Though Jeevan Bindu is regarded as the flagship programme of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), allegations of corruption and irregularities in the initiative have surfaced.
Balasore district is a case in point.
The irregularities in the much-hyped programme came to the fore when the number of blood units collected during four months beginning October 2022 mentioned in the party’s newsletter differed from the data shared by the blood bank of the Balasore district headquarters hospital.
As per the newsletter, 2,080, 1,943, 2,065 and 2,961 units of blood were collected in October, November, December and January months respectively. If the figures are put together, it comes to 9,049 units.
Now, look at the data available at the blood bank of the Balasore DHH.
In the said four months, a total of 2,817 units of blood were collected from 27 blood donation camps.
“Under Jeevan Bindu programme, we had received 1549, 254, 358 and 656 units of blood,” said Balasore blood bank officer, Dr Basant Kumar Upadhyay.
Now the question here is, who is telling truth? If the newsletter figure is true, then what happened to the rest 6,232 units of blood?
“They (BJD) are claiming it as their flagship programme. The difference between the figures mentioned in the newsletter and shared by the blood bank indicates that the BJD is misguiding people. It is not new. It has been going on for the last 22 years,” said social worker, Bikram Panda.
“There shouldn’t be any difference between the figures of the blood bank and those mentioned in our newsletter. Only investigation can throw light on why there is such a difference between the two figures. If someone has done this, it is a very serious offence,” said BJD district president, Rabindra Kumar Jena.
(Reported by Rashmi Ranjan Dash, OTV)