Hearing a petition filed opposing the works executed under the ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ scheme, the Orissa High Court asked the state government to submit a report within three weeks.
A petition was filed at the state’s apex court on how works are being executed without involving Gram Panchayat or conducting gram sabhas, ignoring the purpose behind the creation of the three-tier governance.
In the petition, questions were raised over the panchayat-level development works being executed by government departments or agencies engaged by the district Collector. While the petition was filed on behalf of nine sarpanchs of Basta area in Balasore district, the Secretary of the Panchayati Raj department, Balasore Collector, DPO, and BDO of Basta were made parties to it.
In this regard, no reactions could be obtained from the state government or the Balasore district administration.
Notably, the state government had launched ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ in July. Under this, every panchayat will receive a sum of Rs 50 lakh to carry out several development works. And of this, Rs 10 lakh is to be set aside for the propagation of the Jagannath culture.
The sarpanchs of nine panchayats prepared a project report of developmental works of their respective areas and submitted it to the concerned department. But it was rejected. When enquired, they came to know that the developmental works will be undertaken under ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’.
As per the guidelines, the developmental works to be executed under ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ are done by any department engaged by the government or any agency engaged by the BDO or the District Collector.