Dasharathi Satapathy, IAS, is currently Secretary of the Odisha Legislative Assembly (OLA). Having a post-graduation degree in English literature and with a LLB to his credit, he had opened his innings to the OAS cadre in 1987. He has handled many key positions as Subarnapur and Kendrapara Collector. He was elevated to the IAS cadre in 2005. As an accomplished administrator, as a creative writer, as a gifted poet and litterateur, he has hundred irons in the fire and all of them are hot indeed. He has travelled widely to countries like Singapore and the UK. He attended the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference held in Uganda. He has also visited countries like Poland and Yugoslavia.

Inspired by former legendary Professor Dr Shreeram Chandra Dash, his maternal uncle, he keeps attending to intellectual discourses besides taking to creative writings to keep his boredom at bay. In an interview to The Pioneer, Satapathy spoke to Sugyan Choudhury on varied aspects relating to the OLA.

Could you tell us, in brief, the history of OLA and about its glorious tradition?

The Odisha Legislative Assembly is a unicameral State legislature now comprising 147 members. It has indeed a glorious tradition of excellence the State can boast with. Many savants, stalwarts and seminal minds have had been occupying its chairs ever since its inception prior to the Independence and in independent India. The first pre-Independence Assembly commenced from February 3, 1937 and continued till September 14, 1945. The Speaker was Late Mukunda Prasad Das. The duration of the second pre-Independence Assembly was from April 18, 1946 to February 20, 1952 and the presiding chair was occupied by Late Lal Mohan Patnaik. The first Assembly after Independence was held from February 20, 1952 to March 4, 1957 and the chair was occupied by Late Nanda Kishore Das. The second was held from April 1, 1957 to February 25, 1961 with Late Pandit Nilakantha Das as the Speaker and the third from June 21, 1961 to March 1, 1967 with the chair occupied by Late Lingaraj Panigrahi. The Fourth Assembly after Independence was held from March 1, 1967 to January 23, 1971 and the chair was occupied Late Nanda Kishore Misra. Subsequently, Late Nanda Kishore Misra, Late Braja Mohan Mohanty, Late Satyapriya Mohanty, Late Somnath Rath, Late Prasanna Kumar Dash, Late Yudhisthir Das, Kishore Chandra Patel, Chintamani Dyan Samantra, Late Sarat Kumar Kar,  Kishore Kumar Mohanty, Pradip Kumar Amat and Niranjan Pujari occupied the chair from the fifth Assembly to the 15th Assembly, respectively. Currently, seasoned political leader Surjya Narayan Patro is the Speaker of the 16th Assembly.

How many Assembly committees are thereand what are their responsibilities?

There are 10 House Committees relating to Home, General Administration, Law and Public Grievances & Pension administration, Water Resources, Agriculture and Fisheries & Animal Resources development.

Works, Tourism & Culture, Housing & Urban Development and Information & Public Relations, School & Mass Education, Higher Education, Sports & Youth Services, Science & Technology and Information & Technology, Health & Family Welfare and Women & Child Development, Cooperation, Textile & Handlooms, Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare, Industries, Steel & Mines, Commerce, Transport, Forest & Environment, Planning & Coordination. Schedule Tribe & Schedule Caste Development, Minorities & Other Backward Classes Development, Labour & Employment, Public Enterprises. Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Energy, Revenue and Excise. Besides, there are 22 committees; and prominent among them are 14 committees like Drafting Committee, Union Power Committee, Union Constitution Committee, Provincial Constitution Committee, Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas, Rules of Procedure Committee, States Committee (Committee for Negotiating with States), States Committee, Steering Committee, National Flag and HOC Committee, Committee for the function of the Constitution Assembly, House Committee, Language Committee and the Order of Business Committee. Their responsibilities are to oversee the business of their respective departments.

How many business days of the OLA are mandatory in a year and are these being utilised properly in the State’s larger interest?

As per Article 174 of the Constitution, there shall be 66 working days in a calendar year to perform the business of the House in three sessions. The period can also be reduced by the House.

It is often alleged by the Opposition that the scheduled sessions’ durations are cut short to avoid debates and discussions. What is your response?

The House always stands for debates and discussions and in receiving to the Critique of Reason and ratiocination including free opinion of each member, including the Opposition leaders.

The House as the temple of democracy always works to preserve, protect and defend the salient features and tenets of democracy.

 The House embraces the philosophy of exponents of democracy like Voltaire when he says, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”  However, the Hon’ble Speaker prorogues or cuts short its duration only when it is consented by the Business Advisory Committee of the House.

What are the steps taken by the OLA for shedding the obsolescence of knowledge of the legislators in order to strengthen democracy?

NEVA applications have been introduced in Odisha and Punjab. Almost all the staffs have been imported computer training; and computer training is provided to the legislators in a phased manner. The OLA is having WIFI and Net connectivity.

You are known as a litterateur. How do you combine your administrative hazards with your creative writings?

Basically, I have got a passion for nature and literature even as on today on a regular basis. When time permits, I go through 20 to 30 pages of books and journals on a daily basis.

During the lockdown period, I have read many books of interest. At times, I also do write features and articles.