36% schools in Odisha still remain without functional toilet

Our rapid assessment on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in schools of Odisha has been covered well in media and has reached the government. Though government is still reluctant, the facts are bare. Truth has to be accepted and immediate corrective measures requires to be taken to ensure WASH access in all schools of Odisha. 

The findings of the rapid assessment can be found at http://rcdcindia.org/PbDocument/4add988b1bd4ecb-57c1-4331-b898-204478c4d615Rapid%20assessment%20report%20-%20School%20WASH%20-%2014.11.15.pdf 

Below is the screenshot of coverage published in www.orissadiary.com  

 

36% schools in Odisha still remain without functional toilet

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Email Story Feedback Print Story

1

  

2

  

 

 

1

  

0

 

Report by Odisha Diary bureau, Bhubaneswar: A rapid assessment of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) status in rural schools of Odisha reveals that Odisha hasn’t yet succeeded in providing basic WASH facilities in schools, particularly rural schools; and even drinking water status.   

In the weeks following October 02, 2015 – the Gandhi Jayanti day – a rapid assessment had been done to assess status of functionality of toilets, drinking water facilities, hand-wash facilities and menstrual-hygiene-management (MHM) facilities for girls in the schools. The assessment covered all schools of one sample rural Panchayat each in 20 districts of Odisha. Twenty Civil Society Organisations, who are working on education theme, under the aegis of ‘Right to Education Forum (RTE Forum, Odisha)’ had conducted the survey in a participatory mode. A total of 160 schools which included 14 high schools and five Sevashram schools, were covered in the assessment. These schools have 14,072 students on the roll and 568 teachers.

The study took October 02, 1015 as the threshold day as by this day all government commitments, all orders of the Supreme Court of India and all compliance of important laws should have been fully achieved and all schools of Odisha should have functional separate toilets for boys and girls. The study also looked into whether the school has functional water supply facility and whether it has functional hygiene facilities, especially considering the needs of girl students. 

The study found that more than one-third of rural schools did not have even one functional toilet,  43% of schools did have functional toilet for girls, 57% of high schools did not have functional toilet for girls, 48% of schools did not have any functional urinal, 76% of schools did not have proper hand-wash facilities, and 79% of high-schools with girl students did not have even basic infrastructures to cater to menstrual hygiene needs. 

Anil Pradhan of Right to Education Forum said that ‘while the sanitation and hygiene status remain abysmal; drinking water scenario, too, remains quite poor. As high as 8% of rural schools surveyed do not have any water supply provision and 76% of schools have only tube well hand-pump as functional water source. Only 16% schools had pipe water supply facility’. The survey found hope that many schools have had some kind of infrastructure development initiatives in the last one year. ‘There is a palpable urgency in government’s action, but still the smaller challenge infrastructure creation targets have not been met. A bigger challenge to use those infrastructures well lies ahead’, said Mr Bimal Prasad Pandia of Regional Centre for Development Co-operation. 

Additional Information of rapid assessment of School WASH

Some of the major findings of the rapid assessments are follows: 

- Toilets

o 36% of all schools did not have even one functional toilet.

o 59% of co-ed schools did not have separate functional toilets for both boys and girls.

o 43% of all schools had no functional toilet for girls at all

o 43% of high schools did not have any functional toilet

o 39% of high schools had functional toilet for both girls and boys. 

o 57% of high schools with female students had no functional toilet for girls.

o 46% high schools with male students did not have functional toilet for boys.

o 40% of Sevashram schools did not have any functional toilet for girl students.

- Urinals

o 63% of co-ed schools did not have functional urinals for both boys and girls.

o 48% of total schools did not have any functional urinal.

o 48% of schools assessed had no functional urinal for girls at all

o 60% of the schools did not have functional urinal for boys

o 36% of total high schools did not have any functional urinal

o 57% of the co-ed high schools did not have separate urinals for girls and boys

o 36% of the high schools assessed did not have functional urinal for girls

o 54% of high schools did not have any functional urinal for boys

o 80% of Sevashram schools had separate functional urinal for both girls and boys

- Drinking water

o 8% of the all schools had no functional water source

o 78% of total schools had at least one functional water source inside the school compound

o 76% of schools had only tubewell fitted hand pump as only water source.

o Teachers in 87% of rural schools said that they do not know about any test done to assess quality of water in school sources. 

