipal sanctuary. Before Independence, Mayurbhanj state, ruled by the Bhanj dynasty, had its own narrow gauge railway. It was constructed by the British government with funds supplied by the king. It was the Bengal Nagpur Railway Company that laid the tracks. Its first section, the 32.5-mile-long Rupsa to Baripada line was opened for traffic on January 20, 1905. The line was later extended to Bangiriposhi. In 1950, this line became a part of South Eastern Railway. For a long time, a small narrow gauge rail service, was run here.“We had to fight a battle for 40 years to have the Rupsa-Bangiriposhi line converted from narrow to broad gauge. This new service was launched in 2006,” says Manmathonath Bhanj, who boards the train at Balasore. It is a round 11 pm. The train halts at the tiny Thakurtota station, which is only a few minutes short of Baripada. I look around the compartment. There are only five passengers left in the coach. The train enters Baripada at 11.25 pm, 15 minutes late. Outside, I hire an auto-rickshaw. In front of the station stands another engine. “This is a replica of the old narrow gauge engine,” says the driver. Baripada is trapped in a time warp. The extension of the Rupas-Bangriposi line was expected to alter the lives the town’s denizens. The dream remains unrealised.
Increasing vulnerability
Crime against women in Orissa is on the rise,reports Dhrutikam Mohanty
'You can tell the condition of a land by looking at the status of its women'. Going by the words uttered by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, the condition of Orissa is worsening. A recent statistics report released by State Commission for Women (SCW) shows clear increase in the crime rate against women. While Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is in a hurry to industrialise the state, the police under his leadership is proving to be incapable of protecting women, who grow more vulnerable to growing atrocities.According to the SCW Orissa statistics, the total number of cases of crime against women registered in the year 2006 was 2778 and in 2007 this figure increased to 2845. The number in 2004 and 2005 was 2651 and 2789, respectively. This clearly indicates that crime against women is gradually rising. Lolita Missal, chairperson of NOW, an organisation working for women, reacts, "Cases of dowry deaths, dowry suicides, dowry tortures, rape and other harassment against women in Orissa are definitely increasing. But a large numbers of such cases go unreported due to lack of awareness and shame." A report released last year by the Home department of the Orissa Government also depicts the same scenario. According to this report, cases of violence against women in 2006 were 3951 and in 2004 and 2005 this figure was 3082 and 3349, which was comparatively lesser. VP of opposition congress party Sivananda Ray reacts, "Home department is under the CM's portfolio and the women are not safe here. This is nothing but bad governance." But a senior official of Orissa police defends, "This rise is not alarming and we are taking firm steps to curb atrocities on women." A categorical analysis of this statistics reveals a sharp rise in offences like rape, kidnapping and harassment. The number of cases of rape, kidnapping and harassment registered in 2006 was 77, 32 and 99 respectively. But in 2007, it rose to 79, 61 and 223. This clearly proves that the Government machinery has failed to provide security to women in the past few years. The recent gang rape of a MCA student in Sambalpur, 400 km from capital Bhubaneswar, has led the SCW to start moral policing to check atrocities.
'You can tell the condition of a land by looking at the status of its women'. Going by the words uttered by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, the condition of Orissa is worsening. A recent statistics report released by State Commission for Women (SCW) shows clear increase in the crime rate against women. While Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is in a hurry to industrialise the state, the police under his leadership is proving to be incapable of protecting women, who grow more vulnerable to growing atrocities.According to the SCW Orissa statistics, the total number of cases of crime against women registered in the year 2006 was 2778 and in 2007 this figure increased to 2845. The number in 2004 and 2005 was 2651 and 2789, respectively. This clearly indicates that crime against women is gradually rising. Lolita Missal, chairperson of NOW, an organisation working for women, reacts, "Cases of dowry deaths, dowry suicides, dowry tortures, rape and other harassment against women in Orissa are definitely increasing. But a large numbers of such cases go unreported due to lack of awareness and shame." A report released last year by the Home department of the Orissa Government also depicts the same scenario. According to this report, cases of violence against women in 2006 were 3951 and in 2004 and 2005 this figure was 3082 and 3349, which was comparatively lesser. VP of opposition congress party Sivananda Ray reacts, "Home department is under the CM's portfolio and the women are not safe here. This is nothing but bad governance." But a senior official of Orissa police defends, "This rise is not alarming and we are taking firm steps to curb atrocities on women." A categorical analysis of this statistics reveals a sharp rise in offences like rape, kidnapping and harassment. The number of cases of rape, kidnapping and harassment registered in 2006 was 77, 32 and 99 respectively. But in 2007, it rose to 79, 61 and 223. This clearly proves that the Government machinery has failed to provide security to women in the past few years. The recent gang rape of a MCA student in Sambalpur, 400 km from capital Bhubaneswar, has led the SCW to start moral policing to check atrocities.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Tiny Taxpayers
The feeling of joy sprinkled on their faces as the astrologer delivered his words of prediction: 'don't worry, your child will be a famous person and star shows the signs of good health, wealth and fortune'. Saroj and Gitanjali Rout, a couple from Rourkela, Orissa, felt happy at the moment. But couldn't imagine that fortune teller's prophecy will come true so soon !
The day on which the three month old Ayush managed to get a PAN card, it brought him to the limelight. Why an IT PAN card for a baby? Ayush's father Saroj Rout, a journalist, justifies, ''from the very beginning my son was active and expressive. An offer for modeling came from the director of Centre for Child Development and Awareness (CCDA) to Ayush. They wanted to cast my child as a model in different child development programmes. I accepted this opportunity and Ayush entered into a business agreement with CCDA. With this deal I decided to go for a separate PAN card for Ayush on may 26th.”
Minimum age for filling a PAN application is 18 years. How a baby aged just 60 days could apply for it? Asked the Unit Trust of India (UTI) Officials in Rourkela, which accepts, PAN application. Later they were convinced, when Saroj showed them column 14 of the form, which clarifies that a minor can apply for PANcard submitting proof of his address, name of parents and date of birth. Then UTI accepted Ayush's application and IT dept. issued a PAN card bearing number ALAPR 3204J just after a month.
A three-month baby with a PAN card! This newsmaker item kicked off media hype. Further Ayush's father claimed that, his son is youngest in the country to get a PAN card. This added a new wriggle to the story. A baby yet to leave his mothers lap, became famous overnight, ready to register his name in the record books.
Interestingly, Ayush's claim to be the youngest PAN card holder had broken the sweet slumbber of unaware parents across the country. The race began. Sameer and Krupa Thaker of Mumbai claimed, "when we watched Ayush's story in television, we wanted to correct the error and informed the media that our son Krishhey is leading the race, getting his PANcard when not yet two months old, on March 26th, 2007. No sooner Krishhey's demand to be youngest PANcard holder reported in media, another Mumbai based girl Anisha's father Nimish Kenia claimed that, his daughter is the youngest and had received the PANcard when she was just 33 days on 1st December 2006. According to sources, two month & a week old Panrika Sahoo of Indore has also added to the list recently. Now the forerunner Ayush is running last in the race.
In this context a senior IT Official in Bhubaneswar said : “ Minors getting a PANcard is certainly rare. Orissa's Ayush is an example of it. As media reported, the number of claimants is now four. Then it’s necessary to be checked who is the youngest PAN card holder of the country.” But its good to see these tiny tots are quite aware of their duties right from their cradle, although they are yet to know the meaning of PAN.
-Dhrutikam Mohanty.
The day on which the three month old Ayush managed to get a PAN card, it brought him to the limelight. Why an IT PAN card for a baby? Ayush's father Saroj Rout, a journalist, justifies, ''from the very beginning my son was active and expressive. An offer for modeling came from the director of Centre for Child Development and Awareness (CCDA) to Ayush. They wanted to cast my child as a model in different child development programmes. I accepted this opportunity and Ayush entered into a business agreement with CCDA. With this deal I decided to go for a separate PAN card for Ayush on may 26th.”
Minimum age for filling a PAN application is 18 years. How a baby aged just 60 days could apply for it? Asked the Unit Trust of India (UTI) Officials in Rourkela, which accepts, PAN application. Later they were convinced, when Saroj showed them column 14 of the form, which clarifies that a minor can apply for PANcard submitting proof of his address, name of parents and date of birth. Then UTI accepted Ayush's application and IT dept. issued a PAN card bearing number ALAPR 3204J just after a month.
A three-month baby with a PAN card! This newsmaker item kicked off media hype. Further Ayush's father claimed that, his son is youngest in the country to get a PAN card. This added a new wriggle to the story. A baby yet to leave his mothers lap, became famous overnight, ready to register his name in the record books.
