Odishanewstoday.com, Feb 21, 2011
News Desk: Professor Dr. Digambara Patra, an Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry, American University of Beirut, has given an exclusive interview to Odisha News Today (ONT).
Dr. Patra has been working hard to highlight the issues related to KBK (Koraput-Balangir-Kalahandi) and sending his suggestions to various government departments at the state and national level. Here's what Dr. Patra had to say about himself and the KBK region.
ONT: Welcome Dr. Digambara Patra. We really appreciate you for your involvement in the affairs of KBK region and useful recommendations to various concerned authorities. They are really helpful.
Ans: Thank you very much. Indeed it makes me happy.
ONT: Can you tell our readers about your background, academic and your vision?
Ans: I come from Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district of Odisha. Presently I am an Assistant Professor in Chemistry in American University of Beirut, Lebanon. Prior to this assignment my PhD in Chemistry was at IIT Madras and postdoctoral research work in Switzerland, Germany and Japan.
I aspire for a developed Odisha in terms of education, health and infrastructure and believe that to achieve it the region need participation of intellectuals and civil society in terms of sharing knowledge and generating public awareness.
ONT: Do you think there is a definite development in KBK region?
Ans: There is some kind of improvement in KBK region but not development. KBK needs more awareness rather than sympathy. When it comes to Governmental initiatives for poorest of poor, the methods adopted are quite good, but there is lots of slippage in the process. Knowingly or unknowingly officials, private workers, contractors, and most importantly politicians everyone has their big or small share. In the name of NGOs or cooperative society wealth is being made in the personal and political level in Odisha.
Few NGOs are doing fine with their limitations, but there are also many NGOs who are selfish in the ground level. Intellectuals inspired by communist ideology are spoiling rather than helping KBK region. Maoists influence have expanded from two districts to all the eight KBK districts in past ten years, their influence has become a serious concern not only for security reason but also for the development of the region. This was biggest drawback of the present Government.
ONT: What steps the Odisha government must take to ensure speedy development and progress in the KBK region?
Ans: Government initiatives in infrastructure, education and health are largely in the primary level in KBK, the secondary and tertiary level developments are limited in KBK and more focused in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Rourkela and other places. Infrastructure is Key to the development and attracts new investment. NH201 known as heart line for KBK region is still in misery conditions. The other crucial routes such as Nuapada – Sunabeda – Lower Indra Dam – Boden – Nilgi-Sinapali – Golamunda – Dharamgarh – Moter – Jaipatna – Mangalpur – Deopali – Muran – Kolab – Dooduma (Koraput), Sonepur – Balangir – Patnagarh - Padampur, Motu – Malkangiri – Jeypore – Rayagada, Umarkote –Dharamgarh - Junagarh – Jilingdar – Karlapat Kiapadar – Bijepur – Kalyansingpur – Rayagada- Gunpur, Koraput – Kashipur – Bhawanipatna - Madanpur Rampur – Mohangiri – Kantamal (Boudh dist) – Sonepur, Patnagarh –Sindhekela-Kegaon-Brundabahal-Dharamgarh; Umarkote – Nabarangpur -Mukhiguda-Thuamul Rampur – Lanjigarh – Ambadola, Bhawanipatna - Borbhata – Kulen – Titilagarh etc need to be explored and developed as a major state highway routes to link and establish a network among all major towns in KBK districts that will directly boost the economy and commerce in the region.
Khordha road – Balangir and Talcher – Phulbani – Lanjigarh road, Junagarh – Nabarangpur - Jeypore – Malkangiri - Bhadrachalam road, Kantabanji – Jeypore, Rayagada – Gopalpur railway links are urgently wanted to connect undivided Kalahandi Balangir Koraput Kandhamal (KBKK) districts directly with state capital. Similarly survey of Junagarh – Debhog – Rajim (Raipur) and Lanjigarh road – Gopalpur would bring opportunities for the region. Irrigation projects such as Upper Indravati, Suktel, Lower Indra, Koksara Lift irrigation project, Lower Indravati, Lower Kolab, Upper & Lower Udanti, Upper & Lower Tel barrages projects that need special attention.
ONT: The poverty and hunger in Kalahandi were the talks of the nation a few years ago. Do you think the same situation still prevails in the district?
Ans: Poverty is one side of the coin and it is still prevalent in many parts of Kalahandi. However, Kalahandi is also a rich land in terms of history, historical sites, agriculture, folklore, tribal culture, dance, art & craft and minerals. Poverty cannot be completely overcome without developing positive sites of Kalahandi. The historical sites of Kalahandi are most neglected in the state that could boost tourism. Odisha Government has taken major initiatives for the development of tourism industries in other districts in the region but not yet Kalahandi/Nuapada.
