The year 2002-2003 witnessed a further diversification of the activities of Project Swarajya along with continuance of the old programmes. .

The "Nishamukti Kendra" beginning from 1992 and presently located at Ganesh Ghat, Bakharabad, Cuttack-2 entered into the 11th year of its functioning. In the year 2002-03, the total number of addicts registered was 1084, out of which 823 were old patients and 261 nos. new. Of the total, the single drug Brown Sugar claimed as many as 619 nos. followed by 269 Alcoholics, 7 nos. of Bhanga cases, 40 Ganja, 6 Opium, 6 no of Morphine addicts and 98 other drug groups. As regards the cause of addiction, out of the total, as many as 982 nos. were motivated to drugs under peer pressure, 74 nos. under individual problems, 20 nos. due to family problems, 1 due to depression, 1 due to curiosity, and 6 nos. for other reasons. Out of the total 1084 patients, 861 nos. were treated under OPD while 223 under Indoor setup. As regards the source of referral of the patients to the Centre, as many as 516 were motivated by ther family members, while 477 by the self, 29 by the friends, 4 nos. by physicians, 52 nos. by social workers, and 6 nos. by the I. G. Prisons, Orissa. Among the total, 738 nos. of cases had a history of more than 3 years duration, 270 of 1 to 3 years duration and 76 had the duration of less than a year. As regards the nos. of drop-outs of the year, the total nos. were 51, out of which 28 were Indoor patients and 23 OPD. As regards the reasons of dropout, 17 nos. succumbed under peer group pressure, while 16 nos. under severe withdrawal syndrome and 18 due to lack of family support.

To monitor the recovery status of the patients treated in the previous year, the follow-up programmes were undertaken routinely by the personnel of the Centre through various means such as home visit and correspondence. A total of 127 nos. of patients of different drug groups were found to have fully recovered from the drug abuse and were leading a clean life, while 182 nos. of cases were found to have relapsed to their previous drugs of abuse.

Also known as "Nishamukti Kendra", the Drug Deaddiction Centre located at Khadianga, Kendrapara and set up in mid-1998 entered into the 5th year of its functioning. In 2002-2003 the total nos. of patients registered in the Centre were 612 out of which 368 were under OPD and 244 were under Indoor setup. Out of the total, 183 were new and 429 old. Out of the total, the highest nos. were 217 addicts of Brown Sugar, followed by 166 nos. of alcohol, 104 Ganja, and 19 Opium, and 87 nos being abusers of two drugs (Opium and Ganja) and 39 nos. of multiple drugs. As regards the cause of addiction, as many as 553 nos took to drugs under peer group pressure followed by 43 under depression, 13 under anxiety and 3 nos. of for frustration. As regards the length of usage of the abused drug, 459 nos. had a history of more than 3 years duration, while 123 between 1 to 3 years and 30 less than 1 year. As regards the source of referral, 317 nos. were self-motivated, while 178 motivated by the family, 63 by friends, and 54 by social workers.

During the year the follow-up programmes were undertaken to monitor the status of the patients treated in the previous year. It was noticed that 204 nos of patients were fully recovered and were leading a clean life. At the same time, a total of 37 patients of the previous years were found to have relapsed to the drugs of their abuse. Out of the total relapse cases 13 had relapsed within 1 to 2 years of their recovery, while 7 nos within 6 to 12 months, 7 nos within 3 to 6 months and 10 nos. within 3 months.

The Centre at Kendrapara provided not only absolutely free-of-cost OPD and Indoor treatment, but also free provision of food and snacks along with medicines for the Indoor patients.

As in the previous 4 years, the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed in the premises of Nishamukti Kendra at Bakharabad, Cuttack on 26th of June 2002 under the joint aegis of Project Swarajya and Cuttack Police through a Seminar on the topic 'Control of illicit trafficking of drugs and alcohol in the State of Orissa'. Inaugurated by Dr. B. B. Panda, a former Director General of Orissa Police, the Seminar was addressed among others by Dr .R. P. Sharma DIG (Central Range) Orissa Police. Dr.Sharma, who is a doctor himself and already served under the Narcotic Control Bureau of Government of India was a guest speaker of the Seminar. Dr. Niranjan Tripathy, eminent Medicine Specialist in Orissa, was the guest of Honour on the occasion. Dr. R.N. Mishra a reputed Physician of Cuttack City was also another Guest of Honour for the event. Mr Abhaya Ku. Padhi Station Director, All India Radio, Cuttack was the special guest on the occasion. The Seminar was presided over by Sri M.Akshay, Superintendent of Police (SP) Cuttack. The common concern of the talks delivered by the speakers was how to check the spreading menace of drug abuse, especially that of Brown sugar among the poorer sections of the society. The welcome speech was given by Smt.Dolli Dash Dash, Secretary and vote of thanks by Smt Nirupama Jena, Vice President Project Swarajya. About 202 nos. of participants hailing from various walks of life such as police, district officials, NGOs, mediamen and medical personnel attended the Seminar. The talks by the invited resource persons were followed by an interactive session, in which the participants asked different questions that were discussed and clarified by the resource persons. On this occasion a Special Award of Commendation was given to Mr.Purna Chanda Chandra, the best inmate of the Centre and to Ms.Darakshan Mahajabeen, its best social worker.

To mark the observation of the occasion, a Special Indoor De-addiction Camp for the brown sugar patients from the below poverty line sections, was started and continued for a fortnight with.

A one-day training programme on the above theme was organized by Project Swarajya in its Meeting Hall on 1st December 02 at Cuttack. About 24 nos. of participants from about 4 De-addiction Centres participated in the programme. Dr. A.G. Mohanty, Medical Officer of Kendrapara Deaddiction Centre and Mr. Pranaya Ku. Mohapatra, Project Director, NICCD, Banki who had received the TOT training conducted by VES ( Vivekanand Education Society), Calcutta earlier took the session on various aspects of the treatment process. Mostly they emphasized the need for the Counselors and Social Workers to motivate the family members to get involved in the treatment process of the substance abusers undertaken in the Treatment Centres. Dr. R. P. Sharma DIG (Central Range), an Advisor to Project Swarajya and a former officer in Narcotic Control Bureau of India shared his experience and presented the history of drug abuse prevention programmes in India. The programme was inaugurated by Dr.Sharma too.

Recognising the human rights of the prisoners, Project Swarajya got seriously involved in the prison reforms campaign going on in Orissa. The personnel of the organization made an overall survey of the conditions of the prisoners in the selected jails of Orissa, namely Choudwar Jail in Cuttack district, Dhenkanal Jail at Dhenkanal and Kendrapara Jail at Kendrapara and found that majority of the inmates in these jails belonged to the most weaker section of the society, who were convicted with sentences involving a long period of imprisonment and also who had no body to back them up in respect of legal defence or otherwise. In addition to the survey, the social workers and counsellers of the organization provided counseling and association to some of such prisoners..

On the advice of Mr. Bidya Bhusan Mohanty I.G.-cum-ADG, Orissa Prisons the Organization held a De-addiction camp in its Centre at Cuttack during 10th to 25th November,02 for 6 prisoners of Choudwar Jail. During this period eminent persons like Dr. R. P. Sharma, DIG (Central Range), Mrs. Annapurna Moharana a Veteran Gandhian leader, Mrs Sumitra Choudhury Sarvodaya leader, Mrs. Puspalata Mohanty Chairman District 326 Inner Wheel Club and Mrs Sujata Mohapatra President, Inner Wheel Club, Cuttack Central along with a group of members of the Inner Wheel Club visited the Camp and encouraged the patients unndrgoing the treatment. Mr. B. B. Mohanty IG Prison himself supervised the Camp himself.

As a result of the treatment, not only their physical appearance showed visible improvement, but also their mind and outlook underwent a change. They became more optimistic about their future life and also more humane about other people. According to the Welfare Officer of Chowdwar Jail, their language and behaviour became tangibly more polished after they got 15 day treatment at the Deaddiction Camp.

Besides Project Swarajya took the initiative to involve other NGOs in the districts of Dhenkanal, Angul, Cuttack and Kendrapara in the ongoing jail reform activities. ISWO (Indira Social Welfare Organisation), a Dhenkanal based Women's group organized two cultural programmes on human rights of prisoners in two different Jails i.e. at Dhenkanal and Choudwar.

