Orissa Matters

Issue is AIDS: Health Department puts in hole the Chief Minister’s Most Benevolent Order

Subhas Chandra Pattanayak

As the Government had ignored the High Court directive and blood donations were rising in numbers, so also threat of AIDS, I exposed the matter in ORISSA MATTERS on 8.7.2012. By then, one year had elapsed. We even tried to wake up the High Court to government’s negligence to its just order in our provocative article captioned ‘The issue is AIDS: Let the verdicts be not mere wordy acrobatics’ . It was published on 21.7.2012. We exposed how a coterie of officers in the health department were using tricks of subterfuge against the High Court order. It was published on 28.8.2012.

The above is quoted from my write-up captioned “AIDS imperils Orissa: Deliberate delay in reaching at remedy: Is payola the purpose?” published on 19 Feb. 2015.

I had stumbled upon a case of AIDS caused to a 3 year old boy in 2012.

He was a victim of blood transfusion on operation table.
The blood he was given was infected with HIV.

He was a native of a village of Baramba adjoining my birthplace Tigiria. His father had given me the details of how the misfortune engulfed him and had requested me to take such steps that no child should be such a victim of medial mismanagement. His sobs and tears are still alive in my heart.

I investigated into it and found that in 2011 the Orissa High Court, on awarding a cash punishment to the State to the tune of Rs.3 lakhs, had directed that the Orissa Government must immediately adopt NAT method of blood screening as the prevailing method of ELISA was not competent enough to detect HIV in its “window Period”. The Government was sleeping over it.

I exposed the malady repeatedly with updated input. It attracted attention of Sri Prasad Harichandan, then the Opposition Chief Whip, who moved an adjournment motion on the topic. On September 1, 2012, the then health Minister Dr. Damodar Raut answered the motion with an emphatic YES to the NAT method and announced to adopt the method in all Blood Banks “in phased manner”, which would start with four major Blood Banks serving the 3 Government Medical Colleges and the Capital Hospital.

I had to put the above on records on August 24, 2015 when despite the health Minister’s assurance to the Assembly on September 01, 2012, the government did not adopt the NAT method; and resultantly, there was every reason to apprehend that the government was creating at least 2 new AIDS and /or fatal TIIs everyday. The situation had become more bothering when the Chief Minister declared on August 23 that his party had donated 37,232 units through collection camps, which suggested that the same could have created 76 new AIDS/TII cases because of deficient screening. While writing this write-up, I had reasons to apprehend that the Secretary of the Health department was sabotaging the Minister’s order, which had given a clear instruction to honor the 2011 order of the High Court for immediate adoption of NAT.

So, this was on August 24, 2015.

The seriousness of the issue had thereafter struck the topmost functionaries.

This was thus that the Chief Minister expressed interest to ensure supply of NAT-screened blood to every needing patient absolutely free of cost.

Accordingly the Health Secretary put the file on May 3, 2016 for “provision of full subsidy” and the Chief Minister approved it on May 20, 2016.

But, surprisingly, the health department has stymied this most benevolent order of the Chief Minister.

The CM’s order has not yet been carried out, as a result of which the NAT systems already installed in the three Government Medical Colleges and the Capital Hospital are kept inoperative, when every day lack of NAT-screening is possibly pushing at least three unsuspecting patients into AIDS and/or other transfusion induced fatal ailments.

Ban on Live Telecasting by News Channels is essential to save Democracy

Subhas Chandra Pattanayak

This post may be an irritant to so-called supporters of democracy to whom free press includes “live” telecast of anything called “news” is a fundamental right. But, unless news channels are completely banned, whatever little semblances of democracy is yet discernible in India could be totally obliterated, as plutocracy would engulf this confused country in its entirety by using the TV news channels.

We have witnessed the TV channels’ overwhelming impact on voters’ free-thinking process in the LokSabha election – 2014, and we saw the same impact, when people indulged in mob violence instigated by TV Channels in August 2015 in matter of Sarathi baba to Sura baba in Orissa to child mortality in Shishu Bavan at Cuttack.

Let me first cite the event that has embarrassed Satish Gajviye IPS with extending suspension. He has been suspended from service for the very same reason for which he should have been rewarded, had the motivated TV channels not tried to cover up their own mischief and the political government not succumbed to overwhelming media power of the said TV channels. The following links would clear the position.

In Kendrapada Context Satish Gajbhiye deserves praise, not punishment

Orissa Police in its entirety should stand with Satish Gajbhiye

Now, the political mischief.

