The need for a campaign to educate the people about the impoverished situation and political insensitivity in Odisha was stressed by the participants in a State-level workshop organised by the Odisha Parivartan Abhiyan here on Friday.
All the major political parties participating in the event expressed their support to this civil society-led movement to usher in a change.
Pradesh Congress Campaign Committee chairman Bijay Kumar Patnaik explained how the ordinary villagers are exploited by officials and rampant corruption in the government functioning prevails. Suresh Panigrahi of the CPI(M) highlighted how Odisha has one of the lowest wage and social security systems in India.
Samruddha Odisha president Jatish Mohanty explained that economic development can happen with appropriate government intervention.
Abhaya Sahu of the CPI, Judhisthir Mahapatra of CPI(ML (Liberation), Subash Nayak of SUCI (Communist), Pravas Samantray of Samanta Kranti Dal were of the opinion that the political parties, social movements, lawyers, etc., must work hand in hand to change the prevailing the situation.
Odisha Parivartan Abhiyan coordinator Manas Jena presented instances of backwardness of Odisha in agriculture, industry, service sector and human resources. He also presented a thirty-point people’s agenda for a State-wide campaign.
Ashok Nanda while presiding over the event explained the need for giving an alternative path for social justice, politics and development in the State. He also called for a united effort to counter communalism and attack on democracy.
People from different walks of life expressed their concern over the persistent underdevelopment of Odisha and growing communalisation of politics in the country.
Panchanan Kanungo of Congress, Ajeya Rout of OCP, senior journalist Sandip Sahu, social activists Ranjt Pattnaik, Kumar Prasant, Ziauddin Ahamad, Balakrushna Chhatar, Digambar Dhuria and Romita Kundu, student leader Sanghamitra Jena, educationist Chakradhar Pradhan also spoke on the issues.
An action plan was chalked out to carry forward the movement starting with zone-level meetings.
