Kashmir has abundant natural resources which can immensely benefit economic stability and communal peace in the State

 Kashmir has abundant natural resources which can immensely benefit economic stability and communal peace in the State

The socio-cultural fabric of Kashmir was built over the Hindu-Sufi culture. In this peaceful backdrop grew a sustainable economic development model which provided Kashmiris, both life and livelihood. However, the long unrest in the valley, fomented by Pakistan, and India’s inability to nip the problem in the bud, have made its people suffer. The Himalayan State still preserves a vibrant natural economy which can generate employment and help restore peace in the region.

A majority of people in the valley want education and employment for their children. A composite culture with social harmony always creates jobs, generates surplus family income, creates economic assets and enhances the happiness level of people. April, which is the tourist season, the valley is abuzz with small economic activities. Tourism, horticulture, handicraft and agriculture are the mainstay of Kashmir’s economy.

However, the entry of mill-made shawls and carpets has posed serious threat to the rich hand-made carpets in Kashmir. Many tourists end up buying mill-made carpet or shawl which is sold in the name of Kashmiri handicraft. Many traditional carpet weavers and papier mâché artisans have switched over to other jobs as they found it difficult to sell their products in the market which is flooded with cheap factory items.

However, a transparent marketing facility can help the young generation continue with its family traditions. Kashmir has a vibrant horticulture sector, with a wide range of fruits being cultivated. Germany buys acrot to extract omega-3, which is sold at a high cost world over. The rare saffron grows in the valley. Kashmiri farmers grow a wide variety of walnut, apricot, almond, anjeer, apple, grapes, cherries, peaches, variety of spices and medicinal plants.

“Horticulture sector in Kashmir has a huge potential to generate employment”, says Mustaq Ahmed, who worked in the State agriculture department for a long time. A transparent marketing facility, dedicated agriculture research, authentic documentation of the rich biodiversity, public awareness to protect and preserve native fruits, food grains and vegetables can create employment opportunities.

Over the years, many rare native varieties of fruits and foodgrains have disappeared. Rice varieties such as muskbudit, kamath and zag have become extinct. Though their yield is less, they are a rare variety with high demand in the market. Amber apple, which was known for its exotic taste and fragrance, has become extinct. Re-weaving the natural sector is the biggest challenge for the State Government.

The State’s tourism potential still remains untapped. The Dal lake is like the soul of tourism. Unfortunately, the lake has lost much of its grace. The lake was used as a backdrop for many Hindi romantic songs in the 1960s and 1970s, but has now become a pale shadow of itself.

The lake is surrounded with aquatic plants, but it still attracts a large number of tourists. It is shrouded with interesting history, myths and mysteries. As per mythology, the sage Kashyap had scooped out the Kashmir valley from the Dal lake which once covered the entire valley. The peace of the 1960s and 1970s had let Shikara operators earn good income. Today, many of the Shikaras have grown old and need furnishing.

Come April, the snow on the mountains melts. There are multiple colours of nature in May when white snow covers the mountain tops and the slopes turn green. There are enough green pastures for the bukriwala community. Tourists roam around eating, drinking and relaxing in the valley. Tourist operators, taxi owners, horse owners, restaurants, the artisan community, handicraft traders, street vendors, tourist guides, hotels and fruit vendors earn from the tourist season.

Magnificent mosques, durgahs, Buddhist monasteries and ancient Hindu Shiva temples are strewn all over the valley. These places can attract a large number of pilgrims if peace prevails.

Shabir, a tourist guide said, “The tourism sector can generate huge revenue if it is properly organised. There is need for more trained guides.” Besides, the three ferquently visited tourist destinations — Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam, which are the enchanting places in Kashmir are kept away from tourist itinerary.

Nature has blessed Kashmir with a vibrant natural sector which can bring peace and prosperity to the valley. Pakistan, instead of sponsoring terrorism, should learn how to engage its people back home in economic activities.

Sports can reweave socio-economic fabric in rural India

 The recent farmers’ agitation to repeal the three agriculture reform Acts has brought focus to the villages again. The agitating farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and other parts of India gather at the Delhi border and protest against these Acts. The four-week-long protest amid the December chill has witnessed the death of nearly 45 farmers; a Sikh religious leader shot himself dead to show his solidarity with the farmers’ cause. The Supreme Court has advised the Union government to keep the Acts on hold. The farmers feel the Acts would deprive them of farming activities and their ancestral land. The Modi government says the Acts will increase the farmers’ income many folds and protect them from unscrupulous traders and middlemen. In fact, more than the Acts and the Minimum Support Price, the farmers need a healthy social and cultural life to keep their enthusiasm high in order to increase farm productivity.

Sports activities in rural areas can create a healthy socio-cultural life, bring unity among villagers to increase their joint bargaining power. It will prevent large scale migration and make Indian village an attractive place to live in. Every Indian village once had a community pond; the ponds still exist in many villages but many of those ponds are in dilapidated condition. Those community ponds can be revived so that the village youth can use them to develop swimming skills. India is yet to win an Olympic medal in the swimming competition in spite of having 2.02 million sq k.m of exclusive economic zones, 1.91 lakh k.m of rivers and canals, 3.15 million ha of reservoirs, and 1.24 million ha of brackish water.

Indian villages can serve as the launch pads for the young wrestlers who can hone their skills before they reach professional coaching centers in the cities. Villages of Adilabad district in Telangana on the Maharashtra border has produced many wrestlers who have won medals in a national-level wrestling competition. Similarly, wrestling is popular in many villages of Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Odisha; the majority of young wrestlers in fact get little scope to undergo professional training. Many of them give up their wrestling careers halfway due to a lack of finance and proper coaching facility. Though the wrestling tradition in India finds its mention in the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, India has long forgotten this tradition. Out of 135 crore people, only one person, Sushil Kumar of India has won the Olympic medals in the wrestling competition.

The majority of the athlete who hogged the Olympic games belonged to villages. When Indian cities shrink at a rapid pace due to population pressure, it is necessary to develop sports infrastructure in villages for individual sports like swimming, wrestling, javelin, high jump, walkathon, short put, weight lifting, running, boxing and archery, etc., which will not only keep the villagers healthy but sports culture will inculcate discipline among people. It will indirectly generate employment and revenue; the sports talents may fetch Olympic medals with foreign currency. Let the present farmers’ agitation end on a happy note.

Need of Human Act to solve Farmers' problems

 The Union Government has brought three Agriculture Reform Acts stating it would make agriculture profitable for farmers. First, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 prohibits the state governments to levy market fee, cess or levy on farmer produce. Second, the Farmers Agreement Ordinance will facilitate contract farming through an agreement between a farmer and a buyer prior to the production or rearing of any farm produce.

Third, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 allows the central government to regulate the supply of certain food items only under extraordinary circumstances such as war and famine. These three Acts have triggered nationwide protests as farmers think the Acts would pave the way for the corporates, rich and influential people to snatch away farming activities from farmers.

Over the decades, the entire farming community suffered a loss due to corruption and mismanagement in APMCs. In the state governments run APMCs, the agents compelled farmers to sell their produce at throwaway prices. As a result, the traders and middlemen thrived at the cost of farmers and consumers. But, without the tacit involvement of the state politicians, the APMCs could not have exploited the farmers. If the new Acts are repelled what are the ways out to protect the farmers’ interest?

Over 6630 APMCs across the country though have not paid the profit margin the farmers always deserved, those APMCs let the farmers survive by at least buying their products in time. The Minimum Support Price provided by the government had let farming activities survive amid adverse situations like unprecedented rain, flood, cyclone, water scarcity, loss of crop diversity, scarcity of farm labourers amid highly polluted village politics etc.

Had the state politicians run the APMCs in a transparent manner, protected village water bodies, crop diversity and healthy socio-cultural life there would not have been any need for new farm laws. The new Agriculture Reform Act though aims to remove all kinds of levy, cess and market fee on farmers’ produce, it may not let farmers reap the benefit due to mass illiteracy, backwardness, lack of joint bargaining power and village politics.

The new Act will bring contract farming which has already been implemented before in some pockets and has not yielded many benefits to the farmers. Alphonso mango farmers of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg of Maharashtra give their mango gardens to contractors and receive very less profit as they have little capacity to sell the mango on their own. Contract farming has not been a very successful model in the country due to the influence of powerful traders with legal backup.

The RSS’ affiliate, the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM) has recently suggested that the government should make purchases of agriculture produce below MSP illegal. This is a welcome move by SJM in view of the vulnerable condition of the 86% of the small and marginal farmers.

But MSP which aimed to help genuine farmers also attracted unscrupulous elements who sold substandard stuff to the government procurement centres. In fact, all good things end in fiasco due to the lack of a good number of honest and efficient people in the system. This is high time to build quality human resources from school level who can address any human and economic issues in the country.

Banks can lend to sports sector

 Over the years, Indian banking fraternity has developed various loan products for students pursuing careers in engineering, medical and other professions. But for sports careers, the banks have not developed any exclusive loan products which could help sportsmen shape their career. Cricket, football, badminton, tennis, athletics, gymnastic, shooting, wrestling, archery, swimming and boxing etc offer very good sports careers as those sports are already linked to global sports events.

