Updates:
1. I tried to find center of gravity based on paper cutout, though its a rough estimation the center point fell around Lanjigarh - Kalyansingpur region (exactly in the boder between Kalahandi and Rayagada near Devigiri).
2. Its not like I negotiate to have Wagon Factory at Kalahandi for a HC branch which does not suit all the regions. Having visited many time I feel the pain of people of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nuapada etc while visiting Berhampur. Honestly we have more buses from KK region (read undivided Koraput & Kalahandi), even from sub-divisonal level, to Bhubaneswar/Cuttack than to Berhampur. Same is the rail service. Which is better connected Cuttack or Berhampur for KK region? It takes another couple of hours to visit Cuttack from Berhampur. Night journey is more comforatble to Cuttack than to Berhampur. from KK region. Why then additional branch?
3. Kalahandi, Nuapada are Boudh are part of South Orissa since RDC was made. They became part of Western Orissa by protesting to be part of Sambalpur University instead of Berhampur University due to connectitvity. There is nothing lik Western Orissa RDC, its North RDC located in Sambalpur. WODC includes part of undivided Kandhamal too. I will not deny Kalahandi is part of Western Orissa but it is part of South Orissa too as official data show. Bank or World Bank classify Kalahandi as South Orissa, so the RDC. When SOSA is demanding HC branch, it is mentioning 10 disitcts of South Orissa, which are they?
4. Which major project Kalahandi grab in the name of KBK? Indeed idea of KBK was generated primarily keeping undivided Kalahandi in mind. Stavation death and Kalahandi Syndrome are known facts of past history. Is there any Kandhamal, Koraput, Balangir or Berhampur Syndrome defined by social worker?
5. Some part of Kandhamal (such as Phulbani) and Gajapati will be nearer to Berhampur than Bhawanipatna/Rayagada, they may not like the idea, but most backward region in Kandhamal, such as Tumudibandh, Baliguda, Kotagarh, etc region will be much closer to say Bhawanipatna or Rayagada or any other possible central location.
6. I agree Berhampur is an old city and must get attention to become one of the leading city in Orissa. Indeed I compare like Rourkela. However, for this to make one does not need to make the other backward region to remain in the dark or make them uncomfortable.
7. RDC is not for employment generation in the region. People in KK regions are suffering for RDC, progress is much slower, state capital is far way to monitor things directly. Samablpur is also not near compare to the distance between Berhampur and Bhubaneswar.
8. If some of you think social parameter shows Kalahandi is developed put it out of KBK. I explained Abhisekh in a comment in Tathya, I had read this HDI taken in 2005 a year ago, it does not reflect every thing. We can not say Khurdha and Mayurbhanj are equally developed based on this data and Jagatsingpur is backward compared to Mayurbhanj. Due to lack of primary health facilities in 2007 hundreds people died in Thuamul Rampur, in 2009 it was again in Lanjigarh, how if it was a developed district? Below map shows some of the official data on tribal population and literacy rate.
9. Instead of negotiating and bursting emotionally for our dear city better to understand the situation in a broad manner which benefit this backward locations and their people. HC Branch and RDC will not make Berhampur a great city either.
- From Bouda in North to Motu in South, central place for South Orissa could be Thuamul Rampur.
- From Khallikote in East to Kundai (Nabarangpur) in West, central place for South Orissa could be Lanjigarh/Muniguda.
- From Parlikhemunid in South East to Beltikri (Nuapada) in North West, central place for SO could be Lanjigarh.
- Major town close to these central locations will be Bhawanipatna.
Additional information:
South Orissa's RDC should be at a more appropriate location
Merinews, July 25, 2010
Based on Revenue Division (or RDC), classification of South Orissa (SO) consists of 10 districts including Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boudh, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Nuapada.
ORISSA CHIEF Minister had written a letter on November 8, 2007, to then High Court Chief Justice suggesting that circuit or permanent benches were required in Sambalpur and Berhampur for Western and South Orissa respectively.