Interestingly, Ayush's claim to be the youngest PAN card holder had broken the sweet slumbber of unaware parents across the country. The race began. Sameer and Krupa Thaker of Mumbai claimed, "when we watched Ayush's story in television, we wanted to correct the error and informed the media that our son Krishhey is leading the race, getting his PANcard when not yet two months old, on March 26th, 2007. No sooner Krishhey's demand to be youngest PANcard holder reported in media, another Mumbai based girl Anisha's father Nimish Kenia claimed that, his daughter is the youngest and had received the PANcard when she was just 33 days on 1st December 2006. According to sources, two month & a week old Panrika Sahoo of Indore has also added to the list recently. Now the forerunner Ayush is running last in the race.
In this context a senior IT Official in Bhubaneswar said : “ Minors getting a PANcard is certainly rare. Orissa's Ayush is an example of it. As media reported, the number of claimants is now four. Then it’s necessary to be checked who is the youngest PAN card holder of the country.” But its good to see these tiny tots are quite aware of their duties right from their cradle, although they are yet to know the meaning of PAN.
-Dhrutikam Mohanty.
Biju’s Dynasty
Perhaps no other leader has occupied the memories of people of Orissa like Biju Patnaik. Right from the beginning of his political career as a member of Orissa Assembly in 1946 from North Cuttack Constituency or at middle, as Minister of Steel and Mines in the Morarji Desai government in 1977 till the last, as Chief Minister in 1990, Biju strode Orissa's political arena for more than four decades, like a colossus. Whether in power or in the opposition, he was one of the most influential politicians of the country. He functioned in an arbitrary and autocratic manner and often used to say, "I am the party and I am the government". But unlike other politicians Biju’s children were not interested in politics and in some circles it was also discussed that Biju babu had no interest to choose any of his children as his successor. So, till his last breath on April 17, 1997 Biju Pattnayak was a one-man army having no political dynasty.
After Biju’s demise his youngest son Naveen, who had never lived in Orissa, even who did not speak Oriya, joined politics. Shortly after entering to parliament, Naveen splited the Janata Dal and formed his own party in Orissa namely Biju Janata Dal (BJD). In the next election BJD under his leadership swept the Lok Sabha polls in Orissa and joined the NDA. Later he became a member of the Union Cabinet. Then his party wrested power from the Congress in the state and Naveen went back to Orissa as Chief Minister in 2000, then got a successful second term in 2004 and continues till today. He can afford to be ruthless with the lazy, the corrupt and the simply disobedient because perhaps he knows, he has the people of Orissa on his side. Much of this is due to his family background. His poorer constituents appreciate the fact that he is Biju Patnaik’s heir, respect his family and recognize that he is not in this to make money — unlike many, if not most, of Orissa’s other politicians. Columnist Vir Singhvi writes, “Naveen Patanik: jet set ambassador and ruthless hatchet-man of state politics! Who would have thought it? It is always difficult to generalize from individual examples but Naveen’s reverse metamorphosis — the social butterfly became the political caterpillar — set me thinking about the role of dynasty and bloodlines in Indian politics.”
-Dhrutikam Mohanty.
After Biju’s demise his youngest son Naveen, who had never lived in Orissa, even who did not speak Oriya, joined politics. Shortly after entering to parliament, Naveen splited the Janata Dal and formed his own party in Orissa namely Biju Janata Dal (BJD). In the next election BJD under his leadership swept the Lok Sabha polls in Orissa and joined the NDA. Later he became a member of the Union Cabinet. Then his party wrested power from the Congress in the state and Naveen went back to Orissa as Chief Minister in 2000, then got a successful second term in 2004 and continues till today. He can afford to be ruthless with the lazy, the corrupt and the simply disobedient because perhaps he knows, he has the people of Orissa on his side. Much of this is due to his family background. His poorer constituents appreciate the fact that he is Biju Patnaik’s heir, respect his family and recognize that he is not in this to make money — unlike many, if not most, of Orissa’s other politicians. Columnist Vir Singhvi writes, “Naveen Patanik: jet set ambassador and ruthless hatchet-man of state politics! Who would have thought it? It is always difficult to generalize from individual examples but Naveen’s reverse metamorphosis — the social butterfly became the political caterpillar — set me thinking about the role of dynasty and bloodlines in Indian politics.”
-Dhrutikam Mohanty.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Maoist Menace
By Dhrutikam Mohanty
Pool of blood on the ground, bodies of killed policemen laying all over the place, even one of them half burnt, ruins of the ransacked police barrack, damaged police vehicles and empty rooms of the armory - this horrible and shocking scenes depicts the intense of recent atrocious Maoist attack in Nayagarh, Orissa.
On 15th February, about 400 strong-armed extremists, around 30 percent of whom were women, overran at least three police stations, one outpost, Police Training School and district armory in Nayagarh and Gallery outpost in Ganjam district, killing 13 persons and looting huge arms and ammunitions, before they flee to Gosama hill range which encircled at least five districts including Ganjam, Gajapati, Nayagarh, Kandhamal and Rayagada.
Surprisingly this biggest ever Maoist mayhem occurred not in any remote place of the state, but in a district headquarter town, which is just 80 kilometers away from the state capital Bhubaneswar. As the incident occurred around 10.30 pm, the residents of this sleepy town could hardly comprehend what exactly had happened in their township. But they were left shell-shocked at the break of dawn. While six policemen were killed at the district armory, four at the police training school arms depot and two at the police station located close to armory. At the same time, Maoist group struck at Mahipur police out post, Nuagaon and Dasapalla police stations. The insurgents had looted at least 1200 arms including pistols, rifles, light machine guns, single loaded rifles and AK-47s.
“I had to run for cover and finally surrender before the Maoists after one of my colleagues fell to their bullets. We were not in a position to confront the extremists who came in large numbers and surrounded us from all sides,” said habildar Chaturbhuja Sahu who was on duty at the arms depot of the police training school. “Its around 10.35 of night, I could hear the sound of bullets being fired at the police training school's arms depot. We also saw the Maoists leaving the town in their vehicles,” said Hussain Khan, a local journalist, present at the spot when the incident occurred.
The Friday's Maoist attack in Nayagarh was the third such incident to take place in the state. The Maoists had struck in a similar style at Koraput in February 6, 2004 and at R. Udayagiri of Gajapati district in March 24, 2006. In both the places, they had looted arms and ammunitions by marauding police establishments. The Maoists groups are targeting to the new areas and aimed at spreading their tenterhook in entire Orissa. Nayagarh and Ganjam, the districts, which have never witnessed such extremism by the left ultras in the past, have now turned into worst affected areas overnight. The Maoists have so far extended their operation in at least 16 out of 30 districts of the state with extremist activities, but now they spread their area of operation in new areas, said a senior police officer. In Orissa, one of the most affected state by the Maoist menace have witnessed the presence of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), one of the armed wing of the Maoist groups were suspected to participate in the February 15 mayhem at Nayagarh.
Here question arises how the police and its intelligence wing have failed to get prior clues about such an ambitious plan of the Maoists? “We have no intelligence report about the presence of the Maoists in the district prior to their attack” admits SP of Nayagarh Rajesh Kumar. The Maoists could have targeted Nayagarh because its armory was lodged with the sophisticated weapons recently, he added. So, this can be called as the ever-biggest intelligence failure of police machinery and most distressing is that, when Mao cadres had gone on rampage the police and administration turned a mute spectator. Interestingly, Intelligence agencies and police forces in different States were aware of the Maoists’ plan to launch synchronized attacks on security forces in Orissa, after the arrest of a top Maoist leader Misir Besra in Jharkhand in September. Not only Basra’s disclosures, but several Maoist documents seized in different parts of the country also indicated that Orissa was in the crosshairs of the central military commission (CMC) of the Maoists for carrying out a major raid like ‘Operation Nayagarh.’
Well, around after 8 hours passed, anti-Maoist operation launched by the Orissa police. Police in association with the Special Operations Groups (SOG), Grey Hound squad, CRPF, Joint Task Force (JTF) and Orissa State Armed Police (OSAP) started intensive combing operation in Gosama jungle adjacent to Nayagarh. For the first time two helicopters of the defence pressed in the operation. But this ever-biggest operation against Maoists ultimately proved ineffective. During the operation 3 SOG personnel lost their life while fighting with Maoists. On the other hand, police claimed at least 20 Mao cadres were killed in the heavy encounters however no dead bodies have been recovered so far. “Our main focus is in operation, but not to count the bodies,” said Director General of Police G.C. Nanda. “It’s difficult to say the number of deaths of the extremists and tough to trace out their dead bodies in the jungle,” said Nitenjit Singh, SP of Berhampur after returning from the spot. He however expressed buoyancy that several numbers of extremists were gun down by the police during exchange of fires between them.
Police however claims that, they have recovered about 40 percent of the looted arms by the Maoists from the jungle during their operation. “Is it not a success?” quipped another senior police officer. About 400 rifles and a truckload of ammunitions were left at Gosama by Maoists, which has been recovered. According to sources, Maoists took with them more sophisticated arms like SLR, LMG and AK-47 and left behind the orthodox weapons. Though operation is on but no further developments has been reported .The Maoist groups were suspected to flee to neighboring states including Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh through the jungle routes as no incidence of encounter has been reported.
