Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Two accused arrested in attack on a 10 -year son of RTI Activist

After long fight, two accused were arrested by the police in connection with merciless attack on a 10 year old son of RTI Activist of Kendrapara district, Odisha

On 20.6.16, two accused namely Sri Pravat Kumar Sahu, Chairman, School Management Committee of Udayabata Upper Primary School, Bhagaban Pur and Dipu  Nayak, a criminal of  Kunarapal village,  were arrested and forwarded to jail by  Marshaghai police in connection with merciless attack on a 10 year old son of RTI Activist of Kendrapara district, Odisha. But astonishingly, the police have not been able to arrest 4 to 5 main accused dreaded criminals who had masterminded this attack on Suvam Rout, a 10 year old boy on 10.5.16, when he was asleep in the night.  They have escaped from the area due to negligence of the police to arrest them at the primary stage.

This unfortunate incident has its background. That Sri Kalandi Nayak , a poor villager    of Marshaghai Block of Kendrapara district  who happens  to be member of Udayabata Upper Primary School found  misappropriation of  around Rs. 15 lakh fund in repair of  Udayabata Upper Primary School and mismanagement of  fund for  Mid-Day-Meal by the Head Master of the School, Block Education Officer  and other officials. He  used RTI  extensively  filling series of application to different offices  to unearth  truth and find  out  the  details of  information  about  the fund sanctioned and utilised  along with copy of bill and vouchures by the Head Master  and Chairman, School Management  Committee. With the incomplete  information provided  to him, he filed a number of complaints to  different offices  like  Collector, District Project Coordinator, Kendrapara, Dept. of School  and Mass Education, Govt. of  Odisha and Director, State  Vigilance, Cuttack.       The whole administration including local  political leaders  of ruling party  got disturbed  and tried to convince him to withdraw the application and  complaint petitions. When Sri Kalandi remained determined to pursue the application and also filed first appeal petition   by the PIO, office of Block Education Officer, he received a lot of threats call   of murder from different people.      He has also got the information that a coterie of powerful people including Chairman, Marshaghai Block and Officials and Contractors are getting organised to attack him at anytime. As kalandi remained determined  to fight it out,  the  coterie  of teachers, contractors  and corrupt  officials got  organised and  conspired  to murder  him and his 10 year  old son. On 10.5.16, they entered into his house in mid-night and attacked his son Suvam mercilessly with dreaded weapon. Suvam lost his sense and his head was found bleeding profusely. Besides taking steps to ensure admission of his  severely injured child in hospital, Kalandi filed an FIR in Marshaghai police station (IIC  Mobile No- 9437523699) on 12.5.16.  The Inspector-In-Charge, Marshaghai police station did not take any steps  to investigate  into the matter.    

How the issue got cropped up ?

District Convention  of Odisha Soohana Adhikar Abhijan  was   organised  in Kendrapara on 22.5.16.  All the  RTI Activists of Kendrapara district including Pradip Pradhan, State Convener and Sri Sudhir Mohanty, advocate  and Advisor of OSAA  had participated   in the convention. Getting  the  information about  convention, Sri Kalandi Nayak  joined  in the convention  ad narrated  his story  of  suffering and negligence of police  to arrest  the  culprits. It was   resolved   in the convention to take up the issue  and fight it out at logical end.  The sequence  of events  in respect of  steps  taken  by Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan  to give justice to Kalandi  is as follows.

1. On 25.5.16, a fact-finding  team  comprising Pradip Pradhan, Sudhir Mohanty, Sanjukta Panigrahi, Pratap Sahu, Rohan Mohanty, Debesh Das visited  S.C.B. Medical, Cuttack to  look into  the  health  condition  of Suvam  who was under treatment  in Central ICU. The Team met  HOD, Neurology and Associate Professors and his mother and interacted  with them  about health of the child. The HOD  said  that the child is out of danger and his health condition improving.

