BJP, Cong target BJD for 'splurging money on SHG members' 

The Odisha government will spend a whopping Rs 730 crore toward uniform and blazers of SHG members, a step which many believe has been taken by the government to keep women voters (70 lakh SHG members) in good humours.

Each SHG member will be provided with Rs 1000 for her uniform while an additional Rs 2000 will be given to each of the 1.5 lakh executive and management committee members for blazers. 

However, opposition parties have taken a swipe at the government for such huge spending.      

As per reports, the government is declaring sops and after sops for various sections of people. Given such huge spending for the women SHG members, many wondered if the BJD government is scared of losing the women vote bank. The financial assistance for uniforms and blazers is viewed as a bait to grab women votes. Why such baits were conceived ahead of the elections? 

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“The BJD has been treating the SHGs as its vote bank. If it is saying that it is empowering women by giving Rs 1000 for uniform, it won’t work these days,” said BJP Mahila Morcha leader, Aishwarya Biswal. 

Taking a dig at the BJD-led dispensation, Congress leader, Meenakshi Bahinipati said, “Whenever any election is around the corner, he remembers women, particularly self-help groups. Instead of making them self-reliant, this government is only distributing money. It is doing this out of fear.”

Hitting out at the BJP and Congress leaders, ruling BJD MLA Latika Pradhan said, “The BJD is not doing anything for its own profit. They (SHG members) have been given an opportunity to create their own identity.”

At the same time, community support staff like the MBK, CRP, Bank Mitra, and Prani Mitra have expressed their displeasure over the government's decision. They said when they don’t have money for fuel for their scooter, how the uniform and blazer would help.  

“During his visit, the 5T commissioner had assured us that our salary would be hiked. But we are yet to get any letter in that respect,” said Babita Sahu, a Bank Mitra in Soro.