Meeting those hailing from Haiti, Bhutan and North East

Meeting those hailing from Haiti, Bhutan and North East

There have been occasions when we have come across residents hailing from Haiti and Bhutan. These residents have come on a training project which gives them the opportunity to gauge the sentiment prevailing in this part of the world. Commuting by metro, they have a mixed experience.

There have been umpteen occasions when we have come across students from the North East residing in the national capital of Delhi. They have a base in the heart of the city and that's the best part. A couple from Assam, working in a private bank, two students from Manipur taking coaching for civil services from a North DElhi Centre and two associate professors in DElhi University hailing from Mizoram. Interactions with them have ranged from the need to give respect to every community irrespective of their numbers to bringing sanity to the proceedings in the national capital.
Here in the national capital if you flip through the pages of newspapers you come across full page ads on a state seeking investments. It's a show of strength meant to showcase the strides they have recorded when in the name of development most claims don't have a ring of truth. What about MoUs worth million of rupees signed in the past and of that how much has been realised. Very negligible to say the least. The states across wide spectrum seek investments when attempts in the past have not delivered desired results.    

Public money and party office bearers

Public money and party office bearers

Dissuade them (political party office bearers)from taking to travel by air at party expense. THere have been umpteen  occasions when party office bearers assignment or no assignment take to travel by air. This seminar or that party work which won't be significant enough to call for travel by air sees more of such practices by party office bearers setting in motion the clamour for same by those in the lower rung. Resentment is brewing in this state unit, disaffection has arisen all of a sudden in that state unit, We have to travel from national capital to sort out the matter is the common refrain. This is all waste of public money when a mere telephone call would do.  Entirely unconnected to this is an issue of modernisation of airports and the private concerns which won the bid including in the metros. It was believed, reported to a fair extent, that private concerns which went on to raise and run the big airports had to shell out huge sums to the authorities/regime in power. As a result, they piled up huge debt and this having spillover effect to other frames of economy. If these concerns had not been told to fork out huge sums at least a degree of honesty would have been registered and other doors of economy would have opened with least bottlenecks and least greasing of palm.  

Political parties in power and those aspiring to gain power have to exercise checks and balances when it comes to party work/assignment and whom all to send and the occasion if at all calls for travel by air. WE come across instances where calls are made regularly to donate to the party kitty to see the expenses that a political party bears are met. It was reported widely that even before the poll fever had set in 2007 in UP close to 200cr were spent to demonstrate that young leadership had won the hearts and minds of  the people. Being garlanded at every other minute, being showered with rose petals, the convoy being stopped here and there was meant to show the leadership had the pulse of the electorate. When the polls were over, the party could not register a win.
As for ads during different anniversaries of leaders, the newspapers across states are flooded with them. Why spent such huge sums when the same effort could be utilised to raise a medical facility in far away districts/ remote districts of a state/country.This exercise of placing ads is a sheer wastage of public money. These occasions are meant to show they are very much relevant in the political landscape of the country.   Similarly when employment is a big issue, most of the leaderships from Bengal, Assam , DElhi went to Gandhi Maidan in Bihar during swearing -in ceremony only to attest the fact there is no bar on travel by political leadership to any part of the country. THese travels were on public money.  Bihar elections showed the departure from real issues and talking about tantra mantra, personal attacks, straying from real agenda and not sticking to the state issue and keeping the speech short and to the point cost them(party making an attempt to gain power) dear. What law and order turn the state would witness would be known soon but the state is in the grip of a caste calculus and this percolates down to the bottom, hitting the very fabric of governance. No poll can be won when minorities don't wait and vote for you. This does not mean the other alliance has done wonders for minorities. THe party in power in the state has used minorities as votebanks. If they had really cared for minorities at least in madrasas in the state  the young lot should have been provided education, skill development and a path that would have glided them towards gainful employment. One page insertions in different newspapers like leaflets in minority dominated constituencies in the state which carry reports of how minorities are gaining skill, gaining employment and same being spread through word of mouth could bring a sense of belongingness to the minorities. THis one page insertion could be carried out in the entire country in the districts where minorities have a sizeable presence.
THe bus permits, the number of buses to be run on such and such route, the roads that need recarpeting are some among million areas that could see rise or reinvention of graft. Giving tenders to those hailing from one caste or one group would further see the strong grip of caste calculus in the state..    

