‘I am afraid to go out to sun now because of the holes in the ozone. I am afraid to breathe in the air now because I don’t know what chemicals are in it’ said Severn Suzuki in 1992 at Rio expressing her concern over the issue of climate change across the globe. ‘Now we hear of animals and plants going extinct every day, vanishing forever. Now, in my life, I have dreamt of seeing the great herds of wild animals, jungles and main forests full of birds and butterflies. But now I wonder if they were even exist for my children to see’, said Severn Suzuki asking delegations from across the globe, ‘Did you have to worry of these things when you were of my age?’ This was the concern of Severn Suzuki when she was 12-13 years old.

There was a request and an appeal also when Severn said, ‘you don’t how to fix the holes in our ozone layer; you don’t know how to bring the salmon back upon a dead stream. You don’t know how to bring back an animal now extinct. And you can’t bring back the forests that once grew where there is now a desert. If you don’t know how to fix it, please stop breaking it’.

It’s already 17 years and the speech of the little girl is still a hit for climate change activists, environmentalists, scientists and leaders who work in the field of climate change. But the appeals made by Severn have still not received a sympathetic consideration of the global leadership except a few applaud. With this the appeal of billions of people, who have been suffering terribly due to climate change, went almost unheard or unconsidered even if heard by the leaders and participants.

And, we have the COP-15 closed in Copenhagen with severe deadlocks and almost no specific action plan to save the earth. Somehow, at the end of the UN Climate Change Conference, US President Obama helped broker a climate deal but without setting any global target for cutting greenhouse gases, and no deadline for reaching a formal international climate treaty. The deal considered to be the outcome of the much hyped summit falls far short of the expectations of many countries and thousands of communities living at risk due to change of climatic pattern and rise of sea level thereof.

It’s not only Seven Suzuki who represented the children and young generation across the globe almost 17 years back, but the global leaders and delegation of COP-15 were also well aware of the fact of climate change and the imminent dangers it poses to communities, nature and wildlife. Scientists have warned the leaders about the dangers and consequences if the carbon and GHG emission continues to grow at the current rate.

Few sensitive findings of Climate Change Research: What more could make the leaders move!

According to the report released on December 9, 2009 in the climate change summit at Copenhagen, most part of earth is becoming highly vulnerable to disasters as an effect of climate change. The Global Climate Risk Index featured in the report says, Bangladesh is the most vulnerable nation to extreme weather events which, many scientists say, are being exacerbated by climate change. As per statistics given in the report, from 1990 to 2008, Bangladesh has lost 8,241 lives on an average every year due to natural disasters. Rising sea level further threatens millions of Bangladeshis living along the coasts.

After Bangladesh—among the top ten vulnerable—come Myanmar, Honduras, Vietnam, Nicaragua, Haiti, India, Dominican Republic, Philippines and China. Even though, no developed or industrialized nations are in the top ten, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the United States appear in the top twenty vulnerable countries.

However, the report is made on the basis of disaster casualties and property damaged due to climate change. As per experts like Dr. Saleemul Haq, chief of the climate change cell of the International Institute of Environment and Development, ‘Millions of people, who survived extreme weather events and who are suffering across the globe, were not taken into the account’, claiming that ‘African nations would certainly appear in the list of most vulnerable if survivors were included in the study’.

A study by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program recently brought before world policy makers reveal that the sea would rise by 0.5 to 1.5 meters by 2100, threatening coastal cities and flooding island nations. This is double the predicted rise estimated by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on climate Change (IPCC) in 2007, which did not incorporate sea level rise due to the melting of Greenland and Antarctica's ice sheets.

Again, the study found that discharge from Greenland had increased by 30 percent over the last decade jumping from 330 billion giga-tons in 1995 to 430 billion in 2005.

Maldives – the island nation – has already been highly vulnerable to the disastrous impacts of climate change and sea level rise. Made up of twenty-six atolls, it is estimated that a one meter rise in the world's sea levels could swamp the country, forcing the exodus of over 300,000 people.

‘Global warming and environmental issues are issues of major concern to the Maldivian people. We are just about three feet above sea level’, Ibrahim Hussein Zaki, Mr Nasheed's spokesman, told the BBC's World Today program almost a year back banging the alarm that, ‘any further sea level rise could have a devastating effect on the people of the Maldives and their very survival’.

Situation in the Island nation is well understood as Maldivian government is planning to acquire land outside for alternate shelter. Disgusted with the differences between global leaders in mitigating climate change impact, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed told The Guardian that, ‘We can do nothing to stop climate change on our own and so we have to buy land elsewhere. It's an insurance policy for the worst possible outcome’.

Even US is experiencing imminent danger from the trend of global climate change. A new study shows that sea levels along the United States' north-eastern coast will rise nearly twice as fast during this century than previous predictions. By 2100 the waters around New York City could rise as much as 18 inches, leaving Manhattan particularly vulnerable to flooding from hurricanes and winter storm surges.

Using 10 climate models from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) researchers including Jianjun Yin from the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS) at Florida State University calculated that there was a 90 percent chance that sea levels along the north-eastern coast of the United States would exceed global sea levels by the end of the century.

Apart from the above facts, global leaders are also aware that the green cover over the earth is vanishing rapidly; large scale industrialisation, concrete cover and deforestation have grouped together and pushed many parts of the earth towards desertification. And, the reasons are very clear – uncontrolled CO2 and GHG emissions across the globe! It’s not only the developing or under-developed nations, but the developed nations have a great share in carbon and GHG emission.

Developed Versus Developing Nations: Nature and the Earth divided

The statistics presented in the report entitled ‘America's Share of the Climate Crisis’ hold US responsible for emitting huge carbon and other GHG. As per the report, ‘in the past 150 years, the United States has emitted more greenhouse gas emissions than any other nation in the world, according to data by the World Resources Institute. In fact, US emissions account for 29 percent of the world’s total since the mid-1800s. The US emitted 328,264 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO2) in the past 150 years, which is over 3 times the amount emitted by China in the same century-and-a-half.

The US also leads in per capita emissions. In 2005 the US emitted 23.5 tons of greenhouse gases per person the country, this was four times greater than China’s (5.5 tons per person) and over 13 times greater than India’s (1.7 tons per person).

The US and the developed European nations together contribute to more than half of the carbon emissions across the globe. But, ironically, the deal that was signed under pressure from Obama at Copenhagen targeted the developing nations only to take steps for cutting emissions. Why only developing nations? Why not the developed nations as well? Is nature ruled by our definition of development? Is nature divided by the political and economic measurement of developed and developing?

When the temperature around the earth is rising, arctic ice and the glaciers are melting faster, sea level is rising at an alarming rate to submerge many island nations and whole of the earth is undergoing a terrible geographical change, how can the developed nations see the poor and developing countries as only vulnerable and count themselves as safe from the consequences of climate change?

Just before a few months of the Copenhagen summit, Nasheed further warned the leaders about the future of the earth that is now experiencing a destructive climate change pattern saying that ‘if the world can’t save places such as the Maldives today, we won’t be able to save places such as London, New York, and Hong Kong tomorrow. What we need to do together is nothing short of de-carbonizing the entire world economy’.

Almost a month before the summit was held, a group of nations especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change released a declaration calling for developed countries to keep CO2 emission below 350 parts per million (ppm) and to give 1.5 percent of their gross domestic product to aid developing nations in adapting to the myriad impacts of climate change.

The declaration, supported by the member nations who attended the summit including Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Kiribati, Barbados, Bhutan, Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, said that ‘Anthropogenic climate change poses an existential threat to our nations, our cultures and to our way of life, and thereby undermines the internationally-protected human rights of our people," the declaration states, which is supported by nations attending the summit, including the. These countries have already been severely impacted by rising seas, extensive droughts, and melting glaciers.

Ian Fry, climate-change representative for Tuvalu, which may be submerged by rising sea in a matter of decades, appealed in the summit itself that ‘the science tells us we must act now, and urgently’.

However, all the appeals remained just appeals only for the leaders of the developed nations who didn’t even bother for the people and the total ecosystem of many island nations that are struggling to escape the wrath of climate change. What came out of the great Copenhagen summit was a deal to bring the developing nations into the umbrella of strict climate change action without any specific time frame and a few pledges and promises of unspecified action by US, European Nations and other developed nations to prevent Earth’s temperature from rising.

Deal of disagreement and dissatisfaction

In fact, instead of chalking out a common action plan to save the earth, save billions of people, millions of species and the total ecology, the outcome deal bears disagreement of many nations, scientists and research organisations, leaders and groups that are working with the vulnerable communities.

Media communities across the globe, who were vigilant and expecting a legally binding treaty at the end of the summit, termed the result as frustrating, though not complete failure. ‘There was almost no deal in Copenhagen at all. The contentious talks appeared to break down at several points with rich and poor countries at odds over nearly every issue. A group of developing nations staged a temporary walk out and on the last day of the summit the talks seemed on the verge of collapse’, said Washington Post adding that, ‘in the deal, spelled out in a three-page document, each country needs only to list its current domestic pledges for emissions reductions and to promise to allow monitoring of their progress’.

The differences were on promises to cut carbon emission according to the nation’s actual share, meaning an equal percentage for each nation – be it developed, developing or underdeveloped. Because if we want to save the earth, its ecology and the species for the future generations, and if we truly wish to offer them with a world where they can grow ample food and live happily then we have to work collectively.

So, if the promises made by developing countries are to be monitored, the developed countries must also be given a target to fulfil and an international body must be there to monitor the progress of every nation. Nature never goes by the differences of opinions, the difference between the rich and poor. If one part of the globe suffers from the destructive impacts of climate change, the other part is certainly going to experience its rippling effects.

Reacting to the reluctance of rich nations for giving a clear cut promise of reducing GHG emission, Mohamed Nasheed made his stand very clear that, ‘if the Maldives a small relatively poor country can achieve a big reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions, there can be no excuse from richer nations who claim that going green is too complex, too expensive, or too much bothersome’.

‘We do not have another year to negotiate. Nature does not negotiate’, said UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon after seeing the differences between the rich and poor nations in coming to a concrete, conclusive deal to control the rise in temperature and save the earth by reducing emissions. He urged the member nations to act seriously and promptly saying that, ‘Time is running out. There is no time left for posturing or blaming. Every country must do its part to seal a deal in Copenhagen. No one will get everything they want in this negotiation. But if we work together and get a deal, everyone will get what they need’.