- Hand wash and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM)

o 24% of all schools had functional hand wash facilities

o 85% of all schools with girl students did not have basic MHM provisions

o 79% of high schools with girl students did not have basic MHM provisions

- New infrastructure development

o 41% of schools, reported that some forms of infrastructure development or creation have been done in the last one year

Districts covered in the survey (20 districts):

Balasore (Kaliko GP), Bargarh (Mithapali GP), Bhadrak (Aradi GP), Cuttack (Daudpur), Deogarh (Gurusang), Dhenkanal (Baligorada), Gajapati (Parimala), Ganjam (Banka), Jagatsinghpur (Fatehpur), Jajpur (Singhapur), Keonjhar (Budhakhaman), Khordha (Barimund), Koraput (Kularsingh), Malkangiri (Nuaguda), Mayurbhanj (Nuagaon), Nayagarh (Banamalipur), Nuapada (Kureswar), Raygada (Paika Dukulguda), Sambalpur (Kud Guderpur), and Subarnapur (Bramhani).

- See more at: http://orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=62808#sthash.ug6z55gM.dpuf

Hon'ble Prime Minister Sir, What Is the Size of India's Economy?

My Open Letter to Hon'ble Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modiji

Dear Hon'ble Prime Minister,

Pranam !

Hon'ble Sir,

If the media has quoted you correctly, then you have said, 'we are an $8 trillion economy today...' ( http://www.newindianexpress.com/…/…/09/27/article3050542.ece ).

Hon'ble Prime Minister Sir, you have privy to many data that we do not have. But the sources that we can access give a totally different status. The World Bank in a report released this year had pegged the size of our economy at around $2 Trillion (http://www.thehindu.com/…/india-is-now-a…/article7380442.ece ) in 2014.

The Wikipedia too substantiated that. That page shows us assessment by various assessors. They all have pegged our economy between 1.83 to 2.06 Trillion US $ [ https://en.wikipedia.org/…/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nomina… ]. Sir, our government's Economic Survey also indicated the same size of our economy (the total GDP).

So, various souces inform us that our economy cross the $2 Trillion size in year 2014-15. That level was arrived after changes in the earlier method of calculating GDP. If we follow the previous method of estimatin GDP then ours is still below $2 Trillion economy. Whatever be the methods, it is well accepted now that our economy did cross $2 Trillion size last year and thus we accept that.

Did our economy grew 400% in last year, Sir?

Hon'ble Sir, we accept that our economy was $2 Trillion big. But we are astonished how it grew four-fold in just one year to become a $8 Trillion big economy. If we have really achieved that then, Sir, I admit from core of my heart, that you are a Messiah that no other modern society has ever seen or had.

Hon'ble Sir, there is another twist to the tale. The $2 Trillion estimation was made when by calculating $ rate at Rs 61.7. The $ has since appreciated from 61 to nearly 67 levels. That is nearly 10% drop in Rs value. Sir, such weakening of Rs against $ should rather reduce the size of our economy as the GDP growth rate was less than the rate of weakening in Rs.

Dreaming Big is Great, But?

Hon'ble Prime Minister Sir,

I do not know if you have kept a timeline for achieving $20 Trillion size. If there is a timeline to chasing that dream then that is great. But if there is no deadline to achieving that dream then, Sir - please pardon me, setting such dream makes not meaning. It is especially more important, as you must have known Sir, that being a $ 20 Trillion economy is not a small thing. There is no economy in the whole world that is currently $ 20 Trillion big. The US economy is $17.4 Trillion big, all of EU countries together are $18.5 Trillion in size, China is $ 10.4 Trillion and Japan is $ 4.6 Trillion big [Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/…/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nomina…].

Sir, dreaming big is a great thing and leader who propels people to dream big deserves my respect. Being a very small man of rural background, I may have been wrong in prima-facie perceiving that the facts you relied are probably not correct and the dream you tried to sow in us is probably a bit too big.

Hon'ble Sir, I will be immensely happy and glad if I am proven wrong and informed that the statistics I relied to cast doubt on our Hon'ble and popular Prime Minister is wrong.

