Orissalinks and all around development of HRD infrastructure in Orissa
September 8th, 2009
In light of some comments in Orissalinks and several efforts that are going around in the Cyberspace, I would like to give a bit of history of Orissalinks that would make our stand clear in terms of promoting all around development of HRD infrastructure in Orissa.
We had several blogs that are precursor to Orissalinks.com. The first two were:
- http://iiser.blogspot.com/ started October 2005: This was about getting NIS to Bhubaneswar which was earlier announced in 2003 by the President of India and HRD minister of India but was omitted when IISERs were proposed.
- http://kbkcentral.blogspot.com/ started October 2005: This was about getting a central university to KBK.
Couple of the blogs after that were:
- http://newiits.blogspot.com/ started December 2005: At that time there were plans to upgrade some existing institutions to an IIT or existing IITs opening branches in other locations. We pursued both.
- http://iits-11thplan.blogspot.com/ started January 2007: After the first three new IITs were announced and Orissa was left out this was to push for an IIT in Orissa.
With the help of Prashant Sahoo, we started this consolidated blog orissalinks.com in Novermber 2006. The first postings of this blog was about KBK Central University. See https://www.orissalinks.com/archives/date/2006/11.
We have been fortunate that the goals of our initial efforts were achieved and we now have NISER, an IIT and a Central University in Orissa.
There were other achievements including helping the UCE Burla students and alumni in their efforts to make UCE Burla an unitary university. The idea was mooted in this blog in October 2007 (see https://www.orissalinks.com/archives/693) and later support was provided by email. See their acknowledgement in their souvenir.
While a lot of our initial focus had been about getting Orissa its fair share, dealing with inequality within Orissa was also a concern from the very beginning. Although we did not frame it in the terms of "inequity within Orissa" our initial postings on KBK University and the kbkcentral blog were about addressing the lack of opportunities in the KBK districts.We continue with several other efforts such as making VSSUT, Burla an IIEST, having a branch of IGNTU in Kandhamal and getting an ESIC medical college to Rourkela.
We also wrote specifically about inequality within Orissa. One of our early post was in April 2007. See https://www.orissalinks.com/archives/100. Since then we have raised this several times and will continue to do so.
But we would like it to be done, at least in this forum, in a respectful way and avoiding divisiveness. I also think that is the most effective way.
Following are some of my suggestions:
- We should not show any hatred towards any region of Orissa. (Sometimes one may not mean that, but the words imply that.) While it is ok to point out that some area, say the Bhubaneswar area, has too many of something as compared to the rest of the state, it is really not helpful to say something like since X will be in the Bhubaneswar area, I would rather not have it in Orissa at all.
- We should not use divisive terminologies.
- Personally I think it is usually better to argue for certain amenities and infrastructure elements in particular metropolitan areas rather than whole regions especially when there are divisive stereotypes about those regional distinctions.
- As described in http://orissa2020.org (in particular http://www.orissa2020.org/home/area-wise-plan ) I think we can initially focus on five tier 2 regions (Rourkela area, Berhampur area, Baragarh-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda area, Balasore-Baripada area and Koraput-Jeypore-Sunabeda area) and five trier 3 A regions (Bhawanipatna, Balangir, Phulbani, Angul and Keonjhar). See the above links for the reasoning behind why these ten are our first choice. Specific mailing lists or yahoo groups on each of them would be useful in interfacing cybercitizens with people phyiscally located in those areas. This will allow organization of some ground level teams and actions when needed.
- While looking out for our own backyard is important, it is more effective if one does not only focus on their own backyard or one is not too obsessed on their own backyard.
- It is more effective to argue for a location of an institute, when another location for it has not been announced. It creates divisiveness when one suggests or campaigns that institute X announced for location L should be moved to location M. A better alternative in that case is to say that a branch of X or something like X should also be in M. That is what we used when campaigning for NIS in Bhubaneswar. We never said that the IISER in Kolkata should be moved to Bhubaneswar. We said that we are happy that Kolkata gets an IISER but we would like Bhubaneswar to have an NIS or an IISER. That way the campaign does not pit people in favor of L against the people in favor of M. The more unified an effort is the better its chances of success. Especially, if one makes enemies or treats others as enemies then it works against their goals. The intelligent and effective approach is to convert others to support or even pursue your goals and not make enemies.
- On the other hand if X is announced for location L and someone from L says that I am from L but I think for these reasons the institute X should be in M, then that is the right spirit. That is what is happening in the ESIC medical college in Rourkela effort.