If we really want to see the world as a global village, we must act collectively by sharing our resources to save the earth and see everybody living happily and peacefully. This is what Severn Suzuki also wanted the world leaders to decide and agree upon at Rio in 1992. She tried to awake this feeling by explaining her experience with a few street children. “You will be shocked when we spent some time with some children living on the streets. This is what one child told us – ‘I wish I were rich, and if I were, I will give all these street children food, cokes, medicines, shelter and love and affection’. If a child on a street who has nothing is willing to share, why are we who have everything still so greedy?” – told Severn Suzuki in her speech before the world delegation.

But Severn would have been frustrated with the outcomes of the COP-15 and would have been filled with anger for her emotion being disrespected since long and, may be, a bit of pity for the leaders who might have lost their heart in the complexity of politics to feel and understand her plead for the coming generations. She will have to wait for one more year to get a response to her appeal. But by then, she would have lost many more species and the damages due to climate change would have been multiplied.

The fourth estate of democracy is suffering terribly in India due to growing atrocities against journalists working, mainly, in states troubled by the Maoist cadres. It seems that the reporters and journalists are being strategically targeted. And, these days, cases of atrocities are growing in the eastern states of India such as Orissa, West Bengal and Jharkhand.

The camouflage trick played by West Bengal Police to arrest people’s leader Chakradhar Mahato has been severely criticised by media professionals and intellectuals of the state as it poses serious threat to journalists working in remote outreach places that are in virtual control of Maoists.

When there has been a debate on the camouflage trick, Orissa police and government seem to be targeting journalists in a different fashion.

Laxman Choudhuri, a rural reporter for a popular Oriya daily ‘Sambad’, was arrested on September 20 Sunday from Mohana area in South Orissa on charges that a packet containing eight pieces of Maoist leaflets addressed to him were recovered from a bus conductor. It’s to be noted that the Maoists use to make their plans public by sending such materials or literature to journalists they think fit. A journalist can’t have access to the rebels at his or her own wish. Police must have knowledge of the fact from its own intelligence sources.

But in this case, Police arrested Choudhuri and the conductor on the charges of waging war against the government, sedition, criminal conspiracy and assisting Maoist activities. The scribe was not even allowed to go on PR bond where as the same police had to release Nasir Khan against whom many cases have been filed on allegations that he cheated people by collecting money through internet based network. Crime Branch was desperately behind Nasir since the release of Nasir Produced and acted film Shadow and nabbed him in Cuttack when he visited secretly to consult his advocate.

In contrast, the innocent and poor journalist Laxman has been forwarded to jail and is still waiting for justice. He and his family are undergoing a traumatic situation since the arrest.

Even though a group of Journalists met Orissa’s Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik seeking his intervention to end the misery of a rural reporter who innocently worked to bring the issues of the tribal and downtrodden communities, the Chief Minister could only ask for an enquiry into the matter. However, it’s again a month since CM ordered for an enquiry but of no relief to anybody or any solid proof supporting the charges or claims made by police during the arrest.

These facts suggest that Laxman has been victimised in the case, may be, because of his reports exposing the failures and inabilities of Police in checking the growth of Naxalism; or, police was desperately looking for somebody to book for being involved or linked with the radical left cadres

Recently, Sriharsa Mishra - a journalist from another Oriya daily ‘AROMV’ - and his colleague Kiran Mishra were not only abused by the Sambalpur District Collector, but also physically assaulted by the security guard and employees of collector’s office. The reason was that the journalists wanted to know why the district collector had not visited the villages of farmers committed suicide and what the administration had done about the series of death of farmers in the district.

The Security guard snatched the Journalist away from the chamber with such a force that he (Journalist Sriharsa) suffered from arm pain for 3 days. An FIR has been lodged by Sriharsa at Jharsuguda Police Station but no action has been initiated on he FIR till date, as it often happens with feudal styled bureaucrats of India.

Reports condemning such attitude of an officer in civil services have been published in various media, but, as it seems, the strong politician-bureaucrat nexus against ordinary people and press is all set to protect the ill behaving bureaucrat by curbing media activism.

These are not the only cases. Few days back, a woman journalist representing a Hindi news channel also felt mentally humiliated with the unexpected reaction of Bhubaneswar DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police) when asked to give a byte on alleged threat by a group of Maoists to attack public places like Railway Station, Hospital and major educational institutes in Bhubaneswar.

However, the DCP was then busy explaining the success of police in nabbing few kidnappers after almost 15 days of their attempt to kidnap a nurse from a busy location of the city. But the panicking news of Maoist threat to attack public places didn’t have any importance for the DCP at the point.

One may believe or not, Journalists who have applied for passes for entry into State Secretariat for reporting various issues, events and developments relating to people and the state are being scanned like terrorists in the name of verification and journalists who have applied for passes since February last are still waiting for their entry passes to report news and events inside State Secretariat. The State I&PR department places growing Maoist activities in the state as the reason of such indefinite delay in issuing a pass to a journalist to enable him/ her reporting news of the State.

In fact, the I&PR department of the state that is meant to support media activities, track media reports and empower journalists to work as a bridge between government and people is now working as an instrument of the state government to restrict journalists from doing their job. However, all these are done in the name of security.

Hopefully, journalists’ federations and unions are well aware of this issues faced by journalists but have been ineffective in safe guarding the rights of the journalists working across the state.

Such attitude of the government, administration and Police in the state of Orissa is clearly a threat to the professional rights of a Journalist and also a threat to the fundamental right to speak. It seems, in the name of security, government of Orissa is restricting journalists from accomplishing their job of bringing truth to public and exposing all wrongs for the interest of public.

As per the international federation of Journalists, there can be no press freedom if journalists exist in conditions of Corruption, Poverty or fear. In Orissa, and most part of India as well, the first two conditions such as corruption and poverty do prevail. And, now the government is creating the third condition of fear by strategically targeting the journalists who alone can help eliminating the corruption and poverty by exposing the loop-holes in the governance system.

So, it’s high time for the Journalists Union and Federations, for the Press Council of India, the Civil Society bodies and the political institutions of the country to come forward to safeguard the Rights and Freedom of Press to protect the Fourth Estate of democracy and also the fundamental right to speak.

INDIA - West Bengal Police somehow succeeded in arresting Chhattradhar Mahato, chief of a Maoist-backed body that leads the tribal movement in trouble-torn belt of West Bengal, posing some of its officials as journalists.

Arresting Mahato is definitely a big success for the police force, as explained by West Midnapore district police superintendent Manoj Verma, but arresting Mahato in camouflage of journalists would have its reverse impact on journalism professionals in accomplishing their jobs.

As the reports on the event explain, two police officers, camouflaging themselves as journalists, went to the area where Mahato had agreed to give an interview to a select group of media persons and pounced on Mahato at an opportune time. But, why as journalists who use to take more risk than the empowered police officials in reporting the problems and issues of people leaving in Maoist controlled remote places where administration and armed police forces do not often dare to go?

It could be West Midnapore, Bankura or Purulia in West Bengal, Sundergarh, Koraput or Malkangiri in Orissa, Dantewada or Bastar in Chhattisgarh, Police officials opt not to be posted in remote Police Stations, Government officials seek cancellation of their posting or remain on long leave, political leaders keep themselves away from such places and occasionally visit such areas accompanied by huge security personnel. But the journalist or media person can never avoid visiting such places like the government officials do nor can by provided with security, as provided to the leaders, to visit such localities. But the journalist goes to such remote places, talk to people and their ideologues and bring their issues to a larger audience or readership who we mean public.

Take the example of Narayanpatna in Koraput where finally the tribal community reacted to the negligence, harassment and apathetic attitude of the government machinery since many decades by forcibly acquiring the land that was once occupied by their forefathers. Immediately after the incident, there was a landmine blast that killed 10 people including 9 Jawans. Narayanpatna then became inaccessible to administration and police. Even, local police was afraid to come out and move in the public. But the reporters tried their best to report incidents that happened in Narayanpatna. They reported the plight of non-tribal communities living in and around Narayanpatna, incident of the Block Office being ransacked and looted etc.

Whenever a journalist or a group of journalists got a chance to meet a Maoist cadre, they always wanted to know the reasons behind the movement and came up with suggestions for the government to find ways for a long term solution. Many of the journalists risked their life on many occasions to inform the larger public about the reasons behind the growth of Maoist movement and their objectives and plans to achieve them. Always, the journalists tried to come up with fresh clues for the Public, for the Police and the Administration.

But, after the West Bengal incident, Police of other Maoist inflicted states like Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharastra, Orissa, Jharkhand etc would put the media professionals under its scanner and also would try to imitate the same formula to trap the senior cadres. Even now, Police has put many of the journalists under its scanner and, on many occasions, booked journalists on charges of Maoist connection.

The fresh such instance occurred in Orissa’s Gajapati district where a journalist Laxman Chaudhury - Mohana Block Reporter of a leading Oriya daily was arrested on charges of Maoist connection. Reason behind the charge is that some eight leaflets allegedly released by the Maoists were carried by a bus conductor who was told to hand over the leaflets to Laxman. The statement was given by the Bus conductor and Police put the charge on the journalist on basis of this statement only, arrested the journalist and forwarded to Jail.

Now, the formula applied by the West Bengal Police would make a journalist face serious problems at the other end while reporting people’s issues and problems in Maoist dominated areas. The journalists would now be under Maoist scanner and would be suspected as police informer or planted by police. If things happen like this, it will not only restrict the media persons from doing their professional job, but also deprive the poor and downtrodden communities living in remote forest villages of finding someone who can, possibly, make their issues reach public, planners and the corridors of power.

Much before Rahul Gandhi started his campaign from Nuapada, once a part of Kalahandi, to discover poverty his parents tried to discover the reasons in acute poverty that forced a woman to sell her husband’s minor sister – a case that took pace about twenty five years ago in Bangamunda, a remote sleepy village of Kalahandi in Orissa. It was after the visit of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia that Kalahandi became the world icon of poverty.

