Having an non-partisan Judiciary and an impartial Election Commission , is a perfect recipe for a Healthy Democracy . A shining example is the potentially volatile Pakistan , has had some sort of sanity , because its Supreme Court , which has managed to give the people a government not headed by an Army General . On the other hand our other neighbour Burma is still under Dictatorship , thanks to the dismantling of its Judiciary and EC systematically by the Army Generals .The elections conducted by the army had elected Aung Saun Suu Kyi , not once or twice but several times , unfortunately she was thrown behind bars on flimsy excuses by the regime that does not want a civilian government . The biggest threat to a democracy is the lust for power , and any leader who hints at unbridled power and unlimited tenure at the helm , can take decisions that will neutralise the role of the CJ and EC . India has had a bad experience and experimenting with ‘Emergency’ considered a blot on our Democracy . Fortunately the people of India united to shake off ‘Emergency’ and its perpetrators . Almost a decade back social activist ‘Anna Hazare’ caught the nations imagination and unbelievable support of the public , when he started a crusade against the UPA government for trying to tinker with the Constitution . India’s quest for Freedom accelerated after the Quit India Movement and again the unity of the nation , over unconstitutional methods of the East India Company , surprised the English Regime ..Indian Judiciary is in its purest form , thanks to an agile SC and the people have high hopes on the third pillar of the society which has been acting vigilantly and judiciously ..By removing the CJ from the three member committee , that will select or nominate the Central EC is grave mistake and a Himalayan blunder of the Centre (BJP) ..The argument put up by the party leaders at various Press conferences or the public arguments of BJP leaders and supporters is not all convincing . India is a fast developing country , and a buoyant democracy , to sustain it we need constitutionally elected leaders and not a propped up dictator in future . The efforts to dilute the CEC by removing the role of the CJI in its nomination process is a ‘red flag’ , and the nation is not amused ..

Narendra Modi’s nearly two hours reply to the No Confidence Motion , brought by the Opposition (INDIA) , was more about optics , sloganeering and party politics ..The Prime Minister went all out against the Opposition , targeting the Congress Party and the Gandhi Family in particular ..In the last 9 years , Narendra Modi as a speaker at various forum has been exceptional , brilliant outstanding and excellent  ..Like his predecessor from the BJP to the post of PM Atal Behari Vajpayee , the speeches of Narendra Modi had an aura and the nation believed him ..But this seems to have changed and yesterday I had the opportunity to hear almost the entire part , and was greatly disappointed ..My disappointment stems from the belief that the Prime Minister avoided the crux of the discussion ‘Manipur Ethnic Violence’ and spoke more about the forthcoming General Elections ..I was interested to know if the Government had plans to stop the ongoing violence , and if at all the CM should be replaced ..The people of the country are keenly watching , the strategy of containing a Majority versus Minority population fight for survival ..the nation wanted to know why the ethnic confrontation has become a regular conflict in NE states and many more ..My guess is the BJP Government does not have a solution to the ongoing conflict and the local politics is pulling them down ..The Central leadership of the BJP is apprehensive that any solution to the ethnic violence , may boomerang on the party in other adjoining steps ..Narendra Modiji seemed a bit shaken by the conglomerate of opposition named INDIA , and he went hammer and tongs against the same ..Was there a streak of fear , that the upcoming November Elections to the six states including MP and Rajasthan , may see the opposition gaining a foothold in North and Central India ..The debate can go on , and the ruling party with a mammoth majority in the Parliament could have used the opportunity better ..Comparatively on the Day2 of the debate , the reply by Home Minister Amit Sahaji was more lively and the discussion positive ..

June 18^th , 2023 will be an important date in the Political History of the country , and also an important date in contemporary politics . The NDA led by the BJP will be having a conclave of its allies in New Delhi  , and it is learnt that the party in power has brought in 38 parties , mainly smaller parties into its fold . The UPA led by the Congress is having its Conclave at Benguluru , and around 26 parties are getting together to put up a joint fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party . A matter of significance is the absence of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD)  from both the conclaves , thereby underlining the fact , that the party has yet to take a stand on the issue of fighting the 2024 elections alone or with an ally . The YSRP of Andhra Pradesh and the BRS of Telengana state have also decided to skip the two political jamborees . With the General Elections approaching fast , the ruling dispensation at the Centre , which is aiming for a third straight term , has the added advantage of being in power , and also the charismatic Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lead from the front . Can the oppistion parties get their calculations right and can they gel before the next polls is the question being asked by one and all ..Coming to Odisha politics , it is advantage BJD which has already got itself into a political mode .The Biju Janata Dal is the only party in the state , which has probably got its candidates ready in almost 100 seats , and 47  candidates remain to be selected . The BJD led by Naveen Patnaik , is on the front foot thanks to a fragmented opposition , and a lack of a personality who can meet the charisma of the Odisha CM .It is important to note here that for the first time the 5T Secretary , will be the cynosure of all eyes . V K Pandian , who claims to be representing the Chief Minister and has toured almost all Districts , has still got a few aces up his sleeves and he has the sate administration and the party right under his thumb .While the media has already started speculating as to if Naveen Patnaik will pass on the baton of the party leadership (read CM) to someone else after the polls , there are also rumour of a new Formula put in place , to keep the opposition at bay . The BJP will be flexing its muscles  and raring to go ,and this is possible only  if they get the green signal from the Central Command to go all out against the BJD .