Many promising Indian sportsmen wither in the bud due to lack of finance which prevents them from pursuing sports careers.  Samrudh Rathore, India’s under 16 badminton champion from Pune had to leave his sports career at the age of 20 due to lack of sponsorship and proper guidance. “I could not continue due to heavy expenditure in the badminton game,” said Samrudh, “lack of sponsorship compelled me to choose a career as a chartered accountant.” Here banks can step in to evolve loan products exclusively for sportsmen. The loan can be given to sportsmen for buying sports equipment and for participating in national and international tournaments; bank loans also can be given to independent coaches for starting coaching centres. “Government should subsidize the badminton complex in order to create inclusive opportunities for all,” said Vinod Warfare, a veteran coach from Pune, “ badminton rackets and feather shuttles should be available at an affordable cost.” There are many retired sportsmen willing to start their own coaching centres if they get financial support.  Corona pandemic has made people health conscious and people world over have become more interested in sports activities to develop a strong immune system. Nobody knows when the pandemic will take an exit; even if it goes, one can’t rule out another virus attack in future in the world where greed and evil have eroded finer human emotions like love, sympathy and fellow feelings. India should be in readiness to face pandemic type situation

The government can provide interest subsidy on loan amount so that the sportsmen can get loans at an easy interest not exceeding 4% p.a, exactly like the agriculture crop loan which is highly incentivized. Farmers in Andhra and Telangana used to get crop loans at 0% interest as the state government had provided interest subvention to cover the interest portion of 4% after the Union government shared the interest subvention portion of 5%. The RBI can issue guidelines to banks for providing hassle-free loans to sportsmen across the country.

Today banks are overloaded with deposits and the loans from banks are not going out due to the corona crisis and global financial sector slowdown; in these circumstances, banks desperately need diversification of its loan portfolio. Financing sportsmen can be a business proposition if both state and central government create the right environment for sports activities. Natural sports infrastructures like playgrounds, open space, rivers, lakes and ponds etc. can be used for developing sports talents. If genuine talents are identified, nurtured and provided with proper infrastructure, coaching and timely finance there is every possibility of their excelling in the international competition and earning foreign currency for the country.

Live, play and stay together to build a strong India

 The first anniversary of the landmark “Fit India Movement” was celebrated across the country online to make India a fit nation with people’s participation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shared important tips which can enhance the quality of life in India. The Prime Minister has advised families to live, play and stay together; eat drumstick for multiple health benefits; reduce screen time to spend on fitness and consume haldi to boost immunity. Being a fitness and yoga enthusiast, Prime Minister Modi said fitness knows no age and everybody should spend some time to keep himself fit.  The prime minister visualizes a strong and prosperous country with fit people who can face any challenge head-on.

The Prime Minister has emphasized the need for a joint family system where the members can live, eat and play together. India takes pride in a joint family system which had once taken care of the emotional and physical wellbeing of each member in the family. It took care of the security and safety of the old members in the family and the old members happily passed on their experience and wisdom to the young generation. Over decades the joint family system has broken away due to various spiritual, social and economic reasons; large numbers of youths have migrated to cities for employment leaving behind their old family members in villages and small towns.  As the present economic policy aims to create sustainable employment in rural areas and small towns through skill development, infrastructure development and agriculture development, the joint family system is expected to come back again. To live, play and stay together is part of the Indian culture which is being emulated by the western people to seek real happiness. In fact, the objective of every economic model is to increase the happiness level of people.

The Prime Minister has asked people to take drumsticks which have multiple health benefits. Every part of the drumstick tree is used either for making medicines or for preparation of food items. Both drumsticks and its leaves are rich with iron. There are hundreds of native plants, shrubs and herbs which can be protected to meet the nutrition needs of people. Indians apply tamarind leave the paste to get relief from pain from any external injury; they use tamarind to make multiple recipes and for preparing ayurvedic medicines.  A Nim and bel tree in the neighbourhood is real health boosters. Nim tree leaves have immense medicinal value and its termite-resistant wood were once used for building houses.  People eat nim tree flowers to enhance their immune system against chickenpox. The Indian bel tree (Aegle marmelos) or wood apple works like amount in the human body; the aromatic and sweet fruit and the bel tree leaves help strengthen the digestive system and it is used for making juice and sorbet. Bel is eaten to cure peptic ulcers and it helps clean the intestines. The native bel tree is a gift from God to all Indians. Its leaves are given to Lord Shiva as an offering. Every village should have bel, nim, mango and tamarind trees in its vicinity.

There are hundreds of native trees, shrubs and herbs whose medicinal values are well documented in our ancient scriptures and our villagers know it well.

Sanskrit scholars from Germany dedicatedly translate ancient Sanskrit scriptures which help their scientists and pharma companies to get the clue for extracting medicines from plants.  In fact, India is sitting on a treasure trove of plant knowledge which can be explored if children learn about the neighbourhood plants from their school days.  The New Education Policy also aims to impart environmental knowledge to children which will create a climate for harnessing India’s untapped potential.

India can groom good Sanskrit scholars who can decipher the ancient knowledge which still remain hidden in our scriptures, temple walls and palm-leaf documents of the maths and the Buddhist monasteries.  A nation-wide awareness campaign to protect and preserve the native plants will not only boost people’s immune system but will drastically reduce hunger and malnutrition from the country.

The most important message the Prime Minister has given to people is “reduce screen time to spend on fitness.” Today millions of children, youth, adults and old across the country are glued to various screens: smartphones, mobile phones, TV, computers, tabs and other electronic devices. The majority of those people waste valuable time and they develop sedentary habits which adversely affect their mental and physical growth. They lose productivity hours, become jittery and develop aggressive nature which ends up in murder or suicide.

Over decades, the RSS has contributed immensely to build the physical fitness of millions of youth from lower and middle-class families across the country through no cost indigenous games like kabaddi, kho kho, Bagh Bakri and Niyudha etc. RSS has let survive hundreds of no cost indigenous games which were played to build courage, stamina, concentration and tact. Those games once contributed to groom strong warriors, kings and emperors who defended the country from foreign aggression. The NDA government’s biggest achievement is that it has popularized the game kabaddi which has immense potential to develop courage, strength and tact among the youth. This is time for the youth in cities, small towns and villages to once again take interest in indigenous games; in the same time the elders should develop community playgrounds and organize indigenous sports meet for the youth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s messages are not only important for India but for the entire world.

Quality education is key to a strong Bharat

 Quality Research and Development always strengthens the backbone of a country. India has ignored this important aspect over so many decades. As a result, India continued to export raw materials and imported finished goods at a very high cost. China still accounts for 14% of India’s import worth $ 48.66 billion in 2019-20; the import from China was $ 63 billion in 2017-18. India is the second-largest arms importer in the world during 2015-19; nearly 70% of our defence hard wares needs are met by foreign countries. India helplessly imports 80% of its medical devices from the US, Germany, China, and Singapore. Interestingly, India even buys simple items like toys, by cycles, pressure cookers, clocks, watches, furniture, sports goods, fertilizers, dandia sticks, decorative Diwali lights,, and hundreds of ordinary utility and decorative items from China. The majority of our manufacturers survive on trading Chinese products or assembling the imported parts. The point is why India has lost its capacity to produce even simple daily use items that could beat the Chinese products in terms of price and look in our domestic market?

The progressive decline of the Indian manufacturing sector attributes to India’s lack of self-belief, poor research and innovation, and above all a stereotype education system. Besides, lack of inclusive opportunities for talented youth, decades-long corruption, lethargy and mismanagement etc has pushed India far below among the Asian innovators.  “Our youngsters have not done much impactful research work despite being equal to their counterparts in intellect and energy in western universities,” said IT Czar, Mr Narayan Murthy. A top World Bank official points out, a large proportion of Indian companies do not have the policy and resource capabilities to invest in innovation. Our industries in spite of taking so much from the country have not delivered a few high-end products to capture the global market. The much-quoted statement of Mr Narayan Murthy raises an alarm bell. He said, “there is not a single invention from India in the last 60 years that becomes a household name globally. India had not produced any idea that led to the earth-shaking invention to delight global citizens.”

It’s true that people in ancient and medieval India had achieved remarkable success in Ayurveda, surgery, astrology, physics, mathematics, metallurgy, lifting water from ground level to hilltops and technique to relay voice message etc. They produced the widest range of utility and decorative items from bio-degradable materials; and made the finest silk and cotton for the global market. India shared 22.6% of the world income till 1700 AD and this phenomenal growth attribute to India’s immense creativity. India’s share has shrunk to 3.8% in 1952; and India became the poorest country in terms of per capita income due to the British education system which systematically eroded Indians’ self-belief, creativity, and imaginative skill. Even after independence, India continued to live on borrowed ideas, technology and wasted massive amounts on unsustainable infrastructure projects. For example, hundreds of hydro-electric projects, built on hill slopes of Uttarakhand collapsed in the 2013 flood, mainly due to poor environmental appraisal.

According to the UNESCO, India has 366 Research and Development personnel per million population, compared to 1366 in Brazil, 2358 in China and 6995 in Germany. A recent study found innovation in India continues to be plagued by the quality shortfall in human capital, and less than required investment and infrastructure in research and development. India’s expenditure on R & D remained static at 0.77% of GDP for the last three decades.

Lux Research suggests, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand will continue to lay the necessary groundwork to be the next global innovation hotspot, with clear potential to be the world’s next unicorn haven. China alone had filed 1.6 million patent applications in 2018, a 24% rise over the previous decade. India’s performance in the area of patenting products is very low.

In view of the mindboggling innovation in the field of Artificial Intelligence, India has set up a Task Force which had recommended strategy for AI progress. “India is too late in putting its act together,’ reportedly said Ameer Shahul, Senior Executive of IBM, while pointing out the lack of vision and strategy in the Task Force’s recommendations, Mr Shahul added the Task Force members who are made up of academicians and bureaucrats lack industry experience and have failed to draw inputs from all stakeholders like investors, startups and leading companies in AI research. China, South Korea, and Singapore are far ahead of India in the field of artificial intelligence which will be extensively used in every field of human activities.

India will establish the National Research Foundation (NRF) to create a favourable climate for research and innovation in the country. The New Education Policy which is launched after 34 years also aims to make India the global knowledge superpower by inculcating 21st-century skill, mathematical ability,, and scientific temper among students. The NEP aims to preserve the indigenous knowledge, skill, and techniques that were enshrined in the Indian way of life for centuries. But, the success of the reform needs dedicated monitoring and the active participation of genuine experts.

