leaders of the Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India (CERl), Odisha Chapter, the Amofoi and the Freethought Party of India have formed a new body, Odisha Front for Socio-Politico-Electoral Change (OFSPEC). The body would work on eradication of blind belief, idol worship, degrading caste system and for introduction and popularization of quality English medium education for every child, one-child family norm, provision of free secular registration of love marriage office in each gram panchayat and urban colony, hostels for runaway lovers at district level, lowering voting age from existing 18 to 16 years, etc.
At a meeting on Sunday under the chairmanship of Manas Jena, a 17-member committee for the body was formed. Retired IAS officer Kalyan Roy was selected as the chairman. The other members of the committee include Manas Jena (vice-chairman) and B Ramchandra CST Voltaire as the convenor.
Voltaire stressed on the need for launching a socio-political movement to modernize Odisha and India on the brilliant ideas and ideals of the eminent social reformer Raja Rammohan Roy and Dr BR Ambedkar. He regretted that members of the State Assembly did not care to take any note of the ghastly murder of two lovers at Markaguda village in0 Malkangiri on November 18 and the suicide of two students, who were lovers, at Rairekhol on December 7 during the Winter Session of the House.