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Politics of Padmashree

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Politics of Padmashree

Padmashree is the fourth highest civilian award in India. It has created chaos when Sri Haldhar Nag, a Kosali language poet got this award. Lot of politics is on the play. It is not that Sri Nag is the first person from the region to achieve the award. Many have been awarded Padmashree from western Odisha before him. Yes, it is true; he got for Kosali literature for the first time; a language which is waiting for its recognition.

All it started in 2014. Orally I requested the Bargarh MP Prabhas Singh on June 25th 2014 at a meet to recommend the name of Sri Nag for Padmashri. Groupism is a part and parcel of every movement. The Pro-BJD and group wanted to hijack the language movement from us. And the state government is also eager to butcher it. Particularly, the Bargarh MP and his followers, who wanted to hijack the movement and tried many instances too. People may recall how Sri Nag was taken to Navin Patnaik in 2014 and declared his admission in to BJD without his knowledge, how he was leveled as Odia poet by the Odisha Sahitya Akademi. All this was handy work of the same BJD group. But the pro-BJD group has failed in all instances.

After a gap of a few months the group met the Bargarh collector and requested him to recommend the name of Sri Haldhar Nag for Padmashree to the state government on April 6th 2015. The Bargarh MP also wrote a letter in his pad in the same month. Please note that the recommendation of the Bargarh MP was not fruitful. Earlier he had recommended name of one of his friends for consecutive 2 years but they were failed in achieving Padma award.

In 2nd week of November 2015, Sri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Patroleum and Natural Gas also recommend the name of Sri Haldhar Nag for Padmashree. The letter was published by Sri Ashwini Sarangi, State Vice President, BJP in social media. A minister of Union of India’s recommendations means a lot. Local media of Odisha also covered it prominently and finally the name of Haldhar Nag was declared on 26th January 2016 for Padmashree. Now, everyone in Odisha knows that, it is Sri Pradhan who highlighted the talent of Sri Nag.  And Sri Sarangi was instrumental in doing all paper works.

It was an emotional affair for the region in many ways after receiving the award from the President of India. It was symbolical for the language struggling for recognition, and a suppressed mass. The wind was in favour of BJP now. The BJD group was looking to turn it towards their camp. They wanted to create an opportunity out of it. They took the poet to the Chief Minister and felicitated him. The CM declared ‘Koshali’ research institute named after the poet while felicitation. This declaration again created a huge ripple of cheers in the literary and intellectual circle of the region. But BJD and the Chief Minister are habituated with declarations, writing letters, cutting ribbon and lying foundation stones but never implement the projects. And BJD is a pro-coastal party; they just wanted to have a bite of emotion which was surfacing.  Immediately a war like situation was created to engage the folks of western Odisha in battle; whether the name of the language is Kosali or Sambalpuri. They knew it; this is the string, just to play it. Question arises why the CM mentioned ‘Koshali’?  Was it a typographical error or an error to create chaos in the region leading to distractions from the main object?

Further, on 11th April an Odia daily published the news that the name of Sri Nag was not recommended by the state government. This news created uproar in the social media as well as in all other media. BJD was in back foot. The culture minister was forced to hold press meet for clarification. The minister stated that, name of Sri Nag was recommended from Culture Ministry to the General Administration Department which is headed by the Chief Minister. The Culture Minister dusts off but dusted the Chief Minister.

A retired pro-BJD bureaucrat wanted to divert the tussle between BJP-BJD and wrote on his Facebook on 17th April that the credit goes to a senior bureaucrat of Sambalpur who works in the PMO.

On 27th January another Padma awardee and noted film maker Sri Nila Madhab Panda also informed me telephonically that he got the award by recommendation of the state government where as Sri Nag has got the award by the recommendation of the union government.

