A sensitisation workshop on the Odisha Right to Public Services Act 2012 (ORPS Act–2012) for elected PRI members of Rayagada block was held here.
Under the Act, the citizens are supposed to get services within stipulated period of time or otherwise the erring officials will be taken to task. The workshop was presided over by Block Chairperson Wana Himirika. While ABDO Siba Gopala Rao moderated the whole event, Prabhat Ranjan Giri joined as chief resource person. SEO SK Madina, GPEO Sadasiva Sahu and vice chairperson Gaurishankar, among others, joined as guests. PRI members, mainly Sarpanchs, Samiti Members and ZP Members, besides Executive Officers from 28 panchayats of Rayagada block attended.
As per ORPS Rules –2012, which was notified in the Odisha Gazette on December 7, 2012, the designated officer shall for the convenience of general public display all relevant information related to services on the notice board in Odia language. All the necessary documents that are required to be enclosed with the application for receiving the notified services shall be displayed on the board. In addition to the details in the prescribed format, the board shall also include the details of how an appeal or revision can be made as also all the necessary documents which shall be attached to an appeal or revision, as the case may be.
The Block Office is meant to render several essential services through schemes like Mo Kudia, BRGF, IAY, MGNREGS, SGSY, Cluster Housing, OAP, Widow Pension, Disability pension, Madhubau pension, Water Supply (Jaladhara), GGY-Gopabandhu Gramina Yojana, BPl Position, NFBS and Annapurna, etc.
The tribal people, who mostly live in 20 panchayats of Rayagada block, solely depend on the block for livelihood and other issues. Out of 56 services by 10 departments notified in the Odisha Gazette, only one service called National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) of the block development office under the Panchayati Raj Department is the only service included in ORPS Act – 2012. Under this scheme, if the primary bread winner of a family in the age group of 18 to 64 years belonging to BPl category dies, his/her next immediate kin/legal heir shall get Rs 20,000.
“For tribal villagers, the block still remains as the largest provider of services. Notifying only one service under this Act has made a mockery of a large number of SC and ST villagers,” said Sridhar Jani, a local tribal activist.
Though the venue of the sensitization was Rayagada Block office premises, the notice board depicting the service available was no where seen. Brazen violation of rules only proves that the officials at block level are seriously unruly