Based on Revenue Division (or RDC) Classification, South Orissa (SO) consists of 10 districts including Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boudh, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Nuapada.
From Bouda in North to Motu in South, central place for South Orissa could be Thuamul Rampur. From Khallikote in East to Kundai (Nabarangpur) in West, central place for SO could be
Lanjigarh/Muniguda.
From Parlikhemunid in South East to Beltikri (Nuapada) in North West, central place for SO could be Lanjigarh.
Major town close to these central locations will be Bhawanipatna.
When Ganjam was carved out of South Orissa, Bhawanipatna also had an edge over Rayagada. On the other hand, if Kalahandi, Boudh and Nuapada are counted as part of Western Orissa based on University and WODC classification and not by administration (RDC) and Ganjam is counted as South Orissa then Rayagada will be suitable location in rest of South Orissa.
Even if one thinks for a branch or regional station in Rayagda, Bhawanipatna or Koraput for South Orissa, Ganjam district is still very well connected to Bhubaneswar or Cuttack in best possible way in the state by road (golden quadrangle NH) and railways (main line). Most of the locations in Ganajm are closer to Bhubaneswar or Cuttack and could be reached faster than let us say to Rayagada/Bhawanipatna, of course Koraput is very far from Ganjam.
When such thing occurs, perhaps people in Malkangir, Nuapada, Boudh or Nabarangpur may suffer more while visiting Rayagada or Bhawanipatna than those people from Ganajm while visiting Cuttack. Place like Khallikote, Bhanjanagar etc in Ganjam are even much closer to Cuttack. It does not justify cause of separate high court (HC) branch in Ganjam like the case of Keonjhar, Angul etc. Otherwise in every 170 to 200 km Orissa will need to have a HC branch and regional station. On the other side, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Nuapada, Nabarangpur etc are not closer to either Cuttack or Bhubaneswar. Even Sambalpur is far away from these locations compared to the distance between Bhubaneswar/Cuttack and Berhampur.
Ganjam is very close to rest of costal district in the state with a tribal population of three per cent, whereas rest of South Orissa districts (including Gajapati) has 30 to 50 per cent tribal except Boudh which has 13 per cent. Literacy rate of Ganjam is much higher than rest of South Orissa districts and close to Balasore. Other districts in South Orissa are more prone to Maoists than Ganjam. Having a large border with Bay of Bengal and based on its geographical location, Ganjam can very well be classified as coastal Orissa (or Eastern Orissa) along with other districts like Balasore to Puri, instead of Ganjam being part of South Orissa.
Earlier Ganjam was classified as South Orissa due to strong political influence and innocence of rest of South Orissa was taken granted. Parala Maharaj, Biju babu and Naveen babu come from the region and have continuously favoured Berhampur time to time over other backward districts in South Orissa.
South Orissa will be more appropriate for Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangir, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Boudh, all of them are socially backward compared to Ganjam.
There should not be a complaint if on the lines of Rourkela, Berhampur should see development but this should not happen in the name of South Orissa or as a regional station for whole South Orissa.
In the name of South Orissa, politically Behrampur has enjoyed lots of governmental attention such as RDC, educational institutions (it is the most favoured destination in the state after capital region in terms of state government institutions) etc while others are continuing to suffer. Now this exploitation must stop somewhere.
RDC for North in Orissa is located in Sambalpur for the districts of Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Balangir, Sonepur, Deogarh, Sundergarh, Keonjhar, Angul and Dhenkanal, the central location for all these districts more or less comes in the Sambalpur district. Similarly RDC for Central (Eastern or Coastal) in Orissa is located in Bhubaneswar for the districts of Mayurbhanj, Balesore, Bhadrak, Jagatisingpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Cuttack, Puri, Khordha and Nyaagarh, the central location for all these districts could be Jajpur (part of undivided Cuttack), but if Ganjam becomes part of it, central place will be Bhubaneswar/ Cuttack and in that case area wise three revenue divisions will be similar.
