JE: State healthcare coverage still minimal
Service of any kind, including health service, in our country is hazardous to be negotiated rather than an ideal to be achieved. As far as Odisha is concerned its health sector performance is at its lowest ebb. This can be safely concluded from some recent health related crises encountered by the unfortunate tribals of the State, be it in Nagada or in Malkangiri. The Japanese Encephalitis has turned out to be a killer disease for children and the death toll in Malkangiri district has crossed 50. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan continues his attack on the ruling BJD for its negligence citing examples of Dana Majhi’s helplessness in Kalahandi, malnutrition deaths of children in Nagada and the ongoing encephalitis death in Makangiri. Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak is defending the Government, partly blaming the Centre for not assisting the State in vaccination and short supply of mosquito nets of about 45 lakhs in 2015-16. Impartially, analysed, can the Health Ministry or the Animal Husbandry Department disown the responsibility of creating awareness on the preventive steps in the affected areasIJ Shifting of piggeries from human habitation to safer places and use of mosquito nets could have saved some precious lives. Instead of talking indiscriminately about its health sector performance on pen and paper the healthcare facilities should have been taken to the door steps of people, especially those living in obscure villages. On this backdrop, it is doubtful if the health sector coverage of the Government will ever reach a full circle.
B’patna animal sacrifice: Despicable royal legacy
Print and electronic media have reported mass sacrifice of animals in the Chatar Yatra of Goddess Manikeswari in Bhawanipatna town. The reported figure varies from 20,000 to 50,000 animals slaughtered on a single day. According to a conservative estimate, if the figure reaches 30,000 on an average even then it is alarming. It is beyond the comprehension of a civil society that such a mass sacrifice of living beings is allowed to continue unabated. It is strange as well that several thousands of people are overpowered by a religious dogmatism for years. It is time they needed to be explained through various means available at the command of the State administration and civil society organisations, NGOs et al. The inhuman act or the event deserves all condemnation. The local administration has failed once again despite the claim for having made an all out effort to stop the massacre. The proportion of sacrifice made before the goddess is rather increasing year after year and action of the administration is limited to only remaining alert for any untoward incidents and maintenance of the law and order. Patronised by the royal place of Kalahandi, where the presiding deity Maa Manikeswari is installed and worshipped, this yatra is said to be the brain child of former King Brajamohan Deo to divert attention of the rebels and ensure their loyalty towards the dynastic rule. Now, kings have lost their States, estates and purse; some of them even living in penury, but the age-old tradition espoused by them has left the legacy with a strong sense of religious dogmatism.
Mahanadi water row: No solution in sight
Amidst allegations and counter-allegations between the BJD and the BJP, the blame game on the Mahanadi water row continues with no solution in sight in the near future. The Odisha Government has made a volte face by rejecting its own proposal of constituting a joint committee to resolve the issue. On one hand, the CM is writing letters to the Prime Minister to intervene and on the other, he is reluctant to meet the PM during his official visit to Delhi. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in a tete tete with the media on Tuesday said the State Government is not interested to thrash out the issue but wants to linger it in order to hide its failures. BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra has also questioned the Government’s intention as Naveen Patnaik does not seek PM’s appointment for an amicable resolution of the issue. Spokesman of BJD Prasanta Nanda in his reaction has categorically said that there cannot be any talk unless the Chhattisgarh Government stops the construction work of its barrages. Meanwhile, it is revealed that eight river basins of Odisha are supplying water to 212 industries which amounts to 2134.634 cubic feet of water per second. Out of this the share of the Mahanadi water is 1229.402cusecs of surface water for 82 industries. Of these, 42 industries have been allowed to draw 3.0883 cusecs of underground water per second despite allegations that industries set up in Jharsuguda and Sundargarh are pulling up more ground water than the prescribed limit. As a result, the underground water level has gone low from 10 to 30 metres leading to an alarming situation. Apprehending that farmers might revolt, the Government had been suppressing this piece of information. It is alleged to be politicising the Mahanadi issue to divert public attention from the real issue. The Congress legislature Party met President Pranab Mukherjee on October 13 to help resolve the complicated issue through inter-State water dispute tribunal. Centre taking action against BJP ruled Chhattisgarh is also a far cry. That’s how the issue remains in a state of flux.
Rail backwardness: CM’s concerns genuine
The Ministry of Railways has agreed to walk a mile extra to help an otherwise neglected Odisha on rail connectivity front. It has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cost sharing of two railway line projects for Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts. The rail projects were included in 2016-17 Railway Budget. Completion of these projects will expedite the development process in the backward areas of the State as two tribal dominated districts will have rail connectivity for the first time. Besides, the State Government has agreed to work in tandem with the Railway Ministry for modernisation of 10 railway stations. Though rich in natural resources, lack of infrastructure like a strong railway network has prevented the State from developing, Railway Minister Prabhu has commented. The Chief Minister has regretted that the railway density in the State is significantly lower than the national average despite its contribution of about 10 per cent of the total revenue earning of the Indian Railway. But question arises as to why the CM was not serious on the expansion of railway network in the State so long. baidy