“Our aim is to wipeout the Maoists and we will continue our attack till the goal is achieved” firmly opined DGP of Orissa. The government however determines to obliterate the Maoist menace when 13 of the khaki-clad persons died at Nayagarh. The Central government has also extended its helping hand with providing Defence helicopter and armed forces to combat with extremists. But the instant outcome and direction of operations does not show any sign of achievement and the claims made by the government and the police officials are just a delusion.
Pool of blood on the ground, bodies of killed policemen laying all over the place, even one of them half burnt, ruins of the ransacked police barrack, damaged police vehicles and empty rooms of the armory - this horrible and shocking scenes depicts the intense of recent atrocious Maoist attack in Nayagarh, Orissa.
On 15th February, about 400 strong-armed extremists, around 30 percent of whom were women, overran at least three police stations, one outpost, Police Training School and district armory in Nayagarh and Gallery outpost in Ganjam district, killing 13 persons and looting huge arms and ammunitions, before they flee to Gosama hill range which encircled at least five districts including Ganjam, Gajapati, Nayagarh, Kandhamal and Rayagada.
Surprisingly this biggest ever Maoist mayhem occurred not in any remote place of the state, but in a district headquarter town, which is just 80 kilometers away from the state capital Bhubaneswar. As the incident occurred around 10.30 pm, the residents of this sleepy town could hardly comprehend what exactly had happened in their township. But they were left shell-shocked at the break of dawn. While six policemen were killed at the district armory, four at the police training school arms depot and two at the police station located close to armory. At the same time, Maoist group struck at Mahipur police out post, Nuagaon and Dasapalla police stations. The insurgents had looted at least 1200 arms including pistols, rifles, light machine guns, single loaded rifles and AK-47s.
“I had to run for cover and finally surrender before the Maoists after one of my colleagues fell to their bullets. We were not in a position to confront the extremists who came in large numbers and surrounded us from all sides,” said habildar Chaturbhuja Sahu who was on duty at the arms depot of the police training school. “Its around 10.35 of night, I could hear the sound of bullets being fired at the police training school's arms depot. We also saw the Maoists leaving the town in their vehicles,” said Hussain Khan, a local journalist, present at the spot when the incident occurred.
The Friday's Maoist attack in Nayagarh was the third such incident to take place in the state. The Maoists had struck in a similar style at Koraput in February 6, 2004 and at R. Udayagiri of Gajapati district in March 24, 2006. In both the places, they had looted arms and ammunitions by marauding police establishments. The Maoists groups are targeting to the new areas and aimed at spreading their tenterhook in entire Orissa. Nayagarh and Ganjam, the districts, which have never witnessed such extremism by the left ultras in the past, have now turned into worst affected areas overnight. The Maoists have so far extended their operation in at least 16 out of 30 districts of the state with extremist activities, but now they spread their area of operation in new areas, said a senior police officer. In Orissa, one of the most affected state by the Maoist menace have witnessed the presence of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), one of the armed wing of the Maoist groups were suspected to participate in the February 15 mayhem at Nayagarh.
Here question arises how the police and its intelligence wing have failed to get prior clues about such an ambitious plan of the Maoists? “We have no intelligence report about the presence of the Maoists in the district prior to their attack” admits SP of Nayagarh Rajesh Kumar. The Maoists could have targeted Nayagarh because its armory was lodged with the sophisticated weapons recently, he added. So, this can be called as the ever-biggest intelligence failure of police machinery and most distressing is that, when Mao cadres had gone on rampage the police and administration turned a mute spectator. Interestingly, Intelligence agencies and police forces in different States were aware of the Maoists’ plan to launch synchronized attacks on security forces in Orissa, after the arrest of a top Maoist leader Misir Besra in Jharkhand in September. Not only Basra’s disclosures, but several Maoist documents seized in different parts of the country also indicated that Orissa was in the crosshairs of the central military commission (CMC) of the Maoists for carrying out a major raid like ‘Operation Nayagarh.’
Well, around after 8 hours passed, anti-Maoist operation launched by the Orissa police. Police in association with the Special Operations Groups (SOG), Grey Hound squad, CRPF, Joint Task Force (JTF) and Orissa State Armed Police (OSAP) started intensive combing operation in Gosama jungle adjacent to Nayagarh. For the first time two helicopters of the defence pressed in the operation. But this ever-biggest operation against Maoists ultimately proved ineffective. During the operation 3 SOG personnel lost their life while fighting with Maoists. On the other hand, police claimed at least 20 Mao cadres were killed in the heavy encounters however no dead bodies have been recovered so far. “Our main focus is in operation, but not to count the bodies,” said Director General of Police G.C. Nanda. “It’s difficult to say the number of deaths of the extremists and tough to trace out their dead bodies in the jungle,” said Nitenjit Singh, SP of Berhampur after returning from the spot. He however expressed buoyancy that several numbers of extremists were gun down by the police during exchange of fires between them.
Police however claims that, they have recovered about 40 percent of the looted arms by the Maoists from the jungle during their operation. “Is it not a success?” quipped another senior police officer. About 400 rifles and a truckload of ammunitions were left at Gosama by Maoists, which has been recovered. According to sources, Maoists took with them more sophisticated arms like SLR, LMG and AK-47 and left behind the orthodox weapons. Though operation is on but no further developments has been reported .The Maoist groups were suspected to flee to neighboring states including Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh through the jungle routes as no incidence of encounter has been reported.
“Our aim is to wipeout the Maoists and we will continue our attack till the goal is achieved” firmly opined DGP of Orissa. The government however determines to obliterate the Maoist menace when 13 of the khaki-clad persons died at Nayagarh. The Central government has also extended its helping hand with providing Defence helicopter and armed forces to combat with extremists. But the instant outcome and direction of operations does not show any sign of achievement and the claims made by the government and the police officials are just a delusion.
WORLD BANK TRAPS ORISSA MINISTER
By Dhrutikam Mohanty
“ DRI reviewed the Orissa Health System Development Project (OHSDP) because, during the Department of Institutional Integrity’s (INT) investigation into the Bank’s Reproductive and Child Health Project, a firm admitted paying INR 500,000 (USD 11,000) to the Orissa State Minister of Health and other ministry officials to facilitate the payment of INR 2.5 million (USD 55,500) in non-Bank-funded invoices.”
The above few lines mentioned in the page 188 of the Detailed Implementation Review (DIR) of India Health Sector, 2006-7 of World Bank has taken away the sleep from the eyes of Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s top-notch anti-corruption brigade, who were in deep slumber over the matter. While they have miserably failed to take notice the multi crore scams held under their nose, the World Bank have exposed the stink in the Orissa Health System.
The OHSDP was a state-level project that sought to improve the health of the people of Orissa. This was financed by a USD 82.1 million International Development Association (IDA) credit that became effective on September 8, 1998, and closed on March 31, 2006. In 2005 a World Bank investigation revealed large-scale systemic fraud and corruption in Orissa health project and suggested to conduct a DIR, to which the Govt.of India agreed.
The World Bank probe into the OHSDP has come out with a sensational revelation. During the investigation, a firm admitted that it had paid Rs.5 lakh to Orissa Health Minister and officials for getting payment of Rs.25 lakh dues incurred in Reproductive and Child Health Project. Banks had also received four complaints alleging collusion and corrupt practices by OHSDP bidders and Procurement Support Agency officials. A 600 page document released by the Bank has mainly focused on serious corruption and irregularities in tendering, construction of the building and procurement of equipments. The amount of Health System Scam is over Rs.300 crores and is said to be the largest scam of the administration. “The probe has revealed unacceptable indicators of fraud and corruption,” said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick. “The Government of India and the World Bank are committed to getting to the bottom of how these problems occurred. On the Bank side, there were weaknesses in project design, supervision and evaluation. I am determined to fix these problems.” Orissa Health secretary Chinmay Basu reacts," Govt. is serious about the matter and already the Chief Secretary is enquiring into the alleged corruption and irregularity charges by the World Bank. Reports will be come out very soon."
The million-dollar question is who has swallowed money from the project? As for last 7 years anti-corruption drive has been Naveen’s main plank so he is desperate to haunt the bank-tainted minister as soon as possible. A worried Chief Minister first went to defensive mode and hurriedly formed a Committee headed by the Chief Secretary to look into the scam. But this was not enough to satisfy his retractors demanding a CBI enquiry. Further he has ordered a vigilance probe into the alleged acceptance of bribe and also asked the World Bank to provide specific names of those involved in it. But on the other hand, Sachi Satpathy, a member of World Bank’s OHSDP Evaluation Team has alleged the involvement of the then Health Minister and present Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei in the multi crore scam. But Ghadei refutes these allegations and said, "this is a conspiracy to malign me and hamper my clean image. I welcomes any sort of investigation, it may be vigilance or administrative."
