Names recommended for Padma Awards 2016 by Govt. of Odisha

RTI Application was submitted to the CPIO, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India seeking information about details of procedure followed for selecting names for Padma Awards and names recommended by the Odisha Govt for Awards for 2015-16, reason for rejection of the names by selection Committee for the Awards.  On 1.9.2016, the CPIO provided  the  following  information.

1. The details of names received from State of Odisha  for Padma Awards  is as follows.

Sl. No.	Name of Person	Award Recommended
1	Smt. Madhavi Mudgal	Padma Bhusan
2	Sri Haldar Nag	Padma Shri
3	Sri Jagannath Behera	Padma Shri
4	Shri Durga Prasad Das	Padma Shri
5	Shri Maguni Ch. Kuanr	Padma Shri
6	Shri Manmohan Mohapatra	Padma Bhusan
7	Guru Ananta Moharana	Padma Shri
8	Shri Banamali Moharana	Padma Shri
9	Shri Surendra Meher	Padma Shri
10	Shri Padmanava Mishra	Padma Shri
11	Dr. Sujata Mishra	Padma Shri
12	Sri Padmanava Mishra	Padma Shri
13	Smt. Aruna Mohanty	Padma Shri
14	Shri Prashanta Nanda	Padma Shri
15	Shri Paresh  Nath	Padma  Bhusan
16	Sri Pranab Kishor Patnaik	Padma Shri
17	Sri Birabara Sahu	Padma Shri
18	Sri Durga Charan Ranbir	Padma Shri
19	Dr. Ratan Das	Padma Shri
20	Sri Yaryunsahu Gomago	Padma Shri
21	Sri Ram Lal Jain	Padma Shri
22	Smt. Laxmi Mohapatra	Padma Shri
23	Ms. Krishna Mohanty	Padma Shri
24	Smt. Tulasi Munda	Padma Bhusan
25	Sri Kangres Nayak	Padma Shri
26	Dr. Bana Bihari Shukla	Padma Shri
27	Dr. Aditya Prasad Dash	Padma Bhusan
28	Prod. Dr. Sanghamitra Mohanty	Padma Shri
29	Prof. Pravat Kumar Mohapatra	Padma Shri
30	Dr. Abinash Panda	Padma Bhusan
31	Dr. (Er.) Niranjana Panda	Padma Shri
32	Sri Surya Narayana Rao Pochiraju	Padma Shri
33	Dr. Jadunath Prasad Das	Padma Shri
34	Prof. Ashok Mohapatra	Padma Shri
35	Smt. Padmabati Meher	Padma Shri
36	Prof. Krishna Mohan Pathi	Padma Shri
37	Prof. (Dr.) Sanatan Rath	Padma Shri
38	Dr. Manas Ranjan Sahu	Padma Shri
39	Shri Santanu Kumar Acharya	Padma Shri
40	Dr. Satakadi Hota	Padma Shri
41	Sri Tulasi Ram Jain	Padma Bhusan
42	Sri Radha Shyam Panda	Padma Shri
43	Prof. Biswajeet Pattanayak	Padma Shri
44	Prof. Swadhin Patnaik	Padma Shri
45	Dr. Khageswar Pradhan	Padma Shri
46	Sri Chandra Sekhar Rath	Padma Shri
47	Dr. Dillip Kumar Tirkey	Padma Bhusan
48	Sri Om Prakash Agrawal	Padma Bhusan
49	Dr. Jitamitra Prasad Singhdeo	Padma Shri
50	Sri Pravakar Swain	Padma Shri

