by Riyan Ramanath V
The district headquarters of Nuapada boasts a distinction in the country. It may look like a town, which has a population of 30,000 with offices of the district magistrate (collector), superintendent of police and all other important offices, but it is still ruled by a sarpanch.
The only district headquarters in the country to have a panchayat, Nuapada was originally carved out of a gram panchayat. Nuapada, the name of one of Orissa's districts as well as the district headquarters, was part of Kalahandi until 1992. Strangely, even after 20 years of formation of the district, the headquarters doesn't even enjoy an notified area council (NAC) status. A sarpanch and samiti member run Nuapada town.
In Nuapada town the panchayat is the authority responsible for ensuring the facilities of sanitation, street lights, drinking water, etc. It is the place where the Zilla Parishad conducts meetings in the presence of the collector, PD (DRDA) and all the MLAs of the district.
There are two MLA constituencies Nuapada and Khariar in the district. Kalahandi MP is also the MP of Nuapada. Before delimitation, Balangir MP used to rule Nuapada.
Strangely, Nuapada MLA Rajenra Prasad Dholkia said the people of Nuapada always feared if Nuapada became an NAC, they won't enjoy good services. "The real fight to make it at least an NAC began just two years ago," Dholkia said, adding it is really embarrassing that Nuapada is under a sarpanch and a samiti member. The MLA said he had proposed an NAC status for Nuapada back in 2009. "My proposal is pending with the Panchayati Raj department, which has to endorse it. We expect the Nuapada headquarters will be an NAC soon," he said.
Sources said after Nuapada was made the district headquarter in 1992, it was not fit in terms of population to become an NAC, which would have meant urban status. However, it became eligible years later.
"It should have been made an NAC long time ago," said Abani Panigrahi, a local social activist. "Many things are in a mess due to the big town being managed by a sarpanch. Especially, the floating population is not getting justice. We feel as if were in the pre-independence era," the activist said.
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