- There will be cases when several areas are under consideration for a single exclusive institute. At that time we should keep the debate about the location civil and logic based. In such debates people arguing for their own backyard is expected and reasonable, but one must keep in mind that it automatically decreases their credibility in the eyes of the others.
In summary, if we work unitedly for all of Orissa and respect some ground rules (such as the ones above), the chances of success are much higher.
Entry Filed under: Appeal to readers,Odisha Higher Education Vision 2020
13 Writeup
1. saumya | September 8th, 2009 at 6:50 am
Thank you sir so much for all your efforts. You are a true leader.
My best regards.
2. Chitta Baral | September 8th, 2009 at 9:49 am
It would be extremely unfair to refer to it as “my” efforts. There were many people who played very important roles in it. I will not name the individuals here, lest I miss someone. But some of the names can be found by looking at the blog archives.
3. mihir kumar swain | September 8th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Mr Chitta
— Appreciation edited out. Thanks for the appreciation. Chitta —
Last 5 Years I hve been staying at German . My Birth place is Cuttack. But I raised the issue of Rkl not Cuttack.
4. saumya | September 8th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Dear Sir, while appreciating your efforts I did not mean to underestimate other’s contributions. As I am following this blog site regularly I know some of them.
Thank You.
5. Amit Pasayat | September 8th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
This is really a great guidline for all of us, lets think about Orissa as a whole and not localize things.
To me localization in today’s world of globalization is a very mean way of doing things and one will never achieve the really objective.
Thank you.
Amit Pasayat
6. Abhisek | September 8th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I have a different view when Chitta sir says that “It is more effective to argue for a location of an institute, when another location for it has not been announced. It creates divisiveness when one suggests or campaigns that institute X announced for location L should be moved to location M”. In the light of above does this mean the demand for ESIC medical college at Rourkela and NID at Berhampur after they were announced for place X are creating divisiveness? I can’t fully agree with this view. Further, in all cases braches and satellite campuses are not feasible.
But having said that, the one thing that Orissalinks has achieved is, it has linked people of Orissa who have a common cause for development of the state. Though the impact has not been as spectacular in infrastructure like Railways as in the case of higher and technical education yet the last 3-4 years have been the most productive years for the state in terms of educational infrastructure of national level.
But, if a break up is done on the issues raised (basically central institutes) and the success achieved then there are some places which are missing from the picture. In the last two years central institutes have come to the state like never before and yet Koraput is the only place outside state capital to have got one Central University and that is also because another world class University was announced for BHubanesar. Now, this skewded distribution is too glaring to be wished away and this should not be construed that it is creating divisiveness. Logic must prevail over sentiments.
I would say that this platform has got many more tasks before and after ensuring a descent number of Central Institutes in Bhubaneswar, this year must be devoted to the Major Tier-II cities of Orissa (Berhampur, Rourkela and sabalpur) and to ensure atleast some national level institute in each of them over and above what they have. I plead all concerned to support the demand for ESIC Medical college at Rourkela and NID at Berhampur.
7. Chitta Baral | September 8th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
The ESIC is now being laid out (at least in this forum) in a manner without badmouthing Bhubaneswar and making a case about why Rourkela is the right place for ESI Medical college; so much so that people of Bhubaneswar are among its biggest supporter.
The NID for Berhampur campaign so far has not been done that way. That is why my suggestion regarding how to go about it.
I suggested a way to get Bhubaneswar out of the picture without badmouthing it; by suggesting that IIT Bhubaneswar can have a good design program and thus NID will not add anything extra to Bhubaneswar.
My other suggestion is that a good case needs to be made for “Why Berhampur”. This will have two purposes. 1. If the reasons are convincing the Orissa govt. will use it in Delhi where there is still going to be competition among eastern states. 2. It will also help distinguish Berhampur from other possible locations in Orissa.
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Plus one should avoid weak arguments. There is a big difference between a central minister talking to the CM followed by the state govt. putting out a report of that meeting in a state government website http://rc.orissa.gov.in/index3.asp?linkid=30&sublinkid=224 and a journalist saying that a MOS talked to the central minister http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/304. Both happened the same day. I would believe the CM more than the MOS. Making that the centerpiece of an argument is not very useful.
