The first ever visit to Odisha and Rayagada on Friday by Vaishnaw since taking over as Minister of Railways, Electronics and IT has kindled a ray of hope among Rayagada denizens.
Civil societies like Lions Clubs, Walkers Clubs, merchant associations and various other fraternities including media have felicitated the Minister and raised issues of Therubali-Gunupur railway line, initiating actual work of rail division at Rayagada, miserable mobile network in all parts of the district including the district headquarters.
Vaishnaw responded by saying that Modi Government had entrusted seven departments to Odisha like railways, electronics, IT, tribal affairs, education, skill development and Jal Shakti by creating a history. His Government is committed to push a comprehensive development package in eastern region of the country, Vaishnaw said. “It is really unfortunate that even Group-D examination is conducted nationwide. We request you to promulgate a policy in which the examination is held Division wise with proportionate reservation mainly to create opportunities for ST/SC and other poor youths of this tribal region, which constitute more than 70 per cent of the total population of KBK.
One mega production unit must be set up in KBK to create employment opportunities and counter regional imbalance,” State convenor, Odisha Adibasi Manch Bidulata Huika said in her petition to Vaishnaw.
Rabindra Patakhandal, State convenor of Odisha Suchana Adhikar Manch said, “Mobile network is still inaccessible in more than 70per cent villages of Rayagada. In a few villages, tribal children climb hills and trees to access the network.
A tribe child died two days back of land slide while he was going to his hut on hills to access network. Even in district headquarters, the network is miserable. We request you to look into the matter on a priority basis.”
Vaishnaw, earlier had a darshan of local deity Maa Majhighariani. Then he interacted with a few beneficiaries of Ujjwala, PMAY and other Central schemes.