 

The recent Opposition Conclave at Patna attended by around 32 political parties , including the Congress brings back memories of the 1978-79 , Jaya Prakash Narayans call for the people to fight the Emergency . At that meeting thousands of people assembled at Patna , voluntarily and many leaders like Chandra Sekhar , George Fernades , Mulayan Singh Yadhav , Lallu Prasad Yadhav etc were born out of this historic agitation .The recent convention , was more sophisticated in nature and the political leaders discussed their strategy away from the public glare .Elections in India has geographical impact and regional parties have a greater role in the political sphere . It is not missed that leaders of three important regional parties namely Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) , BRS (Telengana) , YRSP (AP) have disassociated themselves from the Opposition Conclave or the Third Front . These states have around 50 to 55 seats , which could be crucial in the next General Elections for the BJP and the Opposition .In the present scenario Congress party is weak in Odisha and AP and can be in third position in Telengana . The Opposition parties have their own pulls and push , in various states and this was magnified when the Delhi Unit and the Punjab unit of the party are still antagonistic over the rise of the Aam Admi Party (AAP) .

My question here is can the Opposition leaders , who have no love lost amongst themselves , gel together and put up a honest united front . Can the opposition leaders manage their State Units , who have their own power formula and equations , locally for their own survival .

 

Many people are under the impression that the former Chief Secretary of Odisha and newly indicted Congress leader Mr Bijaya Patnaik , may choose to start his political innings from the Paralakhemundi Assembly Segment ..a few Congress leaders are busy in trying to harp on the issue , saying that if the former Chief Secretary Mr Patnaik decides to contest on a Congress ticket ,from Paralakhemundi Seat he will win handsomely ..I hope sanity prevails and Mr Bijaya Patnaik , does his groundwork properly before deciding to contest from the prestigious Unreserved Paralakhemundi Assembly segment ..Once considered a Congress Citadel , the Congress lost the seat in 2009 before winning it back in 2014 , but came up croppers in the 2019 General Elections ..A brief political introspection is sufficient to prove that the BJD and the BJP have taken over the solid vote base of the Congress here ..It is only in the Tribal dominated Gumma Block the Congress still has some fire power left , but if the recent Gram Panchayat Elections of 2022 are analysed it will prove that the BJD has managed to gain over the voters who one were dedicated for the Grand Old Party ..The Hand symbol which had symbolised with the Gumma Block , is a far distant cry from its old self ..A lot of senior leaders of the Congress Party have passed or have retired from active politics ..Naveen Patnaik’s Welfare Scheme has attracted the rural voters in all parts of the state and the three rural Blocks of the Paralakhemundi Assembly Segment is no exception ..If the former CS Mr Bijaya Patnaik , really wants to contest from Paralakhemundi he has to come and set the Congress house in order ..the Party does not have a leader who can attract voters and a few leaders who are still with the Congress Party have limited pocket votes and even limited appeal ..The biggest drawback for the Congress in Odisha has been to find a leader who can match the charisma of Narendra Modiji or Naveen Patnaik ji ..thereby lays the dilemma for the Congress who , if they want to get back the past glory ,have to start rebuilding the party from the grassroot level here ..

 

I was closely watching the  Gram Panchayat Elections in West Bengal , namely for two reasons .One to see if the efforts of the main opposition BJP to create a picture of violence and lawlessness would be accepted by the people of West Bengal and number two to understand if the Welfare Schemes and Projects of the Mamata Benarjee Government has made an impact on the poor and BPL voters . The Trinamool Congress (TMC) , led by the effervescent and dynamic Mamata Benerjee has managed to keep her party ten feet ahead of the BJP .The Central Government had tried every trick in the book to bog down Didi (Mamata Benerjee) , including using the Governor of West Bengal to gain brownie points and have failed miserably . Politics in West Bengal has a lot of resemblance to the Politics in Odisha , and the two regional parties have the BJP as their main opponent in their respective states . Naveen Patnaik , the unquestionable  mass leader of Odisha and is a Brand in itself , whose political manoeuvring  has become legendary and an objective lesson in political assiduousness  . What Mamata Benerjee has been doing since 2011 , when her party displaced the Left Party from power , BJD led by Naveen Patnaik has been doing similarly since 1999 ..BJD came to power sidelining the Congress and has concentrated in managing contact with the public , almost on day to day basis ..Now discussing contemporary  politics ,a brief dissection of the TMC strategy of storming back to power in the 2021 Assembly and 2023 Panchayat elections has a similar resemblance to Biju Janata Dal political astuteness . Maintain mass contact and popularising the Brand Naveen has clicked with the voters. In the 2022 GP elections BJD has swept the polls winning all the 30 ZP President posts and taking over the Samity Chairman of 85% of the posts that was in contest. BJD like the TMC has been a vote guzzler even in the By-Elections with a win ration of 95% . The well-oiled political machinery of the TMC and the BJD have a similar trait, and the party President is the mascot that has not shown any signs fatigue, weariness or lassitude.