2. On 26.5.16, a complaint  case  was filed  by the members of fact-finding to  Acting Chairman, Odisha  Human Rights  Commission, Satyanagar, Bhubaneswar  seeking  immediate  order  to Director General of Police  to enquire into the matter  and to arrest the culprits,  Authority  of S.C.B. Medical  to provide free treatment  to  Suvam and award Rs. 5 lakh  compensation  to  his family for the loss and suffering.    The  Commission immediately registered the case  on same day  ( Registration No. 2114/2016 ) and issued notice to SP, Kendrapara  to enquire  into the matter and submit action taken report  to the commission  within four week. The Superintendent, S.C.B. Medical was instructed  to provide free treatment to the child. The  Commission  has fixed  dated 4.7.16  for  hearing of the case.

3. Finding  no visible progress into  investigation, a team of RTI Activists and concerned  citizens met  District Collector  and SP, Kendrapara on 29.6.16  and submitted  memorandum   demanding to  arrest the culprits immediately.

4. On 8.6.16, Mass Rally  and demonstration was organised  in Kedrapara  district  headquarter  with participation of  hundreds of Activists   condemning  police inaction and allous attitude  of  district  administration to arrest the   culprits  due to  political pressure and demanding  immediate arrest of the culprits. The rally  was led by Pradip Pradhan and Ranjan Kumar Das, District Convener, OSAA. The  Activists  held  day-long Dharana  in front of office of Collector,  Kendrapara and submitted memorandum  to  taken action against  IIC, Marshaghai   for hobnobbing with  accused.

5. On 22.6.16,  a  5-member  delegation  of RTI Activists of OSAA  Sri Pradip Pradhan, Sri Rohan Mohanty, Sri Sudhir Mohanty, Sri Sudhir Rout, Sri Ranjan Kumar Das submitted  memorandum  to Director General of Police, Cuttack highlighting  nexus of police  with criminals in Kendrapara district, sabotaging  the investigation  by the police  and demanding  immediate arrest of the  culprit.          

Pradip Pradhan


M-9937843482 

Friday, June 24, 2016

Seminar on “Criminal nexus of Chit Fund Companies, Real Estates Business and Ollywood Actors

State  level  Seminar  on  “Criminal  nexus  of  Chit  Fund Companies,  Real Estates  Business  and  Ollywood  Actors  and  use  of  Black money  in Odia Film  Industry“

Venue- Lohia Academy, Bhubaneswar,                  Date- 1.7.16

 Dear friends

As you are aware that   Mass Media  has made wide  coverage  the news  about  loot  of  crores of Rupees from  the  common  people  by  two prominent  Chit Fund Companies  like  Ma’ Tarini  Estate private  Limited  led by  so-called  Film Maker  Sri Niranjan Rana  and  Oscar  Chit Fund  Company  led  by  Sri Pravas Rout   in the name of  providing  plot/ house and  use  of  this money  in  Ollywood  industry.   These   two  Film makers  have   used  the   Film Actors and Actress   by paying them   huge money   for  popularizing  their  Companies  to attract  the depositors.  The Film Actors-turned Politicians, MLAs and MPs of  Biju Janata Dal  have been  immensely  beneficiaries  of  this Chit Fund Ghotala.  With crores of rupees  being looted  by these Companies,  they  along with  Film Actors have spent  money  lavishly  and enjoyed  their  life  beyond expectation.  The  involvement of Ollywood Actors-turned  BJD MPs  in Chit Fund Scam have created political storm  in the state. The opposition political parties have demanded arrest  of these BJD MPs. Odisha Crime Branch, the investigative  agency  is trying hard  to protect  these BJD MPs and yet to call  them for  interrogation.  Now few  Actresses  have come forward leveling serious   charges  against  Papu Pum Pum for   sexually  exploiting  the  newly  entrant  Album heroines.

