In a democratic setup, good governance is of paramount importance which depends on the adroit leadership and extraordinary ability in administration and incisive foresightedness. No doubt, Naveenbabu appears to be honest and transparent. However, he is carrying the administration on the advice of selected bureaucrats.
Frankly speaking, the State Government has no core concern for the child labour and the poor who are due to lack of employment opportunity are migrating to different States and working hard there as bonded labourers for livelihood and repayment of loans incurred from the money lenders and other sources . Even children below 12 years of ages are accompanying their parents to work in the hazardous condition and situation. While the poor people of the concerned States are avoiding and averting these hard works in the hazardous conditions, the poor and migrating people of Odisha perform the works assigned by contractors and owners.
In event of slightest lapse and negligence during work hours, the workers are tortured and punished by the employers. The State Government is well aware of the truth. The incidents of their pathetic, shocking and heart rending tortures are frequently highlighted in media. It is bounden duty and responsibility of the State Government to employ these destitute and distressed people for livelihood for the permanent solution of their problems.
Odisha has lots of mines and minerals which are considered invaluable assets of the State but the Government takes no steps to utilise these god -gifted resources creating different projects and small industries to employ the poor and destitute and prevent them from going to other States as bonded labourers. It is an avowed fact that the progress, prosperity and development of the State depend on the maximum employment of population including the poor and the downtrodden. The palliative and populist policy formulated by the Chief Minister to appease the mass is diametrically opposed to the very principle of economic growth and GDP of the State. The intelligentsia is really disheartened and bitterly disappointed on the selling of our vital minerals to the rich industrialists for setting up projects and industries in other States without thinking our future prospects and plans.
It is also pathetic that the incomes derived from mines and minerals are not being utilised in the States where mines and minerals are abundantly found. Really the State Government is lackadaisical in spite of the fact that bonded labourers and child labourers are a contemptuous disgrace for the society.
The nation is under grave agrarian crisis. It is obviously manifested that both farm and farmers are blatantly neglected and ignored. Now it is well indicated that the farmers of the country are united and fighting for fulfilling their long due demands. The nationwide agitation and peaceful protest of farmers has effectively influenced the Government and the opposition that has given unstinted support for the reasonable demands of the farmers of the country. The MS Sawaminathan Commission had recommended that the MSP set 1.5 times the cost invested in the farms. The recommendation submitted bym Swaminathan is applicable for all the farmers of the country. The Odisha Government during its long rule has not taken any plausible steps for welfare and development of the farm community. It is indubitable truth the long rule of BJD has not taken effective initiation to develop infrastructure vitally necessary for higher growth of the agricultural produce.
The State Government is aware of the abject misery and abysmal condition of the farmers. But is misdirecting funds otherwise which is unproductive, being oblivious to farmer’s tragedy. Like the farmers of other States, the farmers under the Naba Nirman Krishak Sangathan (NNKS) in our State are lodging protest and demonstration to fulfil their minimum demands which include price, prestige and pension. The downfall and defeat of BJP in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and MP are due to indifferent attitude of the ruling party towards the farmers’ just and genuine demands. Even the protest and demonstration held by the farmers of MP and Chhattisgarh went unheeded.
Naveenbabu in a Press meet declared that the BJP was defeated and dislodged from power owing to lackadaisical attitude towards the poor farmers. But he should think of intensely what tangible and plausible contribution has he made to ameliorate misery of the poor farmers in Odisha. Were not the demands of farmers of Odisha with regard to increasing of price of their produce and granting of pensions to them when they become infirm and disable, justifiable ? Is the CM sympathetic or apathetic to the tragedy of suicide of farmers for loss of crops and non-payment of loans? It is reported from appropriate source that 300000 farmers of our country have so far committed suicide from 1990 to 2018. It is really terrible shock and woeful agony.
Law and order situation in the State is markedly deplorable and deteriorating. Sexual assault upon women including rape, molestation and murder is in monolithic vigour. The increasing crimes have indicated clear breakdown of law and order and pervert administration.
Recently the girl inmates of Dream Centre Shelter Home at Beltikiri in the district of Dhenkanal have brought an allegation against the owner Fayaz Rehman and caretakers of the shelter house that they were sexually harassed , molested and even raped. The owner and caretaker have been apprehended. It is reported that the aforesaid shelter home is illegal and was operating in a secluded place without registration.
The incidents of sexual assault upon girl inmates at the different shelter houses in Bihar and UP had not influenced the State administration to conduct a detailed inquiry about the function and activities of shelter houses. The State police did not even conduct an inquiry and search on the different shelter houses in the State. It is further reported that 22 branches of the Dream Shelter Houses are operating in the different districts of the State. Are not the district administrations of different districts callous and careless about the activities of the Dream Shelter Houses?
There appears no heightened awareness on the part of the State about infiltration illegal immigrants, especially from Bangladesh. Exodus of immigrants from Bangladesh and Assam are increasing in the Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts. As of now, more than one lakh illegal immigrants have infiltrated into Odisha. Even in Bhubaneswar, thousands of foreign citizens are residing in different areas undetected. The Chief Minister who is also holding Home portfolio has no abiding interest to detect and deport these illegal immigrants to their own country. Their growing and increasing numbers have posed intractable problem for the State. They are mostly Muslims residing illegally in different parts of the State and increasing their population. They are unbearable burden for the State and people. Dogged determination and political will of the State Government may detect and deport them to their own country. The State Government must seriously think of the problem and instant steps in this regard are of paramount importance.
(The writer lives at NK Marg, Baramunda, Bhubaneswar)