OHRC responded

We submitted a Case Study to Collector-DM Balangir regarding death of Smt. Nepur Nayak at CHC Kantabaji on dated 14.4.2009, during child birth, for appropriate actions and forwarded a copy to NHRC. Since the letter was addressed to Collector, NHRC did not took any action. Now today I got a copy of the "Order Sheet" from OHRC, which says that, since this is a topical issue, OHRC is sending a copy of the petition to Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare and they have to furnish a report  on a general picture of the state of mortality of pregnant women at child birth, trend during the past decades and various Interventions made by State Government to reduce the MMR during delivery.
We Welcome this step taken by OHRC  and hope it'll ensure at least some review and reflection in Health department.

Destitute woman rescued

One helpless woman seems to be insane and pregnant was lying on garbage at Patnagarh local market, behind bus stand. Our staff Sanjukta saw her on 29th July and reported to me. Local marketers said she is there almost since a month, some times people give her some food. She is always covering her face and lying down. Immediately I contact Mr. S. N. Dey, Collector -DM and urged him for Rescue and Rehabilitation of the woman. ICDS team headed by CDPO of Patnagarh Block rescued her on 31st July and put her in "Swadhar", the Government sponsored Home for women, who are victims of Violence. We visited her at the Home, still she is a shocked stage, sitting covering her face and not speaking a word. Her identity is not known. We advised medical check up for her.

Balangir: Let us plan development

Balangir is known as a 'underdeveloped', poor district comes under 'KBK' tag in Orissa. This district is infamous for 'bonded labourer' problem also. Every year minimum 1, 80, 000 rural landless and marginal farmers migrate to other States in search of livelihood. They spend almost 7-8 months outside working in brick-kilns and construction sites. Newspapers often comes out with news of torture and injustice inflicted on them in other States. Migrating population includes both male, female and children, some times the whole family with young girls also. Health, Nutrition, Education status of these people is understandable.
Failure of administration, ineffective local governance and implementation of social-economic welfare and Development schemes made for KBK ---keeps this district low in development and High in poverty and distress.
Balangir is a Hilly- sloppy area. It looks almost like a desert with forest coverage vanished and half-decayed hills standing empty. Everywhere land is laying dried, rocky and unused. I think timely use of these lands can make Balangir Green and prosperous. But I have not seen any Government plan or initiative to do so. Area specific planning is essential for Development of Balangir. Some NGOs are only doing some good work, but none have resource to cover the whole District.
If we do not plan now, I fear some day some 'Vedanta' will come to use the land in their way and push away people from their land! Prevention is better than cure, so let us start plan and development actions now!

Gaon Chhorab nahin, song from EPG orissa

This is a video taken in Mobile phone by one of our field level staff Nabin. This is a celebration at temple Jharial, Bangomunda block of Balangir, a historic site, recently only honored by government as a tourist spot. This is gorgeous and holy build on top of a hill. Please visit Jharial during December when 'Jharial Mahotsav' takes place. This shows that Culture and spirit of people is still alive and colorful even in poverty, ill health and all economic oppressions. 

Balangir: who is listening?

Following our letter to DM, we had a meeting with Sri S.N. Dey, DM  - Collector, Balangir on 10th July, 2010, on this Nirmula village issue. DM showed much ignorance about quarry and the environmental threat of the area. He told that many groups from Community and Political parties met me, but all talked about Police actions on villagers. None spoke about Quarry Blasts and environment degradation there.

After we discussed with him all our observation and shared our suggestions that query should not be done so near to village, he told that this a World Bank project of NH and this is passed by Pollution Control Board! Also he showed concern for School and children. He told, blast should not be done during school time and velocity of the Blasts must be reduced. We requested him that for time being at least blast should be done in pre-planned scheduled time. But it will be best if it is stopped there. He told " I'll take Report from Tahasildar and Sub-collector, Titlagarh."

Balangir: Easy Prey to Devils

Recently on 8th July, 2010, I visited village Nirmula (GP Digsira, Tahasil Titlagarh) around 105 km away from district headquarter; one conflict was taken place there among villagers and ARSS company people, who are engaged in constructing Titlagarh Bhawanipatna part of NH and made a quarry on the hill near the village and blasting the hill.

Apart from the tension created by the conflict and Police action on villagers, I noticed that location of the Hill where the blasting is going on is very close to the village; it is even less than one kilometer. It is much surprising that a place which is so near to a populous village (3 wards) is allowed to quarry stones!

I also found that the UP school is located at the face of village, teachers told that it is affected by the blasting, small children students feel very scared of the sound and the polluted dust. some cracks are visible on the walls of the school..

Villagers showed me their houses, the walls are all cracked due to blast. They also told that during blast the floors shake and stinking dust fills the air. It may be a danger for the health of people, especially children.

Also during the blast street is blocked, thus villagers also forced to stay inside. This may cause any humanitarian problem anytime.

The village is at foothill, villagers are not able to release their livestock also for grazing there.

At least 40 people have agricultural land at foothill; it is understandable that after the project ends in multiple years, condition of the land will not be suitable for cultivation. It is most unfortunate that the permanent even irrecoverable lose of the land is not taken into consideration while quarry work is allowed here. Livelihood of the people who are depending on this land as a tradition will be surely going to be affected in near future.

It is much clear that Environmental, Heath Impact of this project is much negative and of high risk. Also Economic and Humanitarian factor is also not satisfactory. But such Projects are easily permitted in Balangir. While Government shows much concerns over poverty of this 'undeveloped' place and rains programmes and fund for 'people' here, actually poor needy villagers are still taken for a ride and exploited vehemently. The attitude of 'big fish eats the smaller one' is playing here always. Who cares for Democracy and Human Rights here?

In my interaction with villagers also I came to know that, following the conflict between ARSS and villagers on 25th June, 2010, Police thronged the village at night and picked up 6 people. Police came and beat the door and picked up men, they even misbehaved with women. Company people verbally abused and threatened the villagers saying that they will overpower all the men and ‘abuse’ all women. Following this many men left the village in fear.

One woman complained that Police by force picked up his husband, who was ill and had diarrhea and was not at all involved in clash with anyone. Location of her house --- very close to the Prahari Mandap, verifies the fact further that Police may have picked the person available near at hand.

This type of Police action and violation of Human Rights is much common in Balangir. Media cried for few days, but no action is taken till date.
We have written to DM for appropriate actions, I request you to stand beside Balangir and pressurize Government to stop such expoitation and stop quarry at Nirmula.