BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP from Bhubaneswar Aparajita Sarangi on Tuesday raised the issues of rising unemployment and debt burden on households in rural Odisha in the Parliament.
Sarangi urged the Speaker to direct the Centre to seek a report from the State government in this regard.
She pointed out that the All-India Debt and Investment Survey Report released recently by the National Statistical Office has revealed that Odisha is the poorest among states as far as average asset value per household is concerned.
“As per the data compiled by National Statistical Office, 40.5 per cent people living in villages are under debt burden in Odisha. Making matters worse, this includes a whopping 46.4 per cent of farmer households which is a matter of great concern,” said Sarangi.
She also mentioned that as per the Centre for Monitoring for Indian Economy, unemployment rate in Odisha is 23.5 per cent which is much higher than the national average.
“The increasing debt burden and unemployment rate is a matter of utmost concern and the Centre should seek a report from the State government in this regard. Everybody should know the plan of action the Odisha government has put in place to decrease the debt burden and increase employment opportunities in the State,” she said.