In this  context,  a Civil Society  Discourse  is being  organized  at Lohia Bhawan,  on 1.7.16 at 10 am.  We are  inviting  leading Civil Rights Activists, Senior journalist, Film Makers, Actress, Lawyers  and  Chit Fund  depositors,  Social Activists, Film Producers  Association  to  participate  in the debate  and  share their  views with the participants.  We  hope that  concrete plan  of action will be evolved  to fight out these  issues  in the greater interest of the state.

We request  all of  you to  join  in this seminar  and  give your valuable inputs

With regards

Pradip Pradhan                                        Jayant Das
On behalf of  Social Action Groups         State Convener
      M-9937843482                                  Chit Fund  Affected Depositors’ Forum
                                                                  M- 9437160009

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Extension of age of retirement granted twice to Sri Amiya Kumar Sarangi for the same post as Secretary, OLA

Extension of age of retirement granted twice to Sri Amiya Kumar Sarangi for the same post as Secretary, Odisha Legislative Assembly- What for?

Few officers in State Govt. are either given re-appointment or granted extension of their service time and again even after their appointment by the competent authority citing the ground of excellent service provided by them. Such extension of the service granted to these officers raise a lot of questions in public mind that (a) are they only efficient officers who deserve extension of their service time and again or (b) because of their close proximity with the authority , they get the extension of their service out of favour or (c) there is dearth of talented, competent and efficient officers in the Govt. for which extension of service of few officers is viable alternative to run the state machinery.

RTI Application was submitted to the PIO, office of Odisha Legislative Assembly seeking information about details of decision taken to grant extension of age of retirement time and again to Sri Amiya Kumar Sarangi and copy of the file noting. The information provided by the PIO in Feb.2016 is as follows.

A. As per provisions of Rule 7(1) of the Odisha Legislative assembly Secretariat ( Recruitment & Conditions of Service ) Rules, 1983 (as amended upto 2010), the Speaker of Odisha Legislative assembly had given appointment Sri Amiya Kumar sarangi as secretary, OLA from amongst Assembly Cadre with effect from 19.5.2011. He is due to retire on 31st March,2013.

B. In the file noting dated 11.3.13, the Speaker, OLA has pointed out that there is a provision under Rule-8 of the Assembly Secretariat Recruitment Rules ( at-B) that the age of the retirement of the Secretary, OLA may be extended upto 60 years in case of promotee. On the day of appointment of Sri Amiya Kumar Sarangi as Secretary, OLA, he was holding the post of Joint Secretary in the Odisha Legislative Assembly Secretariat. On his appointment as Secretary, OLA , he has been allowed pay attached to the next higher post of Joint Secretary i.e., additional secretary . As a promotee, the age of his retirement can be considered for extension upto 60 years. With this justification, On. 14.3.13, the Speaker extended the age of retirement of Sri Amiya Kumar Sarangi upto 60 years i.e., till 31.3.2015.

C. To give another extension of service to Sri Amiya Kumar Sarangi, Rule -8 of the Odisha Legislative Assembly Secretariat ( Recruitment & Conditions of service ) Rules, 1983 was amended as follows;-

provided that the age of retirement of the Secretary may be extended up to 62 years in case of promotee ’

D. In terms of above amended provision, the Speaker granted again the extension of the age of retirement of the present Secretary of OLA up to 62 years i.e., till 31.3.2017.
Comments;
a.     This is not  a single and isolated case.  In the office of Odisha Hydro Power Corporation, Sri  Rajesh Sharma , Director, HRD was granted extension of his contractual service twice, though he does not deserve to continue  in this post.  Surprisingly,  though this post is contractual, the State Govt. did not make any advertisement for new appointment when  the tenure of Sri Sharama is over. Rather he  was  reappointed  for further period of 2 years and 2 months w.e.f. 23.5.14 to 31.7.2016.  It has also come  to my notice that  the Department of Energy  and  Department  of Public  Enterprise  have moved the file to extend his service  again for another 2 years without any advertisement. In every Dept., there is either extension of service of the officers granted or given reappointment as consultant.  Favouratism has become the major factor for granting extension of service to the officers, though   it is noted  by the authority that the extension is   granted  on ground of outstanding  talent.