2. The Details of names recommended by  Govt. of Odisha for Padma Awards-2016 within cut-off date.

Sl.No	Name	Recommending Authority
1	Shri Santanu Kumar Acharya	Government of Odisha
2	Sri Subrat Bagchi	Government of Odisha
3	Dr. Manoj Das	Government of Odisha
4	Shri Durga Prasad Das	Government of Odisha
5	Dr. Jadunath Prasad Das	Government of Odisha
6	Dr. Jagannath Prasad Das	Government of Odisha
7	Dr. Ratan Das	Government of Odisha
8	Dr. Satakadi Hota	Government of Odisha
9	Shri Ramani Rajan Jena	Government of Odisha
10	Ms. Aloka Kanungo	Government of Odisha
11	Shri Muguni Charan Kuanr	Government of Odisha
12	Guru Ananta Maharana	Government of Odisha
13	Shri Banamali Maharana	Government of Odisha
14	Shri Padmanava Mishra	Government of Odisha
15	Sri Prafulla Mohanti	Government of Odisha
16	Ms. Krishna Mohanty	Government of Odisha
17	Smt. Aruna Mohanty	Government of Odisha
18	Shri Sabyasachi Mohapatra	Government of Odisha
19	Sri Prashanta Nanda	Government of Odisha
20	Dr. Subrat Kumar Panda	Government of Odisha
21	Sri Nila Madhab Panda	Government of Odisha
22	Prof. Lalit Mohan Patnaik	Government of Odisha
23	Sri Pranab Kishor Patnaik	Government of Odisha
24	Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik	Government of Odisha
25	Prof. Swadhin Patnaik	Government of Odisha
26	Shri Durga Ch. Ranbir	Government of Odisha
27	Sri Chandra Sekhar Rath	Government of Odisha
28	Shri Birabara Sahu	Government of Odisha
29	Dr. Chandra Bhanu Satapathy	Government of Odisha
30	Dr. Dillip Kumar Tirkey	Government of Odisha

3. The Ist Award ceremony was held on 28.3.16 to confer the Padma Awards.  Total no. of 5 persons was awarded Padma Vibhusan, 8 people awarded Padma Bhusan and 43 awarded Padma Shri.

4. The 2^nd Award Ceremony was on 12^th April 2016. Total no. of 5 persons were awarded Padma Vibhusan, 11 people awarded Padma Bhusan and 40 awarded Padma Shri.

5. List of Members of Padma Award Committee who have recommended the names for Padma Awards to Prime Minister is as follows.

·         Cabinet Secretary

·         Home Secretary

·         Secretary to the President

·         Shri S. Gurumurthy

·         Dr. A. Surya Prakash

·         Prof. P.N.Tandon

·         Dr. Sonal Mansingh

·         Dr. Manju Sharma

·         Prof. Syed A. Bari

6.      The details of procedure followed  for selection of names for Padma Award is as follows.

·   Padma Awards were instituted  in the year 1954. Except for brief interruptions during the year 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997, these awards have been announced every year on Republic Day.

·   The award is given in three categories namely, Padma Vibhusan, Padma Bhusan and Padma Shri.

·   The Award seeks to recognise work of any distinction and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements / service in all fields of activities / disciplines. Such as Art, Literature and Education, sports, Medicine, social work, Science  and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry.

·   All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex are eligible  for these awards.  Government servants including those working with PHUs, except doctor and scientists are not eligible for these awards.

·  It is usually practice to invite recommendations every year from all state/ UTs, Ministries, Departments of Govt.  of India,  Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhusan awardees  and institute of Excellence. Recommendations received  from them  and also from other soures  like Ministers/Governor of States, Members of Parliament as also private Individuals , bodies etc. are placed  before           Padma Award Committee. The Padma Awards Committee is constituted by Prime Minister every year.

· Date for calling nominations and the cutoff date  for receipt of nomination/recommendation is 1^st May and 15^th Sept. respectively. Only the nominations received  during this period will be considered.

·   The recommendations made by the Awards committee are submitted  to the Prime Minister and the President for approval.

·   The total number of awards  to be given  in a year ( excluding posthumously awards and to foreigners)  should not be more than 120.

·   The  award does not amount to a title and an not be used  as a suffix or prefix to the awardee’s name on letterheads, invitation cards, posters, books etc.  In the case of any misuse, the awardee will forfeit the award.

·   No cash allowance or any facility / benefit in terms of  conession etc. in rail/ air travel is attached to these awards.

