Naveen slams Centre for ignoring Orissa

New Delhi: Slamming the Centre's repeated negligence towards Orissa’s poverty-stricken areas, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said on Sunday that poverty is Orissa's "enemy number one".

Expressing his displeasure on the Centre's allocation of a "paltry" Rs 16 crore for rural electrification in Orissa, Patnaik said the state government was contemplating to have its own programme for rural electrification.

"A new scheme would be announced soon for the purpose," he said. The state government had earlier announced two such schemes, one for the tribal people of the KBK (Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput) region and another for the poor living in the coastal region.

"It is poverty which is the stumbling block before the state's growth," he was quoted by PTI. Patnaik has directed the panchayat functionaries in the state to work for the people with whatever funds are available at the moment. He also asked grass-root level leaders to create awareness in rural areas about the developmental activities undertaken by the state government.

"Tell the villagers how the Congress-led UPA government has been adopting step-motherly attitude towards Orissa," he said adding the people should be aware as to how Congress leaders at the Centre have been "ignoring" Orissa's interest.

Bringing out a list before the rural leaders, Patnaik said the state government's repeated plea for setting up an IIT or an IIM had been ignored by the UPA government. "The rural people should know how the Centre behaves towards Orissa," he said.

To buttress his argument, the BJD supremo said the state's repeated demand for revision of royalty of minerals, including coal, had been ignored by the Central government.

Arjun Confused Naveen on IIT issue: Sambad

CM meets with Arjun Singh on IIT and other issues

It has been widely reported [Times of India, Statesman, Telegraph, Pioneer, New Indian Express, Samaja, Pragativadi, Kalinga Times] that the CM met HRD minister Mr. Arjun Singh on the IIT issue and Mr. Singh promised to consider Orissa for an IIT when the 11th is finalized.

However, Mr. Singh’s promise does not mean much. He has made such promises before during the time when the CM met him for NIS. In fact with respect to IIT Kharagpur’s campus in Bhubaneswar Mr. Singh’s meeting with the CM had been reported on September 29 2006 as follows:

The Chief Minister, Orissa, Shri Naveen Patnaik met the Union Minister for Human Resources development, Shri Arjun Singh today to discuss about the establishment of a campus of IIT, Kharagpur in Orissa. Shri Patnaik stated that the Government of Orissa have offered 300 acres of land next to Bhubaneswar city for setting up the campus and the State Government is fully committed to provide all necessary assistance for the institution. Since Orissa is fast emerging as a hub for industrial activities, an institution of the stature of IIT will provide the much needed boost to the efforts of the Government in providing support to these industries. The Union Minister, Shri Arjun Singh stated that the Central Government is positively inclined for setting up such an institution soon.

Similarly, with respect to KBK Central University Mr. Singh’s meeting with the CM had been reported on October 24 2005 as follows:

Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, Oct. 24. — Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik today urged the Centre to accord approval for a central university in the undivided Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi (KBK) districts, besides expediting setting up the proposed Regional Centre of Studies in Integrated Sciences at Bhubaneswar. These requests were made by the Chief minister during his meeting with the Union Human Resources Development minister Mr Arjun Singh at New Delhi today. Mr Singh sought a formal proposal from the state government for the establishment of a central university in KBK region while appreciating the rationale behind the idea, said an official release.

So we should not get lulled by Mr. Singh saying that he will consider. We need to put pressure on him from all sides to actually grant an IIT for Orissa.

Kalinga Times: Centre will consider IIT for Orissa - Arjun Singh

Centre will consider IIT for Orissa: Arjun Singh

KalingaTimes Correspondent New Delhi: Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh on Tuesday assured Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik that the State's demand for the setting up of an Indian Institute of Technology will be considered while finalising the proposals of his Ministry for the 11th Plan. The Union Minister's assurance came when the Chief Minister met him here on Tuesday. Patnaik urged Singh to set up a new IIT in Orissa stating that the State did not have a single educational institution of national excellence so far. The demand for an IIT in the State had gained strength after the United Progressive Alliance Government recently clarified in Parliament that there was no plan to set up an IIT in the State during the 11th Plan Period. Earlier, Patnaik had also written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his intervention in the matter. Orissa was in need of higher educational institutions to meet its requirement of well-trained professionals in view of the industrial growth taking place in the State in the recent years, Patnaik said. The demand for an IIT continues to be in focus in Orissa with different political parties and other organisations organising dharnas and demonstrations to highlight the issue during the past few days. According to an official release, during his meeting with Singh on Tuesday Patnaik also raised the demand for setting up of an Indian Institute of Management in the State and a Central University in the backward Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput region. Singh, however, did not give any assurance with regard to these demands.

