It has been finally proved that the caste certificate of Burla NAC chairperson Chandrabati Nayak is a forged one. The background of Nayak is that she by birth is from general caste, but after her marriage to a person from SC community, she claimed to be belonging to SC community.
Be that as it may, the seriousness with which the case of Nayak is taken and the promptness to unravel the truth has raised many eyebrows here, given the fact that in hundreds alleged cases of forgery in caste certificate, the Government has not taken any action and rather has allowed the offenders to go scot free. As a result, many persons committing the forgery have been able to avail many benefits from the Government, including jobs.
The reason behind the promptness in Nayak’s case is clear. Nayak belongs to BJD, the party whom the administration bothers and cares the least in Sambalpur.
“BJD is a neglected party in Sambalpur. The local administration cares us a little,” said a party worker of junior rank on the condition of anonymity.
Supporters of other parties have forged caste certificates earlier, but they were left scot free. The local MlA in Sambalpur recommended for issue of caste certificates to those people despite allegations that many general category persons were able to get caste certificates.
Nayak didn’t issue the caste certificate herself. It was the then Tehsildar who issued the certificate. Why action has not been initiated against the Tehsildar, asked some people here.
It is further learnt that an alarming number of 652 forgery cases of caste certificate are pending in western Odisha. But no action is taken to settle the cases. Persons holding such certificates are mostly in Government jobs, including a few in the OAS cadre as well.s