Even as the Government claimed that Odisha has recorded the highest poverty reduction during the last 20 years and the process of development is speeding up, Opposition BJP and Congress members pooh-poohed the claim saying 70 lakh families are still in utter penury in the State.
Opposition and ruling members debated the issue on an Adjournment Motion brought by the BJP in the State Assembly on Thursday.
“People are still going outside in search of work. More than 1.5 lakh Government posts are lying vacant for long. There have been irregularities in selection of beneficiaries under various schemes. Eligible poor people are not getting Government benefits. PC taking has been a practice during the last 20 years,” alleged BJP chief whip Mohan Majhi.
He alleged that 90 per cent of tribals and dalits have not got basic amenities yet.
Another BJP member Bishnu Charan Sethi slammed the Governemnt for importing potato and flower from West Bengal, pulses from Uttar Pradesh, fish and vegetables from Andhra Pradesh and onion from
Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra also criticised both the Union Government and the State Government, saying that the Unoin Government has not provided required support for eradication of poverty and the BJD Government has failed to bring an inclusive growth.
Another Congress member, Suresh Routray slammed the Government for incurring loans.
BJD members Amar Prasad Satpathy, Dhruba Charan Sahoo, Prafulla Samal and Aswhini Kumar Patra participating in the discussion refuted the charges.
In his reply, Planning and Convergence Minister Padmanabha Behera said the rate of poverty was reduced from 57.20 per cent in 2004-05 to 32.59 per cent in 2011-12 and the reduction of 24.61 per cent was highest among States in the country.
Behera also claimed that Odisha has emerged as a food surplus State from a food deficient on. He said the figures submitted by him are based on the survey report of the Union Planning Commission and the NITI Aayog.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the Minister’ reply, the BJP members staged a walkout.