The eastern regional training programme for service providers in the field of drug abuse prevention, also called as TOT ( Training of Trainers) was conducted by Vivekananda Education Society in Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture at Calcutta from 28th Oct, 02 to 1st Nov, 02 where Dr. Ananda Gopal Mohanty Medical Officer, Drug Deaddiction Centre of Project Swarajya at Kendrapada participated as a trainee. Ms.Ruksana Khan Member of the General Body and Project Director of Project Swarajya and Dr. Ananda Gopal Mohanty, both took part in the '5 day Training Programme on "Drug Related HIV/AIDS Concerns Among Afflicted and Affected Women" held in Puri from 4 to 8 February, 2003. Dr. R. P. Sharma DIG (Central Range) and Advisor to Drug Abuse Prevention Programme of Project Swarajya participated in the 4th National Conference of FINGODAP held at Calcutta during 3 to 5 January, 2003. A Seminar on "A retreat for Church Leaders, Social Workers, Counsellors, Teachers, Pastors and Staffs of De-addiction Centres" was held during 13th to 15th September, 02 on behalf of CMAI ( Christian Medical Association of India) at St. Vincent Retreat Centre, Gopalpur in Ganjam district of Orissa, where the male nurse of Kendrapada De-addiction Centre, Mr. Suvendu Acharya participated. Mr. Ashis Senapati Member GB and Project Director of Project Swarajya took part in the "State Level Seminar on Mental Health" organized by Orissa Voluntary Health Association in Bhubaneswar on 25th ,February, 03. Mr. Bibhu Prasad Satapathy Male nurse of Project Swarajya Deaddiction Centre at Cuttack was invited as a resource person for an awareness camp on "Drug related harms on Health" held at Tirtol of Jagatsinghpur District on behalf of Jay Jagannath Seva Samiti on 26th Jan, 03. He distributed posters and leaflets among the priests of Sarala Temple and villagers who were addicts of Ganja and Bhanga. Mr Rajesh Ku. Barik Social Worker of Project Swarajya participated in a three-day sensitization programme for Government Functionaries on "Working together for the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Abuse" from 13th to 15th March, 2003 in Hotel Keshari at Bhubaneswar. Mr. Suvendu Acharya and Satya Sundar Mohanty of Deaddiction Centre of Project Swarajya at Kendrapara participated in a training programme on "Christian Agencies to Combat Substance Abuse Network" organized by Christian Medical Association from 13 to 15 march,03 in YMCA, Central Bombay. Dr A.G. Mohanty Medical Officer of Project Swarajya at Kendrapara participated in a half-day Workshop on "Injecting Drug Users in the State of Orissa" organized by the State AIDS Cell, Bhubaneswar on 29th Nov, 2002.. A regional meeting of the NGOs running Drug De-addiction Centres and Counseling Centres was held on 14th Sept 2002 at Bhubaneswar and a Statelevel forum namely OFDAP was formed among the NGOs. The meeting was organized by Vivekanand Education Society, Calcutta. Dr. A. G. Mohanty participated in the meeting and was selected for TOT. Besides, Social Workers and Counselors of Project Swarajya have participated in the NA ( Narcotic Anonymous) meetings held in various places of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

Project Swarajya has made networking with Orissa Voluntary Health Association Bhubaneswar for the purpose of organizing the health camps and taking part in the 'Study on Substance Abuse'. The organization has taken part in the Parivar Kalyan Swastya Mela (Deaddiction Camp) which was held in Adivasi Padia of Bhubaneswar during 20th to 22nd September 2002. About 2531 nos. of persons were given counseling on behalf of the organisation by the nurses and counselors in the Mela.

The organization built up rapport with INNER WHEEL CLUB CUTTACK Central. The President of the Club Ms. Sujata Mohapatra has regularly been counseling the addicts in Cuttack Centre. Moreover a team of members of INNER WHEEL CLUB 326 District along with Chairman, Ms. Puspalata Mohanty visited and counseled the convicted addicts during their treatment held in the Cuttack Centre during 10th -25th of November,2002.

A Radio talk on anti-drug campaign was deliberated by the Secretary of Project Swarajya on 3.12.02 which was broadcast on 10.12.02.

Following the release of the Report of the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution on 31st March 2002, Project Swarajya took a keen interest in disseminating it among the cross sections of the informed public. First of all, the Report was downloaded from its official website and then made into a CD ROM for circulation among the interested public. Then a synopsis was prepared out of the Report for a quick appraisal in the Seminars and Workshops. The Organisation took keen interest in participating in all the forums relating to governance reform and presenting the gist of the NCRWC Report therein to elicit debates around it. Articles dealing with various facets of the NCRWC Report also came out in different newspapers on the initiative of Project Swarajya.

A Get-together of Social Activists was held at Khandagiri Bhubaneswar on 11-12 May 2002 to discuss the Trends of Development in Orissa. It was presided over by Sri Swarajya Biswal, an eminent Advocate. Social workers from different cross sections of society took part in this two-day get-together. Sri Kisan Patnaik, a veteran social activist, Prof. Bijay Bahidar, and Sri Manas Jena, social activist were among others to speak in course of the deliberations. Sri Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya while taking active part in the discussions of the forum observed that it was irrational to make a one-sided attack on the ongoing wave of globalisation or privtisation.

A Seminar on Constitution Education and Right to Information was held at DRTC-CYSD Bhubaneswar on 29th of May 2002 under the joint aegis of CYSD and CHRI New Delhi. Sri Bibhu Prasad Mohapatra of CHRI appraised the participants about the need for Constitution Education and about the need for a country-wide debate around the newly released Report of the national Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution. Sri Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya took part in the deliberations of the Seminar.

On 31st August and 1st September 2002, a two-day Workshop on 'Poverty and Underdevelopment in the tribal regions' was held at DRTC-CYSD Bhubaneswar under the aegis of Agragamee, where eminent scholars, bureaucrats and social workers of the State got engaged in brain storming sessions over various facets of the given subject. Mr.Chitta Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya while participating in its deliberations observed that unless and until the system of governance was not changed to ensure accountability and transparency of the administration before the people, none of the persisting and agonizing problems like tribal poverty and underdevelopment could be solved in a meaningful way.

The East Zone National Integration Youth Camp was held from 2 to 8 December 2002 under the aegis of Mahila Vikash Samiti at Athagarh on the principal theme 'Youth for Reform of Governance' with about 200 participants from six Eastern States of India, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhatishgarh, Jharkhand, Assam and Orissa. Project Swarajya extended its collaboration to MVS for full success of the Camp. It was inaugurated by Dr.S.N.Subha Rao, veteran Gandhian and Director National Youth Project. Mr.R.P.Swain, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Orissa and Mrs.Manorama Mohaptra Editor Samaj were among others who addressed the inaugural ceremony. Mr.Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya conducted the discussion sessions every day, which dealt with themes like Right to Information, Media for good Governance, Reform of Trade Unions, Reform of Bureaucracy, Revamping of Transport Policy, Role of Police for good governance, Public sector Reforms, Reform of Agricultural Policy, Anti-corruption legislations for good governance, Role of Women in effecting good governance, Reform of Health Sector, Reform of Revenue Administration, Fiscal and Financial Reforms, Disaster Management, and Reform of Public Servants Conduct Rules for Good Governance. Senior bureaucrats, police officials, mediamen, trade union leaders, academia and social workers spoke on the topics that concerned their specialization and sphere of work. A gist of the Report of National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution and the Chapter 7 (Governance for Human Development) of he National Human Development Report 2001 were circulated among the resource persons and participants as background papers.

An informal meeting of Mr.Sadiq Ahmed, the Chief Economist and Director for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management in South Asia with the selected NGO representatives of Orissa was held on 3rd Feb 2003 at Mayfair Lagoon, Bhubaneswar for sharing of views on Orissa's grwth and poverty reduction. Mr.Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor and Mrs.Dolli Dash, Secretary Prject Swarajya attended the meeting. Sri Behera in course of his interaction remarked that the state of malgovernance lay at the root of myriad problems that Orissa was facing, including the the problem of poverty and underdevelopment.