House sitting too is on public money and if there are disagreements, the attempt should be to thrash out the same than adjourning the House. Even if marshals are required for the same it could be tried. House sitting during two session than three would do.
IN the national capital, the attempt should have been to streamline the functioning of different govt hospitals. About 10 months ago when the new regime came in the national capital, a detail list of different govt hospitals and the staff reporting for same should have been prepared. This should have been followed by a list of doctors, nurses who all needed to be recruited in different hospitals followed by the list of equipments that needed to be supplied to these govt hospitals. A detail follow up would have improved the functioning of these hospitals. Why not draw up a list of hospitals in the national capital of delhi and recruit the doctors/nurses based on feedback from the hospital. THis is more important than make a claim that 10,000 new buses would hit the road of the national capital of delhi when there is no space for the same. This would further create law and order problem as we all know from where trouble begins. Similarly the elevated road corridor on the outskirts of capital that could prevent the trucks/buses from entering the heart of the capital (this would check pollution) should be the priority than placing ads in electronic media  and print media about how different they are from others. Giving priority to govt hospitals is more important than getting influenced by surveys that show private medical care is doing wonders when very few can afford it. At all major railway stations, bus terminals of the national capital there could be at least one kiosk on providing information on availability of beds in govt hospitals and the doctors who could be of help to you. Because those coming from outside have to run here and there to get medical care when the requisite information they seek does not come.


Seventh Pay Panel
AS for the seventh pay panel, reports in the papers suggest that before its implementation over 4lakh 30, 000 crore goes toward salaries and pension of central govt staff including railways every year. After its implementation the Centre would have to bear a burden of over 1 lakh crore in the first year. This steep hike of over 23 per cent can't be justified and yet the party making an attempt to gain power suggests the hike should have been 40 per cent. Private companies are in huge debt, salaries are being slashed like anything and yet the pay panel set up by the previous regime sees merit in raising the pay and that too by such a margin. Pay panel should come every 15 years, not 10. THe ability of the govt to dole out such huge sums can be questioned given the financial landscape we are in when taxes of different nature haunt us.IN the West when the govt has failed to honour commitments towards salaries/pension disturbing trends have emerged.    

A recent meet of investors in the western state saw the electronic media being splashed with an ad "Hum hai tayar" was sheer wastage of public money. THe state has least employment rate. The meet won't raise emloyment. This ad should have run  at the most for a week prior to the investor meet than running for over 40 days.
Most would agree that public money can't be wasted on ads in print and electronic media. Another ad that shows "yeh doodh peeta hai india" looks inflammatory and repulsive THe ads on super bikes super cars splashed in papers and electronic media are nothing but an attempt to create stir in the society.   

The ride from Puri to Balasore

Sightings in Puri

Sightings in Puri

Station is choc-a-bloc with passengers when more than one train arrives at the same time or arrival or departure of trains are close to each other. Outside station vendors could be spotted selling their wares and a sorry sight is of garbage that piles up. Perhaps some renovation work of flattening the ground is underway and this part of the space could be utilised to accommodate vendors who are literally on road. As for the book store in the station, on occasions the long meal break time can dislodge your efforts to secure the publication of your choice. Staff is good but the meal break time can go beyond one hour.

From station
- shree jagannath computer care
- bakery items available here
- fast food
- xerox, ice cream, snacks, stationary, grocery
- baba lokanath shop
- mantoo bhai tours and travels

- jhadeswari grocery shop
- mahura chena rabidi
- time inn net
- studio kalpataru
- sahoo general store
- mahalaxmi VT store
-sudarshan craft museum
-maa dakhinakali fruit shop
-The Career
admission open

-1853 puri zila school
- hotel padma  (jittu, deenbandhu were part of courteous staff in the restaurant)
- renuka the puri urban primary consumer cooperative store
- sai tele service
- orissa bakery
- tarini computer
- axis bank atm
now comes gopal sahi chowk
- sbi
- united india insurance co ltd
- students' reliance
turn right
- subash academy
BSE CBSE
+2 math, banking, railway

As far as rama ballav road is concerned the sightings are as follows

-ayurshree spa direction showing inside

- wild grass @good food.pocket friendly
- swaraj scs college hostel
- st xavier high school
- intouch (selling snacks). it also provides coaching of sorts. cbse icse  coaching (III- V)

Further ahead is college road prominent being samanta chandrasekhar college 1944

When you turn left from rama ballav road you reach college road, further ahead turning right you reach hostel square. Keep walking and from here on turning right is amala club road and on left is anna tiffin centre
-anna tiffin centre
south indian
cold drinks available here

-catholic church
- gen nxt internet
And here you reach mochi sahi square

When you reach main post office road there is icici bank branch, atm. Further ahead as you turn left you reach college road. You come across
- odisha computer organisation (board)
- ramakrishna vivekananda vedanta sahitya available
- vendor cart dishing out kolabari chuski chumm
- scs college
- concentric circle a region of mathematics
- hdfc