Now from the statement of the Culture Minister of Odisha and telephonic information by Nila Madhab Panda and timeline writing of a retired bureaucrat confirms that Sri Nag’s name was not recommended by the state government. Only film maker Nila Madhab Panda’s name was recommended by the state government who works for BJD in election campaign and other promotional activities of the party. Even he was sanctioned huge amount of money to produce film on Navakalebara.

Still some pro-BJD people who are receiving benefits in different ways from the state government are engaged in escalating the battle of Kosali Vs Sambalpuri; divide and rule.

Kosali will facilitate ease of governance

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Kosali will facilitate ease of governance

Kosali language as one of the official languages of Odisha will facilitate ease of governance in western Odisha says, Saket Sreebhushan Sahu, coordinator, K K C. He added, In the recent year the Government of Odisha has recommended the language for the inclusion in the 8th Schedule of the constitution of India. It shows prudence on the part of the state government in being flexible in recognizing the complexity of linguistic diversity of Odisha.

Currently, notices are given in the villages of western Odisha in Odia; not very literates understand the full implications of these notices. Civil servants from other areas who do not even have rudimentary knowledge of Kosali language cannot communicate with citizens, thus resulting in miscommunication. In fact, Odisha is among the minority of states which claims to have only one language. Out of 29 states, 15 have more than one official language. Out of 7 union territories, 6 have more than one recognized language. In a democracy, freedom of expression is a fundamental right of the citizen. Good governance requires efficient communication between the citizens and the government. In this context, considering Kosali language as the state language of Odisha will facilitate governance in western Odisha.

The language activist states, It is the mother tongue of ten districts of western Odisha and a large population of Chattisgarh state. More than two crore (2,00,00,000)  population uses the language in their day-to-day life.

Kosali language has a rich literature in different areas viz. Architecture, Astrology, Mantra-Tantra-Yantra science, Medicine, Yoga, Music, Arts, Dance, Drama, Yoga, Philosophy, and Grammar.

Kosali dramas, songs, and dances are popular across the world. In addition, the Kosali language cinema is attracting worldwide attention. The All India Radio (viz. Sambalpur, Balangir, and Bhawanipatna) and television channels are broadcasting their news and entertainment programmees in Kosali language. More than five registered newspapers and seventy magazines are available in the Kosali language. Registrar of Newspapers for India has also enlisted Kosali languages in its language list since 2012.  

He added, UNESCO has recognized that the concept of language equality among all languages is important irrespective of whether the languages have a script or not. Furthermore, the Indian government is promoting the mother tongue based multilingual education to reduce the school drop-out rates and to enhance communication using a mother tongue. In this regard, western Odisha area contains 40 to 50 % of the state’s population. The key to development of western Odisha is the Kosali language. Dropout rate in schools particularly in rural and Adivashi area can be ascribed to, among other variables, teaching in Odia language which not used in day-to-day communication. It is as if learning through an alien language. Kosali is the dominant means of communication throughout western Odisha. Though we have several tribal languages, all tribals have functional capability in Kosali not Odia. That is the main reason why KBK has been found literacy rate is so low. We also have large population of scheduled caste in the areas that are similarly impacted. It has caused various problems viz. i) the overall marks of students from western Odisha are lower than the students of coastal Odisha and ii) many bright students of western Odisha fail again and again in both 10th and 10+2 examinations because of their poor knowledge in Odia language. Recognition of Kosali language will facilitate education among the kids of western Odisha in their mother tongue and solve the above mentioned problems. 

In spite of aggressive Odianisation, population of western Odisha has retained Kosali language for day-to-day communication.  Kosali language is intimately connected to the distinct culture and heritage of western Odisha, quite distinct from Odia culture. The unique folk songs and dances blends neatly with rhythm and punctuation of Kosali language.

Millers of Bargarh mentioned excess custom milling capacity

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Millers of Bargarh mentioned excess custom milling capacity

Millers of Bargarh have provided wrong information regarding milling capacity of their mills to the government revealed an activist from Sambalpur while complaining to the State government.

