ON western Orissa High Court Bench Issues, Sambalpur 29/09/2011
In the interest of justice, what is wrong with that if that demand is being made? This is the most common and popular opinion for the establishment of a High Court Bench in Western Odisha.
“In the matter of high court bench matter, it is the parliament to make law in that regard. For that it is necessary to pass a resolution in state legislature in that regard. There is a report from Justice Jaswant Singh commission encoding a yardstick for having region to be entitled for having a high court bench. There is also a rule of law principled in a reported judgment 1992 O.L.R. vol.1 344 wherein, it is held that state legislature has no authority to make law in the matter of establishment of bench of high court. Where state is found to be lacking with authority to make law in the matter of establishment of high court bench, then under what authority state government appointed one man commission to look into the high court bench issue. If a report would come out then how much lawful such report would be? And as per the notice pasted on the clip board then again we are going laid an agitation and picketing different offices and court..But how long will we keep the stone turning or else we will sit with our finger crossed and as a silent witness. We must stick to our guns and must stick with it. We must catch the bull by the horns and be aware of loud mouthed spokesperson who unnecessarily take the mileage and promise the moon. I hope you understand it better. Only compelling, cogent and convincing grounds may justify the for a demand for a high court bench. But entertaining a desire to shifting of a bench in caviler fashion or on whim or caprice to please a group of people is neither wholesome nor desirable.”
Union Law and Justice Minister M Veerapa Moily assured to set up a bench of Orissa High Court at Sambalpur on 2010.
Addressing advocates of Sambalpur District Bar Association (SDBA), the minister said, ‘If at all there will be a bench of the High Court, it will be in Sambalpur.
‘I feel the necessity of a High Court bench in this backward region of the state,’ he added.
Advocates, common people of the region and leaders of all parties have been demanding setting up of a permanent bench of the High Court at Sambalpur since long.
The then Union Law Minister on July 14 had said that a bench of High Court of Orissa would be set up in Western Orissa. Later in a resolution passed in the general meeting of Orissa High Court Bar Association (OHCBA) the bar had condemned Moily’s statement stated as unfortunate and went on strike.
The then ,president of Sambalpur Bar Association Advocate Niranjan Tripathy said that the OHCBA is misinterpreting the Jaswant Committee report and the decision of Bhawani Shankar Tripathy vs. the State of Orissa where a division bench had taken the view that the existing High Should not be shifted.
Criticizing the stand taken by the OHCBA the then General Secretary Sambalpur Bar Association Dilip Kumar Bishi said that the OHCBA is wrong in saying that a bench cannot be established within a radius of 500 kms from the existing court as well as at least one third cases should originate from the place where the new bench is sought to be established is totally wrong. Giving the example of the formation of Orissa High Court from Patna High Court he said that at that time less than four per cent cases of Orissa were pending in Patna High Court.
Briefing the bar about the history regarding the controversy of setting up a High Court Bench in Sambalpur the Secretary and other senior members of the bar stated that the struggle of establishing a High Court started in the year 1959 when some Bar Association of western part of Orissa took an initiative to start a circuit court in Sambalpur, and from the year 1993 the existing Bar Associations are demanding a permanent bench. In the year 2004 again 37 Bar Associations of western part of Orissa approached the government to establish a permanent bench of High Court in Sambalpur. The members also said that in 1989 election setting up a bench of High Court at Sambalpur was part of the election manifesto of the then Janata Dal headed by ex Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.
But who moves a Court? Only the disadvantaged peoples move the Courts.
When a person is disadvantaged by some other person(s) or system, he or she moves an appropriate Court for justice. A severely disadvantaged person, whose life and liberty fall into jeopardy, needs the High Court.
But seeking justice from the High Court of Orissa is often more disadvantageous than the disadvantage a litigant wants removed, if he or she does not live in or around the City of Cuttack, where the High Court sits.
To move the High Court one needs a lawyer who practices there. And, once a lawyer is fixed, the litigant falls into a labyrinth where he / she seldom finds the remedy within reach. The more eminent the lawyer the more becomes the cost of his advice and service and the more distant becomes the horizon of justice.
Let me cite an instance of how litigants from remote corners of the State feel suffocated by depending on lawyers of Cuttack. A young friend from Sambalpur, name not mentioned, disadvantaged in the matter of his rank in government service, had requested me to recommend an efficient lawyer of Cuttack, whom he should hand over his case.
Like all highlanders, name not mentioned is a simple natured upright person. And such a person usually does not like to be deliberately harassed by another person or any authority. And highlanders are by orientation too law abiding to resort to ‘Bijuism’ against miscreant mandarins in administrative offices.
Bijuism is a typical synonym of hooliganism.
When Chief Minister after decades long public rejection, Biju Patnaik was instigating the peoples of Orissa for beating the bureaucrats as and when any of them was hit by any bad orders issued by any office.
It had given birth to such anarchy that his own secretariat staff had assaulted Biju himself and the peoples of Orissa had thrashed him to dustbin in the subsequent elections.
So a person like name not mentioned could never have resorted to Bijuism to avenge the injustice he was subjected to. The only best remedy a man like him could have besought was moving the Court for justice.
And, the appropriate Court (for him the High Court) was situated in Cuttack. This is why he had wanted me to find out a Cuttack based lawyer for him.
Amongst my many lawyer friends of Cuttack there is a senior one who is nationally well known and whom I personally respect. I asked him if he could help. He agreed. I informed name not mentioned. He came from Sambalpur with his file. The lawyer perused it and agreed to take up the case. He did not charge any consultation fee; but specified the amount that he would take in advance to conduct the case. The entire amount of money that he had demanded was paid in my presence.
The case was filed, was admitted and was registered vide a number of 2002.
And, the matter perhaps rests there.
Till date, name not mentioned has visited the lawyer many times and every time has paid for the juniors of the senior lawyer. But till date he has not been informed of any development.
How long is the period from 2002 to 2009?
The Court has many cases to settle and the lawyer has many cases to handle, he hears whenever he visits the chamber of the lawyer.
Who can stop the delay?
Should the lawyer not honestly say as to whether any case registered after this case in the year 2002 has so far been taken up or not?
Should the lawyer not think of the distance of Cuttack from Sambalpur and the turmoil his client must be going through during fruitless journeys in pursuit of justice?
Why he is not explaining him the real reason of delay?
As a man who had recommended this ‘eminent’ lawyer to name not mentioned, I am deeply embarrassed over the lackadaisical manner the seeker of justice is being treated with.
But this is not a solitary case.
This is just a sample of how peoples are being harassed because of the geographical distance of the citadel of justice from their places of dwelling.
On the other hand, the lawyers practicing in peripheral Courts suffer from acute mental agony when the inordinate delay in disposal of the appeal cases preferred by their clients in the High Court under their advice eclipses their professional credibility in the eyes of the persons disadvantaged by the lower Court verdict(s).
