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Take people into confidence, says Magsaysay awardee

Staff Reporter

Aruna Roy delivers Sixth Harischandra Buxipatra Memorial Lecture

Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

SHARING VIEWS: Aruna Roy, chief speaker, and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the lecture in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

BHUBANESWAR: Magsaysay award winner and champion of the Right to Information campaign, Aruna Roy on Thursday said the approach to development should be discussed in public domain before the Government made up its mind on the issue.

Delivering the Sixth Harischandra Buxipatra Memorial Lecture on "Making the Democracy Work" here, Ms. Roy said people should be taken into confidence while important decisions concerning their livelihood were being taken.

"Democracy cannot work if accountability remains absent in government, officialdom, media and public life," Ms. Roy said.

Pointing to the raging controversy on South Korean steel major Posco's proposed project, Ms. Roy said "when we are giving away our land to multi-national companies in the name of any project or special economic zones, we should deliberate on the possible adverse impact on our sovereignty."

It was surprising that despite Orissa possessing abundant water and mineral resources, the State continued to be among the poorest, she said, adding that discussion should take place how the Government approached development where there were contradictions.

"Democracy can only function smoothly when there is place for dissent.

The Government should understand why people descend on the road," she said.

Plea to Naveen

Ms Roy urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who was on the dias as chief guest, that Government not apply force on dalits and tribals when they resorted to agitation expressing their dissent to industrial development.

"Action should also be taken against those officials who hijack proper forum for dialogue between common masses and the Government," she said with emphasis.

Reiterating that the implementation of the Right to Information Act would help fight corruption in society, Ms. Roy said that the campaign for the Act had started because bureaucrats and politicians remained closed to the commoners.

The lecture was organised by the Harischandra Buxipatra Smruti Committee on the occasion of the leader's 73rd birth anniversary.

Journalist Gobinda Das and social worker Rabi Das were presented the Harischandra Buxipatra Memorial Award on the occasion.

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