The rice millers of Bargarh district have mentioned excess milling capacity than the real milling capacity of their mills while registering online to avail custom milling allotment.  The millers are availing excess quantity of paddy for custom milling from the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd. The role of Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation in distribution of paddy for custom milling is doubtful.  Apart from complaining about the above the activist has also provided the list of 105 rice mills involved in the rice procurement procedure in the district.  He has provided detail with the original capacity of the mills and the capacity mentioned while registering online.  The state government has given ordered to investigate after receiving the complaint.

According to the information, Niranjan Nayak, Managing Director, Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation has written to the district collector vide letter no 7065 on 22 April 2016 to investigate about the matter.

Papers of 40 mills are okayed and have provided right information; ANANT AGRO INDUSTRIES (M030339), GEETANJALI FOOD PRODUCTS (M030406), GHANTESWARI RICE MILL PVT. LTD. (M030233), GODAVARI FOOD PRODUCTS (M030327), Gopalji Food Products (M031105), JAYSHREE JEENMATA PADDY PROCESSORS (M030341), KALESWAR RICE MILL (M030605), KANSAL FOOD PRODUCTS (M030319), KARTAR FOODS (M031204), KONARK RICE MILL (M030301), LATH INDUSTRIES  (M030336), LATH RICE PRODUCTS PVT. LTD. (M030330), M/S MAA THAKURDEI RICE MILL (M030345), MAA KALAWATI RICE MILL (M030410), MAA SAMALESWARI FOOD PRODUCTS PVT LTD (M030314), MAA SANTOSHI RICE MILL (M030337), MAHARAJA FOOD PRODUCTS (M030302), MAHIMA RICE INDUSTRIES (M030315), NAMO NARAYAN FOOD PRODUCTS  M030346), NAVDANYA FOODS PVT LTD (M030320), NEELAM INDUSTRIES (M030213), OM FOOD PRODUCTS (M030324), ORIENTAL RICE MILL (P) LTD (M030333), SAGAR FOOD PRODUCT  (M030405), SARANGI RICE HULLER (M030307), SHREE SHYAMJI INDUSTRIES (M030318), SRI SRINIVASA MINI RICE MILL( M030335), SRI RAM FOODS & BEVERAGES (M030325), SRI VENKATESWAR INDUSTRIES (M030232), SRILAXMI RICE MILL (M030203), SUBARNA FOOD PRODUCTS (M031203), Uma Shankar Food Products (M030340), UNNATI AGRO  (M031104), UTKAL INDUSTRIES (M030323), UTKAL RICE AND FLOUR MILLS (M031101), VIJAY LAXMI RICE MILLS (P) LTD. (M030214), VINAYAK FOOD PRODUCT (M030408), SRI JYOTHI RICE INDUSTRIES (M030210), Shree Shyam Sunder Paddy Processing Mill (P) Ltd. (M030311), VISHNU RICE MILL PVT. LTD. (M030402).

Whereas, 9 millers; JINDAL RICE MILL PRIVATE LIMITED (M030313), OM RAMCHANDI RICE MILL PVT. LTD. (M030502), SARADA RICE MILL, PAHARSIRGIDA (M030207), SHREE BINAYAK RICE MILL (M031201), SHREE HANUMAN FOOD PRODUCTS (M031005), SHREE MAHALAXMI RICE INDUSTRIES (M030404), SHREE NARSINGH FOOD PRODUCT (M030306), SRI LAXMI HI-TECH FOOD PRODUCTS (M030204), UMASHANKAR RICE MILL (M030602); have registered with lower capacity than their original capacity.

The remaining 56 rice mills have shown higher capacity than their original capacity.  The government is also allotting them according to the provided custom milling capacity. When a rice mill is included in the custom rice milling procedure, a physical verification procedure is carried out to check it.  But in Bargarh district perhaps that has not been followed.

