The Samajwadi Party State unit on Monday decried NITI Aayoag Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya’s statement that Special Category State (SCS) status to Odisha does not hold any relevance and urged Governor SC Jamir to intervene.
Party president Rabi Behera submitted a memorandum to the Governor highlighting issues like Central neglect in terms of allocation of funds and financial assistances for natural calamities.
“You are requested to take the SCS status to with Prime Minister. Similarly, NDRF grant of `776 crore for Hudhud cyclone as recommended by the Parliamentary Standing Committee may soon be given to Odisha and Home Ministry may be moved to do so,” stated the memorandum.
The party also urged the Governor to ensure an additional `1,000 crore aid from the NDRF to combat present drought situation and waiver of agricultural loans of farmers/sharecroppers of the drought-hit areas and a monthly pension `1,000 to distressed farmers.
The Governor was also urged to institute a Commission of Inquiry under the chairmanship of a retired High Court judge to probe the irregularities in the implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA).