How Beneficial Next Gen GST Will Be For Common Man?

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

The Next Gen GST or GST 2.0 has become effective with the sole intention of providing relief to the common man of the country. The reforms in tax slabs have been carried out after long eight years. During these eight years, Indian citizens, particularly the common man, virtually paid through their noses for goods and services. The Opposition leaders of the country have been demanding the scrapping of GST terming it as Gabbar Singh Tax as prices of essential commodities skyrocketed due to implementation of different slabs such as 5, 12,18 and 28 percent.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has finally bowed down to the pressure of the Opposition leaders particualary that of Rahul Gandhi of Congress party to carry out reforms for the benefit of poor people of India. PM Modi in his address to the nation has described the reforms as 'Bachat Ka Ustsab' or a celebration for savings. But, only time will tell how the savings of the poor people are protected with the implementation of the Next Gen GST.

What Is GST?

It stands for Goods and Services Tax and was introduced in the country by the Modi Governemnt in 2017. At that time it was widely broadcast, telecast and written that the government had introduced the measure as part of one nation one tax system. But, over the years, the GST turned out to be very complicated for small time businessmen and traders in the country due to multipliticity in slabs. The government imposed taxes on essential food items rising their prices enormously. It was widely believed that the Modi Government was in favour of corporate friends and the GST was implemented in the country with the sole purpose of protecting their interest.   

What Is Next Gen Reforms?

The Central government has declared that the reformes will provide relief to consumers, particulary those who are coming under lower income and middle class. It said a number of items such as food, milk and paneer, household essentials, health-care goods, and education-related items will now become cheaper.  The reduction in tax system will also benefit agriculture and rural sectors in the country, the government said.

According to the government, GST reduction on different goods will encourage more people to purchase more and this will increase demand leading to growth of the economy. The Finance Minister has said the rate cuts will inject about Rs 2 lakh crore into the economy.

Revenue Loss To Govt:

Both the Centre and state governments will incur losses due to rate cuts which is roughly estimated to be nearly Rs 50,000 crore annually. Economists said that there is likelihood is that the rate cuts will affect the structures upstream. They said transition from one slab to another involves issues that will affect the  traders, retailers as well as manufacturers for updating systems acquired under older rates. Swift actions are needed to resolve the disputes leading to rate cuts of goods and services.

Everybody knows that the Modi Government has announced the rate cuts of essential goods and services keeping an eye on Bihar election in two months and subsequent polls later in other states. This move might be populist, but everything depends on how the measures are implemented to benefit the poor.

Conclusion

Finally the corrections to the GST has been made and this is an welcome move by the Modi Government at the Centre. The tax system has been simplified to provide relief to the citizens, mostly the common man.

Despite the reforms, the government has to ensure the implementation of the Next Gen system has to benefit across society, particularly the marginalized sections of the society. The reformative measures have to be carried out well, with good intent and put into good practice.

Why Satkosia Remains A Tigerless Tiger Reserve?

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

There are no tigers in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Angul district, yet it is known as Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR). Spread over 1000 sqkm spanning Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh districts, the wildlife sanctuary is a home to rare species of flora and fauna with a rich biodiversity. The seven mile long  Satkosia Gorge is unique as the largest river of Odisha, Mahanadi, flows through it. In 2007 the wildlife sanctuary was declared as a tiger reserve with 12 tigers, but the census conducted in 2022 clearly mentioned that there was no tiger left in the habitat.

Odisha forest department initiated country's first ever interstate tiger relocation in 2018 to grow the population of the big cats in Satkosia Tiger Reserve. Accordingly, a male tiger from Kanha and a tigress from Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh, were brought to the sanctuary as an experimental step to boost tiger population. However, the programme was derailed due to stiff opposition from villagers living inside the sanctuary as the tigress, which was named as Sundari, turned violent attacking and killing livestock. The male tiger Mahaveer died under mysterious circumstances. The wildlife wing of Angul did not cite any reason how the relocated royal Bengal tiger (RBT) died.

Why Satkoisa Is Tigerless?

Although it is difficult to pinpoint reason, a number of factors including  social, ecological and administrative, are believed to have contributed to wiping out of RBTs from Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary. According to environmentalists, the constant loss of biodiversity in Satkosia, leading to decline in the prey base, has more to do with the issue than anything else. They are of the opinion that tigers, mostly RBTs, need vast forest tracts with teeming prey base of deer and wildboars, for their survival. The habitat quality has been constantly declining due to poaching and encroachment of forest territory by the villagers living inside the sanctuary. This has resulted in human-animal conflict. There are reports that booby traps have been used to kill wildboars and deer casting a negative impact on the decline of prey base for tigers.

Administrative Lacunae:

Informed sources said as conservation of RBTs involves a lot of planning and investment, relocation of tigers could not be successful in Satkosia. Planning demands regular patrolling and involvement of local communities for conservation of tigers. Unfortunately, this didn't happen in Satkosia. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has clearly mentioned in its guidelines that the forest dwellers must be taken into confidence before relocation of RBTs actually takes place. But, in the case of Satkosia Tiger Reserve, there was no transperancy of activities taken for relocation of tigers. This enraged the denizens living  inside the sanctuary, and at the end, the programmes was unsuccessful. Of course, the wildlife division of Angul has taken initiatiatives to shift villagers from Raiguda,Katrang, Asanbahal and Bhurkundi to make way for relocation of RBTs in the sanctuary. Villagers from Purunakote, Gopalpur, Chhotkei, Majhipada and Tikarpada will be shortly shifted from the sanctuary, but there are allegations that villagers are being forced to leave their home and hearth for RBTs. They have alleged that the compensation is not adequate to purchase land elsewhere and make a decent living. Wildlife organizations in Angul district said community participation should be core for successful implementation of a tiger habitat. The thrust must on the livelihood alternatives of the displaced persons to accommodate tigers in their area.

The wildlife wing of Angul must work on the issue of human-wildlife conflict by involving experts to find out the reason and solution before the actual process of relocation of RBTs takes place. The wildlife staff have to be educated and trained to successfully implement relocation project. Conservation goals are best achieved by the participation of local communities. The wildlife staff must understand this.

Why Are Endangered Gharial Hatchlings Vanishing In Satkosia Gorge?

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

A number of Gharial hatchlings have been swept away by floodwaters in Mahanadi in Odisha's Satkosia Gorge, media reports said. The reports said that out of 160 Gharial hatchlings bred in captivity in Gharial Conservation and Research Centre at Tikarpadain in Angul district in the past five years, a very few have have been left. Environmentalists have expressed their concern over the lack of preparedness by the wildlife officials in Angul division to save the hatchlings from gushing waters of Mahanadi during monsoon. Gharial hatchlings being swept away during floods in Mahanadi, the largest river in Odisha, does not occur occasionally, rather this is a regular phenomenon during rainy season.

Flood Factor Overlooked:

Gharial hatchlings are very small and measure nearly 40 centimeters after coming out of their eggs. They are always vulnerable to gushing waters of Mahanadi that overwhelm the sandy beds of the river where hatchlings take shelter after coming out the eggs. The irony is that the wildlife staff of Angul division become active to search for the lost hatchlings after they were swept away by floods. Environmentalists alleged that the wildlife staff never tried to relocate the Gharial hatchlings from Mahanadi's sandy beds to more safer places before monsoon. Therefore, breeding of the endangered species is always replete with danger, they reasoned.

Mugger, Illegal Fishing Challenges:

It is a known fact that Muggers pose severe threat to the fish-eating Gharials in river Mahanadi. In addition to this, illegal sand mining and fishing also have serious threat to the survival of the hatchlings. Although the Satkosia Gorge has been declared as a no-fishing zone, illegal fishing and sand mining activities in upstream locations of river Mahanadi have jeopardized the habitat.

Measures To Safeguard Gharials:

• The wildlife division of Angul must take proactive measures to protect the hatchlings before they are swept away by surging waters of Mahanadi.
• The department must ensure that there are enough makeshift enclosures at Tikarpada to house the hatchlings during floods. This measure must be taken much before the onset of monsoon. The hatching site at Baladamara is prone to be washed away during monsoon, therefore the wildlife staff must be prepared to arrange alternative sites as safe habitats for the Gharials .
• Community participation is always encouraging for conservation of endangered species. The wildlife staff, as a good measure, should engage the local fishing community in rescue operations during floods in Mahanadi.
• Enforcement of stricter rules for protection of habitat should be the utmost task of the wildlife division to discourage illegal sand mining upstream.

Media Advocacy:

Media advocacy is one of the most important tenets of conservation policies in most parts of the world as the target audience could be educated on a particular issue. This works incredibly well on wildlife topics. As media plays an important role on awareness on the merits of conservation of biodiversity, it is advisable for the wildlife division in Angul to grab the opportunity to save environmental disaster in the industrial district of Odisha. This is high time that the wildlife wing of Angul must take fruitful measures for survival of Gharials in Satkosia Gorge. The challenge for wildlife staff is, no doubt great, but they have to rise to the occasion and face it.   

Felling Of Trees In Chhendipada Will Bring Environmental Disaster To Angul District

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Large scale felling of Sal trees from reserved forests in Chhendipada block in Angul district has sparked a debate among nature lovers as well as general public in Odisha whether environmental depredation should be allowed for the sake of opencast coalmines. The Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) has started its expansion of coalmine activities in Chhendipada region as huge deposits of coal, otherwise known as Black Diamond, is found beneath its surface.

Environmental Cost:

Environmentalists, nature lovers as well as general public in Odisha are concerned over the colossal loss of forest, particularly the endangered species of Sal in Chhendipada region. Media reports said the forest cover in Chhendipada not only includes Sal species but a number of herbal plants are also available which contributes to biodiversity of the region. Mahua and Kendu trees are abundantly available in Chendipada forest ranges that ensures livelihoods benefits for tribal people since ages. People of Chhendipada block will, in all probability, face displacement scourge like their counterparts in Talcher in the days to come. The displacement will mostly hard hit the sections who are marginalized in the society. The coalmine projects have displaced a large number of families from different villages in Talcher. But, unfortunately, a good percentage of oustees are yet to get compensation as jobs or financial benefit, despite losing their homestead land other landed properties. The people of Chhendipada will also face such fate soon, local environmentalists fear.

Extensive mining operations particularly through opencast method is responsible for erosion of soil. This leads to air and water pollution in Chhendipada region as the people of Talcher have already experienced. Water bodies including Kukurpeta minor irrigation project in Chhendipada region will be contaminated due to extensive mining. Talcher region has already witnessed air and water contamination due to opencast mining projects. People in the area struggle to get a few buckets of potable water throughout the year and scarcity of water prevails during rainy season also.

Environmentalists have alleged that there are lacunae in Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) as the general public have not been taken into confidence. They are not properly consulted by the authorities  before allowing several mining projects in Chhendipada. It is often argued that afforestation would make up the loss of forests in Chhendipada region, but this could never match the the effectiveness of natural forest that existed with herbal species. Scientific studies have shown that trees act like natural air filters and protect the humanity from environmental pollution. But, this will be a thing of the past in Chhendipada region due to large scale felling of tress and in most cases complete wiping out of natural forest from the region.

Call To Action:

Ø  Public hearings in Chhendipada must be mandatory and the EIA has to be transparent. Local voices should not be crushed for industrial development.

Ø  Eco friendly species must be included in plantation programmes to counter the bad effects of environmental pollution. As the livelihood security of a large number of tribal communities in the region have been jeopardized following large scale felling of trees like Mohua and Kendu, it is obligatory on the part of MCL to take up afforestation projects in which such native species are included.

Ø  Angul district administration must ensure that District Mineral Fund (DMF) is allocated for fulfillment of needs of the affected families in Chhendipada region due to extensive felling of trees for mining operations. Initiation of skill development programmes must be included in rehabilitation packages for those who have lost their home and hearth for mining.