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 25.9.16

Time consumed in Assembly sessions of 15th Odisha Assembly

Total Days planned, total time consumed and lapsed in different Assembly sessions of 15^th Odisha Legislative Assembly

To get enlightened about functioning of Odisha Legislative Assembly, RTI Application was filed   to the PIO, Odisha Assembly seeking information about details of days planned   for assembly session, total time consumes and lapsed due to interruption by the parties and other reasons during the session.  The PIO has supplied the information upto May 2016.  The details of the information are as follows.

1. The First Assembly session of 15th Odisha Legislative Assembly was held in the month of June, 15 (starting date - 12.6.14) .

2. From June, 14  to May 2016, total  six no. of sessions of 15^th Assembly   has been  conducted  by  OLA.

3. Total days planned, total time consumed and lapsed is as follows.

No. of session	Total Days  planned  for sitting	Total days  consumed	Total time consumed		Total time lapsed
			Hour	Minutes	Hour	Minute	Reason
1st Session ( 12.6.2014 to 28.7.14 )	25 days	25 days	162	35	10	39	Not mentioned
2nd Session ( from 20.11.14 to 5.12.14)	26 days	14 days	16	04	56	37	Not mentioned
3rd Session ( From 6.2.15 to 31.3.15)	30 days	28 days	131	38	30	48	Due to interruption
4th Session ( From 18.8.15 to 29.8.15 )	11 days	11 days	39	03	23	53	Due to interruption
5th Session ( From 1.12.15 to 16.12.15)	21 days	13 days	73	05	17	58	Due to interruption
6th Session  ( from 15.3.16 to 16.5.16)	34 days	27 days	78	19	94	36	Not mentioned
Total	147	118	500	44	234	31

 

Comments

A. As per plan,  days of assembly  sessions could not  be     completed.

B. Though assembly  sessions are held,  35% of the  total times earmarked   get  lost   due to interruption.

C. Very few times are devoted  in assembly   for healthy discussion  on  various issues concerning  common  people.

D. Ho’ble MLAs   spend only 4 hours in an average   per day in assembly session .

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date-21.9.16 

“Plight and suffering of Leprosy Patients” in Baleshwar district Odisha

A Fact-finding Report

Having heard from some Activists-friends about  untold story of  leprosy patients in leprosy Colony located in Balasore  ,  a five-member fact-finding Team of Civil Society Groups  had visited  Balasore on 6.9.16  to  ascertain the fact,  understand  their conditions and explore the possibility of intervention to address their problems.   The Team members who visited leprosy Home and Hospitals located at Bamapada and three leprosy colonies i.e. Madhusudan Leprosy Colony, Fakir Mohan Leprosy colony Nuiajori Leprosy colony of Balasore town were as follows.

1.    Sri Pradip Pradhan, State Convener, Right to Food Campaign, Odisha

2.    Sri Pratap Sahu, Convener, Basti Surakhya Manch, Odisha

3.    Sri Sanjay Sahu, RTI Activist and Member of Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan

4.    Sri Partha Sarathi Jena, Social Activist, Balasore

5.    Sri Padma Lochan Datta, Senior Citizen, Balasore

During visit, the Team interacted with a number of leprosy patients, local volunteers and Staff of leprosy Hospital, local MLA etc.  The following persons responded the query of the team properly and enlightened them about deplorable condition  of the patients and inhabitants  of the colonies.

1.    Ganeshwar Sahoo, retired Ward Attendant who was found well-conversant about the problem of the patients and guided the team.

