Don’t wait for polls to spend on tribal welfare, PM Narendra Modi to Naveen Patnaik

BALANGIR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday termed the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha as ‘soi hui sarkar’ (government in slumber) while expressing anguish over the latter’s inability to spend the district mineral funds.
Refraining from a direct attack against Naveen, a trend he followed for the third straight rally in the state within a month, Modi instead picked the mineral fund to show the state government in poor light.

Pointing out that after the Centre amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act in 2016, Odisha has got more than Rs 4,000 crore, Modi said, “This money is for the people, for tribals, development of the area where mining is done. But the government here has spent very less. The money is lying unspent.”

He went on to add, “Mein hairan hun yahaan ki sarkar ko ho kya gaya hai. Paise hai, logonko jarurat hai. Logo ka hak hai, lekin sarkar soi hai (I am surprised what has happened to the government here. Money is there, people have their requirements. People have their rights, but the government here is sleeping).”

Modi said the state government should spend money meant for tribals faster instead of waiting for election time. “Don’t wait for election. Solve peoples problems,” he urged, adding, “Chunaab to ayenge jayenge. Ye rupiah pade hai. Ye mere adivasi bhai behenon ka adhikar hai (elections will come and go. Money is lying unspect. This is for my tribal brothers and sisters).”

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s jibe, states finance minister Shashi Bhusan Behera said if Modi has real concern for tribals, he should answer why his government reduced the funding for scholarships meant for scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students by changing the funding pattern from Centre and state to 60:40 from 90:10 earlier.

Official sources said the state government has generated Rs 5599.50 crore in mineral funds while it has so far spent about Rs 885.36 crore.