Bhubanesswar: The raging controversy surrounding Mission Shakti initiative appears to be emerging as a major issue before the political parties for the next Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress have stepped up their attack on the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in the state accusing it of engaging the women members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) under Mission Shakti for party work.
Both the opposition parties have been making stinging attacks on BJD alleging that the ruling dispensation is blatantly using women SHGs as political weapon to strengthen its vote bank.
Seeking to counter the opposition onslaught, the ruling BJD, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has accused it of conspiring to derail the process of empowerment of women in the state.
In a fresh salvo against the Naveen Patnaik government over the issue, senior BJP leader and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi lashed out at Mission Shakti Secretary Sujata R Karthikeyan for allegedly using foul and derogatory language in an address to department staff.
Releasing a purported audio tape of Sujata, the firebrand BJP leader hit out at the IAS officer for allegedly using slangs like ‘rubbish’ and ‘bullshit’ while speaking about department employees drawing salaries. “Use of such words only reflected the narrow thinking and mindset of the officer,’ she said.
BJP’s attack on Sujata comes after its ongoing onslaught on the woman IAS officer’s husband and 5T Secretary VK Pandian over his whirlwind tours of the state to review developmental works.
Slamming Sujata for reportedly saying in her address that empowerment will never be possible with the help of women from villages, Aparajita said the people of Odisha are very simple and known for their hospitality.
Seeking to know as to why the Mission Shakti Secretary has so much hatred towards women, the Lok Sabha member wondered whether this hatred is only towards women or all Odias.
Stating that the 2.25 lakh women of Odisha live with dignity and sacrifice their income and money for the interest of society, she said the aim of Mission Shakti was to empower women and build confidence in them. “Welfare of women will not be possible with such mistrust, poisoned and distorted mindset,” said Aparajita.
Stressing that government officials are getting salary from tax payers’ money, the BJP leader said that words used by the Mission Shakti Secretary and her behavior and attitude are highly uninspiring, painful and condemnable.
Meanwhile, several BJP leaders met Cuttack district collector to apprise him about a video which showed community resource persons (CRP) working under Mission Shakti, pledging to work for Cuttack Sadar MLA from BJD Chadra Sarathi Behera.
Hitting out at BJD, the saffron leaders said the women members at Khandeita panchayat under Cuttack Sadar block can be seen taking a pledge that they would adhere to the direction of the MLA and would create no obstruction in his work. They also pledged to work for him selflessly.
The brazeness with which government officials, like these women, are aligning with political party activities is a matter of concern for Odisha, they said.
However, the ruling BJD mounted a counter-attack on BJP accusing the saffron party of trying to derail Mission Shakti initiatives and put a halt to empowerment of women in the state.
BJD spokesperson Tumbanath Panda said in a statement that over 70 lakh women have become economically self-reliant because of Mission Shakti in Odisha. Women are now actively involving themselves in social, economic and political activities because of this initiative, he said.
“It seems BJP is conspiring to wind up Mission Shakti programme as it does not want empowerment of women in the state. However, its evil design will not succeed as women in the state are very much aware of their rights,” he said.