With kind regards

Bimal Prasad Pandia

Doubts over GDP

My article in Dharitri

http://www.dharitri.com/Bhubaneswar/120615/p6.htm

GDP Numbers – Little Truth, More Lies

Bimal Prasad Pandia

The Central Government, which has currently unleashed a publicity overdrive to showcase success of its first year in office, is highlighting a substantial increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country as one its important achievement. With a bunch of statistics, the government conveys that India’s GDP grew at a rate of 7.5% in the quarter ending March 2015. While doing so it also boldly conveys that India has surpassed China on this front. But there are enough chinks in the numbers being thrown at us which have potential to again prove former British Prime Minister Bejamin Disraeli’s famous quote ‘There are three kinds of lies – Lies, Damn lies and Statistics’.

Many experts say that tardy progress on the ground does not at all help one believe that Indian economy really grew at a rate of 7.5%. The results declared by large blue chip companies in both public and private sector for the period ending March 2015 quarter clearly bolster that doubt. None of the seven ‘Maharatna’ companies reported profit growth. Rather they have reported, as the table below reflects, significant decline in net profit compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Maharatnas are not alone in this profit shrinkage horde. Most large blue chip companies; barring few like HUL, State Bank of India, Airtel etc; too, have reported profit decrease.

Q3 2014-15 Net Profit of ‘Maharatna’ Companies
Company name	Decrease in Profit (in %)
ONGC	19
Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL)	53
Bharat Heavy Electicals Ltd (BHEL)	52
Coal India	04
Indian Oil Corporation	33
Steel Authority of india Ltd (SAIL)	26
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)	05

Q3 2014-15 Net Profit of large Bluechip companies in Private Sector
Company name	Decrease in Profit (in %)
Bharat Petroleum	30
Tata Motors	56
Mahindra & Mahindra	39
Hero Motors	14
Bajaj Auto	18
Ashok Leyland	36
Punjab National Bank	62
Bank of Baroda	48
TCS	30
Infosys	05
Tech Mahindra	23
Hindalco	36
L&T	27
DLF	22
Sun Pharma	44
Wockhard	54
Adani Power	71

 The above numbers clearly show that bulk of industries have underperformed last year, which itself was not a great year. Another statistics inform that 35 companies that make National Stock Exchange of India Nifty index have reported profit drop or loss. When so many large companies of the country have fared worse than the previous year, doubts about 7.5% GDP growth rate will surely creep in. 

There are other sets of numbers which put the 7.5% GDP growth rate claim in dock. The India Industrial Production (IIP) maps industrial production every month. Government of India declares IIP rate every month.In the twelve months of FY 2014-14, highest IIP rate was reported in the month of May 2014. In that month the IIP growth rate was 5.6% . There were months when the IIP rate was negative. The average IIP growth rate for whole 2014-15 is a mere 2.3%. When the Industrial production growth was only 2.3%, a GDP growth rate of 7.5% can be possible only when other sectors compensate. The May 29 press release of statistics department does not give any indication of such compensation from other sectors. The press release informs that ‘agriculture, forestry and fishing’ sector had a paltry growth rate of 0.2 % in 2014-15, ‘mining and quarrying’ grew at only  had a growth rate of only 2.4% and ‘construction’ sector grew at 4.8%. All these important sectors grew at significantly less rate than the claimed GDP growth rate. The only sector which showed a substantial growth rate is the service sector which reported 10.7 % growth. But service sector grew more for a different reason. Economists say that the significant rise in taxes, including service tax, has resulted in an inflated growth rate for the service sector. Learned economists further doubt the GDP figures by citing its incompatibility with Gross Value Added (GVA) figures. Majority of economists repose more faith in GVA than the GDP in assessing economic trends. GVA is total output minus total intermediate consumption.  In a recent television interview Dr Pronab Sen, Chairman of Statistical Commission, said that India’s GVA for the quarter ending March 2015 was only 6.1% which was less than its previous quarter. GVA has direct relation with GDP. GDP = GVA + Taxes on products - Subsidies on products. While the GVA has decreased the GDP can grown only when taxes on products have increased and subsidies on products has decreased. In such case, GDP is not a trustworthy indicator for measuring an economy.

