By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 18, 2015 :

Constitution of two commissions to inquiry into regional imbalances and farmers’ problems by the Odisha government was nothing but a farce and waste of public money.

The state government had received the reports of both the commissions years back and are still not acting on it on the alibi that the reports are being examined by experts. Nearly one crore rupees have been spent on both the commissions.

Replying to two separate questions by BJP MLA, Dilip Ray, the planning and coordination minister, Usha Devi and agriculture minister, Pradip Maharathi told the Assembly that the reports are being examined by two sub-committees.

Usha Devi in her reply said that a commission headed by Justice S K Mohanty was constituted on February 20, 2004 to conduct free and fair  investigation  into existing  regional imbalances in the development of the state in terms of  different  socio-economic parameters  and to suggest the remedial measures  required to be taken  to address the existing regional disparities  in the development of the state  and to halt this trend.

Though the Commission submitted its report in August 2008, it is not being implemented on the ground that it was ‘under scrutiny’ by a sub-committee constituted by the government comprising of secretaries of 11 departments to scrutinize the report.

“The commission took more than four years to produce the report. But a sub-committee constituted to scrutinize the report has already taken six years, but is still scrutinizing the report.  It speaks volumes about the sincerity of the state government to develop the backward regions,” Ray said.

Justice Mohanty Commission among others had strongly recommended for identification of most backward tribal dominated areas bordering other states  and the prioritize the development needs of these regions, Ray said adding that the state government preferred to keep such an important report in cold storage. “The state government seems not keen for the development of tribals of Sundergarh and western Odisha along with other backward districts”, he lamented.

Similarly, the Farmers Commission headed by former chief secretary, S M Patnaik was set up in January, 2010 and the state government had received the final report in December 2012. But no action has yet been taken again on the pretext that a sub-committee is examining the document. The commission had suggested sweeping recommendations to improve the conditions of farmers in the state.

“By sitting over such an important report, the state government once again proved that it is not committed to farmer’s welfare. The suicide cases by farmers are on the rise and the cultivable land is shrinking. But the state government keeps quiet. It is quiet disgusting,” Ray said.

The former union minister came down heavily on the state government saying that every time an issue crops up or public protest becomes too hot to handle, the government sets up an inquiry commission or a judicial inquiry commission to inquire into the matter to divert the attention of the general public.

“Had the government been little sincere to remove regional imbalances in the state and welfare of farmers, both the Mohanty and Patnaik Commissions’ reports would not have gathered dust for years”, Ray remarked.