Mayurbhanj: Normal life has been adversely affected in various places of Baripada and other blocks of the district today due to a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh observed by BJP members protesting cancellation of North Orissa University as UPSC coaching centre and non-fulfilment of vacant doctor posts in the district.
Besides government and private offices, shops and other business establishments and educational institutions have remained closed due to the shutdown. Vehicular movement has also been hit on NH 18 & 49 as party activists staged road blockades and picketing at several places.
"Despite inclement weather under the impact of cyclone Phethai, we have resorted to strike protesting Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government's blatant negligence of educational and health sectors in the district," Krushna Chandra Mohapatra, a protester said.
The agitators alleged that around 220 posts of doctor are lying vacant leading to worsening of healthcare in the district. The healthcare scenario in the interior rural regions of the district has been worst affected while the condition is no better in the urban areas.
They further said that making North Orissa University as UPSC coaching centre would have served for the betterment for the underprivileged students in Mayurbhanj which is a tribal dominated district but the government also downplayed it which is very unfortunate.
The State government had earlier decided to open civil service coaching centres in six universities Utkal University, Berhampur University, Sambalpur University, RD Women’s University, Ravenshaw University and Gangadhar Meher University.