Had the High Court been having a bench at Sambalpur, peoples like name not mentioned might have pursued their cases through the lawyers of their locality. Cost of litigation should have drastically been less and the legal fraternity of Sambalpur side of Orissa could have earned utmost satisfaction out of their ability to professionally help their clients up to the highest stage of jurisprudence in the State.
I support the demand for a bench of Orissa High Court at Sambalpur and specifically at Sambalpur for the very reason that it is the peoples of Sambalpur that had facilitated creation of Orissa High Court.
It is here the peoples had revolted against disadvantage caused to them in seeking justice when Hindi was promulgated on 15.1.1895 as the court language by the then Chief Commissioner of the Central Provinces to which the British had arbitrarily annexed the Sambalpur district.
The peoples’ movement for restoration of their mother tongue Oriya as the Court language so that justice shall not stay beyond their reach had made the British to review the position.
In July 1901, the peoples of Sambalpur District had placed their specific demands before the new Chief commissioner Sir Andrew Fraser, wherein they had stressed that if the Government does not appreciate to restore Oriya language in the Sambalpur District under the plea that it may be inconvenient for the administration to have a particular District of the Central Provinces managed by a language different from that of the province, the Sambalpur District be immediately separated from the CP and be merged in the Oissa Division.
Sir Fraser extensively traveled throughout the Sambalpur District and noted the stark disadvantage the peoples were pushed into by denial of justice in their language and by keeping Courts out of their reach.
He sent to the Government of India a thorough report depicting the correctness of the peoples’ demand and suggested that the Sambalpur District should be separated from CP, “if it was thought impossible to have Oriya as the language of one of the Central provinces”.
Kula Gaurav Madhu Sudan Das on behalf of the Oriyas of Sambalpur moved a memorandum to the Government strengthening the same with Fraser’s findings, which the British Officer had also elaborated in his work “With the Rajas and Rayats”.
Though the Government did not agree to separate Sambalpur from CP, it decided to desist from keeping the Courts beyond the peoples’ reach and restored Oriya as the Court Language.
This administrative experience latter convinced the British to agree to restoration of Oriya speaking tracks to a Province and thus modern Orissa was created as the first State of India created on the basis of mother tongue.
Had there been no modern Orissa, there would never have been the High Court of Orissa.
To keep peoples of Sambalpur devoid of getting a bench of the Orissa High Court is not only an offense against the people of that area, but also an offense against history.
The entire population of Orissa must support the Sambalpur lawyers who are leading the most justified demand of the people who in fact had contributed their best to birth of Orissa.
Dr Pramod Rath now the president of Sambalpur Bar Association stands on the High Court bench Demand at Sambalpur “Lambasting the government for its apathetic toward their demand. DR Rath said: “We were forced to resort to this move. We have been agitating for more than thirty five years. But the government has turned a deaf ear to our longstanding and genuine demand.”
While discussing the question, "why a separate High Court Bench is needed in Western Odisha", these solid points come up.
1) Cuttack (where the only High Court of Odisha works) is too far from the people of Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Balangir and Sundergarh. The lack of proper communication aggravates the problems further.
2) There is a vernacular language problem. Although people of Western Odisha study in Odia language, their communicating language remains Sambalpuri or Koshli. The rural people basically do not have an access to the Odia book language, which is widely spoken in Cuttack. Most of the times, they lose the cases, as they cannot explain their stand on several issues.
3) Acute poverty is also one of the reason.
Establishment of a High Court Bench in Western Odisha will create a lot of opportunities for the western Odisha lawyers as well as the clients. This historic step will be an answer to many unanswered questions that include the denial of justice to many people from this region.
With the sort of track record of the government , some people are cynical of the establishment of the High court Bench at Sambalpur. What is Behind the move shall unfold only the committee at the central level starts studying ( READBARGAINING) and the kind of people in the central committee, its too early to celebrate it. May wisdom prevails and everything goes well , otherwise people might not stick to the Gandhian means which so far adopted. They have tasted something strange now. We are still sitting in the tinder box.
Siddhartha Shankar Mishra,
Bureau Chief, These Days, Orissa,
Sambalpur
PH - +919937965779
October 05, 2011
October 04, 2011
Chindabaram in a fiasco, especially Congress.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee met in New York on Sunday evening for the first time
after the 2G note controversy erupted.
Pranab refused to speak on the issue, saying the matter is sub judice and he would first speak to "valued colleague" P Chidambaram and other leaders.
The CBI’s duty is to enquire and investigate whenever the evidence of latest comes out. Already A.Raja, the first accused has already told the court that the Home Minister Chidambaram and PM Manmohan Sigh know much and they should be quest.
In a new twist in the 2G controversy, sources have told CNN-IBN that Home Minister P Chidambaram had offered to resign when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called him. Sources say this prompted the prime minister to wholeheartedly back his home minister.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he has full faith in Chidambaram during both his stints as finance and now home minister. He also made it clear that there was no rift between his senior most ministers and that the government was in no mood to give in to pressure from the Opposition.
The prime minister has chosen to downplay his meeting with Mukherjee in New York, saying there was nothing unusual in it.
Congress sources maintain that top leaders, including the prime minister, are likely to meet party president Sonia Gandhi, once the PM returns. Gandhi has directed her party members to maintain a united front in the face of opposition charges that there was a rift within the two top Congress ministers.
So, it is no surprise that All India Congress Committee general secretary Digvijay Singh, considered a Chidambaram-baiter, has come out in full support of the home minister, alleging he was being targeted by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and saffron parties. The government and the Congress have been in a firefighting mode to save the multi-pronged attack on the UPA from both BJP and Left parties.
The president of AICC Sonia Gandhi also asked the entire Congress cadre behind the Chidambaram. What is this discrimination?
Can one feel the CBI is an independent body when we see the statements favor or in support of Chidambaram.
The same Congress party is silent on Chidambaram’s role in 2G Spectrum. They don’t show interest to open the mouth on Mukesh Ambani’s role in KG Basin’s report of CAG.
If we see all of this the CBI is definitely vindictive on some persons who are not interested by AICC President Sonia Gandhi or party elders.
One thing is evident that the PM Manmohan Singh has been made by the people from his own league to make way for the next prime ministerial candidate, Rahul Gandhi.
Raja informed the PM that both issuance of 121 new licenses and 35 dual technology licences, "were discussed with external affairs minister at length."
The late PM PV Narasimha Rao was always correct that if anything of like this happens, his comment was ‘law will take it’s own course’.
It is better to recollect the facts of Chidambaram in LIC and Andhra Bank episodes few years before.
