Odisha Govt’s Special Package For Migrant Workers A Fairytale, Claims Congress

Bhubaneswar: The Congress on Sunday came down heavily on the Odisha government’s announcement of a Rs 17,000 crore package to create jobs for migrant workers who returned home from neighbouring states amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

Briefing mediapersons here, president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Niranjan Patnaik said prior to the meeting of the Council of Ministers and the State Cabinet, the Development Commissioner had provided details of expenditure to be made from the package on May 28.

“If the decision had already been taken, what was the need to convene the meeting of Council of Ministers? After all, who is running the government, the council of ministers or the bureaucrats?” Patnaik asked.

Terming the package, named Special Livelihood Intervention Plan, as unrealistic, the Congress leader said the state government should convene a special Assembly session to discuss details of the package and mode of expenditure. “It seems that the package announced by the state government is a fairytale. If the state government fails to address the plight of migrant workers properly, the state will face a grave crisis in the coming days,” he added.

Niranjan also made a point on the treatment of COVID patients. He said when the state government claims to have set up COVID hospitals in most of the districts, why are patients rushing to Cuttack and Bhubaneswar for treatment?

Rubbishing the statement of the Congress leader, BJD Rajya Sabha member Subash Singh said the migrant workers will be benefited as the state government will provide them with cash. “The state government will ensure that these workers are provided employment in several sectors like pisciculture, animal resources, agriculture and cooperative, so that the state’s economy will revive with increase in production. This is what the Special Livelihood Intervention Plan is all about,” he maintained.