separate statehood may not solve the problems of western Orissa

Demand may crop up in the mind of the people to go apart from Orissa but  ‘Separate state hood’ is not at all a solution for western-Orissa. Injustice and apathy of the state government on the people of western Orissa may exist ever since the inception of the state but it can be resolved through agitation and putting pressure on the government through an active civil society. But such problems can not be solved through demanding a separate state with the same political system and same political leaders. 

This was the gist of the meeting organized by the news paper weekly ‘Bishesh Khabar’ concluded  in Sambalpur where eminent individuals and scholars delivered their opinions. Presiding over the programme titled “how to eliminate discontentment of the people of Western Orissa”, the former MP and editor of the news weekly Kharavela Swain said regional imbalance and poverty exist in Western Orissa because of poor and far-sightless political leaders of the state as well as negligent attitude of the subsequent state governments. “ A state can not go ahead in case a part it is remains neglected for years. it is the duty of the government to focus such area on priority basis. But unfortunately in Orissa such thing was not happened ”, Swain asserted.

Speaking on the occasion, the editor of ‘the Sambad’ Saumya Ranjan Patnaik said political condition of a particular region would determine its development as government machinery becomes active in that area. “If there is any discontentment it should be reflected in the general election”, Patnaik said. Patnik reiterated that discontentment of the people of the area was never reflected in the general election.     

On the other hand the eminent educationist Nayaran Pruseth said  discontentment of the people of western Orissa is the result of constant negligent attitude of the state government ever since Orissa emerged a new state on the basis of language in 1936. According to him the fate of the people of the less or under development region is determined with the far-sight and attitude of the political leaders . “But unfortunately it was not happened in the case of Orissa. Poverty and hunger exists in western part even after 70 years of formation of the state” Pruseth said. “By setting up few industries in Sundergarh and Jharsuguda and Sambalpur areas, if you say western Orissa is developing than you are totally wrong” he asserted.

But president of the Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) Pramod Mishra disagreeing with euch opinions,said separate state for western Orissa is the only alternative as people of the region would never get justice in the present set up. "western part of the state has been neglected in each and every field. where it is education or health or in the field of road communication and other facilities, the region is always remained in the bellow of the list of priority", Mishra said.  Former administrator DK Mishra and Senior scribe Shiba Nanda were present on this occasion as guests.

On the other hand, many eminent citizens and individuals who participated in the deliberation put   stress on the need of strong political will-power in the local leadership and a strong civil society as a pressure group for the solution of the present problems of the Western Orissa.

the editor of the 'Sambad' daily Saumya Ranjan Patnaik admiited that he is a  business man  as he runs a paper industry in the state. while answaring question of some of the lawyers Patnaik confassed that he is not doing any social work by selling a mews paper in Rs.2 /-. News paper is an industry and like other industry we are doing business. Do'nt say i am doing social work. Still we are happy that we are doing some thing for the society. He said this responding the query of some lawyers  regarding the news of western Orissa that are not placed in state editions.