India’s external trade, too, forces us to doubt GDP claims. In the current age of open economies, growth in external trade is an important indicator of overall growth in economy. But, in the FY 2014-15, India’s export as well as import shrunk. Export fell 1.5% and import fell 0.6%. When both export and import has fallen and gross external trade has shrunk, a rise in GDP growth rate does not make much sense. 

As we doubt the GDP growth rate claim, we must not also forget the abrupt change in methodology to calculate GDP. Last year government changed the base year from 2004-05 to 2011-12. They also decided to adopt market price against the earlier practice of factor price. Because of this technical change in methodology, India’s GDP growth rate steeply rose to 6.9% in FY 2013-14. The previous estimation, based on the earlier methodology, had reported a GDP growth rate of 4.7%. So, a mere jugglery in methodology created a set of numbers which gave an impression as if our economy has suddenly changed gear. After all, a 6.9% growth is certainly far more alluring than a 4.7% growth rate. While there are a lot of suspicion about the GDP numbers including the methodology, a recent sharp revision in the GDP rate of previous quarter has only increased the doubt further. Earlier government had declared that the GDP growth rate for quarter ending December 2014 was 7.5%. Then also government had blown its own trumpet of how it has managed a very good growth rate. Now, that number has been revised from 7.5% to 6.9% which is a big revision. Revision of an earlier estimation is not new and may be required if new set of data comes, but revision from 7.5% to 6.9% is too big a revision to avoid notice. Further, this revision shows that there has not been any change in growth rate as the corresponding quarter in the previous financial year too had a GDP rate of 6.9%.

While GDP has largely been used mostly by economists till now and was considered as a technical thing, the situation has changed now as it is being used for political messages too. Citing the current estimation of 7.5% growth rate, government of India is telling masses that it has now marched over China. Such kind of message definitely appeals the common people. But, unfortunately, the numbers cannot be used in so simple terms. If we believe the GDP estimation and a 7.5% growth rate in India, then it is of course true that India has surpassed China as China has reported a drop in its GDP rate of 7%. But the comparison with China is wrong on at least two counts. Both countries adopt different methodology to calculate their GDP. There are doubts over China’s method of calculation as well. There are interesting stories of how combined GDP of China’s provincial states, rather than equal the country GDP, instead country GDP by leaps. China too had changed its methodology of calculating GDP last year. Whatever be the case, comparing growth rate of both countries is not as simple as is being made out. Secondly, two vastly different economies which significantly differ on size and nature should not and cannot be compared based on their GDP growth rate. Poverty and civil war ravaged African nations South Sudan and Ethiopia are having GDP growth rate in excess of 10%. Will that mean that those countries are performing better than India or China?  Similarly, highly developed economies like USA, UK, France etc are having much GDP growth rate. Will that mean that those countries have become worse than India? Even a 20% growth of a poor family will still yield a net addition which will be pretty insignificant to say one or two percent growth of a very rich family. Comparison of India with China is fraught with that danger. China’s per capita GDP is four times bigger than that of India. Thus, a growth rate of 7%  in China will still yield that country a far bigger net addition in wealth and resources than what a 7.5% or 8% growth rate would do for India.

GDP, though has been challenged by many economists, still is being used to measure economies. But, the trustworthiness in it is dwindling fast. The data can be manipulated quite easily. In such circumstances it is probably hugely premature to cite India’s GDP leap and blow trumpet about India’s growth trajectory.  

ଦୁଖର ପସ୍‍ରା ଗରିବ ଦୁଖିକର, ତାତିରେ ହେଉଛନ‌୍‍ ଖର୍‍‍ଡି

ଭାବ୍‍ନା ରାଇଜେ ଭୁରା ଟିକେ ନାଇଁ ଦୁବ୍‍ ଘାସ୍‍ର ବି କଡ୍‍କି
ଜଗତିଆ ଯେତେ ଜଲି ଯାଉଛନ୍‍ ଭୁଗୁଛନ୍‍ ଦଶା ମାର୍‍କି
ମୁନୁଷ୍‍ମାନ୍‍କର ଭୁର୍‍କୁଟି ପନେ ପର୍‍‍କୁତି ମା ଭିର୍‍କି
ଜୁଗାରି ଦେଉଛେ ନିଆଁ ସମ୍‍ ତାତି, ପଡୁଛନ‌୍‍ ସଭେଁ ସର୍‍କି୤