On dola mandap sahi road
-prasanna kumar sahoo general store
- anupam
- jay jagannath ( good store man)
- Subha Shree in Mahodadhi market


Sightings from grand road to dola mandap sahi road
-Bidya Bhavan
-memory point
- G triangle art & craft
- singhdwar sub post office
- uptodate hair dressers
- kothabhoga khaja shop
- sri jagannath agencies
- aquarium house
- south indian tiffin point
- odisha roop kal mandir
- sbi atm
- cheese cake
- odisha khadi bhawan
- anna idly centre
- senapati sweets
- goldie studio
- ramashree lodge
- baikuntha dham

The stay in Puri was for 10 days. Pooja lodge appeared to be the best bet and the adjoining cafeteria in Sarada lodge run by Sushant was a big advantage.   Rama ballav road was all dug up and it would require months' efforts to restore it back to its glory. There is only big college , SCS College. A young boy residing in the area said people from different places come to Puri but students of the town have to flock to different parts of the country to seek higher education and probable levels of employment. Higher education and extension is something Puri has been denied all these years leading to a large flow of students to other urban centres. Though coaching centres have dotted the landscape, Puri Zila School 1853 remains an important landmark.  

Ride from bhubneswar to puri

ride from bhubneswar to puri

While waiting for Dhouli Express coming from Howrah and going towards Puri PLatform 1 presented a picture of calm and cool. The Train is supposed to come by 12.30; train timing is reset to 2.30, 3.30 and finally at 4.15 pm. Different vendors could be seen at work in pf 1 which also has CTI office and an office on Odisha tourism. During the wait announcements are made for Rourkela intercity, dhouli (going towards Howrah), Puri Passenger and Konark express to Mumbai.  


Dhouli express  leaves at 4.35; gains traction/ speed at 4.37, linga station 4.42, slows down at 4.43. From 4.43 agricultural land we come across; at 4.47 gains traction. At 4.52 we reach retang station; later spot a young guard in yellow outfit.  At 4.54 we see a green bike at a railway crossing.
At 4.54 see barren land followed by fertile agricultural land. At 4.59 we reach khurda road outer; 5.05 khurda road; 5.10 leave khurda road; 5.15 hamirpur gram ; 5.15 sight green coloured  home; 5.22 kanas road. After kanas road we come across long spell of fertile agricultural land. At 5.25  we reach delang station followed by birpur station at 5.29  and sakhigopal station at 5.35. THe wait here is long as two trains go past us, puri- durg and puri-ahmedabad. Finally at  5.58 leave sakhigopal station;  at 6.15 we are in malatipatpur station. From 6 pm onwards we see a good number of labourers at work. Finally we are in Puri at 6.25. On way to puri  we come across new tracks, new flyover and new constructions


The stay in Puri was for 10 days having had the opportunity to stay in three different lodges. First point of stay was in Anjaana lodge on Gopal Ballav road. This was followed by Pooja lodge in Sarada DEvi Road and Baikuntha Dham on Dola Mandap Sahi. REached Puri on a SAturday evening and left the town on a Monday. Among the three lodges Pooja presented a picture of calm and quietness. THe stay in the first lodge was ok except for repeated queries on when the room would be vacated. THe delivery boy in Pooja lodge could not entertain the request of getting a newspaper from a hawker as he found going all the way to station to be a tad difficult. SAturday, Sunday, Thursday and Monday were the days when we visited the Puri temple; the rush was managed with utmost precision. Earlier the entry to the temple was from left side and nowadays they had switched to an entry from right and that too after a session of frisking. Earlier the visits did not witness any session of frisking.
Sarada lodge which is next to Pooja lodge came handy as far as meals were concerned. Subha Shree , a shop in Mahodadhi market, Mochi Sahi, came handy for handkerchiefs.  The entire stay in Puri saw me visit different cyber cafes, notably dotcom and gen nxt.

From gopal ballav road as you reach mochi sahi square,  one road goes towards dola mandap sahi; other road goes towards anna tiffin centre from where you turn right you reach hostel square and the road on the left is college road leading to college and on right the road leads to beach. FRom Hostel square road  as you reach College road, you have to turn right to reach Rama Ballav Road; this was all dug up and perhaps it would take some months before a well carpeted road is set. Rama Ballav Road has a charm of its own. 