Trouble began when an RTI note revealed that Pranab Mukherjee's ministry had written to the Prime Minister's Office saying that Chidambaram could have prevented the 2G scam.With a 1.76 lakh Rupees scam for which DMK Minister A. Raja is in jail, it was obvious from day one and more so after the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Siungh admitted that he knew about the scam but had to keep quiet due to Coalition Dharma. What he meant was that the Congress also shared in the profits due to the scam and Raja was not the only beneficiary. The Congress since Indira Gandhi's days as Prime Minister, has been seeped in corruption. Remember, she was the one who, as Prime Minister made the statement "Corruption is a global phenomenon". After this, anyone being accused of corruption, gave the same excuse, justifying their being corrupt. All this money is in Swiss Banks. It is brought out during elections for expenditure in excess of what the Election Commission permits and to bribe the voters. Also remember the Rs. 65 lakhs withdrawn around election time, from State Bank of India, 4 decades ago, which got exposed in the Press. .All the three witnesses, the Cashier at SBI Branch from where the money was withdrawn, the person who withdrew the money on Smt. Gandhi's behalf and the driver of the car who took this person to the SBI Branch...all three died in mysterious circumstances. Why do you think the Congress is not serious about getting back the black money stashed abroad while other Governments in the world are putting pressure on Swiss Banks to expose the names of those holding accounts in the Swiss Banks? Money paid by Bofors, HDW, HInduja, UNION CARBIDE etc. etc. etc., to the Congress is all stashed in Swiss Banks. Wonder if Sonia Gandhi's secret visit out of the country, on grounds of treatment, saying it is a private matter, was really to reconcile accounts in the Swiss Banks and ensure they did not come out in the open. Rajiv Gandhi's name already appears in the list along with Sharad Pawar and several others. !!!
Siddhartha shanakar mishra,Bureau Chief,These Days
Sambalpur – 768004,
Orissa,
Mob - 0993796779
after the 2G note controversy erupted.
Pranab refused to speak on the issue, saying the matter is sub judice and he would first speak to "valued colleague" P Chidambaram and other leaders.
The CBI’s duty is to enquire and investigate whenever the evidence of latest comes out. Already A.Raja, the first accused has already told the court that the Home Minister Chidambaram and PM Manmohan Sigh know much and they should be quest.
In a new twist in the 2G controversy, sources have told CNN-IBN that Home Minister P Chidambaram had offered to resign when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called him. Sources say this prompted the prime minister to wholeheartedly back his home minister.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he has full faith in Chidambaram during both his stints as finance and now home minister. He also made it clear that there was no rift between his senior most ministers and that the government was in no mood to give in to pressure from the Opposition.
The prime minister has chosen to downplay his meeting with Mukherjee in New York, saying there was nothing unusual in it.
Congress sources maintain that top leaders, including the prime minister, are likely to meet party president Sonia Gandhi, once the PM returns. Gandhi has directed her party members to maintain a united front in the face of opposition charges that there was a rift within the two top Congress ministers.
So, it is no surprise that All India Congress Committee general secretary Digvijay Singh, considered a Chidambaram-baiter, has come out in full support of the home minister, alleging he was being targeted by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and saffron parties. The government and the Congress have been in a firefighting mode to save the multi-pronged attack on the UPA from both BJP and Left parties.
The president of AICC Sonia Gandhi also asked the entire Congress cadre behind the Chidambaram. What is this discrimination?
Can one feel the CBI is an independent body when we see the statements favor or in support of Chidambaram.
The same Congress party is silent on Chidambaram’s role in 2G Spectrum. They don’t show interest to open the mouth on Mukesh Ambani’s role in KG Basin’s report of CAG.
If we see all of this the CBI is definitely vindictive on some persons who are not interested by AICC President Sonia Gandhi or party elders.
One thing is evident that the PM Manmohan Singh has been made by the people from his own league to make way for the next prime ministerial candidate, Rahul Gandhi.
Raja informed the PM that both issuance of 121 new licenses and 35 dual technology licences, "were discussed with external affairs minister at length."
The late PM PV Narasimha Rao was always correct that if anything of like this happens, his comment was ‘law will take it’s own course’.
It is better to recollect the facts of Chidambaram in LIC and Andhra Bank episodes few years before.
Trouble began when an RTI note revealed that Pranab Mukherjee's ministry had written to the Prime Minister's Office saying that Chidambaram could have prevented the 2G scam.With a 1.76 lakh Rupees scam for which DMK Minister A. Raja is in jail, it was obvious from day one and more so after the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Siungh admitted that he knew about the scam but had to keep quiet due to Coalition Dharma. What he meant was that the Congress also shared in the profits due to the scam and Raja was not the only beneficiary. The Congress since Indira Gandhi's days as Prime Minister, has been seeped in corruption. Remember, she was the one who, as Prime Minister made the statement "Corruption is a global phenomenon". After this, anyone being accused of corruption, gave the same excuse, justifying their being corrupt. All this money is in Swiss Banks. It is brought out during elections for expenditure in excess of what the Election Commission permits and to bribe the voters. Also remember the Rs. 65 lakhs withdrawn around election time, from State Bank of India, 4 decades ago, which got exposed in the Press. .All the three witnesses, the Cashier at SBI Branch from where the money was withdrawn, the person who withdrew the money on Smt. Gandhi's behalf and the driver of the car who took this person to the SBI Branch...all three died in mysterious circumstances. Why do you think the Congress is not serious about getting back the black money stashed abroad while other Governments in the world are putting pressure on Swiss Banks to expose the names of those holding accounts in the Swiss Banks? Money paid by Bofors, HDW, HInduja, UNION CARBIDE etc. etc. etc., to the Congress is all stashed in Swiss Banks. Wonder if Sonia Gandhi's secret visit out of the country, on grounds of treatment, saying it is a private matter, was really to reconcile accounts in the Swiss Banks and ensure they did not come out in the open. Rajiv Gandhi's name already appears in the list along with Sharad Pawar and several others. !!!
Siddhartha shanakar mishra,Bureau Chief,These Days
Sambalpur – 768004,
Orissa,
Mob - 0993796779
PATNAAGARH LANDSCAME
Farmers cheated at Patnagarh, Balangir 05/10/2011
(News gathered at sambalpur)
Balangir , Patnagarh is a place which is about 170 km from sambalpur.