The BJD like the TMC is well ahead of its opponents and the upcoming Assembly Elections (if it is held in November or June next year) will be inconsequential as many political pundits have already given their verdict of the BJD winning comfortably. The big question here is will the opposition manage to keep the BJD below the 100 seat mark …

Plight of farmers in the age of plenty ..

 

It was extremely sad and tumultuous to read an article about farmers in Western Odisha destroying their cabbage crops on the field , as there is no market for the same . At present due to high yield of the culliflower (phoola kobi) , producers are forced to sell them to retailers at Rs 2.00 per kg . Cabbages require investments , namely for pesticides , and labour and when the market rates crashes , producers are doomed . In the past we have seen tomato and brinjal growers also , destroying their hard earned produce as there is no rate in the market and no place to store ….Farmers are the backbone of the country , says every lawmaker and we are all acquainted with the “Jai Jawan , Jai Kisan” slogan ..Pitiably there is no scheme or project to protect the financial interest of the agriculturists , who should be respected and honored for the hard labor they undertake …I daily see small time farmers carrying more than a quintal of culliflower , brinjal , tomatoe , etc on their broad shoulders , and selling the same getting 500.00 to 600.00 per day ..these small time farmers are now unable to get even 300.00 per day thanks to the price crash ..The Government has wonderful policies to support agriculturist , But Where is It ??? Our MLA , MP’s and ZP members all come from farming community or farming families , but they forget their own background once they get into the power lobby …Issues are raised in the Assembly and Parliament , only for cosmetic purpose ….Where are the much hyped Cold Storage facility ??? We have money to build huge buildings , hostels , religious places but when it come to construction of Cold Storage facilities we get cold feet …

 

 

 

Gujarat and Himanchal Pradesh results puts BJP and Congress on equal footing ..

 

The election results that were declared on the 7^th and 8^th of December 2022 , ha an interesting message from the voters for the political parties . AAP won MCD elections ,discarding the BJP which was in power for more than 15 years , BJP won Gujarat with record number of seats , and becoming the only party after CPI(M) in West Bengal to win for a record 7^th time and with a higher vote margin . AAP and Congress failed to make any dent on the influence of the BJP on Gujarat voters . Congress Party  caused a big upset , dismantling  the BJP rule in Himachal Pradesh . It is after many years the Grand Old Party has a reason to smile .Back home Biju Janata Dal candidate Barasarani trounced BJP strongman Pradipta Purohit  in a much hyped Bye Elections by a record 35000 votes . In the other Bye Elections BJP gained two seats at the expense of JD(U) and SP . On the other hand SP made a spectacular win in the traditional Rampuri seat , defeating BJP by a margin of 2.90 lacs . Congress made its presence felt in the two states they are in power , that is Rajasthan and Chatishgarh and retained both the seats during the Bye Election .

BJP have used the Gujarat victory , to highlight their popularity cleverly camouflaging , their unexpected loss to the Congress and in the evening the party celebrated their win with massive celebrations at New Delhi . In comparison the victory celebration by the Congress was muted and lacked conviction . I feel the Congress leaders are still unable to fathom , that they have won a state on their own ….

In Paralakhemundi the only political party  that showed some enthusiasm for the mini elections was the BJD , and the BJP leaders here for some reasons are not upbeat over the Gujarat victory …

 

 

 

Padmapur Bye-Elections a watershed in Odisha Politics..

 

 The voting to the Padmapur Bye Elections , will be a closely watched political affair  as it is bound to have an impact on the political scenario of Odisha . The Naveen Patnaik led government has had an uninterrupted regime of more than 20 years , and the way the ruling party was managing elections , opposition had no answers ..Dhamnagar results changed it all , and the difference of ten thousand between the winning BJP and the losing BJD candidate has come as an eye opener for the party . Naveen Patnaik was forced to be physically present with the voters and on December 2 when the CM reached Padmapur and promised to give the voters a District , the fear of losing another bye election was palpable .

If BJD wins the margin of victory will be closely dissected , as anything less than 5000 votes could be another warning to the party managers . If BJP wins , it could suddenly be free for all , as the Central Party , which coincidently is winning Gujarat , will smell blood and bay for it .The State and Central relationship , which has been extremely cordial , could change for once and all and the BJP state leaders will get a free hand to go hammer and tongs against the State Government .If BJP wins scores of Central Ministers will be regularly visiting Odisha and the sweet tone for the BJD regime is bound to change into a different unpalatable taste ….

 The formation of a new Municipality Council , courtesy , the BJD leadership had brought in lots of hope and inspiration amongst the local population of the town . Paralakhemundi is one of the Oldest Municipality of the state , as old as 110 years , but the Urban conditions have left a lot to desire . The town had one of the best drainage facilities , thanks to the early British planners , who utilized the higher elevation of the town , and the gravitational pull to decant the water down the drains into the Mahendrataneya River . Unfortunately this is now history , as unplanned constructions , ever expanding buildings , concrete jungle and encroachments have now resulted in chaotic flooding even after a few millimeters of rains . 

