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 .