Time to strengthen survey, research and innovation

 It’s an irony that India despite having so many vibrant economic sectors, immense natural and human capital, still struggles to become a developed nation. This has happened because the nation has ignored the ways to prosperity: authentic survey, research, and innovation.

Over the decades, our Industrialists have not contributed much to invent high-end products for the global market despite receiving so much of sops from the government.  India has been exporting precious raw material and importing value-added products from other countries. From 2014 to 2020, the ore and mineral export from India averaged 17.99 INR billion. According to a top World Bank official, a large portion of the Indian companies just doesn’t have the policy or resource capabilities to invest in innovation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independent day speech rightly said India should make for the world which would be possible if our education system becomes strong right from the primary schools.

In fact, India has a long way to go in order to finetune its education system. As per the 2011 census, only 8.15% of Indians are graduates; out of which a small percentage of graduates are employable. A large number of meritorious students go abroad to study in the USA, Germany, and Australia for career progress and for better living standards. For the last three decades, India has spent a meagre 0.7% of its GDP on research and development. India has 366 researchers per one million people while China has 6995 researchers per one million population. The World Bank Knowledge Department report puts India at 120th position among 145 countries in knowledge index ranking.

The Indian IT and its allied sectors hired nearly 4.36 million employees and earned revenue around the US $ 191 billion in 2019-20; the revenue gain is estimated to reach the US $ 350 billion by 2025.  But, the revenue has not boosted the innovation in the field of Artificial Intelligence, robotics, blockchain technology and autonomous IT, etc. The AI is going to play an important role in governance mechanisms as well as in future warfare. AI can crash fighter planes, sink warships, change missile’s direction, breach the bank servers and jam computer network. The NITI Ayog has announced a National level program to transform India by mainstreaming Artificial Intelligence. The Ayog has to work hard to know the ground reality; the researchers need an advanced lab, guidance, and quality life to choose the drudgery of a research career.

Nature has blessed India with a vibrant forestry sector.  Adventure tourism, wildlife tourism, medicinal herbs, timber, hundreds of minor forest products, tribal skills, and creativity can be tapped after proper survey. Mindless interventions and over-exploitation of forest resources have blurred the employment opportunities.  Over the decades, the tribal with their skill and imagination add high value to metal, bamboo, wood, clay and tree fibres, etc. City smart artists plagiarize their folk art and music. The tribal do not own the intellectual rights nor do they get the profit they deserve.

India has a very vibrant pilgrim and tourism sector due to its rich cultural past. Over the decades, India has wantonly destroyed the natural beauty of those places. Construction of dams, hydro-electric projects, housing complexes, hotels, and restaurants, etc have not only distorted the natural beauty but made those places vulnerable to natural calamity. The 2013 Uttarakhand flood which killed more than 10000 people and destroyed property worth thousands of crores of rupees was man-made.  The loss was bigger than the revenue gained from various infrastructure projects.

Lack of authentic survey and research has created abysmal ignorance about the nutrition value and the export potential of many native crops, plants, herbs, shrubs, animals, birds, and fish; this results in the disappearance of a large number of species. Many foreign species have been introduced in India without examining its adaptability.  Rice, maize, and wheat constitute 50% of the human food chain in the world. India while commercializing those crops, lost much of its crop diversity. The farmers’ suicides in Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh attribute to crop diversity loss.

Dedicated research and survey finetune the governance mechanism; it ultimately generates revenue and improves the quality of life. For example, proper allocation of trains on the basis of a dedicated potential survey, efficient HR management, political non-interference, timely VRS offer to excess staff, and honest people at the helm could have channeled the railway potential into business proposition. Political bravery lies in making public sector strong by inducting unbiased dynamic leadership in it instead of merging one with another and disinvesting it.

IT-enabled governance could have reduced NPA and frauds in banks and insurance sector curbed middlemen from the supply chains, imparted quality education to children through video conferencing, and improved the health sector, etc. Today, a person after buying a LIC policy from one branch cannot receive the maturity amount from another LIC branch due to a lack of core connectivity. He has to approach the original issuing LIC branch for the maturity amount. Similarly, a person after paying lifetime road tax in one state pays lifetime road tax in another state again if he shifts his vehicle there. If he is transferred five times in his tenure, he has to pay lifetime road tax five times in five different states. Dedicated research, survey, and innovation help the government understand the strengths and weaknesses of the country.

Time to change the economic thinking

 The virus SARS – COV-2, which causes disease, KOVID – 19 have so far taken 1.92 million lives and infected more than 90 million people across the world. And the infection has spread to nearly 170 countries; it has created poverty, unemployment and unrest in many countries. Over the decades, the world has witnessed a series of pandemics of animal origin which had killed millions of people across the world. Yellow fever, Nipah, Ebola, SARS, Spanish Flu, Swine Flu, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and scores of infectious diseases of animal origin created havoc in the world. In fact, far more dangerous than viruses is the human greed and ego which has caused the eco-system collapse and let the zoonotic hop around in human bodies.

It happenYed because a kind of spurious development model based on human greed nurtured by fraudulent practices was imposed on countries, which has adversely affected human behaviour and the environment. As per the World Bank report, between 1990 and 2016, the world had lost 5,02,000 sq miles of forest. Many of the viruses which live in animal and bird species in the forest, jump to humans due to habitat loss, conversion of agriculture land into buildings, deforestation, the disappearance of water bodies, change in land-use patterns, overexploitation of natural resources and stress. “It’s a pretty well established that deforestation can be a strong driver of infectious disease transmission,” said Andy Mac Donald, a disease ecologist at the Earth Research Institute of the University of California.

A series of pandemics which had killed millions of people across the world in the past centuries have failed to plant a few drops of humanism in the politico corporate heads who continue to repeat the same crime against the humanity. “Human and nature are part of one connected system and we need to understand how it works so that we don’t push things too far and face increasing negative consequences,” said Doreen Robinson, Chief of Wildlife at the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

About 60% of highly infectious diseases in humans are zoonotic which transmit from animal to human due to eco-system collapses. Various studies on Emerging Infectious Disease (EID) attribute to forest fragmentation, aggressive urbanization and mono-cropping etc. Decades back, scientists warned the world about the emergence of a deadly pandemic due to the destruction of forest cover. During globalization, more wealth was not generated on the basis of hard work, ethics, skill and creativity but on the basis of loot, deceit and plunder of both human and natural resources. “Diseases passed from animals to humans are on the rise, as the world continues to see unprecedented destruction of wild habitats by human activity,” said Doreen Robinson, Chief of Wildlife at the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

Political leaders particularly from developing countries allow the degradation of rivers, forest, hills, lakes, groundwater and bio-diversity in order to further the politico business interest of the global traders. They know very well that environmental degradation would give deaths and diseases to their countrymen. But the craze to rule with easy wealth gain from different contracts is too strong to resist. When the corporate giant’s control politicians, the hills, forest, lakes and rivers disappear at an alarming pace.

More than 12 million hectares of tropical forest have been lost in 2018 due to fire and land clearing according to the Monitoring Service Global Forest Watch. “Diseases passed from animals to humans are on the rise, as the world continues to see unexpected destruction of wild habitats by human activity,” said Doreen Robinson, Chief of Wildlife and the United Nations Environment Program(UNEP) “more zoonotic are likely to strike human.”

The global economic thinking should change to let survive the eco-system. “There are tens of thousands of viruses waiting to be discovered,” said Prof. Andrew Cunningham from the Zoological Society, London. Lifestyle change, consumer comfort and population growth has pushed the human race into the edge of the world. “We are increasing transport of animals for medicine, for pets and for food,” said Kate Jones, Chair of Ecology & Bio-diversity at University College, London.

Aggressive urbanization amid mono sector growth let loose the zoonotic. “Urbanization will lead to an increase in global urban land cover in bio-diversity hot spots by over 200% between 2000 and 2030,” according to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). India has also fallen prey to this spurious development concept as the policymakers believe urbanization only can give employment and increase the GDP growth. Nature has blessed India with multiple self-sustainable economic sectors. Over the centuries, Indians have developed multiple skills to add high value to handicrafts and handloom products. Unfortunately, aggressive urbanization and corruption in the supply chain have brought ruin to many such activities.

A study made with the help of Remote Sensing satellite on the metropolitan fringe of Bangaluru reveals the expansion of built-up area on agriculture land has gone up to 446.55 sq k.m which has reduced the agriculture land by 212.49 sq k.m. This is high time to give the right education to children who can grow to recognize the link between human and nature.

Bank can lend to sports sector

 Bank can lend to sports sector 

By Sudhansu R Das

Over the years, Indian banking fraternity has developed various loan products for students pursuing careers in engineering, medical and other professions. But for sports careers, the banks have not developed any exclusive loan products which could help sportsmen shape their career. Cricket, football, badminton, tennis, athletics, gymnastic, shooting, wrestling, archery, swimming and boxing etc offer very good sports careers as those sports are already linked to global sports events.