2.    Malati Majhi, patient staying in colony  for 25 years

3.    Dasarathi Rout, Monitor of the colony

4.    Niranjan Mishra

5.    Gobindra Ch. Das, MLA, Remuna

1.    History of Leprosy Home and Hospital, Barapada

Balasore is the bordering coastal district of Odisha to West Bengal. All the Leprosy Colonies are located in Balasore town which is around 200 kms from Bhubaneswar, capital city of Odisha.  In view of    large  number of poor people suffering  from leprosy  considered as dreaded  disease  in the society, Sri  Rai Sahib Panchanan Khan, inhabitant of Balaosre donated  11 acres of land  for establishment of Leprosy  Hospital  in 1945. This colony was named after   Sir William Hawthrone Lewis, Governor of Odisha who inaugurated it.  This Lewis Leper Colony located at Barapada under Remuna Block    provided space for leprosy affected people to stay permanently as they require long term treatment for getting cure.  In 1978, the State Govt.  constructed 40  houses     for rehabilitation of leprosy patients and  accommodated 60 patients and their families  in this colony  in 1981.  During early part of 80s, the State Govt.  also opened 20-bedded hospitals  for treatment  of  patients. The Team also visited Madhusudan Leprosy colony which has been developed in due course of time by the patients who got cure and started living together with their families without going back to their native village.  Around 150 leprosy families are staying   in this colony in a very wretched condition without proper shelter and source of livelihood.  The team also noticed few patients like Malati Majhi, an old woman leprosy patients residing in leprosy home since 30 years.

Similarly, the Team also visited another leprosy colony named Fakir Mohan Leprosy colony    where around   40 leprosy families staying unauthorisedly   close to railway line under Balasore municipality since last 50 years.  Their   living condition is very precarious.  Though they have approached the Govt. several times  to  allot land  in their name,   the district administration has not taken a single step  to provide land to them.  

The Team also visited Nuniajori Leprosy Basti which is the habitation of 20 leprosy families and 2.5 kms from Balasore town located on roadside of Balasore to Kholadi  coming under Haripur Gram Panhayat. All are land less and living in abject poverty.

2.    Problems encountered  by the patients

A.   The Team observed that all the houses allotted to patients for living was found dilapidated and not at all conducive for their stay.  The patients are forced to stay, as they could not find any  viable alternate place for accommodation.  Since 1981, these houses have not been repaired by the Govt. despite several complaints filed before appropriate authorities.

B.  The sanitation in the colony is in very bad shape. All the latrines are lying defunct due to lack of repair since last few years. There is no latrine in the colony.  The inmates make open defecation along roadside.  The Team also came across the sewerage and drain water mixed with poisonous chemicals from Birla factory   flowing through   leprosy colony affecting the environment of the colony with bad smell and creating health hazard.  

C.The hospital condition is horrible.  The hospital is devoid of doctor, staff nurse, attendant and dresser.  It is managed and looked after by two illiterate sweepers.  The beds are found broken. There is no bed-sheet, no accessories and nobody is there to take care of patients. The team came across five old patients lying in bed without any attendant.  An AYUSH doctor having no expertise to treat the leprosy patients uses to visit hospital to treat patients once in a week.  There is no latrine in the hospital and no drinking water.  The people alleged that in 2014-15 Rs. 5 lakh which was sanctioned for repair and reconstruction of the hospital has been misappropriated by the Contractor. 

D. As there is no dresser, ulcer of the patients is not being dressed with medicine. The patients are asked to go to Primary Health Centre, Remuna for dressing which is 5 kms from their colony.  As the leprosy patients are handicapped and unable to walk, nobody goes to PHC for treatment.  Either they themselves   make dressing or take help of co-patients for the same.

E.  A sum of Rs. 50.00 is allotted by State Govt.  for food of each patient in the  colony.  Though there is provision for supply of cooked to the patients, there is no kitchen, no cook   to prepare food. Dry food like rice, dal, and vegetables are provided to the patients by a contractor engaged by the District administration.  The inmates prepare food with a lot of hardship without any external support and consume it.  They alleged that the contractor misappropriated their fund and supplied less quantity of items to the patients.  They patients also alleged  that Rs.50 per head for food was  also not sufficient to meet food requirement per day. Though more than 60 people are staying in leprosy Home, food is allotted for 33 patients only.