Agamee Odisa, an independent intellectual forum of the State started a debate around the State Budget involving the cross sections of the public. On different dated it organized sessions on budget analysis with reference to specific heads. One such meeting was held at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack on 9th March 2003 to discuss the latest health budget of Orissa from a people's perspective. The meeting was presided over by Dr.Bansidhar Sahu, former CDMO ( Chief District Medical Officer), Cuttack. Mr.Asim Amitav Das, an Advocate of Orissa High Court gave a welcome note while Mr.Sudarshan Das, Conenor Agamee Odisa introduced the subject to the participants. Most of the participants felt that the health budget of the State is far from the real health needs of the people. However, Mr.Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya who spoke in the meeting gave his strong observation that the budgetary process as defined in the Constitution, Orissa Budget Manual and Rule of procedure and Conduct of Business didnot leave any scope the MPs and MLAs to change the allotment on Charged Expenditure on Consolidated Fund and to increase the amount specified in the Demand for Grants. Terming the budgetary process as a relic of the colonial past Mr.Behera wanted Agamee Odisa first of all to campaign for a change in the budgetary procedure itself, and create thereby the legal conditions necessary for an open debate to take place inside the legislature on the State proposed budget from a people's angle.

On 25th of September 2002 a meeting of the District level Coordination Committee was held in the Conference hall of Collectorate Cuttack on the topic Eradication of Corruption in Public life. The eminent persons who spoke on the occasion were Sri Ashutosh Mishra, IG State Vigilance Cell, Sri Shobhes Roy, Advocate General and sri aditya Mohapatra District Emergency Officer Cuttack. Sri Chitta Ranjan Behera Advisor to Project Swarajya presented a brief talk, in which he emphasized the need for drastic legislative changes as the first step to eradication of corruption in public life. The present legal regime including the Constitution ia a relic of the colonial times and does not fix accountability on the public servants for their failure to deliver the services to the citizens in a deadline. Sri Behera called upon the people to go through the recommendations of the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution, which if implemented would go a long way in eradicating corruption from the public life.

The Right to Information movement which had commenced in the previous year was further intensified and took a new turn in the year 2002-2003.

A Seminar on Social Scenario of Orissa was held at Ananta Narayan High School Hostel, Narasinghpur on 1st of April 2002 to mark the inauguration of NAVA ( Narasinghpur Association of Voluntary Agencies), attended among others by Sri Chitta Ranjan behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya who briefed the participants about the ongoing spate of governance reforms and the campaign for right to information.

A State level Seminar on Right to Information was held at Bharatia Tower, Badambadi, Cuttack on 14th April 2002 under the joint auspices of District level Coordination Committee, Cuttack and Project Swarajya, where Mr.Chitta Behera strongly championed the cause for legislating an Act for Right to Information in Orissa along with necessary corresponding changes in the conduct rules for Public Servants and abolition of oath of secrecy as embodied in the third schedule of India's Constitution. The delegates coming from various parts of the State gave their respective suggestions and on the whole supported the the cause of legislating an RTI law in the state of Orissa. Among the eminent persons who delivered the talks in the Seminar were Sri Dillip Kumar Mohapatra, DG Orissa State Transport Corporation, Sri P.C.ishra, Retd. Ustice Orissa High Court, Sri Manmohan Prahraj, IG Orissa Police ( Operations), Sri Chitta Mohanty, a Freelance Journalist, Sri Surendra Nath Kar, Advocate Orissa High Court and Sri Madhu Sudan Panda, Advocate Orissa High Court.

On 28th of April 2002, a Seminar on Disability and Right to Information was held at Banki Women's College, Banki in Cuttack district under the aegis of Bhumiputra Club. Sri Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarjya, Dr.R.N.Mishra, an eminent physician and Sri Lalit Kumar Mishra Convenor DLCC addressed the Seminar among others.

A District level Workshop on right to Information was held at the Conference Hall of COATS, Koraput on 25 and 26 May 2002 under the aegis of Pragati, Koraput, attended by about 50 participants hailing from different parts of the district. Mr.Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya discussed various aspects of the proposed Orissa Bill on Right to Information. Dr. K.C.Panigrahi, director Coats presided over the workshop.

On 10-11 June 2002, a State level Consultation on Right to Information was held at DRTC-CYSD, Bhubaneswar under the joint auspices of Care, Orissa and Dept of Information and Public Relations, Orissa, where the Orissa Bill on Right to Information was formally launched by the Govt of Orissa and subjected to a critique by various informed individuals and agencies. The senior Govt officials who attended and spoke in the Consultation included Sri Aurobindo Behera, MD OSDMA, Mr.Jugal Mohapatra, Secretary to CM Orissa and Mr.R.balkrishnan, Secretary I & PR Dept Orissa. Mr.Bharat Dogra who leads National Campaign Committee for Right to Information, a spokesperson of the Delhi Campaign Committee and a representative of MKSS of Rajasthan served as resource persons. Mr.Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya, who was a panelist on the 2nd day while presenting his views stressed the need for building up a suitable environment for legislating right to information in the State of Orissa.

Another State level Consultation on Right to Information was held at Cuttack under the aegis of Basundhara in the latter's auditorium on 13 July 2002 in collaboration with CHRI New Delhi, where eminent persons hailing from various walks of life gave their views on the proposed Orissa Bill on Right to Information 2002. Project Swarajya extended active collaboration to Basundhara in the matter of organizing the event. A CD ROM containing inter alia the texts of the RTI legislation passed in different States of India was prepared by Project Swarajya to mark the occasion. The important persons who presented their views on the occasion included Sri Man Mohan Praharaj, IG Orissa Police, Sri Bijay Nayak ex-MLA, Sri Raju Singh ex-MLA, Prof Arun Mohanty of the Dept of I & PR Orissa, Sri P.C.Mishra Retd. Justice Orissa High Court, Sri Devendra Mohan Patnaik Chairman Orissa State Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum and two representatives of CHRI New Delhi.

On 23rd July 2002, a District level Seminar on Right to Information was held in the Circuit House Conference Hall of Balasore under the aegis of Balasore Union of Journalists, which was inaugurated by the Minister Labour Sri Bimbadhar Kuanr and addressed among others by the Collector and SP of Balasore. Sri Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya who joined the occasion as the Resource Person presented a brief synopsis of the proposed Orissa Bill on Right to Information 2002 along with his critique.

On 15th and 16th of September 2002, a Workshop on Right to Information was held at Padepadar in Nawrangpur district under the aegis of Agragamee, where about 150 Non-formal teachers of the district participated. Mr.Chitta Ranjan Behera, advisor to Project Swarajya was the Resouce Person who in his talk explained elaborately the concept of Right to Information and its relevance for ushering in of a transparent, accountable and responsive system of governance, which is vital for the State of Orissa where a large chunk of population belong to the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backward classes. Mr.Behera had also circulated a containing simple questions and answers on the Right to Information and its implications for the people at large for the purpose of providing a quick appraisal on the subject to the participants..

On 9th of October 2002, a Workshop on Right to Information was held at DNK DRDA Conference Hall, Koraput under the aegis of Koraput Zilla Swechhasebi Sammukhya ( KZSS) in collaboration with CHRI ( Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative), New Delhi. The President of KZSS Sri Badal Kumar Tah presided over the occasion while Sri Subash Mohapatra, Convenor KZSS had delivered the welcome speech. Two representatives from CHRI, New Delhi did also present their views on Right to Information as legislated in other States of the country including Delhi. Sri Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya joining the occasion as a Resource Person observed that unless the suitable changes are made in the Govt Servants Conduct Rules and Third Schedule of the Constitution, we can't hope to realize the intended benefits of a Right to Information in Orissa or at Central level. About 200 nos. of delegated from different walks of life took active part in the deliberations of the one-day Workshop.