On 21st June 1985, the then Prime Minister of India, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi along with his wife Mrs. Sonia Gandhi visited the thatched mud house of Chhabi Punji in Bangamunda being moved by a sensational report of a minor girl being sold out to a poorer half blind middle aged man of a nearby village. To the local people, who were completely almost ignorant about the world outside their village, the very magic of their visit transformed this almost unknown village into a glittering fairy land as it brought, all on a sudden, an approach road, water and other amenities that people of Bangamunda had never dreamt of and changed the shape and status of the place, even though they all lasted for a while only.

The report that brought Rajiv and Sonia was nothing but an unethical, misinterpreted presentation of a marriage on the traditional caste system meant to sensationalise the usual incident as a case of girl trading happened under the pangs of unbearable poverty. As the reports explained, a lady named Fanas Punji was almost compelled under acute poverty to sell out her only sister of her husband Banita to a supposedly rapacious trader Bidya Podha who was, in reality, surviving on begging. Both Government and private, national and international sympathisers started showering their blessings, often expressed in terms of money, on Fanas who had already turned famous for selling her sister-in-law Banita to a 40 years old semi-blind poor man. Kalahandi soon became the hot spot in the world poverty map making it eligible for grants and aids amounting over thousands of crores. But the irony of this whole drama was, none including the watch dog media, bothered to guess the fate of Banita, the central character and a minor girl who had not yet come of age but allegedly sold out to a poorer man under compulsion and pressure from her brother and his wife?

In reality, it was not a child trade, rather a customary marriage on the caste traditions of the relevant community, the Podhas. As per the Parja custom of the community, the groom has to pay a bridal price to the family of the bride at the time of marriage – an inverse system of present day dowry. In the said case, the sister-in-law Fanas had forced Banita to get married to an almost blind, middle-aged man, Bidya Podha of neighbouring village Khatimunda, in exchange of a sum of Rs.40 only as parja. It was neither unholy nor illegal trading but a marriage as per the customs and traditions of the Podhas. But the media, unaware about the caste tradition and eager to create sensation, was all set to make it a big hit by misinterpreting the whole affair. The scribes didn’t even try to record the statements or versions of Bidya Podha, Banita and others who could explain the reality. It was rather apprehensive that truth could become a splash of cold water on the flames of sensationalism.

A visit to the schedule caste hamlet of remote village Khatimunda, the present abode of Vidya Podha and Banita with their 5 children, after a lapse of twenty four years revealed another story or, may be, the other side of the much hyped tale that pulled the then Prime minister and his band to this almost unknown village. It also revealed how our spice hungry media can cook up stories to create hype without any regard for the sensitive detail of the reality. It makes us realize how blind we are to the expectations, hopes, aspirations, sorrows and sufferings of our so called common but down trodden folks and even to our own responsibilities.

Bidya and Banita are now living peacefully, although not comfortably, in the village Khatimunda with their five offspring (three daughters, Kalabati, Jamboobati, Khurnani, and two sons Kalinga and Nalina). None of the members feel themselves either victims or victimizers of any illegal trade as publicized by the media. Kalabati has turned 16. Banita, with her little income from cooking at Mohara Anganwari centre, is now looking for some support for her daughter’s marriage. Eldest son Kalinga is now a daily wage labourer. As first and only in the family, youngest daughter Khurnani is going to the newly started village primary school. Here again, only one teacher is posted to look after the students from standard one to five. But the elections in India are now being fought on issues of development.

Requesting the officials and the local leaders including his adopting father Bhakta Charan Das, Banita managed to approve official support to build her house under Indira Awash Yojana. But out of 22000 rupees to be disbursed in 3 phases, Banita has received only 10000 rupees and she still wanders what happened to the rest amount? If this is how the development programmes work in Kalandi, how many years and how much of money it will take to remove poverty from the district?

When we talked to the couple, they showed us the other side of this tragic yarn. As per Banita, when the whole family was living on the little income of her brother Chhabi she became the heaviest burden to the family and specifically to her brother’s wife Phanas. In order to get rid of the burden in form of Banita, Phanas supported the marriage even though she knew that Bidya Podha is poorer than Chhabi. And Banita didn’t oppose to it as she was also concerned about the future of her brother’s children.

Banita put all blame for her misery on the media and said, “In the heat and sound of the happenings everyone forgot about me.  If at all it was a child trade, then Fanas was the culprit and I was the victim. You people had no sympathy for me! Was she rewarded for having sold me? Did anyone consider ever, whether I was sold or married or thrown into the pool of misery. I was placed in the hand of a blind, middle-aged man because Fanas was attracted by the exorbitant parja offered to her.  Now I am sick and suffering because of my poor conditions, my yearly delivery of children. Am I not poor? Am I not suffering? Do you know you press-walas have made my life worse?  You made Fanas rich leaving me to starve. When you got bored with her story you started haunting my children and my family. Wherever my children went for a job, you people landed up there to deliberately identify them and shout with your slogans against child labour. People are now afraid of talking to us. You people have earned your bread well by snatching it out of our mouths. Now, please leave us to our misery and stop pestering us. Twenty four years ago you could not see things properly. Your chhabi baboos (photographers) didn’t have the courage to capture my poverty and present it. Even Indira Maa’s bohu Sonia came to Fanas, sympathised her (for sacrificing me!) and rewarded that villain with lots of money, but could not see or realize my sufferings.  Even though she is a woman, she could not see the misery of another woman sacrificed to save her brother’s offspring. No one could see my misery. Were all of you blind then? Why you are coming to me again and again? Can you give my son an employment? Can you help me marrying my daughter?” Banita started blasting with questions.

No more interested to face the media and reply to any question of the scribes, Bidya Podha explained in anguish “You baboos came and changed our life and our story. You described our marriage an illegal trade. It brought still bigger baboos to Bangamunda, Banita’s parental village and also brought Indira Maa’s bohu. She started crying with Fanas and took food inside her house with nice chhabi baboos (photographers) all around.  Everyone sympathized with her and gave her money, clothes, land and so many things.  Because she was poor (!), so poor that she had to sacrifice her husband’s sister, Banita to feed her two children! But what about Banita who had fallen into a more harsh state of poverty! Even the brother and sister-in-law of Banita, who didn’t hesitate to grasp the benefit by terming our marriage an illegal trading, they forgot us! It all happened because I am a more poor and helpless man”. Chhabi Punji, the brother of Banita as well as husband of Fanas was just sitting beside without any word challenging what Bidya said at the time.

This story of Banita and Bidya unveiled the harsh impact of our publicity crazy leadership and sensation crazy reportage on poor people struggling for at least one square meal a day. Banita had been used as a scapegoat by Fanas who always bothered for her own comfort, her children and husband. But no body saw the other but truthful side of the story. Banita was sided to live with misery although the whole story was centred on her life. She has nothing to say now except giving a faint smile of anguish, sorrow and helplessness to everybody who joined the political leadership in the weird carnival that masquerades the villains as heroes.

Banita’s misery is lot more similar to the poverty in Kalahandi. Banita’s life might have gone into misery since her marriage has been termed as trading of a girl, but this incident changed the fate of many in Kalahandi as the district soon became the destination of innumerable special grants to remove poverty. Bhakta Charan Das who became the adopting father has come a long way in his political journey. NGOs thrived in the district by selling poverty and misery of the people.

In these twenty four years, Kalahandi has heard many declarations and promises. Huge amount of money came, but the district is still the poorest of the poor state Orissa. Klahandi has only become a ladder for politicians, bureaucrats and so called development professionals. But the district couldn’t see any major change even though 1000 crores of rupees have been poured into the State of Orissa in its name. Even the much publicized victim of poverty Banita Punji is still struggling to feed her husband and children. Banita still wanders, what happened after Sonia and Rajiv visited her paternal house? Why she had to pay for the selfish attitude of her brother’s wife?

1998 summer – Atmospheric temperature went up somewhere close to 50 degree Celsius in coastal Orissa and 100s of people died of Sun Stroke. Terrible super cyclone of 1999 took over 10000 lives and shattered the economy of coastal Orissa. 2000 onwards – Coastal Orissa has been regularly visited by flood almost every year.

All the more, Coastal Orissa has become the victim of natural disasters that occurred almost every year in different forms. During last 30 years, the coastal climate has changed to a great extent and rainy season is expanded to almost half the year.

Low pressures in the Bay of Bengal have been more frequent in an abnormal pattern posing threats to the life and livelihood of people living in coastal villages and towns. 'Such violent behaviour of the Sea is believed to be the impact of global warming that resulted in climate change across the east coast and rise in sea level', apprehends noted geoscientist Prof. Nanda Kishore Mahalik.

At many places along the coast, Bay of Bengal has crossed miles into the human habitations grabbing villages and agricultural lands on its way. ‘This is mainly due to rise in sea level that has happened due to increase in atmospheric temperature which may have a link with global warming. The sea has in graced into land area in Paradeep, Puri, Astaranga and Gopalpur coasts of Orissa’, says environmentalist and chief wildlife warden of Orissa Bijay Ketan Pattnaik.

Worst victim of the wrath of rising sea is Satabhaya village in the northern coasts of Orissa. Standing on the edge of Bay of Bengal, Satabhaya is now struggling for its existence. Hundreds of families have left the village after loosing most of their land in the sea.

The village tube-well now stands inside the sea only as a testimony to the old village limits. Almost 90 percent of the village is washed away by the violent tidal waves. The villagers have lost most of their land in the sea. Even a low pressure with minimum intensity is enough to snatch away sleep from the people of this village.

Satabhaya was once a cluster of seven villages. Leaving Satabhaya and Kanhapur on the edge of Bay of Bengal, rest five villages of the cluster have been submerged in the sea during 1980s and 1990s.

Kanhapur Village has shifted itself thrice leaving its original location some 1 km inside Bay of Bengal. Besides Satabhaya and Kanhapur, about twenty other villages on this coast are at high risk of submergence. People of those villages have lost around sixty percent of their land in the sea.

By now, over 3000 people of the cluster have been displaced from their original villages and over 10000 people have been severely affected as most of their livelihood support components like lands and vegetation have been eaten up by the violent Bay of Bengal. Even, they are unable to fish as the sea behaviour doesn't remain stable or predictable.