The political depravity and favouritism should be stopped by Orissa government. The RDC located in Berhampur is unable to monitor work in Kalahandi, Nuapada, Boudh, Nabarangpur etc and lots of Central government grants are returning back. Kalahandi failed to spend MGNREGA money last year. The progress is much slower than expected.
The RDC for South Orissa should rather be relocated in central location of South Orissa and so should the probable location of high court branch in South Orissa be evaluated.
14 comments:
This hate campaign against Berhampur and South Orissa is nothing new. For last many decades this is going on. But, the detractors of South Orissa have never succeeded. They have fallen flat in the face of solid ethnic foundations that binds south orissa together. Ok, if a town of South Orissa is little advanced by Orissa standards, then that doesn't become alien for rest of South Orissa. Kalahandi as a principal district of South Orissa has lot to contribute and lot to learn in the development of south orissa. People of Berhampur wish that Kalahandi and Bhawanipatna emerge as a major city in the region to lead its development.
Has Kalahandi not grabbed everything in the name of KBK? It is time to remove Kalahandi from KBK map and bring a genuine poor district like Kandhamal in it. Only crying and crying that we are poor and we are backward, Kalahandi has gopt disproportionate benefits compared to other KBK Districts. It is a developed District in the guise of a backward District. It is time when Kalahandi is treated like Khurda aand Cuttack and Kandhamal is brought in to KBK. I requesst the people of KBK to start a nationall campaign to highlight this gross goof up that is going on in the name of KBK.
Kalahandi remained with Western Orissa all these years but one fine morning some individuals discovered that Kalahandi is the central location of South Orissa? So, my friend please come out of WODC and return all the funds you have received in the name of Western Orissa. South Orissa is not a place of competing intersets, unlike Wesetern Orissa, and you will get justice and equal treatment in this region. But, Berhampur is deeply entrenched in the minds of the people of south orissa as their own city, as their second home and you may deny it a Government Institution but you can't deny Berhampur its history. If that feeling doesn't come in your heart you are unfit to be a part of south orissa.
People of Phulbani are with the demand for a High court bench at Berhampur, which is a major city of south orissa. More than connectivity, it will give the south orissa people a sense of pride to have the highcourt bench in the region.
Well there is a saying in Oriya which goes like this, "Je panche para manda, ta manda Panchanti Govinda". So, this vilification campaign against southern town of Berhampur may succeed and you may stop some projects for the city which is a big city only by Orissa standards and is just nowhere compared to big cities of other states and hence we alway complain of step-motherly attitude again the state govt. By the way people of Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj have started the demand for Railway wagon factory there. So, in the fight between BBSR and BWPTN some 3rd Party may take the project. So, try to compete with BBSR (Which takes A 2 Z in the name of Orissa and you people have no problem as you want to fight with those who are already left behind) and grab this project that is meant for you or history will not excuse you. I advice, please stop this anti-Berhampur campaign as that will take you no where and think something positive and get the Rail wagon factory announced for you people of Berhampur and south orissa will pray that you get this project that is vital for your development. The campaingn for RDC etc will hardly generate even one employment for you and you also don't demand it in Bhawanipatna but anywhere other than Berhampur. I am afraid people can see through this mean hate campaign.
With Regards,
Sitaram Subudhi
Park Street, Berhampur
See upadtes for all your comments:
The High Court Bench for Kalahandi will come up in Sambalpur and the advocates of Kalahandi are demanding for that. You need not have to travel to Berhampur and if you say that you have problems travelling to Berhampur it means Berhampur is not as developed as you claim or else why Kalahandi just 300 kms from Berhampur remains a far off place from Berhampur. Or if you are comfortable with Cuttack High court (which means you have well developed transport infra) then ask your lawers from Kalahandi to stop their agitation and to maintain the status quo.
