Project Swarajya, founded in August 1988 was registered under Societies Registration Act on 9th January 1989. Later on, it was registered under Foreign Contributions Regulation Act 1976 in June 1991 with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. In the year 2000--2001 the Organization entered into its twelfth year of existence.

With the ushering in of the new millennium, the Organization also wore a new face before different agencies and individuals with whom it worked so long. In this very year, it was subjected to close scrutiny and evaluation by different agencies as necessitated by an anonymous petition placed before the Government levelling several wild allegations against the Organisation. Being pre-occupied as it was with the unavoidable but challenging task of complying with the requirements of the concerned enquiring officers, the Organization no doubt suffered some handicaps in respect of expanding its existing programmes or initiating new ones. However, the Organization immensely benefited from the multiple thorough-going enquiries that it was subjected to, not only by way of re-establishing itself as a clean, committed and transparent body before the Government and public, but also by way of undergoing an exacting process of rigorous self-criticism.

The Centre which started operating since November 1992 in the wake of the notorious liquor tragedy at Cuttack entered into the 9th year of its existence in 2000-2001.

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed on 26th June 2000 under the joint auspices of Project Swarajya , and Cuttack and Bhubaneswar Police in the premises of the organization at Ganesh Ghat, Bakharabad, Cuttack. A Special De-addiction Camp for 12 Brown Sugar addicts was held on the occasion in the Centre. A public meeting was held on the occasion attended by NGOs in the Centre. A public meeting was held on the occasion attended by NGOs , media men, police & eminent citizens. Both were inaugurated by Sri S.K.Chatterjee, IPS, DG, Orissa Police presided over by Sri Satyajit Mohanty, IPS, SP, Cuttack. The meeting was addressed among others by Addl. DG of Orissa Police (Crime) , Mr. Chitta Behera, Director, Project Swarajya & Mr.Arun Kumar Bothra, IPS, Asst. Superintendent of Police, Cuttack.

As in the previous years, Sri Chitta Behera , Director, Project Swarajya imparted lessons as a resource person on 'the role of voluntary organization in combating drug addiction in the society' as a part of the 'Specialized Course on Drug Abuse' for Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors organized by the State Police Academy, Government of Orissa during July 2000.

In the year 2000-2001 a total of 794 patients were registered in the Cuttack Deaddiction Centre, out of which 289 are new and 505 old cases, and 622 OPD and 172 indoor cases. Out of the total 796 cases treated in the Centre as many as 479 were Brown Sugar addicts followed by 100 cases of Alcohol, 100 cases of multiple drugs, 54 cases of two drugs, 36 cases of Ganja, 26 cases of Opium and only one case of Bhang and Morphine each. As regards the factors that drove the people to addiction, as many as 762 were influenced under peer group pressure followed by 15 for family problem, 8 out of depression, 6 for individual problem, 1 out of curiosity and 2 for other miscellaneous reasons.

Out of the total 85 nos. of drop-outs, 41 have succumbed under peer group pressure, 23 out of severely painful withdrawal reaction and 21 for lack off family support. In the year under review, 18 nos. of patients cured earlier were found to be drug free. However, 47 nos. of relapsed cases were also witnessed. During the year, besides the medical management of addicts and alcoholics both through OPD and indoor set up, the Centre provided such other services as counselling, follow up, vocational guidance and awareness generation for prevention of drug abuse and alcoholism.

So far the demographic profile of the patients is concerned, the largest group of patients that is 343, were from the age group of 24-30, 182 from 18-23, 21 from 46-60 and 3 from 12-17. Out of the total number of patients, 344 were married and 450 unmarried.

As regards the educational background of the patients, the highest number i.e. 270 belong to secondary level, 101 higher secondary level, 75 intermediate, 72 graduate, 56 illiterate, 49 middle school, 20 just literate and 16 post graduates.

Out of the 794 patients admitted, 247 were unemployed, while the remaining 547 were employed. in some or the other way. Out of the employed addicts, the largest no. that is 310, came from business background, 62 labourers, 55 were from Govt. service, 60 transport workers , 14 rickshaw pullers, 14 scooter drivers, 7 from agriculture, 6 from technical line and 19 from other sources. Among the patients who were employed, the largest no. that is 355 came from an income level of Rs. 1001-3000, 108 from 3001 -5000, 53 from 501-1000, 27 from 5001 and above and 4 from 100 -500. The addicts who were unemployed, the family income for 147 addicts was between 1001-5000, for 7 it was 501-1000, for 3 it was 5001 and above.