Most people who have shifted to escape the wrath of the ocean are now living as daily wage labourers or have again migrated to distant places in search of jobs.

The Sea at Astarang coast within Puri district limit has equally gone violent and crossed over two miles during last 30 years pushing the coastal villages to shift again and again. Hundreds of acres of farm land, village ponds, and vast grazing land of the villagers have gone into the sea.

The hard soil bed, remnants of mud houses and few broken household properties on the edge of the sea make the villagers of Udaykani and Chhenu remember their old village limits that are now lost in the sea.

'Away from the sea, there was my school. The school and village roads are now inside the sea. We had our paddy lands that side. All our properties have been grabbed by the sea. Our old village was washed away by the tidal waves. We are pushed to move to the new pace that is again facing the danger of submergence. Sea water gushes into our paddy fields very often causing severe loss to us’, says Bata Pradhan of Udaykani.

The villagers of Udaykani and Chhenu have shifted at least thrice to escape the wrath of the sea. The super cyclone left these people homeless and subsequent floods destroyed their economy that is primarily based upon agriculture.

Putting his eyes fixed on the sea, Gandharva Kandei of Udaykani village says, ‘Since 1982, we have been experiencing regular floods, low pressures, and heavy rains in this coast. The super cyclone of 1999 ruined our houses in the old village. Terrified with the cyclonic storms we went to the sand embankment. To save our children we kept them in holes made in the sand. We were pulling the children out whenever there was a sliding of sand. Facing all such dangers from the sea, we are still struggling to survive.’

Chhenu and Udaykani are shifted to a little distance from their old one. But, they are still afraid of the aggression of the sea as it comes closer to their new villages also.

In 2008 July, sea crossed over 300 metres and reached the marine drive road that connects Puri and Konark - two towns of tourist importance. About 2 and half meters from the side of the road was washed away by the sea posing danger of complete breaching of the road.

It’s just a year back, tidal waves washed away half of the beach road and gushed into the town of Puri. Tourists who had visited the holy town for Jagannath Darshan and were staying in sea side hotels were shifted on emergency basis.

Known as the liveliest sandy one, Puri beach is becoming a dangerous beach as sea is expanding itself towards the township and tides are touching the beach road more often.

Rising sea level has also posed the threat of complete submergence of Asia’s largest inland lagoon Chilka. Due to heavy tidal wave on the other side of the lake, the natural sand embankment near Gabakunda was breached during last rainy season and became a 700 meter wide mouth pouring huge sea water into Chilka.

If such heavy inflow of saline water to the lake continues, the ecological pattern of the lagoon would get disturbed and the lake would have to lose its under-water treasure including variety of fish species. Inflow of sea water in large volume would also force the lake to submerge in the sea.

If it happens, the country would certainly lose a natural treasure that is known as the largest irrawady dolphin habitat and the winter resort of overseas avian guests.

The southern end of Orissan coast is also not free from the violent aggression of Bay of Bengal. The fishermen Village Podampeta is already submerged in the sea where as Garampeta village is just awaiting complete submergence. Changing behaviour of sea has closed all doors for fishing that is the main livelihood source of the coastal villages here.

The unstable and violent behaviour of sea has also caused severe damage to coastal economy as it often destroys agriculture along the coast. Once called the rice bowl of the state, whole of the coastal orissa is now affected by the climate change and disasters occure as its resultants. So, people dependent on agriculture and fishing do not see their traditional professions reliable.

Coastal erosion in the state of Orissa has not only threatened the human habitats like coastal towns and villages, the trend has also threatened all three sites where lakhs of Olive Ridley sea turtles visit every year for nesting. As renowned wildlife researcher Dr. Chandra Sekhar Kar believes, 'the special climatic condition added with proper size sand grains contaning enough food materials for lakhs of turtles and millions of their hatchlings are the factors that attract such huge number of sea turtles for nesting'. And, Orissa is fortunate to have all three mass nesting sites in India. The sites are Gahirmatha, Devi River Mouth and Rusikulya River Mouth. But, these world famous turtle nesting sites are now in danger as sea is moving ahead.

Sea has been worshipped as the reserve of wealth. The 480 KM long coast is the ‘unique selling point (USP)’ of Orissa tourism as it attracts lakhs of tourists into the state. But the changing and violent behaviour of the sea is now posing serious threat of submergence to the total coastal zone of Orissa.

It’s high-time for the policy makers to give a serious thought to the issue. A little delay in taking control measures would allow the sea to go more violent and take many more coastal villages and towns into it causing serious livelihood problems across the coastal area.

Whole world got stunned with the news of shoes hurled at US President George W. Bush during his farewell visit to Iraq. Again, it was not a layman of Iraq, but a known journalist of the country Muntazer al-Zaidi hurled his footwear at world’s most powerful leader. The unprecedented incident occurred on December 14, 2008 when US President was holding a Press Conference in Baghdad with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. As the news followed, the journalist was soon trapped and taken into custody.

Less an act of misbehaviour from a journalist, the incident seems more to be a reflection of the simmering hatred among the Iraqis for US President Bush and other world leaders who have been indifferent to the people and issues of Iraq.

The incident should be seen as the reaction of Iraqi people at large to the stand and attitude of world leaders who have been supportive to America’s war against Iraq without a strong reason and who remained silent when the trapped leader of Iraq Saddam Hussein was forcibly prosecuted and finally hanged to death.

From the news and various reports published worldwide, it has been clear that the public perception in Iraq is quite negative towards US government in general and President Bush in particular. And the Iraqi public perception is mainly built upon factors like the Bush dictated war against Iraq that has never been convincingly justified even by Bush himself, prosecuting the leader of the country in the most humiliating manner and finally hang him on a charge that was purely an internal affair of Iraq, and America’s failure in establishing a truly democratic and popular government in Iraq that would better take care of the people, economy, issues and problems of post-war Iraq.

Post-war Iraq, as projected by various media, seems to be a nation without a political identity. It has more become a political colony of America than an economically flourishing country of the Saddam Hussein days. A government, that is termed democratic by the Bush *****istration, is virtually the executor of what Bush *****istration wants. Civil rights in Iraq have been squeezed to what suits the policies of Bush and his government instituted in Iraq.

In such a situation, it’s not illogical for people of Iraq to believe that Saddam was hanged to make Iraqis tolerate the hi-fashioned dictatorship of Bush. And it makes enough reasons for Iraqis to be intolerant to Bush, his *****istration and the government in Iraq that acts on command from Washington.

After hurling shoes at US President Bush, the amount of support for Muntazer in the Middle East indicates the level of disagreement of people in the gulf region to the acts and policies of US President George Bush.  May be, because Bush was not accessible to the general people of Iraq they couldn’t express their agony and Muntazer did this on getting the chance. Being an Iraqi journalist, Muntazer al-Zaidi would have been deeply motivated by the agony of Iraqi public and the hatred for Bush *****istration all over Iraq.

Even though shocking to President Bush, his team and his government in Iraq, the incident came out loudly expressive against the world leaders who suppress the public voice and hurt the public sentiment anywhere across the globe. What happened with Bush in Baghdad is a symbolic expression of public discontentment in Iraq against world leadership who staged a war for certain political and economic reasons or supported it blindly and left people suffer with the war effects in a broken down economy ruled by a corrupt government placed at the mercy of US *****istration.

Also, leaders of other developed nations like UK and France who wholeheartedly supported America’s war against Iraq never showed enough interest in establishment of a proper democratic government in Iraq and a fare trial of the nabbed leader Saddam Hussein giving him the status of the leader of a nation. He could have been banned in his own country Iraq and was confined as a refugee in US or other countries who supported America’s aggression in the name of ‘War against Terror’. Hanging of Saddam Hussein created an impression in most of the developed countries that no third world nation and its leader can escape the wrath of US *****istration once it decides to be the aggressor.

As the background faintly comes in mind, America blamed Iraq of having nuclear weapon and pressured UN to send its team and verify the fact. The next blame on Iraq was of having biological weapons that would cause havoc for humanity on application. Nothing was found and America couldn’t prove its apprehension and finally declared war against Iraq in the name of freeing Kuwait. But even after Kuwait was made free, America’s war didn’t stop till Saddam Hussein was finally trapped.

Neither the UN nor the countries in the Security Council took it as an act of aggression from America. Few supported US directly and many closed their eyes to what America did on Iraq. Lot many civilians and military personnel were sacrificed for America’s victory over Saddam.

Even though two key partners in America’s war against Iraq – Tony Blair and George Bush – have been given a clear verdict by their own people, millions of people are still experiencing the terrible impact of their decisions and deed. This is the reason why people of the affected countries are becoming reactive to the leaders of developed nations who are seeing the whole world as part of their own dominion.

Saddam was hung on the charges of killing some thousands of Kurds who revolted against his *****istration in Iraq. On humanitarian ground, this was the heinous act by a leader but, on political ground, curbing an internal rebellion was a domestic affair in Iraq. If Saddam was hanged for the act, why America did not put pressure on the UN to prosecute President of China Yang Shangkun and Premier Li Peng for ordering the army to kill over 5000 students who demonstrated to bring democracy in the country in 1989? In order to give justice to thousands of people who lost their lives in America’s war against Iraq, can Bush opt to be prosecuted before a panel of humanists and justify his Iraq policy? Such an act would really be face saving for Bush and the world leadership that is now losing credibility in the global public.

In this age of liberalisation, political scenario is also fast changing. The world is changing into a global village. In a humane world, aggression from US or any of the first world nations and the other countries can not always be seen differently. Every action has to be backed with sufficient reasons to justify.

In the wake of changing social, political and economic scenario across the world, constitution of an international humanist body that can ask the world leaders to appear before it and justify their foreign policies, decisions and deed has become essential. Through this international humanist body, the leaders should be allowed to confess for their decisions that grossly harmed any community or nation or international politics and relationship between nations. Such an initiative would really help establishing peace across the globe and harmony among the world communities. And, this would be the greatest initiative to avoid the much apprehended ‘Third World War’.

Series of violence in the Kandh tribal populated Kandhamal district of Orissa province put India under pressure from international Christian communities and leadership. Shaken by the pressure union government of India diverted it towards the state of Orissa with an advisory to bring the communal tension under control at the earliest possible at any cost. A directive from the Supreme Court of India was also served to the state government to explain its stand on the series of violence and take immediate steps to bring the situation under control.

