At first glance, budget looks impressive and appears to be development oriented. But if one looks closely, most money goes to existing institutions, and since most of these exist in already developed area, these get fattened. TeliA mundare tela . But even then, look at VMSR in Burla, the major health institution in Koshal area, the promised financial autonomy was not even mentioned. Look at the first page Sambad, Sambalpur edition. So where is attempt to reduce regional disparity? Unless serious attempts are made to distribute important institutions equitably all over Odisha, overall development of Odisha will remain as pipe dream. Do you think after locating IIM in Sambalpur, the trend towards locating other newly funded central institutions across other parts away from BBSR will happen? Nope. The old trend continues. No wonder BBSR has earned the reputation as one of the best cities, and simultaneously Odisha government asking the center to declare Odisha as a special case of under developed state deserving special assistance. BBSR has become an oasis in desert.
Next look at the language issue. Budget allocates 181.91 crores for Odia language, and so where is the promise to promote Koshali-Sambalpuri and other non-Odia languages of the province? What the heck they are going to use the vast sum of money except distributing it as prize money of one sort or another among the vocal Odia language activists?
Arjun Purohit, Former professor of Psychology in Canada
apurohit1934@gmail.com