Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to dissolve all Special Development Councils (SDCs) in the state.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has approved the proposal to dissolve all 23 SDCs, a release from the chief minister’s office stated. With this, these councils will cease to operate, it added.
The BJD government in the state had initially formed the SDCs in 9 tribal dominated districts in 2017 in order to ensure the development of the area through its welfare schemes. Those districts are Maurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Koraput.
The government formed the special development councils in 14 more districts in May 2023, apparently keeping an eye on Assembly elections in 2024.
Mostly the BJD leaders were appointed in the posts of chairman and members of these councils at the time. With the dissolution of the SDCs, the BJP government in the state has done away with the BJD’s representation in administrative matters.