Encroachment is a generalized terminology , that can only be understood when there is a descriptive evaluation of the real time scenario . The main market is the best example of how the excess water from the various trading organisations was drained down to the last point of the town that is the Gopalapuram , located on the AP side . The drains that connected the main market was about six feet deep and three feet wide , and every debris could flow down without any obstacles . This is now a thing of the past , and the drains are choked , stopped , constructed upon .A couple of years back in the name of renovating the drains and creating a passage for the water flow several drains constructed by Municipality , were squeezed and narrowed down , thanks to the lack of foresight and selfish motivation . Interestingly none of the elected leaders of the Municipality in the past or present seem to have development close to their heart . It has been restricted to election extempore , and now the basic attitude is who will do the work and how much amount is being invested on a project .

Corruption is another subject that has been the bane of the Paralakhemundi Municipality . Right from the purchase of appliances to beautification activity , the people who are involved seem to be more concerned about the kickbacks they will receive . An example to cite is the Beautification of the Sankuri Bandha(pond) adjacent to the Kali Temple and Congress Office . Under the directions of the then Collector Mansi Nimbal , the project was undertaken . Stuffed  animals , lawns etc were laid out and the same became redundant within a year . The agency which had undertaken the job simply disappeared and refused to take up the management aspect . Street lights , sanitary equipment , cleaning materials etc are all purchased at exorbitant quotations , with hefty commission down the line .

Cleanliness , unkempt roads , unfinished roads , pot holes , leaking PHED pipes etc are the norms that are seen everywhere , but who cares??? 

Smart Phones , bane or boon....

It may sound a bit bizarre and unfounded , it is a fact that even today I use Keypad mobile phone . As a student I had great obsession for electronic gadgets like computer games , calculators , memory tabs , hand held computer games ,cordless phones , CD players and till recently mobile phones etc . I must have spent a fortune in my passion to own the latest electronic gadget , and it was probably four years back  I came across an article penned by a popular scientist who said that mobile phones will become the bane and curse for  the society . Detailing the rationale , he explained that despite everyone knowing that the radiation from the ‘Cell’ is harmful it has become an extension of our life . I took the article very seriously , and have curbed my usage of mobile , especially smart-phone sets. Today the mobile for me is an instrument to receive or send calls . Unfortunately not many people and friends subscribe to my views and thoughts , rather they argue that I am too traditional and irrational .I have not dared to rake up this subject with the young generation , lest they heckle me and call me ‘mad’ . One thing I have found out that after discarding my Android phone , I now have  a lot of time to read , write , converse etc . My Whatsup  and Facebook is less populated , and my Twitter handle lacks credibility while I have not taken up Instagram , Hike etc to name a few . For me it is more sense if one is more human and less of a Robot , and the sight of people pondering and pouring over their Smart phone sets at all improbable places , makes me pity them . What worries me is that , the over usage of the Smart phone sets has led to abnormal rise schizophrenia , migraine , short sightedness , hallucination , phobia etc .Anyway on the eve of the New Year 2018 , I thought that let me share this with friends and well wishers . Once more let us bid adieu to 2017 passionately .

Indian Army , too good for the Pakis..

 In a rare and defining moment , on the night of the Christmas a selected team of the Indian Army crossed the LOC , attacked a Pakistani position and killed four to eight enemy soldiers . This was a reply to the ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops who killed a Major and three Indian soldiers . India believes in peace , harmony , amity but we have now made it clear that our soldiers will not take Pakistan’s overture by remaining quite . The response was a clear indication of the India Governments decision that there is shift in our thoughts and it will be an “ Eye for an Eye” .The strikes that was conducted on the night of 25^th Dec was precise , non provocative and above all proved the superiority of the Indian Army . It makes me remember a dialogue of a Hindi Cinema I had seem a few years back when Sunny Deol as a Major in the film says to his Pakistani counterpart “ if the population of India urinate, Pakistan will be flooded” . Why I am deliberating on this , it makes me really sad when a defence personnel is killed on duty . We are at peace with all neighbouring countries , but Pakistan continues to be pricking us just to ferment trouble and keep us busy . The Prime Minister Narendra Modiji , did his best to manage patience and restrain and now India will strike back . I am happy that the change in our External Policies , augurs well as far as meeting the challenges of the countries enemies . The message is loud and clear to the entire world , Indian Army is the Best . Happy New Year ..     

                         The Peoples (Lok) Utsav , revisiting the Gajapati Utsav ....pride of the District ,