A District level Consultation was organized at Secondary Board High School on 2nd and 3rd November 2002 by Bharat Gyan Bigyan Samiti to elicit the public opinions on the major recommendations of the Task Force on Education ( Vision 2020), chaired by Sri P.K.Pattnaik, Retd.IAS. It was inaugurated by Sri Niranjan Padhi, President Board of Secondary Education Orissa. The eminent persons who talked on the subject included Ch.sarat Chandra Das, Head Master S.B.High School, Sri Bishnu Ch.Jena Retd. Head Master S.B.High School, DroSaraswati swain of NIHARD, Sri Chitta Ranjan Mohanty Social worker, Sri Basudev Samal Trade Union leader and Dr.Kulamani Samal, Retd Professor. Sri Chitta Ranjan Behera Advisor to Project Swarajya presented a brief talk on the subject saying that the syllabus should not be imposed from above in a standardized manner, be be formulated at local level keeping in view the employment opportunities and traditions and customs of the respective areas. Sri Behera also filled up a 15 point questinnaire circulated by the Task Force for eliciting the public opinions on various aspects of their recommendations and submitted the same to BGVS, the organizer of the Consultation meet.

On 24th of August 2002, a meeting was held in the Conference Hall of Collectorate Cuttack under the aegis of DLCC Cuttack on Preparedness for meeting the Drought 2002. The discussion was started by Mr.P.K.samal, ADM Cuttack who in his brief talk told that the district administration always welcomed the innovative suggestions and ideas of the public and NGOs in the matter of drought preparedness. The scientist Sri Pravakar Nanda of ICAR and Executive Engineer ( Minor Irrigation) Sri N.C.Nanda spoke at length as to how the people should meet the drought situation by themselves without depending too much the the government response. Sri Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya presented a paper on irrelevance of the colonial Relief Code still persisting in our State and suggested an overall change in the style of governance with a view to make the administration transparent, responsive and accountable.

It fell on 29th October 2002 to mark the 3rd Anniversary of the Orissa Super Cyclone of October 1999 was officially observed at Soochana bhavan, Bhubaneswar , inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Orissa and presided over by the Speaker of Orissa Legislative Assembly. The occasion was organized by Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority. The official function was followed by a non-official observation of the occasion through a Seminar on Mitigation of Natural Calamities, held at the auditorium of Political Science Dept of Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, called by Orissa Gabeshana Chakra. Prof Manoranjan Mohanty of Delhi University facilitated the conduction of the Seminar. The MD OSDMA Sri Aurobindo Behera who was an invited speaker, told about his perspective on disasterpreparedness and the role civil society. Sri Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya attended both official and non-official observation of the National Disaster Day.

On 18th of December 2002, a State Consultation on Orissa Relief Code was held at Red Cross Bhavan, Bhubaneswar under the aegis of Orissa Disaster Mitigation Mission, where several informed persons attended and contributed to the deliberations. Among the persons who presented talks on the subject were Sri Jafgadanand, Chairman ODMM, Sri Rai Charan Das, Retd. Additional Secretary Revenue, Sri Dipankar Dasgupta Consultant to OSDMA, Sri Aurobindo Behera MD OSDMA and Prof. K.B.Das of Utkal University. Sri Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya spoke on the Relief Code as a persisting colonial legacy, which should soon be discarded lock, stock and barrel. Sri Behera also circulated a paper on a critique of Orissa Relief Code among the participants.

On 19th December 2002, a Workshop on Sphere Standards was held at Cooperative Conference Hall, Bhubaneswar, organized by Orissa Disaster Mitigation Mission and attended by representatives of several international agencies, NGOs, Govt officials and media persons. It was addressed among others by Sri Jagadanand of CYSD, Sri Aurobindo Behera, MD OSDMA and Ms.Shaheen Nilofer of Oxfam Orissa. Sri chitta Ranjan Behera Advisor to Project Swarajya attended the programme.

On 31st December 2002, a Workshop on Disaster Preparedness was held at Town Hall, Cuttack under the aegis of Utkal Sevak Samaj, attended by PR representatives, Govt officials, NGOs and media men. It was presided over by Sri Amiya Bhushan Biswal, Secretary Utkal Sevak Samaj. Sri Chitta Ranjan Behera, who spoke among others in the meeting dealt with the obsoleteness of Orissa Relief Code, which remains by and large a replica of the Famine Code of colonial days. Sri Behera suggested the adoption of a comprehensive disaster management code in place of the Relief Code.

On behalf of ODMM, a Workshop was held on 21st Feb. 2003 at Bolangir on 'Disaster Preparedness, Orissa Relief Code and Role of Civil Society' called by Sri Pradip Pradhan of the Humanity. It was presided over by the Collector Sri S.K.Lohani. The representatives of several NGOs who were present spoke about the failure of different Govt schemes in their respective areas. The Collector Bolangir clarified the queries so raised. Sri Aurobindo behera, MD OSDMA who was an invited guest on the occasion spoke about his perception of the problems facing the people and administration as well in the drought affected KBK areas. Sri Chitta Ranjan Behera Advisor to Project Swarajya attended the programme.

A meeting was organized by DLCC among the NGOs of Cuttack District on 26th March 2003 in the premises of Project Swarajya. An emergency Treatment-cum-Information Centre was opened in its office premises. It was decided by the participants that any person who would suffer sunstroke, can avail the facilities of the Centre. A water distribution counter was also opened on the same day just outside the office premises on the side of the ring road.

On behalf of the Humanity, an NGO a Public hearing was held at Khaprakhol, Bolangir on 20th October 2002 to ascertain the functioning of various social welfare schemes like Public Distribution System, ICDS, Mid-day Meal, food for Work, National family Benefit Scheme, Food for Work, Old age Pension, Widow Pension, Disabled Pension Scheme , Balika Samrudhi Yozana etc.in 8 GPs covering 35 villages of Khaprakhol Block. The Public Hearing came as a part of the country wide response to the interim order of the Supreme Court on 28 Nov. 2001 on the PUCL Petition. The Court had ordered all the State Governments enforce the food and nutrition oriented schemes properly. The Hearing was addressed among others by John Dreze, Visiting Professor at GB Pant Social science Institute, Allahabad. The Sub-Collector of Bolangir came to respond to the complaints raised by the public.The hearing was attended by a number of independent observers including Mr.Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya.

A review workshop on the Public Hearings held at Khaprakhol in Bolangir district on 20th October and at Kaniguma, Thuamla Rampur in Kalahandi district on 22nd October was held on 28th October 2002 at Red Cross Bhavan, Bhubaneswar under the Presidentship of Dr.Pandav Nayak, VC Utkal University. Among the eminent persons who spoke in the Workshop were Prof. K.B.Das, Sri Aurobindo Behera, MD OSDMA. Sri Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya while participating in its deliberations observed that in order to have a system of administration responsive to the peoples needs, the permanent civil service should be abolished and replaced by contract based recruitment system. Otherwise, the civil servants, being complacent as they are owing to secure and permanent nature of their job, cant deliver the goods for the poor as witnessed through out in the post independence decades.

In the year 1995 Project Swarajya had filed a PIL petition against Paradip Phosphates Ltd in the High Court of Orissa (OJC No. 8410 of 1995) with a view to check the pollution of the waters of adjacent Atharbanki creek, caused by the intermittent discharge of untreated toxic effluents from the Fertilizer Plant run by PPL, and consequent damage to the human beings, fishes and other marine organisms and their eco-system. The local fisher communities who were greatly affected thereby had lodged complaint against such pollution before the Assistant Director of Fisheries, Government of Orissa at Kujang, who in turn approached Project Swarajya for taking some remedial action in this regard. Thus the above-mentioned PIL had started off.

After 7 years of the filing of the case, the High Court directed State Pollution Control Board, Orissa, Bhubaneswar to inspect the premises of M/S Paradip Phosphates Ltd in the presence of the representatives of the petitioner-oraganisation in regard to the present status of the pollution so alleged. Accordingly, an inspection was held by the State Pollution Control Board, Orissa, Bhubaneswar on 9th May 2002 in the presence of the representatives of Project Swarajya Sri C.R.Behera, R.S.Mishra, and A.Senapati,. two representatives of local fishermen, namely Sri Aniruddha Dalei and Jogendra Dalei, were also present throughout the period of inspection. The inspecting team of S.P.C.B. Orissa consisted of Er. B.Mallick, Senior Environment Engineer and Sri Bhagabat Prasad Pattajoshi, Assistant Law Officer.

On the conclusion of the said inspection, it was realized that all measures of safeguard against the possibilities of air and water pollution were adequately taken by the authorities of PPL during the interim period.

