FIR filed against Naveen Patnaik, CM and Vishal Dev on black marketing of Hockey World Cup Ticket

FIR  filed  in Capital Police Station, Bhubaneswar  against  Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister  and Mr. Vishal  Dev, Secretary, Dept. of  Youth Affairs  and Sports , Govt. of Odisha for Huge Black-marketing of  World Hockey Cup ticket  in Bhubaneswar

To day  on 29.11.18,  Members of Civil Society Groups  filed  FIR  against  Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister  and Mr. Vishal  Dev, Secretary, Dept. of  Youth Affairs  and Sports , Govt. of Odisha for Huge Black-marketing of  World Hockey Cup ticket  in Bhubaneswar.  Referring news  carried  in media about  allegation  by some people  about black-marketing of tickets  for World Hockey Cup,  we  have  complained  that  cost of ticket @Rs.100 was black-marketed at the rate of Rs.1000.00 and ticket at Es.500.00 sold at Rs.4000.00.

Earlier, the State Govt. had declared that the ticket for world cup  would be booked on-line. But  the on-line system did not work. Many people  could not book ticket on-line and were forced to book  the ticket from counter at Kalinga stadium. It  was also learnt that  this was a big  conspiracy by  a few handful state officials   and brokers engaged  by Mr.  Vishal Dev  for  black-marketing  the tickets to get  huge  benefits.

As we feel, World Hockey Cup is an international event having global importance. The people of Odisha must have craze to enjoy this global event organized  in Bhubaneswar. As  the expense for  this programme is being borne  from state exchequer, the state Govt. should make all necessary arrangements  for the citizens  to watch this event.  But  the state apparatus  has used  this  event as opportunity to gain benefits  through illegal means i.e., black-marketing the tickets.  As  we foresee, this is a multi-crore scam with involvement of corrupt officials at the instance of Vishal Dev.

It is also learnt that Vishal Dev and Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister and other government officer are involved in giving out inflated contracts for the World Hockey Games to the tune of crores of Rupees arbitrarily thereby misutilising their official positions for their private gain.

The said accused persons   entered into criminal conspiracies and further have managed to award contracts to their supporters for their financial gain at the expense of state exchequer.

corruption and the irregularities in the organization of the games are rampant , as a large amount of money was spent in these games despite the fact that Odisha has one of the world’s largest concentration of poor people. The organizing committee and the games officials were alleged for doing corruption at various levels of organization, delays in the construction of games’ venues, infrastructural compromise, possibility of terrorist attack and many more. The organisers have appointed Loyalists in Key positions at the with due knowledge of the Chief Minister and his Private Secretary (V.K. pandian). Employees and consultants and advisors were hired on criteria other than merit.Candidates with questionable background were accommodated, especially at senior positions with decision-making powers.The Organizing Committee kept misrepresenting a revenue neutral position to justify extravagant spending.croresof Rupees were spent on a reckless exercise of hiring celebrities and people unrelated with the Hockey sports only for pleasure and taking undue advantage in the upcoming election in 2019. In these facts and circumstances, the matter is required to be investigated into by the CBI under the Prevention of Corruption Act and under various sections of Indian Penal Code.

In the world hockey games multi crore rupees was wasted and a huge amount of public’s money was stolen by the corrupt politicians and the bureaucrats to project this a mega event where the accountability and the transparency is zeroed down.

It is learnt that Naveen pattnaik led Government, under the direct supervision of his private secretary, V.K. Pandian had appointed several consultants, who had been paid hefty amounts for consultancy and other services but they hardly did any work.

 We have demanded  an inquiry into it  and urged police to take  legal action against the people involved in it. The police has received  our  complaint but not yet registered  the case.

The complainants were Pradeep Pradhan, RTI Activist, Sanjukta Panigrahi, Biswa Keshari Mohanty,  Bhadrak, Santosh Mohanty, Mayurbhanj, Sri Prakash Jena, Bhadrak  and many others

Prepared  by

Pradeep Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date-29.11.18

Who are BPL families in Odisha ?

State Government must clarify who are BPL families in Odisha

On 11.7.18, RTI application was submitted to three Departments of Govt. of Odisha i.e., Dept. of Panchayat Raj, Dept. of Planning and Convergence and Dept. of Food Supply and Consumer Welfare seeking information about Legal Status of  BPL Card and BPL Card holders in Odisha.  The  following information was  sought for  from the PIOs.  

A.     Number of  BPL card holders ( district-wise) in Odisha  which is still  considered  by Govt. of Odisha  as BPL beneficiaries in the state.

B.     What  are the benefits  that  BPL people are entitled  to get  under  various  Govt. schemes of  Govt. of Odisha  and Govt. of India.

The PIO, Dept. of  Food Supply and Consumer Welfare and Dept. of Planning and Convergence transferred  my RTI Application to the PIO, Dept. of  Panchayat Raj  to provide the  information on the ground of non-availability of information at their level.  Simultaneously , RTI Application was also forwarded  to various  departments  to supply the information about  second query.   Smt. Swayamprava Mohanty,  PIO has sent a letter dated 31.8.18 stating  that  the said information is not available with her  section. Then on 6.9.18., I filed  first appeal to the  First Appellate Authority, Department of Panchayat Raj alleging malafide intention of the PIO  to  deny the information urge  FAA  to  hear the case  and direct the PIO  to supply  the information free of cost . on 2.11.18, while  disposing  the  appeal petition, the First Appellate  Authority  said  that  the said  information is not  available, as  the BPL cards are  not issued  by Dept. of Panchayat Raj  but  at Block level. But my query    about “number of  BPL families  in Odisha  which is considered  by  Govt. of Odisha and what is the legal status  of  BPL card holders. Are they  entitled  to get  any benefits   under BPL category “  are  not addressed  by the First Appellate  Authority.  No Department  also  supplied  any  information about it.