Many promising Indian sportsmen wither in the bud due to lack of finance which prevent them from pursuing sports careers.  Samrudh Rathore, the India’s under 16 badminton champion from Pune had to leave his sports career at the age of 20 due to lack of sponsorship and proper guidance. “I could not continue due to heavy expenditure in the badminton game,” said Samrudh, “lack of sponsorship compelled me to choose a career as a chartered accountant.” Here banks can step in to evolve loan products exclusively for sportsmen. The loan can be given to sportsmen for buying sports equipment and for participating in national and international tournaments; bank loans also can be given to independent coaches for starting coaching centers. “Government should subsidize the badminton complex in order to create inclusive opportunities for all,” said Vinod Sarfare, veteran coach from Pune, “ badminton rackets and feather shuttles should be available at an affordable cost.” There are many retired sportsmen willing to start their own coaching centers if they get financial support.  Corona pandemic has made people health conscious and people world over have become more interested in sports activities to develop a strong immune system. Nobody knows when the pandemic will take an exit; even if it goes, one can’t rule out another virus attack in future in the world where greed and evil have eroded finer human emotions like love, sympathy and fellow feelings. India should be in readiness to face pandemic type situation

Government can provide interest subsidy on loan amount so that the sportsmen can get loans at an easy interest not exceeding 4% p.a, exactly like the agriculture crop loan which is highly incentivized. Farmers in Andhra and Telangana used to get crop loans at 0% interest as the state government had provided interest subvention to cover interest portion of 4% after the Union government shared the interest subvention portion of 5%. The RBI can issue guidelines to banks for providing hassle free loans to sportsmen across the country.

Today banks are overloaded with deposits and the loans from banks are not going out due to the corona crisis and global financial sector slowdown; in these circumstances banks desperately need a diversification of its loan portfolio. Financing sportsmen can be a business proposition if both state and central government create the right environment for the sports activities. Natural sports infrastructures like playgrounds, open space, rivers, lakes and ponds etc.  can be used for developing sports talents. If genuine talents are identified, nurtured and provided with proper infrastructure, coaching and timely finance there is every possibility of their excelling in the international competition and earning foreign currency for the country.    

Create right environment to safeguard Bank’s credit cycle

 Create right environment to safeguard Bank’s credit cycle

By Sudhansu R Das

For decades, Public Sector Banks have generated quality jobs for the educated Indian youth. The State Bank of India and its associate banks used to advertise for more than one lakh probationary officer jobs every year. State Bank of India and other public sector banks together normally advertised nearly 1.3 lakh officer jobs every year. The PSBs also used to recruit a large number of clerks and messengers on a regular basis. Over decades, the banks have invested lakhs of crores of rupees to build their premises across the country. They have established their branches in the remotest corner of India to provide banking services to the general public at an affordable cost.  PSBs have the rural feel and they serve the poor and rural customers well. The PSBs’ staff go through transparent and tough entrance tests to join banks; they are among the best human resources in public sector organizations. Besides, the banks train them well to handle day to day banking operations. The PSBs pay salary from their own profit; only in extraordinary circumstances like recession or natural calamities when banks face acute recovery problems, the government recapitalizes them. RBI keeps enough reserve as back up to help PSBs tide over difficult times. The PSBs also achieve the government’s social sector credit flow target allotted to them every year. In view of India’s huge population, a large number of low income group people, diverse economic sectors, poverty and backwardness, the PSBs still can serve well. Reforming PSBs needs courage, political will and deep knowledge on the nitty-gritty of banks’ operation. Five simple steps can put the PSBs on track again.

First, all political parties of the country should converge on one single objective of liberating the PSBs from political influence right from the co-operative banks to the PSBs; this will be the biggest banking sector reform in history which will revolutionize financial inclusion in the country.

Second, the government should create the right external environment for a healthy credit cycle for banks. For example, if water, green fodder and cattle feed are available at a reasonable price, a bank credit can earn profit from the dairy sector. The role of the government is to protect the water bodies, control the price of cattle feed and provide quality extension services to the dairy farmers; without which the dairy farmers will find it difficult to repay bank loans.  Today thousands of small dairy farmers with less than 20 animals find it difficult to survive due to disappearance of green fodder, high cost of cattle feed and non availability of quality extension services.

Banks can finance the agriculture sector and earn profit, if villagers start loving physical work and politicians stop giving them free food and freebies. The villagers will be enthused to do farming if ground and surface water are available; if they get a good price for their produce. While promoting cottage industry products the government should import less cottage industry products from other countries. Today many cheap imported products including dandia sticks, kites and kitchen tools are replacing our domestic products. Banks' loans will end up in NPA if it finances the domestic industries which are struggling to survive amid cheap imports. The small towns and villages should be made livable with quality health centers, good schools and other basic amenities for human survival. All these things indirectly influence the credit performance of the banks.   

 

Third, an honest and efficient CEO can diversify the loan portfolios and promptly invest the bank’s surplus for profit. It is high time for the banks to appoint efficient CEOs; they can be drawn from top management and finance institutes of India or from the banks’ talent pool in a transparent manner. Close monitoring of credit performance specially the end use of credit will make the PSBs strong. Here, the government should provide adequate security to bankers at the time of physical asset verification of the borrowers as physical asset verification sometimes risks bankers’ life. The Union government should establish an efficient intelligence agency to track willful defaulters and fraudsters; a very strong law should be made to full proof banks from the willful defaulters and frauds.  

Third, for better credit performance, the banks need a high level of audit and inspection skill. There is an urgent need to inspect the big loans above Rs 200 crore every year which will give a clear picture of the end use of loans. Accountability should be fixed on the loan sanctioning committee. The performance of the bank’s boards should be thoroughly reviewed by experts. People who are posted as CEOs should have experience in audit and inspection of banks. If they don’t have the experience, they should conduct minimum two bank inspections in the first year; the reports of the inspection should be evaluated by an expert team.

Fourth, quota in appointment should be restricted to entry level only. In many banks, employees are being promoted to the senior level on quota basis; after entry level, banks should promote their staff on merit basis only.  Promotion to higher posts on the basis of regional bias, language bias, external influence and relationship bias etc should be eradicated to build the core strength of the banks. Transparency in promotion is the key to the revival of the banks. 

Fifth, when the corona pandemic rips through the economy, Banks should be in a position to reshuffle their investment in stocks and plans for credit diversification to vibrant unorganized sector and health sector etc.  After the epidemic the economy is bound to be active in a country with 141 crore people and the banks should pre-devise innovative products for the unorganized sector, tourism, agriculture, education, infrastructure, industries and a wide range of natural sectors etc. Private banks should internalize the culture of people friendly approach, rural and small town experience of PSBs before they step into these areas on their own. 

Vehicle Scrappage Policy should not be a burden on people

The Union Government has launched “Vehicle Scrappage Policy” to scrap 15 year old commercial vehicles and 20 year old private vehicles; the estimated target is 51 lakh vehicles in the first phase. The government said its new circular economy would attract investment worth Rs 10000 crore and create 35000 new jobs. In the US and Europe, Scrap Policy is effectively used to boost the car manufacturing sector during economic slowdown. Undoubtedly the scrap policy will immensely benefit car makers, scrap industries and give sops to new car buyers. But, scrapping the old cars will not create many jobs nor would it reduce pollution much. It will create a debt burden on the already battered middle class population.

Thousands of poor mechanics and repair shops across the country repair old cars to earn their livelihood. Over the years they have developed expertise in car repairing;  those people can repair each and every part of the cars at an affordable cost.  When the corona pandemic has devastated the economy, employment and livelihood across the country, the scrapping of old cars will put millions of car owners into difficulties as they can’t afford to buy new cars at a far higher cost.  The policy should have a mix of human heart so that people would not face much difficulties during hard times.

Before scrapping cars, the government should reduce  the cost of electric cars and two wheelers so that the corona hit the middle class can exchange their cars with the electric vehicles; the new generation electric cars are too costly to be affordable for the middle class population.  Even an electric scooter from a good company costs Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.

With advanced technology the old cars can be brought back to new condition. So, let there be industries and start ups which can refurbish old cars.  Car is no longer a luxury for the middle class people; it has become a basic need like health, education and housing. Business houses should not exploit the basic needs of people and the government should step in to curb the intention to maximize profit from basic needs. Forcing people to buy new cars will be too cruel when car makers are already offering for exchange of old cars.  When thousands of Indians are already exchanging their cars, what is the need of the scrapping policy? Again increasing re-registration fee for old cars will compel people to borrow and go for new cars. If an old car passes through a fitness test, no registration fee should be collected from the owner. The government wants to scrap old cars in order to reduce pollution. For that, the government can penalize those car owners who have no pollution certificate. In fact, the majority of private cars have pollution certificates.

Before asking for fitness certificates for old cars, the governments should give certificates stating the roads are fit for vehicles. Every day an average six people are being killed in road accidents and scores of people get injured in road accidents in Hyderabad. Barring the Air Port road and a few roads in the high tech city, the majority of roads in Hyderabad have dangerous potholes and are not worthy for vehicles. Roads are being repaired every year with tax payers’ money. But after heavy rain for four to five hours the roads peel out which are again filled up with mud and sand only to be washed away again and again. Millions of trees, thousands of lakes and water bodies have vanished from the Indian cities; many thousands of water bodies have been polluted. The nation should urgently enact a strong law to punish the authority for failing to protect the water bodies of any size. India would have been far more beautiful with those water bodies; Indians would have been more productive, creative and healthy with those water bodies and greeneries.

In many small towns, cities, rural areas and even in metro cities, private cars are the chief mode of transportation for middle class people; senior citizens find it very cost effective to maintain a basic model of Maruti, TATA, Mahindra or Hyundai. If people scrape their basic model cars, they have to pay double the amount for buying battery-run cars. Before scrapping cars for its steel and other parts, the government should reduce the cost of electric cars and advise car makers to give more discounts while exchanging old cars. Companies are offering exchange value of Rs 40000 to Rs 60000 on old basic model cars  which is too small compared to the actual value of cars. If the exchange offer is good, more people will automatically part with their old cars.  In fact, every year thousands of people buy new cars on exchange only. What is the need of compelling people to scrap their well maintained old cars which do not pollute? Let the people decide when to exchange their cars with companies.

Barring Mumbai, Bangaluru, Calcutta and Chennai the rest of the cities do not have safe, affordable and reliable public transportation systems. Before scrapping cars, the government should establish a reliable public transportation system to save people’s time and money. The scrapping policy should help car makers, scrapping industries as well as the old car owners; above all it should be nation specific.

ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀଙ୍କ ସ୍ୱଦେଶୀ ଓ ସରଳ ଜୀବନଶୈଳୀ ଅନୁସରଣ କରୁ ଓଡ଼ିଶା

ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀଙ୍କ ସ୍ୱଦେଶୀ ଓ ସରଳ ଜୀବନଶୈଳୀ ଅନୁସରଣ କରୁ ଓଡ଼ିଶା  

Odisha Reported published this article on 21.08.2021

ଆଜିକୁ ଶହେବର୍ଷ ତଳେ ଜାତିର ପିତା ମହାତ୍ମା ଗାନ୍ଧୀ ଓଡ଼ିଶାକୁ ଆସି ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ସାଂସ୍କୃତିକ, ସମାଜିକ ଓ ସୂକ୍ଷ୍ମ ଆର୍ଥିକ ଗତିବିଧି ଦେଖି ପ୍ରଭାବିତ ହୋଇଥିଲେ। ବାଲେଶ୍ୱର ଜିଲ୍ଲାର ଗୋଟେ ଛୋଟ ଗାଁରେ ରହୁଥିବା କେତେକ ଲୁଣଚାଷୀଙ୍କ ଦୁଃଖ ଦୁର୍ଦ୍ଦଶା ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀଙ୍କୁ ବହୁତ କଷ୍ଟ ଦେଇଥିଲା। ପର ମୁହୂର୍ତ୍ତରେ ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀ ବ୍ରିଟିଶ ସରକାରଙ୍କ ବିରୋଧରେ ଏକ ଅମୋଘ ଅସ୍ତ୍ର ପାଇଥିଲେ। ବିଶ୍ୱ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ଲବଣ ସତ୍ୟାଗ୍ରହର ନିଆଁଧାସଟି ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀ ବାଲେଶ୍ୱରରୁ ହିଁ ପାଇଥିଲେ।  ଏହି  ନିଆଁଧାସଟି ଏକ ବିରାଟ  ଅଗ୍ନିଶିଖାରେ ପରିଣତ ହୋଇ ବ୍ରିଟିଶ ସାମ୍ରାଜ୍ୟକୁ ଦୋହଲାଇ ଦେଇଥଲା। ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀଙ୍କର ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଆଗମନର ଶତବାର୍ଷିକ ସମାରୋହ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମ ବର୍ଷସାରା ଖୁବ ଧୁମଧାମରେ ପାଳନ କରିବାକୁ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ନେତା ଓ ଗାନ୍ଧିବାଦୀମାନେ ମାର୍ଚ୍ଚ ମାସରେ ବହୁତ ଉତ୍ସାହ ଦେଖାଇଥିଲେ। ମହାତ୍ମା ଗାନ୍ଧୀ ୨୩ ମାର୍ଚ୍ଚ ୧୯୨୧ରେ  ପ୍ରଥମେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଆସିଥିଲେ ଓ ସେ ସମୁଦାୟ ୮ ଥର ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଗସ୍ତରେ ଆସିଥିଲେ। କଟକ, ପୁରୀ, ବ୍ରହ୍ମପୁର, ବାଲେଶ୍ୱର, ଭଦ୍ରକ ଓ କେନ୍ଦ୍ରାପଡ଼ା ଆଦି ଜିଲ୍ଲାରେ ଯୋଉଠିକି ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀ ଯାଇଥିଲେ ସେଠାରେ ପଦଯାତ୍ରା, ରଥଯାତ୍ରା, ସଭା, ଭାଷଣ ପ୍ରତିଯୋଗିତା ଓ ଅନେକ ପ୍ରତିଯୋଗିତା ବର୍ଷ ଭରି ଚାଲିବ ବୋଲି ସଂକଳ୍ପ ନିଆଯାଇଥିଲା। ମଇ ମାସ ନପୂରୁଣୁ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ନେତାଗୋଷ୍ଠୀ, ସ୍ୱେଛାସେବୀ, ଗାନ୍ଧିବାଦୀ ଓ ମିଡ଼ିଆର ଗାନ୍ଧିପ୍ରେମ ଉଭାନ ହୋଇଗଲା ଭଳି ଲାଗେ।ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀଙ୍କୁ ପୂଜାକରି ମାଳା ପିନ୍ଧାଇବା ସହଜ କିନ୍ତୁ ତାଙ୍କ ଆଦର୍ଶକୁ ଅନୁକରଣ କରିବା ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ କଷ୍ଟସାଧ୍ୟ।

କଟକର ଦକ୍ଷିଣ ପାର୍ଶ୍ୱରେ ଥିବା ଯେଉଁ କାଠଯୋଡ଼ି ଶଯ୍ୟାରେ ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀ ପ୍ରଥମେ ଜନ ସାଧାରଣଙ୍କୁ ଉଦବୋଧନ ଦେଇଥିଲେ ଏହି ଶଯ୍ୟାରେ ଆଜି କଟକର ସମସ୍ତ ଆବର୍ଜନା ପଡୁଥିବାର ଦେଖାଯାଉଛି। କାଠଯୋଡ଼ି ନଦୀ ତାର ସ୍ରୋତ ହରାଇ ବସିଥିବାରୁ କଟକର ହଜାର ହଜାର ବାସିନ୍ଦା ଯେଉଁମାନେ କାଠଯୋଡ଼ିର ଶୀତଳ ଓ ନିର୍ମଳ ଜଳରେ ପ୍ରାତଃ ସ୍ନାନ କରି ଖୁସିରେ ପ୍ରତିଦିନର କାମ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରୁଥିଲେ ସେମାନେ ଆଜି ବୁନ୍ଦେ ବୁନ୍ଦେ କଳପାଣିରେ କାମ ଚଳାଉଛନ୍ତି। ଛତିଶଗଡ଼ ସରକାର ମହାନଦୀ ଉପରେ ଅସଂଖ୍ୟ ଡ୍ୟାମ କରିବା ଦ୍ୱାରା ଚିରସ୍ରୋତା ମହାନଦୀ ଓ କାଠଯୋଡ଼ି ଆଜି ଶୁଖିଯାଇଛି। ଏହି ଚିତ୍ର ଯଦି ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀ ଆଜି ଦେଖିଥାନ୍ତେ ତେବେ ଏହା ତାଙ୍କୁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପୀଡ଼ା ଦେଇଥାନ୍ତା। ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀ ଯେପରି ଖରାତରାରେ ବୁଲି ଲୋକ ସଚେତନତା ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରୁଥିଲେ ସେହିଭଳି ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ନେତା ଓ  ବୁଦ୍ଧିଜୀବୀ ଖରାରେ ରାସ୍ତାକୁ ଓହ୍ଲାଇ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଜଳସମ୍ପଦ ଯଥା ନଦୀ, ହ୍ରଦ, ପୋଖରୀ ଓ କୂଅଗୁଡ଼ିକର କିଭଳି ସୁରକ୍ଷା କରିହେବ, ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଫସଲ ବିବିଧତା, ହସ୍ତ ଶିଳ୍ପ ପରମ୍ପରା, ହସ୍ତତନ୍ତ ପରମ୍ପରା ଓ କୁଟୀର ଶିଳ୍ପଗୁଡ଼ିକ କିଭଳି ବଞ୍ଚାଇ ହେବ ସେଥିପାଇଁ ବର୍ଷଭରି ଲୋକ ସଚେତନତା ସୃଷ୍ଟି କଲେ ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀଙ୍କ ଆତ୍ମାକୁ ଟିକେ ସୁଖ ମିଳିବ। ଭାଷଣବାଜି କରି ଯଦି ଏହି ନେତାଗଣ ଓ ସମାଜସେବୀମାନେ ନିଜ ନିଜ ଶୀତତାପ ନିୟନ୍ତ୍ରିତ ଘରେ ଓ ଗାଡ଼ିଭିତରେ ପଶିଯିବେ ଏହା ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀଙ୍କୁ ବିଦ୍ରୁପ କଲାଭଳି ହେବ।

ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀଙ୍କ ଜୀବନରେ ବୃକ୍ଷରୋପଣ ଏକ ବିଶେଷ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ ଥିଲା। ଆଜି ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀ ଏହି ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟକୁ ପୂରଣ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ବୃକ୍ଷରୋପଣ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମ ବର୍ଷଭରି ଚଳାଇବା ଦରକାର। ବେଲ, ବର, ଅଶ୍ୱଶ୍‌ଥ, ଆମ୍ବ, ପିଜୁଳି, କଇଁଥ, ଶିମିଳି, ଜାମୁ, ନଡ଼ିଆ ଆଦି ଦେଶୀ ଗଛ ରୋପଣ ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଗ୍ରୀଷ୍ମ ପ୍ରବାହକୁ ରୋକିବା ସଂଗେ ସଂଗେ ସ୍ଥାନୀୟ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କର ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ, ପରିବେଶ ଓ ଆର୍ଥିକ ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ସୁଧାର ଆଣିପାରିବ। ୟାସ ତୋଫାନ ବାଲେଶ୍ୱର ଜିଲାକୁ ଧ୍ଵସ୍ତ ବିଧ୍ଵସ୍ତ କରିଛି। ୧୯୭୧ ମସିହା ତୋଫାନ ପରେ ଏକ୍ସପର୍ଟ କମିଟି ଉପକୂଳବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ଜିଲାର ସୁରକ୍ଷା ନିମସ୍ତେ ବ୍ୟାପକ ବୃକ୍ଷ ରୋପଣ ପାଇଁ ସୁପାରିଶ  କରିଥିଲେ। ପଚାଶ ବର୍ଷ ଭିତରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ବୃକ୍ଷ ରୋପଣ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତେ ଉପକୂଳବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ଇଲାକାରେ କଂକ୍ରିଟ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରିଥିବାରୁ ସାମୁଦ୍ରିକ ଝଡ଼ରେ ପ୍ରତିବର୍ଷ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଅନେକ ଧନଜୀବନ ନଷ୍ଟ ହେଉଛି। ପ୍ରକୃତି ସାଙ୍ଗରେ ସନ୍ତୁଳନ ରକ୍ଷା ନକରି ବିକାଶ କରାଯାଉଥିବାରୁ ଆଜି ସାରା ବିଶ୍ୱକୁ ପ୍ରାକୃତିକ ବିପର୍ଯ୍ୟୟର ସାମନା କରିବାକୁ ପଡୁଛି। ପରିବେଶ ବୈଜ୍ଞାନିକଙ୍କ କହିବା ଅନୁସାରେ ବିଗତ ତିରିଶ ବର୍ଷ ଭିତରେ ପ୍ରାକୃତିକ ବିପର୍ଯ୍ୟୟର  ପ୍ରକୋପ ଓ ସଂଖ୍ୟା ବହୁ ଅଧିକ ବଢ଼ିଯାଇଛି।

ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀ କହୁଥିଲେ ମନୁଷ୍ୟର ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା ପୂରଣ ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରକୃତି ପ୍ରଚୁର ସମ୍ପଦ ରଖିଛି କିନ୍ତୁ ଏହି ସମ୍ପଦ ମନୁଷ୍ୟର ଲୋଭକୁ ଚରିତାର୍ଥ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟାପ୍ତ ନୁହେଁ। ପ୍ରତି ବର୍ଷ ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀଙ୍କ ବେକରେ ଗଜରା ମାଳ ପିନ୍ଧାଇ ପଛରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଆଦର୍ଶ ବିରୋଧରେ କାମକରିବା ଦ୍ୱାରା ଦେଶବାସୀ ନିଜକୁ ଘୋର ସଙ୍କଟ ଭିତରକୁ ଟାଣିନେଉଛନ୍ତି। ଏବେ ବି ମାନସିକତାକୁ ସୁଧାରିବା ପାଇଁ ସମୟ ଅଛି। ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀଙ୍କ କହିବା ଅନୁସାରେ ଦେଶ ଯଦି ତାହାର ହସ୍ତଶିଳ୍ପ ଓ ହସ୍ତତନ୍ତ ପରମ୍ପରାକୁ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ରଖିପାରିବ ତେବେ ସେ ବିଶ୍ୱ ବଜାରରୁ ଅନେକ ବିଦେଶୀ ମୁଦ୍ରା ଅର୍ଜନ କରିପାରିବ। ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ହସ୍ତଶିଳ୍ପ ଓ ହାତବୁଣା ଲୁଗା ବିଶ୍ୱ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ଥିଲା। ଆଜି ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ହସ୍ତକଳାର ଗୁଣାତ୍ମକ ମାନରେ ଦ୍ରୁତ ଅବନତି ହୋଇଛି। ଗୁଣାତ୍ମକ ମାନ ହିଁ ହସ୍ତଶିଳ୍ପ ରପ୍ତାନୀରେ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରିଥାଏ। ଯଦି କିଏ ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ୩୦ ବର୍ଷ ତଳେ ତିଆରି ପଟ୍ଟଚିତ୍ର ସହିତ ଆଜିର ପଟ୍ଟଚିତ୍ରକୁ ତୁଳନା କରେ ତେବେ ଏହାର ଗୁଣାତ୍ମକ ମାନରେ ଫରକ ସହଜରେ ଜାଣିପାରିବ। ହସ୍ତ ଶିଳ୍ପ ବିଭାଗରେ ପ୍ରକୃତରେ ହସ୍ତଶିଳ୍ପ କଳା ଉପରେ ଅଭିଜ୍ଞ, ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପ୍ରେମୀ, ସଚ୍ଚୋଟ, କର୍ମଠ ଅଧିକାରୀ ଓ କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କୁ ନିଯୁକ୍ତି କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ହସ୍ତଶିଳ୍ପ ଉପରେ ଗବେଷଣା କରିବା ନିହାତି ଆବଶ୍ୟକ। ମହାତ୍ମା ଗାନ୍ଧୀଙ୍କର ଭାରତୀୟ ହସ୍ତଶିଳ୍ପ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରିୟ ଥିଲା। ଗାନ୍ଧୀଜୀଙ୍କର ସ୍ୱଦେଶୀ ଆନ୍ଦୋଳନ ଶହ ଶହ କୁଟୀର ଶିଳ୍ପ ପରମ୍ପରାକୁ ଆଜି ମଧ୍ୟ ସାରା ଭାରତ ବର୍ଷରେ ବଞ୍ଚାଇ ରଖିଛି। ଯଦି ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀ ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରକୃତରେ ସମ୍ମାନ କରୁଥିବେ ତେବେ ସେମାନେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ସରକାରୀ ଓ ବେସରକାରୀ ଦପ୍ତର ଓ ନିଜ ଘରେ ସ୍ଵତଃପ୍ରବୃତ୍ତ ହୋଇ ହସ୍ତଶିଳ୍ପର ବ୍ୟବହାର କରିବେ। ହସ୍ତବୁଣା ଲୁଗାର ବିକାଶ ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରକୃତ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପ୍ରେମୀ, ଦକ୍ଷ, ହସ୍ତବୁଣା ଲୁଗା ଉପରେ ଜ୍ଞାନ ଥିବା ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିକୁ ହସ୍ତତନ୍ତ ବିଭାଗର ଦାୟିତ୍ୱ ଦେବା ଉଚିତ।

                     ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ବିଶ୍ୱ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ତାଳପତ୍ର ଚିତ୍ରଶୈଳୀ ଲୋପ ପାଇବାକୁ ବସିଲାଣି 

ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀ କହୁଥିଲେ କୃଷି, ହସ୍ତଶିଳ୍ପ ଓ ପରିବେଶକୁ ହାନି ନକରୁଥିବା ଛୋଟଛୋଟ ଆର୍ଥିକ ଗତିବିଧି ଲୋକଙ୍କ ଜୀବନର ମାନ ବୃଦ୍ଧି କରିବାରେ ସହାୟକ ହୋଇଥାଏ। ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀ କହୁଥିଲେ, “ଯଦି  ଆମେ କୋଟି କୋଟି ଗ୍ରାମବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ସହରରେ ରୋଜଗାର କରିବାକୁ  ଅବସର ଦେବା ତେବେ ସହରଗୁଡିକ ନଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇଯିବ”। ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀଙ୍କ ବାଣୀ ଆଜି ଅକ୍ଷରେ ଅକ୍ଷରେ ସତ୍ୟ ହେଲା ଭଳି ଲାଗେ। ଭାରତର ସମସ୍ତ ସହର ଆଜି ବିକାଶର ବିକୃତିକରଣର ଶିକାର ହୋଇଛି। ଭାରତରେ ଥିବା ସମସ୍ତ ମେଟ୍ରୋ ନଗର ଆଉ ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ରହିବା ଉପଯୋଗୀ ନାହିଁ।

             ହାଇଦ୍ରାବାଦରେ ଥିବା ଏକ ସୁନ୍ଦର ହ୍ରଦର ଶୋଚନୀୟ ଅବସ୍ଥା 

ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀଙ୍କୁ ଯଦି ଆମେ ପ୍ରକୃତରେ ସମ୍ମାନ ଦେଉଥିବା ତେବେ ଆମେ ଆମର ଗ୍ରାମ ଓ ସହରଗୁଡିକରେ ସ୍ଵଚ୍ଛତା ରକ୍ଷା କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ସ୍ୱଚ୍ଛତା ଅନେକ ରୋଗରୁ ମନୁଷ୍ୟକୁ ବଞ୍ଚାଇ ଥାଏ। ପଚାଶ ବର୍ଷ ତଳେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଲୋକେ କୂଅ ପାଣିକୁ ପାଇବା ପାଇଁ ବ୍ୟବହାର କରୁଥିଲେ। ଆଜି ସମସ୍ତେ ଆକ୍ଵାଗାର୍ଡ ଦରକାର କରୁଛନ୍ତି। ୧୯୯୦ ମସିହା ଯାଏଁ ପୁନେ ନଗରରେ କେହି ଏସିର ବ୍ୟବହାର କରୁନଥିଲେ। ପୁନେକୁ ପ୍ରାକୃତିକ ଏୟାର କଣ୍ଡିସନ ନଗର କୁହାଯାଉଥିଲା। ଆଜି ବିକାଶର ବିକୃତିକରଣ ଯୋଗୁଁ ଘରେ ଘରେ ଏସିର ଦରକାର ପଡୁଛି। ପୁନେରେ ଥିବା ସବୁଜ ବଳୟ, ଚନ୍ଦନ ଗଛର ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ଓ ସବୁଜ ପାହାଡ଼କୁ ନଷ୍ଟ କରି କଂକ୍ରିଟ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରାଯାଇଛି। ଫଳରେ ବିଗତ ୨୦ ବର୍ଷ ଭିତରେ ତାପମାତ୍ରା ଅସମ୍ଭବ ବୃଦ୍ଧି ପାଇଛି। ଚେନ୍ନାଇ, ମୁମ୍ବାଇ, ବାଙ୍ଗାଲୋର ଓ ହାଇଦ୍ରାବାଦରେ ୯୦ ପ୍ରତିଶତ ଜଳାଶୟ ନଷ୍ଟ ହେବାଦ୍ୱାରା ଏହି ନଗରଗୁଡିକ ଟର୍ଚର ଚାମ୍ବରରେ ପରିଣତ ହୋଇଛି। ଗାନ୍ଧିଜୀଙ୍କ କଥାକୁ ଲୋକେ ମାନିଥିଲେ ହୁଏତ ଏଭଳି ଦୁର୍ଗତି ହୋଇନଥାନ୍ତା। ଦେଶବାସୀ ଯଦି ଗାନ୍ଧୀଜୀଙ୍କର ସ୍ୱଚ୍ଛତା, ସ୍ୱଦେଶୀ ଓ ସ୍ୱାବଲମ୍ବୀ ହେବାର ବିଚାରଧାରାକୁ ପୁନର୍ଜୀବିତ କରିପାରିବେ ତେବେ  ସେମାନେ ଏକ ସୁସ୍ଥ ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର ନିର୍ମାଣ କରିପାରିବେ।

BANKS NEED ETERNAL VIGILANCE

 Banks need eternal vigilance,  THE PIONEER, 14 May 2018 

When mediocrity rises to the top, it impacts the quality of human resource. We need to reform the banking sector and end sinecures

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) took up the massive Asset Quality Review (AQR) to unearth more  non-performing assets (NPA) in banks which were marked as income generating assets for a long time. After the AQR, the NPA soared up from 4.62 per cent in 2014-15 to an alarming 10.4 per cent in December 2017.