Gajapati Utsav , since its inception in 2001 has had held the pride of place as a leading cultural festival of this District . After the state government set up a policy to have District Level festivals , almost all the Districts of the state have their own cultural fests , and some like the Mandei Pareba  etc have made a reputations for themselves . Lok Utsav as the cultural festival is now popularly called , has ably showcased the efforts of the government in various spheres , and is also a very big forum to interact with the public . Gajapati Utsav along with the block level Utsav , has been extremely popular because there are a very few such cultural activities for this district . As far as one can recollect , the largest number of people gathering in this town is the Gajapati Utsav after the Rath Yatra . Previously the Utsav was organised at the SKCG College Ground , and with the lack of  space and the unhelpful attitude of the college authorities , the same has been shifted to the Gajapati Stadium . The Gajapati Utsav has been very close to the heart of the people of this district because of the close involvement of the mainstream public in the various affairs of the Lok Utsav . Right from the Panchayat Level where various cultural troupes come to the Block to participate in the programme , to the District Level there is total participation . It may be unbelievable to see the large crowds that turn out for the Block Utsav where the functions go on into the early morning of the next day . The local BDO , Tahsidar , Block Chairman and the other officials of the block get so much involved in this jamboree , it is to be seen to be believed . Similarly Gajapati Utsav has become a folklore and its history is now embedded with many interesting happenings . This is an event where the public has an excess to the several officers , and the cooperation of the public and administration has been the success ‘mantra’ of the Gajapati Utsav . I have been very closely and fervently associated with the past Utsav’s and laud the efforts of the various District Collectors who have toiled hard for the event . This year the Gajapati Utsav which is being reintroduced again , after a gap of three years , will be a resounding success no doubt . The District administration will find a big platform , to showcase the several government programmes for the general mass , and the cultural events will be the most popular events . Gajapati District has a rich heritage of culture namely tribal dance and songs . Unfortunately the artists from the rural areas get very little scope to harness their talent , and the Gajapati Utsav gives them an opportunity to exhibit their flair and genius before a large gathering . A tribal boy from the far flung Aliganda village of the Mohona Block or a girl from the Rayagada Block , will find the opportunity to dance or sing before an unimaginable crowd . Similarly the Palishree Mela should owe its success to the Gajapati Utsav cultural events . Without the culture programmes , there will be practically no gathering as the organisers of the Mela have found out in the last three years . The Pali Shree Melas , turned out to be damp squib and the stall sales dipped because there was very limited footfall at the ground . The most memorable moments of the previous Utsavs have been the closing ceremony , where finale will witness the District administration , organisers and the members of the public dancing together to the popular modern tunes , waiting for the next Utsav with all optimism . The never dying spirit of Gajapati is showcased in this Utsav , where people enjoy for three continuous days .

Debashis Padhi ,Journalist ,Cell- 9437176353 , mitupadhi@rediffmail.com .

Kasinagar(Gajapati)i(16.06.2007):

The dreaded 'Chickenguniya' is again making forays into Gajapati with the onset of monsoon. Last year it was exactly in the month of May this dreaded viral infection had penetrated into the state from Andhra Pradesh through Gajapati, and a reluctant health department and subsequently the administration in Gajapati had refused to accept that there was a disease such as 'Chickenguniya' . "There is no such terminology as 'Chickenguniya' in the medical terminology , and it is only a false hue and cry" the then CDMO Dr Karuna Kar Das had said. But when the same disease spread out to other parts of Orissa and there was a hue and cry even in the assembly the Health Department woke up, but by then it was too late. The dreaded disease which is symptomatic with fever and unbearable joints pain and has also rendered many incapacitated even today is resurfacing and unless the administration wakes up the reality could be beyond control. Intermittent rains before and after monsoon leads to a big increase in mosquito numbers in all the blocks of Gajapati. The logging of water leads to the prolific development of the eggs and larvae of the Aedes mosquito(the carrier of this infection) which needs only a small amount of water to hybrid on .The mosquitoes fly around even in daytime and its bite can lead to 'chickenguniya'. The worst part is there is no effective cure or vaccine , and all treatment is only symptomatic . In Gajapati not less than 1500 cases were reported last year and the number could have been more if data on the patients had been maintained . The state government last year had declared its intention to fight this disease and already there are reports that the viral is rampant in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh . "The administration has to create an awareness and all patients with symptoms of 'chickenguniya' should come to a qualified doctor instead of depending on quacks or irrational treatment .If simple antibiotics are given to the patients in the right dose at the initiall stage the disease can be controlled" says retired Medicine Specialist Dr P Ch Rath who had treated hundreds of such cases last year . On the part of the administration it is important to take stock of the situation on war footing instead of only discussing the same only in meeting halls . Dedicated spraying of DDT especially in the remote villages where there are forest cover can lead to the killing of the larvae. "The loopholes are the unsystematic and irrational DDT spraying which is not seriously taken into consideration .The same is done by unprofessional agencies who fail to cover all the areas mainly forest zones where there are more possibilities of the Aedes mosquitoes laying their eggs" said one Chairman of a reputed NGO .In the urban areas the piling of garbage in open space and the use of plastic and polythene ,uncovered water spaces ,abandoned tyres and coconut shells where water is stored during monsoon are the hazards that needs to be addressed . Last year in the Paralakhemundi Municipality and the Kasinagar NAC there were more than 450 reported cases of 'chickenguniya' . On the treatment front the administration has a major social responsibility of providing medicines especially antibiotics and painkillers in injection forms to the poor patients who cannot afford the same . "We are ready and our mobile teams are active in all blocks keeping a track of any such symptoms .We have provided ambulances in all the blocks for the patients who can be rushed in to Paralakhemundi in case of emergency .DDT spraying is also going on successfully" said the CDMO Dr B M Mohapatra .But the confidence of the Health Department can be misplaced as they had last year expressed similar optimism of controlling 'chickenguniya' and had failed to meet the challenge . It was only after two doctors, a few officers and a senior politician fell prey to the dreaded viral infection the administration woke up and it was too late by then .The Aedes mosquitoes had spread not only out of control but out of their reach also .

