Social Action Groups to oppose President of India visit

Social Action Groups to oppose visit of President of India to KIIT, Bhubaneswar

While  holding  Press Meet  at Lohia Academy on 28.7.15,   a  good number of  30 Social Activists  have presented  copy of their petitions addressed  with request  to Hon’ble President  of India  and  Chief Justice of  India  not to visit  to KIIT  to  join  or address any programme   organized in KIIT ( Kalinga  institute of Industrial Technology ), Patia, Bhubaneswar.  They  will hold demonstration  and show black flag, if  the Hon’ble President of India  visits to KIIT.

Referring CAG Report, they have stated in their petition that Sri Achyut Samant, founder of KIIT is the biggest land grabber and habitual encroacher in Bhubaneswar, capital of Odisha. KIIT University is involved in the biggest ever government land fraud in Bhubaneswar.   CAG(Comptroller Auditor General of India) Report in the year 2013  has exposed   the  nexus of KIIT authority with corrupt Odisha bureaucracy and political leaders to grab most precious land at throw away price through unfair and fraudulent means and manipulating administrative procedure and illicit benefit granted to this university. As per CAG Report, out of total 089 Acres of land leased out to KIIT by IDCO, allotment of 082 Acres of land is illegal. CAG Report has reflected that the authority of KIIT has grabbed land by adopting all illegal and fraudulent means which is not expected from the authority that projects themselves as eminent educationist and founder of KIIT University. The KIIT authority have developed the entire infrastructure by giving bribe to corrupt bureaucrats through encroaching land time and again and IDCO authority regularising the same by violating Odisha Prevention of Land Encroachment Act, 1972.

Though the Civil Society Groups have demanded several times to  State Govt. institute  an enquiry into land scam of Achyut Samant, founder of KIIT as per CAG Report,  the State Govt.  has not taken any step  in this regard rather encouraged KIIT authority to grab more land in  Chandaka Industrial area. Two Writ Petitions have been filed  in Odisha High Court  demanding  CBI enquiry  into  irregularities  in allotment of land by IDCO to KIIT of Achyut Samant. 

Mr. Achyut Samant (Founder of KIIT) is in a habit of inviting dignified personalities like Honourable Governor, Chief Minister to KIIT Institution in different functions to overshadow his fraudulent act and to divert attention of the people of Odisha from his corrupt and unlawful act.   It is apprehended that Mr. Achyut Samant by inviting Honourable President of India and other dignitaries wants to whitewash controversial and depreciated image.  Even  from  a reliable sources, it is found that  that Mr. Achyut Samant and his agents has paid Crores of rupees to some bureaucrats in Delhi to get clearance to invite the highest dignitary of the country.

It needs  to be  mentioned that on 8^th August,  the President of India and the Chief Justice of India  along with other  dignitaries   will be coming  to Odisha to address  function in KIIT.

Pradip Pradhan,M-9937843482

Date- 30.07.2015

RTI Activist threatened to withdraw Application by hooligans

RTI Activist was threatened to withdraw RTI Application or face dire consequence by hooligans backed by corrupt officials in Niali Block of Cuttack district, Odisha

It was 30^th January 2015, martyrdom day of Krupasindhu Sahu, RTI Activist  of Niali Block of Cuttack district who was murdered by dreaded criminals backed by powerful political people for his effort to expose huge corruption and irregularities in Paddy cultivation under BGREI Scheme. After hue and cry by RTI Activists and Human Rights Groups and demonstration at Bhubaneswar, this murder case was handed over to Crime Branch for enquiry. The Crime Branch enquiry is in mystery. Now a Writ petition has been filed in High Court seeking CBI inquiry into it.

In same Niali Block, another RTI Activist has been threatened of dire consequence by the politically influential people and hooligans and asked to withdraw his RTI Application. Sri Pabitra Bhoi, a Dalit boy had submitted RTI Application dated 14.7.15  to the PIO, office of  Anlo Gram Panchayat  of Niali Block of uttack district  seeking information about  details of  houses sanctioned  to  different people  under Indira Awas Yojana, Mo Kudia Yojana.  It is needless to mention here that there is huge corruption and irregularities noticed in allotment of houses under these schemes in each Gram Panchayat of Niali Block. The political people of Ruling party having pucca building have taken money for houses under these schemes by using their political influence. It is big scam in Niali Block.