However, to ascertain the views of the local fisherfolk and inhabitants on the present status of pollution, if at all, caused by the PPL, a joint surveying team of the personnel of Project Swarajya and PPL went round the nearby slums such as Nuapada No.4 and Indira Park and interviewed their residents. But all the persons so interviewed opined that the PPL has stopped polluting the environment since long. They further showed the plants and grasses on the creek banks, which have turned pale under the severe impact of pollution. Further they narrated the horrible stories of how once or twice every month during the last two years, the water streams of Atharbanki creek and other outlets of Mahanadi mouth used to get poisoned by the chemical effluents, leading to the instant and mass scale death of fishes and all living aquatic species. Simultaneously the poisonous gasses spread all around making it difficult for the people to breathe and see properly. With burning sensation in their eyes and respiratory problems, it became all most impossible for the people to live and move in the area. Which the water and air being contaminated all around, the local people have contracted the different diseases like TB, loss of eye-sight, skin problems and gastric disorders. As regards the cause of such pollution, the local people were unanimous in their opinion that Oswal Fertilizers Company was solely responsible for it.

Under the circumstances, it was decided by Project Swarajya to lodge a PIL case in the High Court of Orissa against the Oswal Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd Paradip to check the pollution hazard caused by them. Accordingly a PIL ( WP-c No.161 ) was filed in Orissa High Court on 3rd July 2002 with Project Swarajya as the pettioner and the concerned Central and State Govt agencies along with the Oswal Chemicals and Fertilisers limited Paradip as opposite parties. On 20th of August 2002, the two member bench including the Chief Justice while admitting the case ordered the issue of notice to the opposite parties for their response. The case is still pending, but the wholesome impact of the litigation so made is already felt at ground level as evident from the fact that there have been only a very few and negligible cases of pollution by the Company in its aftermath so far.

An awareness programme against industrial pollution was held on 4th Dec. 2002 at Paradip on behalf of Green Peace India on the occasion of Bhopal Day. Sri Ashis Senapati, Project Director of Project Swarajya, Kendrapara Branch attende the programme and highlighted the issue of pollution caused by the Oswal Fertilisers Limited Paradip and the PIL filed by Project Swarajya in Orissa High Court to check it. The Programme at Paradip was a part of the country wide campaign by Green Peace India to mark the Bhopal Day.

As in the previous years, the Organisation remained active on the front of protection of endangered sea turtles along Orissa coast

A turtle protection camp was organized for four months ( January- April 2003) at Devi river mouth of Orissa coast, sponsored by Mr.Robert Sutcliffe, an independent turtle activist working in Orissa coast for about past 8 years. Mr.Ashis Senapati, Project Director of Kendrapara Branch of Project Swarajya extended necessary support in terms of logistics and manpower for the smooth conduction of this camp. The activities of the camp included enumeration of dead turtles washed ashore, awareness among the fisherfolk for the turtle conservation, enumeration of nesting turtles, raising of artificial hatchery and assisting the enforcement agencies for proper implementation of turtle conservation measures.

Mr.Robert Sutcliffe and Mr.Ashis Senapati paid a visit to Rushikulya mouth in Ganjam coast with a view to survey the protection measures taken during the nesting and again during the emergence of hatchlings of turtles. It was found that better protection measures were adopted by the local volunteers in respect of guarding the turtles and the hatchlings during the turtle season.

Project Swarajya has been championing the cause of the trawl owners adopting Trawl Guard as a substitute of Turtle Excluder Device since the TED Workshop-cum-Demonstration held at Paradip in February 2002 under the joint aegis of Project Swarajya and Directorate of Fisheries, Orissa. Necessary lobbying was done with Departments of Fisheries and Dept of Forest and Environment of Govt of Orissa and also with Wildlife Institute of India Dehradun which was carrying out the GOI-UNDP sea turtle project. The office of UNDP, Orissa was also appraised about the new device through a session of interaction between Mr.Saroj Jha, Coordinator of UNDP Orissa and Mr.Chitta Behera advisor to Project Swarajya. A similar interaction on Trawl Guard was also held with Mr.Aurobindo Behera, MD Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority.

Mr.Ashis Senapati, Project Director of Kendrapara Branch of Project Swarajya, who himself is a prolific and free lance journalist the national dailies on environmental issues attended the World Congress of Environment Journalists Associations held at Colombo, Sri Lanka during 27-31 October 2002 and presented a paper on 'Coastal Ecology, Sea Turtle Conservation and Role of Media' in one of its sessions. In course of his stay at Colombo, Sri Senapati went on the field trip to the mangrove forests, sea turtle hatcheries and wildlife parks of Sri Lanka as a part of the Congress programme.

It was held at Mayfair Lagoon, Bhubaneswar on 3rd December 2002 at the invitation of the US Consulate General, Calcutta, in which such sub-themes as Environment and development, Coastal Zone Management, Environmental Law Enforcement and Industrial Pollution were discussed. Mr.Ashis Senapati, Project Director of Kendrapara Branch of Project Swarajya attended the session and informed the audiences about the PIL lodged by Project swarajya in Orissa High court to check the industrial pollution caused by the Oswal Chemicals and Fertilisers Limited, Paradip.

The Workshop was held at Daspalla Hotel, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on 10 and 11 December 2002 under the aegis of Marine Products Export Development Authority, Cochin in collaboration with Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, attended by various Govt agencies, fishermen organizations, scientific and technical bodies and NGOs concerned with turtle conservation. Mr.Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya and Mr.Anirudha Dalei, the trawl driver who invented Trawl Guard attended the Workshop and made a presentation on Trawl Guard versus TED to impress the participants about the efficacy of the new device in saving the turtles and other endangered species while keeping the fish catch in tact. The trawler leaders from Orissa namely Mr.Tarun Patnaik and Mr.Kameswar Narayan Praharj, who were present in the Workshop supported the case of Trawl Guard. Mr.J.Ramesh of MPEDA in his concluding remark on the 2nd day assured that his agency would definitely give a fair trial to Trawl Guard in due course in order to find out if it really served the purpose.

The Chilika Development Authority organized a survey of Irrawadi Dolphin in Chilika Lagoon on 4th February 2003, which was conducted under the supervision of Dr.C.S.Kar, Senior Scientist of the Wildlife Wing of the State. Sri Rajesh Kumar Behera and Sri Bijay kumar Kabi from Kendrapara Branch of Project Swarajya attended the said survey. A total nos. of 89 dolphins, all of grey colour were noticed by the survey team. As the weather was cloudy on that day, more nos. of dolphins could not be seen.

On 16 and 17 February 2003, a National Symposium on Conservation of Wild Tigers in Orissa was held at OUAT ( Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology), Bhubaneswar under the aegis of Wild Orissa, an NGO and the Orissa Forest Department. Mr.Ashis Senapati, Project Director of Project Swarajya, Kendrapara Branch took active part in the deliberations of the Symposium.

The 23rd Annual Symposium for Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation was held at Hotel Legend, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 17th to 22nd March 2003, attended by turtle lovers from different parts of the world. Mr.Chitta Ranjan Behera Advisor to Project Swarajya attended the Symposium and made a poster presentation on 'Trawl Guard, a Substitute of TED'. The presentation so made aroused the interest of quite some delegates including those from NMFS, USA. Mr.Ashis Senapati Project Director of Kendrapara Branch of Project Swarajya also attended the Symposium, accompanying Mr.Robert Sutcliffe, who sponsored his trip. As a part of the symposium programme, the field trips to Selangur National Park, Fireflies at the Selangur river bank, Batu Caves and Old Malacca Town were arranged.

As in the previous year, in course of the Campaign for legislating Right to Information in Orissa, the awareness on consumer rights was also taken up in right earnest, since the two rights are integrally related with each other. It was explained to the participants of various awareness programmes on RTI that the State or any public authority constituted under it is just like the dealer of a good or service, whereas every citizen is a consumer. So every citizen has a right to know from a public authority their citizens' charter, which should mention not only the services and facilities one can avail, but also the procedure to avail them along with the particulars of appellate authority, before whom the aggrieved citizens can lodge their complaints. Further more, a suggestion was mooted that, like the Consumer Protection Act 1986, which provides for compensation to the aggrieved consumers, the legislation on Right to Information should contain a provision for compensation to the aggrieved information seeker, to be realized from the defaulting public authority in the form of penalty. Accordingly, a new Section in the Citizens' Draft Bill for Right to Information was added under the heading Compensation. This new idea was found to be gaining currency day by day as the campaign for RTI in Orissa progressed.