News from Gajapati,ORISSA - 11 May 07

The elephant outrage in the Gajapati District since the last one week is the result of deforestation and the destruction of animal habitat ,which has led to a herd of 11 elephants creating havoc in the Districts of Gajapati and Rayagada .This herd had entered the Kasinagar Block on the 4 ^th of this month and have killed two persons of a single family , and have injured many and have led to destruction of crop , houses and jungles in the villages of Sara , Badi ,Ullabhadra ,Marynagar etc . How and why the elephants have entered the human habitation leaving behind their protected sanctuary makes an interesting study . To protect the elephants and in order to create a sanctuary for them the a project named "Lakhari Safari" was envisaged in the year 1985 in then Ganjam District which is now a part of the Gajapati District. Located at a distance of 12 km from the famous Tibetan Refugee village of Chandragiri the Lakhari Safari was initially planned within a radius of 250 km clubbing the Lakhari, Alari Ramaguda and the Dhoba Dhobani Forest areas. But as there were a large number of established villages and removing the said villagers would have led to more complications the radius area of the 'sanctuary' was reduced to 174 km and this would be restricted to the Lakhari Forest only. But even in this forest range there were more then 35-40 villages big and small and almost all the said villages have refused government extended rehabilitation package and continue to adamantly habitat inside the restricted forest area. In the year 2002 the Gajapati Forest Department had asked for an assistance of Rs 5 crores of Central Aid for the development of the elephant sanctuary at the Lakhari Forest, where the elephant census was more than 200 two decades back .While the funds never arrived , an Annual Action Plan for this project was made under which 40 lacs was projected for the maintaining of the sanctuary , and basing on this in the year the forest department received 12 lacs in 2004-05 and 30 lacs in 2005-06 . But how successfully the funds have been implemented can be understood from the following incidents .

In March 2007 elephants from this sanctuary tried to enter Chandragiri and destroyed the compound wall of a school . In March 2006 three elephants were electrocuted when they tried to go away from their jungle area in search of water . In January 2005 a dead elephant allegedly to have been shot by hunters was found on the border of the Lakhari Forest . In April 2007 a herd of elephants trekked more than 50km into the nearby Gunupur Block of Rayagada District and attacked a TV reporter when he was shooting their photos . Now more recently another herd have been loitering in the blocks of Kasinagar , Gumma(Gajapati) and Gunupur(Rayagada) creating bedlam throughout their passage .

The DFO(I/C) Siba Narayan Mohapatra Gajapati when contacted said "We have been trying our best to keep the elephants inside the sanctuary , but due to the intense heat and the unabated jungle cutting the herds are moving out of the safe zone into the human areas". Forest officials deputed to the sanctuary concede that keeping the elephant herd inside the jungle is a tough task as there is no barricading and there is acute shortage of food and water . Interestingly the Gajapati Forest Department does not have any expert hands who can used for controlling the movement of the elephants when they escape out of the sanctuary .Above all many tribal families continue to encroach on these reserved land and thereby disturb the animal movement. The population of the elephant has also come down drastically to below 100 in the last ten years, and unless the Central Government wakes up to the need of protecting this species the day is not far when the sanctuary will be bereft of any elephants . Ironically though the tuskers continue to be an object of fear, in many of the villages it was observed that the villagers were treating this as an auspicious sign and after the departure of the herd ladies conducted prayers and broke coconuts though none dared to offer any type of food or fruits to them .

Tourist Place - Mahendragiri Hills

Shivaratri was once more celebrated with pomp ,devotion and gaiety in Gajapati , and the main function was at the famous and historical Mahendragiri Hills .The administration had made elaborate arrangements for the a safe and smooth Shivaratri on the Mahendragiri Hills . More than 50,000 devotees from all parts of the state had reached the footsteps of the Mahendragiri Hills from where they trekked up the hills through the Burkat Pass .Ladies and aged women in large numbers braved the chill and dark night to go up the Mahendragiri Hills to have a glimpse of the Shiva Lingas inside the three temples namely Bhima Temple , Kunti(Gokerneswara) Temple and the Yudhister Temple supposed to have constructed by the Pandavas during their exile . Police in big numbers were present through out the route and also on the mountain top to face any law or order situation . Drinking Water supply , generator run electricity , first aid , foodinf and other arrangements were also efficiently maintained by the Revenue Department who are responsible for this annual function . In the other Shiva Temple of the town devotees had gathered in large numbers to and the temples were also brightly decorated ,coloured and lit up with lights for the occasion .


In the adjoining areas the Raiwalsa Temple near Teakkali , Mina Jhola near Rayagada ,Makhalingam near Hiramandallam ,Putingi near Mandaasa were also the few Shiva Temples where devotees from this place had gone in huge numbers . Early in the morning the Suryo Udyog(sunrise) was the major attraction for the devotees who waited for the first sunrays to break through before returning back home .