Whosoever has watched 2014 has certainly seen that powerful news channels had made the elections a battle between Mr. Narendra Modi and the rest against whom he was leading his campaign. Even Advani of BJP was stripped off his charisma by the news channels so as to eliminate every possible claimant to the top post, if the tricks clicked.

During electioneering there was no trace of BJP. It was only Modi.

Modi was not projecting BJP; but was projecting only himself.

The TV channels – projecting themselves as national channels – did everything to denigrate the Congress and other parties on whose defeat Modi was to grab the top post.

And, he grabbed the Prime Minister chair even though people had not elected BJP. People had elected whomsoever Modi had planted as his candidate under the banner of BJP only.
This was strategically done, as Modi and whose interest he was to serve, had known one thing very clearly: Vajpayee had so corrupted the administration that people of India had gone averse to BJP. Therefore, only Modi, not BJP, was to be center of TV media propaganda.

How had Vajpayee come to be viewed as such? We may recall just two sample instances of how he had given a very irritating, corrupt and immoral administration, for which people had grown averse to him and refused him / BJP a fresh mandate:

Pramod Mahajan
Son of a poor low-paid school teacher, Pramod Mahajan was a Rajyasabha member and a highly controversial minister under Vajpayee for a very small time. But he was able to accumulate more than 2000 crores of rupees before succumbing to bullets of his own brother in a feud over sharing that money. His son had told on records to Delhi Police during investigation into his drug links that he was in the habit of spending Rs.60,000/- to Rs.70,000/- per day in enjoyment.

George Fernandez
The second instance is one, which Vajpayee himself has never explained, though, he should certainly have, had there been an iota of probity in him.

He had dropped George Fernandez from defense minister post after exposure of his crimes against the country in context of Kargil war. But, no sooner than that, he re-inducted and retained the same Fernandez as defense minister in total and mysterious disregard to entire opposition boycotting him in Parliament till the last moment. Vajpayee had clearly succumbed to blackmailing of Fernandez, as he changed his way of action after followers of Fernandez threatened to expose him. With Fernandez taken care of, the secrecy, which his supporters had threatened to expose, could not come out; but the people had decided how to teach BJP a lesson in the elections.

Vajpayee had tried to hoodwink the people through TV news channels, watching which, I had to raise the first voice against media mischief in my article captioned FREE PRESS? THINK AFRESH.

Modi era
Modi and his patrons knew it well and hence votes were besought in the name of only Modi, not in the name of BJP.
To many Indians, except the supporters of the rule by the rich, the last two years in Modi’s hand are no better than the blatant misrule Mr. Manmohan Singh had given.

When he addressed the people at Balasore of Orissa on the 2nd of June, people heard a parochial politician, not a Prime Minister in him. The PM personifies the mana and magnanimity of an entire nation, not a leader of a political party. He failed to adhere to this very soft thread of center-state relationship in context of a different political party than his own ruling the State.

Journalistic Wisdom in doldrums
Had his speech been reported only in print media, journalistic wisdom might have thought it prudent not to publish the political rivalry part of what he said. But, that was not possible in live delivery by TV channels.
Live delivery of what we call news by TV channels are news sans journalistic wisdom applied to them and hence, most harmful to health of democracy, particularly when political personalities are involved.

Mediacracy is going to lord over whatever little semblance of democracy we have as yet. To save our democracy, thinking minds should seriously cogitate on whether it is desirable to allow live telecasting of news of public interest, and of political significance.

Press freedom must not be a brainwashing medium.
Let us start thinking on it.

IF MODI DOESN’T STAND FOR COMMISSION-RAJ, PUBLIC SHOULD BE APPRISED OF MCL

Subhas Chandra Pattanayak

RAJANUGATA DHARMAH is what India’s ancient wisdom has observed. It means, offices function in tune with the conduct of the ruler. Mr. Narendra Modi is ruling over India as the Prime Minister. MCL and NBCC are two undertakings of the government Mr. Modi is heading. Both are regarded as jewels amongst the best of Central Govt. Undertakings called Navaratna undertakings. Both these undertakings are involved with a scam, which, exposed in ORISSA MATTERS, has attracted media attention so huge that all TV majors as well as top-circulated newspapers of Orissa have competed with each other to further dig out the massive corruption, in public interest. Sadly, the Central Government, which keeps accounts of Orissa in details in its political interest, has kept its eyes closed to this as yet.