The Centre at Kendrapara entered into its 3rd year of operation. While the Khadianga unit concentrated on the medical management of the patients, the unit at Bimala Bhawan, Silipur, Marshaghai was used for day care and after-care of the patients. In the year under review, as many as 577 patients were treated in the Centre, out of which 370 were old and 207 new ones, 368 under OPD and 209 in-patients.

As regards the cause of addiction, as many as 533 were dragged into the addiction out of peer group pressure, while depression accounted for 25, family problem for 13, personal problems for 4, and anxiety for 2. A total of 42 cases were drop-outs consisting of 27 from OPD and 15 from Indoor. Among the total no. of drop-outs, 26 gave in before peer group pressure while 14 for lack of family support and 2 out of severely painful withdrawal section. In the year under review, 205 patients treated earlier, were found to remain drug free. However 43 nos. of relapse cases were also noticed.

The detailed demographic profile of the patients shows that the largest number that is 185, were from the age group of 31-45 years followed by 127 from 24-30 years, 107 from 40-50 years, 92 from 16-23 years, 43 from 61 and above and 23 from 12-17 years. Out of the total patients, 356 were married while the remaining 221 unmarried.

As regards the educational background of the patients, the highest number i.e. 132 belonged to the secondary level, followed by 87 primary, 72 graduate, 75 middle school, 44 illiterate, 23 just literate, 58 higher secondary, 65 intermediate, 11 post-graduate and 8 Ph.D level.

As regards the occupational pattern of patients registered, only 68 were unemployed while remaining 509 were employed in some or the other way. The highest number of addicts that is, 182 were from business, followed by 106 from agriculture, 59 from agricultural labour, 38 from govt. service, 33 wage labourers, 28 professionals, 14 medical personnel, 17 transport workers, and 32 rickshaw pullers. Besides detoxification, the Kendrapada Centre provides such other services as counselling, day-care, after-care, yoga and vocational guidance.

It was jointly organized by Project Swarajya and Vishwa Vikash Mandal on 25th Feb., 2001 at Town Hall, Cuttack. About 150 participants representing different government agencies, legal institutions, media and NGOs including Drug De-addiction and Counselling Centres took part in the proceedings. Sri Shailendu Ghosh, Secretary, Vishwa Vikash Mandal introduced the Chief Resource Persons. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Hon'ble Justice Shri Debendra Mohan Patnaik, Chairman, Orissa Consumer Grievances Redressal Commission, who observed that certain loopholes of the NDPS Act are being manipulated by the drug offenders and they go unpunished, so steps should be taken to rectify them. The Seminar was inaugurated by veteran Sarvodaya leader Sri Manmohan Choudhury who briefly narrated his experience in fighting for prohibition during and after freedom struggle. The Seminar was presided over by Sri Annada Prasad Ray. Sri Chitta Behera, Director, Project Swarajya read the background of the seminar. The Chief Speaker on the occasion was Sri V Thiagarajan, IPS, DIG (Crime), Orissa police. The other Resource Persons were Sri Madhusudhan Chotray, Public Prosecutor, District Court, Cuttack, Sri Bana Bihari Mohanty, a leading journalist and Sri Gopal Prasad Das, President, Project Swarajya .Dr. Biswajit Pradhan, Medical Officer of Deaddiction Centre of Project Swarajya opened the technical session with the presentation of a paper on "Alcohol Abuse - Psychosomatic Dimensions". Sri Lokanath Panigrahi, Yoga Therapist presented a paper and demonstrated some yoga asanas. Ex-addicts from Narcotic Anonymous, Sri Biswajit Panda, Sri Pratap Mohanty and Sri prabodh Kumar Pradhan also shared their experiences. An important highlight of the Seminar was the award of a citation and a shawl to Sri Ranjit Kumar panda, an ex-addict-tuned-reformer who has rendered commendable service for motivating and deaddicting several brown sugar patients. Sri Ramesh Chandra Behera, lAS, RDC (Central), Sri Soumya Prasad Mishra, lAS, Deputy Commissioner, Excise, Orissa and TTK Hospital, Madras sent their messages and papers.

