Hundreds of workers of CPI(M) led by Jagannath Mishra staged a demonstration in front of the RDC (Southern) office and submitted a memorandum to the President of India through the RDC, pressing for fulfillment of a12-point charter of demands.
The party demanded that given the enormity of suffering and extent of damage caused by Phailin and subsequent floods in Odisha, the disaster should be declared as a ‘national calamity’ and adequate steps be taken and financial assistance be provided for the restoration works in the State.
They warned that unless proper rehabilitation programme is not undertaken, 10 million people will be forced to leave their native places in search of jobs and problem of distress migration would grow acute in the worst affected districts. While criticising the step motherly attitude of the Central Government towards Phailin and flood victims of Odisha, they lamented that during the post cyclonic period when crores of people were living in darkness due to complete damage of power infrastructure, the Central Government was charging Rs 72.46 paise per liter of kerosene on the State Government to provide kerosene to the needy people, instead of giving free kerosene to the calamity victims at least for a month.
The party’s main demands included that 90 per cent of the loss to the State be borne by the Centre, the NDRF/SDRF norms be amended, release of a special package of Rs5,000 crore for rehabilitation and reconstruction work, Rs1 lakh to each victim for construction of pucca house, payment of compensation to the tune of Rs15,000 to non irrigated and Rs25,000 to irrigated land for each acre of crop loss, waiver of the loans taken by the affected farmers and traders, wage hike to Rs300 under MNREGS work, compensation to Phailin affected artisans and traders, four-lanning of NH-520 and ration card to each family.
Among others, CPI (M) Ganjam District Committee members Kailash Sadangi, Judhisthir Behera, Basanta Nanda, GK Paricha and P Harikrishna Reddy attended.