Bhubaneswar: Opposition BJP and Congress today criticized the State Government alleging elected representatives of panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) have been neglected in execution of newly launched ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ (AONO) scheme.
The scheme was launched last December with an outlay of more than Rs 4,200 crore to boost rural infrastructure and promote Shree Jagannath culture. Under the scheme, an assistance of Rs 50 lakh is being provided to each panchayat for execution of several infrastructure projects.
Starting the old scheme ‘Ama Gaon Ama Bikash’ has been renamed as ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ to collect funds keeping election in view. The fund is provided to only ruling party workers while the elected representatives including sarpanches have not been included in the programme, said BJP Chief Whip Mohan Majhi while participating in a debate on an adjournment motion in the State Assembly.
Similarly, Congress legislature party (CLP) leader Narasingha Mishra alleged the state government has provided funds to a particular religious community under the scheme. Shri Mishra raised questions on the secular credentials of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
In the name of conservation of Shree Jagannath culture, money is generously being provided to villages, he alleged.
The AONO scheme was launched only for political gain. No elected public representatives have been consulted, Mishra said.
Reacting to Shri Mishra’s statement, senior BJD leader and Panchayati Raj Minister Pradeep Kumar Amat said the government is providing funds for development of places of worship of all religious communities including Masjids.
Shri Amat, in his reply, said the Chief Minister has launched a historic scheme like ‘Aam Odisha Nabin Odisha’ to make all the basic facilities of urban areas available in rural areas.
Due to the continuous efforts of the Chief Minister, more than 1 crore people have come out of poverty in the past years, which has been reported in the Niti Aayog report.
The main objectives of the AONO scheme are to transform rural Odisha, develop infrastructure and preserve rich cultural heritage and places of worship. For its successful implementation of this scheme, the state government has earmarked Rs 50 lakh for each panchayat from the state’s own fund, he said.
For promotion, preservation and protection of Jagannath culture and making all facilities available to pilgrims at places of worship is another major approach of the program, the minister added.
However, he said that no public elected representative has been neglected in implementation of the scheme. The project’s proposals have been brought from elected representatives, public and communities, Amat said.
Unfortunately, the opposition parties are opposing every step taken by the state government for the preservation, promotion, and protection of the culture of Lord Jagannath, the presiding deity of Odisha, the development of places of worship in the state and the transformation of rural Odisha, which is against the development of the state, Shri Amat said.