Sting on MlAs: Will probe be fairIJ
The BJD Government’s trouble is mounting each passing day. On one side, there is a deficit in governance and on the other, it is getting enveloped in scam after scam. The sting operation conducted by a private video channel has increased the headache of CM Naveen Patnaik as there is allegation of asking bribe by four MlAs of the ruling party. Bhawanipatna MlA Anama Nayak, Karanjia MlA Bijaya Nayak, Hindol MlA Simarani Nayak and Chhendipada MlA Sushanta Kumar Behera are captured in camera while allegedly demanding graft to help set up industrial units in their respective constituencies. The opposition parties have even raised their voice against the suspected involvement of the CM himself. The BJP has filed an FIR in the capital police station demanding an inquiry. The CM ordered a Vigilance inquiry into the incident as soon as the video footages were telecast on TV channels. The Vigilance department has shown its seriousness for investigating the criminal aspect of the graft demand. Five different teams have been formed for a foolproof investigation. Vigilance DG Dr Rajendra Sharma appears to be serious on this issue. But the CM being the head of the Vigilance, can we expect an impartial inquiryIJ Can the Government survive if the MlAs are proved guilty and heads are rolledIJ
Damage control of little avail
The deaths due to eating of mango kernel gruel in Kashipur block notwithstanding, the Gumudumaha police firing, the Nagada malnutrition deaths and Dana Majhi carrying the dead body of his wife on his shoulders have put the BJD Government on the dock. The tall claims of the Government about the development schemes providing social security to the poor has exposed the shocking misrepresentation of facts by the Government. Nagada has now got three Anganwadi centres where children are taken care of. Gumudamaha has been provided with improved road and even Dana Majhi’s village Melghara will be connected by road. The lion’s share seems to have gone to Kalahandi where the Government will set up a medical college with infrastructure help from Vedanta to the tune of hundreds of crores. Non-availability of an ambulance to carry the body of Dana Majhi’s wife led to the official launch of Mahaparayan scheme which was in cold storage even after its announcement in February this year. While one can appreciate the damage control exercise of the Government, lack of governance or a deficit of it is deprecating. There are several villages in the State which are yet to see or experience the benefits of development even after 70 years of independence. It is time the Government needed to be proactive with a list of such villages, reach out to the villagers and bring smiles on their face. Following Sardar Raja Medical College scam in Kalahandi, a Government medical college was the genuine alternative. The long-pending decision is said to be influenced by the shocking news of Amang Dei’s body carried on the shoulders of her husband Dana. Piecemeal development is not the sign of good governance, it is inclusiveness what matters.
Conspiracy against W Odisha unity
The basic structure of a language is never influenced by another. And, since there is no difference in the basic structure or grammar of Kosali and Sambalpuri, they are one. The dispute whatsoever exists now is regarding the nomenclature. According to the people of Sambalpur, the language spoken in all the districts of western Odisha is Sambalpuri. But the ground reality is different. That is why the intellectuals have fixed the nomenclature as Sambalpuri-Kosali and when it was accepted by a majority of the region, the State Government recommended the language for constitutional sanctions, which is waiting. Much the same way if Odisha was constituted after uniting the Odia speaking tracts, is there any harm if Kosal State is constituted after carving the Sambalpuri-Kosali speaking tracts confined to 10 districts of western OdishaIJ The fight over the nomenclature of language is meaningless. In fact, those who despise the name of ‘Kosal’ are not the real sons of the soil. They are the migrants of Bihar, Bengal, Punjab, Gujarat and Marwad who assert themselves as the domiciles of western Odisha. These people, who are comparatively in safe wicket because of their working majority after having amassed massive fortunes through questionable means, deny the historical existence of Kosal. The aborigines of Sambalpur or Kalahandi, have reasons for a critical analysis of the whole issue. There is a percept of threat to the unity of western Odisha through a deeply entrenched conspiracy. The intelligentsia of western Odisha should sit together and decide their future course of action vis-à-vis the separate State movement.
RSP gives misleading info under RTI Act
Being a Maharatna company, the Rourkela Steel Plant is aware of the risk involved in bluffing its way right under the nose of the RTI Act. To a question on the name and number of houses allotted to newspapers, the answer was provided on a sheet providing a list of 35 newspapers including media houses. But to a question as to whether any house is allotted to any mediaperson by name, the answer was supressed. Similarly to the question as to how many applications are pending for allotment of houses to newspapers, the officer concerned replied “the information is not maintained in the manner as sought for.” For RSP the manner of maintaining such records is a top secret which cannot be revealed. God save the organization that adopts such type of camouflaging and misleading information. Many a time, it is observed that the questions are flat but answers are complex. The first appellate authority must take cognizance of calling such bluff before it is too late. Saving one’s skin can be short term recourse but a PSU cannot afford to pursue an arbitrary policy where dispensation is involved.