Status of Hydel Project MoUs in Odisha

Status of Odisha Government's MoU for Small Hydro Electric Project (SHEP) Development

Since coming to power in 2000,  Naveen Patnaik  Govt.  has signed  a number of MoUs  with various Companies for establishment of industries in the state. The basic purpose behind signing MoU and inviting companies to the state is to generate employment and bring prosperity in the state. The State Govt. is claiming credit it its favour, by attracting and allowing a number of companies here to start their operation in Odisha. But the results are big zeros.

To understand the Status of MoU-Signed-Companies and their operation in Odisha, RTI Application dated 17.04.2015 was submitted to different Dept. of Govt. of Odisha. The information sought for about companies is as follows.

i. Provide name of the Companies with which the State Govt.  has signed MOU  with  them and year of signing MoU.

ii. Provide name of the MoU-signed Companies which have already started their operation in the state.

iii. Provide details of employment generated by these companies in the state 

The PIO, office of the Engineering-in-Chief Electricity-cum- Principal Chief Electrical Inspector, Govt. of Odisha has responded the following on 09.06.2015.

• Total No. of 26 Companies have signed MOU with Govt. for establishment of 32 Small Hydro Electric Project (SHEP) from 2000 to 2015.
• Almost all Companies are  from erstwhile  Andhra Pradesh
• Only 2 Companies M/S Orissa Power Consortium Ltd.,   M/s Meenakshi Power Ltd., Hyderabad have started operation in three places.

Sl.	Name of MOU signed Company	Name of SHEP	Capacity (MW)	Year of signing of MOU	Year of operation started
1	M/S Orissa Power Consortium Ltd.	Jalaput Dam Toe SHEP	18	1994	Not  yet
2	M/s Venus Energy  Pvt. , Secunderabad	Lower Machhkund SHEP	20	2002 &  revised in 2005	Not yet
3	M/s Sharvani Energy Pvt. Ltd. Hyderabad	Dumajhori  SHEP	15	2002 & revised  in 2006	Not yet
4	M/s Baitarani Power  Project  Pvt. Ltd.	Lower Baitarani  SHEP	24	2005 & revised in 2006	Not yet
5	M/s  Sri Avatika  Power  Generation  Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad	Kharagpur SHEP	10	2002	Not yet
6	M/s Sidheshwari  Power Generation  Pvt.  Ltd., Hyderabad	Kharagpur SHEP	10	2002	Not yet
7	M/s Kakatiya Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. , Hyderabad	Bargarh Head Regulator SHEP	9	2001 & revised in 2005	Not yet
8	M/s  salandi Hydro Power  Projects Pvt. Ltd.	Salandi Dam  Toe  SHEP	9	2005	Not yet
9	M/s  Jeypore  Hydro  Power Projects  Pvt. Ltd.	Outlet Drop  of jeypore  Main Canal  SHEP	6	2004 & revised in 2005	Not yet
10	M/s Arun Power Projects Pvt. Ltd.	Hatipathar SHEP	10	2004 & revised in 2005	Not yet
11	M/s Sileru  Power Generation  Pvt. Ltd. , Hyderabad	Saheed Laxman Nayak  SHEP	25	2001 &  revised in 2004	Not yet
12	M/s Pallavi power  & Mines  Ltd., Secunderabad	Tentuliguma SHEP	15	2005  & revised in 2006 & 2010	Not yet
13	M/s  Smile  Energy  Pvt. Ltd.	Lower Indra SHEP	4	2009 & revised in 2013	Not  yet
14	M/s  SCL Infratech  Ltd. , Hyderabad	Taraba SHEP	10	2006 & revised in 2014	Not yet
15	M/s Indravati Power Ltd. , Guntur	Indravati  I&  II SHEP	3.5	2006	Not yet
16	M/s Sri Avatika Contractors, Hyderabad	Sindhiguda  SHEP	15	2001 & revised in 2005	Not yet
17	M/s Sri Avatika Contractors, Hyderabad	Salimi SHEP	12	2001 & revised in 2005	Not yet
18	M/s Radon Power Projects Pvt. Ltd.	Kumbhikota SHEP	2	2005	Not yet
19	M/s Radon Power Projects Pvt. Ltd.	Ranitugra SHEP	3	2005	Not yet
20	M/s  Utkal  Hydro  Energy  Ltd.	Banjari SHEP	5	2006	Not yet
21	M/s Coolroc Technologies  Ltd., Hyderabad	Sirivada SHEP	15	2005	Not yet
22	M/s Shiridi  Sai Power  Projects Pvt. Ltd. , Hyderabad	Kenduguda SHEP	15	2008	Not yet
23	M/s Sri Shakti  Hydro Power Projects  Pvt. Ltd.	Gotta SHEP	4	2008	Not yet
24	M/s Golden  Nest Builders  & Developers  Ltd., Bangalore	Malimunda SHEP	5	2008	Not yet
25	M/s  Bhuvana  Bio Energy  Ltd., Secunderabad	Bonamarha SHEP	12	2010 and  revised in 2015	Not yet
26	M/s Saaki Power Project Ltd.	Patala SHEP	9	2010	Not yet
27	M/s Yeshwari Green Energy Pvt. Ltd.	Upper Shunki SHEP	10	2010	Not yet
28	M/s Yeshwari Green Energy Pvt. Ltd.	Lower  Shunki SHEP	24	2010	Not yet
29	M/s Golden Nest Builders & Developers  , Bangalore	GGandahati SHEP	3	2014	Not  yet
30	M/s Meenakshi Power Ltd., Hyderabad	Middle Kolab SHEP	25		Started from 2009
31	M/s Meenakshi Power Ltd., Hyderabad	Lower Kolab SHEP	12		Started from 2009
32	M/S Orissa Power Consortium Ltd.	Samal Barrage  SHEP	20		From 2009

