Prof Sunil Behera gets Lifetime Achievement Award

BHUBANESWAR: Noted media educationist and former Head of the Department of J&MC of Berhampur University Prof Sunil Kanta Behera was felicitated with Lifetime Achievement Award by the ETV here on Friday. 

Prof Behera had joined the Tezpur Central University (Assam) as Professor and Dean and established the Department of J&MC. He has contributed significantly for the cause of quality education in the field of journalism by being associated with about 33 universities all over the country.

Prof Behera did his Honours graduation in Commerce from Khallikote College, Berhampur and obtained his Master’s in Commerce and Bachelor in Journalism and Mass Communication from Berhampur University. He completed his Master’s in Journalism and Mass Communication from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and Film Appreciation Course from Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. He obtained his PhD in J&MC from Berhampur University.

He started his teaching career as a lecturer in Commerce in Aska Science College and later joined the Berhampur University as a lecturer in Journalism and Mass Communication and retired as a professor recently in July 2015.

He is a well known figure in Mass Media research. His research interests include ICT, Development Communication, Social Media and Women, Children & Media.

Prof Behera received the award with eminent mathematician and Founder Director of the Institute of Mathematics and Applications Prof Swadheenananda Pattanayak and former North Odisha University Vice Chancellor Prof Sanghamitra Mohanty.

Interview of Odisha BJP legislature party leader Basanta Panda

'BJD’s arrogance cannot be tolerated'

Basanta Panda

The BJP MLAs along with their Congress counterparts boycotted the State Assembly protesting the Government’s autocratic attitude in the House. The BJP got infuriated and walked out of the House subsequently when the Government moved to pass the Police Bill and the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill by ignoring the Opposition’s demand to hold discussion on the Bills. To know about details of the BJP’s stand on the issues, Hemanta Kumar Pradhan of The Pioneer spoke to BJP Legislature Party Leader Basanta Panda. 

How do you feel about the Government getting Bills passed in the Assembly in the absence of the Opposition?

The State Government has arbitrarily passed several Bills, including the Police Bill and the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill, without the presence of the Opposition. It is undemocratic and illegal. The Government is repressing the voice of the Opposition as the ruling party has a brute majority in the Assembly.

We had demanded before the Speaker for a detailed discussion in the House on the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill as the present form of the Bill would affect eight lakh poor families, which have been staying on Government land without a RoR for the last 60 to 100 years. We didn’t protest the Bill but demanded for an amendment to it keeping poor people’s interest in view. The Speaker didn’t allow it and the Government passed it. It proved that the Government is anti-poor.

Why did your MLAs stage walkout in the Assembly?

After the Opposition’s repeated demand, the Speaker had accepted the proposal of amendment to the Land Grabbing Bill. But on the very next day, the Speaker denied any amendment to the Bill. It was not only an undemocratic and unconstitutional decision but also a severe blow to poor people of Odisha. Later, the Government passed the Police Bill arbitrarily which hurt us. It was rare in the history of the Assembly. We couldn’t wait to see the killing of democracy anymore and preferred for a walkout.

Did you stage walkout and boycott Assembly as Congress did it?

No not at all. We had a meeting with our MLAs regarding the issue before the Assembly met on August 28. When the Speaker didn’t allow us for discussion, we came out of the House and staged a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Assembly premises.

As people’s representatives your MLAs should take part in the Assembly proceedings to raise people’s issues, but you just quit the House. Don’t you feel sad about it?

See, the Government was not interested in any deliberation or discussion on popular issues fearing the Opposition would attack it on the issues like Prakash Mishra case, Brahma fiasco and Sarathi Baba scandal. With our support the House was able to run smoothly for three days. We wanted to run the House to raise issues relating to common people, but the Speaker deleted our proposals for discussions from his list. The Government is doing monopoly in the House as it has a huge majority.    

What’s your opinion about ruling BJD MLAs’ behavior in the Assembly?

The Government does not give respect to democracy and ruling party MLAs and Ministers are behaving like they are kings. Their arrogance would not last long as people cannot tolerate it.

What do you think about BJD MLAs’ alleged ‘Radhe Maa’ remark on legislator Radharani Panda?

