You are in charge of various departments, which are now in the midst of controversies. Even though no one has pointed any fingers at you, how difficult is it to manage these scam-ridden departments?

If you perform your duties with sincerity and transparency, then you would steer clear of every controversy. Politics is not a bed of roses. You have to confront challenges and prove your mettle.

Jagdish Tyler, the Congress in-charge of Orissa, has hurled seven questions at the chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, regarding the MNREGS scam and you have been given the responsibility to answer the questions. What impact has it had on you?

I believe every person is entitled to his opinion and I do not like to counter anybody’s statement. The MNREGS was implemented just five years ago in the state, in February 2006. Irregularities are unavoidable, be it a central government or state government scheme. Jagdish Tytler should make specific allegations. In fact, instead of leveling charges, he could suggest means to curb corruption and irregularities in the scheme. I am thankful to the chief minister for reposing faith in me.

There is a popular perception that you are trying to escape the blame of MNREGS scam by stating that there have been a few irregularities but you have no knowledge about any sort of corruption. What is your take on this?

As I mentioned earlier, irregularities are inevitable when you implement a certain scheme. Otherwise why would we have the monitoring committees, CAG team and the vigilance department? They look into the discrepancies and, accordingly, action is initiated against the offenders. If there are certain irregularities here and there, it does not mean the particular scheme is a failure.

If the irregularities have not happened during your tenure, does it not mean that your predecessors, Raghunath Mohanty or Sanjeev Sahu, are to be blamed?

How can you blame a minister unless he is proved guilty? When they were in charge, the MNREGS work had just begun in the state and we did not have the necessary infrastructure then. Even those who were supposed to implement the scheme were not fully aware of the NREG Act. So, if there have been lapses, we should understand they had not got sufficient time to understand the law. It would not be right to punish them right away.

The Centre for Environment and Food Security (CEFS) has criticised the state on the implementation of various welfare schemes, including the MNREGS, and thrown a challenge to rebut its claims. Why are you hesitating to lodge a case against them?

They have every right to bring forth allegations against us since we occupy positions of power and responsibility. I just want to make one thing clear — no mistake was committed intentionally. Sometimes constructive criticism helps us look into the actual grievances of the people. It is not always appropriate to contradict what they are saying or to move the court and lodge a case against them.

But haven’t you already appeared before the court regarding the MNREGS case and spent lakhs on it?

Since a writ petition had been lodged against us, we, as the defendants, could not have escaped from our duty of appearing before the court. For this, we have had to incur expenses for hiring lawyers, filing a counter affidavit and so on.

Coming to the dal scam, a few collectors have been charge sheeted and some officials, brought to book. But, so far, why has no action been taken against the main culprits — the ones who supplied dal for the midday meal scheme in the state?

We have decentralised the entire dal supply and procurement system. Now, there would be no contractors who earlier used to make crores out of the business. This would be a major setback for them. Besides, the enquiry has now been extended to five more districts, putting the total number of districts under vigilance glare at 11.

You are the owner of a private engineering college. What are your views on private technical institutions charging exorbitant fees from students?

Technical education is becoming expensive and many students are not being able to pursue such courses. The state in collaboration with the Centre and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) should come up with a solution. Seats should be reserved for the poor, meritorious students who cannot afford expensive education.

You are the minister of information and public relations but do not carry a cellphone. Has it not affected your work?

Of course it has, but my assistant and driver carry their phones and make sure that I am accessible. I must admit that I have failed miserably in operating a mobile phone.

Do you believe a second power centre exists in the ruling Biju Janata Dal?

Every state has a concept of one party, one leader and not of a two-leader party. Therefore, it is the chief minister, Naveen Patnaik who is the sole leader of the BJD.

Do you also touch Pyari Mohan Mohapatra’s feet like some other BJD members?

Yes, Pyari babu is a veteran leader who has always guided us. Touching the feet of elders is part of our culture.

A leading light of the ruling party

Born on a historic day – August 15, 1947 – Prafulla Samal is one of the leading lights of the present ruling party, Biju Janata Dal (BJD). This law graduate entered into politics in 1971 when he was a part-time lecturer at the M.S. Law College, Cuttack. He was also part of the Biju Patnaik government from 1990-95 as minister of state for labour and employment.

Samal was a member of the library committee of the state legislative Assembly from 1995-96 and of the State Resource Centre for Adult Education, He also served as the joint managing trustee of Kalinga Foundation Trust, vice-president of Hind Mazdoor Sabha-Orissa, working president of the Orissa Private Engineering College Association, president of Orissa Private Engineering School Association as well as the chairman of the Bhadrak Institute of Engineering and Technology. He is associated with the Bhadrak District Athletics Association.

Samal is one of the founder members of BJD. He represented Bhadrak since 1990 until he was elected from Bhandaripokhari constituency in the last general elections in 2009. He was the leader of Opposition for a period of 15 days in 1998.

Besides being the minister for panchayati raj and information and public relations, he took over the charge of the women and child development department in February following Pramila Mallick’s resignation in the wake of the multi-crore dal scam.

What would you have been had you not been a politician?

That is very difficult to answer. All my activities as a child somehow indicated that I was meant to be in politics – from being the class monitor to the best cadet in NCC camps and best volunteer in college. I was always fascinated by politics. As a college student, I held several key positions of the students’ union and got a party ticket (name of party not revealed) when I was pursuing law. Even when I was teaching at a law college, I was actively involved in politics. Despite being the eldest among five brothers, my parents never burdened me with any aspirations and allowed me to pursue my interests.