In fact, the solution to NPA lies in grooming silent, committed, tech-savvy and honest chief executive officers, inspectors, auditors, information system auditors and staff with moral courage and a sense of purpose to serve social good as well as banking business.

Public Sector Banks now operate in the core banking environment which needs highly skilled computer-savvy personnel. The biggest problem before the Public Sector Banks is that a majority of the bank employees above 55 years have migrated to a computer environment and find it difficult to monitor, review and analyse so many bank accounts on a regular basis.

If the migrated person holds higher position in banks, he always has a tough time in monitoring loan portfolios. Here, the entire rank and files of the bank have to work in tandem while reviewing and monitoring loan portfolios as well as investments.

 Banks will never enter into the NPA trap if it puts in place, a dedicated review committee and monitoring team, who can carefully examine the credit cycle. A majority of borrowers do not cheat banks. It is the tech-savvy educated big borrowers who dupe banks from time to time in a sophisticated operation. The worse thing is that they create trust deficit between banks and borrowers. The Fugitive Economic Offender Ordinance 2018, is a welcome step to auction the offenders' assets and repay the bank loans.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government is willing to show zero tolerance to big wilful defaulters who have caused irreparable damage to the economy, society and endangered the future of millions of depositors. 

Genuine borrowers suffer due to these defaulters as banks insist for strict Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance for small loans also.  This situation chases away a large number of genuine borrowers from banks to informal lenders to take loan at an exorbitant rate of interest with less processing time.

Banks should insist on KYC for high risk category customers and in those accounts where suspicious transactions occur. When there are so many departments and agencies to examine the root of transactions in banks, what is the need of asking for so many KYC documents. More than KYC, it is the eternal vigilance which can protect banks. Majority of Indians deposit their money in banks to live on their interest income. They pay tax deducted at source (TDS) on interest income.  Banks use the deposit for doing business and earn profit. Depositors can't cheat banks. It is the big borrowers who develop ingenious techniques to cheat the banks. 

Majority of big bank frauds originate from Hyderabad. The Fugitive Economic Offender Ordinance 2018 should quicken the process of recovery of bank loans from offenders. It is also high time to amend the Banking Regulation Act 1949, to give more teeth to the RBI so that it can remove the inefficient board members, dissolve the board and replace chief executive officers before banks plunge into more crises; let banks develop their own strategy, intelligence back up and decide which sector they should finance.

The creation of bubbles by political market forces is the real threat to the economy and banks. Bubbles in the economy gets its winds from evil marketing geniuses who lure banks to lend more than they can recover. Over decades, education, realty, mining, steel, infrastructure, aviation and energy sectors have shown inflated credit potential. NPA in these sectors are very high.    

An efficient board can warn banks against bubble finance. This area should be totally freed from political interference as politically inclined board members have caused immense damage to the banking sector. While selecting the chief executive officers of banks, there is a need to thoroughly examine the candidates' real contribution from his official notes in the last five years. His approach, knowledge depth and attitude can be judged from the words he put on paper and the words he speaks. 

Lucrative post retirement assignments should be scrapped as it let bankers appease politicians. In the changing environment, the Public Sector Banks need to revamp their human resource policy.  Mediocrity is one of the main reasons of NPA growth in banks. Knowledge, efficiency, moral courage, creativity and innovation are the core strengths of an institution which should not be viewed as arrogance and a negative approach.

When mediocrity rises to the top, it impacts the quality of human resources. We need to reform the banking sector and end sinecures. Internal promotion in banks should be based on pure merit and on the basis of strict written tests and interview conducted by external agencies. If we seriously want a better India without poverty, we need to reform the banking sector which can create citizens who can live beyond their personal interest to serve the country.

ସରକାର ଲୋକଙ୍କର ରୋଗ ପ୍ରତିରୋଧକ ଶକ୍ତି ବଢ଼ାନ୍ତୁ

 ଅନେକ ଭାରତୀୟ ଓ ବିଦେଶୀ ଖବର କାଗଜରେ ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ରିପୋର୍ଟରୁ ଜଣାପଡ଼େ କେବଳ ଟୀକାକରଣ କରୋନା ସଂକ୍ରମଣକୁ ପୂରାପୁରି ରୋକିପାରିବ ନାହିଁ। କରୋନା-୧, କରୋନା-୨ ଓ କରୋନାର ଡେଲ୍ଟା ମଡେଲ, ଏଭଳି ଅନେକ ଭୂତାଣୁ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତରେ ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ସଂକ୍ରମିତ କରିବ। ଯେତେବେଳ ଯାଏ ଏହି ଭୂତାଣୁ ଯୁଦ୍ଧର ଖଳନାୟକମାନେ ଧାରା ନପଡ଼ିଛନ୍ତି ସେପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଜନସାଧାରଣ ନିଜକୁ ବଂଚାଇବାର ଉପାୟ ବାହାର କରିବା ନିହାତି ଦରକାର। ଅନେକ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ବିଶେଷଜ୍ଞଙ୍କ ମତରେ ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ଦେହରେ ଥିବା ରୋଗ ପ୍ରତିରୋଧକ ଶକ୍ତି ଭୂତାଣୁ ସଂକ୍ରମଣରୁ ଜୀବନ ବଞ୍ଚାଇବା ପାଇଁ ଅନେକ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରିଥାଏ। ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ବିଶେଷଜ୍ଞମାନଙ୍କ କଥା ଅନୁସାରେ ଜନସାଧାରଣ ଯଦି ନିଜ ଦେହରେ ରୋଗ ପ୍ରତିରୋଧକ ଶକ୍ତି ବଢ଼ାଇବାରେ ସକ୍ଷମ ହେବେ ତେବେ ଭୂତାଣୁ ସଂକ୍ରମଣ ମହାମାରୀର ରୂପ ନେବା ନାହିଁ। ଏଥିପାଇଁ ସରକାର, ମାନବିକ ମୂଲ୍ୟବୋଧ ଥିବା ରାଜନେତା, ବୁଦ୍ଧିଜୀବୀ ଓ ଶିକ୍ଷିତ ଯୁବପିଢ଼ି ଲୋକଙ୍କ ଭିତରେ ରୋଗ ପ୍ରତିରୋଧକ ଶକ୍ତି ବଢ଼ାଇବା ପାଇଁ ସମସ୍ତ ପଦକ୍ଷେପ ନେବା ଦରକାର।

ଓଡ଼ିଶା ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ଥିବା ସମସ୍ତ  ଖୋଲା ଜାଗା ଓ ଖେଳପଡ଼ିଆଗୁଡିକରେ ସ୍ଥାନୀୟ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଶାରୀରିକ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମ ଯଥା ଖେଳ, କସରତ, ଯୋଗ ଓ ବ୍ୟାୟାମ ଆଦିର ଆୟୋଜନ କରାଯାଇପାରିବ। ଯେଉଁ ପ୍ରକଳ୍ପଗୁଡିକ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଉପଯୋଗୀ ନୁହେଁ ସେଥିରେ ବୃଥା ଅର୍ଥ ଖର୍ଚ୍ଚ ନକରି ସେ ଅର୍ଥକୁ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ଓ ଶିକ୍ଷାର ବିକାଶ ପାଇଁ ଖର୍ଚ୍ଚ କରିବା ଦରକାର। ଉଦାହରଣ ସ୍ୱରୂପ ସୁନ୍ଦରଗଡ଼ରେ ହଜାର ହଜାର କୋଟି ଟଙ୍କା ଖର୍ଚ କରି ଆନ୍ତର୍ଜାତିକ ସ୍ଥରର ହକି ଷ୍ଟାଡିୟମ ନକରି ସେ ଅର୍ଥରେ ୧୦ଟି ଛୋଟ ଛୋଟ ହକି ଷ୍ଟାଡିୟମ ରାଜ୍ୟର ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଜାଗାରେ ବନିଥିଲେ ଏହା ହକି ଖେଳାଳିଙ୍କ ସାମୂହିକ ବିକାଶରେ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରିଥାନ୍ତା। ଷ୍ଟାଡିୟମ ବନାଇବା ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଏହା କେତେଜଣ ଖେଳାଳିଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଉପଯୋଗୀ ହେବ ତାହା ବିଚାର କରିବା ନିହାତି ଦରକାର ଥିଲା।

ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଥିବା ସମସ୍ତ ହ୍ରଦ, ପୋଖରୀ ଓ କୂଅଗୁଡିକୁ ଯୁଦ୍ଧକାଳୀନ ଭିତ୍ତିରେ ବିଶୁଦ୍ଧିକରଣ କରିବା ସଂଗେ ସଂଗେ ଏହାକୁ ସନ୍ତରଣ ଉପଯୋଗୀ କରିବା ଦରକାର। ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଥିବା ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ଖବରକାଗଜ ଓ ଖବର ଚ୍ୟାନେଲ ରାଜ୍ୟର ଜଳଧନର ସୁରକ୍ଷା ଓ ରାଜ୍ୟବାସୀଙ୍କର ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ଓ ଶିକ୍ଷାର ବିକାଶ ପାଇଁ ନିଜକୁ ଉତ୍ସର୍ଗୀକୃତ କାରିବା ଦରକାର। ଜଳଧନର ବିକାଶରେ ଫସଲ ବିଭିନ୍ନତାର ସୁରକ୍ଷା ହେବ ଓ ଫସଲ ବିଭିନ୍ନତା ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ପୁଷ୍ଟିକର ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଯୋଗାଇବା ସଂଗେ ସଂଗେ  ରୋଗ ପ୍ରତିରୋଧକ ଶକ୍ତି ବୃଦ୍ଧି କରିବ।

ପଚାଶ ବର୍ଷ ତଳେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପ୍ରାଚୀନ ସହର କଟକ ଓ ପୁରୀର ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ସାହିରେ କୁସ୍ତି, କବାଡ଼ି ଓ ଭଲିବଲ ଆଦି ଅନେକ ଦେଶୀ ଖେଳର ଆୟୋଜନ କରାଯାଉଥିଲା। ସାର୍ବଜନିକ ଖେଳ ପଡ଼ିଆର ଅଭାବ, ଖେଳର ବ୍ୟବସାୟୀକରଣ, ନେତୃତ୍ୱର ଅଭାବ, ସ୍ମାର୍ଟ ଫୋନ ଓ ଟିଭିର ଭୟାନକ କୁପ୍ରଭାବ ଓ ଭଲ ନମ୍ବର ରଖିବା ପାଇଁ ପିଲାଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ପରିବାରର ଚାପ ଇତ୍ୟାଦି ନୂତନ ଯୁବପିଢ଼ିଙ୍କର ଶାରୀରିକ ବିକାଶ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ବାଧା ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରୁଛି। ସହର ଓ ଗାଁଗୁଡିକରେ ଯେଉଁ କ୍ଳବଗୁଡିକ ସରକାରଙ୍କ ଅନୁଦାନ ନେଉଛନ୍ତି ସରକାର ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ଖେଳ ସଂସ୍କୃତିର ବିକାଶ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ନିର୍ଦେଶ ଦେବା ଉଚିତ।

Odisha Reporter has published this article on 16.08.2021

ସହର ଓ ଗାଁଗୁଡିକରେ ଖେଳ ପଡ଼ିଆ ଓ ଖୋଲା ଜାଗାର ଜବର ଦଖଲ ହେବାରୁ ଲୋକେ ନିଜର ଶାରୀରିକ ବିକାଶ ନକରିପାରି ରୋଗ ପ୍ରତିରୋଧକ ଶକ୍ତି ହରାଉଛନ୍ତି। ତେଣୁ ସମାଜରେ ଥିବା ଶିକ୍ଷିତ ଲୋକେ ଓ ସାହସୀ ରାଜନୈତିକ ନେତା ସକ୍ରୀୟ ହୋଇ ନିଜ ଇଲାକାରେ କିଭଳି ଖେଳ ସଂସ୍କୃତିର ବିକାଶ ହେବ ତାହାର ଉପାୟ ବାହାର କରିବା ଉଚିତ। କରୋନା ସମୟରେ ଆର୍ଥିକ ଗତିବିଧିଗୁଡିକ ବଂଚି ରହିଲେ ଖେଳ ସଂସ୍କୃତିର ବିକାଶ ମଧ୍ୟ ସମ୍ଭବ ହୋଇ ପାରିବ। ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଛୋଟ ଛୋଟ ଆର୍ଥିକ ଗତିବିଧିକୁ ବଞ୍ଚାଇ ରଖି କିଭଳି ଭୂତାଣୁ ବିରୋଧରେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ କରିହେବ ସେଥିପାଇଁ ଅଭିନବ ଉପାୟ ବାହାର କରିବା ଦରକାର।

ଶାରୀରିକ ବିକାଶ ପାଇଁ ଭେଜାଲ ମୁକ୍ତ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ନିହାତି ଦରକାର। ଗତକିଛି  ମାସ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ସରକାର ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଜାଗାରେ ଭେଜାଲ ଖାଦ୍ୟର ଉତ୍ପତି ସ୍ଥଳ ଉପରେ ଚଢ଼ାଉ କରି ଅନେକ ଭେଜାଲ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ନଷ୍ଟ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ଓଡ଼ିଶାକୁ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଭେଜାଲମୁକ୍ତ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଏହି ଚଢ଼ାଉ ଲୋକ ଦେଖାଣିଆ ନହୋଇ ନିରନ୍ତର  ଚାଲିବା ଦରକାର। କରୋନା ସଂକ୍ରମଣଠାରୁ ଭେଜାଲ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଖାଇ ଲୋକେ ଅନେକ ବ୍ୟାଧିର ଶିକାର ହୋଇଥାନ୍ତି। ଆଜି ଭାରତରେ ବିଶ୍ୱର ସବୁଠାରୁ ଅଧିକ ଲୋକ ଅଙ୍ଗ ବିଫଳତାର ଶିକାର ହୋଇଛନ୍ତି। ଏହାର ମୂଳ କାରଣ ହେଲା ଭେଜାଲ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଓ ଅଶୁଦ୍ଧ ଜଳର କୁପ୍ରଭାବ। ଭୂତାଣୁ ଆକ୍ରମଣ ସମୟରେ ଭେଜାଲ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଓ ଅଶୁଦ୍ଧ ଜଳ ଘାତକସିଦ୍ଧ ହୋଇଥାଏ।

ଭେଜାଲ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ବନ୍ଦ କରିବା ସଂଗେ ସଂଗେ ସରକାର ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ଥିବା ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ଜିଲାର ଫସଲ ବିଭିନ୍ନତାକୁ ପଞ୍ଜିକରଣ କରି ଏହାର ସୁରକ୍ଷା କଲେ ଏହା  ପୁଷ୍ଟିସାର ଜାତୀୟ ଖାଦ୍ୟର ଅଭାବ ପୂରଣ କରିବ। ଜିନ ବିକୃତିକରଣ, ଲୋକ ସଚେତନତା ଓ ନେତୃତ୍ୱର ଅଭାବରୁ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଆଜି ତାହାର ଫସଲ ବିବିଧତାକୁ ହରାଇବାକୁ ଯାଉଛି। ଫସଲ ବିବିଧତାକୁ ରକ୍ଷା କରିବାପାଇଁ ସରକାର ପ୍ରଥମେ ଉର୍ବର ଚାଷଜମି ନ ବିକିବାପାଇଁ ଦୃଢ଼ ପଦକ୍ଷେପ ନେବା ଉଚିତ। ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଅନେକ ଜାଗାରେ ଚାଷୀମାନେ ଲୋଭରେ ପଡ଼ି ନିଜ ଜମି ବିକି ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ଧନରାଶିକୁ  ହରାଇ ନିଜ ଜମିରେ ମୂଲ ଲାଗୁଥିବାର ଦେଖିବାକୁ ମିଳୁଛି।

ଶିକ୍ଷା, ଆବାସ ଓ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ବାବଦରେ ସାଧାରଣ ଲୋକେ ଆୟର ଅଧିକାଂଶ ଅଂଶ ଖର୍ଚ୍ଚ କରୁଥିବାରୁ ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ପାଇଁ ଦିନକୁ ଯେତିକି କ୍ୟାଲୋରୀ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଦରକାର ତାହା ସେମାନେ ପାଉନାହାନ୍ତି। ବିଶ୍ୱ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ସଂଗଠନର କହିବା ଅନୁସାରେ ଜଣେ ପୁରୁଷ ଦିନକୁ ୨୫୦୦ କ୍ୟାଲୋରୀ ଓ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଦିନକୁ ୨୦୦୦ କ୍ୟାଲୋରୀ ଦରକାର କରେ। ଜଣେ ମଧ୍ୟବିତ୍ତ କିମ୍ବା ନିମ୍ନ ମଧ୍ୟବିତ୍ତ ପରିବାର ତାହାର ସମସ୍ତ ସଦସ୍ୟଙ୍କୁ ନିର୍ଧାରିତ କ୍ୟାଲୋରୀର ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଯୋଗାଇବା ଅସମ୍ଭବ। ଏହା ଭାରତର ସମସ୍ତ ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ଏକ ଗୁରୁତର ପରିସ୍ଥିତି ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରିଛି। ଫସଲ ବିବିଧତା ରକ୍ଷାକଲେ ଓ ଘର ତିଆରି ପୁଷ୍ଟିକର ଖାଦ୍ୟର ପ୍ରଚାର ପ୍ରସାର ହେଲେ ଏହା ଲୋକଙ୍କର କ୍ୟାଲୋରୀ ଅଭାବ ପୂରଣ କରି ରୋଗ ପ୍ରତିରୋଧକ ଶକ୍ତି ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରିପାରିବ। ସରକାରୀ ଶିକ୍ଷାନୁଷ୍ଠାନ ଓ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟକେନ୍ଦ୍ରଗୁଡିକର ଗୁଣାତ୍ମକ ମାନ ବଢ଼ିଲେ ଅନେକ ଲୋକ କମ ଖର୍ଚ୍ଚରେ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଓ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟସେବା ପାଇ ଉତ୍ତମ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ପାନୀୟରେ ବେଶୀ ଖର୍ଚ୍ଚ କରିପାରନ୍ତେ। ରୋଗ ପ୍ରତିଶୋଧକ ଶକ୍ତି ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ଅନେକ ରୋଗରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ରକ୍ଷା  କରିପାରିବ।