Read my posting again, I am not fighting for Kalahandi alone, if Kalahandi decides to go with Wstern Orissa, Rayagada has a better chance for HC branch, but Kalahandi is still part of South RDC
read my comment again & again: it is about having HC branch at Berhampur whether helps the scenario for KK region with respect to Cuttack.
"Having visited many time I feel the pain of people of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nuapada etc while visiting Berhampur".
Is this the reason why you tried tooth and nail to take the Central University to your backyard. Not only that when the state Govt. demanded for a Tribal University at Phulbani, you wanted that as well in Kalahandi. Now please don't cry for these places which you yourself tried to hurt in some way or other. Berhampur never wanted these institutions, as it always thought these to be the genuine needs of Koraput and Kandhamal.
Becasue Kalahandi initiated for Central University issue from the begining and its central location among KBK districts, but all our leaders welcome to be in KBK. read all my articles in details.
when state Govt proposed we did not oppose IGNTU, but when we learned we have a chance as IGNTU was proposed by central Govt in Kalahandi,we were delighted. It seems you are negotiating and not going as per rationality.
That does not mean we hate Koraput or Kandhamla, read all our articles before condeming, the initiaitves we have taken, despite being located ideally Kalahandi is neglected,we are not negotiating but going as per rationality, our right and conviction, whether somepeople misunderstand or not does not matter.
Dear Sir, The motive of this write-up is apparent. But, just talking about facts, the 3 RDC Zones of Orissa, i.e., 1) Central Zone at Cuttack is not in the centre of the state 2)Northern Zone at Sambalpur which is let alone be at the centre of Northern Orissa it don't even belong to Central Orissa. You don't have any problem with these two. The Southern Zone at Berhampur is atleast lies in the actual Southern Zone, may not be at the centre exactly. So, it is only Southern RDC Zone that lies in actual Southern Orissa and you say this is wrong. Then what about the other two? Does they lie in Central and Northern Orissa respectively? So, why choose issues selectivelty that suits us?
Coming to CU and Tribal University, you wanted them because you have been trying for them for years. Also even the Govt. at times gave views in support of these institutions in Kalahandi. Similarly, the Govt several times in the past has come out on its own saying they want a bench of high court in Berhampur and this has further fueled and galvanised agitations in favour of high court bench in Berhampur.
Sir, I know the pain and agony in an underdevloped state like Orissa of being denied an Institution. Because unlike other states there is no private sector which can fill the void. People build up an agitation with years of struggle and pain and succeed in partially convincing the Govt. Now if some one decides to challenge the basis of a long drawn process, it is bound to face resistence. You demand N number of Institutions or offices in Kalahandi people will have no problem. But, you are saying that an existing office be shifted or a proposed Institution be stopped and have come out with your own version of arguments based on loose facts. Arguments have no winners, and I know you will again have views contrary to mine. One may not be constructive, but pls don't become destructive because you couldn't be constructive. May Kalahandi get true development leaders!
With Regards,
Siba Pr.
Berhampur
please read about central location about North and Central RDC in my argument, you will find Sambalpur dist is central to North RDC dist, if Ganjam will be included Bhubaneswar-Cuttack might be central to East (coastal) RDC. On CU, we have been demanding is one political part, but we deserve is based on location in KBK that was our focus, Berhampur is demanding is political part, but others are suffering is reality. Relocation is required as it is not able to serve the purpose, HC branch is being demanded both in Balangir and Sambalpur in Western Orissa does not mean both deserves to have one, right? So the policy makers have to think which will serve the purpose best for whole region rather who is demanding for it or who has more poltical power in the Govt. if it helps better in administation for all the regions, do you think it is destructive? rather it is more destructive to keep things which is not serving the main purpose.
I always like your blog post because you always comes with different ideas and information. I always shared your site post with my friends. Keep posting and i will follow you..
There is a way how you can have a life size cardboard cutouts of your own. Browsing internet will lend you with this various information. They are available in market in whatever size you want them to be.
Post a Comment