Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, on the occasion of the Biju Jayanti and Panchayatiraj Diwas, addressed a vast congregation of the farmers, kendu leaf (Kl) pluckers and construction workers gathered in lakhs from all over western Odisha in the PHD ground here on Wednesday. Though the smell of election was clear from his speech in Odia and Sambalpuri/Koshali language, Patnaik very cleverly attacked both the Congress and the BJP that the audience appreciated with clapping.
“My Government has fulfilled the long standing demand of the people of the western region. I have recommended to the Centre to include Sambalpuri/Koshali language in the eighth schedule of the constitution,” said Patnaik.
“None prior to this did it. And this effort is nothing but to respect the people of the western Odisha and its language and culture,” Patnaik said in his speech. “All these apart, lots of developmental works have been done all over western Odisha to ensure that the people here don’t feel the age old allegation of regional imbalance,” he said.
Going a step ahead, Patnaik also felicitated Haldhar Nag, a famous poet of the region especially in Sambalpuri/Koshali language.“Sambalpuri/Koshali language is sweet, so also its dance, music and songs,” said Patnaik while felicitating Nag.
Since the congregation at Sambalpur was exclusively meant for the farmers, Kl pluckers and construction workers, Patnaik didn’t make any mistake to make mention of the welfare measures undertaken for the above section of the people. “`100 special calamity assistance to the farmers of the State for every quintal of paddy has helped them immensely after the Phailin,” Patnaik claimed.
Similarly, `100 crore from the profit of kendu leaf trading would be distributed among the pluckers, he added. He also told about the welfare schemes for the construction workers. Odisha’s achievement in agriculture production is a credit for the State. Similarly, the State has implemented the Forest Rights Act for the SC/ST people with letter and spirit and provided land to them in time bound programme, Patnaik said.