Pradip Pradhan, M-9937843482

Date- 15.06.2015

ଖୋଲିଲା RTI କ୍ଲିନିକ୍‌

RTI କହିଲେ ଆଗରୁ ବୁଝାପଡୁଥିଲା Renal Tract Infection ବା Respiratory Tract Infection । ଏହି ଦୁଇଟି ବେଶ୍‌ ସହଜରେ ସଂକ୍ରମିତ ହେଉଥିବା ଏକ ମାରାତ୍ମକ ସଂକ୍ରମଣ। ଏଥିପାଇଁ ଡାକ୍ତରଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ବା କ୍ଲିନିକ୍‌କୁ ଯିବା ଜରୁରୀ। ହେଲେ ୨୦୦୫ ମସିହା ପରେ ଭାରତରେ ରାଜନୀତିକ-ସାମାଜିକ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାରେ RTI (Right to Information) ବା ସୂଚନା ଅଧିକାର ବେଶ୍‌ ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟ ହୋଇଯାଇଛି। ଆଉ RTIର ସବା ଆଗେ ବୁଝା ପଡୁଥିବା ନାମ ହୋଇ ଯାଇଛି ‘ସୂଚନା ଅଧିକାର’। ଯୋଗାଯୋଗ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ଯେତେ ଉନ୍ନତି କଲେ ବି ସୂଚନା ଟିକେ ପାଇଁ ୧୨ ଦୁଆର ୧୩ ପିଣ୍ଡା ହେଲା ପରେ ବି ସୂଚନା ମିଳୁ ନାହିଁ। ତାହା ପୁଣି ଖୋଦ୍‌ ସରକାରୀ ଦପ୍ତରରୁ ଓ ସରକାରୀ ହାକିମଙ୍କ ଠାରୁ। ଜିଲ୍ଲା ସଦର ମହକୁମା ବା ରାଜ୍ୟ ରାଜଧାନୀକୁ ଦୌଡ଼ି ଦୌଡ଼ି ଠେଙ୍ଗି ଛିଡ଼ିଯାଉଛି ପଛେ ସୂଚନା ମିଳୁ ନାହିଁ। ମାନେ, ଅସଲ କଥାଟା ଜାଣି ହେଉ ନାହିଁ। ସୂଚନା ଅଧିକାର ପାଇଁ ସରକାରୀ ଆଇନ ଏଣେ ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ନିୟମ ହୋଇ ଲାଗୁ ହୋଇଥିଲେ ସୁଦ୍ଧା ସୂଚନା ଦେବା ଅପେକ୍ଷା ଅଧିକାରୀମାନେ ଲୁଚକାଳି ଖେଳିବାକୁ ପସନ୍ଦ କରୁଛନ୍ତି।

