After 37 years of an eventful career as a civil servant, Bijay Kumar Patnaik had his superannuation in 2013 as Chief Secretary of Odisha. A 1976-batch IAS officer of Odisha Cadre, he worked in many key positions of the Government. He was Collector of Sundargarh district from 1986 to 1990.
A large-hearted gentleman gifted with suave manners, always maintaining a low profile, soft-spoken, Patnaik was endeared to the masses of Sundargarh including tribals. Thereafter, he worked as Secretary in several departments before being appointed as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister from 2004 to 2010.
After having climbed the hierarchical ladder, he was elevated to the post of Chief Secretary, which he held from 2010 to 2013. During 2013-14, he became the Chairman, State Staff Selection Commission. He joined the Anil Agarwal Foundation in April 2015 as President of the Vedanta University Project.
He played a pivotal role in catapulting an overdraft State of the 2000 era to an invigorating state of economy with 8% growth of GDP and even with a surplus budget by the end of his tenure.
His no-nonsense style of functioning has earned him the jesting sobriquet of a ‘Super CS’ among the bureaucratic circles. In an interview to The Pioneer, Patnaik spokes to Sugyan Choudhury on many relevant issues concerning the State.
Could you please tell about the most memorable experiences in your long administrative career?
I remember my most memorable days as Collector, Sundargarh. Times were much simpler than they are today. So much of love and affection I got from the people of Sundargarh that it inspired me to do my best for the district. What I did was part of my duty and what I got from them was not part their duty. Whereever I have worked, I got the full cooperation of my bosses.
We remember you were instrumental in spearheading an overdraft Government of 2000 to a surplus State towards the end of your tenure. Are we not going to face a similar situation owing to Covid; and in that case what would be your advice to the Government?
Yes, by the year 2000, the financial condition of the State was precarious. The Government treasury used to open only once in a month and that was even to distribute pension to the retired persons. That was really, really difficult times. But thanks to the effort of Naveen Patnaik as the CM, many unpleasant measures were undertaken; unnecessary expenditures were not allowed.
Besides, expenditure compression, fortunes also favoured us as the entire country went through an economic boom by 2006 and that helped us greatly to generate our revenue which consequently resulted in a surplus State for us.
Regarding the other question, I must say that Covid is a huge challenge to both the State and the Central Governments. The State Governments are in more tight situations unlike the Centre relating to the fund management. At this point of time, my advice to our State Government would be that they most exercise caution in expenditure.
It should be made only to generate revenue and for growth of our economy. Expenditure can be made on infrastructure development or in such other things which will fetch revenue and Government should be harsh in expenditures till we tide over the pandemic.
What’s your considered opinion regarding online classes?
The pandemic has been most cruel to the poor children of this country who have no access to mobile connectivity. Of course, India has been the largest number of telephones in the world, but the distribution has not been uniform and the poor children have no access to this gadget. I also personally believe that the online system of education is no substitute for the physical classroom teaching.
How far are the Centre’s farm laws beneficial to the farmers?
Farm laws are not anti-farmer. There are certain provisions that are highly beneficial to the farmers as claimed by experts. The fact that farmers shall bring all their stuffs to a mandi or a particular yard has not worked well all over the country except Punjab and Haryana, where road connectivity is good and farmers have enough stuffs.
But farmers can sell their stuffs with the Minimum Support Price, which is a forward-looking measure. There seems to be exaggerated apprehension in the minds of farmers that probably procurement shall stop if they are not coming to the mandi; it is untrue.
The State and the Central Governments shall carry on procurement with the mandi system or without it. The exaggerated fear that the rights of farmers are taken away if they are not coming to the mandi is a misnomer.
What’s your opinion for toning up of Odisha’s agrarian economy?
You see, this is a very big question for too small a space. But then, you should remember that agriculture is the biggest employer and the GDP generated from agriculture is as much that of the other sectors like industry and manufacturing, etc.
I firmly believe that Odisha should not copy the model of Punjab and Haryana and Western countries for a robust agrarian economy like having big farms, larger inputs like pesticides, fertilizer, etc. Odisha farmers with small holdings should concentrate on organic farming.
That will fetch large dividends for them. We have a long tradition of using manures, composts; and bringing technology to improve the nutrient of the manure contains would tone up farmers’ fortunes in Odisha.
We can earn name not only at home but also abroad as growers of organic farm products. Besides we should have our desi chickens, eggs, our own fruits and vegetables, The Government should ensure ideal connectivity to the farmers so that whatever they produce can find their way to the nearby markets. Secondly, the Government should facilitate good storage facilities for value addition to farm produce which can, of course, be managed by farmers through their cooperatives.
How do you view Odisha’s border disputes with Andhra, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal?
The entire State Government including the local administration should provide good road connectivity, ideal markets, educational and health facilities so that the people should not have the desire to cross the fence to the other side.
The political grapevine was agog that after Pyaribabu, you would be filling the void. Of course, you are coming to the aid and advice of the CM as learnt from confirmed sources; but then, why are you not batting at the front?
(Laughter). Pyaribabu was in active politics, had taken a position in BJD and was a RS member, but I have always remained a bureaucrat; and even after my retirement, I have not joined any political bandwagon. That is the difference between Pyaribabu and me.
With your repository wisdom and long innings in administration, Rajya Sabha would undoubtedly be an ideal place for you to put properly the problems of Odisha before the Centre. Are you going to act in such a direction and when?
You see, whenever a RS seat falls vacant, the aspirants are many. Some are academicians; some are from the celluloid worlds, some are from administrative cadre like me. Pressure is built over the decision makers in such a way that it becomes too difficult on their part to decide to one’s satisfaction.