Lingaraj Sahu of Ghumer village under Patnagarh sub-division lost his mental balance after he came to know that his four acres of agricultural land was fraudulently taken away by a company in the name of setting up small industries. He could not reconcile to the fact that his land was no more in his possession and it was registered in the name of the company. Madan Kand, another villager, died of shock after his 1.94 acres of land was grabbed by the company in the same manner. Around 100 farmers of Balangir district, for the last five years, have been running from pillar to post to get their lands back from the company. Around 640 acres has gone into the possession of a company. Even though a Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC)-level inquiry was done after the matter came to light in 2006, the farmers are yet to get justice. It is mostly the farmers under Patnagarh who have been cheated. After taking lease, the company allegedly began Jatropha plantation instead of dairy development and other livelihood enterprises as promised at the time of taking lands. Sources said, in 2005 an Agra-based private company, Taj Biodiesel, (which is also known by different names locally like Spark etc) contacted farmers and told them that their lands will be taken on lease to set up enterprises like incense stick making, dairy etc for their benefit. As alleged, all these lands were taken fraudulently by the company which reportedly asked the farmers to come to tehsil office to sign on documents. Without knowing what they were signing on, the villagers signed on the sale deeds. Some of the affected villagers are residents of Jalpali, Ghumer, Ainlatunga and Ghunghutipali in Patnagarh block. Even after three years of RDC inquiry, the farmers are yet to know about the fate of their lands, nor has the RDC report been made available to them despite repeated requests. On the instruction of then revenue secretary GVV Sharma, RDC Madhusudan Padhi was looking into the matter and after interacting with farmers he had admitted there was gross violation in land dealings by the company. The farmers, meanwhile, have met several officials and politicians, but they have not got any assurance. They are now waiting for the final decision of the Board of Revenue and Planning to move the High Court. They are also thinking of filing criminal cases against the company. It is also a known fact that around 640 acres of land have been grabbed by fraudulent means by the company.“We have been fighting for the last five years. RDC also met us and promised that our lands would be returned. But the issue had got more complicated with the files moving from one office to another,” said Krushna Chandra Banchhor, a farmer of Jalpali village who has lost 6.92 acres. He said their only hope now is the High Court verdict. Puspanjali Satpathy, a researcher dealing with land alienation, said that Balangir case is just the tip of the iceberg. “This problem has happened due to the government policy for promotion of biodiesel plantations in the lands often treated as wastelands. This policy has opened up scope for entry of unscrupulous private companies into the area,” said Satpathy. Meanwhile, Balangir Collector Sailendra Narayan Dey has asked the Patnagarh tehsildar to relook into the matter by meeting the farmers individually. He, however, said that he was yet to get the RDC report.
{“Allowing corporates to negotiate directly with gullible farmers for land acquisition can be a dangerous proposition. Abhadhoot Sahoo, a 65-year-old farmer of Gungatipali village under Patnagarh block in Bolangir district, realises it better than anybody else.
Mr. Sahoo parted with his about 9 acres under the impression that he was leasing his land for three years.
He claimed to have received Rs. 6,000 per acre in 2005. But two years later in 2007, the farmer got a rude shock when he was informed that he had actually sold the land.
Krushna Chandra Banchhoor, fellow villager of Mr. Sahoo, had faced similar fraud. Mr. Banchhoor lost 6.92 acres in lieu of paltry Rs. 42,000. When this came to the light, the narration by farmers was hard to be believed.
But an inquiry conducted by the then Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Sambalpur, report of which was obtained recently by exercise of RTI Act, made it clear that about 358 acres in Bolangir district was acquired by nine companies from New Delhi and one from Agra using dubious means. Several acres of land were acquired in the name of jatropha cultivation. ( Courtesy “ The Hindu” August 31, 2011 )”}
The Industrial Revolutions:
The term 'industrial revolution' was used to describe the period by the 1830s, but modern historians increasingly call this period the 'first industrial revolution', characterised by developments in textiles, iron and steam led by Britain, to differentiate it from a 'second' revolution of the 1850s onwards, characterised by steel, electrics and automobiles led by the US and Germany.
What Changed – Industrially and Economically:
• The invention of steam power, which was used to power factories and transport and allowed for deeper mining.
• Improvement of iron making techniques allowing for vastly higher production levels.
• The textile industry was transformed by new machines – such as the Spinning Jenny - and factories, again allowing for much higher production at a lower cost.
• Better machine tools allowed for more and better machines.
• Developments in metallurgy and chemical production.
• Creation of new and quicker transport networks thanks to first canals and then railways.
What Changed – Socially and Culturally:
• Rapid urbanisation leading to dense, cramped housing and living conditions.
• New city and factory cultures affecting family and peer groups.
• Debates and laws regarding child labour, public health and working conditions.
• Anti-technology groups such as the Luddites.
Causes of the Industrial Revolution:
• The end of feudalism changes economic relationships.
• Higher population because of less disease and lower infant mortality allowed for a larger industrial workforce.
• The agricultural revolution frees people from the soil, allowing – or driving – them into cities and manufacturing.
• Proportionally large amounts of spare capital for investment.
• Inventions and the scientific revolution allowing for new technology.
• Colonial trade networks.
• The presence of all the required resources close together.
• Culture of hard work, taking risks and developing ideas.
The state of Orissa is acting like an agent for the company. The affected land is being farmed; it is already productive. Why give it away? The poor farmers have lost their faiths in the government machinery and the companies who are dealing with them in fraudulent fashion.
Siddhartha Shankar Mishra,
Bureau Chief,
THESE DAYS,
Orissa, Sambalpur.
PH - +919937965779
(News gathered at sambalpur)
Balangir , Patnagarh is a place which is about 170 km from sambalpur.
Lingaraj Sahu of Ghumer village under Patnagarh sub-division lost his mental balance after he came to know that his four acres of agricultural land was fraudulently taken away by a company in the name of setting up small industries. He could not reconcile to the fact that his land was no more in his possession and it was registered in the name of the company. Madan Kand, another villager, died of shock after his 1.94 acres of land was grabbed by the company in the same manner. Around 100 farmers of Balangir district, for the last five years, have been running from pillar to post to get their lands back from the company. Around 640 acres has gone into the possession of a company. Even though a Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC)-level inquiry was done after the matter came to light in 2006, the farmers are yet to get justice. It is mostly the farmers under Patnagarh who have been cheated. After taking lease, the company allegedly began Jatropha plantation instead of dairy development and other livelihood enterprises as promised at the time of taking lands. Sources said, in 2005 an Agra-based private company, Taj Biodiesel, (which is also known by different names locally like Spark etc) contacted farmers and told them that their lands will be taken on lease to set up enterprises like incense stick making, dairy etc for their benefit. As alleged, all these lands were taken fraudulently by the company which reportedly asked the farmers to come to tehsil office to sign on documents. Without knowing what they were signing on, the villagers signed on the sale deeds. Some of the affected villagers are residents of Jalpali, Ghumer, Ainlatunga and Ghunghutipali in Patnagarh block. Even after three years of RDC inquiry, the farmers are yet to know about the fate of their lands, nor has the RDC report been made available to them despite repeated requests. On the instruction of then revenue secretary GVV Sharma, RDC Madhusudan Padhi was looking into the matter and after interacting with farmers he had admitted there was gross violation in land dealings by the company. The farmers, meanwhile, have met several officials and politicians, but they have not got any assurance. They are now waiting for the final decision of the Board of Revenue and Planning to move the High Court. They are also thinking of filing criminal cases against the company. It is also a known fact that around 640 acres of land have been grabbed by fraudulent means by the company.“We have been fighting for the last five years. RDC also met us and promised that our lands would be returned. But the issue had got more complicated with the files moving from one office to another,” said Krushna Chandra Banchhor, a farmer of Jalpali village who has lost 6.92 acres. He said their only hope now is the High Court verdict. Puspanjali Satpathy, a researcher dealing with land alienation, said that Balangir case is just the tip of the iceberg. “This problem has happened due to the government policy for promotion of biodiesel plantations in the lands often treated as wastelands. This policy has opened up scope for entry of unscrupulous private companies into the area,” said Satpathy. Meanwhile, Balangir Collector Sailendra Narayan Dey has asked the Patnagarh tehsildar to relook into the matter by meeting the farmers individually. He, however, said that he was yet to get the RDC report.
