 DR. PRASANNA MISHRA | KHANDAMAL NEED FOR A HEALING TOUCH -By Dr. PRASANNA MISHRA |
| Blog | Posted By: hindtodaynews on:4/28/2008 6:00:33 AM |
Kandhamal district in Orissa recently witnessed an unfortunate spree of disturbance leading to loss of human lives; destruction of thousands of homes of poor inhabitants; loss of other property of the affected families and wanton destruction of hundreds of places of worship. Thousands of families had to take shelter in forests to save lives. An incompetent state government had neither the inclination nor the ability to sense the impending disaster. While the otherwise peaceful but poverty-stricken district was burning, the Chief Minister and Ministers of his party were busy organizing a rally in Bhubaneswar to demonstrate that the party was still popular. People attending the rally were treated to lavish lunch and dinner while thousands in district were starving in jungles and suffering the severe cold.
Since the state government has been consistent in displaying its thick skin to human sufferings—be it the trauma leading to deaths of hundreds in cholera or merciless shooting of tribals protesting for a cause—it is only natural that it would soon forget those who suffered in Kandhamal disturbance and leave them to their fate.
Leaders various Parties visited many affected villages immediately after the state government lifted the unfortunate ban on visit of political personalities and stood behind the affected families to demonstrate their concern for their welfare. Thousands of the affected people of Kandhamal in their present state of trauma and distress are in need of a healing touch which not only would act as a balm to the fresh injury but would lift the population from the pervading environment of poverty and deprivation. There is a need to create a situation where there is compassion with competence and equity with excellence.
The district is one of the poorest in the country; but is rich in natural endowments. Spread over an area of 7654 sq kms it has a low population density of only eighty per sq km. Out of the total population of six and half lakh, only about 50,000 people live in urban centres. Penetration of electricity is modest and use of electricity can be said to be confined to a few semi urban centres. Only 23.5% of its total area is agriculturally exploited. High land suitable for horticultural activities accounts for over 82% of the agricultural land. Some areas around Daringbadi and G Udaigiri are ideal for floriculture where gladioli, tube rose and marigold can be grown throughout the year. The district offering ideal agro climatic conditions could really develop in horticulture, floriculture, and dairy and bring about employment opportunity for the entire population. Unfortunately, a holistic and sustainable development-model in these sectors has not been taken up so far. Grinding poverty therefore has been continuing for generations.
In this short narration I am making a few suggestions which hopefully some people would take note of and consider implementing.
Ministry of Defence may set up a large in-house agro-veterinary unit in the district for production and processing of fruits, milk and poultry for catering to the requirements of our armed forces. This unit should be able to provide job opportunities to many local youth and will also act as a model so that the local population takes to mixed farming on a large scale. Ministry of Home Affairs may set up a training institute for tackling insurgency. The hilly terrain of the district provides ideal locations for such a facility. This facility could be created by a central police force like the CRP. Fiscal concession like holiday on central excise for at least ten years on new industries related to pharmaceutical products; floriculture and food processing may be extended to the district.
An early visit to the district by a high level central team to look into the feasibility of introducing the measures outlined above would be desirable.
(The writer is a former secretary to Govt. of India)
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