Coal Mining Projects in Talcher:

The MCL has a number of coalmining projects in Talcher and such activities have started in the area way back in 1929. Earlier, there were underground mines, but opencast mines have come to be a part of modern day trend. The mining company has opted in favour of opencast mining activity because this operation is less risky as compared to subterranean mining activities. Due to sheer depth, such mining activities were hazardous as loss of life could not be avoided in most situations. Waters of Brahmani, the second largest river in Odisha, along with Nandira and other rivulets in Talcher region are contaminated following excavation of coal and release of industrial effluents into the rivers. Villagers living all along the banks of Brahmani alleged that water of the river has become unfit to bath even, let alone use it for drinking. They further alleged that most people of their villages have contracted skin diseases by bathing in the river. Fishermen community is the worst hit as they don't get enough fish catch to sustain their livelihood. Presence of effluents in Brahmani water has adversely affected fish and other aquatic creatures. The fishing community has moved to other areas in search of employment due to dwindling fish reserve in Brahmani. 

Displacement Of Adivasis From Satkosia Serves Whose Interest, Ask Environmentalists

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

A large number of families belonging to Tulka, Bhurkundi, Gopalpur and Asanbahal villages in Satkosia wildlife sanctuary have been relocated by the forest department of Odisha to convert the sanctuary to a safe habitat for tigers. The process of relocation is going on amid protests by groups of villagers in Satkosia region who allege that the rehabilitation package is not adequate as compensation. The villagers alleged that providing Rs 20 lakh as relocation compensation per family is gross undervaluation of their homestead land and other landed properties.

The relocation process has divided the villagers in Satkosia into two groups-one, who have given their concurrence to leave home and hearth from the sanctuary and settle elsewhere and the second group, not willing to accept the compensation package arguing that the relocation is uncalled for when there is  no tiger in the so-called Satkosia Tiger Reserve. The second group also alleged that the relocation process lacked transparency. Worthwhile to mention here that in 1976 Satkosia was declared a wildlife sanctuary. It was upgraded to a tiger reserve in 2007. There are nearly one hundred villages in Satkosia inhabited by Scheduled Tribes and forest dwellers.

Villagers in Satkosia alleged that the wildlife officials have enlisted names of those families who have mostly migrated to metro cities like Hyderabad and Chennai in search of employment. Social activists who are working in Satkosia region alleged that the forest officials have wittingly enlisted the names of those people who stay in the cities for jobs and do not want to come to their villages. The forest officials have cunningly enlisted names of those persons who work outside because they know that there will be little opposition from them as they want to stay in the cities to get employment opportunities. Reports said  a meeting convened by Block Development Officer (BDO), Angul, to discuss about relocation at Purunakote Panchayat recently ended in a fiasco as neither Sarpanch nor Ward Members attended it. The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and officials from Angul Block had to return from the meeting  empty-handed as groups of villagers, for and against the proposition,  indulged in wordy duel. However, local media reports said that majority of villagers in Purunakote agreed to leave their homes and settle elsewhere due to relocation with a compensation package.     

Socio-Economic Impact

The socio-economic consequences of displacement have always been painful for the people of Satkosia. The erstwhile Raiguda villagers who are now settled in New Raiguda following relocation have been confronting with lack of basic facilities even years after their settlement in the new colony. Villagers of New Raiguda alleged that most of them lack livelihood opportunities and said the local forest wing is little concerned over their plight. They said the forest officials had promised them better livelihood opportunities after relocation, but this didn’t turn out to be true.

Satkosia: Shifting Entrance To Baliput Will Hamper Angul's Interest

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

The idea behind shifting of entrance of Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary, from Pampasar in Angul district to Baliput in Cuttack district, will have disastrous consequences on the economy of Angul district. Social activists alleged that this action will adversely affect local businesses in and around Pampasar in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary. Income sources directly related to tourism In Angul district will also be affected due to diversion of tourist traffic to Cuttack district following the shifting of entrance of the sanctuary from Pampasar to Baliput, the social activists alleged. 