Now Naveen is in troubled waters. After the communal and ethnic trouble while he was just having some respite, now came the World Bank Review Report. The first has dented his image of a secular leader internationally and in the second an international organization directly indicting the involvement of one of his senior cabinet colleague in bribery.
“ DRI reviewed the Orissa Health System Development Project (OHSDP) because, during the Department of Institutional Integrity’s (INT) investigation into the Bank’s Reproductive and Child Health Project, a firm admitted paying INR 500,000 (USD 11,000) to the Orissa State Minister of Health and other ministry officials to facilitate the payment of INR 2.5 million (USD 55,500) in non-Bank-funded invoices.”
The above few lines mentioned in the page 188 of the Detailed Implementation Review (DIR) of India Health Sector, 2006-7 of World Bank has taken away the sleep from the eyes of Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s top-notch anti-corruption brigade, who were in deep slumber over the matter. While they have miserably failed to take notice the multi crore scams held under their nose, the World Bank have exposed the stink in the Orissa Health System.
The OHSDP was a state-level project that sought to improve the health of the people of Orissa. This was financed by a USD 82.1 million International Development Association (IDA) credit that became effective on September 8, 1998, and closed on March 31, 2006. In 2005 a World Bank investigation revealed large-scale systemic fraud and corruption in Orissa health project and suggested to conduct a DIR, to which the Govt.of India agreed.
The World Bank probe into the OHSDP has come out with a sensational revelation. During the investigation, a firm admitted that it had paid Rs.5 lakh to Orissa Health Minister and officials for getting payment of Rs.25 lakh dues incurred in Reproductive and Child Health Project. Banks had also received four complaints alleging collusion and corrupt practices by OHSDP bidders and Procurement Support Agency officials. A 600 page document released by the Bank has mainly focused on serious corruption and irregularities in tendering, construction of the building and procurement of equipments. The amount of Health System Scam is over Rs.300 crores and is said to be the largest scam of the administration. “The probe has revealed unacceptable indicators of fraud and corruption,” said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick. “The Government of India and the World Bank are committed to getting to the bottom of how these problems occurred. On the Bank side, there were weaknesses in project design, supervision and evaluation. I am determined to fix these problems.” Orissa Health secretary Chinmay Basu reacts," Govt. is serious about the matter and already the Chief Secretary is enquiring into the alleged corruption and irregularity charges by the World Bank. Reports will be come out very soon."
The million-dollar question is who has swallowed money from the project? As for last 7 years anti-corruption drive has been Naveen’s main plank so he is desperate to haunt the bank-tainted minister as soon as possible. A worried Chief Minister first went to defensive mode and hurriedly formed a Committee headed by the Chief Secretary to look into the scam. But this was not enough to satisfy his retractors demanding a CBI enquiry. Further he has ordered a vigilance probe into the alleged acceptance of bribe and also asked the World Bank to provide specific names of those involved in it. But on the other hand, Sachi Satpathy, a member of World Bank’s OHSDP Evaluation Team has alleged the involvement of the then Health Minister and present Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei in the multi crore scam. But Ghadei refutes these allegations and said, "this is a conspiracy to malign me and hamper my clean image. I welcomes any sort of investigation, it may be vigilance or administrative."
Now Naveen is in troubled waters. After the communal and ethnic trouble while he was just having some respite, now came the World Bank Review Report. The first has dented his image of a secular leader internationally and in the second an international organization directly indicting the involvement of one of his senior cabinet colleague in bribery.
Turtles fall in Jelly-trap
By Dhrutikam Mohanty
If you have ever taken a traveling spree to any known sea beaches of Orissa like Puri or Konark, you must have spotted blackish carcasses of naive turtles laying hear and there on the heart of ever shining golden sands. Now the sea-shores of Orissa has turned into a grave yard for the Olivridleys, categorized as Schedule-I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, who travels a long way from Pacific Ocean to Orissa Coast only to lay their eggs.
Just two years before dead turtles were not seen in huge numbers in Puri, Konark beaches and Satpada sea mouth. This was mostly restricted to the places like Gahiramatha of Kendrapara and Devi river mouth near Astaranga of Puri district, where the olivridleys used to congregate for breeding. "This new killing trend has made us shaken. We have informed the wildlife authorities earlier, but no steps have been taken so far, "reacts Basant Jena of Pragati environmental Organization. According to a survey by Orissa Wild Life Society, within last fifteen days around 700 turtles were found dead in these areas and this figure crushes 3000 when all the places of the state taken into account.
Why the turtles regularly come to those beaches in large numbers although they are not their breeding and nesting ground? Environmental Researcher Y.Giri Rao answers, “It has been noticed that in Puri-Konark coast line, Jelly Fishes were seen in large scale and olivridleys likes to eat them particularly in reproductive stage. I think, this is one of the major reasons behind turtle migration to this region.”
Then who kills these turtles? Actually, their food habit has turned into a death trap. Jellyfish eater olivridleys become the victim of sharp edged nets of fishing boats. Jellyfish netting is a good source of income for the traditional fishermen as the seafood exporters pay them high prices for it. According to R.Raju, a fisherman, ‘a Chennai based export company gives us Rs 45 per 2 pounds of processed Jellyfish, which is sent to China.’ But the alarming fact is that, those traditional fishermen are using a kind of net, called Alim, that weaved up by a very sharp thread, which is the main cause of turtle death. Biswajeet Mohanty of 'Operation Kachhap' reacts,' in 2004 Supreme Court has prohibited the use of Alim net for fishing in turtle affecting area but the executing agencies have no respect for it. Due to lack of inspection and patrolling the fishing boats are using this turtle killing instrument.' When asked what steps are being taken, DFO of Puri wildlife division Sharat Kumar Mishra replied, ‘new action plan has been prepared and we are taking immediate steps to check such turtle killing in beaches. But infrastructural lacking is a major barrier for us to work efficiently.’But now things are changing a bit. The Coast Guard of India has informed the Government of Orissa about the mass causality of the turtles .V K Lohani, Commandant Coast Guard has brought to the notice of the officials of the Forest & Environment department regarding such killing. Taking serious note of the situation, H S Chahar, Principal Secretary of the Forest and Environment department has directed the Chief Wildlife Warden to take care of the situation. However, increase in turtle mortality rate over the years is a clear indication of lack of enforcement of the legal and policy instruments.
If you have ever taken a traveling spree to any known sea beaches of Orissa like Puri or Konark, you must have spotted blackish carcasses of naive turtles laying hear and there on the heart of ever shining golden sands. Now the sea-shores of Orissa has turned into a grave yard for the Olivridleys, categorized as Schedule-I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, who travels a long way from Pacific Ocean to Orissa Coast only to lay their eggs.
Just two years before dead turtles were not seen in huge numbers in Puri, Konark beaches and Satpada sea mouth. This was mostly restricted to the places like Gahiramatha of Kendrapara and Devi river mouth near Astaranga of Puri district, where the olivridleys used to congregate for breeding. "This new killing trend has made us shaken. We have informed the wildlife authorities earlier, but no steps have been taken so far, "reacts Basant Jena of Pragati environmental Organization. According to a survey by Orissa Wild Life Society, within last fifteen days around 700 turtles were found dead in these areas and this figure crushes 3000 when all the places of the state taken into account.
Why the turtles regularly come to those beaches in large numbers although they are not their breeding and nesting ground? Environmental Researcher Y.Giri Rao answers, “It has been noticed that in Puri-Konark coast line, Jelly Fishes were seen in large scale and olivridleys likes to eat them particularly in reproductive stage. I think, this is one of the major reasons behind turtle migration to this region.”
Then who kills these turtles? Actually, their food habit has turned into a death trap. Jellyfish eater olivridleys become the victim of sharp edged nets of fishing boats. Jellyfish netting is a good source of income for the traditional fishermen as the seafood exporters pay them high prices for it. According to R.Raju, a fisherman, ‘a Chennai based export company gives us Rs 45 per 2 pounds of processed Jellyfish, which is sent to China.’ But the alarming fact is that, those traditional fishermen are using a kind of net, called Alim, that weaved up by a very sharp thread, which is the main cause of turtle death. Biswajeet Mohanty of 'Operation Kachhap' reacts,' in 2004 Supreme Court has prohibited the use of Alim net for fishing in turtle affecting area but the executing agencies have no respect for it. Due to lack of inspection and patrolling the fishing boats are using this turtle killing instrument.' When asked what steps are being taken, DFO of Puri wildlife division Sharat Kumar Mishra replied, ‘new action plan has been prepared and we are taking immediate steps to check such turtle killing in beaches. But infrastructural lacking is a major barrier for us to work efficiently.’But now things are changing a bit. The Coast Guard of India has informed the Government of Orissa about the mass causality of the turtles .V K Lohani, Commandant Coast Guard has brought to the notice of the officials of the Forest & Environment department regarding such killing. Taking serious note of the situation, H S Chahar, Principal Secretary of the Forest and Environment department has directed the Chief Wildlife Warden to take care of the situation. However, increase in turtle mortality rate over the years is a clear indication of lack of enforcement of the legal and policy instruments.