ଆଜି ଏକ ଐତିହାସିକ ଦିନ। ଠିକ୍‌ ୧୦ ବର୍ଷ ତଳେ  ଜୁନ୍‌ ୧୫ ତାରିଖରେ ସୂଚନା ଅଧିକାର ବିଧେୟକରେ ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରପତି ମୋହର ମାରି ତାହାକୁ ଆଇନର ମାନ୍ୟତା ଦେଇଥିଲେ। ଏହି ଦିବସକୁ ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ତଥା ଉପାଦେୟ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ସୂଚନା ଅଧିକାର ଅଭିଯାନ ପକ୍ଷରୁ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପ୍ରଥମ ‘ସୂଚନା ଅଧିକାର କ୍ଲିନିକ୍‌’ ଖୋଲିଛି ଭୁବନେଶ୍ଵରରେ। ଏହାକୁ ଉଦ୍‌ଘାଟନ କରିଛନ୍ତି ଜଣାଶୁଣା ପ୍ରାକ୍ତନ ଶାସନସଚିବ ଡ. ଅରବିନ୍ଦ ବେହେରା। ତାଙ୍କ ଉଦ୍‌ଘାଟନୀ ଭାଷଣରେ ସେ କହିଛନ୍ତି ଯେ ପ୍ରାଶାସନିକ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ସ୍ଵଚ୍ଛତା ଓ ଉତ୍ତରଦାୟିତ୍ଵକୁ ଏହା ତ୍ଵରାନ୍ୱିତ କରିପାରିବ।

ଏଣିକି ଭାଗ୍ୟକୁ ନିନ୍ଦିବା ଅପେକ୍ଷା ନ୍ୟାୟ ପାଇବାକୁ ଏହି କ୍ଲିନିକ୍‌ରେ ରାଜ୍ୟବାସୀ ଧାଡ଼ି ଲଗାଇ ପାରିବେ। ଫଳରେ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ସୂଚନା ଅଧିକାର ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତ ସମସ୍ୟାର ସମାଧାନ ପାଇଁ ପରାମର୍ଶ ଦିଆଯାଇପାରିବ। ସେମାନଙ୍କ ଅନୁଭୂତିକୁ ଦଲିଲବଦ୍ଧ କରାଯାଇପାରିବ। ଅପିଲ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ପରାମର୍ଶ ମିଳିବ। ଅପିଲ କରି ସୁଦ୍ଧା ନିରାଶ ହୋଇଥିଲେ, ତାହାର ପରବର୍ତୀ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟପନ୍ଥା ଉପରେ ପରାମର୍ଶ ଓ ସହଯୋଗ ମିଳିବ। ଗଣତନ୍ତ୍ର ଦିଗରେ ଅଗ୍ରସର ହେବାରେ ଏହି ସୂଚନା ଅଧିକାର କ୍ଲିନିକ୍‌ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ରୂପେ ଏକ ମାଇଲଖୁଂଟ ଭଳି କାମ କରିବ।

ଏବେ ସୁଦ୍ଧା ସୂଚନା ଅଧିକାରକୁ ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟ କରାଇବା ପାଇଁ ଯାହାବି କିଛି ହୋଇଛି, ତାହା କେବଳ ସଭ୍ୟନାଗରିକ ସଂଗଠନମାନଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମିଳିତ ଉଦ୍ୟମରେ ହୋଇଛି। ଏଣୁ ଏହାକୁ ଅଧିକ ସକ୍ରିୟ ଓ ଫଳପ୍ରସୂ କରିବାରେ ଏହି କ୍ଲିନିକ୍‌ ଏକ ସରହଦ ଭଳି କାମ କରିବ। ଭୁବନେଶ୍ଵରର ଏଜିଛକ ପାଖରେ ନେହରୁ ଇନ୍‌ଷ୍ଟିଚ୍ୟୁଟ୍‌ ଅଫ୍‌ ୟୁଥ ଆଫେୟାର୍ସ (NIYA) ଠାରେ ଏହି କ୍ଲିନିକ୍‌ ଆରମ୍ଭ ହୋଇଛି। ପ୍ରାରମ୍ଭିକ ଭାବରେ ପ୍ରତି ମାସର ୧୫ ଓ ୩୦ ତାରିଖରେ ଏହା ଖୋଲା ରହି ସକାଳ ୧୦ଟାରୁ ଶିବିର ଭଳି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିବ। ଫେବୃଆରି ମାସରେ ୨୮ ତାରିଖରେ ଏହି ଶିବିର ଖୋଲା ରହିବ। ତେବେ ଏଠାରେ ଭିଡ଼କୁ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ କରି ଏହାକୁ ଅଧିକ ଦିନ ଖୋଲା ରଖିବାକୁ ପରେ ନିଷ୍ପତ୍ତି ନିଆଯିବ।