କୁଲର୍‍ ଏସି କାମ ନାଇଁ ଦେବାର ବିଜ୍‍ଲୀ ଯାଉଛେ ମିଲ୍‍କି
ଭିତରେ ଗହଦା ବାହାରେ ଝାଉ, ସମିଆ ଯାଇଛେ ଭଡ୍‍କି
ପଇସା ବାଲା ଦୁହାରି ହେଉଛନ୍‍ ସୁଟ୍‍ ବୁଟ୍‍ ନୂଆ ତାଡ୍‍କି
ତାକର ଧୁଇ ନାଇଁ ମର୍‍ଡି ନାଇଁ, ପଇସାର‌୍ ବଲେ ଦର୍‍ଡି
ଦୁଖର ପସ୍‍ରା ଗରିବ ଦୁଖିକର, ତାତିରେ ହେଉଛନ‌୍‍ ଖର୍‍‍ଡି୤

(This Samalpuri small poem was written on the midnight of 27/28 May 2015)

Rupee tumbles to 20 month low, so what?

As Rs breaches 64 to a $ mark, and thereby stumbling to 20 month low, people have started asking question about where our economy is really heading.

However, I do feel that this is a good opportunity for our exporters to profit more, this is a good opportunity for our NRI friends to contribute more, it is a good opportunity for us to control our import.

Many countries (for example Japan and China) frequently resort to reduce value of their currency to boost export. India had done that in the early 1990s. So rupee gaining or weakening against a foreign currency does not have much relevance as long as that is stable and as long as that starts affecting growth and purchasing power.

It is of course entirely a different matter that our current PM was of the view, when  he was the aspiring PM, that weakening rupee means a weakening economy. It will be interesting to hear his views as Rs has fallen from a strong 58 a $ when he took oath to 64 a $ a year after he took office.

Inflation lower... what does that mean for us?

In the early 2000s, USA had a CPI (read, inflation rate) of around 4% and its economy was considered healthy. Now India is having a CPI of 4.8%.

Good or bad? Ask the politicians... you will get diametrically different answers.

Good or bad? Economists will say bad...

As falling CPI indicates lesser growth in price rise... largely led by lesser purchasing capacity by consumers (of course, can also be caused by supply excess, but in such case Industrial production rate and growth rate has to be higher which is not so in India now)... which leads to lesser demand... which leads sub-optimal production... which leads to industrial/production inefficiency... which leads to losses... which leads to economic downfall... which may lead to deflation meaning shrinking economy (our wholesale price index is already in negative)

In 2008, when western economies went bust, US CPI went to negative. Since then US Federal Bank is trying hard to bring back inflation to about 4 percent at least, but it has failed in doing so till now.

The US economy had double digit inflation post world war II as well around 1980s. Both the period were golden period of growth for that country.

However, a comparision of India with US is not on even term. We should not forget that US is a 'developed' economy while ours is a 'developing economy'.

So, what is your idea about inflation?

ON THIS DAY, 34 YEARS AGO

On this day, 34 years ago, I and my Nani had lost our father; our family including the extended family had lost its head; the village had lost its soul, the Sonepur province had lost its stalwart, the Congress party had lost its leader, the humanity had lost a progressive thinker. Then, I was not even 10 years old. But some of the memories of our beloved father are deeply entrenched in my memory. Within that small span of less than 10 years, I have almost seen many functions of our father which makes me emotional as well as happy:

1. When I started to learn and get acquainted with the environment around me I found books, small to very large and in at least five languages – Odia, Hindi, Sanskrit, English and Bengali, neatly tucked in wooden racks and almirahs all around the house. I learnt that you get knowledge from the books. Bapa was always finding time, even with his busy schedules, to read the books and use those. In his book shelves you will find all kinds of books – ayurvedic books and journals, journals from leading agriculture universities, religious books, political magazines. Then I was not aware that Bapa had not even gone to High School. Later when I learnt about that Bapa was no more with us. Otherwise, I would have definitely asked Bapa, how he acquired so much of knowledge without going to school.