On 18th of August 2002, a Seminar on Consumer Protection and Legal Awareness was held at Hotel Surya Kiran, Cuttack under the auspices of Rotary Club of Cuttack Silver City. Sri Sourya Prasad Das, Advocate Orissa High Court facilitated the conduction of the seminar. Such eminent jurists of Orissa High Court as Retd. Justice Sri P.C.Mishra, Retd. Justice Sri sarat Chandra Mohaptra and Justice Sri Radhakrishna Patra spoke on the occasion and as well answered and clarified various queries raised by the participants. Sri Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya attended the Seminar and took part in its deliberations.

The Principal Secretary to Government in F.S. and Consumer Welfare, Orissa called a meeting among the consumer voluntary Organisations of the State on 22.2.03 at the Department of Consumer Affairs in the Orissa Secretariat, Bhubaneswar, which was attended by Mrs.Dolli Dash, Secretary and Ms.Ruksana Khan Member and Project Director of Project Swarajya, who gave their suggestions for meeting the various difficulties faced by the VCOs.

In connection with the celebration of 'World Consumer Rights Fortnight' by the State Govt. during 20-24, March, 03 at Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, Chandra Sekharpur , Bhubaneswar, the organization was invited by D.C.A.-cum-Joint Secretary to Govt. of Orissa.. Mr Rajesh Barik of Project Swarajya participated in the sensitization workshop held on the occasion.

On 24th March, 03 the 'World Consumer Rights Fortnight' was inaugurated by the Honorable Minister for F.S. and Consumer Welfare Dept Orissa. This programme was attended by the Secretary Ms. Dolli Dash and Project Director Ms. Ruksana Khan on behalf of Project swarajya.

After returning from the Workshop-cum-Training held at Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, Mr. Rajesh Barik conducted a meeting among the staffs and members of Project Swarajya on 30th,March, 03 in the Conference Hall of the Organization at Cuttack.

In pursuance of the earlier decision of the Organisation to open a District Consumer Information Centre at Cuttack, the necessary ground work was further advanced in terms of arranging the accommodation and infrastructure, contacting the District and State Administration, Judges and lawyers of Orissa High Court, Advocate General, concerned Minister and social activists and networking with other NGOs and resource persons.

The organization provided free counseling, legal aid and job counseling services to the needy women and girls, who came and approached the Organisation for help. Besides the Organisation undertook the following measures on different fronts of women empowerment mission.

During the year Project Swarajya played an important role in prevention of women and girl trafficking in Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur Districts of Orissa. The coastal belt of these two districts is mostly populated by refugee Bengalis who belong to the fisherfolk community. Due to acute poverty and resultant uncertainty of livelihood, they become compelled to dispose of their minor girls to the professional women-traffickers in the name of marriage. Thus a high incidence of false marriages is taking place in these areas. Project Swarajya has been campaigning through media and organizing meetings among the people of that area against such illegal trafficking for last 3 years.

Project Swarajya organized a Workshop on "Violence Against Women and Trafficking" at Redcross Cyclone Shelter in Kharinasi under Mahakalpada Block of Kendrapada District on 31st, August,2002 in collaboration with Inner Wheel Club, Cuttack Central, NARISHAKTI and a women's organization called JEETA. Around 34 representatives from different NGOs participated and shared their experience regarding the illegal trafficking that took place for a long period. The members of Panchayati raj institutions, teachers and social activists were also present there and discussed the matter at length. The demand was raised by the participants for the Government to provide employment to the young girls to enable them to earn more along with legal awareness and aid to prevent the illegal trafficking in women and girls. The media men suggested that the local people should help in providing the information about the trafficking deals to the media in time. Besides, a number of family relations of the victims who were present there expressed their agony as to how they were not only victimized by the middlemen but also by the poverty of their families, as a result of which they felt compelled to give away their daughters to the persons of vested interests.

A meeting among the members of General Body of Ramadevi-Gopabandhu Chaudhury Nidhi was held on 7.7.02 in the premises of Project Swarajya on the theme of illegal trafficking of women in coastal areas. The members discussed how RGCN can help to bring the issue up for discussion at a higher level. As a member of RGCN, the Secretary of Project Swarajya Ms. Dolli Dash was entrusted to collect information regarding the victims who were being trafficked. Keeping this in view, a survey was conducted in Mahakalpada Block of Kendrapara district. About 25 trafficking cases were surveyed by Mr.Chandan Manna and Purnima Bhuyan Social workers of the Organisation.

A State level Workshop on "Trafficking of Women and Children in Orissa" was held during 26th-27th, April, 2002 at Rajasthan Bhawan at Balasore. Ms. Dolli Dash and Ms. Ruksana Khan participated in the programme . During this programme they visited a girl from minority community living in Bhadrak named Munna who was trafficked by her relative, when she was 11 year old. An interview was taken from her and thereafter the case was put up before NARISHAKTI and NAWO ( National Alliance of Women).

NARISHAKTI a State level forum of women activists organized a TOT on Anti -trafficking from evening of 10th to 15th January, 2003 at CYSD Training Centre, Bhubaneswar. The aim of the training was to train up the women activists on prevention of trafficking and information gathering about trafficking. In the training sessions, concepts of trafficking, victim, trafficker, types of trafficking, media's role etc were clarified too.

A state level workshop was held on 'Women's Right is Human Right' during 3-5, February, 03 at Dhenknal on behalf of Indira Social Welfare Organisation. Mr.Rajesh Barik, Social Worker of Project Swarajya participated the programme .

National Alliance of Women organized an Eastern Regional Training-Cum-Workshop on Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) from 13 to 15. 7. 02 at Hotel Marrion, Bhubaneswar. Ms Sasmita Mohanty Joint Secretary Project Swarajya took part in it and gave the feedback of the said training on 8th March, 2003 on the occasion of International Women's Day to the members and staffs of the organization.

A Vocational Training-cum-Production Centre was set up by JEETA at Oliha village under Mahakalpada Block of Kendrapada district on 25th October, 02 in collaboration with Project Swarajya. The aim of the Centre is to empower the women, especially the unmarried aged women of that area through the training-cum-production programme. Three sewing machines were donated by Ms Sandhyarani Tripathy President, Mahila Vikash Samiti of Badamba. A public meeting was called to inaugurate the Centre. The members of Panchayat raj institutions, local people, social activists and media men were present and discussed the various aspects of women empowerment through income generation. Ms. Dolli Dash, Secretary Project Swarajya presented the aims and objectives of the meeting where as Ms. Nirupama Jena, Vice President told that women should be educated enough on legal aspects so that they can fight against violence committed on them. Ms Sandhyarani Tripathy told about the formation of Self-Help Groups by which a woman can be enabled to make her own income. The meeting was inaugurated by Ms Angela, a citizen of Spain and a fund raiser for Basundhara, Cuttack. The programme was presided over by a reputed woman leader and a nominee of Marshaghai Block Ms. Abanti Behera.

The Organization started a regular cultural programme in its meeting hall for the school children in collaboration with "ABHIPSA", a reputed creative cultural team for children in Cuttack city. Dance, Song (Modern and Classical) and Yoga classes were organised regularly in the premises as a part of this programme. The following series of events took place as a part of the programme-

1. An Essay competition on "Drug Abuse Prevention" held among the School children of Cuttack city in last week of July, 2002.
   
2. On the occasion of Guru Divas ( Teachers' Day) a drawing competition was held on 5th Sept 2002.
   
3. To mark the same occasion an Essay Competition was held on 15th,Sept 2002 and
   
4. A General Knowledge Competition was held on 22nd Sept 2002.
   
5. A Debate competition was held on 'Gandhism' among the school Children on 6th October 2002.
   
6. A Talent Search Competition was organized among the School children and out-of-the- school children for the age group of 5-16 years on 1.2.03.
   
