Odisha Budget Session: Guv Address Presents Rosy Picture, No Jobs in 2020!

 In his inaugural address at the beginning of the Odisha Assembly’s budget session on Thursday, Governor Ganeshi Lal patted the State Government for its ‘pro-active management’ of COVID-19 but the word ‘Covid Warriors’ finds a solitary mention in the long 1-hour speech.

“The  State has done extremely well in every parameter of  Covid management and has been praised by national and international organisations for its foresight and effective situation management without any hassle to the public,” said Guv Lal.

He also said, “My Government ensured free quality treatment for the citizens from the testing stage to critical treatment and until discharge. This  is one  of  the  main  reasons for  the  low  mortality  in  the  State  compared  to national and international mortality rates.”

ON COVID WARRIORS: “To motivate and honour the Covid Warriors and to unite the society to fight against the pandemic situation,  my Government  had organised  the “Bande  Utkala  Janani”  event  and  brought  together  the Odias across the World.”

GUV’S FOCAL POINT

While the prime focus of the Guv’s speech was on Covid-19, State’s Health sector, Drinking water, Sanitation, farmers and their issues stood relegated to the end of the address this time, even as it harped big on “transparent, efficient, accountable & robust paddy procurement system” in the State.

Moreover, when the address by Governor painted a rosy picture of Odisha, the glaring omission with regard to the total employment provided or created in the State during last year portrays a contrasting tale.

The contrasting tale is the year 2020 had been marred by the pandemic and job losses had been rampant in the State.

Above all, the major change witnessed in Governor’s speech on Thursday and that of the last year is 5T and Mo Sarkar found a mention towards the end of his address this time.

In contrast, last year’s Guv Speech was brimming with the halo of 5T and Mo Sarkar that was evidenced by the mention of ‘5T’ nearly 7 times and ‘Mo Sarkar’ around 8 times in last year’s address.

Significantly, the sixth session of the 16th State Assembly today witnesses an unprecedented security blanket around the roads that lead to the Sachivalya Marg.

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