Suparno Satapathy, the chairman of Nandini Satpathy Memorial Trust and social activist.
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Bhubaneswar (Orissa): The chairman of Nandini Satpathy Memorial Trust and social activist Suparno Satpathy in a statement said that the Chief Minister should learn proper way to seek Central funds for Orissa.
He also requested the CM not to make any political propaganda over the floods.
It can be noted here that Mr Satpathy is the convener of PMYSA-Orissa under Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
He said that the CM came up with media releases that he had demanded for Rs.1500 crore from Centre and the UPA Government discriminating Orissa due to politics.
Patnaik needs to understand that there is a particular format for any State Government to seek aid grant from the Centre. The advisers of the CM should know that they are talking about the central fund of India and no -one can just pay up on the basis of a press release," he pointed out.
However, I personally feel that the current flood situation in Orissa, does justify to be declared as a national calamity and I in my capacity will put all efforts to advocate for the same.
It would have been a big help for today's devastated Orissa if the said advisers of the CM would have used some time to prepare an accurate assessment report on the damage caused by the floods along with a precise expenditure estimate on rescue, relief, resettlement, instead of whiling time in carefully drafting the much hyped, said media release, he added.
On official front, I have been conveyed by the top officials of the Panchayati Raj department, Govt. of Orissa that the treasury of the state has a surplus amount of Rupees Nineteen Thousand Five Hundred Crores and that the state needs no funds from the Centre.
I remember, it had been published in a vernacular news paper, as an achievement of the current BJD-BJP Govt of Orissa.
So, why the CM not spending out that amount in this grave time of Orissa? Why this hue and cry of UPAs' discrimination? This is only to mislead the public of Orissa. Why are the marooned flood affected people of Orissa suffering and crying for help?
I firmly believe that giving alms is not charity; it only makes beggars out of the needy. Charity is to device a module which the needy or the under privileged can use & improve on their lives.
He appealed to the people of Orissa that instead of begging to the nation each year after a flood devastates us; let’s address the cause once and for all.
Comparing the cost of devastation these floods cause to us, it will cost a negligible amount to create a well designed global standard river management project in Orissa.
He also suggested finding a permanent solution instead of spending large amounts of money each year on rescue and relief operations.
In the name of relief large amounts are spent from the exchequer but the same never reaches its actual beneficiary. You will understand me better if you are connected with the grass roots of Orissa or if you would have gone thru "Everybody loves a good flood".
Wouldn't it be fantastic if the Govt. of Orissa in collaboration with the Govt. of India invests on management of the rivers and management of rural human habitation of Orissa?
This will eliminate or drastically reduce the chances of floods causing damage. Orissa is a unique state where at the same point of time a drought and a flood can be witnessed.
The said proposed river management will secure the future of lakhs of Oriyas and Orissa for the times to come, Satpathy concluded his statement.