7. On 9.2.03 another Talent Search Competition was held among the school children only.

After holding the above programmes a prize distribution ceremony was organized on behalf of "ABHIPSA" on the 9th February 2003 at the meeting hall of Project Swarajya. Mr. Rajkishor Raj, Mr. Chakradhar Dash, Ms. Dolli Dash etc ware the guest speakers on the occasion. The parents along with children were present while the prizes were being awarded. Mr. Raj kishor Raj and Mr. Chakradhar Dash distributed the prizes among the children

Project Swarajya has a long standing relationship with National Labour Institute, Noida. A Training of Trainers (TOT) programme has been being organized by NLI every year. 7 nos. of social workers of Project Swarajya were trained on TOT on Child Labour in course of the past years. The last TOT was held on the "Training for Re-energising TOT Participants" during 25th Feb to 1st March 02 at the Institute's Campus at Noida. 3 nos of TOT participants of Project Swarajya took part in the programme. During the programme a national level forum called 'TOT Alumni' was formed among the participants. The Secretary of Project Swarajya was entrusted as the State Initiator by the participants. Its 1st Convention was held on 28th Feb,02 at NLI Campus, Noida.

In continuation of this programme a State level meeting on Child Labour issues was called by the Secretary on 4th, August 02 in the premises of Project Swarajya. About 11 nos of TOT participants took part in the meeting.

The 2nd national convention of TOT Alumni was held at Kanchipuram of Tamilnadu during 14th to 15th September 2002 under the auspices of RIDE ( Rural Institute for Development Education). About 7 nos of TOT participants from Orissa participated in the programme. They focused on the issues concerning identification of child labour and also lack of alternative educational facilities and poverty which are responsible for rampant growth of child labour across the country.

A two-day workshop was held on "Child sexual Abuse and Civic Action" during 12-13, April, 02 at Redcross Bhawan, Bhubaneswar on behalf of PIPAR, Dhenkanal. Ms. Dolli Dash, Ms. Rukshana Khan, and Ms. Darakshan Mahajabin of Project Swarajya actively participated in the programme.

A workshop on 'Child Trafficking' was organized by CACT (Campaign against Child Trafficking) in collaboration with CACL ( Campaign against Child Labour) Orissa during 14-15th December, 02 in OUAT Conference Hall, Bhubaneswar. Two representatives from Project Swarajya took active part in its deliberations.

'CHILDLINE' a child support division of GOI and monitored by 'BANSUNDHARA' Cuttack organized a 'Sensitization Programme for the Grass-Root Level Functionaries on the Care and Protection of Children' on 29th March, 2003 at Basundhara, Cuttack where Mr.Bibhu Prasad Satpathy of Project Swarajya took part in the proceedings.

Mr.Sudhir Routray of Project Swarajya participated in a one-day Workshop on 24th April 2002 held at Hotel Akbari, Cuttack for the officials of various NGOs by Parivar Seva Sanstha to discuss various aspects so as to make RCH awareness programme a success.

On 7th June 2002 Ms.Darakshna Mahejabin attended a programme on Issues of Maternity Entitlement and Child Care in formal sector held at Hotel Ashoka, Cuttack organized jointly by Orissa Forces and CLAP.

Project Swarajya organized a three-day Peer Educatior Training Programme (PET) for slum leaders in collaboration with Parivar Seva Sanstha from 23rd to 25th September, 2002 in the meeting hall of Project Swarajya. The resource persons from both organizations took the session on RCH.

A programme on Targeted Intervention named as Asha Deep was launched by State AIDS Cell, Orissa in Choudwar Circle Jail. The programme was attended by Ms. Dolli Dash, Ms.Ruksana Khan and Mr.Bibhu Prasad Satpathy of Project Swarajya.

On behalf of State AIDS Cell a programme for the 'Injecting Drug Users in the State of Orissa was organized on 29th November 02 in the Conference Hall of State AIDS Cell, Bhubaneswar. Dr. Ananda Gopaal Mohanty participating on behalf of Project Swarajya gave his valuable suggestions to the Cell on the basis of his experience and lessons from the injecting drug users of Kendrapara and Cuttack district.

Project Swarajya organized a State level Heath Camp on the occasion of Parivar Kalyan and Swasthya Mela on Mental and Sexual Health in collaboration with Orissa Voluntary Health Association at Adivasi Padia, Bhubaneswar during 20th -22nd September 2002.

Ms. Sophia Shaikh, a GB member of Project Swarajya who did a Diploma course on Natural Family Planning, implemented RCH activities in Bhadrak district in collaboration with Animal Welfare Society.

Ms. Sasmita Mohanty Joint Sectretary of Project Swarajya has been working for last one year in the Parivar Seva Sanstha as a RCH Educator in Unit-6 Hospital, Bhubaneswar.

Besides, the members and staffs of Project Swarajya participated in various programmes related to RCH organized on different occasions by different agencies like FPAI, PSS, OVHA and NIHARD.

Eco-Vision is an autonomous undertaking working under the aegis of Project Swarajya since the year of its foundation i.e.1995. For a few years it had run into a state of dormancy. During the year under review an effort was made to revive the activities of Eco Vision with the help of the students of Botany Dept of Utkal University.

There was overwhelming response in the safety & conservation LPG clinic at Kamakhyanagar. There were about 100 (one hundred) participants from in and around Kamakhyanagar comprising housewives, local leaders, traders, intellectuals etc. Our Eco-volunters have demonstrated the right methodology and have answered queries satisfactorily.

The street play staged on 28th January, 2003 attracted the attention of one and all passers- by due to the excellent enactment by our Eco-volunteers on safety and conservation of LPG. We conducted it at four locations namely in front of R.D. Women's College, Chandrasekharpur, Unit-I Market Building & Museum Square as per the instructions of the officer-in-charge. The total audience at four locations was more than 20,000.

There was overwhelming response to the poster campaign conduted at six petrol pumps of Bhubaneswar belonging to ICOL namely Bhamara at Nayapalli, Trupti at Saheed Nagar, Jyoti at Cuttack Road, Goutam at Louis Road, Freedom near Rajiv Bhawan and Saila near Governer's House as instructed by the officer-in-charge. Four Eco-volunteers participated in the campaign and the group spent nearly one hour at each petrol pump at the peak hours. Eco-volunteers distributed leaflates on conservation of oil to the incoming customers at the filling stations and also recorded responses from about 450 users on the services of 'SERVO'. They also demonstrated the right methodology by showing the posters and clarifying their queries on oil conservation.

Eco-volunteers participated in the street play demonstration on the occasion of valedictory ceremony for oil conservation fortnight conducted at Soochana Bhawan, Bhubaneswar on 31st January, 2003. The appreciation from the officers of ICOL present on the occasion was of high order.

A meeting of ECOVISION was held on 25th, December,02 in the Department of Botany, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar for its members and patrons. Mr. Chitta Behera Advisor of Project Swarajya participated as a guest speaker and shared his valuable experiences.

Project Swarajya took part in the activities for prevention of atrocities against Dalit and Weaker sections. The President of the Organisation Mr.Mohan Jena who is a Dalit leader himself and well known in the State as such, was assisted by the staff and members on different occasions for organizing the campaign for the human rights of the Dalits

Ambedkar-Lohia Bichar Manch organized a meeting on 'Bahujan O' Dalit Rajaniti' in the Conference Hall of Project Swarajya on 2nd February 03, participated in by eminent persons, intellectuals and social activists along with politicians. The meeting decided to build up a mass movement of Dalits in the State.

After 54 years of Independence untouchability still exised in a semi-urban village near Bhubaneswar under Nimapada Block of Puri district. Here an incident took place. O ne head master of a primary school after serving 35 years as a ideal teacher did not allow SC student to worship Ganesh together with the general castes students. To know the true fact behind the incident Project Swarajya took active part. Ms. Dolli Dash, Secretary, Mr. Mohan Jena, President of Project Swarajya along with Mr. Harish Mohapatra, Mr. Bagamber Pattanaik, Ms. Mamata Behara visited the area and met with the concerned teachers, students and govt officials and collect the facts which was true. The members protested the case and made complain against the authority of the teacher.

On the same day the fact finding team also visited a man of washerman community of Brahmagiri Block of Puri District who has been harrsed since he arranged decoration party for his marriage party which the Khandayat Community could not tolerate.