The government of Orissa asked Centre for more companies of Paramilitary Forces for immediate deployment in Kandhamal in order to suppress the violence. By now over 43 companies of Paramilitary forces have been deployed in the district of Kandhamal. But the situation is still tensed as incidents of violence in rural Kandhamal are still a regular affair.

Delegations from state and centre expressed their concern regarding the eruption of violence in the tribal populated district Kandhamal and expressed condolence for the deceased. Keeping in view the forthcoming municipal elections and the general polls little ahead, political parties made it an issue for their benefit.

But there was no comment from anybody – be it activists or political delegation or an *****istrative delegation – regarding why such violence has been occurring almost regularly in different backward poverty stricken districts of the state. Everybody expected a quick pacification of tension and eradication of violence without even hinting upon resolving the issues that have been acting as factors for the violence.

Caste Conflict and Kandhamal

Kandhamal is home to caste conflict since early nineties of the last century. The conflict is between the Kandha (Scheduled Tribe) tribal community and the Panas (Scheduled Caste) who are given SC status. After split of the old district ‘Boudh – Phulbani’ into two separate districts, the conflict looked like a caste war in which about 40 people lost their lives and the district was renamed into Kandhamal to cool down the agitated Kandh tribal population and restore peace in the district. The district looked normal for quite a long period from outside but the caste hatred remained as it is looking for a spark only to erupt.

The second major violence occurred on the eve of 2007 Christmas day on the issue of the temporary structure erected by the Christians for x-mass celebration. The incident occurred in Christian populated Daringbadi block on few teasing remarks made by some of the Christian members towards the Hindus most of whom are ST or Adivasis. The violence soon turned into a caste war with the tribals of the district marching on the main road of Phulbani – the district head quarter town – violating curfew imposed by the *****istration.

The recent violence started from 25th August as a reaction to the killing of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati – the Hindu leader working to unite the Kandh and Kui tribals against the conversion activities pursued by the Christian Missionaries apart from many other welfare activities meant for empowering the tribal communities in the district. In rest of Orissa, the reaction was communal; but in Kandhamal, started against Christians, the violence seems to have become a caste war again as most of the deceased happen to be from Pana Community or SCs although stray incidents like attacking tribal Christians occurred in very few places.

The fact of caste conflict in the name of Communal Violence came to notice after visiting the relief centres operating in Tikabali, Chakapada and G. Udaygiri Blocks. Many Hindu Panas were living in the relief centres as the agitators – mainly tribal community members of their own village – attacked, looted and torched their houses. Same thing we saw in Bastingia and Dalagaon villages of Beheragaon Gram Panchayat where the houses of Panas were torched by group of tribal women and youth in broad day light. The agitated group didn’t even touch the Oriya Sahi of Bastingia village where mostly Non-SC Non-ST outsider Oriya people live in. These not-targeted outsiders work as informers to the rioters in many cases.
 
While talking to some tribal people of Chakapada, they just started calling the particular SC community as traitors, exploiters and grabbers of benefits meant for the tribal communities of the district. It seemed, the tribals of Kandhamal have set their hidden agenda to eliminate the particular SC community from the district, and the *****istration must be well aware of the fact as the tribals have openly expressed their anguish before the *****istration against the Pana community on many occasions.

Historicity of hatred

The panas and the Kandhas have been living together since centuries at least before the British officials and missionaries ventured into the district and found the heinous Meriah practiced by the Kandhas. As the Kandhas never use anybody of their own community as a Meriah, the Panas (now SCs) acted as brokers who were supplying Meriah child to the tribal communities.

As quoted from British government reports and documents by historian Dasarathi Swaro in his thesis ‘The Christian Missionaries in Orissa’ (Punthi Pustak, Calcutta, 1990, page 131), “The Kandhas purchased the (Meriah) victims. Unless bought with a price, they were not deemed acceptable to the goddess (earth – Taru Pennu). Victims from their own tribe were not procurable. The agents, mainly Panas – a clever and business like people lived with the Khonds and cheated the Khonds in all possible way, sometimes purchased but more frequently kidnapped the children (from outside plains) whom they sold to the Khonds. They occasionally (even) sold their own offspring without any hesitation.”

By their characteristic features, the Kandhas are basically a bold and fitfully labourious mountain peasantry of simple, upright in their conduct, sincere in their superstitions, proud of their position as land holders tenacious of their rights. This has been observed even by Britishers like Capt Macpherson.

Initially when the missionaries came to the place, called Khondistan or Agency Area that time, they found the Panas – now called SCs – notorious, greedy and exploitative and also held the Panas primarily responsible for existence of the Meriah tradition as they were supplying Meriah victims. The British *****istration also acted hard on the panas and rescued Meriahs from the houses of Panas and the tribal villages as well. It could be to either escape from any hard action from the British government or to keep safe from the reaction of the Kandh tribal community after it became impossible to supply Meriah to the community villages, the Panas gradually came close to the Christian missionaries and got converted into Christians. However, the conversion of Panas into Christianity started from there.

The Kandha tribal communities who were committed to their religion and sincere to their religion and superstitious practices couldn’t accept the Panas who opted to take on Christianity leaving their old religion. So, once living together the Kandhas started hating the Christian Panas blaming them as traitors to their old religion and the society as well.

After taking on Christianity, the Panas became close to the missionaries and the British *****istration as well and notoriously started grabbing the land which was owned by the tribal communities before. This was the major reason of caste conflict because the Kandhas had been seeing the total landscape their own and they had given some land to the Panas to live and supply Meriah as per requirement.

The practice of land grabbing and exploitation went on even after independence of India as most of the Panas got into various government jobs because of their education through missionary support. So, the enmity for the Panas increased in the Kandh and Kui tribal communities. However, the tribal children gradually got education and the educated tribal youth new the laws of the land and its own rights.

The limit of patience in the tribal communities breached when the SCs (Panas) tried to brand them as Kui tribal on linguistic basis claiming them as Kui speaking people. Kui is the language of the Kandhas and a group of the tribe is called in the name of their language.

Looking at the issue from a legal perspective, Senior practitioner and former Advocate General Jayant Dash is of the opinion that ‘the reason why SCs might have attempted to get a tribal status is because, as per Indian Constitution, SCs are no more subjected to enjoy the status of SC once they convert themselves into other religious sect as caste system doesn’t exist outside Hindu religious system. The converted SCs can enjoy their caste status only after they come back to the fold of Hinduism. But the tribals enjoy the ST status even after conversion as constitutionally they are believed to be animists by practice’.

‘To enjoy the privilege entitled for SCs, many of the SC families remain Hindu by record but Christian by practice where as many of the SC families converted into Christianity are coming back to the Hindu fold just to enjoy the benefits of their SC status’, observes senior journalist and social activist from Kandhamal district Ashok Parida.

However, the attempt to bag an ST status for the community broke the ice and the Tribal communities openly expressed their anguish before the *****istration. Looking at the reaction, the government declared not to give the Panas an ST status. Hundreds of government employees who had joined on the basis of false tribal certificates were dismissed. But these steps couldn’t bring the SCs into the trust of the Tribal communities.

Socio-economic factors behind Envy and Enmity

Conflict between the Panas and Kandhas of Kandhamal district became strong with increasing socio – economic gap between the communities.

The Pana community of which majority have been converted to Christianity are educationally and economically much ahead of the Kandhas because of their church and missionary link. As per social activist and analyst Panchanan Mishra who heads an NGO that works for the development of tribals and people living in hilly regions, ‘the Christian community members are provided with all kinds of support by the church itself or other organisation having a church link or back up in time of emergency. Where as, the Kandh tribals who hate changing their religion are neither getting any immediate support from their community or the government machinery. In such times, they come across the realities of government’s high sounding tribal development policies which make them envious of the other community that is supported by the community and church as well.’

As per a senior journalist Ashok Parida, ‘in case of emergencies like epidemics or health hazards, the nuns or health workers from churches attend the Christian patients and their families only and do not attend to the tribal patient living next door. The tribal patient is forced to wait till a government aid reaches the place which hardly happens in time. So, it’s not the non-Christian Kandhas only who differentiates itself from the Christian community but the church and Christian communities also has a role in promoting social discrimination, even in difficult situations. Such attitude of churches and missionaries widens the gap and strengthens the communal hatred’.

Traditionally, the Panas have been in a better financial state in compare to the Kandhas as, from the beginning, they acted as agents for supplying Meriah primarily and other essential goods against handsome return. They are the oldest business community of the district. Now also they are flourishing because of their church link that ensures quality education and a better future for their children which a non-Christian tribal can’t afford to. So, most of the tribal children attend government schools where quality education is almost a day dream.

The Kandhs are basically a laborious peasantry community depending upon agriculture, forest produces and hunting to earn their livelihood and are financially poor. After hunting is banned and most of the forest produces came under government control, the tribals of the district have been converted into labourers and depend on various government programmes and other works to earn their livelihood. although government at the centre and the state are high sounding about the development of tribals and other dalit communities, the visibility of the programmes in the field is very much poor. Similar is the situation in Kandhamal. Whatever programmes are implemented, the benefits are still to reach the Kandh and Kui tribals.

Most of the local intellectuals and researchers have a similar opinion in this regard. As to them, the caste conflict is mainly ruled by the economic gap between the two castes that results in lots of social differences also.

With sustained conversion activities pursued by Christian Missionaries and a reactive opposition and re-conversion drives by the saffron outfits, that were led by Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati till his death, the caste conflict has now received a communal colour from both religious leadership. As over 85% of the SCs are converted into Christianity and a negligible percent of the tribal population goes by the conversion drives initiated by the churches operating in Kandhamal, a caste conflict obviously looks communal when it occurs in Kandhamal.

Police and Paramilitary Forces - Are they truly helping?

The police and central reserve police forces (CRPF) deployed in Kandhamal to restore peace have become the reasons of further hostility in the district. As per the tribal communities, the police is picking up innocent tribal members just to show the number of arrests in connection to the communal violence that has lingered over a period of 45 days. The innocent members are being beaten up in the police stations to make them finally admit their involvement in the riot even though they do not have. The anger among the tribal communities against the Police and Paramilitary Forces is growing as both the forces have an oppressive approach.

