Bhubaneswar: As many as nine schemes of six departments including the much-hyped KALIA yojana have come under the Mo Sarkar charter of the Odisha government from today.
As per the regulations of the Mo Sarkar, while the government has made it mandatory for officials to collect feedback from people on various issues, a 24X7 call centre opened at the OCAC building in Bhubaneswar from January 5 and the toll-free number launched to provide information to farmers on KALIA scheme have reportedly become inoperative raising questions on the successful implementation of the initiative.
According to sources, now the call centre of a private telecom company is being operated from the OCAC building where the State government once rolled out a help desk with much publicity.
Interestingly, a security guard posted at the OCAC building said that the government call centre stopped functioning as soon as the elections were over.
Asked about it, Agriculture minister Arun Sahoo however claimed that the call centre is still functioning to provide information to farmers and asserted that it will help a lot in streamlining the feedback collection mechanism under the KALIA scheme.
“More than 100 workers are working in the call centre. Thousands of calls are being received and information is being disseminated to farmers,” Arun Sahoo said.
On the other hand, farmers in the State have alleged delay in release of second phase of KALIA funds despite government assurances.
Gouranga Jena, a farmer from Udala, said, “At a time while we are yet to receive KALIA funds, what shall we do with 5T. The government had assured to provide the KALIA money but no amount has been released so far. It seems that the government made us fake promises to garner votes."
Apart from KALIA scheme, registration of farmers and national food security scheme have also come under the 5T charter. Besides, Vahan and Sarathi of transport department have come under the 5T.
Soon after the implementation of the Mo Sarkar initiative, the Agriculture department has given various responsibilities to its officials to further streamline accountability in the district level.
Food supplies and consumer welfare minister Ranendra Pratap Swain called up several farmers to enquire whether they are facing any difficulties for their registration and paddy procurement.
“I am very much satisfied after talking to the farmers and it seems that their faith in the grass-root level has increased. The big farmers are facing difficulties as they have to visit mandis for several times so we are looking towards that," said Swain.
“As the enforcement of new MV act resumed in Odisha, we appeal all to obey the rules. As the 5T has also been implemented in it, people should obey the rules and save their lives,” said transport minister Padmanabha Behera.
Notably, Mo Sarkar was launched in hospitals and police stations from October 2 to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi this year. While six departments are covered under it, the government aims to bring all departments under its purview by March 2020.