Garbage management by children at Raahgir-3 in Berhampur

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Garbage management by children at Raahgir-3 in Berhampur

How to manage garbage in the slums and in the city was the theme today in the Raahgiri-3. More than 250 children from 30 slums participated in the third Raahgiri celebration in Berhampur city. City Level Children’s Federation participated actively in it and also play fun games like holla hoops and ball throw.

Children Federation members started street play on ‘how to manage’ the garbage in the city. This has accepted and praised by many citizens participated in Raahgiri-3. The message is very strong from the children to segregate garbage from the source, use tri-color dustbin, also send message to Berhampur Municipal Corporation to collect and recycle the garbage regularly in the city to make Berhampur a clean, safe, healthy and hygiene city. Children also send a message to make Berhampur a ‘child friendly city’. Berhampur being dirty city and poor garbage management by the city government this message helped citizens and government more effective and active on garbage management. This show has dominated the event Raahgiri-3 and both citizen and children enjoyed it.

Youth for Social Development (YSD) a local NGO has, participated in the event on Raahgiri Day-3 in Berhampur city. Senior officials from Berhampur Development Authority, Secretary Smt. Dipti Mahapatra, Berhampur Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sri Manoj Kumar Mahanty, Sub-collector Sri Laxmikanta Sethi and Berhampur Tahasildar present and participated in the street play and Swachha Berhampur Campaign in Raahgiri-3.

YSD has been working to improve the living condition of children living in urban poverty since 2012. Children from Raghupati Nagar, Jagannath Nagar, Gramdevati Bauri street, Old Berhampur Bauri street, Jagabandhu Bandh huda, Purnabasi Colony. Lanjipali Goudabandh street, Telgu street, Ankuli Gudia Bandh street, Ambapua Bauri street, Khodasingi Bauri street and Dhimira Bauri street participated. Youth volunteers Bala Das, Bidyut parava Das, Pinky Das, Radha Dash, Banita Nayak, Jharana Das, Jyoti Das, Basant Das, Rinky Patra, Suprava Das and Sumi Maharana coordinated the programmee.

Water supply plant at Burla uncertain

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Water supply plant at Burla uncertain

Water crisis has risen at Burla gripped with severe heat-wave.  Burla needs 70 lakhs liters of water per day but getting 50 lakhs liters.  To diffuse the crisis of Burla town, a mega drinking water supply project is under way. But this project is also uncertain.

Crisis in area like Mirdhapara, Chainipara, Bhoi Dungripara, Golkunda, Shri Ram Vihar, Kirasarpara, and Dhipapara etc has been more as pipeline for water supply is not spread.

Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VSSIMSR) has 2.25 MLD capacity project caters to the requirement of the hospital. But this project is not sufficient to meet the demand of VSSIMSR.  All the 3 machines are defunct.  Sonamali Bag, Director VSSIMSR says, 18 lakhs has been sanctioned to installed new machine and it will be installed with 5 to 10 days.

Another plant of 2.25 MLD supplies to Sambalpur University. This project is only capable in catering the demand of the university.  It is not capable in fulfilling the demand of the 52 thousand people of Burla.  Five tanks have been set-u at different places to supply water in Burla. GPS system is used to get the right information regarding these tanks.

To meet the demands of the people of Burla a mega water supply project was initiated. For this projec  MCL has donated 8 crores 62 lakhs.  The new project will cover the areas of Sambalpur University, Bishnu Mandir, Chainipara and Mirdhapara besides some pockets under the NAC.

If this project gets functioned then water crisis of Burla will be resolved.  The foundation stone for the project was laid by the chief minister in January 29th 2014 at in front of the leprosy colony. The capacity of the project is 6 MLD.  But the project work has been stopped after sometime.  A private firm had undertaken the project. But after the half construction of the wall it is stopped.  The firm denied to work.  So the water supply project is in uncertainty.  The department has informed the government to start new tender for this project.

University status demand escalating in Kalahandi

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University status demand escalating in Kalahandi

The demand of students to give Bhawanipatna Government Autonomous College to university status is escalating day by day. The strike is on its 8th day. This movement is getting momentum and support from all corners of the district including political parties, organisations and intelligentsia.