ONT: Why the KBK region still lags behind in many areas? Is there any discrimination against the KBK as compared to the Coastal region in Odisha?
Ans: Definitely, but this discrimination is more in the political circle. Although KBK has 20% of Odisha’s population and 30% of state’s geographical area, it just elects 4 MPs and 28 MLAs which is not more than that of undivided Cuttack district alone. Historically, importance has been always given to Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur and Sambalpur. Although Ganjam and Khordha districts are neighbouring districts, all the administrative offices and higher educational institutes were located in Berhampur in the name of South Odisha.
As per inaccessibility, distance and backwardness the region that genuinely deserved was KBK. Three very influential chief ministers coming from Ganjam district in the past to the present along with political awareness have made that region major beneficiary compared to KBK district.
Take the case of High Court (HC) branch, all the HC branches in the nation are located in backward, inaccessible and at least 300 km away from the present High Court in a state. In that respect neither Berhampur nor Sambalpur has any justification for a HC branch, rather such branch should ideally be located at Bhawanipatna, a central town among all KBKK districts, locating 500 km from Cuttack High Court, inaccessible from Cuttack (no direct train communication) and backward location (KBK is most backward in the nation). However, Odisha chief minister had written letters to have two HC branches in Berhampur (for South Odisha) and Sambalpur (for Western Odisha) based on local demand in those respective regions which probably lingering the process.
Is there any rationality in this judgement except regional politics? In Odisha political demand, lobby and protest take over rational judgement for which innocent region like KBK suffer to region having better political clout and more public protest. KBK suffers this kind of discrimination. State University and Government Medical College are other issues for which people in KBK directly suffer. It is not difficult to reach out SCB medical college from Berhampur or Sambalpur than reaching MKCG medical college in Berhampur or VSS medical college in Sambalpur from Koraput or Kalahandi respectively.
ONT: What suggestions you would like to give to political representatives in KBK region?
Ans: The local politicians must be united and they could visualize for actual development, specifically serious political demand should come in highways, railways, higher education, and tertiary health facility that bring effectiveness to the primary level, helps in long term investment and amplify in every other fields. The amount of investment KBK region is receiving is very small compare to its geographical area and requirement.
Building a road is more related to geography than population. KBK should host one third of Odisha’s each state highways, national highways and railways based on its geography, but we do not see that. Data of state highways and national highways per every 1000 sq km in Ganjam and any of KBK districts could be easily matched up to.
ONT: What's your take on the "dal scam" in Odisha?
Ans: Corruption is the biggest problem the nation has been encountering since independence. Corruption is also related to social problem. Only people’s participation in governance might help to reduce it in a country like India.
ONT: Where do you see Koraput, Kalahandi and Balangir in the next five years? Will they appear in national news for all good reasons?
Ans: I do not see much in next five years, in few scales KBK might show a minor improvement in few scale, but majority of the large scale it may remain as such. Government has not yet delivered anything substantially in infrastructure during past 10 years in KBK region. Most of the projects which have started 10 years ago or more, have not fully accomplished. For example, considerable part of NH201 remained as it is; no improvement in other major road; not a new major bridge has been accomplished, and Khordha road – Balangir and Lanjigarh road – Junagarh railway lines are still struggling during past decade.
Unless major infrastructure is created under development of KBK will continue. It needs more than a five year with the current speed of development. On the other hand, the way Coastal Odisha and North Western Odisha are progressing recently the gap between KBK and those regions will further increase.
ONT: Any other things you would like to suggest/highlight?
Ans: Present investment climate indicates KBKK region is least beneficial compare to Coastal Odisha and North Western Odisha. Projects like Vedanta Alumina or Utkal Alumina in KBK have become controversial and struggling. For inclusive growth, Odisha state Government should focus in KBKK centring on Bhawanipatna instead of traditional South/North/Western divisions. In the mean time major towns like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Balasore, Angul, Keonjhar, Jharsuguda, Paradeep, Dhenkanal, Jajpur (Kalinga Nagar), Gopalpur, Badbil etc will continue developing through private parties.
ONT: Dr. Patra, Thank you very much for your precious time. We really appreciate your gesture to give such a detailed interview to us.
Dr. Digambara Patra is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry, American University of Beirut.
Kalahandi Express, Sept 9-15, 2011
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