Tathya.in: ‘Chacha Kalam’ plz listen

Bhubaneswar:8/April/2007

Like any other children in the country child prodigy Budhia Singh has great faith on the President A P J Abdul Kalam.

So on Sunday morning Budhia leaving his daily marathon practice marched to Raj Bhawan to send his missive to his beloved ‘Chacha Kalam’ for a noble cause.

And he has all faith on 'Chacha Prez', said Budhia.

He joined the elite bandwagon of Orissa to seek indulgence of the President of India to use his good offices for the cause of educational and scientific infrastructure of the state.

A five year old slogan shouting Budhia with a placard in his hand demanding an IIT for the state was the star attraction of the Agami Odisha rally, which was organized to draw attention of the callous central leadership.

In a memorandum presented to the Raj Bhawan officials in absence of the Governor, intelligentsias of the state demanded establishment of an IIT in Orissa and up grading UCE Burla to the status of Indian Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology (IIEST).

Agami Odisha, an apolitical platform of eminent scientists, educationists, social activists and people from various walks of life is championing the cause of the state on various developmental issues.

As establishment of an IIT has become an emotive issue for the people of the state, the leading civil society organization took the lead in generating public opinion for a reasonable cause.

While BJD MP Baijayant Panda joining the march criticized the callous attitude of the UPA government, play back singer Prafulla Kar sang a different tune.

Kar blamed the Members of Parliament (MP) from Orissa, who are equally dormant over raising the issue of IIT.

How ever noted environmentalist Nadia Chand Kanungo charged the Centre of “virtually looting” the state in the name of mineral development and demanded a White Paper on the export of minerals from the state during last 15 years, echoing the demand for an IIT.

While thanking the President Dr.Kalam for his initiative to set up a NISER in Orissa the assembly of intelligentsia appealed him to lend his support for an IIT and declaration of UCE, Burla as ITSER.

Announcing the next course of action Agami Odisha President Dhirendra Kumar Ray said on May 15, we will be demonstrating before the Parliament to ventilate our grievances.