We strongly condemn the remark. When she was raising people’s issues, a BJD MLA called her “Radhe Maa” which was disrespect for a woman. Some people don’t know how to behave with women in a dignified way. We can’t progress if we fail to respect women. We have lodged a written complaint with the Speaker to take necessary step in the matter.

You have complained that Speaker doesn’t pay heed to your demands. How do you think he will take strong step in this case?

It is a different case. This case is related to a woman, and we hope the Speaker will look into the matter in an impartial way and give justice to Radharani.

What steps will the BJP take to protest the Government’s moves in Assembly?

We will definitely go to people and make them understand about the Government’s double standard and dictatorship. We will sensitise people about the Government’s faults in the Prakash Mishra case, death of children in the Sishu Bhawan and other health issues, farmer issues and the Gajbhiye and Sarathi Baba scandals, police highhandedness in Kendrapada and Belbahali and the Nuapada youth murder by SOG jawans. We will start the campaigns very soon.  

The interview was published on September 3, 2015 in The Pioneer

The way Odisha Assembly held its Monsoon Session

'Undeclared Emergency imposed in and outside of Assembly'

Narasingha Mishra

Congress MLAs boycotted the State Assembly protesting the State Government’s dictatorial attitude in running the House without taking the Opposition into confidence. The party MLAs met Governor SC Jamir and questioned about the Speaker’s impartiality. To know about the Congress’ stand on the issue, Hemanta Kumar Pradhan of The Pioneer spoke to Leader of Opposition (Congress) Narasingha Mishra.

How do you view the State Government getting Bills passed in the Assembly in the absence of the Opposition?

Passing important Bills without any discussion or debate has exposed the dictatorial attitude of the Chief Minister. It is contrary to the democratic norms. Even the ruling party members didn’t think it proper to discuss. In the case of the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill, after a thorough discussion on a particular clause, that is 2(c), an amendment was unanimously accepted by the House. But surprisingly the next day, on the whims of an individual, which even was on record, the amendment was withdrawn. This is unprecedented and contrary to Rules of Law and the Constitution.

A Speaker is supposed to be impartial. He not only should be impartial, he should also appear to be impartial. In the last Assembly session, it was seen that the Speaker was dancing to the tune of the third floor of the Secretariat (the CM’s Office). 

               

Why did your MLAs stage walkout in the Assembly?

If what we say is not part of the record; if an amendment on legislation was withdrawn at last moment; if we are not allowed to have our say, what was left for us except walking out? Those who ask us why you walked out then tell us what we would have done.

Why did you want amendment in the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill?

We wanted the Bill’s amendment because the Bill would affect lakhs of poor families who don’t have land to stay and live in Government land during last 60-70 years. This law should not be applied to the landless people and to the homestead place people and to the poorest of the poor of the society.

Passing of the Bill proved that the Government is anti-poor, pro-rich, pro-corporate and pro-industrialist.  

As people’s representatives, shouldn’t your MLAs have taken part in the Assembly proceedings to raise people’s issues?

We participated. We were allowed to participate on some issues, but when what we talked went against the Government and exposed misdeeds of the Government, it was expunged by the Speaker. We participated in the Land Grabbing Bill and could persuade the House to amend it. But exercising extra-Constitutional methods the approval of the Assembly was ignored. 

I tried to discuss about different amendments, but I was not allowed to speak. Who says we didn’t participate? We did participate in the proceedings, but our observations, debates were removed from the proceedings of the House. The Chief Minister and the Speaker left no stone unturned in suppressing the voice of the Opposition by removing the proceedings of what we said and didn’t allow us to talk. We were only asked to hear filthy language that too against a woman member. So, where is democracy? One can say undeclared Emergency has been imposed both inside and outside of the Assembly.   

   

What’s your opinion about the ruling BJD MLAs’ behaviour in the Assembly?

The BJD and its leader Naveen Patnaik behave irrationally and in an irresponsible and undemocratic manner. The ruling party MLAs were creating disturbance by not participating in the debates. They were totally afraid of facing the Opposition and facing criticism.

How do you view BJD MLAs’ alleged remark ‘Radhe Maa’ on legislator Radharani Panda?