ସୂଚନା ଅଧିକାରକୁ ଦୁର୍ନୀତି ବିରୋଧୀ ଅସ୍ତ୍ର ରୂପେ ବ୍ୟବହାର କରି ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଅନେକ ନାଗରିକ ମୃତାହତ ହୋଇଛନ୍ତି। ତେଣୁ ସୂଚନା ଅଧିକାରକୁ ଆଧାର କରି ପ୍ରଶାସନ ସହ ଏକ ବଂଧୁତ୍ଵପୂର୍ଣ ପରିବେଶ ଗଢ଼ି ତୋଳିବାକୁ ପ୍ରୟାସ କରାଯିବ। ଯେଉଁଠି ସାଧାରଣ ନାଗରିକ ବେଶି ଉପକୃତ ହେଉଥିବ। ଓଡ଼ିଶା ସୂଚନା ଅଧିକାର ଅଭିଯାନର ଆବାହକ ଶ୍ରୀ ପ୍ରଦୀପ ପ୍ରଧାନ କହିଛନ୍ତି ଯେ ରାଜ୍ୟବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ମାଗଣାରେ  ଆଇନ ସେବା ଯୋଗାଇବାକୁ ଏହି କ୍ଲିନିକ୍‌ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିବ। ପରବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟାୟରେ ରାଜ୍ୟର ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଜିଲ୍ଲାରେ ଏହାର ଶାଖାମାନ ଖୋଲିବ।

Fact-finding on Infant Deaths in Kandhamal

Fact-finding Report on 
“Infant Deaths in Kandhamal district, Odisha”

Alarmed over Media Reports about death of hundreds of Infants in Kondhamal district of Odisha,  a  four-member  Fact-finding Team  of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha  (  Sri Pradip Pradhan, Social Activist, Prof. Jantrana Parikhit, President, Odisha Nagarik Samaj,  Sri Sudhir Ranjan Mohanty, advocate, Odisha High Court and  Sri Khirod Rout, Member, Right to Food Campaign, Odisha )  had visited  Kondhamal district on  7.6.15  to ascertain  fact about the  causalities  and  factors responsible for it.

Kondhamal, which came into existence on 1st January, 1994, after Phulbani District is one of the most underdeveloped and backward tribal districts in the state. It stands infamous for its highest infant mortality rate in the country (84 per 1000 child). To ensure food security of the   tribals and   check health hazards in the district, the state Govt. undertakes a number of development schemes under tribal sub-plan and food security programme with allocation of crores of rupees.  But it has failed to check infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate in the district.  The tribals are seen quite vulnerable entity and susceptible to any common disease.

It is needless to mention here that the team members were quite aware about bad governance, mal-implementation of food security programme, huge corruption and irregularities in development project like NREGA and pathetic health situation in the district. However, the team  visited  with open mind  to find out the reasons behind  the  series of infant deaths within a period of five months in  District Hospital, Phulbani, district head quarter of Kondhamal (as reported  105 infants died within 5 months in district  hospital).

Visit of District Hospital by the Team

On 7.5.15, the Team members  reached  at  district  hospital  at 11.30 AM   and  rushed to  Paediatric Ward  to  look  into the health condition of the  infants  admitted  in the hospital. The Team came across Special New-burn Care Unit ( SNCU)  functioning  as special Unit for treatment of infants  in Paediatric Ward.  The Nursing staff engaged for SNUC did not allow the team to enter into it as the Unit is restricted for outsiders. However, the Team members visited the Ward and came across horrible condition of the ward.  The latrine was found locked for two years. There is not drinking water. The Ward is very dirty, unhygienic and sanitation is very bad. No patients i.e., infants admitted in the ward have not been provided bed-sheet by the hospital authority.