8. Gopal | September 8th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
In a democrasy evry one has got a right to critise bad policies of government and even show dissent and it should not be seen as bad-mouthing. There is an overwhelming consensus that the State Government has not taken initaitives for balanced distribution of educational infra. But, when the gap is already wide, the government policies are aimed at widening it further. So, when the State policies are regressive there is bound to be resistance and criticism of all degrees.
haven’t we heard our leaders in Delhi saying that the Central Governemnt is treating Orissa like a step-mother, Is the state Government is not vocal about central discrimination for petty issues? But at the end of the day when justice is done all these voices melt.
Both the ESIC-Rourkela and NID-Berhampur campaign have started with criticising the capital-centric development policy of the state government but some where down the line this is the bitter reality.
Some time back I posted a similar question when Rajasthan Model was being debated. I again repeat, now when the decisions about institutes are at a preliminary level we don’t warn the government about its implications and when the Institutes are established we start talking about Rjasthan model. Does it not sound contradictory?
So, with due respect to the initaitives started by this forum for the development the State, I request that the public sentiment and just distribution are factored in to think with the same degree of seriousness and dedication as is for the state capital.
9. Chitta Baral | September 8th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Gopal:
The point is how to achieve your goal.
If your approach alienates a large number of people (which you risk if you are not careful in how you say that it should not be in Bhubaneswar) then you are half doomed from the start. Similarly, if your campaign is based on false accusations against the govt. then you lose the sympathy of the government. (The line regarding hijacking of NID from Berhampur seems to me to be a false accusation. The CM has always talked about Bhubaneswar. Compare http://rc.orissa.gov.in/index3.asp?linkid=30&sublinkid=224 vs http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/304 . I am sure you understand the difference between a MOS boasting to a journalist and the accuracy of the minutes that come out in the resident commissioner website.)
My point is there is no reason to shoot yourself in the foot. Campaigns have a much higher chance of success if they are started in a way that they take people with them and there is truth behind allegations.
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I am trying to help in suggesting how not to alienate half the people (by pointing out that the angle you should use is that an NID does not add anything to Bhubaneswar) and how to make the government sympathize with your demand (by helping them make the case in Delhi).
Also the state govt. is batting hard for a IIIT for Berhampur and everyone is supporting that. (In this case also it was recommended for Bhubaneswar.) It is getting delayed because the IIIT documents are not ready at MHRD. All the 20 IIITs will get momentum when MHRD finalizes the IIIT document.
See
http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/1146
http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/2570 .
http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/1515
http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/1450
http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/1242
So it is not obvious that Berhampur is being neglected by the state govt. and Berhampur may soon need the govt. and people fight for it if the center is obstinate about NASSCOM’s original recommendation.
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In summary, while I am in complete agreement that NID should not be in Bhubaneswar, I think when arguing it for another location it has to be done carefully so that you get maximum support.
10. Kaushik Sahu | September 9th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I commend Dr. Baral’s efforts towards consensus building on matters of importance to the state of Orissa. NID in Orissa requires a concerted and combined effort by the stakeholders from the start. Though distributive justice is extremely important, we should not be divided while making a case for Orissa. The basic tenets guiding the National Design Policy are governed by design thinking – a school of thought that can pay rich dividends to any Nation/State/Institute interested in giving prominence to design. Thus establishing an Institute without following the guiding principles may not yield the desired benefits to the future generations. A related link: http://sites.google.com/site/kaushiksahu/Home/design-institute
11. Radhamohan Mohanty | September 9th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Its a very nice effort. Hope your path always see new successes.
12. Trilochan Ojha | September 10th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Dear Chitta Bhai,
All who are using this website for various state issues are really very great.But one thing i would like to suggest we should meet together with the CM in regular intervals so that the impact will be more formidable.
The reason why I am saying like that is, I have e-mail to the CM office a number of time regarding various state issues,like ’employment of outstate people in various steel industries like Bhusan, Jindal, Adhunik etc’ ‘Strengthening of Odisha Road Transport Department’ & ‘Strict Collection Of Taxes from various check gates in Odisha and also to increase the number of check gates’ etc, but never get any answer.So i am very doubtfull that wheather the CM office is checking these mails or not.If it is not possible to meet the CM office at least we can have telephonic conversation inspite of the busy schedule of the CM office.
Should we do this please suggest????????. I desperately want to do something for my state and my Odia people.
13. Chitta Baral | September 10th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Trilochan:
When you email your letters, copy to some journalists and put it in some e-groups so few others can follow up with you. I am part of Agami Orissa, nis-iiser, rourkela forum, focus orissa, etc.. There are others: myodisa, etc.