Letter to PM: Fresh look at KBK program laudable

To

The Honorable Prime Minister, Dr Singh

CC
The President of India, Smt Patil
Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Dr Ahluwalia
Chairperson, National Knowledge Commission, and Advisor to PM on Infrastructure, Dr Pitroda
The Chief Minister of Orissa, Mr Patnaik
MPs from Orissa
Media

Dear honorable Prime Minister Dr Singh,
Recalling your promise given to MPs from Orissa, your recent order to carry out a fresh time-bound re-evaluation of the program with special focus on the state of poverty and hunger in KBK region [1-3] is exceedingly inspiring and appreciable.

However, while implementing such program to reduce poverty and hunger, it is highly enviable for a long term sustainable development of the region that can boost the local economy in the foreseen future. As an economist you are certainly well aware that in such circumstance infrastructure development such as irrigation, roads, and railways and boosting the service sector in health and education will be crucial for regional augmentation of KBK.

Unfortunately, progress of major roads, railways and irrigation development as well as establishment of tertiary health institution in the region has been very lethargic due to lack of political willingness and appropriate vision in the ground by state and central Governments.

Take the case of Indravati Irrigation Project which was conceptually visualized during Princely State of Kalahandi, but since independence this project was kept in cold storage till 1978 and by this time Kalahandi became infamous for starvation death! Is not it lack of constructive approach and negligence towards such backward cluster in the nation!

Even after 1978, it took another 20 years to implement it. The project is not yet fully completed. There are many other small, medium and large irrigation projects such as Suktel, Lower Indra, Lower Indravati, Lower Kolab, Upper & Lower Udanti, Upper & Lower Tel barrages projects that need urgent attention in KBK.

Similarly, Lanjigarh road-Junagarh railway line is struggling since past 19 years; so is the case for Balangir-Sonepur-Boudh line since past 16 years (preference has been given towards Khordha – Nayagarh line rather than Balangir – Sonepur line in KBK). Recently surveyed lines connecting bordering and backward districts in KBK such as Kantabanji (Balangir) – Khariara (Nuapada) – Dharamgarh (Kalahandi) – Nabarangpur – Jeypore (Koraput) line and Jeypore (Koraput) – Malkangiri line are yet to start construction work.

The demand for a railway factory in Kalahandi has also not yet been fulfilled [4-6]. Among the undivided Kalahandi, Balangir and Koraput districts, probably Kalahandi is one such district not having any central Government sponsored industry or higher educational institutions despite being located in the central place of all KBK districts.

Beside the progress made by PMGSY roads in the village level, conditions of major roads connecting KBK districts among themselves, with the state capital and other major cities in rest of the country is very pathetic. NH201 which passes through KBK region like a heart line is still in misery conditions which could be made a four line highways.

Other major routes like Nuapada – Sunabeda – Patalganga – Nilji – Sinapalli-Golamunda; Umarkote – Dharamgarh - Baldhiamal, Titilagarh –Sindhekela-Kegaon-Brundabahal; Balangir - Patnagarh – Padampur; Balangir – Sonepur; Rayagada – Kalyasingpur-Karlapat-Junagarh; Umarkote – Nabarangpur -Mukhiguda-Thuamul Rampur – Lanjigarh – Ambadola; Motu – Malkangiri – Jeypore – Rayagada; etc are equally underdeveloped, some of them need to be surveyed and explored to make as major routes that can directly benefit the local economy by reducing the distance in the regional level.

Health
There are no facilities for secondary and tertiary health facilities in the KBK region. Every year hundreds of lives are being lost, especially in Kalahandi and Rayagada regions, due to inadequate health facilities. KBK region consists 30 % of geographical area and 20% of population of Orissa state but it does not have any fully state Government medical college.

Though Kalahandi is a suitable location for whole KBK districts as well as for 12 backward districts, KBK plus other backward adjacent districts such as Kandhamal, Boudh, Gajapati and Bargarh (Padampur sub-division) that are being demanded to be included in KBK, the state Government has located the regional division commissioner, institution and other regional offices for these regions in Berhampur, closer to state capital, for political reasons instead of in Kalahandi. Such political favoritism is costing developmental progress in the ground level of this backward pocket as all parts of KBK is far away from Bhubaneswar and Berhampur.

The gap between KBK and coastal (developed) part of Orissa has increased recently as never before in various developmental initiatives. Cumulous investment for whole KBK region is not even equivalent to that of any single undivided Cuttack or undivided Puri district in industries, educational institution or health. The health facilities of developed part of Orissa has touched a new height through various private and governmental investment [7], however, KBK region which is located remotely and far away from this region has got nothing concrete yet. In the line of North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute for Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) in Shillong a similar institute such as KBK Rajiv Gandhi Regional Institute for Health and Medical Science (KBKRGRIHMS) with 1000 bed Super Specialty Hospital could be established in Kalahandi [8] through special KBK funding.

I sincerely hope you will look into the above matter which will trigger development of KBK in infrastructure & tertiary health and bring sustainable growth in the same spirit like rest of the coastal Orissa and the nation.


Thank you and best regards


Digambara Patra


References

[1] http://kalahandia.blogspot.com/2010/05/pm-orders-fresh-look-at-kbk-aid.html
[2] http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pm-orders-fresh-look-at-kbk-aid/619839/0
[3] http://www.hindustantimes.com/Poverty-stricken-KBK-to-get-Rs-490-crore/H1-Article1-544308.aspx
[4] http://kalahandia.blogspot.com/2010/05/railway-wagon-facotry-oppertunity-for.html
[5] http://www.dailypioneer.com/219375/NRI-activist-bats-for-coach-factory-auto-hub-in-Kalahandi.html
[6] http://kalahandia.blogspot.com/2009/01/nri-seeks-rail-infrastructure-in.html
[7] http://www.expresshealthcare.in/201005/market01.shtml
[8] http://www.petitiononline.com/PGMIK/petition.html