The students of Bhawaniatna Government Autonomous College started reacting after the statement of Minister Devi Prasad Mishra on 14th of this month. While inaugurating the Aahar Centre at Balangir, the Industries, School & Mass Education Minister Devi Prasad Mishra declared that Rajendra Autonomous College will be given status of University.

The students of Bhawaniatna Government Autonomous College obstruct the National Highway 26   for 4 hours on 16th demanding university status to Bhawanipatna Government Autonomous College. On 17th they launched a huge torch procession in the town. Examinations have been postponed due to strike. The students of Bhawanipatna Government Autonomous College are on strike since last 8 days demanding university status for the college.   Apart from the students, different organizations have rallied on behind the students and organizing meetings etc showing their solidarity to the demands.

Kalahandi is a backward region. Bhawanipatna Government Autonomous College has the eligibility with reference to infrastructure. The college deserves the university status on the basis of backwardness of the district in the state. The demand for the university status is going on for a long time.

According to the information, till date the state government has not released any official notification regarding university status. Now it is in proposal stage. The state government has invite public opinion by 30th of this month regarding it.

According to the sources, the Alumni Association of Bhawanipatna Government Autonomous College has also joined the move. The Association is going to launch a mass demonstration before the district collector office on 25th of this month demanding university status for the college. The association will present a memorandum to the chief minister through the district collector.

God’s Own People, film on Navakalebara at Cannes

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God’s Own People, film on Navakalebara at Cannes

God’s Own People, a film on Navakalebara rituals will be exhibit at Cannes. Internationally acclaimed film producer and director Padmashri Nila Madhab Panda’s documentary God’s Own People will be exhibit at Le Mrache Du Films (Cannes Film Festival). The film based on Navakalebar ritual will be screened on 12th and 13th of next month for two days.  This Sri Ashok Panda, Minster Tousrism and Culture Odisha will inaugurate it.

The 80 minutes length documentary is based on the ritual, tradition of Lord Jagannath. This film will be exhibit at Cannes aiming to propagate Jagannath culture and tradition over the globe, says Nila Madhab. He says, it is a great opportunity for us. This special screening will attract business for the film throughout the year and also it will get us more venues for exhibition. The film produced by Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha and presented by Eleeanora Images in association with Akshya Parija Productions. God’s Own People will be presented in both English and Odia.

Life imprisoned at nursing home

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Life imprisoned at nursing home

Nursing home has captive life. The state government has failed to provide basic health service to the poor.

The state government is undertaking many schemes and projects to provide health service to the common man.  The government is spending huge amount of money for this too. But these health services are not available in many regions.  Particularly shortage of doctors has created hurdles to avail health service.  But as the government is not giving proper attention to these problems, health service in district like Jharsuguda is disastrous.

Recently, a pregnant woman namely Soudamni Pradhan of Charbhati, Brajarajnagar reached the town hospital of Jharsuguda. But she was not admitted in the hospital as the anesthesiologist was not available. The patient was suggested to get admit at Burla hospital.  But they do not have resources to go to Burla. Then they finally got admitted at a private nursing home of Jharsuguda. After the operation, the girl child was found with a tumor on her back. Again the doctor referred the couple to take the child to Cuttack medical for further treatment.  They arranged some rupees 10 thousands and went to Cuttack.  Doctors of Cuttack medical sent back the child saying, operation of the child at that stage is not possible.  Now again both the mother and the child are admitted in the same private nursing home of Jharsuguda.

Now at the time of discharge from the nursing home, they need some 25 thousands to pay the bills. But they don’t have money for medical expenses.

If the mother would have admitted in the government hospital then she could have avail the government facilities according to different schemes. But now she cannot get facilities of any government scheme.