Undermining  Angul Interest:

The economic impact will be huge. Nature lovers and tourists will no loger come to Angul as Pampasar entrance of Satkosia Tiger Reserve will be shut down.This will reduce the importance of Angul district which has been the gateway to Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary since long. Small time traders in Karatapata, Pampasar, Jagannathpur and Tikarpada areas who rely mostly on tourists for their business will incur huge loss facing permanent closure of businesses due to absence of tourists to the area. Closure of Pampasar gate will adversely affect hospitality as well as transport sectors in Angul district that will be crippled throwing a great number of people out of business and livelihood.

The tiger reserve is endowed with endangered species of flora and fauna and widely acclaimed as one of the finest biodiversity regions in the country which is rich in nature's bounty. Closure of the age-old entry point of Satkosia at Pampasar will also impact on conservation of biodiversity in Angul wildlife division due to administrative incoherence between two districts. Local environmentalists maintained shifting of the main gate to Baliput in Cuttack district will be an act of underestimating the role of local communities in Satkosia region in Angul district who have tried their best to preserve the biodiversity of Satkosia Tiger Reserve since long. Villagers in Satkosia in Angul district have taken a number of initiatives through their communities to save the ecosystem in the sanctuary. Closure of the gateway at Pampasar will alienate local people as stakeholders from conservation activities. This will spell doom for community-driven endeavours to protect the biodiversity in Satkosia. 

Sources said that efforts are underway to construct a bridge over the gorge connecting Narsinghpur-Baliput road to Badmul for facilitating safari trekking in Satkosia. Although this proposed bridge project has evoked widespread protests from different quarters since it lacked concurrence from National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the top brasses of wildlife wing in Odisha have been trying their best get through the project at any cost.

Environmentalists like Biswajit Mohanty has alleged that the bridge will be harmful to Satkosia Gorge and disturb the natural habitat of Gharial and other aquatic species. Heavy dose of tourism is always harmful for conservation of nature any where in the world including Satkosia, environmentalists opined. The Tiger Reserve which came into being in 1976 spreads over 988 sqkm in Angul, Cuttack, Boudh and Nayagarh districts in Odisha. The sanctuary is a home to a number of elephants and other endangered species including Gharials.

Eco Tourism Fails In Satkosia Due To Bureaucratic Negligence

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Community based conservation efforts to protect biodiversity in Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Angul district is now a thing of the past. Wildlife officials are no longer needing the cooperation of villagers living in Tikarpada, Purunakote and Jagannathpur for conservation of flora and fauna in Satkosia wildlife sanctuary. Members of Satkosia Praja Suraksha Samiti have alleged that the wildlife officials are responsible for the death of Eco Development Committees (EDCs) which played key role for promotion of eco tourism in the Tiger Reserve. Commercialization of the natural habitats in Satkosia is the new catchword for the officials who undermine peoples' initiatives for conservation of ecology. They do not mind exploiting the natural habitat for money.

Social activists working in Satkosia region said community-driven endeavours to protect environment through EDCs have stopped. The Nature camps at Chhotkei and Tikarpada which were once thriving with the cooperation of villagers in Satkosia,are no loger attracting tourists due to poor management, the activists alleged. The EDCs in Tarava and Purunakote have now become defunct due to non-coperation by the wildlife staff who undermine the sincerity of villagers in conservation of biodiversity in Satkosia. The social activists alleged that eco-tourism has failed to take off as villagers in Satkosia are no longer treated as stakeholders by wildlife officials for maintaining biodiversity of the region.

The social activists further alleged that the villagers are never encouraged by Angul wildlife wing to be the part and parcel of conservation of nature and boost eco tourism in the sanctuary. Commercialization has creeped into the the minds of top brasses of wildlife department, the activists alleged. Money to the tune of crores are being spent to build road and other facilities all along river Mahanadi from Baliput in Cuttack district via Majhipada, Kadalikhol to Baghamunda under Angul wildlife division for safari trekking in the Tiger Reserve. Satkosia Praja Suraksha Samiti alleged Angul wildlife division is keen to oust villagers from Satkosia on the pretext of tiger conservation, when there is no tiger left in the so-called Tiger Reserve.