Inaugurating the closing ceremony of People’s Task Force (PTF), here where taskforce members from all panchayats of Rayagada district assembled, Rajya Sabha MP N Bhaskar Rao deliberated on the task of the volunteers.
“Rayagada is a schedule area and represented by Adivasi people as ward members, sarpanch, samiti members, block chairmen, Zilla Parishad members and chairman and even MlAs and MP. Apart from spreading awareness on Government entitlements, the task force members must act as watchdogs in monitoring the functioning of people’s representatives and officials so that the schemes meant for the poor and the oppressed reach the last person first. The task force members must not get involved in party politics and see that welfare schemes are availed by each and every family in the habitation irrespective of their own party affiliation,” said Rao.
State Chairman of PTF, Odisha Kailash Mishra explained the prime objectives of the PTF. The PTF will not only create awareness on Government schemes for the needy but also ensure that the schemes reach each and every family in a village and a ward, he said.
A volunteer recruited for this purpose will intensively work for 50 to 60 families and coordinate with local officials in putting the schemes in a right direction. There will be coordination from GP level to block level to district level culminating with Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), he informed.
ITDA PA Muralidhar Swain joined as chief guest. Executive Officer, Rayagada Municipality Shantiprava Pradhan and the BDO, Kolnara briefly said about the schemes available in urban area and in rural area.
Assistant Executive Engineer, Rural Water and Sanitation Mission (RWSS) Sankaram explained about the participatory piped water supply scheme as well as drinking water system through solar water pumps.
Assistant Executive Engineer (MI) D Sudhakar explained about the check dams and extended canals. Bidulata Huika, Ombudsman, joined as a guest of honour and described her role in grievance redressal mechanism in solving issues in MGNREGA like non-payment or less payment in wages, corruption in the schemes related to MGNREGA and requested the gathering to send complaints against the erring officials.
Among others, former president, District Consumers Redressal Forum advocate Pradip Das vividly explained about Acts like Consumers Act, MGNREGA, Forest Rights Act, RTI Act, Right to Education Act, Atrocities Act, etc.