The instant instance relates to a very costly, several crore worth construction work of MCL executed through contractors whom the work was not assigned. The work was assigned to NBCC “on the basis of single nomination” under the plea of excellence. NBCC has executed the work through contractors, who could not have qualified to bag the order if tender should have been called for. Thus, it may be deduced that sub-standard contractors have bagged the costly project of the central government undertaking through the back-door.

Had there been no MCL officer in nexus with NBCC, such stark illegality could not have occurred. The Modi government should dig out who this officer is. But, as we see, a particular officer namely Abani Kanta Samantray, Deputy General Manager of MCL at Bhubaneswar has been put to vigilance scanner. In a Fax Message on 21.04.2016 bearing No. MCL/SBP/Vig./[APR]/2016/762, the Dy. GM (Vig.)/TS to CVO has sent Sri Samantray a questionnaire captioned “Information regarding the booking / acquisition of Flat / House in NBCC or any other projects”. In this faxed order he has been asked to say:

“( I ) Whether any Flat/House has been booked by you in NBCC or any other projects either in your own name or in the name of any dependent including your spouse?
( ii ) If yes, whether the total number of such properties so booked/acquired have been declared in the Annual Property Return furnished to the Company?
( iii ) The total number of such properties and their individual valuation need be communicated to the Vigilance Secretariat”.

Samantray was directed to treat the above communication with “TOP MOST PRIORITY”.

He has been further zeroed in, as order No. MCL/SBP/Vig./[APR]/2016/786 of 26.04.2016 suggests. Captioned “Additional information and documents regarding the booking / acquisition of Flat/ House in NBCC or any other projects”, this order wants to know from him, “( I ) Total cost of the house property being acquired in the name of his wife in NBCC project; ( ii ) The installment-wise payment schedule and source of payment of each installment already paid”.

But that the vigilance has located one property, which, in its view, has links with the illicit deal, is suggested by use of the words “this property” in its question No. (iv). “As required by the CDA Rules, whether the intimation about the acquisition of THIS property has been given to the competent authority and the permission for the same has been obtained by you”? When under query No. ( iii ), detailed particulars of the payment already made for THIS property as asked for, at ( v ), he has been asked to furnish “self certified photo copies of the cheque and receipt of payment already made”.

Surprisingly, against such spotting by the vigilance, the MCL authorities have not taken any step against Samantray and he is very much in his position where maneuvering the administrative machinery to his advantage may not be very difficult.

But, why the MCL is reluctant to take action? It leads us to illegalities of MCL authorities in appointing NBCC to execute its project. If the instance would properly be investigated into, the MCL authorities would be taken to task.

The MCL is a corporate body where the central government has investments in forms of shares. It is neither the ministry not the department and therefore is not the government.It has given the work order to NBCC under “single nomination” norm by wrongful application GFR 2005 rules applicable to Public Works Organizations, NBCC being a PWO. But, this is blatantly illegal inasmuch as the norm has been twisted to accommodate the illicit intention.

When the ‘Single Nomination’, as defined by SC and CVC, is applicable only in exceptional conditions such as lack of response from any bidder after repeated tender calls at time of emergency or natural calamity, as per GFR Rule 2, definition of “department of Central Government” means a Ministry or a Department of the Central Government, not a Corporate Body in which the Government has shares.

On the other hand, obtaining lease of a huge stretch of lands for its office complex over plots 735 (P) and 405 (P) in Khata No. 298 in Mauza Bijipur under Bhubaneswar Tahsil, it assigned the work under the mischief of ‘single nomination’ to NBCC for another organization called MINREM, which is a different legal entity created under a different registration. As per MOU, the NBCC was to obtain approval of BDA for the construction of its office complex. But, without any approval, it engaged sub-contractors to build the office of MINREM, even without essential change of records of lease.

This blatant illegality was exposed on April 7, 2016 in ORISSA MATTERS. Thereafter, all out attempts have been made to create records to cover up the illegalities. MBPL/BBSR/2016-17/36 (19.04.2016), MCL/BBSR/CIVIL/2016-17/160 (27.04.2016), MCL/BBSR/CIVIL/2016-17/175 (29.04.16) are just a few communications that help us read the shenanigans following the exposure.

This specific instance, now in the epicenter of covering up exercises, deserves in-depth investigation by CBI, if the central government is willing to protect public exchequer from the looters that act under the cover of public offices they hold.