As in the previous years, the Organization undertook the work of monitoring the nestling grounds of Olive Ridley sea turtles along the Orissa coast during the reproductive season from November to April. It has been observed that a massive number of nesting turtles migrated to both Gahirmatha & Rushikulya beaches ,which according to the Forest Department authorities exceeded all past records. However our monitoring team found that there was no semblance of any counting mechanism for estimating the nesting population during the hours of mass nesting on the beaches by the government or any other agency. Moreover the mortality of sea turtles, though comparatively less than previous years was still a big problem that continued unhindered. The proposal for indigenising and implementing the Turtle Excluder Device for Orissa coast did not take off at all at the State Government level. However the CMFRI, Cochin undertook the preparation of some prototypes of TED and some pilot studies in Orissa's coastal waters in the month of Feb.2001, but for all said and done, the trawling community who are the primary stake-holders in a turtle conservation programme were neither made aware nor involved in such experiments, for which the trawlers' lobby do still harbour a negative attitude towards the TED proposal.

Under such circumstances, the Organization carried forward the campaign for 'Conservation of Sea Turtles' in different ways and in different fora involving the NGOs, Fishermans' Organizations, local people and above all, the trawling community. Though none from the Organization could take part in the International Sea Turtle Symposium held in Philadelphia, USA in Feb-Mar 2001 , a paper on indigenising the Turtle Excluder Device for Orissa coast was submitted for incorporation in the proceedings. A National level Workshop on 'Sea Turtle Conservation' was held at Swasti Plaza, Bhubaneswar on 9th & 10th April '2001 by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun as a part of the UNDP Government of India Project on Sea Turtles. A paper on indigenising of Turtle Excluder Device for Orissa coast, jointly authored by Mr.Chitta Behera, Director, Project Swarajya and Mr.R.S.Mishra, Ex-Deputy Director, Fisheries, Orissa was presented & discussed in the Workshop.

With a view to spread Consumer Awareness among the rural and urban people living at grass- root level, Project Swarajya organized a series of Workshops in different places of the State, which culminated in a State Level Seminar on Right to Information on Consumer Protection Act 1986 at Cuttack.

The Workshops were held at Kadamrasul, Cuttack, Nimasahi, Cuttack, Kendrapada and at Bakharabad, Cuttack on the 26th November, 3rd December, 27th December 2000 and 1st January 2001 respectively. The Resource Persons for such Workshops were from among the lawyers, media men, govt. officers and Cuttack District Consumer Forum. The participants of such Workshop were urban and rural woman, Muslim women, NGO activists, media men & common people. In each of such Workshops, COPRA 1986 and the procedure to avail thereof were clearly explained to the participants so as to enable them to make most of the consumer grievance redressal machinery existing from national to district level.

A State Level Seminar on Consumer Protection Act 1986 and Right to Information was held at Cuttack on 15th March 2001 , the 'World Consumers Day' under the joint auspices of Project Swarajya and Viswa Vikas Mandal. Presided over by Sri Sourya Shunder Das, an eminent Advocate of Orissa High Court, the Seminar was inaugurated by Hon'ble Justice Sri P .C.Mishra, the Ex-Chairman of Orissa Consumer Grievance Redressal Commission. Narrating his long 5 years experience as Chairman of the Commission, Sri Mishra indicated certain loopholes and shortcomings in the COPRA 1986 which need be plugged in order to deliver proper justice to the aggrieved customers. Sri Madhusudan Chhotaray, Public Prosecutor at Cuttack did analyse the shortcomings of COPRA 1986 and pleaded for a radical overhaul of both the legislation and administration of Consumer Welfare. Among others who addressed the Seminar were Sri D.C Pattnaik, Member, Cuttack District Forum, Sri Kedamath Jena, Secretary, Orissa Consumer Forum, Mrs. Nirupama Jena, Asst. Public Prosecutor, Cuttack, Ms. Pragati Mohanty of Basundhara; Ms. Rashmi Tibrewal of Project Swarajya, and Mrs Smita Pattnaik of Nari Surakshya Samiti .Mr.Chitta Behera, Director Project Swarajya and Mr Shailendu Ghosh, Secretary, Viswa Vikash Mandal presented the welcome note and background paper of the Seminar respectively. About one hundred participants coming from different backgrounds like NGOs, Govt. Officials, Lawyers and media men took part in the deliberations of the Seminar. At the end of the Seminar, the consensus of the deliberations underlined the need for legislating the right to information as a fundamental right in the Constitution and enacting a separate law on Right to Information for the State of Orissa and also to campaign for suitable amendment of COPRA 1986 to ensure proper and timely delivery of justice to the aggrieved consumers.