Tourist Place - Gandahati Falls

Gandahati Falls located in the Rayagada Block of Gajapati is considered as one of the important tourist destination of Gajapati District . Located at a distance of 25 km from Paralakhemundi , jeeps and buses can reach this place by taking a right turn at the Adasingh junction Along with the B N Palace , the Gajapati Palace , the Gudguda Falls , the Khasada Falls and the Chandragiri Tibetan Camps this site is being projected as a must see for tourists to South Orissa . The Gandahati Falls continues to be the most sought after destination for tourists from Orissa and Andhra Pradesh . Nestled the mountain ranges in the Devagiri Forest Range stream of this 'fall' generates from the Mahendragiri Hills and flows into the Mahendrataneya River down stream . It is the huge fall from a 30 meter mountain on rocks down below at the Gandahati Village which is the center of attraction and an enchanting place for visitors for spending a day of relaxation. It was only in the 80's the Gandahati Fall was discovered as a place for picnic and there was a rush by the locals to this place , and as the word of this scenic water fall and lush forest range spread around , in the 90's the flow of visitors had grown up many folds . Today this is one of the most important site for visit ,especially during the winter season . But now the place is facing a crisis of environmental pollution and acute deforestation due to the lack of concern by the administration to protect this place from natural degradation and continuous pollution . A visit to this site reveals thousands of poly empty water pouch ,polythene papers etc all littered around unclaimed and causing huge amount of contamination . There is a green house room constructed by the forest department for the purpose of Research and Development , but is in a dilapidated state due to lack of proper care . "We have started a project to make this a place of tourist visit with all facilities available , and there will be excellent communication to this resort .Already work on this project has started with the cooperation of the Jaganath Institute for Technology and Management who are acting as consultants for this" said the Collector D V Swamy . But there have been many similar attempts in the past by different organizations and Collectors also but all this has been in vain . The Minister for Tourism who coincidently is from this place had also several times repeated that Gandahati Falls will be developed and funds will not be a constraint , but this has never materialized till today.To make this all possible it requires simple management of the available resources . The administration can take the initiative of creating a special zone in this area , and create a committee which will be responsibility for the development and nurturing of the important tourist resort .At the same time a development committee with the District Collector and other interested personalities can be formed which will oversee the improvement of this zone. Visitors coming to this place will be asked to pay a specific amount as entry fees and temporary rest houses can also be set up for the picnickers and visitors. Attention is to be given to the plastic pollution that can create more problems in this zone .

Durbar Hall - Gajapati Palace

The Gajapati Dynasty are the pride of Orissa and the cynosure of all discussions relating to the development, modernization, growth and expansion of Gajapati District .Whenever any visitor comes to Paralakhemundi he or she makes it a point to visit the Gajapati Palace where the Palace Durbar is a major attraction .
While the government has failed to take any care of this illustrious palace , the Palace Durbar continues to be the hub of any major palace related activities or important meeting whenever the Maharaja Gopinath Gajapati is present in the Palace . The Durbar Hall is in the middle of the huge palace with its height up to two upstairs .It is divided into two parts namely the Raja Mahal and the Rani Mahal .Main functions , celebrations ,public functions ,council meetings were organized inside the Durbar Hall with the Maharaja seated on the splendid throne placed on an elevated mandap . Its gilt decorated walls and intricate wooden trellis work are further embellished with other traditional work of art . In the back ground adorning the walls are the portraits of the rulers of this dynasty , and almost all the portraits are hand painted by the eminent artists of that period . Also adorning the walls of the hall are the stuffed head of the animals that were hunted down by the Maharajas during the annual hunting rituals . The staring glared eyes of the bison , bear ,antler ,elephant ,tigers etc all recall back to memory the golden days of the dynasty , when the writ of the Maharaja ran all over his kingdom . They also remind one of the leisure and pursuit of the rulers .

The stuffed animal head look so real that anybody sitting alone in the mighty durbal hall will have goose pimples simply by looking at them . The ceilings and the roof made of wood designed tastefully are in very band conditions due to lack of care . The palace escort will point out a finger to the veiled rooftop to inform a visitor that the palace queen and the ladies were also made accessible to the durbar proceedings provided that they did so from the roof camouflaged by see through openings , which will hide the ladies from the ground floor . A huge bust portrait of the Late Mahraja Krushna Chandra Gajapati adorns the 'singhasana' (throne) as a respect for this great soul .The guns and the swords so dominant in the other palace are mysteriously missing . Unfortunately all this history is decaying and gathering dust with none to take proper care for them . "It will require huge financial investment to take care of the durbar hall and its belongings which the present Maharaja is not capable of and unless the government wakes up fast the palace history will be in ruins" says Purna Chandra Mohapatra the Secretary of a leading cultural organization Siddhanta , which is coincidently getting ready the History of Paralakhemundi .

News from Gajapati,ORISSA 7th May 2007

Paralakhemundi (7.5.2007):

