‘Make In Odisha’ is a conspiracy to loot natural resources of the state through foreign companies, said Bisthapan Birodhi Jana Andolan Mancha on Friday while staging a demonstration at the Lower PMG square in Bhubaneswar.
The Mancha alleged that the programme is a plan not to develop the state but to destroy it.
Hundreds of members of the Mancha assembled at the Lower PMG and raised slogans against the programme. Thereafter, a rally was taken out which culminated at Lohia Academy where a meeting was organised under the chairmanship of Lingaraj Azad. Azad is the advisor to Niyamgiri Surksha Samiti.
The speakers, including environmentalist Prafulla Samantara, were critical of the government and the programme it is currently organising. They accused the government of handing over the state's limited natural resources to the national and international companies and celebrating its success in the name of ‘Make In Odisha’.
Its consequence would be disastrous. In the coming 20 years, the state would be devoid of resources and around one crore tribal people and forest dwellers would lose their social, financial and cultural security, they alleged.
They warned that their movement against the plunder of water, land and forest would be intensified in the coming days. They later submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Odisha highlighting their concerns.