BJD bandh worst-ever vandalism
A peaceful agitation protesting the abnormal oil price hike against the Centre is justified but vandalism that continued for five hours by hooligans who claimed allegiance to the ruling BJD is totally unacceptable in democracy. “I have no complaints if you (BJP) abuse me, but taking it out on the public is totally uncalled for,” said Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The BJD unleashed a virtual reign of terror in some parts of the State, including the capital city on Monday last. The public was caught unawares as they hit the roads in the morning to face a complete bandh like situation and the wrath of the BJD activists, who brandishing party flags, forced a complete prevention of vehicular traffic. Ambulance carrying patients and senior citizens were not spared. Those who questioned the action were assaulted and their vehicles were damaged. The one-upmanship was so intense that the normal activities throughout the State came to a complete standstill. The BJD activists swear in the name of a peace loving Chief Minister but their action and behavior depicted the character of a bunch of hooligans. “I am ashamed and angered by this. Bijubabu would have disproved this,” said BJD MP Baijayant Panda. What he perhaps meant to say was that Naveen Patnaik should tender apology to people of the State in the interest of the party. How long would he shield the goons who are damaging the party imageIJ A woman tweeted, “Dear CM, you lost my respect.” “Our CM talks about woman safety and security, ashamed” she tweeted and said, the BJD surely lost her vote as well as that of her relatives. According to public opinion it was the worst bandh of our time, more serious than the egg hurling incidents against Union Minister Gangwar and BJD’s own MP Baijayant Panda.
Brahmani issue likely to take ugly turn
Chhattisgarh from one side and Jharkhand from the other are causing relentless disruption of water flow on the Mahanadi and the Brahmani respectively. The Mahanadi issue gathered steam following a dispute between the Centre and the State. Odisha almost forced a stay on construction of dam and barrages in the upper stream of river Mahanadi. But surprisingly the Odisha Government is sleeping over the Bramhani river, though faced with a similar situation. The Jharkhand Government is already on a construction spree for six barrages, besides the existing 12 dams. Those under construction are at Kansjor, Katri, Kausa, Satpitka and Basuki dam at Ranchi and Sukri dam at lohardaga whereas a barrage on the Koel river, a tributary of river Brahmani, at Baikuntha Ghat near Rourkela is yet to get started though its foundation stone was laid by the Chief Minister three years back. There is a move to cancel the barrage project and construct a pick up weir at Hamirpur, a place lower down Koel river course. It is not known as to when the Government will wake up from its slumber and take up the Brahmani issue with all seriousness.
Declining healthcare standard in IGH
Delivery of quality healthcare in the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) run Ispat General Hospital has become a thing of the past. The RSP Executive Association (RSPEA) president and Steel Executive Federation of India (SEFI) member Bimal Kumar Bisi has reportedly drawn the attention of the Prime Minister to expedite the SSHMC project and simultaneously retain senior and experienced doctors enhancing, if required, their retirement age. The IGH, Bisi said in his letter, provides healthcare to a vast tribal population of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. 19 specialist doctor positions are lying vacant and the strength of doctors over a period of five years has come down to 90 from about 160 and would further reduce to 80 in next two years. If Rourkela BJP MlA Dilip Ray’s version is to be believed, the SSHMC project has been expedited with allocation of Rs 200 crore from the PM’s Swasthya Suraksha Yojana while AIIMS, Bhubaneswar has been assigned to introduce super specialty services and chart out curriculum for post-graduate studies. The SAIl has no dearth of experience in running super specialty hospitals as it manages seven such hospitals in the country, besides 17 other hospitals. Why Rourkela is missing in its priority list is a matter of concern. With mushroom growth of private clinics, availability of doctors for the IGH against an unattractive pay package is sliding downward. The strength of para-medics has also reduced from 500 to 130.
Pune compnay Novarc set to improve Odisha farm sector
Distress sale of agricultural produce and farmers committing suicide for nonpayment of loans have become the order of the day. Now a Pune- based firm Novarc Organic ltd has entered the Odisha market with a ‘concept to completion’ approach which might bring, according to its promoters, a paradigm shift in Odisha’s farm sector. It wants to be a partner in the socio-economic transformation of the Odisha farmers. The promoters of the company held a Press conference on Friday in Rourkela, heralding their arrival in western Odisha. The company through its Odisha franchise will, however, act as a mediator between the farmers and financial institutions. It will provide consultancy for preparation of projects and convince the financial institutions like Nabard, Agricultural Co-operative Banks and insurance companies to ensure feasibility of the projects. Its main thrust will be on contractual farming. The company will soon reach out to all blocks of western Odisha in the shortest span of time, said chief spokesperson of the company Abhijit Terker. “Persuading educated but unemployed youth to take up agriculture as profession with guaranteed income, is in our agenda”, he said. This company may carve out a success story in Odisha but as on date, with meagre investment and limited employment opportunity, its future looks uncertain. Company’s media manager Asha Nayak, however, is optimistic to make this dream project a success. It is a coincidence that a diary project worth Rs 1 crore is slated for opening in Bramhapur on September 23 at company’s behest.