■ You have drawn flak from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which pointed out that healthcare facilities in Orissa are not up to the mark. What is your take on this?

NHRC has been furnished with earlier reports. They should visit the remote and backward areas. The situation today is better than what it used to be a year ago. I don't think that the health sector in the state has collapsed. It is a constitutional body; I don’t want to comment further.

 

■ A London-based magazine reported that malaria deaths are rampant in Orissa.

It is an exaggerated report. It was published in 2010 based on data collected in 2001, that too through verbal autopsy which is not scientific. I do agree that malaria deaths are a concern for the state. But I can’t give amrutam (nectar of life) (to all)...

■ There is still large-scale vacancy in doctors’ posts; more so in coastal areas than in KBK (Koraput-Balangir-Kalahandi).

I don’t see it as a glass half empty, but as half full. When I took over as health minister, there was an acute shortage of doctors. There were 1,200 vacancies. We have been able to bring it down to 700. Yesterday, we recruited 312 doctors. We hope to bridge the gap within a year. The government is focusing more on KBK districts, but this does not mean we are overlooking the coastal belt.

■ There is hardly any scope for promotion for doctors. It is believed that the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) caters only to the upper strata in the medical hierarchy. Your response.

The grievance of doctors is genuine. Promotions were not happening but now the scene has changed. In the last six months, we have promoted nearly 700 doctors. The DPC has been meeting regularly since the past four-five months. Unfortunately, relevant documents such as Confidential Character Rolls are not available with the state government.

■ What would you say about your department’s failure to retain good doctors in the government health care sector?

I don’t agree. You will find nationally reputed doctors in Cuttack. We have increased their remuneration to attract them to government health care units. Those in the KBK districts are paid Rs 8,000 extra salary.

■ Why do you insist on transferring the doctors in government hospitals without any valid reason?

Doctors are government employees and have to adhere to rules. We cannot have them at one place for too long. Don’t the people of Koraput have the right to good quality doctors? They are also citizens of the same state.

■ Coming to the political arena, do you think there is a second power centre, besides Naveen Patnaik, in the ruling BJD party?

There is no first or second power centre. The party itself is the power centre. In a democratic party, there is bound to be difference of opinion among party members but that does not imply there is any groupism. .

■ Who do you think wields more power in BJD: Naveen Patnaik or Pyari Mohan Mohapatra?

I do not equate individuals. Everybody in the party has his role to play.

■ Is it true that you, Damodar Rout and A. U. Singhdeo have joined hands against the so-called parallel power centre?

I want to join hands with everyone who is eager to contribute to the development of the state.

■ What do you consider more important: efficiency at work or loyalty to the party?

These are two separate things. Everybody has to be efficient and effective in his sphere of work.

■ Do you also follow your party's tradition of touching the feet of well-known “senior” leaders?

I touch only God’s feet. I don’t want to comment more on this issue.

Student leader to suave minister

■ Among the most suave politicians of the state, Prasanna Acharya is the youngest son of the late Padmashree Krutartha Acharya, a legendary name in the field of social service.

■ He completed his bachelor’s degree in political science from Panchayat College, Bargarh and LLB from L.R. Law College, Sambalpur.

■ He actively entered politics during his student days and participated in several youth movements.

■ He was also imprisoned for 20 months and had to discontinue his post-graduation studies in English.

■ He is one of the founder members of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and was its first secretary general.

■ He was elected to Orissa Legislative Assembly in 1990, 1995 and 2009.

■ He has held different portfolios such as food and civil supplies, textiles and handloom, excise and rural development.

■ At present, he is in charge of health and family welfare, public grievances and pension administration. He represents Rairakhole constituency.

■ An amateur journalist-turned-politician, Acharya has a fascination for gardening, writing articles and travelling.

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

I would have liked to be a journalist. I started as an amateur journalist during my student days. I was reporting for a Hindi magazine from Raipur. It had a good response in my hometown, Bargarh, which has a sizeable Hindi-speaking population. I also did some reporting for other newspapers and periodicals, and edited a small literary magazine. I also used to write poems. One’s personality is reflected through the kind of books he reads and the kind of people around him. As a politician, people salute me... but the day I cease to be in power, they will not recognise me.