Reaching  Bhubaneswar

There are two swarna lodging points in Bhubaneswar. First is in the vicinity of times lodge. The entry to this lodge has a ganesha in black illustration. The staff is more eager to accommodate you, nothing to separate you and the lodge even if one has not turned up with entire bag and baggage and with other team members . THe second lodge which also has a dining hall is swarna lodging and restaurant. This is on main road of Ashok Nagar.
Swarna lodging and restaurant appeared to be the best bet as far as snacks and meals were concerned. The staff courteous and the food on offer  very close to your expectations.
Tea prepared from a makeshift camp near times lodge was good.  Digamber making tea looked to be blessed. Digamber was frank enough to admit he had studied till 10th standard.

As for other sightings in Bhubaneswar

Shri Kunj  ashok nagar raj mahal square

In  palika bazar we come across
-mahalaxmi textiles
-maa sarala bastralaya
-sriyatram restaurant
- swarna restaurant (on other side)
- sambit palace  discounts ac bar and free snacks
- times lodge

From bapuji nagar towards lewis road
-maa tarani book store
-mahaveer lassi and juice
-state museum
-bhanja kalamandap
-b.j.b autonomous college
-maa sarla auto works
-trupty drug store
-shree jagannath auto works

THe day we reached Bhubaneswar, the man hailing from Jajpur was kind enough to guide us to Times lodge. Times lodge is next to Sambit Palace. AS for cash deposit machines of SBI, a thorough search could not provide an outcome where cash accepting machines were truly functional. FRom Rabindra Mandap to SBI main branch, the machines could not carry out cash-accepting functions. Finally had to settle for SBI main branch the next day for cash to be deposited.

In SBI main branch as you wait for cash to be deposited you come across a notice on proof of identity and proof of address. These could be
- passport - pan card - driving licence - voter id card - aadhar letter - nrega job card

Further there is a display board showing
ticket  counter

As for the ride to Bhubaneswar the originating point was Delhi.

As you enter delhi airport there is baker street serving

iced tea
hot tea
granitas
hot shakes
the great shakes


there is indusbank atm

airtel payphone (working during that time)

And there is toilet on extreme side


Post security check you come across
- united colour of benetton
- ethos
-swrovski
-cellar
-starbucks tata alliance


Indubala devi and pawan yadav in security appeared to be at a comfort level. Indubala devi hails from northeast and she seem to be enjoying her stint in the security section of airport..
In flight you meet cabin crew member from ziro district of arunachal pradesh. From flight you can see tanker of indian oil aviation  "our ground work takes you sky high." Further to be spotted is a flyover. The aircraft moves at 4.26 pm going past bharat petroleum, HP aviation. Come across airport hotel where some construction is going on. Go past four hangars, some meant for Boeing 737 A320.  At 4.29 jet lands, 4.35 indigo lands and at 4.36 the flight takes off. First goes west and then turns east. Down below spot a series of flats, dtc bus depot; going from dwarka side see the final resting point of metro station. Also come across tennis court. Very soon come across agricultural land, small dwellings
In Go Air making announcement in hindi looks good. At 4.45 announcement made we are at 20,000 feet and temperature outside is - 14 degree Celsius. From 4.45 clouds galore accompanied by little turbulence. At 4.57 we see river below and there is clear visibility at 5.07

At 5.14 begin to lose some height, a little later gains some; at 5. 27 turbulence followed by severe turbulence and announcement made to this effect.
5.35 onwards again clouds  appear which keep the view not good
at 5.37 turns right
at 5.42 turns left; 5.43 onwards clear view
at 5.44 power plant or some industrial activity is seen. After some time the flow of ganga is seen and not far away is another set of industrial activity seen. At 5.49 it begins to descend and at  5.58 overhead plane flying can be spotted. At 6.10 announcement is made Bhubaneswar is 15 minutes from touchdown. Before 6 it was a clear sky. It seems late evening has set in between 6 and 6 08 pm. At 6.08 descending amidst thick layer of clouds
At 6.23 a huge river spotted having a rail bridge. At 6.26 wheels come out. The first impression about the city is that it is not that huge. There are fewer roads. Go Air finally lands at 6.28.
Perhaps the investment made in the airport looks to be huge and it seems to be a recent activity.  THe best part there is not much of a rush outside; more it appears to be a desolate stretch. Buses you get about two kms away from the airport. Perhaps a bus stand near the barrier could be handy. From here we head towards Ashok Nagar.