2. There were two almirahs in the Puja room with varieties of ayurvedic medicines. All were prepared by Bapa with great effort and care. I learnt that Bapa was also a doctor who can prepare medicine himself. People were getting free medicine from him. Later I learnt that Bapa had acquired that knowledge through reading only. Many Kabirajs were seeking Bapa’s assistance to identify species. Bapa had even started plantation of botanical species with medicine properties.

3. When Bapa was making tours to different places, he was taking me with him. I had accompanied him in his tours by bicycle as well as his official jeep. On one occasion I remember travelling with him in a motorcycle. But someone else was driving the vehicle. I have seen him dealing with common men as well as high ranking government officials. Then I was not able to make much from such interactions. But later I realised how commanding, clear and respectful he was in his dealings. I have also accompanied him in election rallies and meetings. Bapa had taken me to cast his vote in a 1977 election. Later I learnt that Bapa’s party Congress had lost that election badly. But even on that day when Congress party was hated out of power all over India, my Bapa was lovingly welcomed by SanAnkaria villagers where the booth was located. I remember accompanying Bapa to his meetings and discussions with top political leaders including Nandini Satpathy. I remember being with him when he rushed to a spot, by bicycle, after hearing violent fight between two communities. Though I was kept out at a secured place, I could clearly see from the window how Bapa handled both the parties and how the dispute was resolved within an hour or two after he intervened. It was about 12 midnight then.

4. I have many funny memory of Bapa as well. I will share about one such incident. When I learnt that he is going to Bhubaneswar to bring a Jeep for the block office, I drained out my coin kitty. That had five 5 paise coins. I gave those five coins to Bapa and asked him to bring another jeep for me. I remember accompanying Bapa to field in a July afternoon that year. Paddy transplantation was underway then. I remember the field as well. It was ‘Amba duli’ and we were seating under a Jamu tree. When I curiously asked Bapa, where is the Jeep for which I had given him 25 paise, he said it is in the block office as we do not have a garage. It is a different matter that the jeep continued staying in the block office garage for ever.

5. I have accompanied Bapa to agriculture fields in heavy rains, bitter winters and terrible summers. Every time I would get new examples of his desire for perfection. On one occasion he found the rows not straight enough. He asked to plough that again and do transplantation afresh. Our ‘bari’ bore the stamp of his farm knowledge. It had almost everything that could have grown in our climate – betel leaf, haldi, ginger, banana, papaya, orange, lemon, mangoes, guava, grapes, and even bhanga leaves; and flower & vegetables of numerous varieties. At no time of the year, the one and half acre garden looked deserted.
6. I have also seen Bapa getting angry – with officers, with Maa, with workers and so on. But I do not have much memory of that as I tried to run away from him when he was in such mood. But I do not remember Bapa ever hitting me. I remember one occasion when I had jaundice fever and I was in lot of pain. I remember how Bapa had cancelled all his programmes to stay with me full-time.

7. I also have memory of Bapa when he was in hospital bed in the last couple of month of his life. As a patient he was getting a packet of ‘Renus’ bread, some milk and a boiled egg. I was savoring those delicacies whenever I was at hospital. Bapa’s activism and resolve to democratically fight stayed with him till his end. He was seriously ill and yet he strongly protested unhygienic condition of toilets in different wards of VSS medical college hospital in Burla. He had even threatened to launch hunger strike if things do not improve. I do not remember whether the things improved or Bapa left. I clearly remember the evening before Bapa eventually left us. He was sitting in his hospital bed. He asked me to come to his side and cuddled me. I do not remember what I said to him or what he said to me. On that evening I was not aware that something terrible was in store for us in the next morning. I was not aware that that was the last cuddle I will ever get from Bapa.