Sri Umesh Ch. Behera, PIO  of Anlo Panchayat  informed  about RTI Application  and RTI Applicant  immediately   to the people  who have taken IAY house  illegally.     On 19.7.15,  a group of  people  Sri Bishwanath Behera, Jairam Behera and many others reached  his house  at 6 PM evening and chided him  referring  his caste “Kandara” and using slang language. On return from his house, they threatened him  to withdraw RTI Application  otherwise  prepared to face consequence. These people are known dreaded criminals  in that area.

Now, Pabitra  has  filed  complaint to  Niali Police Station and SP,  Cuttack  on 20.7.15  to  take  action against these people and provide him protection. As reported by Pabitra,  SP, Cuttack took it very casually   and advised  him to meet Collector. However, Pabitra argued with him that this is the responsibility of the SP to enquire into the matter   not the Collector and returned  from SP office. Pabitra apprehended that at any time he may face attack from these people, as he is determined not to withdraw RTI Application.  Pabitra may be contacted in his mobile 8598087311.

Finding  no response from SP, Cuttack, A memorandum  has been submitted   by OSAA ( Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan)   to the DG, Police to direct the SP, Cuttack to conduct an enquiry into the matter. 

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 27.7.15 

Monitoring of Functioning of OSCPS through RTI

Monitoring of Functioning of OSCPS through RTI

Odisha State Child Protection Society  is functioning  in Odisha  with mandate  to provide technical guidance  and support to statutory  bodies   formed   for protection of the rights of the children at various level,  to develop plan of  action  to address  vulnerability of the children,  to  establish coordination among different Institutions , statutory  bodies, NGOs, Govt. Organisations to safeguard  the interest of the children  and to reduce vulnerability, to conduct capacity building training  for the stakeholders etc.

On 18.4.15, RTI Application was submitted  to the PIO, office of OSCPS  seeking  information about details of budgetary allocation  and expenditure made  for it.  Interestingly, OSCPS  has spent  huge money  for advertisement   released to different news paper. The details of the information supplied by the PIO on 16.5.15 are as follows.

Year-wise  Budgetary allocation, Utilisation and Un-utilisation / Surrendered  under ICPS, Odisha

                                                                                                                                        (Rupees in lakhs)

Year	Amount sanctioned	Total amount utilised	Amount un-utilised /Surrendered	Remark
2009-10	232.47	139.39	93.08
2010-11	503.56	461.74	41.82
2011-12	836.52	708.74	127.78
2012-13	1,160.12	1,010.88	149.24
2013-14	1,936.54	1,933.04	3.50
2014-15	2,202.85	1,471.78	731.07	1stInstalment (2014-15)
Total	6,872.06	5,725.57	1,146.49

Head-wise Statement of budget Allocation and Expenditure for the  financial year 2011-12                                                                                                                                             ( Rupees in Lakh)
Sl.No	Component	Amount sanctioned	Amount utilised	Amount unutilised
A	Service delivery structure	458.29	276.80	181.49
B	Care, support and Rehabilitation Service	0.00	38.23	-38.23
C	Family Based Non- Institutional Care	73.28	96.41	-23.13
D	Institutional Services	147.75	11.70	136.05
E	Statutory Support Services	142.20	284.40	-142.20
F	Others	15.00	1.20	13.80
Total		836.52	708.74	127.78
Head-wise Statement of budget Allocation and Expenditure for the  financial year 2012-13                                                                                                                                    ( Rupees in Lakh)
A	Service delivery structure	379.55	366.47	13.08
B	Care, support and Rehabilitation Service	86.67	86.67	0.00
C	Family Based Non- Institutional Care	88.20	81.13	7.07
D	Institutional Services	389.97	210.41	179.56
E	Statutory Support Services	215.73	266.20	-50.47
	Total	1,160.12	1,010.88	149.24
Head-wise Statement of budget Allocation and Expenditure for the  financial year 2013-14                                                                                                                                    ( Rupees in Lakh)
A	Service delivery structure	1,265.39	1,261.89	3.50
B	Care, support and Rehabilitation Service	103.70	103.70	0.00
C	Family Based Non- Institutional Care	99.23	99.23	0.00
D	Institutional Services	183.82	183.82	0.00
E	Statutory Support Services	284.40	284.40	0.00
	Total	1,936.54	1,933.04	3.50
Head-wise Statement of budget Allocation and Expenditure for the  financial year 2014-15                                                                                                                                             ( Rupees in Lakh)
A	Service delivery structure	937.11	930.12	6.99
B	Care, support and Rehabilitation Service	152.57	0.00	152.57
C	Family Based Non- Institutional Care	116.25	0.00	116.25
D	Institutional Services	706.66	253.50	453.16
E	Statutory Support Services	290.26	288.16	2.10
	Total	2,202.85	1,471.78	731.07

