April has been described as the cruelest month, and with the onset of summer, this column was silent for four to five weeks for unavoidable reasons. The spring is over and with the heat of summer many aberrations in human existence in Odisha have come to the forefront.
With all our growth, progress and development, jaundice had and is having a field day in many areas of the State. It is to our shame that this was occasioned by contaminated water. Additionally, the quantum of water available in many areas was very scanty. Quality and quantity both had their adverse roles. Typhoid, enteric infections, TB, malaria, leprosy, etc., have performed their cruel dance on the social scene.
Such disasters that were claimed to have disappeared have reappeared in their cruel form have quite often re-emerged in virulent forms notwithstanding the proclaimed increase in our per capita income and related reduction of poverty.
Cities like Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Brahmapur, Sambalpur, etc., were not fully prepared to meet the challenges of such epidemics. From distress sale of paddy, we have moved on to distress sale of jackfruits in Kalahandi. According to reports, tribal villages in the area of Bhawanipatna have middlemen prowling around and cajoling the villagers into selling jackfruits for a song.
Malkangiri reappeared in the news for yet another avoidable reason. Sindhrimal panchayat under Malkangiri block had reports emanating that about 200 tribal students of two girls’ schools were being served chili powder and salt (with rice) in the name of curry.
It has further been alleged that meals prepared for about 80 students were distributed among 200 in these schools. Curry is made from only two kilograms of potatoes, a bitter gourd and a few grams of dal. It has been found that there were schools without cooks; and as a consequence, meals cooked for about 80 students were being served to around 220 students.
It has been found that salt and chili powder were being served with rice as substitutes for curry. An official entered the kitchen of a school to verify the position and was surprised to find only two kg of potatoes, of which about 500 gm were rotten. These items were meant for use in the meal. Students alleged that they were not provided with daily requirements like oil, soaps, powder, combs, hairclips, clothes, etc., in time.
In another district in the other end of the State, Keonjhar, has thrown up allegations of irregularities in supply of rice to schools for the midday meal programme. It has been alleged that many schools in this area have not been provided with midday meal rice on account of large-scale misappropriation.
FIRs relating to the issue have not yielded any result so far; and the cases are stated to be under investigation. There have been no immediate remedial measures to such a problem; and the authorities have sought for an audit report from the District Education Officer. The wheels of bureaucracy have moved in a very traditionally Colonial manner.
There have been disturbing reports that the midday meal programmes have turned into provision of a few biscuits to the students; and such measures are supposed to have substituted the midday meals. This would lead to widespread resentment among the people. The irregularities in supply of rice in the midday meal programmes are rampant in tribals-dominated blocks such as Joda, Bansapal, Hatadihi and Ghatagaon. Such instances demonstrate the non-fulfilment of the social objectives of such important programmes.
Alongside, instances of rapes are reported from different parts of the State with an uncanny pattern of repetition. The overall balance of the social equilibrium is in a state of turmoil and disturbance. In this background of a disturbed situation, communal tensions have raised their ugly heads in Bhadrak.
Though there are no reported cases of loss of human life, it has been reported that around 453 commercial establishments, houses and religious institutions were gutted during the riots. The total damage has been estimated by officials at a low figure of nine crores of rupees.
Curfew reappeared after a long time. Amongst the damaged properties, there were reportedly 440 small and big trading institutions, about six godowns or showrooms, about 10 houses and three places of religious importance.
The overall picture that emerges is one distorted with disturbing aberrations and shortcomings. The ordinary citizen is entitled to question the role of the so-called glory of growth when such instances are rampant. The State is ruled by a regional party enjoying a thumping majority.
Debates in the legislature have become inconsequential and ineffective. The Executive continues to pen a glorious picture of tranquility and prosperity. This allegation also extends to some of the contents of the Economic Survey presented by the Government to the legislature. The inherent causes throwing up such aberrative signals have not been adequately studied so as to formulate remedial or preventive measures.
Notwithstanding the attempt on doing away with red lights on cars, pomp and ceremony-based celebrations and meetings continue to hold the stage in a very demonstrative manner. We are told to believe that the State has marched ahead from a “State that was lagging behind” to a “State on the move”.
Reports do admit that in the agriculture sector, the real growth rate of crops varied from a negative figure of minus 21.15 per cent to a positive figure of 23.91 during the five years from 2011-12 to 2015-16. The years that had a downward swing of production of crops are explained by the Government as attributable to natural hazards like floods, droughts, etc. The revenue from mining sources has declined.
The change in the pattern of allocation of mining areas through an auction method is bound to have its teething problems; and there are bound to be cases of delayed implementation. There are high expectations from the Government regarding eradication of poverty and advancement of the economically retarded sectors.
The management of our natural resources has been influenced by too much of babudom with a pungent Colonial tinge. leaders and administrators hardly look at the social objective the exercise of power is meant to achieve. They get embroiled in technicalities and semantics. This in turn permits a negative attitude to flourish.
This attitude furthers the cause of a feudalistic administration. Submissive poverty strengthens the hold of the feudal elements. Nothing flows as an entitlement; almost all of it is attributable to the benevolence of the “rulers”. We carry the burdens of both caste and class. Implementation of distributive justice is not easy in the given scenario. But lack of adequate attention in this regard may subject us to the tyranny of decadence.
A large section of the voters belong to the category of youth power. About 35 per cent or above are of this age group; and they are a dominant factor in determining the fate of democracy in the State. Different political parties have come out with their programmes to cast their spell on this dominant sector of the community.
Under such circumstances, the vision of the youth power, the ability and agility of the youth power and the appropriate analytical response of the youth power are to be garnered in the right direction. This requires guidance from the elders, but more so it requires appropriate leadership from amongst the youth.
There is requirement of a youth movement in a resurgent Odisha with a new vision with a newer outlook. But this cannot be achieved by a particular section of the society. It has to involve all of us. And this concerns us all!
(The writer, a Senior Advocate, is a former All India Service officer, a former diplomat, a former editor, a former President of Orissa High Court Bar Association and a former Advocate General of Odisha. jayantdas@hotmail.com)