People from different walks of life have condemned a casteist remarks given by Ombudsman (MGNREGA) of Rayagada Laxmi Narayan Padhi in Whatsapp against Rayagada Sub-Collector Pratap Chandra Pradhan, Additional Tehsildar Sunil Chandra Khora and DIPRO Basant Kumar Pradhan.
The trio had held a meeting recently of religious leaders of Rayagada town on opening of religious institutions by adhering to Covid norms. Padhi had commented satirically saying that Government Brahmins (Sarakari Brahmans) came together to save the religion(Dharama Rakhya).
As the trio officers belong to SC/ST communities, the casteist remarks soon triggered a row. Registering their protest the DIPRO and senior journalist Badal Tah left the group and many group members warned Padhi to refrain from such comments.
The district unit of All India Backward(ST, SC, OBC) and Minority Communities Employees Federation(BAMCEF) by Jalandhar Pushika, a Dangaria Kandh demanded that Padhi, who is spreading communal hatred amongst peacefully co-existing communities of Rayagada, should be taken to task immediately and a case be registered against him under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities ) Act.
“If as Ombudsman, Padhi can use such kind of derogatory and abusive language towards the efficient district level ST/SC officers, one can imagine how he will behave with block level officers from these communities and address the grievances of poor beneficiaries under MGNREGA,” said BAMCEF district president Abhimanyu Kandhapani and additional general secretary Minarao Ulaka.
They demanded that Padhi be removed from his present post of Ombudsman and informed that they will soon send a memorandum to the Governor with copies to Tribal Minister Jagannath Saraka, MP Saptagiri Ulaka, MLA Makaranda Muduli, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary-Panchayati Raj, ST-SC Commissioner, 5-T Secretary, Rayagada Collector and SP.
All India Federation of Scheduled Castes/Tribes, Backwards and Minorities Employees Association (SCEWASTAMB) general secretary Bommali Kanta Rao has also condemned the casteist remarks by Padhi.
Odisha Adibasi Manch district convenor Dibakar Sabar and many of his colleagues disapproved of the tone used against the SC/ST officers. It is learnt that Sub-Collector, Additional Tehsildar and DIPRO have already appraised the matter to district Collector Saroj Kumar Mishra,
who is also the District Programme Coordinator of MGNREGA. Mishra has also been messaged, emailed and tweeted by some sensitive journalists of Rayagada to act upon this with immediate effect. DRDA PD Maheswar Nayak has been informed about the incident as DRDA is the nodal agency in implementing the MGNREGA.