{“Allowing corporates to negotiate directly with gullible farmers for land acquisition can be a dangerous proposition. Abhadhoot Sahoo, a 65-year-old farmer of Gungatipali village under Patnagarh block in Bolangir district, realises it better than anybody else.
Mr. Sahoo parted with his about 9 acres under the impression that he was leasing his land for three years.
He claimed to have received Rs. 6,000 per acre in 2005. But two years later in 2007, the farmer got a rude shock when he was informed that he had actually sold the land.
Krushna Chandra Banchhoor, fellow villager of Mr. Sahoo, had faced similar fraud. Mr. Banchhoor lost 6.92 acres in lieu of paltry Rs. 42,000. When this came to the light, the narration by farmers was hard to be believed.
But an inquiry conducted by the then Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Sambalpur, report of which was obtained recently by exercise of RTI Act, made it clear that about 358 acres in Bolangir district was acquired by nine companies from New Delhi and one from Agra using dubious means. Several acres of land were acquired in the name of jatropha cultivation. ( Courtesy “ The Hindu” August 31, 2011 )”}
The Industrial Revolutions:
The term 'industrial revolution' was used to describe the period by the 1830s, but modern historians increasingly call this period the 'first industrial revolution', characterised by developments in textiles, iron and steam led by Britain, to differentiate it from a 'second' revolution of the 1850s onwards, characterised by steel, electrics and automobiles led by the US and Germany.
What Changed – Industrially and Economically:
• The invention of steam power, which was used to power factories and transport and allowed for deeper mining.
• Improvement of iron making techniques allowing for vastly higher production levels.
• The textile industry was transformed by new machines – such as the Spinning Jenny - and factories, again allowing for much higher production at a lower cost.
• Better machine tools allowed for more and better machines.
• Developments in metallurgy and chemical production.
• Creation of new and quicker transport networks thanks to first canals and then railways.
What Changed – Socially and Culturally:
• Rapid urbanisation leading to dense, cramped housing and living conditions.
• New city and factory cultures affecting family and peer groups.
• Debates and laws regarding child labour, public health and working conditions.
• Anti-technology groups such as the Luddites.
Causes of the Industrial Revolution:
• The end of feudalism changes economic relationships.
• Higher population because of less disease and lower infant mortality allowed for a larger industrial workforce.
• The agricultural revolution frees people from the soil, allowing – or driving – them into cities and manufacturing.
• Proportionally large amounts of spare capital for investment.
• Inventions and the scientific revolution allowing for new technology.
• Colonial trade networks.
• The presence of all the required resources close together.
• Culture of hard work, taking risks and developing ideas.
The state of Orissa is acting like an agent for the company. The affected land is being farmed; it is already productive. Why give it away? The poor farmers have lost their faiths in the government machinery and the companies who are dealing with them in fraudulent fashion.
Siddhartha Shankar Mishra,
Bureau Chief,
THESE DAYS,
Orissa, Sambalpur.
PH - +919937965779
MODI FOBIA
Modi and Sanjiv Bhatt issue 04/10/2011
Rights activists and suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt's supporters on Monday took the protest against his arrest to the street and alleged that the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat was trying to throttle the voices of dissent and intimidating the key witnesses in the 2002 riot cases.
Is Sanjiv Bhatt a real thorn or a diversionary player? As we all know, Bhatt says he was present when directions were issued by Modi to let Hindus “vent out their anger” and teach Muslims a lesson. By all accounts, Bhatt did give this version, but was not called before the SIT committee to depose. He pretty much played by the book and did not use other means of exposure. In this sense, he cannot be termed a whistle-blower. It has been several years and he stayed in office.
On September 30, he was put behind bars for kidnapping a junior to implicate Modi. Constable K D Pant lodged an FIR saying that he was wrongly confined and threatened to fabricate evidence. This is hilarious. Before the might of Modi, why would a senior recruit someone way down in the hierarchy to buffer his case?
Bhatt's wife Shweta has written to the Union home minister for ensuring her husband's safety, former Gujarat DGP R.B. Sreekumar led a sit-in at Jantar Mantar.
Modi has to go to jail no matter what ever drama he does this blood thirsty rakshas has no any place in civilized world. Is Mr. bhatt a muslim? no so modi only plays hindutva card to fool people he has no any religion his religion is hatred, a shameless man can do anything but the time is not too far he has to come on h is knees and accept the crime he has committed.
Looks like some people have already made judgements claiming Modi is honest, while a few others claim Bhatt is honest. Let the courts decide. I wonder how will a Anna Hazare's Lokpal work when the chief Minister like Modi can still target people like a Sanjiv Bhatt using the local courts & also vice-versa, when a IPS officer targets a Chief Minister. How will Lokpal prove who is right or wrong in this kinda cases?
Mr. sajiv produced the constable as witness and modi threatened the constable to tell lies else he will kill him. What the poor cop can do he has seen the misery of Mr. Bhatt .But even by doing this all modi himself will cry and speak the truth. This is the trend in modi raj whoever speak the truth is silenced for ever .In this case modi cant dare to repeat the same.modi's days are numbered as he is gone mad.
Rejection of the application moved by the police seeking custody of the arrested IPS officer Sanjiv Bhat by the judge,who termed the case filed by the police as frivilous,says it all. The whole episode is nothing but a brazen misuse of power and a shameful act of vendetta.
This is a tradition going on ever since India got independence . Whosoever mess with ruling government whether BJP or congress has to pay the price . Mr Bhatt may have been an honest but for politicos honesty is not the best policy.. Our nation should be aware of the fact that politicians are draining people's money.
Having done sensitive assignments, including being in charge of Chief Minister’s security, Bhatt is aware of threat perceptions. He has mentioned in his affidavit his concern for the safety of his immediate family members. “I have presently one PSO (Personal Security Officer) and one sentry, which is highly inadequate. The minimum requirement should be four more guards and one more PSO,” he says.
But that is not going to deter him from speaking the truth. Following summons, he is ready to face the Nanavati Commission – probing the Godhra case and the role of Modi in the post-Godhra riots - on May 16. We hope to hear more startling revelations from the man who knows too much and importantly, is willing to talk too.
Anna Hazare today said that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had done ''wrong'' by arresting IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt as the matter was with the Supreme Court.
Former Gujarat DGP RB Sreekumar today attacked chief minister Narendra Modi over the arrest of IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt, claiming “Modi-phobia” had gripped police and bureaucracy in the state .