The ride from Balasore to Howrah

THe ride from Balasore to Howrah

Before we attempt to write on the ride to orissa, it would be prudent to essay the experience on ride from balasore to howrah
Having stayed in balasore for three days, it was time to head towards Howrah. As soon as we get down from a rickshaw, the first impression about the station is near absence of porters. The enquiry centre is manned by a lady with the board showing shatabdi sf as the name of the train. The right name is Puri-Howrah Shatabdi. This can confuse commuters. Reach Balasore station at 10.09. The name of the train is Shatabdi SF on the board where enquiry is made. Between Platform 1 and Platform 2 there are upper class waiting hall for gents and upper class waiting hall for ladies At 10.16  BLS-ROP-BPO-BGV local train comes.  At 10.18 shatabdi comes. At 10.22 Dhouli comes, going towards puri. At 10.24 the shatabdi leaves. WE come across first bridge at 10.27 and there is rich paddy field followed by second bridge at 10.30. The train slows down  at 10.29, gains traction at 10.32, at 10.35 nidhi panda comes with unhindered sighting of  rich fertile paddy fields. At 10.30 third small bridge comes.
At 10.36 it  slows down. At 10.37 amra comes and along amra runs a semi prepared road on left going inside a village.  Soon we come across a new expansive flyover over railway tracks. At 10.38 we sight a volunteer with a vest. The guard stationed at a railway crossing has a whistle. At 10.40 haldipada comes. Here at  a railway crossing small schoolgirls with bicycles can be seen.  Volunteer with vest  appears for one or two occasions - more of an isolated sighting. Near water tank and before  the tank there are wide swathes of greenery. THe view from the train window shows quite far away scores of trucks lined on road.
At 10.43 at a  railway crossing, scores of schoolgirls on bicycles can be seen.

At 10.44 perhaps station with the name rupya junction comes. At 10.45 we come across fourth small bridge and  fifth small bridge. At 10.46 nadanaga road,  10.47 jalaka bridge, 10.48 7th bridge, 8th bridge. During this time a small white house with velvet colour looks radiant.
At 10.50 basta station. There are small roads running parallel to station and they are little away from tracks, mostly used by students to bicycle
From 10.51 onwards open to huge agricultural fields flanked by trees  about 500 metres before Amarda station. At 10.53 Amarda road station comes. At 10.55 rich paddy fields and here mobile tower looks odd. At 10.56 we come across green coloured home lapped with window to see movement of trains.

At 10.57 9th bridge,  10.57 rajghat station , 10.59 10th bridge which is a little longer. A boat rowing below  conveys water has receded and bushes have come up
At 11.01 Jaleswar station, at 11.03 there is second flyover over tracks. At this time the train slows down, gains traction. At 11.08 agricultural land looks less abundant. At 11.11 we come across a semi pucca house followed by expansive agricultural land at 11.12.
At 11.20 belda, 11.23 bakhrabad, 11.27 narayangarh station  followed by expansive agricultural land and at 11.35 comes benapur. Again at 11.37 it opens to expansive agricultural land. Hijli station comes at 11.40 and at 11.43 we are underneath another set of rail tracks.
At 11.45 there is semicircle track on which the train moves. WE come across asbestos covered factory. We also come across a  man sitting with a bag under a tree shade. At 11.47 it slows down to 20 km, reach kharagpur outer where two set of tracks emerge. WE go past  Ada-KGP- DMO-Ada-KGP stationary train.
At 11.54 we are in  Kharagpur station. On Kharagpur platform 6 we sight a man carrying ORDA Puri bag, reading a bangla paper. On Pf 5 is Guwahati Ernakulam train stationed. On platform what can be noticed is a book stall and fresh fruit juice stall.
We leave Kharagpur at 12.08. Come across a man walking with umbrella and bags at 12.13. At 12.15 open to expansive agricultural land.  At 12.30 haur, 12.40 khair, 12.44 panskura. At 12.46 stops for a while and at 12.57 stops for a while. At 1 pm we are in mecheda station where a brand new local train is standing
At 1.05 Kolaghat, at the same time we come across longest bridge with deep water. At1.08 deulti, 1.10 ghorghata, 1.10 dantan station, 1.12 basnan, 1.17 Kulgachia, 1.20 Birshupur and 1.23 Ulberia

At 1.24 we go past baroda home  (not a station), 1.26 chengail station, we come across  a girl student with umbrella walking and speaking on a cell. At1.28 Bauria, 1.29 Nalpur station, 1.35 Andul,  1.36 santragachi loco shed,  1.38 santragachi,  1.39 Ramrajatala, 1.43 Tikiapara. WE reach Howrah at 1.52 on platform 23.

The ride lasted almost three and a half hours with enough sighting of paddy fields, overhead tracks and houses that were a pleasant surprise. The number of passengers that had gone down on pf 5 of Guwahati Ernakulam train suggested as if the entire train strength had got on to the  platform. As for Shatabdi there are sliding doors which most would suggest does not gell well with ageing population. A push/pull door is a better option. The train ride was gentle and so were the passengers.