The wild tuskers who had gone on rampage in the Kasinagar Block of Gajapati killing two persons and injuring another lady and destroying properties and houses besides destroying seasonal crops ,are still loitering around this area keeping the villagers of this block on tenterhook . The wild elephants who had escaped from the Lakhari Elephant sanctuary in the Mohona Block of Gajapati , had in the last fortnight traveled into the adjoining Rayagada District into the GPs of Padamapur and Gudari before they traveled back into the Gajapati District through the densely populated Gunupur Block of the Rayagada District . There are reports that the elephants had used the road passing through the GIET Engineering College before they forayed into the Gajapati District vide the Sara , Badigan and Allada villages . Why the elephants attacked a hutment and killed its inmates is still a mystery as the wife of the victim who escaped miraculously has yet to give a vivid description of the entire incident . On the other hand the Forest Department staff led by Ranger Gouri Prasad Rath are hard pressed on the task of making the elephants go back to their sanctuary , no doubt a very difficult task considering that they have to be trekked back around 100km . By the time of reporting the elephants have been sighted near the Siali Village which is a bordering village on the Rayagada -Gajapati District border . The villagers of the Ullabhadra Village faced the wrath of the tuskers on their way back as the elephants destroyed houses belonging to P Raghunath , P Suggribalu ,P Surya and N Sundarika ,by pulling down the tinned roofs of their houses and fed themselves on the grains , rice ,pulses stored inside the tenements . Though fearful but angered at the havoc created by the monsters more than 500 tribals armed with drums , crackers , bows and arrows and cymbals all belonging to the villages of Majyalaguda , Lentaguda ,Taminguda ,Dindiguda ,Retaguda ,Ullabhadra , Yetamguda all in Kasinagar Block and a few from the Regada Village in the Gunupur Block are busy trying to shoo away the elephants as far as they can from their area . “The forest department staff do not have the expertise nor the manpower to deal with the situation and they are only keeping a watch on the herd hoping that the same will return back on the path they had come” says Satynarayan Choudhry a local correspondent who has been keeping a tab on the movement of the elephants .While the exact number in the herd has yet to be established there are reports that the herd consisting of 11 members are being led by a female along with two calves .

News from Gajapati,ORISSA

Paralakhemundi(3.05.2007):

Posters warning the police and the excise department staff not to harass the poor and innocent tribals in the name of implementing the Excise Act has sprung up in several places of Gosani Block of Gajapati . The posters written in Telugu supposed to have been put up by the CPI(Maoists) has created a panic amongst the public while the police have started investigating the matter .The posters which had become a common feature last year , warning a few individuals and also a few political persons of the block has once more stirred up a discussion as to what is the intention behind the putting up of such warnings and who are its perpetrators . The contents of the posters is limited to warning the administration and the police to stop harassing the tribals who are manufacturing country liquor in limited quantities and selling it as a source of income .But the people who have taken up the tender for manufacture and sale of the same are using their own muscle power and also the help of the police and the Excise staff in order to curb the sale by individuals on their own . The group who have taken the tender by paying heavy amount have confessed that as there is heavy illegal distillation of country liquor by certain people in a few marked villages , and unless this is stopped they would be incurring heavy losses . But the warning in the form of posters cannot be taken of lightly as there is every chance that if this has been really put up by the CPI(Maoist) , then there is bound to be a retaliation if the same is not obeyed . Though no police force has been deployed in the villages of Uppalada , Batasiripur etc in the Gosani Block , once the hub of radical activities in Gajapati investigations into the same has already been started . Today morning more posters have sprung up in a few adjoining villages .

The Silver Jubilee Celebration of the Bus Stand Porters Union of Paralakhemundi was organized in grand manner at the Town Hall of Paralakhemundi . The meeting was presided over by Pramod Kumar Sahu while the chief guest of the evening was the veteran trade union leader Santosh Kumar Mohapatra . Amongst the other guests were the local political personalities Trinath Sahu(Paralakhemundi MLA) , Basant Das (BJD District President) ,advocate Upendra Nayak ,councilor Hari Bada and advocate Murali Pattnaiak . This organization which was initially affiliated to the INTUC has now been reorganized under the South Orissa Federation of Trade Union .

The Gajapati District administration has purchased 10 ambulances for the rural areas of the Gajapati District under the Rastriya Shrama Vikas Yojana (RSVY) , a decision that has been welcomed by many quarters but has also given way to certain practical problems regarding the buying of ambulances when the money could have been utlised for more immediate issues . The administration and the health authorities seems to have made an emotional decision without understanding the fact that if the money under RSVY had to be utilized for health purpose then the same could have been used for construction of 'operation theatres' at the different PHC or UPHC or Block hospitals which are reeling under the impact of lack of manpower and shortage of basic facilities .For a simple delivery or a cesarean pregnant ladies are shifted from blocks to the District HQ hospital in the absence of a proper OT with all instruments , which could go a long way in increasing safe motherhood . One doctor who talked to this correspondent over the necessity of 10 ambulances said "We are lacking behing in having a sterile and safe OT in any PHC and this is the major reason we are forced to refer the patient to the District HQ hospital , and by simply using the same amount to upgrade the OT hundreds of lives could have been saved" . The CDMO Dr Bijaya Mangala Mohapatra who inaugurated the said ambulances though appeared satisfied at the purchase of so many ambulances , could not explain the necessity of an ambulance when the other major facilities were lagging behind in almost all the block hospitals . The said ambulances will be at the disposal of the BDO's while two ambulances with special teams will be placed at the R Udayagiri and Paralakhemundi .It may be mentioned here that there is already one ambulance at the District HQ Hospital , one donated under the MP grant at Uppalada , one donated by Hindustan Petroleum at the JITM Engineering College , two with the Serango Eye Clinic at Ranipentha , one with the Deepti Sadan a missionary based at Paralakhemundi , one with the Gajapati Police and nearly ten more with a few missionary located in the interior blocks of Gajapati . While the Ambulance at the DHH takes around ten calls a month the other are rarely used or utilized . As the rate of using the Ambulance is almost same to that of the other private carriers and the rates are not negotiatable many patients prefer to use cheaper vehicles like trekker or jeep to ferry the patients .