One must catch the bull by the horns and finally who will bell the cat.
SIDDHARTHA SHAKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS, ORISSA,SAMBALPUR.
Rights activists and suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt's supporters on Monday took the protest against his arrest to the street and alleged that the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat was trying to throttle the voices of dissent and intimidating the key witnesses in the 2002 riot cases.
Is Sanjiv Bhatt a real thorn or a diversionary player? As we all know, Bhatt says he was present when directions were issued by Modi to let Hindus “vent out their anger” and teach Muslims a lesson. By all accounts, Bhatt did give this version, but was not called before the SIT committee to depose. He pretty much played by the book and did not use other means of exposure. In this sense, he cannot be termed a whistle-blower. It has been several years and he stayed in office.
On September 30, he was put behind bars for kidnapping a junior to implicate Modi. Constable K D Pant lodged an FIR saying that he was wrongly confined and threatened to fabricate evidence. This is hilarious. Before the might of Modi, why would a senior recruit someone way down in the hierarchy to buffer his case?
Bhatt's wife Shweta has written to the Union home minister for ensuring her husband's safety, former Gujarat DGP R.B. Sreekumar led a sit-in at Jantar Mantar.
Modi has to go to jail no matter what ever drama he does this blood thirsty rakshas has no any place in civilized world. Is Mr. bhatt a muslim? no so modi only plays hindutva card to fool people he has no any religion his religion is hatred, a shameless man can do anything but the time is not too far he has to come on h is knees and accept the crime he has committed.
Looks like some people have already made judgements claiming Modi is honest, while a few others claim Bhatt is honest. Let the courts decide. I wonder how will a Anna Hazare's Lokpal work when the chief Minister like Modi can still target people like a Sanjiv Bhatt using the local courts & also vice-versa, when a IPS officer targets a Chief Minister. How will Lokpal prove who is right or wrong in this kinda cases?
Mr. sajiv produced the constable as witness and modi threatened the constable to tell lies else he will kill him. What the poor cop can do he has seen the misery of Mr. Bhatt .But even by doing this all modi himself will cry and speak the truth. This is the trend in modi raj whoever speak the truth is silenced for ever .In this case modi cant dare to repeat the same.modi's days are numbered as he is gone mad.
Rejection of the application moved by the police seeking custody of the arrested IPS officer Sanjiv Bhat by the judge,who termed the case filed by the police as frivilous,says it all. The whole episode is nothing but a brazen misuse of power and a shameful act of vendetta.
This is a tradition going on ever since India got independence . Whosoever mess with ruling government whether BJP or congress has to pay the price . Mr Bhatt may have been an honest but for politicos honesty is not the best policy.. Our nation should be aware of the fact that politicians are draining people's money.
Having done sensitive assignments, including being in charge of Chief Minister’s security, Bhatt is aware of threat perceptions. He has mentioned in his affidavit his concern for the safety of his immediate family members. “I have presently one PSO (Personal Security Officer) and one sentry, which is highly inadequate. The minimum requirement should be four more guards and one more PSO,” he says.
But that is not going to deter him from speaking the truth. Following summons, he is ready to face the Nanavati Commission – probing the Godhra case and the role of Modi in the post-Godhra riots - on May 16. We hope to hear more startling revelations from the man who knows too much and importantly, is willing to talk too.
Anna Hazare today said that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had done ''wrong'' by arresting IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt as the matter was with the Supreme Court.
Former Gujarat DGP RB Sreekumar today attacked chief minister Narendra Modi over the arrest of IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt, claiming “Modi-phobia” had gripped police and bureaucracy in the state .
One must catch the bull by the horns and finally who will bell the cat.
SIDDHARTHA SHAKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS, ORISSA,SAMBALPUR.
Planning commission sick joke on Aam Admi
Planning commission is ruthless on downtrodden/Amm Admi 04/10/2011
People all over the country are upset about the Rs 32 BPL cap set by the Planning Commission and are calling it a cruel joke. Rupees Thirty Two- that has suddenly become a bench mark. If you have that princely sum in your pocket and you spend that amount to keep your body and soul together, that is spend the money to sustain yourself the whole day by eating a sumptuous meal, you are NOT Below Poverty Line. In other words, you are above BPL. Who says this? It has been announced from the house tops by the Planning Commission of India. Is it a joke? And for that matter a cruel joke. Indeed a sick joke. Who came out with this magic sum of Rs 32 as the amount sufficient enough to buy you a wholesome meal for the entire day of 24 hours?
Congress spokesperson MR Singhvi sought to play down some differences of opinion saying that . “ Making casual remarks will not help. There can be genuine differences but the planning commission is the right forum to decide or analyse the inputs.”
Experts have panned the figures. Aruna Roy, a member of the Sonia Gandhi-headed National Advisory Council (NAC), said the plan panel’s move to defend its new definition reflected the government’s lack of empathy for the poor. “This is aimed only at artificially reducing the number of persons below the poverty line to reduce government expenditure on the poor,” Roy, one of those who conceived rural job scheme, said yesterday.
Food rights activist Colin Gonsalves described the definition as “shocking and horrible”. The per capita expenditure of Rs 32 per day in cities won’t be sufficient even for food. “A person cannot feed himself properly with this money. Where from he will spend on clothing, health and other things?
It was damn hilarious and is good enough to get anyone burst with laughter but the best part of it, is the people who cracked this joke were damn serious about it. The so called (or self proclaimed) best planning brain of our country that came together and termed as planning commission voted for a statement that says "a daily expenditure of Rs 31 enough to sustain a family of five in a city like Delhi and Mumbai". Hey, nothing wrong with your eyes or specs, and you don't need to read it over and again, you have read it write, it is Rs 31 only. In its affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the panel quoting the Tendulkar Committee's recommendations said the urban poverty line is fixed at an expenditure of Rs 4,284 per month while it is Rs 3,905 a month in rural areas (check the article Plan panel's joke on poor).
Let me quote the definition of poverty line, that I know, poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living. The key word here is adequate standard of living, It means that the money is enough to bear the expenses on health, food and education. A family spending more would fall in the above poverty line (APL) category. 31 Rs for food, education and health? I have no idea on what basis the gurus of economics and politics have arrived at this figure but if I walk on road and pick any random guy irrespective of his education level and ask him to survive in Delhi or Mumbai with a paltry sum of 31 and support a family of 5 too, he will immediately help me with the address of nearby mental asylum and having asked this question, I rightfully deserve a place there.
Ahluwalia sits in a large air-conditioned office in the Yojana Bhawan and a large brass name plate outside announces his designation as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India. Indeed a high sounding name but this output of work brought a sense of shame to the Planning Commission of India. The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could not roar like a king of the jungle as his bosom friend, Montek Singh’s Rs 32 as diet money in the year of our Lord 2011 won’t buy enough edibles that a Singh could even whimper.
