TV
Bhubaneswar: A day after the release of PAI-2020 (Public Affairs Index-2020) which put Odisha near the bottom of the list of best-governed states in the country, Opposition political parties and intellectuals showed no mercy in targeting the State government and alleged pathetic governance as the reason for the poor performance of the state.
Kerala was adjudged the best-governed state in the country while Uttar Pradesh ended at the bottom in the large states category.
After UP, Odisha and Bihar were at the bottom of the ranking, scoring negative points in the category with -1.201 and -1.158 points respectively.
According to the PAC, the governance performance is analysed in the context of sustainable development defined by three pillars of equity, growth and sustainability. And unfortunately, Odisha fared poorly in all three parameters.
Under its ‘Equity’ parameter, Odisha ranked 15 and fourth from the bottom, in the large states category. It secured 16th place under the parameters of ‘Growth’ and ‘Sustainability’ and managed third position from the bottom in both factors.
The statistics pointed out in the list has irked the Opposition parties who did not mince any words in criticising the ruling BJD. Bhubaneswar BJP MP, Aparajita Sarangi called upon the government to introspect.
"The PAC list is evident of the deteriorating level of governance in Odisha which is extremely saddening," said the parliamentarian.
Senior Congress legislator, Suresh Routray slammed Naveen government and termed it as a big failure. "People of Odisha have become aware how the State government is being run from Naveen Niwas by some handful of power-hungry bureaucrats and when the time comes, they will give a befitting reply," said Routray.
BJD, however, called the allegations by the Opposition as unwarranted. Party vice-president, Debi Prasad Mishra said, “Growth rate of the whole country is nose-diving amid the pandemic crisis. Our fiscal management has been a subject of appreciation from all quarters. We will have to analyse the index before commenting on the rankings.”
On the backdrop of the rankings, Sahadev Sahu, former Chief Secretary of Odisha said, “The sorry state of affairs in Odisha can be attributed to a single party ruling the state for over 20 years.”
“Delegation of power is the essence of good governance. But unfortunately, Odisha is witnessing the opposite of it. The 5T governance is only eyewash,” added Sahu.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)
Also Read:
Social media can be used as ‘weapon’ for good governance: PM Modi
