Recommended Stories
Bhubaneswar: A few hours after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced enhancement of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana cover for women from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh, OPCC President Niranjan Patnaik silenced the hullabaloo of the State Government in a series of tweets criticising the Biju Janata Dal initiative ‘Odisha For Women’, tagging it a failure.
No sooner the CM expressed his happiness tweeting, “Happy to share, health cover under #BijuSwasthyaKalyanaYojana will be raised from ₹5lakh to ₹7lakh for women. This historic move, a first in country, will benefit lakhs of women & assure adequate healthcare coverage,” the Odisha Congress chief took a potshot at the CM through consecutive tweets and started citing instances of failure of the scheme.
Leaving no stone unturned, Niranjan ‘showed the mirror to BJD Government’ over the status of women in Odisha.
https://twitter.com/NPatnaikOdisha/status/1011904937486241792
Claiming that the efforts of the BJD are just eyewash for the people of Odisha, Niranjan pointed at many such instances including minor girl rapes, ambulance failure, absence of adequate healthcare services for women leading to delivery on roads and auto-rickshaws, and many other schemes that have remained just on papers.
A few months ago, another woman gave birth in a drain, near hospital's canteen in Koraput after she was refused admission by hospital. If you think it can't get worse than this, then you are mistaken. (2/n)
BJD's #OdishaForWomen has FAILED! pic.twitter.com/KuISLqliMd
— Niranjan Patnaik (@NPatnaikOdisha) June 27, 2018
As usual, ambulance failed to show up and a woman, in Mayurbhanj, was forced to deliver baby on road. This, for reasons unknown, is considered as a badge of honour by the BJD Govt. (3/n)
BJD's #OdishaForWomen has FAILED! pic.twitter.com/pMbEAFJxp4
— Niranjan Patnaik (@NPatnaikOdisha) June 27, 2018
In the absence of adequate healthcare services and nearly no infrastructure development in Rayagada distt, a woman gave birth to a still born on road, while being carried in a sling to a community healthcare centre. (4/n)
BJD's #OdishaForWomen has FAILED! pic.twitter.com/HDmdrjdNGy
— Niranjan Patnaik (@NPatnaikOdisha) June 27, 2018
The OPCC chief further questioned on what basis the BJD government is shamelessly making tall claims of progress in healthcare.
In yet another incident, a woman was forced to deliver her baby on road due to unavailability of ambulances. On what basis does the BJD Govt shamelessly make tall claims of progress in healthcare? (5/n)
BJD's #OdishaForWomen has FAILED! pic.twitter.com/fAQOPs9gvI
— Niranjan Patnaik (@NPatnaikOdisha) June 27, 2018
According to the NCRB data, in 2015, 995 minor girls were raped and in 2016, 1258 minors were raped in Odisha. Even now, almost everyday we hear of such heinous incidents in our state. (6/n)
BJD's #OdishaForWomen has FAILED! pic.twitter.com/NwxbGCFl6e
— Niranjan Patnaik (@NPatnaikOdisha) June 27, 2018
Odisha ranks 4th in India in terms of number of rapes of minor girls, according to NCRB data 2016. (7/n)
BJD's #OdishaForWomen has FAILED! pic.twitter.com/iHdZKiyZXT
— Niranjan Patnaik (@NPatnaikOdisha) June 27, 2018
It's not just in terms of law & order and violence against women where BJD's #OdishaForWomen has FAILED. If talk about human development indices, even there the Govt has failed the women of our state. 51% women in Odisha are anaemic. (Source: NFHS-4, 2015-16) (8/n) pic.twitter.com/EcVqIAkAEg
— Niranjan Patnaik (@NPatnaikOdisha) June 27, 2018
It's not just in terms of law & order and violence against women where BJD's #OdishaForWomen has FAILED. If talk about human development indices, even there the Govt has failed the women of our state. 51% women in Odisha are anaemic. (Source: NFHS-4, 2015-16) (8/n) pic.twitter.com/EcVqIAkAEg
— Niranjan Patnaik (@NPatnaikOdisha) June 27, 2018
Last but not the least: 24 women are sexually assaulted EVERY DAY in Odisha (NCRB). Horrifying!
The BJD Govt must STOP making fake claims about #OdishaForWomen, via paid PR campaigns and instead introspect on how & why they have failed mothers & daughters of Odisha! (9/9) pic.twitter.com/2sIwuqqxu1
— Niranjan Patnaik (@NPatnaikOdisha) June 27, 2018
Reportedly, during discussions at Ama Gaon Ama Bikash session today, one Mamata from Malkangiri called for enhancing Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana cover for women. Taking note of this, CM Naveen decided to increase the amount from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh for women.
Naveen had also tweeted on Odisha for Women initiative stating “From Mission Shakti to Mamata & Khushi to land rights & houses, 50% reservation in Panchayats to free bicycles & hostels for girls, Odisha stands for women. The enhanced BSKY cover is yet another step for women & also for Healthy, Happy & Empowered Odisha.”