In the context of Human Rights Day Lohia Ambedkar Bichar Manch organized an open discussion on 'Social Justice and Human Rights' on 10th, December, 02 in front of PMG, office Bhubaneswar. Mr. Rabi Roy Ex-speaker, Parliament inaugurated the meeting and eminent persons of the state participated the programme. About 11 nos of victim attended the meeting and shared their sorry plight that how they have been tortured by the upper caste's people and also harassed by the government.

Another incident was happened in Gadakoili village of Brahmagiri Block. The cultivated land of dalit was taken away forcefully by the people of upper caste. Further the upper caste people made alligation against them and put them in false case. In stead of providing justice them the administration tried to save upper caste people. Ultimately the Dalits were get into jail. One lady Ms. Shantilata Bhoi came forward and fought for her people.During this time Project Swarajya provided them both moral and financial support.

During the year a survey was conducted among the addicts treated in the Drug Deaddiction Centre of Project Swarajya at Cuttack and it was seen that 30% of the patients so treated were occupation-wise transport workers. Out of them again 50% are drivers , 25% working as helpers in oil tankers, the remaining 25% helpers in buses and trucks.

The Kendrapara Branch of the Organisation made a field survey of the factors of accident-proneness of vehicles plying on Daitary-Paradip National Highway in the month of November 2002 and noticed that the following were the major factors :

1. Lack of road safety culture among the local road users, who are mostly rural and illiterate or semi-literate people.
   
2. High incidence of alcoholism among the truckers
   
3. Excessively elevated and too many speed-breakers installed by the local people in violation of the NH maintenance Rules.
   

The findings of the surveys were shared with the truck owners associations working at Chandikhole and Paradip. The leaders of the associations agreed to undertake joint projects for awareness on road safety among the truck and bus workers and also among the local people.

A meeting of the 30 representatives hailing from nearly 20 NGOs was held on 15 January 2002 in the office of Kendrapara Branch to share the findings of the Survey and to draw up an action plan for remedial measures. The consensus of the meeting was to carry out a collaborative project for the Road Safety Campaign on Daitary-Paradip National Highway to reduce its accident-proneness.

Besides that, on the occasion of 14th National Road Safety Week, a State Level Seminar was organized on "Life is Precious, Take Care: Drive Carefully" by SUPRATIVA on 7th, January, 03 at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack. Mr. Upendra Prasad Singh, State Transport Commissioner along with Ms.Namrita Chadha, Mr. Rabi Narayan Satpathy, Mr. Rajendra Pattnaik were present as guests. The programme was inaugurated by the Transport Minister Mr. Arabinda Dhali and attended among others by Ms. Mousumi Sharma and Mr. Sudhir Ku. Routray from Project Swarajya.

This year Project Swarajya developed its interest to empower the farmers and to carry out the farmers' movement towards a sustainable agriculture and for sustainable food security of the rural and tribal population. In pursuance of this goal, the organization extended necessary support to the "Orissa Pragati Krusak Parishad" aiming at farmers participation in the govt. policy for agriculture and rural development. A decision was taken by both the organizations to organize farmers convention in coming year.

A Workshop-cum-Seminar was held on SHG-NGO-RMC on 11.12.2002 at Hotel Keshari, Bhubaneswar for promoting linkages for marketing of agricultural produce. It was inaugurated by Mr Arabinda Dhali Minister of State for Cooperation and Agriculture. Ms Dolli Dash participated and shared her experiences as to how the farmers are facing difficulties in the matter of marketing their products in Kendrapara District.

A two day workshop on "Water Policy and Water Rights" was organized by AGRAGAMEE Kasipur on 11th and 12th march,2003 at Bhubaneswar. Ms Dolli Dash and Ms. Ruksana Khan took part in its deliberations.

Project Swarajya took part in the youth activities organized by various organizations of the State at different times in many places. Ms Dolli Dash and Mr Rajesh Barik from the organization took part in the Annual Function of Yuva Mandal held on 18th February,03 at Sriram Chandra Bhawan, Cuttack in which the the Hon'ble Governer Sri M. M. Rajendraen and Smt Sushila Rajendran President, Mahila Dakhyata Samiti, Orissa were Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively.

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Loknayak Jay Prakash Narayan which was organized by the Sarvodaya in Gunanidhi Bhawan at Cuttack on 11.10.02, Mr. Bibhu Prasad Satpathy attended the programme.

A seminar on 'The Environment Problem and its solution in Cuttack City' supported by National Environmental Awareness Campaign Division of GOI and organized by Lokasevak Yuva Mandal on 7.7.02 at Nari Seva Sadan, Cuttack was attended by Ms.Dolli Dash, Secretary Project Swarajya.

An emergency meeting was called by Utkal Sarvodaya Mandal on 29.12.02 at Gunanidhi Bhawan, Cuttack for discussing the 39th 'All India Sarvodaya Samaj Sammilani' to be organized in Orissa. Ms. Mausumi Sharma from Project Swarajya took part in the meeting.

On behalf of Development Initiative, a Training Camp for Youth and Social Activists was organized at Yatri Nivas, Cuttack Road, Bhubaneswar during 8-9 February 2003. The theme of the training was based on the rights of SC, ST, Minorities, Women and all types of Dalits. Mr. Rajesh Barik attended as a trainee in this programme.

On behalf of 'Sarvodaya Yuba Sangathan' a three-day Youth Camp was organized at Mahabinayak Panthashala Chandikhol, Cuttack during 2-4 October, 02 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti where Mr. Bibhu Prasad Satpathy took part. The eminent Bhudan Workers from Maharastra were the resource persons on the occasion.

The programme of documentation on various social welfare issues continued as before, in the form of publications, collection from websites and CD ROMs along with the maintenance of a Library. The interested journalists, NGOs, lawyers and scholars were provided with information on various topics as and when they wanted. Besides the like- minded NGOs were provided with assistance in the matter of accessing information on different schemes, formulation of project proposals and reports, preparation of background materials and facilitation of holding of meetings and workshops etc.

The Organisation has been declared as an R.T.D.T. (Rural Technology Demonstration and Training) Centre by NRDC ( National Resaerch and Development Council ), New Delhi since 1992 and as such has been provided with certain low-cost technologies for the purpose of demonstration and training to the people at grass root level.

Moreover, it has been the endeavour of the Organisation to design and develop appropriate technologies for use by the common people in the face of environmental pollution, biodiversity loss and challenge of competition in an era of liberalization.

The Organisation is now equipped with following appropriate technologies for the purpose of dissemination among the common people:

• Trawl Guard, an Indigenously prepared device as a substitute of Turtle Excluder Device for the trawl owners who can't afford catch loss due to TED attachment,
• Racks for hygienic and scientific drying of fish,
• Fish Pickle making,
• TARA Loom,
• Balaram Mud Block Press machine,
• Papad making machine,
• Leaf cup-plate making machine.
• Scientific method of prawn and fish culture,
• Integrated paddy-cum-fish culture in water-logged salinised areas, and
• Fish Aggregating Devices for Orissa coast

On 16-17 July 2002, the Practical Examination of the Functional English course of the Pre-Degree and BA students was held in the English Dept of Ravenshaw College ( Autonomous). The Course dealt with Videography and News Reading on Television, on which the students had prepared their project reports. Mr.Chitta Ranjan Behera, Advisor to Project Swarajya was invited as the External Examiner of the Course. Mr.Behera along with the Reader-in-Charge of the Course conducted the practical test and viva voce of the students appearing for the exams.

On 10 and 11 December 2002, the East Zone Regional Office of CAPART, Bhubaneswar organized a two-day Workshop on Decentralised Rural Technologies at Yatri Nivas, Konark, where Mr.Ashis Senapati, Project Director of Kendrapara Branch of Project Swarajya and Mr.Jogendra Dalai, a fisherman of Astaranga area made a presentation on two appropriate fishing technologies, namely Fish Aggregating Devices for Orissa coast and Trawl Guard, a substitute of turtle Excluder Device.The presentation so made infused interest among the participating NGOs and technical agencies about these two appropriate fishing technologies, developed by Project Swarajya as a part of its effort to contribute to responsible and sustainable marine fisheries in Orissa coast.

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