Cong charges BJD govt with serving party's interests only

The Congress in Odisha Sunday accused the BJD government of working only to protect the interests of the "decaying" party ahead of 2019 polls while neglecting people's welfare.

Chairpersons of the State Women's Commission and the State Commission of Persons with Disabilities resigned to become officer bearers of the women's wing of the BJD in order to strengthen the party, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik alleged.

The BJD govern met is also not serious about appointing the Lokayukta in the state or keeping in order the Anganwadi centres, which are in disarray, Patnaik claimed in a statement.

"The BJD government is trying its best to save the party base which is decaying day by day. Its focus is entirely on party organisation, while common good is sidelined," Patnaik said.

Social activist Minati Behera quit the post of chairperson of the State Commission for Persons with Disabilities on November 11 and became president of the women's wing of the BJD.

State Commission for Women chairperson Lopamudra Baxipatra, who also resigned from the post the same day, was appointed as a working president of the Biju Mahila Dal.

The focus is only on strengthening the ruling BJD, the OPCC president said.

Accusing the state government of not being sincere about appointment of Lokayukta, he said despite Supreme Court's repeated reminders, the process is being delayed reflecting the government's disregard for constitutional system.

The state government had passed a bill four years ago for the appointment of Lokayukta and the President had given his consent to it in 2015. But no Lokayukta has been appointed in Odisha so far.

Though the BJD government always talks of development, the child development scheme in the state is in doldrums, Patnaik said adding the government is providing uniform, bi-cycles and laptops to students free of cost, but it has done little at grassroot level.

Claiming that around half of the 71,000 Anganwadi centres in the state do not have their own buildings, the PCC chief said many of these centres are run from rented buildings, temple premises and community halls.

Patnaik further alleged that the state government had shut down a number of primary schools recording poor attendance. This shows lack of sincerity in developing child education system, he said.

Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Chairpersons Subash Singh's tenure ended around 7 months ago, but the post is still lying vacant, he claimed.