A Tale of Two States

Each year a cyclone rages against the Eastern coast of India and each year it causes billions of dollars in damages, displacing millions of people and killing tens of thousands each year. This year was worse; India had to face the rage of mother nature both on the Western and the Eastern fronts. Recently, cyclone Yaas hit the states of Odisha and West Bengal in the East, damaging fragile ecosystems and causing extensive damage.

While an enormous effort was made by the respective State Governments to keep the damage to the minimum, rarely does one have ones way against mother nature. Responses to extreme weather events almost always fall short of responses mounted against them. However, effective leadership can make a lot of difference. Both the CMs set an example by leading from the front.

However, this is also tale of two Chief Ministers with different priorities. Mr. Naveen Patnaik, CM of Odisha, has often been hailed by both sides of the aisle as a true leader who is empathetic to the public. Odisha is no stranger to nature’s fury, be it cyclones or draughts. Yet, year after year, it bests these calamities. This year turned out to be no different. As soon as the weather anomaly was detected, appropriate measures were taken. A rescue effort began on Odisha’s coast. All the fishermen were warned to not venture out into the ocean; villages were soon being evacuated along with the livestock. Food was distributed, barrages set up, and proper arrangements to accommodate the displaced were made. The entire effort is testimony to one man’s planning which all Oriya people, irrespective of their political affiliation, have come to respect. In the crisis, Sh. Naveen Patnaik has set an example in collaborating between Central and State Governments in the spirit of cooperative federalism. This allowed Odisha to soon get back on its feet.

On the other hand, recently elected CM of West Bengal, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, also visited many coastal regions including East Medinipur and the Sundarbans. Some of these areas are not navigable, and are home to one of the most fragile and important ecosystems of India.

In the wake of the storm, the state and the Central Governments found themselves with a major task ascertaining damage, and providing relief and rehabilitation. National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams were ready and in sync with the State Government and first responders to minimize cyclone impact. However, more was needed to be done. The Prime Minister scheduled an aerial survey of the affected areas in West Bengal and Odisha to ascertain the damage and meetings with the respective Chief Ministers. Sh. Patnaik received the CM and apprised him of the damage as well as financial and other assistance required by the state. He committed to work in sync with the Central Government. The CM politely rejected the PM’s proposal for immediate assistance and looked to long term development to prevent such damages from natural calamities.

From Odisha, the Prime Minister reached Bengal where all eyes were on his highly anticipated meeting with the CM after the recently concluded fever-pitched state assembly elections. Apparently the CM didn’t show up for the meeting on time. In fact, no one from the West Bengal Government did. It seems that the Governor and the Prime Minister waited for thirty minutes , even though she was in the same premises. When she briefly did, she just handed over a proposal to the PM demanding a relief of Rs. 20,000 crores for the Sundarbans and left just as abruptly along with her trail of officers and bureaucrats. As proceeded as per her schedule to Digha to review relief work. Such attitudes and confrontation have no place in our federal structure. During such a crisis, both the Governments should come together and work to help the public. Smt. Banerjee must realize she and Sh. Modi both occupy constitutional offices and must work towards solving the problems of the country keeping aside their political differences.