Padayatra: BJP ahead of BJD in Bijepur race
The ECI’s direction to finalize revised electoral roll for the Bijepur constituency by January 20 is a sign for a date to be fixed sometime in February before the HSC examinations in Odisha. Almost a gap of one month remains in between and the bugle for the much awaited schedule is likely to be blown, ending all speculations. There is a sudden spurt in the electioneering activity after the firing incident targeting the house of BJP activist and mandal president of BJP Yuba Morcha Manoranjan Meher. Despite arrest of two persons allegedly involved in the incident and the cops denying hands of any political party, including the BJD, the BJP has made it an election issue and organized a “Ganatantra Bachao Padayatra” on Tuesday, protesting inaction of the police over the incident. Knowing well of the impact of the rally, the BJP is trying to gain maximum mileage out of it, including the road side meetings all along the padayatra . By playing up the issue of firing on the house of Meher of Pada village on January 7, the BJP is believed to have stolen the march over its rival. That is the reason why the BJD camp is in jittery. The delay in announcement of the poll date is alleged by them as the BJP’s poll plank to weaken the sympathy factor in favour of Ritarani Sahoo, widow of late Subal Sahu, who switched over to the BJD with her supporters.
Damocles’ Sword hanging on Baijayant
Kendrapada BJD MP Baijayant Panda, former BJD MLA Ramaranjan Baliarsingh, besides a few other ruling party leaders, are targeting the Third Floor (CM Naveen Patnaik’s office) on some pretext or the other. The sacrificial lamb has been Karthikeyan Pandian, a super-brain IAS officer who as the CM’s Private Secretary is duty-bound to carry out his orders. That he is being asked to advise the CM on political matters is the CM’s prerogative. Nobody should have any question on this. Now, Damodar Rout has joined the bandwagon. The protests of both Panda and Rout could be a tell-tale sign of their disenchantment in the party and the way party affairs are handled by BJD high command Patnaik. Allegations against Panda from across his constituency and asking probe reports through observers Pramila Mallik and Usha Devi suggest that the axe is likely to fall on Panda sooner than later.
Jatra troupes on verge of closure despite big shows
Known as bigger than Ollywood, he opera (Jatra) industry of Odisha is almost on the verge of closure from the next season which begins in August. High operation cost and restrictions imposed by the administration, 23 major opera troupes are going to close their business. Odisha Jatra Troupes Owners’ Association made this announcement a day after the State Government launched Mukhya Mantri Kalakar Sahayata Yojana and enhanced the monthly pension for artists to Rs 1,200, besides relaxing the age limits of both male and femaleartists. But despite Jatra troupe owners’ claim that growing operational cost and restrictions inflict huge loss every year, the operas remain a big draw in the State compared to Odia films and TV serials. Jatra industry’s turnover stands at Rs100 crore per annum whereas the Odia film industry according to estimates has an annual turnover of Rs 20 crore from about 20 to 25 films. It is a fact that the traditional Jatra has undergone a sea change in the recent years. Operational costs have increased as owners have to invest in state-of-the art infrastructure like stage, air conditioning and fire proof tents besides lighting and security. But the decision of the owners has not gone down well among some 9,000 odd artistes who will lose their bread and butter. They also blame the Government for its apathy to the Jatra world, lack of patronage and restrictions imposed by various district administrations during performances by the troupes on the plea of examinations and elections et al. This has resulted in cutting down on the performance days. The big and popular names decide the show price as star performers charge a staggering Rs 20 lakh to Rs30 lakh. In the absence of a film institute of Pune stature, the Ollywood industry which used to draw matured artistes for making films will now lose an important supply chain link.
RSP TV: Story of a shattered dream
Conceived as one wonderful tool of employee’s communication, the Rourkela Steel Plant had launched a cable television system in the early 80s for its employees staying in quarters allotted to them across the steel township. The satellite television was just being introduced and an in–house television generated a great deal of enthusiasm among the employees. To begin with about 4,000 houses were connected and the employees of the plant remained glued to the television between 6 and 10 pm to watch programmes which ranged from education to entertainment. But from communication point of view, the news hour between 7 to 9 pm was of interest for the captive viewers as the news telecast was live in English, Hindi and Odia. It was a novel experiment but failed miserably for reluctance of the company management to afford huge amount of investment in terms of employment to professionals. Due to immature handling of the programmes by amateur artistes from among the employees, the entire plan for a model in-house communication scheme met with its fait accompli. The dream of the management was shattered miserably and the equipment brought for the purpose are now gathering dust in a studio. The chief of communication in his Hyderabadi style loves to appear for interviews with visiting guests of repute and share live programmes with them. The Chief Executive officer of the organisation and the ladies of the Deepika Mahila Samiti, the so-called social organisation comprising wives of all General Managers and above, are invited in the name of some programmes or the other. The large investment of a few crores have gone down the drain but officers in-charge of the studio are yet to learn a lesson and instead confine to live in their visionary world at the expense of hard money earned by employees of the plant.