New Indian Express: IIT must for Orissa - Naveen

IIT must for Orissa: Naveen
Wednesday May 16 2007 11:08 IST

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday lodged a strong protest against the Centre�s neglect towards the State in the education sector and flayed its decision not to set up an IIT in Orissa.

Naveen, who met HRD Minister Arjun Singh in this connection in New Delhi, demanded that the Centre should sanction an IIT for the State as it does not have a single institution of national importance.

Other demands included a Central university for the KBK region and an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in the State. Singh promised that the demand for setting up an IIT would be considered while finalising the proposals for his Ministry for the 11th Five-Year Plan.

The Bhubaneswar unit of BJD staged a dharna in front of the Raj Bhawan on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding establishment of an IIT in Orissa.

Criticising the decision of the Centre, president of Bhubaneswar unit of the party Prakash Chandra Bastia alleged that the IIT project was shifted to Andhra Pradesh despite the State Government giving its consent to allot 400 to 500 acres of land.

The proposal of the State Government to have a campus of IIT, Kharagpur, has also been abandoned despite availability of 300 acres of land.

Samaja gives a positive picture on discussion between CM and Mr Arjun Singh

Pioneer: Arjun non-committal on Naveen's IIT demand

Subhasis Mohanty | Bhubaneswar In the wake of a Statewide protest over Centre's decision not to set up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Orissa, Chief Minister Naveen Patanaik on Tuesday met Union Minister of Human Resource Development Arjun Singh in New Delhi.

However, Singh was noncommittal about lending his weight behind the State's demand. Sources said that Singh also refused to meet journalists who sought to know his stand on the Orissa Government's fresh demand for an IIT.

During their meeting, Patnaik reasoned that Orissa does not have a single institution of national excellence and that the people of the State have a long standing demand for establishment of an IIT. However, Singh assured that the demands put forth by the State would be considered while finalising the proposals of his Ministry for the 11th plan.

Patnaik also put forth a demand for setting up a Central University in the KBK region and an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in the State. It may be noted that Patnaik has also sent a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh protesting against the Centre's decision not to set up the institute in Orissa.

Patnaik also met Union Minister for Road Transport,Highways and Shipping TR Baalu and impressed upon him the poor conditions of the National Highways in Orissa. Baalu assured the Chief Minister that extra funds would be allocated to take up urgent repair work on National Highways that connects Keonjhar district. Discussions were also held on the proposed Vijayawada-Ranchi road, which would traverse through 11 Maoists infested districts.

In yet another major development, Patnaik met Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Ram Vilas Paswan and urged him to take steps to revive the Fertiliser Corporation of India Limited plant at Talcher in the first phase. Paswan assured Patnaik that the plant would be revived and necessary advertisements in this regard would be issued shortly.

Telegraph: Naveen calls for IIT cause

Naveen calls for IIT cause

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Bhubaneswar, May 15: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today reiterated his demand of an IIT in the state, even as Biju Yuva Janata Dal members staged a dharna before the Raj Bhavan here. The party was protesting the Centre’s decision to not set up an IIT here but in Andhra Pradesh. Naveen, who met Union HRD minister Arjun Singh at New Delhi today, reiterated his demand. “Orissa does not have a single institution of national excellence and the demand for IIT is a long-standing one,” he said while justifying the demand. Today, activists of BJD’s youth wing staged a dharna before the Raj Bhavan over the IIT issue. President of the youth wing, Ratha Das said successive governments at the Centre have treated the state unfairly. “An IIT would do a world of good to Orissa,” he fumes. Meanwhile, at New Delhi the chief minister urged the HRD minister to bring up Orissa’s demand during the 11th Five Year Plan period. Relying to the CM’s request, Singh assured that the demands put forth, particularly in regard to a new IIT, would be considered while finalising the proposals for the 11th plan. During discussion, the chief minister also put forth demands for establishment of a central university in the backward KBK region and an Indian Institute of Management at Orissa. Last week, Naveen had also written to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, protesting the Centre’s decision to set up three new IITs in other states, while ignoring Orissa’s claim. During the day, the chief minister also met with the Union coal minister, Dasari Narayan Rao, and urged for expeditious allocation of coal blocks on a priority basis to five public sector undertakings.

