BJP State president KV Singh Deo on Thursday alleged that the population of the economically backward section in the State has increased drastically in the regime of Naveen Patnaik Government.
The Planning Commission’s recently published report on poverty, saying that the population of Below Poverty line (BPl) has decreased to 32.6 per cent in 2011-12 against 57.2 per cent in 2004-05 in the State is misleading, said Singh Deo. “If we assume the report as true then we can say that out of the total 36, 90, 270 BPl families in 2004-05, the State has only 27, 42,180 BPl families now. If so, why the Government is providing only 25 kg rice to each BPl houshold from the originally sanctioned 35 kg riceIJ The Government must make it clear to the people,” said Singh Deo.
“In 2000, Odisha was in debt of Rs 18,000 crore which, at present, has increased to more than Rs 45,000 crore because of the loan borrowed at high interest rate,” alleged Singh Deo. He blasted the Government for its faulty agricultural policies, besides decrying its inefficiency for not utilising Central funds provided under the MNREGA resulting in huge migration of the neighbouring States. In the last five years, more than 300 farmers committed suicide due to loss of crops and debt, he said. “During the regime of Biju Patnaik, a jute mill was built in Dhanmandal but it was handed over to a private player by his son Naveen Patnaik. Now, jute cultivation has been completely neglected in the State,” rued Singh Deo.