Governance of Orissa in Oriya // Act amended by Ordinance, Rules need be immediately Notified

Bhubaneswar Bureau

On September 3, 2015, ORISSA MATTERS chief Subhas Chandra Pattanayak, as a member of the Ministerial Committee in the matter of implementation of Orissa Official Language Act, 1954, had submitted two draft legislation: one for amendment of the Act and the other, Rules for driving the Act ahead with provisions for punishment to whosoever contravenes the Act. The same was published in the specific website odia.odisha.gov.in. The Chief Minister also had told the Assembly on 14.12.2015 that the government was working upon the amendment.

But sadly, thereafter, he drifted away, as non-Oriya mandarins convinced him that if the suggested Rules are adopted, as a non-Oriya practitioner in administration, he himself may attract punishment.

Then attempts were made to divert attention from the necessary amendment of the Act to various other items from where vested interest members of the Committee may derive benefit.

This necessitated a new movement to force the government to amend the Act. A group of language activists met in the office of Subartta and pledged their support to BHASA ANDOLAN, ORISSA founded by Sri Pattanayak. They assured Sri Pattanayak of their support to the Silent Black-Flag-Campaign, a method of social movement he had formulated decades ago with successful achievement. It was decided to start the campaign on the Oriya new Year’s Day, 13th of April, to espouse Sri Pattanayak’s proposed amendment of the Act and acceptance of his Rules to implement the Act.

The Government was notified with an ultimatum on the 8th that in support of the suggestion for amendment of the Act as submitted by Sri Pattanayak, BHASA ANDOLAN would stage silent black-flag demonstration by four eminent Oriyas every afternoon covering the heart of administration from the Assembly to Raj Bhavan, from 13.4.2016. Significantly, at the main gate of the Assembly stands the sacred statue of Nabakrushna Chowdhury, who had created the Act and in front of the Raj Bhawan stands the sacred statue of Kulagourav Madhusudan Das, because of whom the geographical Orissa has been created.

Every day a new group of four eminent Oriyas took the black-flags.

The government tried to demoralize the agitators by obstructing their principled and peaceful march by engaging the police to obstruct them on the way.

Attempts have even been made to intimidate the Andolan Leadership through hired miscreants and unsocial elements in social media. Even Sri Prashant Pattnaik, editor of the newspaper Sanchaar belonging to minister Damodar Raut who desperately wants to go back to good books of the CM was used to embarrass the Chairman of BHASA ANDOLAN, Subhas Chandra Pattanayak in his editorial column and when that did not click, the said minister also came down upon the Andolan in a public meeting at Cuttack, apparently to please the CM.

When it was clear that BHASA ANDOLAN will continue its historic agitation, the government has promulgated an ordinance bearing Notification number 4752-1-Legis-16/2016 under the caption: THE ODISHA OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE, 2016 – AN ORDINANCE FURTHER TO AMEND THE ODISHA OFFICIAL LANGUAGE ACT, 1954. The same is dated 21.5.2016. It is intriguing that the sixth session of the Assembly has been prorogued on 20.5,2016 to help the government promulgate the Ordinance. If the law was to be amended, why Assembly was prorogued immediately before the promulgation of the Ordinance? Moreover, when the Law department had vetted the official Bill to insert section 4 (as proposed by Subhas Chandra Pattanayak) and approved by the CM in anticipation of the cabinet approval on 20.5.2016, how could the same be changed in the Ordinance? Section 4 in the Ordinance is not the same as was in the draft legislation vetted by the department of Law. Is the Ordinance a ploy to promulgate any ill intention of administration in the style of law? Time may reveal the reality.

However, when the Act is amended to give the government the authority to frame the Rules, and framing of the Rules is possible through subordinate legislation, the same should be immediately done to ensure that whosoever contravenes the Official Language Act, must be punished, as proposed by Sri Pattanayak. Till this happens and the Rules advanced by the founder of the Bhasha Andolan legislated, the Silent-Black-Flag-Campaign shall continue, as per its leadership.

Minister supports contravention of Orissa Official Language Act, his newspaper plays mischief!

Bhubaneswar Bureau
The newspaper of a minister of the Orissa – Sanchar – has kept its readers in dark about the unique Bhasa Andolan (Language Movement) of Orissa that demands for Governance of Orissa in Oriya language.

On the other hand, it has editorially attacked Sri Subhas Chandra Pattanayak, whose brainchild is this movement, in order to mislead the movement, when the minister has publicly argued that contravention of the Orissa Official Language Act, enacted and enforced in 1954 to ensure governance of Orissa in Oriya, is no offense.
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