Statesman: CM takes up IIT plea with Arjun

Statesman News Service

BHUBANESWAR, May 15: Taking up the issue of establishment of an IIT in Orissa with Union HRD minister Mr Arjun Singh in New Delhi today, chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik justified the demand pointing out that the state did not have a single institution of national excellence.
Mr Singh is said to have informed the CM that the matter would be considered while finalising proposals of his ministry for the 11th Plan.

Mr Patnaik also put forth demands for a Central varsity for KBK region and an IIM. At his meeting with Union minister for chemicals and fertilisers Mr Ram Vilas Paswan today, the CM urged for early revival of the FCI plant at Talcher. Congratulating Mr Paswan for his decision to revive the closed fertiliser units under the Central government, including the one located at Talcher, Mr Patnaik wanted the Talcher to be taken up in the first phase.

Mr Paswan said the Centre was fully committed to reviving the Talcher plant and necessary advertisement in this regard will be issued shortly.

The chief minister also discussed the proposed petroleum chemicals and petrochemicals investment region (PCPIR) in Paradip and assured the Union minister that the state government would take all necessary steps to expedite the ground work relating to the PCPIR at Paradeep.

TOI: CM Naveen Patnaik talks to Arjun Singh about an IIT

Orissa to have an IIT: Navin Patnaik
16 May, 2007 l 0127 hrs ISTlPTI

NEW DELHI: Orissa Chief Minister Navin Patnaik on Wednesday asked the Centre to set up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the state as it did not have a single institution of national excellence.

"I met Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh and demanded setting up of an IIT in Orissa as it was a long standing demand of the people of the state," Patnaik said.

He said he had asked Singh to consider setting up an IIT in the coastal state during the 11th Plan period.

The HRD Minister has assured that the demand of the state would be considered while finalising the proposals of his ministry for the current Five Year Plan, he said.

Pragativadi on CM's letter to PM

IIT issue: Navin dashes letter to PM
Bhubaneswar: Close on the heels of the outright rejection of the Centre to set up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Orissa, chief minister Navin Patnaik on Thursday dashed a letter to prime minister Manmohan Singh in this connection.
The letter stated that the recent reply of Union minister of state for human resource development on the floor of the Parliament regarding establishment of IITs in the country has come as a shock to us.
Expressing deep anguish and surprise over the double entendre by the Centre in this connection, Patnaik, in his letter, reminded the prime minister of the announcement made by the Union minister of state for HRD Mohd Fatmi on August 28 last year in Patna that

Orissa was included in the proposal for three green field IITs in the 11th Five Year Plan.

It is indeed painful that this announcement has been reversed by the ministry of HRD for reasons not known to others, he noted.
Patnaik also went on saying that since Orissa has no institute of excellence in higher learning, there was a proposal to open a branch of IIT, Kharagpur, in Bhubaneswar for which the state government had promised land of nearly 300 acres.
It appears that even this proposal has been turned down, he observed.
Referring to his earlier meting with the honourable HRD minister in this connection, the chief minister said that the latter had told him that the case of Orissa can be considered for a full-fledged green field IIT.

The recent decision of government of India to locate the IITs in states which already have the benefit of many Central institutes indicates that objective criteria have not been followed in deciding the locations of the three IITs, he said, and requested the prime minister to include Orissa’s case in the 11^th Five-Year Plan.

It may be mentioned here that the ruling BJP and BJD MPs of Orissa had staged a walkout in the Parliament on Tuesday followed by a sit-in dharna in front of the Parliament on the next day in protest against the statement of Union minister of state for Human Resource Development D Purandeshwari that the Centre has no plans to set up an IIT in Orissa in near future.
They also threatened to take to the streets till the demand of the state is met by the Centre.

More news items on CM writes to PM again

• India eNews
• New Kerala
• New Indian Express
• Kalinga Times
• India Edu news.net
  
• Dharitri
• Samaja
• Sambada
• Pragativadi
  

Orissa not to have a premier IIT institute: state government calls it unfortunate

Orissa not to have a premier IIT institute: state government calls it unfortunate
By Deepak Kumar Mohanty
Delhi

May 11: The people of Orissa have expressed the central government’s decision for not setting up an Indian Institute of Technology IIT in the state as unfortunate. In the parliamentary session, on Tuesday, the Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development, D.Purandeshwari, confirmed that the centre had no plan to set up an IIT in Orissa.