Building a naveen state
DHRUTIKAM MOHANTY feels that Orissa’s CM Naveen Patnaik can become the head of state for the third consecutive term
At the age of 50, Naveen Patnaik entered politics, contested the Lok Sabha by-election in 1997, necessitated by his father Biju Patnaik’s death, and was elected an MP. Soon after, he formed a new party, faced fresh polls and became a Cabinet Minister at the Centre and, later, the CM of Orissa, both in 2000 and 2004. On 26 December, 2007, his Biju Janata Dal (BJD) celebrated its 10th anniversary, which also marks Naveen’s completion of a decade in Orissa politics. His phenomenal rise is like a fairy tale. His journey from a writer to a wily politician is interesting. In 1985, his first book on Indian costumes, ‘A Second Paradise’ was launched and sold over 30,000 copies in America within a few days. In 2008, he is being called a truly ‘developmental’ CM. He was adjudged one of the best CMs in various polls conducted by media houses and industry associations. Moreover, he took the initiative of taking Orissa towards industrial revolution. In the recent past, the state has bagged the biggest FDI project – the Posco steel project with a proposed investment of Rs.52,000 crore. Within four years, the state has signed 105 MoUs with both domestic and foreign firms with an entailed inflow of Rs.277,400 crore. Big names like L.N. Mittal, Ratan Tata, Anil Agarwal and Anil Ambani have announced plans to set up projects in Orissa. One of the state’s top bureaucrat explains, “Partly because we have a system where if the CM says something, it will be done, nobody can oppose him. But mostly, this is perhaps the only state where you can meet the CM and be sure that he won’t ask you for money.” When asked about his much-lauded incorruptibility, Patnaik says, “I am not married. I don’t have children. Who am I going to leave all the money to? I have never been interested in possessions. If you own too many things, they end up owning you.” Still, Patnaik is not free from corruption charges. BJP’s national VP Jual Oram criticized the CM for his alleged involvement in a multi-crore kickback in the case of the MoU signed between Orissa and South Korean steel major Posco. He demanded a CBI probe into the matter. Further, opposition Congress members have blamed the CM for closing the doors of government offices for new entrants in the name of reforms. Sivananda Ray, VP of Congress says, “Actually, in last seven years, employment generation in the government sector was almost zero.”
As a CM, Patnaik has taken many steps in areas such as economy, administration and social welfare. Specifically, during his tenures, the ever-decreasing financial condition of the state has improved. According to sources, in the year 1999- 2000, the state had to depend on overdrafts on 362 out of 365 days to manage the regular financial affairs. But today, the overdrafts have stopped. In 2001-02, the revenue deficit was over Rs 28,000 crore and the fiscal deficit was Rs.11,405 crore. They were down to Rs.11,190 crore and Rs.5,606 crore, respectively, in 2005-06. But the CM he has not ignored his responsibility for social development and upliftment of the rural poor. Under his chief ministership, Orissa has launched many welfare schemes like Gopabandhu Gramin Yojana, a Rs.600 crore scheme for infrastructure development. It envisages the development of basic infrastructure such as electricity, roads and water in the rural interiors of 11 districts. For the development of backward Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput districts, Patnaik has introduced a state-sponsored scheme known as Biju KBK Yojana in 2007. Under the Madhubabu Pension Yojana, the state has decided to provide pension to an additional three lakh people from January 2008. In the beginning, Patnaik’s friends believed that ‘Pappu’, as they fondly call him, was too suave for the crass nature of Indian politics. His rivals held an identical view. They felt that he would soon return to his original vocation, literature and culture. But Patnaik has surprised, even shocked, them. Now, he is heading towards a third term as Orissa’s CM.
PadmashreeTulsi
Padmashree Tulsi Munda pioneered what is today in Orissa a phenomenon - that is the growing strength of women. Her mission to spread literacy among tribal children has made Tulsi a savior of the unprivileged. Though she could not attend school, she now plays a role of a torch bearer of literacy and education among tribals. Tulsi was born in a poor family of Kaisiri, a remote village of Keounjhar in the year 1947. As her father Charan Munda passed away, poor Tulsi had to skip her school to work as a labourer to earn her bread. But the inner urge to be literate and educated had driven her to the door of night school organized by ‘Kasturba Trust’ in her village. Inspite of being a student, she took an active part in the literacy movement of Kasturba Trust. In 1963, during his Bhoodan Andolan Padyatra, Vinoba Bhave came to Orissa and Tulsi was selected as a team member to accompany Vinoba during his Orissa tour. While working with Vinoba Bhave, she was very much impressed by his ideals and principles which inspired her to undertake the mission to serve mankind selflessly. Tulsi started her work in Serenda, an extremely poor and backward village of Keonjhar district. “I was an illiterate but I had realised the importance of education since childhood. This made me to open a school to teach the children of this area”, said the sexagenarian Tulsi Munda. Apart from education she took up other developmental programmes.
Orissa's Jyoti
This could be something straight out of the film- “Chak De India”. Coming from a tribal village, Bagburah of Sundargarh district in Orissa, Jyoti has been able to make her mark in the Indian women’s hockey. The lethal centre forward, racing down the turf is also the captain of Indian women hockey team. Always interesed in sports, Jyoti, who studied in Chhadalaga government girls school chose hockey as her favourite game. Her training started under Shova Kulu. Her next destination was the birth place of hockey, Panposh Sports Hostel. This is where, she honed her skills. It was 1989 she stepped onto the field and captured the imagination of the hockey lovers. As she moved with the ball towards the rival goal posts, the country watched her panther like movement with awe. She was being trained by K. C. Chaudhry. . As a leading player both in the junior and senior hockey team of Orissa she caught the attention of the national selectors. Her career took a new turn in 1995-96 when she was selected as the Centre Forward for the national team. She never looked back, after that. Her skills with the stick, and ability to dribble the ball and smash it into the rivals’ goals made her famous in the international circuit. She travelled to Korea, Japan, China, Germany, England, New Zealand and Australia to play various tournaments. Following her sterling performance, she was made the vice-captain of the national women’s hockey team. For the last 10 years, Jyoti Suneeta Kulu has zipped ahead of others to become one of the greats in Indian hockey. She has participated in tri-nation hockey tournament in 1996, World Cup (1997), four-nation tournament(1997), Asiad(1998) and Commonwealth games (2002 & 2006). In each and every game her performance remained flawless. 2006 saw two major events in Jyoti’s life.This year, she was given the responsibility to lead the Indian team and on April 26, also tied the knot with Albert Tete. Even today her march to success continues unabated. Yet it was not in her home town, where she got a job. She was compelled to join a government service in Punjab on October 30, 1995. Most of her time is spent in Kapurthala. When contacted Jyoti virtually lashed out: “Its not me only. There are other players from the state, who are not being nurtured porperly and were not getting any employment in the state.” This ace hockey player still dreams to lead her team to the Olympics. The time perhaps has not yet come.But this girl from Orissa has not lost her hope. She is still waiting to fulfill her dreams and is confident that the day will come, when her team India will bring home the gold.
Oriya bounty
Orissa MLAs hit jackpot
Orissa may be among the poorest Indian states, but not its legislators. The new pay packet for the members of Orissa Legislative Assembly has left behind their counterparts in many other states, according to government officials. The Orissa Legislative Assembly Member’s Salary, Allowances and Pension (Amendment) Bill, 2007, passed unanimously last week has given the seal of approval to this new pay structure. A statement compiled by the Government of Orissa has said that MLAs here receive more salary and allowances than their counter parts in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and elsewhere. With this hike, a Orissa MLA shall take home Rs 21,725 per month which was earlier Rs 19,700. In neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, a MLA receives Rs 21,500 and in Bihar, a legislative assembly member’s monthly pay package is around Rs 20,000.UPDATEOrissa MLAs to get Rs 21,725 plus as monthly salaryThey make more money than their counterparts elsewhereSome Orissa MLAs are not impressed with the hikeThis does not necessarily mean the legislators are happy. ‘‘We are not satisfied’’, reacts Hema Gomango, Congress MLA. ‘‘When we visit the constituency, the expenditure is much more than what government pays. This has not been taken into account in this new structure. In Andhra and some other states, MLAs are entitled to travel coupons worth Rs 1,00,000 which is also not given here’', she argues. According to her, it is negative to keep carping too much about what MLAs earn. Contrast it with a legislator’s pay packet in neighbouring Chattisgarh: Rs 7,500. Likewise Tamil Nadu pays its MLAs Rs. 8,000 per month. Bikram Keshari Verma, a ruling Biju Janata Dal MLA, holds a different view. “Legislators are spontaneous ‘Jana Sevaks’, not government servants. They should not demand hikes in salary, allowance and pensions like union leaders. The new pay structure is fair and rational and takes into account the financial condition of our state'’, he said.Along with this hike, the pension for ex-MLAs has been raised from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 per month, if the legislator has completed the full term of four-and-a-half years. For each extra year added, the member will be entitled for a rise of Rs.600, which was earlier Rs.300. Little wonder that Oriya legislators are smiling – and wanting more.