Many Ministers of the Government of India felt miffed at the drum beats of the opposition parties ridiculing the sense of pragmatism of old Montek endlessly. The journos got enough material to write against the poor judgement of an important arm of administration that has the onerous responsibility of planning for five years for the whole country.
A man drawing a fat salary, living in a Lutyen’s bungalow, travelling in a chauffeur driven car at government’s expense betrayed his ignorance of the economic situation of common man so badly that even his bosom friend ( read Prime Minister) had no words to offer in defence of a crest fallen friend.
Ignorance is reining supreme and the darkness thus created by battalions of foreign educated economists and planners has blackened the minds of the government mandarins. The magic figure of 32 is just one product that got publicity at both the national and the international levels. One is compelled to use the cliché: where ignorance is bliss it is folly to be wise.
The experienced trouble shooter of the Government of India, Pranab Mukherjee, is busy on a different line at the moment. He is sharpening the spiritual aspect of his personality by devoting time and attention to Durga Pooja. Jairam Ramesh was roped in to help Montek Singh see reason and light of the day. Well, the nation heaved a sigh of relief when late in the evening on October 3 2011 it was officially announced that the magic figure of 32 had been withdrawn. So, for now, the curtains.
What else do we need to prove that we have absolute jokers running the country, who don't even know the ground realities or if know have turned blind eyes towards it because they are busy in realizing their own ulterior motives. Mr prime minister, if you have read about it somewhere, please try to take some corrective measures against it. Rs 31 is surely not enough to get one good meal for a single person, leave aside supporting a family of 5. Please ask your co-worker to stop ridiculing the poor by making these kind of law or statements because it will not go down with the people of this democratic country who may be unaware but not insensible or emotionless. Choice is yours, choose wisely.
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA, BUREAU CHIEF , These Days , ORISSA, SAMBALPUR
People all over the country are upset about the Rs 32 BPL cap set by the Planning Commission and are calling it a cruel joke. Rupees Thirty Two- that has suddenly become a bench mark. If you have that princely sum in your pocket and you spend that amount to keep your body and soul together, that is spend the money to sustain yourself the whole day by eating a sumptuous meal, you are NOT Below Poverty Line. In other words, you are above BPL. Who says this? It has been announced from the house tops by the Planning Commission of India. Is it a joke? And for that matter a cruel joke. Indeed a sick joke. Who came out with this magic sum of Rs 32 as the amount sufficient enough to buy you a wholesome meal for the entire day of 24 hours?
Congress spokesperson MR Singhvi sought to play down some differences of opinion saying that . “ Making casual remarks will not help. There can be genuine differences but the planning commission is the right forum to decide or analyse the inputs.”
Experts have panned the figures. Aruna Roy, a member of the Sonia Gandhi-headed National Advisory Council (NAC), said the plan panel’s move to defend its new definition reflected the government’s lack of empathy for the poor. “This is aimed only at artificially reducing the number of persons below the poverty line to reduce government expenditure on the poor,” Roy, one of those who conceived rural job scheme, said yesterday.
Food rights activist Colin Gonsalves described the definition as “shocking and horrible”. The per capita expenditure of Rs 32 per day in cities won’t be sufficient even for food. “A person cannot feed himself properly with this money. Where from he will spend on clothing, health and other things?
It was damn hilarious and is good enough to get anyone burst with laughter but the best part of it, is the people who cracked this joke were damn serious about it. The so called (or self proclaimed) best planning brain of our country that came together and termed as planning commission voted for a statement that says "a daily expenditure of Rs 31 enough to sustain a family of five in a city like Delhi and Mumbai". Hey, nothing wrong with your eyes or specs, and you don't need to read it over and again, you have read it write, it is Rs 31 only. In its affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the panel quoting the Tendulkar Committee's recommendations said the urban poverty line is fixed at an expenditure of Rs 4,284 per month while it is Rs 3,905 a month in rural areas (check the article Plan panel's joke on poor).
Let me quote the definition of poverty line, that I know, poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living. The key word here is adequate standard of living, It means that the money is enough to bear the expenses on health, food and education. A family spending more would fall in the above poverty line (APL) category. 31 Rs for food, education and health? I have no idea on what basis the gurus of economics and politics have arrived at this figure but if I walk on road and pick any random guy irrespective of his education level and ask him to survive in Delhi or Mumbai with a paltry sum of 31 and support a family of 5 too, he will immediately help me with the address of nearby mental asylum and having asked this question, I rightfully deserve a place there.
Ahluwalia sits in a large air-conditioned office in the Yojana Bhawan and a large brass name plate outside announces his designation as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India. Indeed a high sounding name but this output of work brought a sense of shame to the Planning Commission of India. The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could not roar like a king of the jungle as his bosom friend, Montek Singh’s Rs 32 as diet money in the year of our Lord 2011 won’t buy enough edibles that a Singh could even whimper.
Many Ministers of the Government of India felt miffed at the drum beats of the opposition parties ridiculing the sense of pragmatism of old Montek endlessly. The journos got enough material to write against the poor judgement of an important arm of administration that has the onerous responsibility of planning for five years for the whole country.
A man drawing a fat salary, living in a Lutyen’s bungalow, travelling in a chauffeur driven car at government’s expense betrayed his ignorance of the economic situation of common man so badly that even his bosom friend ( read Prime Minister) had no words to offer in defence of a crest fallen friend.
Ignorance is reining supreme and the darkness thus created by battalions of foreign educated economists and planners has blackened the minds of the government mandarins. The magic figure of 32 is just one product that got publicity at both the national and the international levels. One is compelled to use the cliché: where ignorance is bliss it is folly to be wise.
The experienced trouble shooter of the Government of India, Pranab Mukherjee, is busy on a different line at the moment. He is sharpening the spiritual aspect of his personality by devoting time and attention to Durga Pooja. Jairam Ramesh was roped in to help Montek Singh see reason and light of the day. Well, the nation heaved a sigh of relief when late in the evening on October 3 2011 it was officially announced that the magic figure of 32 had been withdrawn. So, for now, the curtains.
What else do we need to prove that we have absolute jokers running the country, who don't even know the ground realities or if know have turned blind eyes towards it because they are busy in realizing their own ulterior motives. Mr prime minister, if you have read about it somewhere, please try to take some corrective measures against it. Rs 31 is surely not enough to get one good meal for a single person, leave aside supporting a family of 5. Please ask your co-worker to stop ridiculing the poor by making these kind of law or statements because it will not go down with the people of this democratic country who may be unaware but not insensible or emotionless. Choice is yours, choose wisely.
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA, BUREAU CHIEF , These Days , ORISSA, SAMBALPUR
October 03, 2011
October 01, 2011
Vishaka agitation at Paramanpur
Industrilization and its effect on the poor people of Orissa aspecially the Sambalpur Region.1/10/2011
Industrialization has received wide acceptance as a major strategy for development all over the world. In the post-independence period, India embarked on a course of industrialization under the aegis of the public sector, which assumed “commanding heights”. The private sector also did not lag far behind under a system called ‘mixed economy’.
