Monitoring through RTI about ATR on attack on RTI Activists

Monitoring   through RTI about Action Taken against the Culprits involved in merciless attack on RTI Activist in Odisha

on 22^nd Sept. 15, Keshab Mahakud, a middle-aged, physically handicapped man ( one limb is lost )  belonging to Kashikiari  village  in  Nayagarh  district  of Odisha  fell a   victim  of  conspiracy  by a nexus of unscrupulous politicians, corrupt officials of police and administration at district level and anti-social elements, ,   for  his  constant  endeavour  to   use RTI to expose  their  illegal and ant-people activities.   On his way  to  Bus stand, a gang of 6 hooligans  ( Baru Parida, Kahnei Nayak, Nibasi Parida, Nalu Parida, Bharat Nayak, Ashok Nayak )  attacked  him and mercilessly  hit  him with lethal weapons including an iron rod damaging  his two legs and one hand permanently. All the crucial documents such as  his voter ID card and BPL Card were snatched  away by the miscreants. As a result of multiple bruises and profuse bleeding caused by this sudden but pre-meditated attack, Sri Mahakud fell unconscious and the goons abandoned him on the spot. However, after getting telephone call from some unknown source , the police staff  of Mahipur Police Outpost rescued him and sent him to Nayagarh   Hospital for treatment, where from he was again transferred  to the Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar, and finally from there to the S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. He was discharged from Medical on 3.10.15.

His son Kuber Mahakud  had filed an FIR in Nuagaon police station on 22.9.15. Though the police registered the case  No. 59 dt. 22.9.15 , U/S-341/323/325/307/379/34 IPC, the  police did not take any steps  to arrest the accused. After the news  about  attack on Keshab Mahakud  was highlighted  in  mass media,  many RTI Activists  from different  parts of the  country wrote letter to  Chief Minister and Director General of Police,  Odisha  demanding quick  action  against the culprits and provide  protection  to Sri Mahakud.  Complaint case was also filed in Odisha Human Rights Commission and National Human Rights Commission.  

On 9.10.15, RTI Activists  of Odisha  held Dharana in front of DG, Police and submitted memorandum  seeking immediate  action  against the culprits  involved  in merciless attack on Keshab Mahakud  and enquire into  details of the factors leading to attack  on him. In the  meantime, NHRC  has also called for report  about Action Taken against the culprits  masterminded the attack.

On 28.12.15, RTI Application was submitted to the PIO, Nuagaon police station  seeking  information about details of action taken  by the Police to arrest the  accused.  On 7.1.16, the PIO  has  supplied the  information  which is  as follows.

During  course of investigation, the spot was verified . the Complainant  and witnesses were examined. The accused persons  namely Ashok Nayak, Antaryami Parida, Bharat Parida  have been arrested  and forwarded to the court  of SDJM Nayagarh  and the other accused  persons  namely Bijay Kumar Parida, Pramod Kumar parida, Hrushikesh Parida, Nalu Parida, Pradeep Nayak  have been arrested  and released on bail  as per order of High Court  of Odisha. This case was chargesheeted  on 3.12.15 vide Nuagaon PS Charge sheet No. 89.      

Pradip Pradhan
M-9937843482
Date- 19.1.16 

Budgetary Provision for Rabi Crop by Govt. of Odisha during 2015-16

Farmers’ Suicide in Odisha (Bulletin-3)

Budgetary Provision for Rabi Crop by Govt. of Odisha  during 2015-16

RTI Application dated 4.12.15 to the PIO, Department of RTI Application to get the information  about details of budgetary  provision  made  for Rabi Crop  under different heads by the State Govt. The information provided  by the Department of Agriculture  and Directorate  of Agriculture  and Food Production, Odisha  is as follows.

a.                  An amount of Rs. 6980.20 lakh  ( Rs. 5940.00 lakh  under Demand Draft  No. 23-2401-800/789/796-2609-20002-Promotion of Improved  Package  & Practices  & Rs. 1040.20 lakh  under Demand  No.23-2401-119/789/796-1957-20002-Development  of Potato vegetables  & Spices )  has been provided  towards  supply of 4 lakh pulse minikits.  

b.             40,000 pump sets  shall be provided  to the farmers  of the state  with a subsidy  pattern  of 50% limited  to Rs. 15,000/- per set.

c.                       Provision for procurement  of different types of oilseeds by Odisha State Seeds Corporation ( OSSC)  and Odisha Agro-Industries Corporation(OAIC) to be supplied to Deputy Director, Agriculture of different districts.