Dhrutikam Mohanty
Instant Justice
E-COURTS:The idea of Justice may undergo a change
It's time to say good bye to the traditional processes of delivering justice. If everything runs as ‘programmed’, then judges in Orissa can hear an under trial prisoner’s (UTP’s) pleas locked in cell, while sitting in their courtrooms. Within a few months, this could become a routine exercise in Orissa and other states.This is a part of an ambitious and revolutionary Rs 8.54 billion national ‘e-court’ project launched recently in Orissa. The main objective of e-court, as the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court, A.K. Ganguly said, is to ensure speedy, cost-effective and transparent dispersion of justice.As per the script, judges will be seen entering the court-room with laptops in hand and to that end, 15,000 laptops have been distributed to judges, and an 'Aam Aadmi' can, theoretically, lodge cases while sitting in an internet café. Apart from this, the e-court would provide digital interconnectivity between all the courts, from the block level to Supreme Court.The project, which includes being able to file cases through the internet, will be made functional in three phases in the next five years. The Centre has spent about Rs. 350 crores for this purpose. By the end of first phase, the facilities for examination of UTPs through video conferencing would be ensured, which is also expected to put a stop to the system of transporting UTPs from jail to courts.Currently, about 15, 000 UTPs are lodged in six jails of Orissa and about 10 lakh cases are pending in various courts. "Although the existing scenario cannot be changed overnight, we can certainly bring improvements in the system of delivering justice,’’ Chief Justice Ganguly said.Senior lawyer and Secretary of the Orissa High-Court Bar Association, Asim Amitabh Das, adds a word of caution: "In Orissa, the judiciary is desperately short on manpower, which could put the success of the e-court project into jeopardy.’’ And then, haven't we heard of many such tall promises coming to naught when it comes to actual delivery of justice?
Dhrutikam Mohanty
‘None of the dwellers was a farmer'
Monica L. Smith has been an anthropologist at the University of California Los Angeles for years. Dr R.K. Mohanty has been an archaeologist leading research at the Deccan College of Archaeology for years. Both came together in 2001 to work as partners in one of the most exciting research journeys and projects of their careers-the excavation of the ancient city of Sisupalgargh near Bhubaneswar. They talk to Sutanu Guru and Dhrutikam Mohanty in a freewheeling interview.
Q: How old actually is the ancient city?
Dr. R.K Mohanty: I cannot say this with any certainty as a researcher till we dig further and do carbon dating of material to be excavated well below the surface till which we have excavated. But as an individual, I won’t be surprised if the site actually dates further back.
Monica Smith: Well we have done carbon dating and found out that the city almost certainly existed between about 5 century BC to about 5 century AD – an uninterrupted period of about 1,000 years starting 2,500 years ago. Our excavations till now can confirm that.
Q: What are the important conclusion that we can draw from the excavations at Sisupalgarh?
Dr Mohanty: The most significant thing to look at is that you don’t find big storage spaces in Sisupalgarh. That means the dwellers of the city, who were craftsmen and traders and had guilds of their own, were assured of food supplies that must have come from farmers living in adjoining areas. Not storing large amounts of food is a significant jump.
Smith: First, that South Asia had at least 40 or more urban centres that exhibited similar cultural, social and economic states. And these were truly urban; for instance here in Sisupalgarh, there lived about 25,000 people 2,500 years ago in an area of 1.2 square kilometre who were not farmers. Second, it is clear that the South Asian cities were linked with one another – though we can’t say what the political nature of the links were.
Q What conclusions can we draw about the political structure of this ‘urban’ society?
Dr Mohanty: We need to understand that 25,000 people came voluntarily to this city about 2,500 years ago and were not coerced into staying in the city. The construction of houses displays a clear sense of individuality while the public monuments and roads reveal and strong managerial presence.
Smith: It is at the moment almost impossible to say if there was a monarchy, a democracy or a government of some other form. But our excavations and subsequent research show that managerial skills displayed in the construction, upkeep and continuation of these monuments clearly reveal the hidden hand of a well oiled administrative machinery.
Q: What baffles you most about Sisupalgarh?
Smith: Well, like many other researchers, what baffles us is the reason why these cities that flourished for more than a 1,000 years and saw the coming and going of many dynasties suddenly started being abandoned around the 5th century AD. No historian or researcher has been able to crack the mystery yet.
Rediscovery of India
A SENSATIONAL INSIDE STORY BY TSI
Sutanu guru and Dhrutikam Mohanty go on a journey of discovery of the first free market economy and 'modern' urban city in the world amidst the ruins of ancient orissa
Just about five kilometres out of Bhubaneswar on the Puri highway, our car turns left on a semi pucca road and enters the village of Sisupalgarh. The word village may be a misnomer as concrete structures, ads for Reliance and Airtel, two wheelers and even some cars are scattered here and there. We have a rendezvous with Dr R.K. Mohanty, archaeologist at Deccan College, Pune and Monica L. Smith, anthropologist at the University of California, Los Angeles. Since 2001, the duo and their team have been painstakingly digging in a 1.2 square kilometre area. There is a slight drizzle as we walk towards them and we see a cluster of forlorn looking pillars standing tall and a few pits and artifacts covered with tarpaulin to protect them from the rain. Clad in a colourful salwar-kameez and wearing a hat, Monica Smith's intense blue eyes are sparkling with excitement and a sense of wonder. And why not? The team is steadily uncovering some of the most sensational and startling archaeological finds that will turn history on its head. “This is truly significant. It will change many historical perceptions about India and South Asia”. Both Smith and Mohanty confirm that carbon dating reveals that the site is at least 2,500 years old and was a flourishing urban centre beginning about 5th century BC. As the drizzle intensifies and the assistants and researchers scatter like lambs, Mohanty whispers in a voice filled with awe, “Who knows? There is much more digging to be done; the site might turn out to be much older.” You might well ask: In a world filled with archaeological finds that come dime a dozen, why is Sisupalgarh so important? Here are a few starling conclusions that can excite even the sceptic: Adam Smith and subsequent economists were wrong in saying that capitalism and free market economy started in Europe only after the industrial revolution. Sisupalgarh – and at least 45 other urban centres scattered over every corner of South Asia – simultaneously displayed all signs of a free market economy and capitalism with mass production replacing household manufacturing. The entire sub-continent of South Asia – ranging from Kandhar (now in Afghanistan) to the deep interiors of Tamil Nadu – had startlingly similar social, economic and cultural identities with constant interaction between these 45 or more cities. This completely nails the insidious Marxist historical propaganda that India was never one nation but a conglomeration of feuding regional entities. In fact, there are clear signs of a loosely structured federal United States of India in existence 2,500 years ago.
No other ancient civilisation pre-dating Christ (except perhaps China, to an extent) had the geographical spread and reach of South Asia. The Biblical tales that some of you might have read about the ancient lands of Judaea, Sumeria, Mesopotamia and the Egypt of the Pharaohs were tiny in comparison to the ancient civilisation that flourished all over South Asia. The excavations and subsequent research at Sisupalgarh clearly reveal that the city resembled a modern city in almost every way. About 25,000 citizens lived 2,500 years ago in the city and not a single one of them was a farmer. There are no huge storage spaces for food that are common to all ancient sites excavated across the world. According to Smith, not storing large quantities of food is the most significant sign of an advanced urban civilisation. Adds Mohanty, “Do you or I worry about where our next meal will come from?” The conclusion: South Asia had a stable market economy at least 2,500 years ago, with enough social cohesion and political stability to enable citizens not worry about food supplies. There are clear indicators of a voluntary social contract, clear signs of individuality and an administrative and managerial process that is the hall mark of a modern nation state. During the excavations, the researchers have found each house to be built in an invidualistic manner. And yet, the public monuments indicate managerial control. Though both Mohanty and Smith refuse to speculate on the kind of political structure that marked ancient cities like Sisupalgarh, they do agree that there was some authority that exercised some kind of control over the citizens. And there are clear records of trade and economic activities being monitored and taxes an tithes being imposed on citizens. There is no evidence if the city was ruled by a monarchy or had a democratic set-up like Athens – the Greek city that came into being much after Sisupalgarh and other South Asian cities. Yet, the absence of excavated evidence of palaces does provide tantalising hints that some kind of democracy was at work here.