The anger has grown to such an extent that few tribals in Sishapanga village of Raikia block killed a member of Central Reserve Police. There have also been complains about regular assult and sexual abuse by the CRPF members to the women and girls staying in the temporary relief camps and nearby villages. In one case one lady fainted in a relief camp allegedly after abusive attempt by a CRPF member. So the force deployment has rather worsened the situation.

Formula of sustaining Peace - Not Force deployment but Development

Huge force deployment, as pursued by Orissa government at the point, would suppress the violence for a temporary period if the socio-economic issues are not addressed properly. The state government and the *****istration must understand the history of conflict in the district and realise its background to develop policies for establishing peace in the district. The major aspect to be examined for a long term solution and establishment of sustaining peace is the way to minimise the economic gap between the two caste communities living in the district.

During the violence when we asked the local *****istration about the reason of such lingering violence they pointed at the poor communication facilities in the interior parts of the district and large number of huge size trees on both sides of the roads which are cut by the tribal people to block the road and torch the houses they target. By the time rapid action forces reach the place and clear the road the attackers leave the place after ransacking and setting houses and other structures afire.

It’s definitely a shame to come across the fact of poor communication facilities in a tribal populated district even after 61 years of freedom.

The other issues are development works and generating employment opportunities for the poor people living in the district. The fact of poor economic status of the tribal people in the district came to notice on the day of Revenue Minister’s visit to the Tikabali relief centre. Tribal families demanded for lifting of curfew t enable them work and earn their livelihood and provide them with relief as they had no food in their house to consume. Assuring people to look after the issues the Revenue Minister left the place. Then thousands of tribal women marched toward the relief centres. Without knowing the purpose of their march police forces opened lathi charge on the women causing injury to at least 50 women out of which 10 suffered serious injury. And the irony of the incident was, male police members started beating the tribal women.

This incident drew severe reaction from the tribal communities of Kandhamal and in next two days, over 5000 tribal women gathered at the Block office and police station in Ghumushar Udaygiri and raised the same demands. These incidents suggest how the state government has grossly failed in proper implementation of development as well as employment generation programmes in the district.

With the boom in media industry in India, News has become a product to be consumed by the readers and viewers and thus sold in terms of attracting revenue by boosting circulation and TRP (Television Rating Point) than providing pure information to aware the mass and empower them. In most cases, news is determined on the basis of public craze, not requirement. This fact of Indian journalism has led to over emphasis on Sensational, Political and Crime Reporting. Today, Crime reports have taken a major place in Newspapers, Magazines, portals and also TV News Channels. This trend in Indian media has hardly helped checking crimes in the society but has definitely made substantial contributions in creating some dons out of petty criminals.

Among the recent cases is the murder case of Judo Coach Biranchi Das in Bhubaneswar of Orissa that took place on 13 April 2008. Since the day it happened, both police and media treated it as a high profile murder case as Biranchi Das was the man who made a slum child Budhia Singh the youngest marathoner to be featured in the Limca Book of records. This achievement as a coach also pushed him into regular controversies on charges of ‘using a child like Budhia Singh for personal achievement and popularity’ and ‘misappropriating the donation money came to the trust made in the name of child marathoner Budhia Singh’ of which Biranchi was the managing trustee and chief operator.

The first to bring the news to public were TV News channels who not only carried the news as a shocking information but presented the story as a sensational one both in its nature and in terms of visuals. Almost all the stories carried visuals of the blood-splashed body of Biranchi Das, close up of bullet wounds, blood spots at the place along with some bytes of the brother and few students of the victim Biranchi Das. In the bytes, the name of Raja alias Sandip Acharya – a gangster who was into crimes on ransom and for personal interests – came as the killer. Since then all the reports – be it in the form of print, TV, radio or web – made Raja, a gangster, the central theme and the crime, its gravity and the reason and motives behind it came as passing references.

Investigations were made on the criminal history and operations of Raja and placed as lead stories in newspapers and TV news bulletins. Gangster Raja and his criminal records grabbed most of the front-page space and airtime. Visuals and photographs of Raja came in abundance on TV channels and newspapers. Every move of the gangster resulting failure for the city police in nabbing him got a priority place everywhere.

Details about police raids in different places, possible hideouts of Raja were served as spices for news consumers. Media diverted the public craze from the basic crime of murdering a coach to an upcoming criminal gangster Raja Acharya. Instead of presenting Raja as an absconder fearing police arrest, media presented Raja as a challenger to Police. The hype for a gangster was so much that Raja became the most dreadful don in the state even though he was absconding to avoid a police arrest. Even the police couldn’t keep itself free from the influence of media reports. The massive security arrangements in the airport, hospital and judicial court on the day of Raja’s arrival in Bhubaneswar, after he was taken into custody in Goa, clearly indicated how media had weakened the moral strength of Orissa Police in general and Bhubaneswar – Cuttack Commissionerate Police in particular.

Media’s craze for spice items inspired Raja to utilise it for creating confusion by giving statements to newspaper and TV channel offices directly. And unfortunately without bringing the statements of a criminal to the notice of the investigating police team media brought it direct to public to give a fresh clue in the morning for coffee shop discussions. Apart from the statements of a projected criminal, even rumours found a place in the TV news bulletins and front-pages of newspapers. Full half an hour slots in TV fell short to narrate the story of the culprit and crimes he committed.

But what is the impact? Did the elaborated and sensationalised stories made people aware to come forward for stopping further crime in their city? Were people encouraged to bring any criminal act to the notice of Police?

Rather, police was so presented in the stories and the nexus were so highlighted that people would have lost faith on it and in future they wouldn’t even dare to inform police about a crime in front of them.

In contrast, the small town gangster Raja Acharya was given so much importance that public sees him as a don. Now everybody is scared of his name and picture. Tomorrow, after being released, it would be very easy for Raja to continue collecting money forcibly from people.

So, what our crime reporting did? It simply helped a criminal rather than checking further crime.

Biranchi Das Murder case reporting is just a tip of the iceberg. Boom in Indian media industry of mushrooming of TV channels and media houses have started dealing with news like a consumer product where saleability matter more than the real purpose of news and ethical reporting. With this the chronic problems of people and communities are not getting a proper presentation.

Like when the Raja factor ruled all news bulletins and newspapers, the voice of Orissa MPs raised to safeguard the interests of the state and other mineral rich states just found a mention and no follow-up was made on the very important aspect of development.

Biranchi Das was murdered when people’s plight in Vedanta University project area and the issue of former speaker’s alleged involvement in a sexual harassment case in the state assembly were in statewide discussion. Both the issue vanished from all media since the Murder Biranchi Das took place and a hint of Raja’s involvement sparkled in some bytes.

As an aware and responsible citizen representing as well as impacting the common mass, journalists should act with more caution while reporting crimes. Just to create sensation and draw some individual mileage, it is quite unfair to publicise things that would influence or obstruct a normal investigation and add power to an evil element of the society.

In order to check any irresponsible act in crime reporting, there should also be some kind of regulations to restrict over-publicity of criminals by highlighting their criminal records and publishing their photographs and live videos as these acts would hamper an investigation, promote criminal activities and generate fear in the civil society for certain criminals.

Media reports regarding uproar in Orissa Assembly over Vedanta University project on March 20 revealed how journalism is practiced in India is fast shifting itself from the principle and ethical base.

Reports in different TV Channels and Newspapers were less informative than to influence the discussion scheduled for a date 4 days later. The statements of political leaders and Higher Education Minister were carried without any crosscheck of facts they said although we all know about the common proverb that ‘politicians promise a bridge when there is no river’ for a mere political benefit.

A television channel in the state owned by the family of a ruling party MP telecasted reports that seemed politically bias and clearly motivated to safeguard the interests of a corporate foundation whose credibility was questioned by the apex court of India. Even most of the newspapers claiming themselves to be highly circulated across the state had a similar line of reporting.

If one analyse the report transmitted in the aforesaid local TV Channel, the ethical points of journalism seemed to have shifted their focus. In the report, the basic purpose of journalism was neglected by providing information to empower people but to satisfy the interests of some political parties and the Anil Agarwal Foundation that is into Vedanta University Project against people’s will and livelihood interests.

The facts were even transmitted without any crosschecking. On screen, Higher Education Minister of Orissa said, ‘fulfilling its role as the facilitator, government has already acquired 6252.90 acres of land in the project area in the name of Anil Agarwal foundation’. Did the Minister utter a true figure? As a watchdog, journalist must crosscheck it. But, ironically, no supporting byte of either a revenue department official or any revenue document was shown to confirm the accuracy of the figure.

The other statement Higher Education Minister gave was, ‘we have told Anil Agarwal Foundation to give priority to the students of Orissa for studying in the proposed world class Vedanta University’.

But as per clause 6, Para iv, the MOU signed with Vedanta Foundation – the former name of Anil Agarwal foundation, ‘In order to allow it (Vedanta University), to function as a world class University, GOO (Government of Orissa) shall ensure complete autonomy to Vedanta and the university authorities with regard to *****istration, admission, fee structure, curriculum and faculty selection. The objective is to attract best talents globally for students and faculty.’

Again, as a further clarification, the MOU mentions in Para X of the same clause that, ‘The university shall have the immunity from any reservation laws of the state government and a statement to this effect shall be incorporated in the legislation’.

The statement of the minister goes against the promises made by the government in the MOU. So, has the MOU been revised to incorporate what he said or it is just a verbal request he made to the Foundation? The TV News report maintained darkness about this serious confusion. This indicates a low level obligation of the journalist to the ‘truth’.

Again, using the animated visuals, perhaps produced and distributed by the foundation, the TV Channel reported how Vedanta University would be a truly world class University in Orissa without mentioning the source who claimed it. Meaning, it was the opinion of the channel that matched the foundation claims. Nowhere, the viewpoints of people opposing to the project were incorporated, at least, to maintain impartiality in reporting. By imposing this opinion in the name of News, the journalist and the channel violated three major points of Media Ethics – i. The journalist didn’t display its loyalty to the citizens who apprehend adverse impact of the project on their life and livelihood; ii. The journalist didn’t maintain independence while covering and producing the News; iii. The news imposed an opinion on its viewers than providing a forum for public appraisal and criticism.

