OKCL-BUREAUCRATS
NEXUS A HUGE BURDEN ON STATE EXCHEQUER
Tuesday, 15 March 2016
| Sugyan Choudhury | in Bhubaneswar
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Pradip Pradhan, an
eminent RTI activist of Odisha and national working committee member of NCPRI
(National Campaign for People’s Right to Information), has been nominated as a
member of the Core Advisory Group of the National Human Rights Commission on Right
to Food. He has taken up a lot of issues relating to hunger, and malnutrition
in the KBK region. His work on monitoring of food security programme
implemented by the Government has been highly hailed. He has been felicitated
for his outstanding contributions as a whistleblower of the society through his
RTI campaigns. This conscientious social warrior breathes all fire and
brimstone along with his friends of the Odisha Soochna Adhikar Abhiyan and
makes use of RTI extensively to expose corruption and black-marketing of
food-grains, malfunctioning of PDS. His nomination to the NHRC advisory body
will undoubtedly help the NHRC address food security issues effectively in
Odisha in particular. In an interview to The Pioneer, this worrywart spoke
to Sugyan Choudhury in Bhubaneswar.
What are the
major breakthroughs in your campaign against corruption?
I have been working
since 1995 on various issues relating to gross irregularities, discrepancies,
corruption in the KBK region over PDS, malnutrition, hunger and on the right of
the Adivasis over their land. But the greatest breakthrough has been on land
scams. This we achieved even before the CAG found it. To begin with, we came to
know that in 1991, Bijubabu had acquired hundred decimals of land which was
encroached by him since 1962, now under Naveen Nivas. The applicant for the
said plot of land was Mrs Gyan Patnaik. Bijubabu in his official note mentioned
that she could not be entitled for the same; however the plot of land could be
allotted to her by paying double the amount of premium. But it is learnt from
records that she paid not the double amount of premium though the same GA plot
was allotted to her by violating rules and the same is now under the possession
of Naveen Nivas.
The next tell-tale
evidence of corruption was exposed by us in June 2015. There are 27 companies
which are using waters from the reservoirs of the Mahanadi, the Brahmani, the
Baitarani, etc. These companies have not paid their water taxes for the last
fourteen years. A whopping amount of Rs 6,000 crore is pending against them.
But the companies have gone to the High Court, which has granted stay on the
matter. Now, the State Government is sitting over the fence and not taking any
move to vacate the stay order.
The next instance:
Corruption took place in Balangir district for recruitment to posts of Amins
and RIs. We exposed these clandestine dealings through our RTI activities, and
you know now all the selections to 152 posts have been annulled. The then
Collector Debaraj Mishra was arrested. The Vigilance Department has lodged an
FIR.
What are the
other achievements through your Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhiyan?
One of the greatest
successful missions was the unearthing of the shady deals in establishing the
OKCL (Odisha Knowledge Corporation Limited) by the State Government.
Previously, we had the SIET, which is a premier institute and there are six
such institutes throughout the country fully funded for spread of computer
education in elementary schools. But we found to our utter surprise that all
the funds have been transferred to the OKCL which was formed in 2012 in
collaboration with the Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited. We were told
mischievous lies that the Central Government had denied to fund the SIET in
Odisha. Later, we were given to understand that the SIET could no longer
function because of the rude behaviour of its staffs and owing to their
incessant strikes. The State Government maintained that this OKCL is a public
company. On further inquiry, we came to know that the State Government has only
30 per cent equity share in the company and it has no say in financial and
administrative matters excepting to preside over the affairs. Thus, it was
clear to us that the OKCL dances to the tune of the private player having all
the power over financial and administrative matters. Interestingly enough, the
Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation has been blacklisted by the Maharashtra
Government and inquiry has been ordered into its affairs. We came to know at
least out of Rs 780 crore sanctioned by the Union HRD Ministry, over Rs 200
crore has been given to the OKCL under ICT at schools programme. Intriguingly
enough, this tainted sheep OKCL has released crores of rupees to another fraud
company called IL and FS for ICT at school programme for nearly 400 schools out
of a total 4,000. We have filed RTIs before office of the Chief Secretary,
Higher Education Department, RAMSAY and we have made appeal to the HRD Ministry
but to no avail so far. I have also filed a case in the CBI, before the State
Vigilance and am going to file a case in the High Court to unearth the OKCL
scam. Money is our schools, our children, and the educational system is ours.
But we have no say over the company which is siphoning away crores of rupees by
a combine of bureaucrats and private players. Even Ministers have little to do
over the issue. There is no transparency, no accountability in the OKCL.
Do you have
other charges against OKCL and Higher Education Department?
We came to know that the
OKCL has been again trusted for digitalisation of three universities, Gangadhar
Meher, Khallikote and Ramadevi, despite the objection of the Chairman of the
Ramadevi University Admission Committee. When suspicion looms large over the
OKCL, intriguingly enough a Joint Secretary, Ajay Nayak, has issued letter to
the OKCL with memos to the three universities for placing orders to it for
digitalisation. The style of functioning and writing of letter by Shri Nayak is
also objectionable since he has written letters on his own despite mentioning
“I am directed to say...” This reveals that there is a nexus existing between
bureaucrats like Nayak and the OKCL.
Who do you
think are responsible for establishment of the OKCL?
First of all, I would
point my fingers at CM Naveen Patnaik who proved gullible to put his signature
on the note-sheet for formation of the company. You know that the bureaucrats
have their own designs and by the time the company got floated, Bijay Patnaik
was the Chief Secretary. Long after his superannuation, it is reportedly learnt
from all available sources that he reaps a rich bonanza since the OKCL is
allegedly managed by him through proxy management. Bureaucrats spread such
networks so that long after their retirement, they would have their dealings.
In almost all departments, they are going I for outsourcing!
Why does the
Government resort to outsourcing in almost all departments?
The reason is simple. If
the departments go in for outsourcing and for PPP mode, they would be able to
swindle the creams without coming through the AG scanner of the State and the
CAG of the Centre.
Are you hopeful
you can bring them to justice through the High Court?
We certainly hope so.
This is a huge corruption and it should not be allowed to continue to plunder
our State. That’s why we have approached all grievance redressal authorities.
Still, we have not got any response. That’s why we want to move the High Court.
Are roles of
RTI activists indispensable?
I would reply in an
emphatic affirmative. In the village level, they are asking you for Rs 1,000
for an old age pension. They are asking you for Rs 20,000 for Biju Pucca Ghar
Yojana and the like. When you cannot enhance the Bardhakya Bhatta and cannot
provide ration cards to all the needy, what is the use of providing rice and
dalma at Rs 5? They want to keep people hungry so that people will run after
them. What’s the need of solving their real issues under food security
programme! Thus, you can well imagine the role of RTI activists.
Do you
apprehend any threat to your life?
I know no fear since I
nourish no prejudice against anybody. We work for a cause. To save the society,
the State and the nation is the collective responsibility of the civil society.
The RTI catalytic instrument wages another civil war of independence to
translate Gandhiji’s Ramrajya into the sunshine of reality.
