BJP, Congress take aim at BJD for approving SDC grant without infra

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress on Sunday targeted the BJD ruling dispensation over approving an earlier grant and an additional grant of a total of Rs 351 crore for the Special Development Council (SDC).

The Opposition parties accused the Odisha government of announcing projects and approving grants to woo tribal voters. 

In 2017, the government formed Special Development Councils (SDCs) in tribal-dominated districts to keep their languages, arts, cultures and traditions alive and bring them into the mainstream. The objective was to develop the lifestyle of the tribals.  But, once the election was over, the government put the plans and programmes in cold storage. Since then, many of these SDC offices have been closed.

In spite of this, the government again announced the formation of SDC in 14 districts. As of now, even the process for the council formation has not started in several districts, said sources.

The chairman post at the SDC office in Koraput district was lying vacant since 2019. And, the government filled up the post just a few months ago. Prior to that, a coordinator and a peon were reportedly managing the show.

Obvious as it is, people are skeptical about the proper utilization of Rs 21 crore allocated to the district. 

“Since the election is around the corner, the government is on an announcement spree. These announcements will too meet their ends after the elections,” rued Sisir Patra, a Koraput resident. 

The situation in Malkangiri is no different either. Here too, the SDC office has none but a clerk and a peon, but the district has received an allocation of Rs 10.5 crore. 

In such a situation, the state government’s approval of an additional grant of Rs 175.5 crore for the SDC has raised several questions. 

“Had the government been desirous of development in tribal areas, it should have implemented the PESA Act. Keeping the election in view, the government has approved the grant. It is nothing but a lollipop,” said BJP MLA Nityananda Gond. 

Expressing his concerns, Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati said, “In 2018-19, they (the BJD) started the SDC. After the election, they forget about it. Now, they have approved an allocation of Rs 175 crore. It has been done with keeping the election in view.”

Taking the side of his government, advisor of SDC Pradeep Majhi said, “For effective results, we have eight trained SDC champions in each block. This apart, we are also willing to implement the PESA Act. Our Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is very cautious in this regard.”