‘Govt not ensuring equal growth of all communities’

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Srikant Jena on Tuesday slammed the Naveen Patnaik Government for not ensuring equal development of people belonging to all categories during 18 years of its rule.

Mentioning in a letter to the Chief Minister that people belonging to SEBC, SC, ST and Minorities together constitute 95 per cent of the State’s population, Jena alleged that the Government has not taken steps for proportionate development of the respective communities.

He said while 90 per cent of these communities are below poverty line, they hold zero per cent political power. Similarly, 56 per cent of these people are landless and farmers from these committees are committing suicide.

However, people belonging to the General Category hold 100 per cent political power, 90 per cent economic power and 90 per cent administrative power, and they have influence in all section of the society. Stating further that 40 lakh youths are unemployed and a mining scam of Rs 2 lakh crore has been committed in the State, Jene wanted to know why the Mandal Commission recommendations have not been utilised in the State and the SC and STs have not been given 38.5 per cent reservation for admission into technical and medical sectors of education.

“The Supreme Court has already directed that the 50-per cent reservation limit will not be applicable in States which have a special kind of situation. Odisha’ SC and ST population is 16 per cent more than the national average and it makes special situation in the State. Your Government hasn’t deliberately appraised this to the apex Court,” Jena alleged and wanted to know if it not a betrayal for the Backward Class people.

He said over 4,000 SEBC students have been deprived of being doctors and over 20,000 students deprived of being engineers during the last 15 years due to non-implementation of 27 reservations for them.

Jena too pointed out that seven of the nine BJD Rajya Sabha members belong to General Categories and none from SC and ST are representing to the Upper House now. He suggested to the Chief Minister to appoint three Deputy Chief Ministers, one each from SEBC, SC and ST categories, and give prestige to the communities.