Then, after inspection of the Ward, the Team met  Dr. Satya  Ranjan Mallik, only paediatric doctor in the District  hospital ad Dr. Mamata Mohapatra, ADMO ( Medical) and interacted  with them to understand the reason of magnitude of the death of infants in the hospital.  Narrating his plight as single paediatric doctor in the whole district (the district has 14 Community Health Centre and 34 Primary Health Centre with no paediatric  doctor)   and pitiable situation in the district hospital, Dr. Mallik said that there is no paediatric doctor  against sanctioned post of 3 doctors  for SNCU. He is assigned with multiple works like managing OPD, Indoor patients, SNCU, Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre, Isolation, attending VHND (village Health and Nutrition Day). It is not practically possible to pay attention to SMCU only. He also enlightened the Team that the Mothers are seen suffering from maternal infection, severe anaemia, haemoglobin short etc.  which is the one of the reasons  for the infant deaths. The conditions of the mothers also affect the new burn baby and posed threat to their life. It was also found that the Nursing staffs appointed in SMCU are not well-trained to look after the infants.

The Team members wanted to know from Dr. Mamata Mohapatra, A.D.M.O.( Medical)  about  horrible  condition of  paediatric Ward. She expressed her ignorance about it. The Team members got astonished and asked how she is unaware about it.   Dr. Mohapatra called Matron and wanted to know the problem of the ward.  Matron admitted the problem and said that nobody is working. It was found that the administration and the staff is not under the control of the authority. Sweeper and Attendants of the medical do not care the authority.  They do not attend hospital regularly. There is only 6 Nurse against sanctioned post of 10 in paediatric Ward.  There is also no malaria specialist in the hospital. It was also reported that total no. of 226 children have died in thedistrict within 5 months. Dr. Mallik accompanied the Team to visit NRC (Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre) and found the highly malnourished children admitted in it. Their condition is just like Somalia ad Ethopia children. While verifying the records of infant deaths, it was found that the reason of the death cited by the doctor was due to Aspasia.

The Team also got opportunity to interact with Social Activists Sri Ashok Kumar Parida and Muhammad Jiauddin Ahmmad, concerned citizens and journalists of the districts about the condition of Hospital and disastrous health scenario of the district. They said that total no. of 226 children  have died in the district within 5 months. AMNs hardly stay in sub-centres throughout the district. Village and Health Nutrition Day is not observed properly.  Low quality of Chhatua under ICDS is given to the children ad mothers. Morning breakfast and food is not properly served to the children. The State Government is completely responsible for it.  The Pregnant and lactating women have not got their dues under Mamata Yojana since 2 years. As per information obtained through RTI, Rs.14, 000.00 is spent for washing bed sheet in every month. But the bed sheet is not available in the Wards.

Filed visit of the Team

The Team members visited Dudki, around 10 km distance from Phulbani to interact with the Parents whose child died in the hospital. Srihara Behera said that he admitted her wife in District hospital on 25.5.15. She delivered a baby at 6 PM in SMCU. It was reported by doctor that his child was having breath problem and died on 26 5.15 at 8 AM. The Team also tried to meet other parents but found their absence in the village. ANM was also found absence in the area, as she does not stay there.

Analysis of the findings

A.   Large- scale infant deaths in Kondhamal proves the callousness, indifferent and apathetic attitude of the state Government and its failure  to provide proper health care  to  the citizens. It is no doubt a matter of concern for the concerned citizens and Civil Society who has   moral responsibility to react on it.  The State has completely failed to provide required infrastructure, doctor, para-medical staff in the hospital.  

B.    There is no paediatric doctor   in CHCs ad PHCs of the district. It means the mechanism for the treatment of the children has completely failed in the district. The infants who suffer from any disease   is bound to die due to lack of treatment.  The huge deaths of children also go unnoticed as they   are not allowed to be admitted in the CHC and PHC. As the death of infants occurred in huge scale that too in hospital this time, it came to the public notice. Otherwise, the authorities are quite habituated to under-report the death of the children in kondhamal.

C.    The reason cited by the doctor for the death of infant needs to be examined by the experts. The death may be due to negligence of the doctor and nursing staff. As only paediatric doctor in Hospital is assigned with multiple works.