Contacting to Damayanti Sahu, the Chief District Medical Officer of Jharsuguda says, as we don’t have anesthesiologist here, we are referring such cases to Burla. If she would have admitted at Burla then she could have avail the government facilities according to the schemes. But now she cannot.

Such cases are happening regularly and many poor people are deprived from government health service properly due to lack of staff.

LN College Jharsuguda permanent building issue

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LN College Jharsuguda permanent building issue

The permanent building issue of Laxmi Narayan College Jharsuguda has resurfaced. Diffusing the permanent building issue of Laxmi Narayan College Jharsuguda has risen questioned in the public. In the recent past it becomes a political issue after a series of strike, bandh and locking the office. Both the ruling party and opposition party made it political issue and tried for political mileage at that time.

High level meet was called on after local Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishor Das questioned in the assembly regarding the building. It was a hot topic in the political circle of Jharsuguda for a time.

The old students of the college associated with the ruling party formed a committee. The committee of old students promised to short-out the building issue of the college. BJD leader and present WODC Chairman Kishor Mohanty also promised the students to full fill their demands and requested to call-off the dharna.

Further, local MLA Sri Das also formed a committee with old students of the college associated with his party. The committee was formed to diffuse the building issue of the college.

But the issue has not been resolved yet. The first and oldest college of Jharsugada doesn’t have its own building. The college is running at the hostel of Jharsuguda Technical College.

Higher Education Department has been repeatedly asked to provide land and building for the college. From the office of the joint secretary, B Sethi of Higher Education Department has released a letter to the district collector on dated 8th April regarding it. Further the district collector has asked to the principal of the college regarding the building.

The future of the students in the 46 years old college is in dark. The college is fully aided but yet it has no building. Government should take immediate step to diffuse the issue.

‘Language of Koshal is Koshali’

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‘Language of Koshal is Koshali’

The demand of separate Koshal state is ongoing since a long time. The struggle for recognization of the language is also going on. But a conflict has surfaced regarding naming of the language. A few organizations of Sambalpur are arguing that the language of western Odisha should be named as Sambalpuri. Now many people and organizations of Balangir have reacted to it.

Recently renowned poet Sri Haldhar Nag was awarded with Padma Sri and he is now famous throughout the country. After getting the Padma award the chief minister felicitated him at Bhubaneswar and declared “Haldhar Koshali Language and Research Centre” after his name on April 7th. After getting this news the larger part of western Odisha were delighted whereas a few organization and people of Sambalpur town were not happy. In a meeting they stated that Koshali name is not acceptable. The people present in the meeting argue to name the language of westrn Odisha as Sambalpuri. Although a few people in the meeting express to keep both the terms jointly as ‘Koshali/Sambalpuri’.

In the meeting held at Balangir, a speaker says that an organization of Ghess has pressurized Padmashri Haldhar Nag to sign the letter addressing the chief minister to change the name of the declared organization. The Balangir Lekhak Parishad has condemned it. The Koshali Lekhak Parishad has also expressed the same sentiment with the Balangiar Lekhak Parishad. Madhusudan Nayak of Koshali lekhak Parishad says that the language of eastern Odisha is Odia not Katki (of Cuttack). When separate state movement is actively going so name of the language cannot be named after a particular town or a district.

In another meeting at Gandhi Bhawan, Balangir organized by Netaji Sangram Parishad, the same sentiment has evoked by the public and the speakers. In the meeting the speakers have condemned the argument regarding naming of language. They have supported the name Koshali for Koshal. The meeting presided by Laxminarayan Pattnaik has resolute to take strong action against the organization and person who have pressurized Padmashri Haldhar Nag.

Khadial Nagarik Manch has also come forward with a press meet to support Koshali name of the language of western Odisha. KNM has rallied on behind organizations of Balangir. Irffan Mohmmed of KNM opposed the term Sambalpuri for the name of the language of WO. Surjit Singh Maharatha says, Sambalpuri will confine it to Sambalpur district. But Koshali will unite all the 11 districts of western Odisha.

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