Civil society members on Thursday slammed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the wake of a report of the National Sample Survey (NSS) where Odisha has topped the list of poor States in the country and symbolically felicitated him in an innovative way here at the Master Canteen Square.
Hundreds of youth and students symbolically felicitated Patnaik with citation, shawl and garlands. Then the felicitation items were sent to Patnaik in his Secretariat address.
“With Odisha becoming a separate State in 1936, the dreams of Utkal Gaurab Madhusudan Das and many legendary figures were realised. They handed over the responsibility to us to take up the State to new heights in every respect. But after 66 years of independence, the State became the poorest State which is a shame on us,” said Md Imran Alli.
He alleged that with Odisha achieving the first position in poverty, only dreams of a few bureaucrats, politicians, including the Chief Minister have been fulfilled, while the dignity of four crore Odias has been shattered.
By holding the felicitation programme, we are recognising the tireless efforts of the present politicians and bureaucrats to make Odisha a number one State in poverty, said Alli.
He said such felicitation programme will be conducted in all panchayats, blocks, municipalities and district headquarters on Friday.
Among others, Debiprasad Prusti, Jitendra Sahu , Manaswini Parida , Hara Mohapatra , Pramod Deb, loknath Mohanty and Preeti Nayak participated in the programme.