8. In the next morning I remember Nilambara dada coming to Fatak residence in a black ambassador car (Then Nani, Gain had taken rented a house close to Modern Lodge in Fatak, Katardhua. While father was admitted in hospital we were staying with Nani. Jinu Bhanja was about a week old then). Somehow, I had missed the leads from the faces around me. May be because my fascinated for car, bus and trains. When I was told that we will go to village in the car I was very happy and excited. When I was told that Bapa too has returned back to village in another car I was happier. When the car entered the village I saw my school gates closed. It was neither a Sunday or a holiday. I was hoping to wave my hands from the car to fellow school friends. That would have been a moment of pride for me – waving from a moving car. As the school was closed I regretted losing that opportunity. As we entered middle of our village Panchamahala, I found out the other car, a white ambassador. I was hoping that the whole village will dance in joy at seeing not one but two cars at a time. But, I saw heavy and moist faces all around. When they saw us, me, Maa and Nani getting out of the car; their cries only got louder. I ran inside the house only to find that Bapa was lying motionless in the ‘duara’ near the Tulsi ‘choura’. It took me some time to realise that Bapa was no more with us, he had already left us. I clearly remember crying my heart out. In fact, I remember everybody crying, inconsolably. Even ‘Kakas’ too were crying - in ways, I had never imagined. They were crying like small kids. Kalia dada was crying and cursing god. I remember him crying, ‘god, I was doing your puja everyday. This is what you gave us?’. Later I saw him throw stones at ‘Kandhen budhi debta’ in anger. I remember people carrying Bapa towards Mahanadi Ghat. I accompanied Bapa till the end of the village but then somebody carried me back from there against my wish. In the afternoon, I remember eating rice and dal (without salt, haldi or spices) in the cowshed. At that time my school headmaster Nayak sir was seating beside me. He handed me over 108 rupees. That was my class fifth scholarship money for one year. What a day that was. I had lost my father in the morning and was getting my scholarship from the headmaster.
9. Since then Bapa has come in my dream some times. I remember one such dream where he took me to the village ‘kata’ where a siphon was being constructed. That siphon, which Bapa had planned, is yet to be constructed.

Bapa, whatever I have seen of you is very little. Others know far more than what I know of you. But even in that little period that I have been with you, you have given me a lot. You continue to guide me with your memory, your writings, and your messages through others (like Nani).

But Bapa… I have just one complaint - you left me a little too early.

Fools' Day Celebration

चलो दुनिया को बतानें में हर्ज है क्या 

उल्लू हैं हम, उल्लू दिन को पाल लिया तो शर्माना क्या
सारा जगत गुम रहा तो हर्ज़ है क्या 
जिसको दिन का गर्व हो ज्यादा, जालसाजी में शर्माना क्या

ଆଜି ଝଲକନ୍ତି ଅଟ୍ଟାଳିକା, ଖୁବ ରୂପବାନ
ମାରନ୍ତି ତିର୍ଜକ ମିଟିକା ବଡ ବଳବାନ
କାହା ପାଇଁ ତାହା ଓଡିଶାର ସନମାନ
ଓଡିଶାର ‘ବୋକା’ ଯେତେ କିନ୍ତୁ ହିନୀମାନ 

ବନ୍ଧୁ ଦିନଟା ଯାକର କାଲି, ମନାଇବା ଆମେ ହୋଲି

ସାଙ୍ଗ ଓ ସାଥୀଏ ପଚାରନ୍ତି ମୋତେ କ’ଣ କରିବ କାଲି

ଆରେ ଯାହାକୁ ଭରସି ସୁନାମୁଣ୍ଡା ଭାଳି ଖୁବ‌୍‍ ଜପୁଥିଲୁ ମାଳି
କଥାରେ କାମରେ ଯୋଜନ ଅନ୍ତର, ବାହାରିଲା ସିଏ ଜାଲି
ଦିଶୁଥିଲା ଯାହା ଉପବନ ଭଳି ସିଏ ଥିଲା ଚୋରାବାଲି
ହଜାର ସପନ ହଜାର ଭାବନ ତାର ସ୍ବାର୍ଥପରତାରେ ଜାଳି
‘ଆପ’ ସନମାନ ମାଡିମୋଡି ସିଏ ଖୁସିରେ ମାରୁଛି ତାଳି
ବନ୍ଧୁ... ଦିନଟା ଯାକର କାଲି,
ବେଳକାଳ ଦେଖି ତୁହାକୁ ତୁହା ମୁଁ ତାକୁ ଦେଉଥିବି ଗାଳି୤