Such kind of reporting not only gives Indian Journalism a bad name but also limits the scope of impact. The basic purpose gets diluted when the reporter or broadcaster hides certain vital information to justify its own viewpoint in the news.

This is not the only case that questions the Channels commitment to Media Ethics. Two days before, it transmitted a fiction produced by Posco – the South Korean steel giant that is facing strong public resistance in the proposed project site near Paradeep. The film was made to create a mass opinion in support of the project. But certain dialogues in the film were derogatory to National Integration and the federal system and also promoting regional disparity. Using few artists the film tried to convince people through some dialogues like, ‘before the project was planned where were the outsider (other state) activists and leaders who encourage people of the site to oppose the project?’ ‘Outsider activists and politicians are no way concerned with the problems of People but are envious of the development projects planned in the state of Orissa’. ‘Agitating against development projects has become a fashion these days’. However, the professionals involved in the film were only hired on payment to make these dialogues said in the film but were no way affected by the project directly.

The film was almost silent about the livelihood issues of people, possible scarcity of food materials once the project stands on the land that are used for agriculture now, and the possibility of transformation of the sustainable local market economy into one that would be controlled by outside businessmen. But instead, the film started blaming activists who are fighting for the basic livelihood rights of people in the country as envious outsiders. There would be no problem if the film were for internal purpose of the corporate house. But when it came for transmission, how the channel could approve such remarks for public broadcasting, as these were not presented as individual viewpoints but conclusive messages of the film?

The above examples are just tip of the iceberg. Satellite Television Channels focusing on Orissa have become PR windows more than infotainment channels for people. Corporate houses like TATA, NALCO are now into production of propagandist TV series to be aired on various TV Channels. And the stand of TV Channels are very simple – ‘we need revenue to survive’. It’s not only the case of private broadcasters but public broadcaster like Doordarshan is also in the fray for generating revenue through such PR campaigns. However, Doordarshan has a previewing body that censors the programme before telecast.

Because of such PR oriented news motivated by some vested interests of a journalist or the broadcaster, News is losing its importance among people of India. In spite of TV Channels and News Papers mushrooming in India, quality and credential of news are deteriorating in the country. News producers and broadcasters are more into making money than disseminating News. Industrialists and businessmen with little knowledge of Media Ethics are now venturing into media business and dictating the journalists to act on their command. But the Indian industry takes it as an advantage for growth through more investment.

Even journalists of high respect seem to have fallen into the trap of investors. I was shocked with certain statements made by Rajdeep Sardesai, whom I had once taken as my role model, on some occasions. The first was in Ramnath Goenka Memorial discussion on responsible journalism where, on carrying sensational news stories, he said - ‘I have to carry such stories to make people see my channel and the show gets good TRP because I am running a channel (Meaning, doing business as a profitable proposition!). The second occasion was the last establishment day of Doordarshan when the channel organised a panel of veteran journalists facing questions from some other journalists in the gallery. Answering a question about the social watchdog responsibility of a journalist Rajdeep said, ‘we are journalists not activists’. What a demarcation! An activist may not be a journalist, but how a journalist cannot be an activist when journalist is the first man to collect information and make them go public to inform and aware people and all others who are working for the development of people? I still respect Rajdeep for his contribution to TV journalism in India. Such statements would have been the results of lots of business pressure on him.

Another incident of TV Journalism shook the nation was telecast of the sound byte of Kasmir Singh claiming himself as worked as a spy of India in Pakistan. What a low level commitment towards the nation displayed by a spy, if it is so, and a journalist who is supposed to be more responsible than anybody else? It’s not a mistake by chance but a deliberate attempt to stain the image of India in the international forums and sour the Indo-Pak relationship. A deliberate attempt because the journalist who asked such a question shouldn’t have asked because any irresponsible answer would tarnish the image of the nation. And the telecast could have been stopped on any channel by a unanimous decision of the broadcasters. Like the UK ******s decided not to carry any picture of Diana shot by the paparaji photographers when she died of an accident. Even the US media was pressured not to carry the photographers. This indicates the loyalty of Press to the Citizens, their emotion and the Nation at large.

Even in India, news comes on any channel or band of BBC is still considered authentic and news coming on the channel has the best impact world over because of the strictly ethical journalism practiced by its journalists. Most players of the UK Media do practices journalism on ethical lines.

But in India, the journalism practice is going tabloid way. The practitioners are more behind sensationalism and hype creating stuff than the news that would inform and empower people. As the trend of journalism practice goes in India, it’s high time that some kind of controlling system be set to ensure an ethical and responsible journalism in the country.

Maoists’ strike on the Jails and Armouries of Nayagarh town of Orissa state in India on fifteenth of February is the massive attack by the red radicals on Police establishments in the province. They attacked at ten o’clock in the evening and took 3 police stations, a police training school and 2 armouries into their control, looted the arms and ammunitions from the armouries and left with truckload ammunitions. The resistance by police at the time of attack was feeble and the Maoists killed about 15 people including 14 policemen during the attack and loot drama. Although attacking jails and armouries has become a regular practice by the Maoist outfits operating in Orissa, Chhatisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand, Nayagarh incident is the second attack by naxal outfits on government armoury in Orissa. The first occurred on February 6, 2004 when PWG members attacked the Koraput District armoury and looted the arms and ammunitions.

The attack on police stations and armouries in Nayagarh has special importance in compare to any other naxal strike as Nayagarh is very close to state capital being the neighbouring district of Khurda – the district having Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa, as a part of it. What bothers the *****istration and intelligentsia is – if they could attack major establishments in Nayagarh, how far is Bhubaneswar?

The apprehension is backed by logical reasons as State police has nabbed a senior Maoist leader Anna Reddy in Bhubaneswar. As per police sources, the senior red cadre came to the capital city to see his sick fiancée Nanika – a tribal girl of Kalinga Nagar – who was undergoing treatment in the most equipped and sophisticated Kalinga hospital. After the incident, state intelligence admitted the fact that Maoists are also present in the capital city and most of them are operating fro various slums in and around Bhubaneswar. Nayagarh incident would be the display of strength by the Maoists as a reaction to the arrest of their senior cadre Anna Reddy. As per sources, state intelligence department has alerted Jajpur District Police about possibility of Maoist attack to kidnap a Political Leader or Industrialist for freeing Nanika and Anna Reddy.

It’s not only display of strength, in the following crossfire in Gosama forests on the Ganjam – Kandhamal border, Maoist brigade that attacked Police establishments in Nayagarh also proved how they could fool the police force and escape safely. The way Maoists escaped from Gosama forests when they were surrounded by well-armed CRPF battalions from both Ganjam and Kandhamal borders, it’s really a challenge to the CRPF and the state police who are sounding high about their success in dealing with growing Naxalism and Maoist activism in Orissa. In the crossfire between the Maoists and CRPF Jawans, 6 Jawans including a commanding officer lost their lives. Police claimed to have killed at least 20 Maoists but not a single body of a red cadre is recovered to support the claim.

Information revealing Maoist presence in the coastal Orissa and the heartland of proposed Industrial corridor following the arrest of Anna Reddy came as nightmare to the state *****istration and police. Confirmation of Maoist involvement in the anti-TATA movement in Kalinga Nagar precipitated tension in the total industrial complex. Media reports regarding Maoist presence in the forests along the coasts of Orissa worsened the situation. As per the reports and statements given by police officials, Maoists are present in almost all districts and have expanded their area of operation to places close to Bhubaneswar – Cuttack twin city that houses all state *****istrative, police and judicial head quarters. And the fact that worried the state and district *****istration is that Maoists have expanded their movement in the industrial project areas and, in most cases, the anti project movements are steered by the Maoist leadership.

When Anna Reddy’s arrest exposed Maoists link with anti-TATA movement in Kalinga Nagar, the kidnapping of government officials including four Posco officials, who happened to be Korean citizens, and finally state police agreeing to the conditions imposed by the agitators to get the foreign citizens free clearly speaks of some kind of strong support, could be militant support, behind anti-Posco agitators. It’s said that Maoists have an active involvement in the anti-industrialisation movements in Lanjigarh and other parts of western Orissa. Now, many people apprehend that the Maoists would be eyeing upon the public agitation in opposition to the anti-Vedanta University project. If the Maoists come out successful in hijacking the anti Vedanta University movement, the most popular tourist destinations like Konark, Puri and the wild life sanctuary will be in the control of the Maoists. Thank god, any sort of Maoist involvement in the anti-Vedanta University movement is not yet confirmed. But, as the project is planned over more than 6000 acres of multi-crop agricultural land putting the livelihood of more than 1000 families at stake and as discontentment against the university project is growing in the project area, the affected villagers would accept support from any sympathiser who comes with a helping hand to safeguard the livelihood rights of these poor village folks. Since the Maoists enter into such movements as leftist sympathisers, agitating villagers may fall into the Maoist fold without any knowledge of it.

It’s not only illiterate village people fall into the Maoist trap knowingly or unknowingly, but educated youth of the country knowingly join the armed Maoist movement in numbers. Even, people living in the Maoist dominated areas are more committed to the Maoists than the state or central government *****istrative machinery. This is not the case in Orissa only but in all Maoist stronghold states of India.

Naxal movement is a problem in India since the sixties of last century and through the years the movement has spread to most parts of India to gather strength in terms of cadre base and revenue, stage terrorizing events and threat the internal security of the country. The organisations involved in the movement change their name and identity very often to avoid government action and political aggression. Now all such organisations involved in the armed revolution have come together under the banner of CPI-Maoist since September 2004.

These groups have largely expanded their influence area and modern manifestations of naxal movement have gone the international way. Maoist groups involved in armed revolution have established a network with similar revolutionary organizations in Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka under the aegis of the Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organizations of South Asia (CCMPOSA). Moreover, all these South Asian Maoist organizations and parties are also affiliated to international organization Revolutionary Internationalist Movement (RIM) working on Maoist lines of Revolutionary Communism to popularize Maoist ideologies of ‘Revolutionary Socialism’ and ‘seizure of power through agrarian (proletariat) movement’.

In India, Maoist revolutionary groups have a strong hold in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and, now, the red cadres are trying to intensify their activities in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal and other states where they have a feeble presence.