Orissa is predominantly an agricultural state where nearly seventy per cent of the working population depends on agriculture. The state has nearly forty per cent of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) population, which together make 9.78 million, apart from the people belonging to the Other Backward Castes (OBC).
As observed here all these protest movements are mainly directed against displacement of people and for protection of the local environment. The people complain against poor rate of compensation and gross inadequacies in matters of resettlement and rehabilitation. There are several instances in the past in which people have suffered heavily due to apathy of the state government wherever major projects were undertaken.
Our western Orissa is always the most neglected and people live in abject poverty and the rampant industrialization at different area of western Orissa is highly disgraceful and condemnable.
I had been to the Visakha Industry , which is 20 km away from sambalpur , located at Paramanpur . A long term agitation was going on over there. The district administration has given then 15 days time to solve out the issue. The villagers alleged that they were not allowed to go to their land because of a compound wall of the industrial house. "We took this decision when we did not get justice despite our repeated appeals to the district administration," an agitating villager said. They will sit in front of the collector office and fast till death. The pollution level is rampant over there. The Ceo of the company is even not visiting the proposed site and taking the help of local gundas and touts. Rather the poor villagers were put into the bars and now bailed out from the high court having false allegations against them.
The agitating families are apprehensive of the company taking over the lands given to them by the Government. Since they don’t have any land pattas (proof of possession), the tribal and Dalit families seek the demarcation of their lands. While the demarcation could not be taken up for the first time due to the unrest at VSS Medical at Burla, the second date had to be postponed due to the flood. However, a fresh date has been finalized for September 22.
Visaka Industries is setting up a 100,000-tonne capacity asbestos cement sheet plant here at an estimated cost of ` 40 crore. A majority of villagers has been opposing the project after they came to know that asbestos was carcinogenic.
The company has been accused of grabbing 130 acres of land, including 57 acres of forest and rayati land. Local MLAS and MPS are not any paying heed to the plight of the victims and necessary remedial steps are not extended to them and even the dist administration also. They are just collecting booties from the corporate housing and no reaction rather the poor people who suffer in the long run.
Dr Pramod Rath, the president of Sambalpur Bar association says if the government will not take any step after 15 days then we will take some major steps. The same has be reiterated by Mr Pramod Rath , an attorney at Sambalpur court.
I can say this is a close nexus between politicians and the corporate honchos.
Unfortunately the govt seems to be enclosed within a cocoon of insensitivity. It not only ignores the stifled voices of the suffering communities but is also adopting policies and measures to perpetuate the madness of the rapid industrialization. The government is busy signing with new MOUS with steel plants, Aluminum smelter plants, thermal power plants, and is still continuing to offer huge subsidies to investors in the form of guarantees, tax concessions and investment subsidies. Is the govt blind to the fact that these multinational companies are only interested in exploiting mineral reserves of our state especially western Orissa for maximum profits without any commitment to the poor and neglected masses of the villages and local people?
We the people of western Orissa need the support and cooperation to make these muffled voices of the suffering communities be heard. The human face to environmental issues must be projected. There is an urgent need to empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development , promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental hazards/issues and advocate partnership which will ensure that all peoples enjoy and a safer and more prosperous life.
Siddhartha Shankar mishra,
Bureau Chief,
These Days,
Orissa, Sambalpur,
Industrialization has received wide acceptance as a major strategy for development all over the world. In the post-independence period, India embarked on a course of industrialization under the aegis of the public sector, which assumed “commanding heights”. The private sector also did not lag far behind under a system called ‘mixed economy’.
Orissa is predominantly an agricultural state where nearly seventy per cent of the working population depends on agriculture. The state has nearly forty per cent of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) population, which together make 9.78 million, apart from the people belonging to the Other Backward Castes (OBC).
As observed here all these protest movements are mainly directed against displacement of people and for protection of the local environment. The people complain against poor rate of compensation and gross inadequacies in matters of resettlement and rehabilitation. There are several instances in the past in which people have suffered heavily due to apathy of the state government wherever major projects were undertaken.
Our western Orissa is always the most neglected and people live in abject poverty and the rampant industrialization at different area of western Orissa is highly disgraceful and condemnable.
I had been to the Visakha Industry , which is 20 km away from sambalpur , located at Paramanpur . A long term agitation was going on over there. The district administration has given then 15 days time to solve out the issue. The villagers alleged that they were not allowed to go to their land because of a compound wall of the industrial house. "We took this decision when we did not get justice despite our repeated appeals to the district administration," an agitating villager said. They will sit in front of the collector office and fast till death. The pollution level is rampant over there. The Ceo of the company is even not visiting the proposed site and taking the help of local gundas and touts. Rather the poor villagers were put into the bars and now bailed out from the high court having false allegations against them.
The agitating families are apprehensive of the company taking over the lands given to them by the Government. Since they don’t have any land pattas (proof of possession), the tribal and Dalit families seek the demarcation of their lands. While the demarcation could not be taken up for the first time due to the unrest at VSS Medical at Burla, the second date had to be postponed due to the flood. However, a fresh date has been finalized for September 22.
Visaka Industries is setting up a 100,000-tonne capacity asbestos cement sheet plant here at an estimated cost of ` 40 crore. A majority of villagers has been opposing the project after they came to know that asbestos was carcinogenic.
The company has been accused of grabbing 130 acres of land, including 57 acres of forest and rayati land. Local MLAS and MPS are not any paying heed to the plight of the victims and necessary remedial steps are not extended to them and even the dist administration also. They are just collecting booties from the corporate housing and no reaction rather the poor people who suffer in the long run.
Dr Pramod Rath, the president of Sambalpur Bar association says if the government will not take any step after 15 days then we will take some major steps. The same has be reiterated by Mr Pramod Rath , an attorney at Sambalpur court.
I can say this is a close nexus between politicians and the corporate honchos.
Unfortunately the govt seems to be enclosed within a cocoon of insensitivity. It not only ignores the stifled voices of the suffering communities but is also adopting policies and measures to perpetuate the madness of the rapid industrialization. The government is busy signing with new MOUS with steel plants, Aluminum smelter plants, thermal power plants, and is still continuing to offer huge subsidies to investors in the form of guarantees, tax concessions and investment subsidies. Is the govt blind to the fact that these multinational companies are only interested in exploiting mineral reserves of our state especially western Orissa for maximum profits without any commitment to the poor and neglected masses of the villages and local people?
We the people of western Orissa need the support and cooperation to make these muffled voices of the suffering communities be heard. The human face to environmental issues must be projected. There is an urgent need to empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development , promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental hazards/issues and advocate partnership which will ensure that all peoples enjoy and a safer and more prosperous life.
Siddhartha Shankar mishra,
Bureau Chief,
These Days,
Orissa, Sambalpur,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)