Sisupalgarh is living testimony to another startling fact that wars did not always lead to the sacking and destruction of cities as many historians and ideologues would have us believe. Just about 2 kilometres from Sisupalgarh is the magnificent monument to Buddha called Dhaulgiri. It is here, on the banks of the river Daya in BC 269 – exactly 2078 years ago – that Emperor Ashoka decisively defeated the army of Kalinga. Local folklore even today talks about the river Daya running red with the blood of fallen Kalinga warriors. And yet, here was Sisupalgarh, a flourishing city of 25,000 citizens just 2 kilometres away from the scene of a blood-thirsty battle. Almost certainly, citizens of Sisupalgargh either participated in the war or witnessed it from close quarters. Yet, the city managed to survive. Sisupalgarh is testimony to another historical fact that is now being accepted as conventional wisdom. Cities and urban centres have invariably outlasted dynasties and empires. Patna (Pataliputra, once upon a time) has had rulers ranging from the Nandas, to the Mauryas, to the modern day Lalu Prasad Yadav. Yet, the city goes on. Rome has seen rulers like Julius Ceasar, Augustus, Caligula, to the modern day Silvio Berlusconi. And yet, despite the truth behind this historical fact, Sisupalgarh also symbolises a mystery that baffles historians and haunts India. Starting sometime in the 5th century AD – Sisupalgargh and almost every other of the 45 major ancient cities found in South Asia were gradually abandoned and left in ruins. Nobody knows why it happened. Intriguingly, it was around this time that India intensified its trade with South East Asia and Islam came to India. And nothing was the same ever again.
As we get drenched in the downpour, we can’t but help marvel at the complexity of the ancient urban civilisation. You look down the excavated pits and see clear signs of individual households and wonder about the family that lived here 2,500 years ago. Did social pressure encourage a young couple to keep pushing for a son to be born to them? Did dowry exist? Was the man a craftsman and a voluntary member of a guild or was he a trader who braved the choppy seas of the Bay of Bengal and the mighty Indian Ocean to go to Bali, Java and Sumatra (all part of modern Indonesia) for trade? Did his wife and daughter spend anxious weeks and months waiting for him to come back, never sure if his ship had been lost in a storm? Was the husband jealous or suspicious of his wife becoming very friendly with a neighbour in his absence? Did extra-marital affairs exist? These are some mundane questions that haunt us even as our photographer takes advantage of a lull in the rain to furiously click as many pictures as he can. As we stroll back towards our car through slush and mud, we are accompanied by Tosabanta Pradhan and Aruna Panda – both residents of Orissa and doctoral students who are eagerly looking forward to a career in archaeology. Flush with excitement, both pipe up simultaneously, “Participating in any archaeological dig is exciting. But this one is very special for us because we now realise that our now poor state of Orissa was once an advanced civilisation”. Such ethnic identity and affinity is great and you smile at their youthful enthusiasm. And yet, you can’t help wondering about how citizens of ancient South Asia dealt with their differing ethnic identities and languages. Did they inter mingle and create the wonderful melting pot that is India? Or did the citizens of Sisupalgarh follow a populist and dangerous leader touting ethnic pride and attack migrants from neighboring Bihar for not respecting Oriya culture? Was it petty politicians and populists pushing ethnic separatism who were culturally responsible for the 45-odd ancient cities of India eventually being abandoned as protecting regional and linguistic identities became more important than trade and exchange of ideas with other identities? Back in Bhubaneswar, we hit Google Search and our mobile phones and start finding out more about how the whole exciting journey of Rediscovery of India started…It is 1948 and a newly independent India is in mourning. The Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi has been assassinated and there are widespread anti-Bramhin riots. A young and enthusiastic archaeologist B.B. Lal ignores the turmoil and reaches Bhubaneswar and starts digging up a few sites at Sisupalgarh even as bemused locals indulgently watch the young man and his team act in what they think is a very funny manner.
Lal did not have access to the modern technology. And yet, in a speculative leap of faith, after two excavations in 1948 and 1950 – Lal put forth a then startling hypothesis that Sisupalgarh was actually a ‘modern’ urban centre that flourished about 2,500 years ago. Archaeologists and historians dealt with Lal and his claims according to their ideological leanings. Proponents of Hindutva tried to hijack the Lal hypothesis to trigger visions of ‘Akhand Bharat’ while Marxist historians were content to snigger at Lal and ignore him. Soon after, the Indian academic establishment was completely taken over by the Marxists and their fellow travellers and anything contrary to their deeply held perceptions and beliefs about the history of India was dismissed as heresy and communal canard. Tales of the even more ancient Indus Valley civilisation held sway and Indian history books too largely ignored Sisupalgarh and the 45 odd other cities that flourished 2,500 years ago. Without proper archival records, the period between the 5th century BC and the 5th century AD became a blank, except mention of dynasties like the Mauryas and the Guptas.
And yet, history has a way of coming full circle. To the dismay of Marxist ideologues and their fellow travellers, the Iron Curtain was ripped apart and the ‘Marxist’ regimes of East Europe and the Soviet Union collapsed into the rubble of history. To their further dismay, India adopted liberal economic policies – a decision that propelled India towards a high growth trajectory that has made it an economic powerhouse that no major nation of the world can ignore any more. Like the residents of Sisupalgarh, thousands of Indians are trading with Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia at a frenetic pace. And a happy coincidence brought Monica Smith and Dr R. Mohanty together to launch this exciting journey of Rediscovery of India. The next morning, even I was lazing and sipping tea, my Editor-in-Chief called and said that some newspapers had already carried the story. He was worried that our story would lose its ‘exclusive’ character and was thinking of dropping the coverstory. I invoked the God of salesmen and persuaded him to stick with this story. In any case, most of the newspaper reports that breathlessly tom-tommed the discovery were misleading. Most headlines screamed that it was the oldest city in the world; something totally incorrect. Fortunately for us, the newspapers moved on to other stories. When I was flying back to Delhi, I thought about the mundane-looking and yet haunting ruins of Sisupalgarh and wondered what lessons the citizens of this once flourishing city had for 21st century Indians. The lesson – to me – is very clear. Sisupalgarh – and the 45-odd cities that co-existed together for more than 1,000 years – celebrated their diversities, their different languages and their ethnic identities. And yet, they inter-mingled, were open to each other in terms of cultural and economic exchanges and revelled in the exchange of ideas. That is the lesson for regional politicians peddling ethnic, caste and regional identities to alleged vote banks, resulting even in Kannadigas and Tamils warring over water. If regional identies become more important and you trash the opinions of other identities, there is a danger of India relapsing into anarchy and chaos that characterised the nation in the 5th and 6th centuries AD. A fragmented India then lost its sovereignty for more than 1,200 years as successive imperial powers from West Asia and Europe controlled India and its citizens. If the politicians refuse to learn this lesson, it is time we citizens taught them. As I recall Sisupalgarh 37,000 feet above the ground in a flight, I shiver with excitement and tremble with apprehension. Who said you can ignore history and not live to regret it?.
ORISSA TURNS HAVEN FOR CRIMINALS
Crime and police ignorance:Local police surprised when
Delhi team nabs most wanted
Orissa has virtually turned into the ‘most favoured abode’ of most wanted criminals of India! On January 21, Arman Islam, a notorious Bangladeshi criminal sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s aide was arrested from the pilgrimage city of Puri. Three days later, a special cell of the Delhi police arrested dreaded gangster of north India, Brijesh Singh, in the state capital Bhubaneswar. Arman Islam, one of Bangladesh's most dreaded criminals, had been staying in Orissa for the last eight months but the local police had no information. Bhubaneswar and Puri were his key hideouts. Bengal-Orissa CID officers arrested this high profile killer from a luxury hotel following a joint raid.Brijesh Singh, a dreaded mafia of UP wanted in several cases of murder and extortion, was finally nabbed in Bhubaneswar. The gangster, who had been operating in Orissa for the past three years, had changed his name to Arun Singh and procured a passport under the alias. Former henchman of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, Brijesh had managed to evade arrest in northern India for 20 years and had been operating under the cover of a real estate business in Bhubaneswar while the Orissa police was blissfully ignorant.Interestingly, when the heavily armed Delhi police surrounded Brijesh in front of a shopping mall, some local youths, presuming that anti-socials were trying to abduct a gentleman, tried to come to his rescue. However, the Delhi police introduced themselves as CID officers and asked them not to interfere. They then whisked him away to an undisclosed place. As the Orissa police did not have any inkling about this operation, a kidnapping case was registered and the city was sealed to nab the abductors. It was only when the police team was preparing to take the gangster to Delhi by a flight next morning from Bhubaneswar that the state police deployed at the airport came across them and pleaded that Brijesh be produced in the local court as per the law. Senior lawyer of Orissa High Court and a leader of the opposition Congress party, Sivananda Ray, blamed "police inefficiency and the huge intelligence failure for Orissa degenerating to a hotspot of high profile criminals". Reacting to this, ACP of Bhubaneswar, Y.B. Khurania, admitted: "The arrest came as an embarrassment for the Orissa police since it had no prior knowledge.