In respect of  supply of information  about “What  are the benefits  that  BPL people are entitled  to get  under  various  Govt. schemes of  Govt. of Odisha  and Govt. of India”, few departments  have supplied  the information about  provision of benefits  for BPL category. For example, I and PR Dept. supplied  that  the BPL people are  entitled  to get information free of cost. The PIO, Dept. of Health and Family Welfare  supplied  that  BPL families  were  entitled  to get free medical services  in Govt. hospitals .  On 8.5.2018, The PIO, office of Additional Fisheries officer ( Marine), Balasore provided  that from marine sector,   the BPL people are entitled  to get benefits  from savings-cum-relief. On 20.8.2018, the PIO, Dept. of General Administration and Public Grievances supplied  that  the BPL card holders are eligible  to get assistance  out of Chief Minister’s Relief Fund , Odisha for their treatment. On 14.8.18, the PIO, directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Cuttack  has provided  that under innovative Poultry productivity project ( Broiler Farming ), the BPL farmers can establish  Small Broiler Farms ( 150 birds  Capacity ) as support  to their livelihood  and economic empowerment. On 3.8.18, the PIO, Directorate of Agriculture  and Food Production supplied  that  the BPL farmers are  entitled  to get subsidy  on Micronutrients, Vermi compost , organic manure  etc. pertaining to Soil Health Card Scheme.

In fact, the State Govt. has undertaken BPL survey in 1997 which has identified 47 lakh families   under BPL category ( Below Poverty Line) .  Accordingly, BPL card was also distributed to all  the beneficiaries. In 2002,   after  order of Supreme Court, the State  Govt.  has  undertaken  a survey  to revise the  BPL list . Though survey  was  conducted,  BPL list  could not  be prepared due  to some administrative problem and it was ultimately held up. Since  then, the State  Govt. has not  undertaken  any BPL survey  to revise the list , addition or deletion of names  in the BPL list. The BPL card  was  very  important  for the beneficiaries  , as they  were  getting 25 kg of rice  per month under PDS,  kerosene  and many more benefits.

In 2015, when  the State  Govt. decided  to implement  National Food Security Act ( NFSA),  a survey  was conducted  to identify  priority  household and beneficiary under Antodaya Anna Yojana  to provide  food-grains  at  subsidized  rice. New Ration Card was issued to each Priority Household Family ( PHH)  and AAY beneficiaries to get benefits  under NFSA. During  that  time, the State  Govt. officials     motivated   the people  that  the BPL Card  got obsolete  and useless , as new  ration card  was issued. They also collected BPL cards from the people . Many people  also  voluntarily surrendered  the card. But  the State Govt.  has not taken  any decision  for withdrawal of BPL card  from the beneficiaries nor instructed  any officials  to collect BPL card.   It is needless  to mention here  that  since several years,  BPL cards  have neither  been renewed nor new  card issued  in case of missing or loss.

On query   from a beneficiary  about procedure  to get a duplicate  BPL card replacing  his damaged  card, I  filed RTI Application dated 17.1.18 to the PIO, Dept. of Panchayat Raj, Govt. of  Odisha  seeking   the  following  information.

i.     copy of Govt. circular/order/notification, if any in respect of  applying for a duplicate BPL card  by a BPL beneficiary in case of loss and missing of the original BPL card issued to him/her by Govt. of Odisha

ii.    Details of procedure to be followed  by a BPL beneficiary  to get  a new  BPL card  in case  of loss of his  original card  issued  by Govt. earlier.

iii. Provide information about who are the people considered as BPL in Odisha in present day and which card they will use to get benefit as BPL person

The PIO forwarded my RTI Application to the PIO, office of Collector, Khurda to supply the information.  The PIO did not supply any information. On 11.7.18, I filed first appeal to the First Appellate Authority-cum-ADM, Collectorate, Khurda to hear the case and direct the PIO to supply the information. The First Appellate Authority neither heard the case nor gave any order. On 30.8.18, I had filed second appeal to Odisha Information Commission   for justice which is pending. It proves that the State Govt. does not want to issue the duplicate BPL card to the beneficiaries. So that the BPL beneficiaries will not claim any benefits from the Govt. at subsidized rate or free of cost.

Since last  few years, the State Govt.   have been  declaring  host of populist schemes  and programme  making   provision of free service for  BPL people.  It  gives an impression  that  the  Govt. is  committed  to provide free service  to the  BPL people. But  in practice, the State Govt. does not  clarify  who are the BPL people  and how many BPL people are  in Odisha. While presenting Economic survey report,  the State  Govt.  claims  that  poverty  has been reduced  to level of 25%  in the state . If it  is so, then the Govt. must clarify  how many families  have  been identified  under  BPL category  and who are  these  families.  But  astonishingly, the  Govt. is maintaining ominous silence  about  it . The writer  ponders over the possibility of reason  for it.

Pradip Pradhan

RTI Activist

M-9937843482

Date-8.11.18