IOCl row: Naveen, Dharmendra meet cuts ice
The scheduled meeting between Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan took an unexpected turn when they met on August 18. The meeting had fuelled speculation over its political implications in Odisha simultaneously giving rise to expectations of a solution to the tax dispute with the Indian oil Corporation ltd (IOCl). The meeting had come in for criticism from Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout who rued about the protocol breach. There had been several meetings between the Odisha Government team headed by Chief Secretary AP Padhy and Petroleum ministry officials without result. Pradhan briefed the media on the outcome of the meeting, saying ‘the agreement of 2004 had lost its relevance in the present context and Odisha’s interest will be safeguarded’, indirectly admitting that politics will have no place where interest of Odisha is at stake. Meanwhile, Dama Rout’s dig at the Chief Minister over the meeting and his alleged protocol breac created a row in the Opposition camp as well as his colleagues in the BJD. BJP spokesperson Samir Das said, “Dama Rout lives only in media statements and his challenge to the CM’s decision for the meeting speaks about the divided BJD house”. By putting an end to the impasse both the leaders have shown their political maturity and statesmanship but it was ‘advantage Dharmendra’, according to political analysts of the State.
Naveen’s image makeover after poll funding row
Using national print media to refurbish and enhance the image of politicians is a time tested technique adopted by corporate masterminds and bureaucrats all across the country even though it is beyond the reach of many successful corporate managers because of the high stake involved in terms of money and secrecy. It was “India Today’ a month ago which focused Naveen Patnaik on its glossy cover with an exclusive interview inside and now it is the ‘Outlook’ which has gone a step further to get him voted as the most successful administrator among the chosen six Chief Ministers. The voting pattern and modalities for this selection not being transparent, there is every reason for the Opposition to call it ‘sponsored’. Patnaik’s advance preparation in the Phailin affected areas was outstanding even his hardcore bête noire would admit. But where is the truth or hat is the basis of his claim about the farmers’ income getting doubled in the last 10 yearsIJ The Outlook magazine should have gone for a rigorous homework in addition to the ‘online survey’. It is when the CM’s clean image got a beating especially after the ‘Times Now’ exposure of dubious election fundings, the loyal bureaucrats of 3rd floor went for a search of an agency to beat his drum. If Patnaik is so great an administrator then why Odisha’s poverty tag remains intactIJ What was he doing all these yearsIJ Still in the dock for his false affidavits and controversial election funding, his loyalists chose the new way to renew people’s faith in him.
Block Grant institutions shut down; rural edu hit
The continuing demonstration by the united forum of Block Grant schools and colleges has reached a point of no return from its stand even after the intervention of former Minister Sanjay Das Burma and Pranab Prakash Das. As the talks failed, the teachers and the employees who have staged dharna in the lower PMG are bent upon getting their demands settled after the Chief Minister returns from Delhi. According to the agitators, the Government pay scale and regularization of job are the major issues pending for settlement. Apart from demanding abolition of the Block Grant system, they want implementation of the grant-in-aid (GIA) system irrespective of their categories and job benefits. Meanwhile, four thousand school and colleges of the State have are n a coma. Most of the schools are either locked or run by a skeletal staff with its cascading effect on education. The mass education sector in Odisha is already in a shambles hit with alarming rate of dropout ad other irregularities. According to a recently released economic survey report, at least 3 out of 10 students enrolled in primary schools drop out before appearing high school certificate examination. Can the teaching fraternity ensure to bring about the desired educational excellence after the demands are fulfilledIJ
Agency silent on Barkot forest guard killing
Pati Dhibar’s tragic death in harness in Kuarmunda Forest Range has left many questions unanswered as regards the role and responsibility of the Group V security agency. Originally employed by the Forest Department as a contractual worker before his transfer to Group V security agency as a security guard, Dhibar displayed exemplary courage to drive away an elephant herd of five to the jungle with fire bundle in hand on August 13. One among the squad of four he mustered enough courage to enter the house of one Mahendra Bhakta of Gudchhapar village which was being devastated by the elephants even as the other three ran away from the spot. Dhibar fell to the easy prey of an aggressive elephant as the fire bundle he was carrying evaporated and he got trapped in the wire fencing. He was trampled in the pitch dark night as the solar lights provided to locate wild animals were dysfunctional due to theft of batteries and other accessories by the miscreants, the forest officials admit. Next morning there was a hue and cry before the Kuarmunda forest block where hundreds of contractual staff gheraoed the range office and demanded compensation of Rs 20 lakh and a job for his wife in Barkot range office. The deceased has been given a compensation of Rs 3 lakh and Rs 20,000 as advance under the Harishchandra Scheme. But the Group V security agency was nowhere in the picture nor has it taken the responsibility for the death. The Forest Department must have entered into a contract clarifying the role and responsibility of the agency in such cases. Now, if the agency does not abide by the conditions of the contract or remains nonchalant, the action of the Government is bound to come under the scanner of all concerned including the human right activists.