Orissa Olympic Association (OOA) secretary, Ashirbad Behera said athlete Srabani Nanda’s participation in the 2012 Olympics, London, seems difficult since she withdrew from the National Games midway and went for training in Australia. What would you say about this?

I have heard about it but not had a dialogue with Behera yet. The OOA is not guided by the state government. But if sportspersons are in some kind of trouble, we look into it.

As sports minister, I am trying to get all sporting affiliations under the government. Srabani is a born Oriya and is not here in Orissa now. But in case she wants to come back, we will welcome her.

Another athlete, Jauna Murmu, who won gold in a team event at the Commonwealth Games last year, is yet to be felicitated.

The government has decided to award Rs 7 lakh to gold medallists in team events. We have already got the go-ahead to felicitate her. We are now trying to finalise a date to felicitate all athletes together.

Prominent hockey players like Prabodh Tirkey and others have already shifted their base to Jharkhand alleging government neglect. What are your views on this?

Tirkey never approached the state government and if he had, probably we could have done something for him.

If he approached the Orissa Olympic Association, I wouldn’t know. The thing is if he gets an offer from Jharkhand and plays for them, then that is not a big issue. But, again, he should realise he is a born Oriya and he should have some sensitive affinity to the state.

You are a member of Calcutta Football Club but there is no such football activity in the state. Why is this so?

By and large, the country has moved from football and other sports to cricket.

This is a countrywide trend. We have several talented footballers in the state and we are trying to groom them by providing good facilities. At the recently concluded National Games at Jharkhand, our women’s football team won the gold.

So, it would not be right to say that football is being neglected though a remains to be done.

But even members of the gold-medal winning football team have alleged they are not getting government jobs despite performing so well. How would you respond to this?

That is one area we are looking into. We will give them jobs if we get the green signal from the state government. Like other states, we are trying to give decent jobs to medal winners from Orissa who are staying in the state.

Do you have sufficient budgetary support to promote sports?

I will not like to comment on that.

The general perception is that you spend more time in Calcutta than Orissa. What’s your take on this?

I was born in Calcutta and my family is there. I have three daughters. Therefore, I think it is only natural for a family man to go back and see them. Even before joining politics, I was told that I would have to stay in Baripada and not in Bhubaneswar or Cuttack. I found myself staying in Baripada for six out of 12 months in a year.

I don’t understand why people say I spend more time in Calcutta and less time in Orissa. As it is, your work should speak for you.

You have been criticised, even in the state Assembly, for not knowing your mother tongue, Oriya. Has this been a hurdle for you?

I do agree that a lot of people might not be able to understand me. Personally, I feel if you can give results then language is not a barrier. If people want to make an issue out of it then it is up to them. I cannot do anything about it. I know something a few opposition members are also targeting me.

You belong to a royal family. How do you view the transition from a princely estate system to democratic government?

It has obviously heralded a new era for us. Royalty ended in 1947. We all became common people.

India as a democratic country is marching ahead and I don’t think we would have progressed so far if we were 30 different countries instead of one.

Even Orissa has developed by leaps and bounds. Under the able leadership of chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, we have seen a lot of developmental work. There should be coordination between centre and state to carry forward the positive trend.

Do you think a second power centre exists in the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD)?

Not at all. Naveen Patnaik is the leader. Of course, I share good relations with every one including Pyari Mohan Mohapatra.

Royal politician

Scion of the Bhanj Deo royal family of Mayurbhanj district, which contributed to the formation of a separate Orissa, 51-year-old Praveen Chandra Bhanj Deo took to active politics rather late. He made his debut in the state assembly from Morada constituency, Mayurbhanj, in 2009

Bhanj Deo is the minister of state for sports and youth affairs (independent charge) and revenue and disaster management

He was a member of the executive committee of Rajkumar College at Raipur, Chhatisgarh. A sports enthusiast, he takes keen interest in football, hockey, cycle polo, badminton and car rallies

He participated in the first India-ASEAN Car Rally in 2004, in which he toured 11 countries, starting from Guwahati (India) to Singapore. He has also been part of the first and second Indo-Bhutan Friendship Car Rally in 2007 and 2009

He is the founder member of Kalinga Motor Sports Club in Baripada, Mayurbhanj. He is also a member of the Calcutta Cricket and Football Club as well as of the Baripada club

His hobbies include photography and aero modelling

He is trying to strike a balance between his loyalty to the chief minister and his commitment to the people of his constituency, which still remains among the most backward areas of Orissa

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

If not politics, I think I would have continued with my private business that I have in Calcutta. I saw development work in my district, Mayurbhanj, was not taking place too well. So that is what prompted me to look into the issues like roads, communication, water and electricity. And I think I have taken the right step. It is very difficult to be a politician, to work for the people and stand up to their expectations. But I think I am doing my work to the best of my abilities and giving the people what they deserve. I am very happy with the sports ministry. It is a challenging task.