After the merger into CPI (Maoist), Naxalites have consolidated their front organizations into 'Revolutionary Democratic Front' (RDF) to intensify their mass contact and mobilisation programmes. On the other hand, under new banners and fronts, the naxal groups are making regular recruitment of cadres.

Keeping pace with the technological development, Naxalite groups have gone equally hi-tech to face the CRPF and police forces of the states. According to reports, the Maoists have set up specialised technical wings, which employ IT experts on monthly payment, to draw up plans to develop more potent explosives, tap governmental messages and get the latest on techniques on guerrilla warfare. The experts also draw maps of different government establishments and jails, develop technology to prepare dangerous landmines and intercept the wireless messages of police, decode them and pass it on to their red squad. Maoists spend over Rs.2 million on their technical wings. The recent revelation by Union Minister of State for Home affairs Sriprakash Jayswal in the upper hose of parliament regarding over 60 crore rupees being allocated by the Maoist groups in their annual financial plan for procuring arms and explosives has made it clear that Maoist groups have also expanded their resource base to manage up-gradation in terms of technological development and arms and ammunitions.

As huge financial resource is required for survival of naxalite groups with such a vast cadre base and for running the armed movement, the naxal groups have created their own economic zones. They have a better control of the thick dense forests stretching from north Bihar bordering Nepal to north Kerala passing through Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Chhatisgarh, Maharastra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. They have mapped this long strip full of forests and tribal hamlets as the red corridor with the plan to make it the liberated Maoist Zone. They have control over the Teakwood and timber trade in the forests of Vidarbha region in Maharastra and they have almost complete control over the forest produce marketing. Recently, union home minister admitted that the Maoist organizations demand a share from the fund allotted for implementing development programmes in naxal stronghold areas for which nearly 80% of the development programmes remain unimplemented. In most cases no contractor comes forward to work in Maoist affected areas. Besides, they have set a parallel *****istrative system in the tribal dominated pockets of Chhatisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, wherefrom they collect all the taxes from people. Even, they undertake large scale Ganja (Marijuana) cultivation and illegal trading of it to generate revenue. Now, being ambitious to have a greater control over the national economy, the naxals have eyed upon the power plants in Andhra Pradesh, and iron ore mines in Chhatisgarh and Orissa as most of the iron ore mines are easy approachable from their Red Corridor boundaries.

Looking at the aggressive as well as armed activism by the Maoist groups, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh once described Naxalism as the biggest internal security problem. Much before this, on October 14, 2006, Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed her concern over naxal menace and advised the state governments to take it seriously. In order to curb the naxal movement and end the naxal menace in India, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) platoons have been deployed in the naxal affected states. State governments are extended support by the centre to reorganise and upgrade their own police forces in order to equip them to deal with the danger of Naxalism more effectively. *****istrative machinery and political leaders have been reactionary to the Naxalites but less analytical about the reasons responsible for the growth of Naxalism in the poverty stricken states and backward districts of the country. Aggressive and reactionary approach of the government and a revengeful attitude of Maoist outfits result in police attack on naxal camps, combing operation, crossfire and Maoists’ strike on police camps and government establishments. Once police kills or arrest a Maoist cadre, the red cadres soon strike on an important establishment or a police camp and to display their strength. It seems like a feudal fighting between armed red radicals and government’s police force.

Situation in Maoist affected areas have turned like a hell for the tribals and common man. Caught between the Government and Maoist Cadres, common people have been suffering the worst. Cooperating or not cooperating to either police or the Maoists is a risk for these innocent people as suspected both the Police and the Maoists target the ‘informers’!

While the political leadership in Orissa and India as well shows little interest in understanding the real problems and reasons behind growth of Naxalism or Maoism, bureaucrats derive their own definitions and reasons behind the problem sitting in close air-conditioned chambers. While some political leaders see socio-economic problems of people as the reasons behind growing Naxalism, the police point it out as a law and order problem. But more than any other is the existing system of governance that helps the red ultras gather more strength and expand their red corridor in the backward regions of the country.

Major problem in the backward and tribal concentrated districts is that most of the public offices run without required officials, as nobody is interested to work there because of lack of facilities. Even officials who are posted in those districts take long day’s leave and stay, most of the times, in Bhubaneswar to lobby for a transfer. Officials who fail to get transferred try to be away from their place of posting on departmental works. So people who visit the offices for their works never get the officials and keep on running for months together. It’s not only public offices but, even, medicals run without doctors and adequate support staff, and schools run without required number of teachers. Many schools run with no teacher, no school building. This is the very common scenario in the remote backward districts of India.

Situation is no better even when there are officials as the other reality is rampant corruption in all levels of *****istration. Taking advantage of their ignorance and innocence, officials and clerks exploit the poor tribals by demanding bribe money or bribe in kind. Even political leaders from their own community are no exception from the officials when the issues of corruption and exploitation are considered. So even though a tribal has all right for getting certain benefits, he is deprived of those for not having the bribe money.

Even implementation of development programmes goes in wrong ways under the corrupt and disinterested officials. The targeted beneficiaries get no benefit or less benefit than the harassment they face from the contractor or the implementing officials.

Take the case of Muke Madi, a tribal woman of Maranpalli village under Kalimela Block in Malkangiri district. Muke’s husband Kasa Madi was killed by the Naxalites in 2003 as the naxals suspected him to be a police informer. After the ncident, Muke left her husbands home and properties for her parental home where she stayed with her one son and two-daughter family. Not to be a liability on her parents, Muke worked a labourer in National Food for Work (NFFW) programme works. As she didn’t receive any wage for her labour, she went to the official residence of JE to request for an early disbursement of wages. But instead of realising the plight of a tribal widow who lives with lots of problems, the JE attempted to rape her! Muke rushed out of JE’s official residence and told the whole thing to her accompanist tribal ladies and went home without any wage. Muke complained the police about the incident but no action has been initiated till date. Rather the JE tried to force Muke withdraw the case by alluring with some money followed by threatening her to kill, as Muke alleged several times. Still no action by the local Police! Afraid of any nuisance from the JE Muke left her parental home and preferred to go into hiding. Who will ensure Muke live peacefully in her own land? On this backdrop, should the police be surprised if it finds Muke in Maoist Camp?

When governments at the centre and the states are high sounding about different programmes implemented for the development of tribal people living in the forests and most backward areas, Muke’s story says how effectively they are implemented and what benefit the tribal people do really get. What will happen when the implementing officers turn to be exploiters as JE Prasanta Gauda turned to Muke? However, Muke’s story is just a tip of the iceberg. Development projects in backward and forest areas are hardly visible. Money is, mostly, spent in paper. Even today tribals use to cross long pedestrian way in jungles to visit a hospital, the nearest market and any public service office. Basic infrastructure is still a dream in many villages.

Police *****istration in the naxal dominated districts or a block is nothing better than the behaviour of the red radicals. When red radicals do impose their thoughts and wishes on the people, police do act equally as government sponsored terrorising body. Always blaming the government for not upgrading with modern equipment matching the armed Maoists, police do harass common people whenever it gets a chance. In most cases it harass the innocent tribals in the name of naxal supporter, informer or sympathiser. In the recent crossfire and combing operation, number of reports came when police harassed local people suspecting their link with the Maoists. Leave apart the innocent and illiterate tribals, the behaviour of police in general is so rude and inhuman that even educated civilised people living in cities and towns try their level best to keep themselves away from police. Most people do not wish to go to police till it becomes inevitable or essential.

In 2005, this author visited Rayagada - one of the Naxal dominated districts of Orissa. It was around 6 pm that the Reserve Police Battalion in the town had blocked the road by putting a timber on wooden forks. There was no board or anything to indicate why the road was blocked. There was nobody nearby and one of us just went to get someone and ask why the road was blocked. Soon a voice came from the darkness – “don’t touch that, we will go for an encounter”. We were shocked with such behaviour of Orissa Police. In the outskirts and rural places, police terrorise tribals and common people in a similar way instead of providing them security and helping as their protector.

So the total system of governance acts as an alien system ruling over people. Freedom doesn’t mean anything to the poor tribals as the *****istration is never for the people or with the people, rather exploiter of people. Such a system of governance is mainly responsible for growing frustration among downtrodden towards the political and *****istrative system in the country.

The other major issue is wide economic disparity in Indian society. Hardly 10% of country’s population has accumulated 80% of the total wealth where as rest 90% do possess only 20%. But the per capita income index is decided as an average of wealth and income which is hardly true in case of more than 60% Indians living in rural and remote India. Wealth in the hands of 10% has a steady or fast growth as the rich segment basically influences economic policies. On the other side, the economic condition of tribals, peasantry and poor class is continuously deteriorating. The gap between poor and rich is widening fast and breaking the society into two distinct economies. This wide economic disparity is one of the major reasons why urban youth is also getting into naxal fold.

But instead of looking into all these factors, political leadership try to hide all these and emphasize their own views created to draw maximum political gain. When there was uproar in Orissa Assembly on the naxal attack in Nayagarh and Opposition in the house highlighted the socio economic issues prevalent in tribal dominated backward districts, Orissa CM Naveen Pattnaik over-ruled the issues as factor behind growing Naxalism. He placed his decision for strong police action against Maoists as the right decision. But will strong police action end Naxalism in the country? Police would kill 10, 100 or 1000 cadres in a year. But there is an inflow of more numbers into the Maoist fold every year. How it can be rightly combated is by proving their ideology of revolutionary socialism irrelevant in the country. And that can be possible by ensuring a pro-people governance system in the country, a pro-people police that works to ensure law and order and protect people from any strike by evil elements of society, an accountable and committed political leadership and bureaucracy to plan area-wise need-based development programmes and ensure that the benefits of development reach the targeted beneficiaries, creating opportunities for people to earn their livelihood.

It seems, political leaders are more focused on power than issues of people. When we say India is the largest democracy in the world what we (majority of population who live with poverty and misery) are compelled to believe is that India is still ruled by an unruly colonial government run by a few natives. The *****istration and political system must change itself drastically to make India a real democratic nation that is run by people and that cares for people. This would be only way to prove the ideology of revolutionary socialism irrelevant in India and end the Maoist socialist movement.