Expenditure towards publication of advertisement on different issues in different news paper

Year	Subject Matter  of Advertisement	Name of the News paper	Amount
2013-14	Recruitment cost of OSCPS and DCPU	Eastern Media Ltd., The Samaja, Dharitri Odia daily	2,78,756.00
	Advertisement Expenses  for selection of JJB  & CWC member	Eastern Media Ltd., Panorama Multi media Ltd.	8,188.00
2014-15	Advertisement expenses  for life skill	Eastern Media Ltd.,The Samaj	24,370.00
	Advertisement payment for Life Skill (EOI)	Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd.	6,000.00
	Selecting a technical consultant  for developing  a life skill  Module for the children	Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd., The Samaj,  Eastern Media Ltd.	15,185.00
	Advertisement Expenses  on Prohibition of child Labour, Child Marriage, Child Sexual abuse, Child Rights, Overview on ICPS and Proedure  of Adoption	The Samaj,  Eastern Media Ltd.,Dharitri Odia daily , Pragativadi, Ashirbad Prakashan Pvt. Ltd. Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd	2,39,404.00
	Total		18,27,188.00

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date-25.7.15

Conspiracy to enforce secrecy in appointment of OIC

State Govt.’s deep-laid conspiracy to enforce secrecy in appointment of Information Commissioners again exposed through RTI

RTI (Right to Information) Act has been enacted to ensure and enforce transparency and accountability in the administration.  Since ten years of its implementation in India, RTI Act has been proved as most powerful law empowering the citizens to behave as master of the country. It has also been powerful tool in the hand of citizens to contain corruption.

But the irony is that from 2005, the State Govt.  under the Chief Minister ship of Sri Nabin Patnaik has always  played foul game  and conspired  to dilute the RTI Act. The state bureaucracy has gone to any extent of scuttling the throat of RTI in the state.  The corrupt bureaucracy has not only tried to divert RTI but also made the Information Commission dysfunctional by appointing their political stooge and corrupt people as Information Commissioners. These Commissioners have not only proved their inefficiency in disposal of the cases but also shown their ignorance of law during hearing of the cases.

Being frustrated over mal-functioning of the Commission and their careless decisions, the RTI Activists and concerned Citizens reacted strongly against the Govt. and   demanded to enforce transparency in the appointment of the commissioners and appoint an efficient and credible people as Information Commissioner. This reaction was also displayed at national level.  While adjudicating a Writ petition, the Supreme Court   gave direction to the State Govts and Central Govt. to enforce transparency in the appointment of the Commission and disclose all the information to the Information-seekers under RTI Act.

As per section 15 (5) of the RTI Act, the State Chief Information Commissioner  and the State  Information Commissioners shall be  persons of eminence  in public life  with  wide knowledge and experience  in law, science and technology,  social service, management,  journalism,  mass media, administration and governance.  A citizen has right to know from the Govt. about eminency   and outstanding knowledge and experience of a person   who got appointment as Information Commissioners.  

But, interestingly, since beginning of the selection for the post of Information Commissioner, the  State Govt.   has been maintaining  utmost secrecy   in matter of disclosure of information about  the  details of candidates  applied  for the said post.

On 25.3.15 Sri Sachikant Pradhan, RTI Applicant had applied to the PIO, Department of Information and Public Relation, Govt. of Odisha seeking details of the applicants, their qualification, experience and expertise.  The PIO denied the information. Then Sri Pradhan made  first appeal to the First Appellate Authority  who disposed the  case on  23.6.15  denying the  information under  section 8 (1) (j) of the RTI Act. This  clause  is not at all warranted  in this case, as these information  is required to be disclosed  under section  4 (1) (c) and (d)  of the RTI Act. Secondly, the name, address, qualification of a person is public information usually suo moto disclosed under section 4 (1) (b) of the RTI Act.  

Now, the question comes, why the Govt. is hesitant to disclose the information about appointment. Because,  there is huge corruption and irregularities in the selection of the candidates for the post without following   any procedure. The Govt.  has given appointment  inefficient  and worthless people  as  Information Commissioner  ignoring  the  efficient, credible and  experience  candidates  who have applied for the said post.  If the information is disclosed under the RTI Act, the Govt. may land in trouble and the true character of Nabin Patnaik Govt. will be exposed. The State Govt.   has appointed  their stooges as Information ommissioners  to protect  their corrupt practice  by favouring  them  in the  complaint  cases filed  for disclosure  of information due to non-disclosure  of  information by the erring PIO.

Pradip Pradhan, M-9937843482

Date- 24.07.2015