Orissa is an inhospitable place for children

Every 11th child dies before reaching the age of five

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER
Bhubaneswar, Oct. 26: Orissa is one of the most inhospitable places in the country to live in, at least for the children. Every 11th child dies in the state before reaching the age of five, according to the Food Security Atlas of Rural Orissa.
The UN World Food Programme and Institute for Human Development published Food Security Atlas (FSA) – which was released here on Saturday by planning commission member professor Abhijit Sen – reveals that under-five mortality in Orissa is 91 per cent per 1000 live births.
Kandhamal, which is presently in news for caste conflicts, reports the highest 187 under-five mortality.
"Forty-six per cent children under three in the state are underweight, 40 per cent are stunted while 20 per cent children are wasted. Two third of children suffer from mild to severe anaemia," says FSA.
The high rate of child mortality and poor health is attributed to the poverty. More than 15 million people live below the official poverty line, constituting 47 per cent of the state's rural population.
More than 50 lakh people suffer from calorie undernourishment. Protein consumption in the state is as low as 48 gram which compares poorly with the national average of 57 gram, points out the FSA.
People in the tribal dominated Koraput, Nowrangpur, Rayagada and Malkangiri districts have the lowest access to food. They spend Rs 250 per person per month on consumption, which is below the national expenditure level. The poor female literacy (less than 20 per cent) adds to food insecurity, it mentions.
The document has recommended for enhancement of agricultural productivity through watershed development and improved irrigation, developments of livelihoods of hill-forest based population, improvement of rural connectivity, women empowerment through literacy and land rights and mechanism for effective implementation of health and nutrition programme like Integrated Child Development and National Human Rights Commission.
Besides, it has recommended for shortening the chain intermediaries in food supply system, regularisation of casual and agricultural wages and land distribution.

Orissa BJP leader throws principle to wind for son's sake

Bhubaneswar: The BJP Legislature Party leader in Orissa Legislative Assembly Biswa Bhusan Harichandan always takes pride in his Khayatriya origin. He says his forefathers were patriotic, stood for values and laid down their lives while fighting against the British forces.
Mr Harichandan, who is presently holding industry portfolio in the coalition government headed by Naveen Patnaik, was a bitter critic of family politics when he was in sitting in the Opposition benches.
In the 90s, Mr Harichandan's campaign against family politics earned him huge popularity and forced senior Congress leader and former chief minister J.B. Patnaik to keep his wife Jayanti Patnaik and other relatives at a distance to save his own skin.
Now, the same Mr Harichandan is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a Lok Sabha seat for his son Prithiviraj Harichandan. The interesting fact is that senior leaders of the party find this as unsavoury. But none of them has mustered courage to protest because of Mr Harichandan's proximity to party leader L.K. Advani.
In 2003 municipal polls, Prithwiraj failed win as councilor from Bhubaneswar, his father's constituency. He is now all set to contest from the prestigious Berhampur seat presently represented by Union minister Chandrasekhar Sahu. (EOM)

A war heroine dies fighting government apathy

An IVT NEWS NETWORK tribute to Netaji's youngest solider Laxmi Indira Panda
Bhubaneswar, Oct. 6: Finally, - she fell in the battle field – not as tired and vanquished solider, – but as valiant heroine exposing the rotten faces of the society and people in power. Laxmi Indira Panda, one of the youngest soliders in Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army (INA), passed away on Monday at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. She was 83.
Recruited to Ranj Jhansi Regiment of INA at an early age of 13, Panda had rigorous training in Burma (Myanmar). During the World War II, she displayed uncommon courage and volour in the battlefield, surprising the British forces.
The country got independence, but Laxmi continued to fight an unending, relentless battle against poverty and governmental apathy. The iron lady – who carried the heavy guns in war zones – had to eke out here living in Orissa's Jeypore town by working as a domestic maid. After death of her husband Khageswar Panda, she had to feed her children and grandchildren by washing utensils at different households.
Until August last, Laxmi was literarily gasping with her 10 family members in a dirty, dingy single-room house at Nagarchi lane. She appealed the state government several times for a piece of land and consolable means of livelihood, but in vain.

With poverty choking her voice everyday, Laxmi one day said: "I want to forget Kadam kadam badhaye ja, khushike geet gaye ja."
"This line was very close to my heart. I would murmur it and sing it in my every breath. But now I want to forget this line as it has lost its meaning for the people in the administrative set-up," she had said to describe the apathy of the people in power to understand her misery.
Apart from washing dishes, Laxmi sold dolls on a handcart on the streets of Jeypore town in the evening. Her son Surendra – who runs makeshift vegetable shop in the same town - earns around Rs 25 a day, insufficient sufficient for sustenance of the family.
Contemporaries of Laxmi in Jeypore still recount how Netaji suggested that she change her name. "There are so many Laxmis. Your captain's name is also Laxmi (Laxmi Sehgal). Netaji is believed to have told her, before suggesting a new name, Laxmi Indira Panda," say elderly people of Nagarchi lane.
Laxmi's last desire was to participate in the August 15 Independence Day ceremony at New Delhi. She was flown in to Delhi at the behest of the President Pratibha Devisingh Patil. The president received her with a warm welcome and ordered for a monthly pension of Rs 25,000. God had His own verdict. Before Laxmi got justice and her due, she breathed her last.
May her soul rest in peace.

Who is better – Naveen or Pyari?

By IVT News Network
Bhubaneswar: Does Naveen Patnaik really rule the state? Or somebody guides him from behind? These questions often baffle the common citizens. Those who have access to the state secretariat or are members of the ruling Biju Janata Dal or its coalition BJP know how the state administration is running.
Few people have doubts that Rajya Sabha member Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, a retired bureaucrat, is actually running the show.
Mr Mohapatra has a good track record of being an able administrator. During his long stint of career, he served in many districts, including the backward Koraput, as an administrator. He has also seen functioning of many seasoned politicians, including former chief ministers Biju Patnaik and Janaki Patnaik, from close circles. This veteran man, who in 2000 had denied having any interest in politics, subsequently crawled into the party politics. He first became a primary member of the BJD and finally got elected to Rajya Sabha, surprising many senior political claimants.
Pyari Mohan’s importance in the party is undoubtedly is unquestionable. Political observers say the Rajya Sabha member makes strategy for the party and the state government basing on the feedback he gets from the grounds; and taking into consideration the media reports and people’s emotion.
For Naveen, obtaining first hand feedback or for that matter second hand or even third hand information, - is sometimes a rare opportunity. He keeps himself away from the masses apparently for his own handicaps (inability to speak Oriya and ignorance of the state geography and culture). He is always fed information by his bureaucrat employees who solely bank upon some English dailies who have their own constraints and barriers to depict the true pictures of people’s plight.
Thus, the concept of governance remains a distant dream for the people of Orissa. In a striking contrast, Pyari Mohan understands – at least through party workers – what is happening where and what should be done to keep the herd united and retain people’s confidence.
Such facts often stir intellectuals who plead that a retired bureaucrat is certainly better than a man who does not understand the language of the land he rules. A few even opine that Naveen, who has good English accent, can play the role of Congress president Sonia Gandhi as chairperson of the ruling coalition in Orissa, allowing Pyari to rule the state for his better understanding of the state, its geography and people. Naveen’s father Biju Patnaik always felt for Orissa and Oriyas. This small sacrifice (quitting the CM’s post) will go down in the history as selfless service. It will certainly never belittle him in people’s eyes.

(This news item is produced by IVT News Network)