Amidst sharp reactions from the Opposition parties against the State Government’s PEETHA scheme, here’s an incident that might embarrass the Government over the programme.
A video has gone viral on social media featuring Government officials including a BDO shaking legs with tribal women belonging to the Kutia Kondh community.
In the video, the BDO of Tumudibandha in Kandhamal district is seen dancing with a group of tribal women during the Peoples Empowerment – Enabling Transparency and Accountability of Odisha Initiatives (PEETHA) programme on December 15 in Belghar panchayat.
Besides, some other officials are also found joining the traditional dance of Kutia Kondhs at the programme. Condemning the act by the BDO, former Balliguda MLA Karendra Majhi termed the PEETHA programme as “officers’ entertainment” and an ‘insult’ to the Kutia Kondhs.
“We strongly oppose it. The way the government officers are dancing with the tribal women putting hands on their shoulders and the employees are making fun during the programme, is highly condemnable,” Majhi told media.
“As I am a representative of the Kutia Kondh community and I was a legislator twice, the video featuring the dance of the officials with the tribal women hurts our sentiments,” Majhi said.
“If the Government fails to take stringent action against the officials, who were directed to hold such programme here and danced with the tribal women, the entire Kutia Kondh community will hit the streets against the Naveen Government,” he added.