Uproar in Odisha Assembly over recruitment of class IV staff

The Odisha Assembly was disrupted amid uproar and repeated adjournments as opposition Congress members stormed into the well alleging regional disparity in recruitment for government posts in backward KBK (Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput) districts.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Congress Chief Whip Taraprasad Bahinipati alleged gross regional disparity in the KBK districts and western region, mainly for class IV posts.
The ongoing practice of appointing candidates from outside had caused serious resentment among the unemployed youths of these districts, he said.
Bahinipati and other Congress members demanded that recruitment, particularly for class IV posts, should be made by selecting candidates from the same district.

As Congress members created ruckus in the House on the issue, members belonging to other political parties also supported Bahinipati's suggestion.
Amid noisy scenes, Speaker Niranjan Pujari first adjourned the House for 20 minutes and later for another 20 minutes before the lunch break.

Similar scenes were witnessed when the House reassembled at 3 PM with Congress MLAs trooping into the well and advancing towards the Speaker's podium demanding the government to take concrete steps on the matter.
With uproarious scenes persisting, the House was adjourned till Monday.
Earlier during Question Hour, members from the Treasury and Opposition benches expressed concern over alleged failure to provide safe drinking water to people, resulting to spurt in cases of jaundice.

However, state urban development minister Puspendra Singhdeo said drinking water was not the only reason for spread of jaundice and there were other factors too.
Several steps were being taken to provide safe drinking water in urban local body areas, he added.