Name of the programme	Activity	Supplier of seeds	Name of oilseed	Quantity  and amount of seed	Amount
National Oilseed  and Oil Mission	Mustard  field demonstration	OSSC OAIC	Mustard -DO-	78.0 quintals 102.40 quintals	13,98,100
	Rasi field demonstration	OSSC	Rasi	50 quital	3,87,500
Drought Package declared  by  Chief Minister -2015	Mustard Packet  Demonstration field ( 50,000 pkt @ 2 kg per pkt)	OSSC OAIC	Mustard	432.20 quintal ( 21610 pkt) 567.80 quintal ( 28390 pkt)	75,00,000
	Groundnut  Packet Demonstration field ( 50,000 pkt) 20 kg per pkt	OSSC OAIC	Groundnut	6500quintal (39,500 pkt) 3500 quintal( 17,500 pkt)	11,47,50,000

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date-18.1.16 

NHRC to send Special Rapporteur to inquiry famers’ suicide cases in Odisha

NHRC to send Special Rapporteur to inquiry famers’ suicide cases in Odisha

National Human Rights Commission has assured to send its special rapporteur to Odisha for investigating the issues of farmer suicide in the state.

Justice Ceriac Joseph, Acting Chairperson of the Commission while discussing with Pradeep Pradhan, Advisor to NHRC on Right to Food said that, he will look into the proposal of sending Rapporteur to Odisha to investigate into alleged Farmers’ suicide in the State.

On 14 January, Sri Pradhan on his official visit  to New Delhi  met  Justice  Ceriac  Joseph  and appraised  him  about  deplorable situation of  farming  community and disastrous  agriculture   in the state. He submitted a memorandum  to  Justice Joseph  and requested him  to send a special inquiry team to investigate into more than 160 cases  of farmers’ suicide  due to crop loss  and  loan burden and state Government’s  reluctance  to accept  the reason.

“The socio-economic condition of these families is precarious and they require urgent financial support for their survival with dignity, said Sri Pradhan.

A six-member team of  Civil Society Groups including Sudhir Mohanty, advocate, Sachikant Pradhan, Pratap sahu, Sudarshan Chhotaray, Srinibas Mohanty  led by Sri Pradhan  had filed  complaint petition to NHRC  on 4  January,  seeking immediate  intervention  and  necessary action. This case has also been registered in NHRC.

In Nov.2015,  Fact-finding Team  consisting  of 23 members  under the banner of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha  had  visited  30 famers’ suicide families  covering 12 districts to ascertain fact  about the reasons behind  farmers’ suicide.

The Team has come out with a fact-finding Report holding  State Govt. responsible  for  its callous and indifferent attitude  towards  small and Marginal farmers and implementation of various agriculture programme in lackadaisical manner and Crop loss and loan burden as reason for farmers’ suicide. This report was  also presented  in a State-level  Public hearing  held at Lower PMG, Bhubaneswar  on 13.12.15 presided a four prominent Jury Members like Rabi Das, Senior Journalist, Prafulla Samantaray, Social Activist, Panchanan Kanungo, former Minister  and Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty.

Total number of 3.90 crore people out of 4.19 crore of total population of Odisha

Total number of 3.90 crore people out of 4.19 crore of total population of Odisha ( 3,26,21,167 people  as Priority Household and 12,64,500  families  under  Antodaya Anna Yojana)   to be covered  under  National Food Security Act

  

There  is confusion that  only 3,26,21,167 people ( 65 % of families)   will be  covered   as  beneficiary  under National Food Security Act.  But besides that  another 12, 64, 600 families  ( 63,23,000 people)  will be covered  under  NFSA. It means total  number  of 3,89,44,167( around 77%)  will  be covered  as beneficiary  under NFSA.  The details  of  information extracted  from PDS  Control Order, 2015  is presented  below.

Total Population  of Odisha  ( Census 2011)	4, 19,47,358
Percentage of coverage  of Rural areas	82.17
Percentage of Coverage  of Urban areas	55.77
Number of Persons to be covered  in Rural areas	28,719,429
Number of persons to be covered  in Urban areas	3,901,738
Total  population to be covered	32,621,167
Number of families  to be covered  under Antodaya Anna Yojana	1,264,500

Secondly,  all of  you  are aware  that  many politically powerful people  and financial  sound  families  have illegally   enlisted their name  as  Priority Household under National Food Security Act  and  taken   Ration Card.  Earlier the State  Govt. has issued warning  to  take criminal action against the people  illegally  applying  for  Ration  Card. But  the State Govt. has not  lodged  FIR against  the people  who have taken  Ration Card illegally   by filling false affidavit.   Two prominent laws i.e, PDS Control Oder, 2015 and Essential Commodities Act, 1955 have prescribed  details of action to be taken   against  the people  violating the law.

Clause 13 of PDS Control Order  (Penalty)  says  .-If any person contravenes any of the provisions of this Order he shall be liable to punishment under section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act.

7. Penalties :

(i) If any person contravenes any order made under section 3 :-

(a) he shall be punishable :-

(i) in the case of an order made with reference to clause (h) or clause (i) of sub-section (2) of that section, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and shall also be liable to fine, and

(ii) in the case of any other order, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine;

(b) any property in respect of which the order has been contravened shall be forfeited to the Government.

