Vikash Sharma

Scores of women from Pubasasan panchayat of Pipili in Puri district on Monday staged demonstration in front of the panchayat office alleging lack of developmental activities.

Holding the Sarpanch, Rasmiprava Das responsible for the sorry state of affairs, the agitators alleged that all the developmental works are only limited to pen and paper. Though two vehicles were procured for transportation of garbage under SBM in the month of November last year, only one vehicle is in operation.

The women members alleged that the helper and driver of the vehicle have not been paid their wages. Be it cafés or green coconut stalls, every welfare work has remained in pen and paper, alleged an agitator.

“We have come to meet the Sarpanch who doesn’t visit the pachayat office. We only wanted to put forth our grievances, but the Sarpanch is reluctant to come to the spot for a discussion. No developmental work is being executed. Whatever is being done, it is being carried out without informing every member,” alleged Swarnalata Swain, a protestor.

Responding to the allegations, Sarpanch, Rasmiprava Das said, “All the allegations are completely baseless and it is only an attempt to malign me. Already the payment has been released. It is perhaps during my tenure that a lot of developmental and welfare activities have been carried out in the panchayat.”

(Reported by Dwitikrushna Patnaik)

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