Fwd: FW: Paryabekhyak article 1st August 2017
ACHYUT DAS
ODISHA DEVELOPMENT
CONCLAVE: MANY POSSIBILITIES AND SOME APPREHENSIONS ( My Article in Today's Paryabekhyak)
Last year, a 3-day Odisha Development Conclave was organised in September 2016 in which many Civil Society Activists, Experts, Corporate, Government Officials, Ministers, NITI AYOG etc. has participated. It was led by Odisha’s one of the most well-known Social Activist Mr. Jagadanand. Considering the history and geography of the state, there were 11 thematic groups – Tribal Empowerment; Employment, Skill and Migration; Financial Inclusion, Rain-fed Agriculture; Food and Nutrition Securities; Water,Sanitation and Hygiene; School Education and Quality Learning; Health. Disaster and Climatic Action and Inclusive Governance. The deliberation was intense and far reaching. A Report has been published which has been presented to the State Government and Niti Ayog for further Action. There is a favourable response from all quarters as Odisha needs a NEW DEVELOPMENT AGENDA. ( Source:Odisha Vikash Gazette 2016 )
However, a time has also come to analyse why Odisha has remained poor and underdeveloped in comparison to other states. Take one indicator as per capita Income. Odisha has per capita Income as Rs.61, 668 where as one of the developed state has Rs.1, 26, 000. Out of countries 50 most underdeveloped districts, Odisha has 8. Despite abundant Natural Resources, Odisha has not on the top of the list in any sector- Education, Health, Nutrition, Agriculture etc.
A time has also come to review the impact of Globalisation launched since 1995 and especially on poor and marginalised communities. One remembers with horror, how one influential section of Odisha had welcomed the Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation Agenda unleashed by the bilateral and multilateral Aid Agencies like the World Bank and DFID etc. There was Reform Exercise imposed from top and Government of Odisha was advised to encourage Private Sector in Education, Health, Industry etc. FDI was welcome in every sector. The corridors of power were invaded by Consultants. Very few raised any opposition. Even the Academics did not voice anything against it. Those who had opposed were branded as anti-national and anti-development! After 25 years of the beginning of globalisation era, the loss has been irreparable. Today, our government schools are in shambles as students of class VII are not able to read and write. In most of the hospitals and dispensaries in the rural areas, there is no doctor. The employment has dried up as most of our youths are migrating to distant places to get a job in most inhuman conditions. Corruption is at its peak. Vote Bank Politics is subsidising everything and killing the normal initiative to development and change. The Governance is so poor that there is discontent everywhere. Some selected people have become richer and more powerful. Inclusive Development has become a distant dream!
In this Context, Odisha Development Conclave is extremely significant and it opens up many possibilities. Two things are non-negotiable. Let the development process be fully participatory. And also, let it be apolitical and above the personal Agenda.
Achyut Das
Director
Agragamee
Kashipur -765015
Rayagada Odisha
India
Phone: 06865 285149/0674 2551123
mobile: 09437073588
Fax: 0674 2551130
e-mail: achy...@agragamee.org/achy...@gmail.com
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