The Organization maintains a Videography Unit with a view to produce video cassettes on different themes relevant to the issues the organization is dealing with, and also for video coverage of different events like marriage ceremonies, meetings, and festivals etc on a commercial basis for adding to the income of the Organization. As in the previous years, the Organization conducted a three-day course on an on-the-job training in Functional English to a batch of 25 students of Ravenshaw College (Autonomous), Cuttack during 11-13th February 2000. The course consisted of a lecture on video technology, handling of video camera and editing equipments and lessons in news reading. A three-member faculty consisting of Mr. Chitta Behera, Mr.Lalit Narayan Das and Mr.Pravash Acharya, a senior news reader of Doordarshan Kendra, Bhubaneswar imparted necessary lessons in video technology, E-mail & Internet, news reading on TV and handling of video camera and editing equipments. In March 2001, Mr. Goutam Ali Besant, Video Cameraman of Project Swarajya helped the students in producing two documentaries, one on Ravenshaw College and the other on Gadgadia Temple on Mahanadi river bank.

Project Swarajya is a collaborating agency for Orissa Patita Uddhar Samiti, an NGO that has been working consistently for three years for rehabilitation of sex workers at Malisahi and other areas in Bhubaneswar city. Necessary assistance was extended to OPUS in respect of opening an S. T .D. Clinic at Malisahi in the month of June 2000 and for observation of Human Rights Day on 10th December 2000. Sri Chitta Behera, Director, Project Swarajya, who is also an Adviser to OPUS paid a visit to the sex workers' colony at G.B. Road, Delhi in the month of September 2000 and made a survey of the living' and working conditions of sex workers, with the cooperation from Sri Khairat Lal Bhola, President and Smt. Nimi Bai , a sex worker-tumed- social activist, now a colleague of Sri Bhola. In this survey, Sri Behera was accompanied by Sri Ashok Kumar Behuria, an intellectual based at Delhi and his wife.

The organization also extended necessary cooperation to OPUS in the matter of documentation and dissemination of the data relating to sex workers and related fields.

The process of investigation which had started off from October 1999 at different levels following an anonymous petition that had levelled several wild allegations against the organization continued in the year 2000-01 too. Enquiry was made by the Collector & DSWO of two districts, Cuttack & Kendrapara., Dr.Jagannath Pati, Deputy Director, Ministry of SJ & E, Govt. of India and Department of Planning & Coordination, Orissa who found the organization running its grant-in-aid programmes properly as per the norms of the scheme. However the process of investigation culminated in the detail inspection of the accounts of the Organization by a central team of auditors, namely Sri J.P. Sharma and Ashok Batra, deputed by the Ministry of SJ & E, Govt. of India during 14th-18th October 2000.With the submission of the report of the Special Audit so conducted by the two inspecting auditors before the Ministry, the unhappy episode following the anonymous petition came to its logical end. The Organization re-emerged as clean and committed to its goals and objectives before the eyes of the concerned govt. agencies, and the pending grant-in-aid from different Ministries of Govt. of India was released.

As in the past, the Organization continued its usual work for documenting and disseminating the information and ideas of its choice, such as drug abuse and alcoholism, conservation of endangered species like mangroves, sea turtles, horseshoe crabs and the like, woman and children, ecological movements, issues of dalits and backward classes, consumer movement right to information and the like.

The Kendrapara branch of Project Swarajya is engaged in a systematic documentation of news clippings and articles around forty topical issues, stored and used for the purpose of information to the media men, NGOs and the public. It subscribes to 7 nos. of newspapers along with 50 magazines. Project Swarajya has also started documenting the information on various topics through the latest electronic devices such as computers, CDs & video cassettes.

The Organisation as in the previous years has continued the networking with nearly 50 like minded NGOs in and outside the State of Orissa on different issues such as drug abuse, ecology, women and child development, conservation of endangered species, consumer movement, right to information, transfer of appropriate technologies etc. The modus operandi of networking consists of a wide range of media, from conventional postal correspondence to the use of email-internet.

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:

• Indigenous model of Turtle Excluder Device for Orissa coast,
• 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