Clause 3 (10) of PDS Control Order, 2015 has prescribed that the State Government shall prescribe the detailed procedure for finalization of the list of eligible households covering,

inter-alia, aspects like the process of drawing up of draft list, putting the draft list in the public domain including reading out of the list in meetings of the Gram Sabha or equivalent body in urban areas, inviting objections, disposal of objections, appeals and so on

.Clause 4  (14)  says The designated authority shall issue a ration card to an eligible applicant within a reasonable time not exceeding one month of the date of receipt of the application after necessary checks and verification. But  astonishingly,  though the people have  reapplied  for  ration Card  since 2 and half months, the State Has neither  issued Rational card  nor  rejected  their application citing the reasons.

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 9.1.16

Open appeal for redressal of grievances relating to NFSA

Open Appeal to all  to bring  to  the notice of the Monitoring  Team of  Civil Society Groups   the grievances of the people relating to  NFSA

In  a State-level  Civil Consultation  on “Implementation of NFSA”  organized  at Red cross Bhawan, Bhubaneswar  on 24.12.15 ( proceeding  has been attached for reference), a Monitoring Team  has been constituted  under Chairmanship of Sri Prafulla Samantaray , eminent Social activist of the State to  monitor the implementation of the National Food Security Act  and help eligible HH to get their grievances redressed  and  included in the list of Priority Households. This decision was taken in the backdrop  of huge discontentment  and widespread  public protest  against the State Govt. for  arbitrarily  and intentionally  excluding eligible families  form Priority Household list.  The Team  will receive all complaints  from the people  and  get  it  redressed  at highest level  ensuring their entry  into the list of eligible  HH and resolve other issues  through legal intervention. . It was decided to make an open appeal   with request to send the complaints directly to the following Team Members for its redressal.

Name	Mobile No.	Email
Sri Prafulla Samantaray	9437259005
Sri Pradip Pradhan	9937843482	Pradippradhan63@gmail.com
Sri  Arun Dehury	9437016502
The postal address is Plot No. D-27, Maitree Vihar, Post-Rail Vihar, Bhubaneswar-23

We appeal  all of you  to send us  the grievances  of the  people  and we assure  that  we will fight out   it  at appropriate level  to get it redressed by hook or by crook.

Thanking you

Yours sincerely

Pradip Pradhan

On behalf of  the  Team

1.1.16

Takshila School has lost legal status under RTE Act

Non-Submission of Application for NOC by Bhubaneswar Model Public School known as Takshila Public School under RTE Act since last three years, exposed through RTI

Dear friends

As per section 18 of the Right to Education Act  No school , other than  a school established, owned  or controlled  by the Govt. or the local authority, after commencement  of this Act, shall be established  or  function , without obtaining a certificate  of recognition  from  the State Govt. Further  sub-section-5  stipulates  that  any person  who establishes  or runs a school without  obtaining certificate  of recognition , or continues  to run a school  after  withdrawal  of recognition , shall be liable  to fine  which may extend to one lakh  rupees  and in case  of  continuing  contraventions , to  such a fine of ten thousand rupees  for each day  during  which  such  contravention continues.

Odisha RTE Rules, 2010 (Rule-13) has prescribed detailed procedure for submission of the application for getting certificate of recognition along with its renewal of every year.

On 11.11.15, RTI Application was submitted to the PIO, Directorate of Elementary  Education, Odisha  seeking information about details of recognition granted  to  Bhubaneswar Model Public School known as Takshashila Schhol at Plot No.-N5/A-1697, IRC village, Bhubaneswar , if applied, then date of application, Date of verification  by concerned DEO/BEO, copy of NOC etc.  On 19.12.15, the PIO has responded stating that Bhubaneswar Model Public School  has not applied for NOC , through on-line  for the year 2014-15, 2015-16.

It means the school has lost its legal status to provide education to the children.  It is disheartening to note that the appropriate Authority i.e., District Education Officer has neither inspected the school not derecognized the school.

We are going to expose more private schools running without NOC  in Bhubaneswar very soon.

This is true picture   of Nabin Patnaik Govt. in Odisha.

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date-3.1.16

FAST FACTS ON NUTRITION AND ITS DETERMINANTS IN INDIA

FAST FACTS ON NUTRITION AND ITS DETERMINANTS IN INDIA

1	38.7% of CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS  are Stunted
2	15.1% CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS   are Wasted.
3	18.6% of Children under 3 years who have low birth weight (<2.5 kgs).
4	55.3% of Women under 15-49 years old are affected by anemia.
5	50.5% of Infants 6-8 months old who receive solid, semi-solid or soft foods.
6	19.9 % of Infants & young children 6-23 months old who achieve minimal diet diversity in Complementary feeding.
7	69.5%  of Children 6-59 months old  are suffering from  anemia.
8	6.5% Children 6-59 months old who had diarrhea in 15 days prior to survey.
9	21.3% Children 6-35 months old who received supplementary food under ICDS for 21 days in the month prior to survey.
10	65.3% Children 12-23 months old who are fully immunized
11	63.4% Mothers of children under 36 months old who received three or more antenatal checkups
12	30.3% Women aged 20-24 years who were married before the age of 18.
13	44.7% Adolescent girls 15-18 years old with low BMI (<18.5)
14	45.5% Households practicing open defecation

(Source- Global Nutrition Report-2015)