From a long time the people of Orissa have demanded a premier institute but the present UPA government has undermined the state government’s demand and also the will of the people, which can be realized as against democratic set up.

Though the UPA government has approved to set up three new IIT institutes at Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar but it has sideline the same for Orissa state. The fact that despite the state attracting huge amount of foreign investments for its mineral resources has not been helped with proper infrastructure is really unfortunate. Orissa is going to have India’s highest FDI with Korean steel maker POSCO and apart from it Mital Steel has also signed an agreement with the state government. Under these developments, the demand for IIT is unavoidable.

Earlier the state government informed the centre to provide 300 acres land and forwarded a proposal to set up an IIT in the state. Even IIT-Kharagpur has made a proposal for setting up an extensive campus in Bhubaneswar. The centre did earlier approve the proposal but the present government has ruled it out. The BJD-BJP coalition government in the state and the people of Orissa see it as ignorance on the part of central government.

The BJD and BJP MPs have already shown their dissatisfaction inside and outside parliament. Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, has also written a letter to the Prime Minister in this regard.

The Biju Janata Dal in the state is trying to provide for the positive results in future as far as vote bank is concerned. The Congress Party’s position is really worse in the state; and such ignorance can further weaken its position in the state.

Statesman: Naveen's missive to PM on IIT

IIT ~ Naveen’s missive to PM

Statesman News Service

BHUBANESWAR, May 10: “The recent reply of Union minister of state for human resource development on the floor of the Parliament regarding establishment of IITs in the country has come as a shock to us,” said chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik in his letter to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today.

Carrying forward the protest of BJD-BJP MPs in New Delhi and their walkout over the issue in parliament, CM today wrote to the Prime Minister iterating the demand for an IIT in the state. The BJP, on its part, staged a protest dharna in front of Raj Bhavan here today and some of their leaders said they would continue to agitate till the demand was met.
Union minister of state for HRD Mr MM Fatmi as recently as on 28 August 2006 had mentioned in Patna that Orissa was included in the proposal for three green field IITs in the 11th Five Year Plan. It is indeed painful that this has been reversed by the ministry of HRD for reasons not known to others, noted Mr Patnaik in his letter.

Orissa does not have any institute of excellence in higher learning. There was a proposal to open a branch of IIT, Kharagpur, in Bhubaneswar for which government of Orissa had promised land of nearly 300 acres. It appears that even this proposal has been turned down.

“When I met the honourable minister of HRD in this connection, he had indicated to me that the case of Orissa can be considered for a full-fledged green field IIT. The recent decision of government of India to locate the IITs in states which already have the benefit of many Central institutes indicates that objective criteria have not been followed in deciding the locations of the 3 IITs. Mr Patnaik implored the PM to include Orissa’s case in the 11th Five Year Plan.

CM upset on the IIT issue: various news

• Sambada
• Dharitri: 1,2
  

Tathya.in: Rejection enrages Naveen

Bhubaneswar:9/May/2007
It seems Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has not taken kindly the decision of the Central government in ruling out to set up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Orissa.

Minister of State for Human Resource Development (HRD) Mrs. D Purandeshwari’s statement on the floor of the Lok Sabha on May 8, reportedly has enraged Naveen, said sources.

That is why CM has decided to once again raise the issue of IIT with the Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh.

A source in CMO told tathya.in that Naveen has sought an appointment with Mr.Singh in the next week.

CM is visiting New Delhi on May 13. During the meeting he will raise the issue of IIT and a Central University in KBK, said sources.

Out right rejection of the Orissa’s proposal for an IIT has not only enraged CM but also the people of Orissa have reacted sharply.

Large section of Non Resident Oriya (NRO) has raised their voice against the discrimination of Orissa by the Central Government.

Charting out details of investment by HRD Ministry in the country,leading NRO Chitta Baral of Arizona State University has brought home a point that Orissa remains in the lowest spot so far funding is concerned.