ତେବେ ବଡ କଥା ଯାହା ଭାବିଛି କରିବି କାଲି
ଘରପରିବାର ସାନାସୁନୁଙ୍କର ପଡିବ କାଲିକି ପାଳି
ତାଙ୍କୁ ଅବହେଳା ଖୁବ‌୍‍ ମୁଁ କରୁଛି, କେବେ ନ କରନ୍ତି ଅଳି
ବନ୍ଧୁ ଦିନଟା ଯାକର କାଲି...
ପରିବାର ପାଇଁ ପାଳି, ତାଆରି ଗହଣେ ଦିନଟା ଯାକର ଖୁବ‌୍‍ ଜମାଇବି ମେଳି୤

କାଲିର ଦିନଟା ବରଷକେ ଗୋଟେ, ଭାଇଚାରା ପର୍ବ ହୋଲି
ଗୁରୁ ସତ୍ୟପ୍ରଜ୍ଞାନନ୍ଦ ସରସ୍ବତୀ ପାଦେ ପ୍ରଣତି ମୋହର ଢାଳି
ତାଙ୍କ ଆଶିର୍ବାଦେ ଆମରି ମନରୁ ବିଶାଦ ପାରିବା ଟାଳି
ବନ୍ଧୁ... ଦିନଟା ଯାକର କାଲି,
ଶତୃ ହେଲେବି ମଙ୍ଗଳ ତାଙ୍କର କାମନା କରିବା ଖାଲି
ଶାନ୍ତି ସୌହାର୍ଦ୍ଦର ପରବ ଆମର ଦୀପାବଳୀ ଆଉ ହୋଲି
ମାରା ନ କରିବା ପରବ ସେପରି ଆଗକୁ ମାଡିବା ଚାଲି
ବନ୍ଧୁ... ଦିନଟା ଯାକର କାଲି, ମନାଇବା ଆମେ ହୋଲି୤୤

(ହୋଲିର ପୂର୍ବ ଦିନ ସଂଧ୍ୟାରେ ଭବନେଶ୍ବରରୁ ସମ୍ବଲପୁର ରେଳଗାଡିରେ ଆସୁଥିବା ବେଳେ)

इंसान गुमराह है गगन से भी असीम चाह की दलदल में

Goodnight takes on 26th evening and 27th evening of March 2015:

26th evening:

सुबह कुछ और गुनगुना रहा था, साम कुछ और बयान कर दिया
दिन अब उलझनों में भर गए हैं, सपने देखने का सजा मिल गया...



27th evening:

रातों के नींद और दिन का चैन खो दिये थे जिसे करने हासिल में
वह मंजील मिल तो गया जरूर, पर खालीपन अभी भी भरा हुआ है दिल में
किसीने कहा सही है, इंसान गुमराह है गगन से भी असीम चाह की दलदल में.

Bimal Prasad Pandia

1.14 AM, March 28, 2015

वह नसीब को कब का छोड़ दिये हैं हम

A good friend just called me, 'so. ready for tomorrow's match?' Replied him in a dukhi andaaz:

Woh naseeb ko kab ka chhod diye hain ham
Jab marji hamaaraa chaltaa thaa, hukum ham chalaate the
Ab to gulaam ban gaye hain, samay rutha hua hai ham se
Auron ka marzi jhelte hain ab, jhoothe kasraton mein ghuntta hai dum
Kirket to door ka baat hai, aapne baccho ko bhi bhool jaate hain ham...

वह नसीब को कब का छोड़ दिये हैं हम
जब मर्जी हमारा चलता था, हुकुम हम चलाते थे
अब तो गुलाम बन गए हैं, समय रूठा हुआ है हम से
औरों का मर्ज़ी झेलते हैं अब, झूठे कसरतों में घूंटता है दम
किरकेट तो दूर का बात है, अपने घर बच्चों को भी भूल जाते हैं हम .

Debated 'Jaundice' issue in OTV's popular prime time programme 'Janamanch'.

OTV telecasted 'Janamancha' on 28th February 2015. It discussed spread of Jaundice in many townships of Odisha.

I participated in the debate.

The video of the programme can be watched at the following link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixLujjPRQ1U&index=2&list=PLFYlC_Oei63C9D0r7h1LTX3aTq3EU_STr