Friday, June 17, 2016

No Budgetary Allocation ever made by State Govt. for welfare of Construction Workers in Odisha



No Budgetary Allocation ever made by State Govt.  for welfare  of  Building  and Construction  Workers  in Odisha, exposed through RTI

All  of you are aware  that  Sri Nabin Patnaik, Chief  Minister, Odisha  has been  constantly  declaring  many  lucrative   schemes  and programme  to provide  both financial  and material support    for the welfare  of  building  and construction workers  in Odisha. By the way,  he  is being posed by Ruling party    as champion  of the  welfare  of  workers.  Big advertisement about Schemes and programme along with photo of Chief Minister is also released to media glorifying  Nabin Patnaik.

But these are false propaganda calculatedly masterminded   by bureaucrats and BJD party for image building of Sri Nabin Patnaik.  It deserves to be noted here that not single money has been sanctioned   from state exchequer for the welfare of construction workers. The huge money spent for various  lucrative schemes  is drawn from cess  collected  contractors, construction companies etc. and deposited  in Odisha  Building  and Other Construction workers welfare  Board.

RTI Application was submitted to  the PIO,  office of Odisha  Building  and Construction workers welfare  Board seeking  information about  details of cess  collected  and fund generated and utilised  by the Board, contribution of State Govt. for the Board    from 2009-10 to 2015-16. The PIO supplied the information on 4.4.16 which is as follows.

1.      This Board has been constituted under section 18 of the Building and other Construction Workers’ Welfare Act.  It is not a registered body under Societies Registration Act.
2.      The details of cess collected and deposited in the Board is as follows.

Year
Cess (In Rs.)
2009-10
24,22,26,455.00
2010-11
67,17,39,755.00
2011-12
104,81,45,284.00
2012-13
153,83,97,100.00
2013-14
199,56,36,543.00
2014-15
208,08,88,835.00
2015-16 ( upto 29.2.16)
183,40,80,047.00

3.      The details of  fund already utilised  by the Board for  the welfare  of the wokers   is as follows.
Year
Total fund utilised
Fund lying unutilised
2009-10
21,04,876.00
24,01,22,579.00
2010-11
36,02,140.00
66,81,37,615.00
2011-12
31,83,177.00
104,49,62,107.00
2012-13
85,86,073.00
152,98,11,027.00
2013-14
8,85,91,939.00
190,70,44,604.00
2014-15
40,26,94,241.00
167,81,94,594.00
2015-16 (upto 29.2.16)
69,18,41,897.00
114,22,38,151.00 
4.      Details of fund utilised  towards advertisement released  by Board
Year 
Expenditure  made towards advertisement (in Rs.)
2009-10
4,41,255.00
2010-11
82,204.00
2011-12
2,06,514.00
2012-13
6,60,608.00
2013-14
31,03,067.00
2014-15
42,82,648.00
2015-16
4,29,366.00

Comments:   Huge money spent towards advertisement is nothing but wastage of money. This fund was utilised towards building   image of Chief Minister.

5.      Details of  fund utilised for  awareness programme  by the Board  
Year
Expenditure towards  awareness programme
2009-10
1,56,290.00
2010-11
10,000.00
2011-12
-----
2012-13
2,25,000.00
2014-15
6,00,045.00
2015-16
2,16,683.00

6.      Total amount contributed to Board by the State Govt.  and its purpose

Year
Expenditure made towards  public meeting and awareness programme
2008-09
1,41,42,000.00
2009-10
-----
2010-11
-----
2011-12
---------------
2012-13
-----------------
2013-14
---------------
2014-15
----------------
2015-16
----------------------
Comments:
A.   The State  Govt. has taken huge mileage   by declaring  lucrative schemes  for  workers   without  contributing  a single rupee towards  welfare  fund. 

Pradip Pradhan
M-9937843482
Date- 17.6.16