Politics gains pace as Odisha Governor starts visiting districts 

Governor Raghubar Das is reportedly collecting complaints galore from people while doing rounds of districts in Odisha. He has also started writing letters to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik about the public grievance, which has punched holes in the tom-tommed claim of the state government about the successful implementation of various programmes. 

The Governor's district visits have now triggered sharp political reactions from the major political parties in the state.

As per reports, the Governor not only receives complaints galore from people but also takes stock of the execution of projects at the ground level. During his visits to Angul and Dhenkanal, he inspected school infrastructure, an old age home, hostels, the pollution caused by MCL, falling groundwater level and elephant mayhem, apart from directly interacting with people. Later, he wrote to the CM to redress the issues on December 8.

He also did the same and sought to know the issues of people in Malkangiri and Koraput. At Mathili, the Governor interacted with patients at the local hospital and later provided Rs 1 lakh as assistance to a poor girl Kabita Kahara at Pangam village who is aspiring to be an IAS officer. He expressed his displeasure over the absence of an Anganwadi centre there.

Significantly, he observed that all should rise above mental poverty and underscored the need for women empowerment. He also added that the schemes, be it Central or state governments, should reach to the people.  
 
Hollow Development Claim: Opposition

While the government has been boasting of the effective execution of projects, complaints from people to the Governor have put a question mark on the government. A question arises if the benefits of the schemes really reach people. 

As for the issue, BJP leader Mohan Majhi targeted the government, accusing it of misleading people in the name of development to create a vote bank. "People will no longer be cheated and they will reply. The Governor has proved the hollowness of the so-called development," he added.

Congress veteran Jayadev Jena said, “After visiting Angul and Dhenkanal, the Governor has talked about the sorry state of affairs. What he has said about the development is reflected everywhere. Let him visit the entire state and see what kind of development has been done.”

However, BJD leader Padmanabh Behera countered it, saying, “People can feel the way development is being done in various sectors. If the government has pointed out something, the government will try to look into it.”