F.  During visit to Madhusudan Leprosy colony, the team observed that the colony gradually developed nearby leprosy Hospital is the habitation of 150 leprosy families.  After a long fight and persuasion, the district administration has allotted homestead land with patta in nearby Gochar land to around 120 families in 2008. Then, around 60 households have been allotted house under Indira Awas Yojana(IAY) since 2009. But   astonishingly, not a single house has been completed since last 8 years.  On query   about reason for non-completion of the building, they said that the fund allotted against IAY is not sufficient for construction of a pucca house. We do not have a single penny to contribute in order to finish it.  There is no road connectivity to the area. The cost for construction of house is very high against allocation of fund. Sewerage and chemical water   from Birla factory is passing through this area.  Though few of them have constructed house, they do not prefer to stay in the house due to bad smell and unhygienic condition.

G. There was Lift Irrigation point in Leprosy Home. The people are cultivating paddy and other crops taking water from L.I.Point.  But due to over exploitation of ground water by Birla Company  which has  factory  close to Leprosy Home ,  the L.I. Point got defunct, the ground water went down  which resulted  in damaging production without water.  The leprosy people have stopped cultivation. Though they have approached the Govt. several times, no step has been taken for functional of Lift Irrigation point.  

H.  Though there is a Anagwadi Centre functioning in the colony, there is no building house for the centre.

I. Total number of around 60 leprosy families of other two colonies like Fakir Mohan Leprosy colony and Nuniajori Leprosy Basti   are landless and living in very sub-human condition.  They are found hopeless and helpless because after several approach, the district administration has not been able to provide them land patta.

J.The State Govt. has not yet launched any programme for their proper rehabilitation.  So due to food insecurity, they are found begging in the street for survival.

3Recommendation by the Team

After examining the details of problems encountered by leprosy patients in all three colonies for years together, the Team is of the view that the condition of the patients has got deteriorated due to sheer negligence of the State Govt. and careless attitude of the officials. However, the Team came forward with the following recommendations to the State Govt.  and district administration  to  address their problem in order to help them to survive with dignity.  As the leprosy patients are highly neglected and outcaste by the society due to their disease, they continue to suffer till their death. So the Team feels that special intervention by the Govt. is required to save them from humiliation, social stigma, hunger and destitution.

A. As it is leprosy Home and Hospital, the State Govt.  should take steps immediately to  make 20-bedded Hospital functional  with appointment of doctor, staff nurse, attendant etc.  The Hospital must be well-equipped with latrine, availability of drinking water, medicine and supply of food to the patients etc.

B. all the half-broken and dilapidated houses must be constructed by the Govt. with proper budgetary allocation on war-footing way.  So that,  the leprosy patients can make decent living.

C.The State Govt.  should direct Birla Company to stop  release of  sewerage and chemical water through  leprosy colony which has created unhygienic atmosphere in the area.

D. As many houses allotted under IAY scheme are lying half-constructed, the District administration should allocate fund for completion of these house under various schemes at the earliest.

E. All the leprosy families of three leprosy colonies need to be properly rehabilitated with allocation of land for their survival within time- bound manner.  So that begging can be checked.

F. As drinking water stands major problem in all colonies, the state Govt.   should ensure drinking water   for all the people at the earliest.

G. Lift Irrigation point must be restored   and functional. The Agriculture Dept. should be directed to promote cultivation under various schemes in the area. So that,  the able-bodies leprosy patients will generate income independently for their livelihood.

H. Allocation of Rs. 50.00 per patient per day is not enough to strengthen their food security. So, the Team recommends that it should be increased to Rs. 100.00 per patients.

I. The State Govt. should launch various schemes in order to provide them employment generation activity.  So that,  they can earn immediately and live with dignity.

Pradip Pradhan        Sanjay Sahu             Pratap Sahu            Partha Sarathi Jena

M-9937843482         M-8658416649           M-9040667449        M- 9658111827

Secrecy maintained by State Govt. on statement of Chief Secretary on Mahanadi issue

All of you might be aware that when the controversy around  Mahanadi water dispute  cropped  in the state   following allegation of State Govt about over-exploitation of water of River Mahanadi by Chhatishgarh Govt. and its  adverse impact on Odisha,  Mr. A.P.Padhi, Chief Secretary conducted a press conference  accusing   Central Govt. and  Chhattisgarh Govt.  responsible for Mahanadi water dispute.  The political parties strongly reacted against his statement and said that this was violation of ALL India Service Conduct Rules.

The question comes to my mind to know how the decision was taken by Govt.  to authorise  Sri Padhi to give such statement on Maghanadi Water dispute.  It is obvious to support argument of a section of the people that concerned Minister for Water Resource is the best one to give public statement on the issues concerning his/ her Dept. So Sri Nabin Patnaik, Chief Minister who has been holding this high profile Department for last 16 years is the best man to speak or give a public statement on the issues centring around Mahanadi. As Sri Patnaik lacks  minimum knowledge  about Mahanadi issue, he tried his best to avoid media, preferred to remain mum and   engaged Chief Secretary, rather than  a senior Minister to speak on his behalf  on this issue.

To understand  the administrative exercise  in State bureaucracy, RTI Application dated 17.8.16 was filed to  the PIO, Dept. of General Administration, Govt. of Odisha  seeking the information about  (a) copy of the Statement of Chief Secretary on Mahanadi river dispute which was circulated to media, (b)  details of decision taken at Govt. level authorizing Chief Secretary to give the statement on Mahanadi River dispute, (c) Has the Chief Minister instructed to Chief Secretary to give such statement and whether the instruction was orally or written.

My RTI Application was forwarded to Dept. of Water Resources to supply the information. On 12.9.16,  in response to RTI Application, the PIO has said that the said information is not available  with the Dept. and denied to provide the information.

It means the Govt. kept secret  of the said  information   apprehending that it  would expose their true character  and nefarious practice.  This is not a single case.  The State Govt. has started  an exercise  not to disclose many  information  under RTI   in order to protect their  corrupt practice and keep the people of Odisha in dark  about their illegalities  and cheating  in name of transparent Govt.  which is sheer deception.   

Pradip Pradhan, M-9937843482

Date 16.9.16

Open Letter to Sri Naveen Pattnaik, CM, Odisha on Mahanadi Water Dispute

To
Sri Naveen Pattnaik
Chief Minister, Odisha

Sir
I came across news aired in TV Channels about your appeal to individuals, voluntary organisations and political parties seeking their suggestions on Mahanadi Water Dispute issue on the eve of tripartite meeting to be held at New Delhi on 17.9.16.

As I understand, since two months, your Government have been unilaterally organising series of agitations, rail rock against Chhatisgarh Govt., sending party team ( not Govt. expert team) to Chhatisgarh to assess use of water of Mahanadi and details of dams and barrages constructed on Mahanadi. But your Govt. has neither shared any information to the public about Mahanadi water dispute nor disclosed the report of your party team. The people of Odisha are also in dark about reason for cancellation of the proposed visit of expert team of your Govt. to Chhatisgarh. Since last two months of discourse on Mahanadi Water dispute in the state, you have not taken into confidence the common people, individuals and Civil Society Groups nor showed any interest to involve them. It is also disheartening to note that you have also turned down the proposal given by Sri Narasingha Mishra, leader of Opposition for conveying all party meeting to take up Mahanadi issue collectively.

It has also come to our notice that you have given a statement in media that “YOU ARE FULLY PREPARED”. What does it mean? Can you please share how you are full prepared and preparation made by you for resolving water dispute. What is the plan of State Govt. for its solution? Sharing of this information is prerequisite to give any suggestion to State Govt. on the said dispute.

Last but not least, as you are a learned man and having outstanding experience in administration, I personally request you to come down to the street for public discourse on Mahanadi issue and directly interact with the people about the issue and its solution. I also appeal you not to be engaged with public through your officers or party spokespersons who are confusing the people of Odisha without knowing anything about Mahanadi water dispute.

Looking forward to your kind response.

With Regards
Pradip Pradhan, Social Activist, M-9937843482
Date- 12.9.16