The statistics shows that the HRD Ministry was scheduled to spend Rs 4.07 on fully funded HRD institutions (like IITs, IIMs, etc.) per person in Orissa, while it will spend Rs 183.08 in Delhi, Rs 41.20 in West Bengal, Rs 33.4 in Karnataka, Rs 27 in Tamil Nadu, Rs 28.38 in Maharastra, Rs 17.73 in UP, Rs 16.05 in Andhra, Rs 33.27 in Punjab, Rs 8.13 in Haryana, Rs 7.90 in Kerala, Rs 9.02 in MP, Rs 4.87 in Gujurat, Rs 2.59 in Rajasthan, and Rs 1.87 in Bihar.

In other words Bihar, Rajasthan and Orissa were at the bottom of per-capita spending by the HRD Ministry in its fully funded higher education institutions, he said.

Professor Baral said that an IIT will go a long way to provide high quality technical expertise to the rapidly industrialized Orissa for which CM must take up the issue at Central government level.

Dhirendra Kar, Vice President of Orissa Society of Americas (OSA), who is equally vociferous over the issue of IIT has lauded the efforts of our Members of Parliament (MP)s and requested them to carry out sustained campaign for the demand.

Mr.Kar has also criticized Union HRD Minister Mr.Singh’s double standard. While on one hand he is following the policy of appeasement on political grounds on the other he sermons the maxim of equitability in investment by HRD Ministry across India.

Pragativadi: CM to meet PM on the IIT issue (and other issues) on April 19th.

Navin to meet PM
Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Navin Patnaik is scheduled to meet prime minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on April 19.
Patnaik, during his tour to the national capital, would discuss a host of issues with Singh pertaining to the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Bidyutkaran Yojana, hike in coal royalty and establishment of IIT in the state.
The appointment of the chief minister with Singh has been finalized, official sources said here on Tuesday.

CM explains the requirement of IIT and IIM in Orissa to the planning commission: Sambad

CM spoke to the Planning Commission deputy chairman about the need of IIT and IIM in Orissa

Plan pegged at 5105 cr
OUR CORRESPONDENT

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 23: The plan size for Orissa for 2007-08 was pegged at Rs 5,105 crore at the end of discussions between chief minister Naveen Patnaik and the Planning Commission deputy chairman in Delhi this evening.

The annual plan outlay for the coming financial year is 46 per cent higher than the current fiscal, said an official release issued by the chief minister’s office here.

Discussions were also held regarding the size of the 11th plan (2007-12). It was, however, decided that the plan size would be finalised after “further deliberations” within a couple of months.

Addressing the meeting with Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Patnaik said less-developed states like Orissa should get “greater support and higher flow of liberal assistance” from the Centre, primarily of non-debt creating nature.

The chief minister urged Delhi to provide greater assistance for development of infrastructure such as roads, irrigation projects and ports. He also stressed the need for expeditious release of fiscal incentive grants to Orissa for its “excellent performance in reducing revenue deficit”.

Patnaik reiterated the demand for increase of special central assistance for the undivided Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi (KBK) region to Rs 500 crore per annum. He urged the plan panel official to extend concessions in central excise, income-tax and other incentives for promotion of industries in KBK on a par with some of the other backward regions of the country.

Patnaik said the Centre should redefine the criteria for according special category status to a state and treat Orissa as such.

The other major demands put forth by the chief minister included timely revision of royalty rates for major minerals on ad valorem basis, compensation of power generating states like Orissa for environmental degradation and displacement of people.

He also urged Delhi to address “inequalities” between the power producing and consuming states.

On the education front, Patnaik spoke about the need for setting up an IIT and an IIM in Orissa.

Orissa TV: Center’s decision unfortunate - Naveen

Perhaps due to the elections the visit of HRD secretary, his confirmation regarding the IIT not being in Orissa and the CM's comment had gotten lost. Following is a news report from Orissa TV. It also has a video clip on the issue.

Bhubaneswar
Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Center’s decision unfortunate: Naveen
[ Click here for Video ]

Bhubaneswar: People of Orissa came to know on 6th February that the Centre had belied its promise to set up an IIT in the state. On that day the secretary of HRD ministry confirmed that there was no plan of the union government to set up the IIT in Orissa. Various organizations have decided to launch agitation against the decision of the Union government. Congress, the main opposition party has said that the demand of state to have an IIT is genuine. However, it has blamed the style of functioning of the state government for such failure. Though many aspects depend on the style of presenting a demand before the center, the Chief Minister is clear on this issue. Time and again the state government has put its demand for IIT. And all the times the Centre has rejected with some plea or the other. It is expected that at least for the sake of state’s interest, all political parties should stand united.