Raipur: The Greater Odia Samaj of Chhattisgarh elected noted social worker and philanthropist Purandar Mishra as President. Mishra and other office bearers of the Samaj were chosen unanimously at a convention of people from Odisha residing in Chhattisgarh held at Raipur recently.
The Greater Odia Samaj has been formed with the representatives of 24 Odia communities representing 35 lakh people staying in Chhattisgarh. The communities are Brahmin, Kolta, Saunra, Gauda, Mahakul, Gaadaa, Ghasi Ghasia, Yadav, Dhobi, Kevat, Meher, Teli, Sonar, Sodhi, Maali, Naai, Khadia, Binjhawar, Kharra, Kumbhar, Kansaari, Kodaa, Bhuyan and Mohanty.
In the Raipur Conclave organised at the premises of Jagannath Temple in Gayatri Nagar, it was decided that all the Odias residing in Chhattisgarh should come under one major umbrella Association with an aim of ensuring their safety, security and interest, protection of their dignity and pride and furtherance of their overall development.
Before taking over the Presidentship of Greater Odia Samaj, the Founder of largest Jagannath Temple in Chhattisgarh Purandar Mishra was heading the Brahmin Samaj of the State. Other Office bearers of the Samaj include Vice Presidents Wakil Tandi and Vinod Kumar Nayak, General Secretary Raj Kumar Gupta, Organising Secretaries Satyadev Sharma and Lalit Pradhan,
Secretaries Ishwar Khamhari and Rishabh Bagarti, Treasurer Kamalakanta Bhoi, Joint Treasurer Shashi Kumar Khuntia, Mentors Narayan Prasad Nairoji, Santosh Sahoo and Gunanidhi Satpathy, Spokesperson Dr Ashok Pradhan, Legal Advisors Tikendra Pradhan and Bhagabanu Nayak, Media Incharge Byasa Dev Bhoi, Bastar Division Incharge Nityananda Mishra, Durg Division Incharge Dr Pradeep Patra, Raipur Division Incharge Ashok Bharati, Bilaspur Division Incharge Girdhari Sahoo and Sarguja Division Incharge Shyam Sahoo.
Addressing the mega event, Purandar Mishra observed that the 35 lakhs Odia voters in Chhattisgarh have paramount influence in 32 Assembly constituencies spreading over 10 districts. Though Odia community people play a decisive role in Chhattisgarh politics, they feel neglected and ignored by the authorities, he claimed.
Mishra said that Odias contribute a lot for the advancement of social, cultural, political and economic sectors of Chhattisgarh, but their contributions are largely overlooked by the administration. The Greater Odia Samaj will fight for justice to the Odia community, strive hard to mitigate their genuine grievances and try its best to fulfil their reasonable demands., he added.
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