That was most unfortunate and undignified. MLAs of the ruling party instead of protesting were enjoying the language used against a woman member and most unfortunately the Speaker was not protecting the (targeted) member. 

What steps will Congress take protesting the Government’s move in Assembly?

We met the Governor on the issue, and he called the Speaker to discuss about the impasse in Assembly. We will go to the media and then we will go to people.

We will inform them about the State Government’s autocratic attitude in the Assembly and crushing the fate of the poor by passing draconian Bills.  

The interview was published on September 3, 2015 in The Pioneer

3 yrs on, Ganjam boy finally gets Matric certificate

--The Pioneer impact--

BHUBANESWAR: The boy from Ganjam district, who had passed Matric examination in 2012, has finally received his certificates from the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha after appealing to the board several times. 

The Pioneer had reported a story headlined ‘3 yrs on, Ganjam lad yet to get Matric certificate’ on this July 1 highlighting the plight of the student Pintu Nahak of Lunghuri village under the Rambha police limits in Ganjam district.  

Normally the board issues certificates in favour of passed out students within two weeks, but it didn’t happen in the case of Pintu, a student of the Panchayat High School at Palanga in Ganjam district. 

After appearing the board exam (regular) in 2012, Pintu was happy that he would join in a college to continue his study, but it could not be materialised as he failed to get his certificate unlike his classmates.

Pintu had been requesting the BSE’s Brahmapur zone along with the BSE main office at Cuttack during last three years, but it became materialised after intervention of The Pioneer correspondent. 

“My headmaster informed me that the certificate has come to the school. I went to the school and brought the certificate. I’m so happy that finally I got my certificate,” Pintu said, adding, “But it is a matter of pain that this year also I can’t join in Plus II course.” 

According to the BSE officials, the publication of result got delayed due to change in examination roll number. Pintu’s roll number was DBP 029178 in his handwritten certificate, but it was awarded to another student of the school. Now he was awarded with his original roll number DBP 029096, the official communication said.

3 yrs on, Ganjam lad yet to get Matric certificate

Pintu Nahak

BHUBANESWAR: A boy from Ganjam district, who passed Matric examination in 2012, is yet to get his certificate from the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha.

Normally, the board issues certificates in favour of pass-out students within two to three weeks, but it did not happen in the case of Pintu Nahak of Lunghuri village under the Rambha police limits in Ganjam district.

Pintu, a student of the Panchayat High School at Palanga in Ganjam district, has been seeking justice from the BSE’s Brahmapur Zone along with the BSE main office in Cuttack during last three years, but nothing has happened till date.

In 2012, when his result was published, Pintu was happy that he would join in a college, but his hope could not materialise as he failed to get his certificate, unlike his classmates. The school headmaster said the board would issue his certificate after correcting some minor mistakes in his file. 

After receiving repeated requests from Pintu’s father Ananta Nahak, the BSE had issued a handwritten certificate for joining in Plus II course. “I had applied for Plus II course after getting the certificate, but the SAMS centre said the handwritten certificate won’t be accepted,” said Pintu.

He said he suffers so much pain and agony as he could not continue his education for the mistake of the BSE. In the situation, his father planned him to join in an ITI in order to keep him busy in studies.

But the ITI also raised several questions about the handwritten certificate and allowed Pintu to join only after getting an undertaking from the BSE, Brahmapur Zone. Even the same institution took a second undertaking from the BSE while giving him the ITI pass-out certificates.

Pintu later emailed a letter to the BSE President DP Nanda last year. Even he met the BSE Examinations Controller twice to give his certificates, but in vain.

“I had already requested the Zonal Director, Brahmapur thrice in this regard, but he every time says the Board is processing my certificates,” said the boy. 

Last year, Pintu had got an opportunity to work in a company, but he could not join due to the certificate problem. Now this year too, he failed to join in the Plus II course for the same problem, he added.

“All the Matric pass-outs got their certificates within one or two weeks after declaration of the results, but why the BSE is taking so much of time in my case!” Pintu lamented.

When contacted, BSE Examinations Controller Dr Nihar Ranjan Mohanty said they would process the certificate very soon while BSE President Nanda said on Monday that he was out of the State and would comment on the issue after looking into the files.  

Published in The Pioneer, Bhubaneswar edition on June 30, 2015