D.   Mal-administration and mismanagement of the hospital by the authority is another contributing factor for death of the children.  Paediatric Ward is running without latrine, drinking water and bed sheet, sweeper etc.

E.    As the team feels the biggest reason of the ill-health of the Mother and children is lack of proper food. Food insecurity is the major threat to their survival in the district.  It has been reported by the doctor that most of the women are found suffering from maternal infection, severe anaemia, haemoglobin shortage etc. the implementation of ICDS is disaster in the district.

Recommendation

Keeping in view the pitiable and disastrous health situation in district hospital in general and throughout the district in particular, the teams makes the following recommendation to check infant death and improve health service in the district.

A.   In view of absence of paediatric doctor throughout the districts, the Team strongly recommends to State Govt to appoint required doctors ad fill up the vacancies in SMCU,   all CHCs and PHCs on war footing way.

B.    Repair of Latrine and making it complete functional, availability of drinking water, bed sheet need to be ensured at any cost.

C.    Effective monitoring and grievance redressal mechanism should be in place with participation and engagement of the Civil Society like    rehired officials, social atavists, journalists, concerned citizens etc.

D.   Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) may be requested to send Expert team to find out real reasons behind the instant death of infants in large scale in Kondhamal district.  

E.     Infant death should not been seen in isolated way only from the health ground.  The State  Government   may constitute a judicial  Commission   to enquire into  the  rampant health hazards,  deteriorating health condition of women and children,  status of implementation of food security programme  like  PDS, ICDS, MDM and other  programme   and recommend for revamping and restoring  health system  in the district.  

F.     The Team has also decided to approach the High Court, if the State Govt. fails to take ay measures   for improvement of health situation of the district.

Signature of Team Members

Pradip Pradhan                                                             Prof. Jantrana parikhit

State Convener                                                             President

Right to Food Campaign, Odisha                                  Odisha Nagarik Samaj

M-9937843482                                                               M- 9937234088

Khirod Rout                                                                 Sri Sudhir Mohaty

Member, Right to Food Campaign, Odisha                  Advocate, Odisha High Court

Contact Address:

Right to Food Campaign, Odisha

393/2035, Padmavativihar, P.O. Sailashreevihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha,

Email: foodrightsodisha@gmail.com

Operationalisation of RTI Clinic in Bhubaneswar

All are invited to take free service on RTI matter  
 

15^th June, 2015 is the date of the Completion of ten years’ implementation of Right to Information Act in Odisha. RTI Act came into being on 15^th June 2005 after presidential assent on the Bill. As mandated, this law is marching ahead to enforce transparent and accountable governance system in the country. RTI Activists and the common people have been successful in their fight to expose corruption and irregularities in administration by using RTI and bring to lime light the inside story of the administration. As per National Study on RTI conducted by RAAG, it is found that RTI has been proved as effective tool   for the citizens for redressal of their grievances in Govt. offices.

But lack of public awareness on RTI and absence of mechanism to provide constant guidance to the common people about the procedure for filling RTI, Appeal and complaint has remained a grey area even after 10 years of implementation of RTI Act. RAAG study Report has exposed this dismal situation about public awareness about RTI as the 63% of the people have not heard about the RTI Act.  The use of RTI by the common people may be less than 10% in the country.

The implementation of RTI Act in Odisha has suffered a lot due to callous attitude of the state Govt. Anti-people Odisha RTI Rules stands as biggest stumbling block   in respect of effective implementation of the RTI Act. Since ten years, the State Govt. has not launched a single awareness programme on RTI in the state. Rather whatever achievement has been   made on public awareness in the state, it is because of the Civil Society Groups, NGOs who have played   vital role in conducting mass awareness programme in the state.    

With the objective to sensitise the people and help them in their pursuit to access information, it has been decided by Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan   to open RTI Clinic   in Bhubaneswar for two days i.e., 15^th and 30^th of every month.  RTI Clinic will be inaugurated at Nehru Institute of Youth Affairs (NIYA), near AG square, Bhubaneswar on 15.6.15 at 09.30 AM.   RTI Activists will render free service to the RTI Users and the common people guiding them from filling RTI applications to  lodging complaints in the office of Information  Commission.

I invite all of you to use this opportunity to exercise your right to access information.

Pradip Pradhan, State Convener, Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan

M-9937843482