Orissa has virtually turned into the ‘most favoured abode’ of most wanted criminals of India! On January 21, Arman Islam, a notorious Bangladeshi criminal sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s aide was arrested from the pilgrimage city of Puri. Three days later, a special cell of the Delhi police arrested dreaded gangster of north India, Brijesh Singh, in the state capital Bhubaneswar. Arman Islam, one of Bangladesh's most dreaded criminals, had been staying in Orissa for the last eight months but the local police had no information. Bhubaneswar and Puri were his key hideouts. Bengal-Orissa CID officers arrested this high profile killer from a luxury hotel following a joint raid.Brijesh Singh, a dreaded mafia of UP wanted in several cases of murder and extortion, was finally nabbed in Bhubaneswar. The gangster, who had been operating in Orissa for the past three years, had changed his name to Arun Singh and procured a passport under the alias. Former henchman of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, Brijesh had managed to evade arrest in northern India for 20 years and had been operating under the cover of a real estate business in Bhubaneswar while the Orissa police was blissfully ignorant.Interestingly, when the heavily armed Delhi police surrounded Brijesh in front of a shopping mall, some local youths, presuming that anti-socials were trying to abduct a gentleman, tried to come to his rescue. However, the Delhi police introduced themselves as CID officers and asked them not to interfere. They then whisked him away to an undisclosed place. As the Orissa police did not have any inkling about this operation, a kidnapping case was registered and the city was sealed to nab the abductors. It was only when the police team was preparing to take the gangster to Delhi by a flight next morning from Bhubaneswar that the state police deployed at the airport came across them and pleaded that Brijesh be produced in the local court as per the law. Senior lawyer of Orissa High Court and a leader of the opposition Congress party, Sivananda Ray, blamed "police inefficiency and the huge intelligence failure for Orissa degenerating to a hotspot of high profile criminals". Reacting to this, ACP of Bhubaneswar, Y.B. Khurania, admitted: "The arrest came as an embarrassment for the Orissa police since it had no prior knowledge.
-Dhrutikam Mohanty
To cut a long chase short
Orissa Police DG B.B. Mohanty gets bail after surrendering, but where is his son Bitti?
By Dhrutikam Mohanty
After successfully eluding the police for nearly four months, former DG of Orissa police B.B. Mohanty dramatically surfaced on January 9 and surrendered before Jaipur assistant judicial magistrate’s court. Though his attempt to get bail on the very same day failed, he was granted bail by Additional District Judge C.P. Sharma the very next day. However, Mohanty’s surrender comes days after he had conveyed to the Supreme Court that he would surrender within two weeks in Rajasthan after the apex court set a deadline of January 10.Bidya Bhusan Mohanty, a senior Orissa police official, is accused of helping his son, Bitti Hotra, jump parole and evade police arrest after being convicted by a fast track court in Rajasthan for allegedly raping a German research scholar in Alwar on March 20, 2006. A case against the IPS officer was registered by the Rajasthan police on December 4, 2006, for allegedly sheltering and concealing facts concerning the convict. Furthermore, Rajsthan police officers made a number of visits to Orissa in order to arrest and interrogate Mohanty about Bitti but they failed to meet him even once.Mohanty was suspended just a few hours after a Jaipur court had issued a non-bailable warrant against him. On November 15, 2007, the court declared the senior Orissa cop an absconder and issued a standing warrants against him under which, he could be arrested any time and at any place. According to Mohanty’s legal consultant, ‘The case against us is very weak and is not enough to convict Mohanty. We believe that Rajasthan police’s charges under sections 225, 217 & 130 of the IPC cannot be established. As his suspension order was released just after the non-bailable warrant was issued, we will put forward our demand for cancellation of the suspension.’Dharnidhar Nayak, a senior lawyer of the Orissa High Court says the suspension of B.B. Mohanty is an administrative order and does not have any connection with this bail. But the government cannot take further disciplinary action against him. Had he spent more than 48 hours in jail, he would be dismissed from his job. But he spent only 24 hours in judicial custody. Since no court has convicted him as yet, he is not a criminal and there is no hurdle on his way to join his job. Meanwhile, former police DG of Orissa, S.N. Tiwari argued, ‘though Bidya Bhushan has managed to get bail, he is still not acquitted. I think the state government may not consider his suspension order.’All said and done, he crux of the matter is that Bitti Hotra, the main accused, is absconding and the police remain clueless about his whereabouts to this day.
Peace can be restored only by stopping conversions
TSI’s Dhrutikam Mohanty spoke to Hindu leader Laxmanananda Saraswati who was attacked while he was on his way to Kandhamal district...
Who attacked you?
The Christians tried to kill me and remove all the obstacles from their path to complete Christianisation of Kandhamal district. Most of the Hindus here are poor and the missionaries are taking advantage of their condition to convert their religion by luring and lying.
Who is behind such attacks?
Congress MP Radhakanta Nayak is behind this violent attack. More than 400 Christians of his village Daringibadi had attacked me. I suspect the involvement of Congress sponsored goons in this violence.
Why are Hindus more vulnerable to conversion than any other religion?
Hindus are innocent, simple natured people and to some extent disinterested towards their own culture, tradition, religion etc. So the Christians dare to convert them. They can’t think about Muslims, because they are aggressive and non-flexible.
How can peace be restored?
We can’t just close our eyes when they are slaughtering cows and forcefully snatching our lands in the name of conversion. Peace can be restored only when the administration steps in and solves these problems.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Trials and tribulations
AKASH MISSILE PROGRAMME : TEST FIRING
Series of test fires to be done for Akash's induction into IAF
The surface-to-air and nuclear-capable Akash missile programme has been revived by carrying out fresh test firing at Interim Test Range (ITR) in Orissa, after the Indian Air Force expressed it’s dissatisfaction over the performance of the missile in previous test firings. Union Defence Minister A.K. Anotny had indicated that, “Representatives of the IAF had participated in the development trials of the Akash Missile System, conducted by DRDO, as observers and provided user’s inputs for improvement in the system performance. So far, no decision has been taken by the government for induction of Akash Missile system in the Army.” Akash, the multi-target missile with a strike range of 25 km and capable of carrying a nuclear warhead of 50 kg was test fired on December 13 and 14. According to Defence sources, the missile was tested from a mobile launcher at the Chandipur ITR, 230 km from Balasore, targeting a flying object released from Pilotless Target Aircraft 'Lakshya' a few minutes before. For the next 10 days, a series of such test firings would be carried out to pave the way for its induction into the IAF. This test was conducted to fine-tune the sophisticated missile, though it has undergone several trials as part of the country’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, sources said. The Defence Research and Development Laboratory at Hyderabad, the nodal agency that designed the missile, has also approved its “flight consistency”, they added.Akash missile's first test flight was conducted in 1990, with development flights up to March 1997 and its multiple target handling capability was demonstrated by live firing in C4I environment. As per information provided by Ministry of Defence to Parliament, Rs 492.41 crores has been funded for the Akash project so far. The IAF had initiated the process to induct the missile but later recommended performance improvement. According to sources, this probably led to the Government clearing a deal to procure ground-to-air missiles from Israel.
Dhrutikam Mohanty
The surface-to-air and nuclear-capable Akash missile programme has been revived by carrying out fresh test firing at Interim Test Range (ITR) in Orissa, after the Indian Air Force expressed it’s dissatisfaction over the performance of the missile in previous test firings. Union Defence Minister A.K. Anotny had indicated that, “Representatives of the IAF had participated in the development trials of the Akash Missile System, conducted by DRDO, as observers and provided user’s inputs for improvement in the system performance. So far, no decision has been taken by the government for induction of Akash Missile system in the Army.” Akash, the multi-target missile with a strike range of 25 km and capable of carrying a nuclear warhead of 50 kg was test fired on December 13 and 14. According to Defence sources, the missile was tested from a mobile launcher at the Chandipur ITR, 230 km from Balasore, targeting a flying object released from Pilotless Target Aircraft 'Lakshya' a few minutes before. For the next 10 days, a series of such test firings would be carried out to pave the way for its induction into the IAF. This test was conducted to fine-tune the sophisticated missile, though it has undergone several trials as part of the country’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, sources said. The Defence Research and Development Laboratory at Hyderabad, the nodal agency that designed the missile, has also approved its “flight consistency”, they added.Akash missile's first test flight was conducted in 1990, with development flights up to March 1997 and its multiple target handling capability was demonstrated by live firing in C4I environment. As per information provided by Ministry of Defence to Parliament, Rs 492.41 crores has been funded for the Akash project so far. The IAF had initiated the process to induct the missile but later recommended performance improvement. According to sources, this probably led to the Government clearing a deal to procure ground-to-air missiles from Israel.
Dhrutikam Mohanty
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