Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has ordered a stay on two specific guidelines on restructuring of community institutions under Mission Shakti as an interim measure till next hearing.
The order pertains to 5.10 & 5.11 of the guidelines issued by the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Missions Shakti department on January 22.
The single judge bench of Justice Sashikanta Mishra has issued a notice to the state government in this regard and listed the matter for May 15.
The Mohan Majhi government has announced a massive restructuring of Mission Shakti, the flagship programme of the previous Naveen Patnaik government, by dismantling the grassroots leadership of the self-help groups (SHGs) network and initiating a targeted campaign to connect every household with income-generating initiatives. The objective is to streamline and bring in transparency in the programme. This is also being seen as a step to help curb the BJD influence and break its support base among women.
The two
guidelines, which have been stayed, are as follows:
5.10. No member can be an Office Bearer (OB) for two consecutive tenures.
5.11. In any Executive Committee (EC) at any Community Institution level, i.e., Cluster Level Forums (CLFs), Gram Panchayat Level Federations (GPLFs), Block Level Federations (BLFs), and District Level Federations (DLFs), only one member from a family shall be eligible to become the member of EC. Other family members, members of extended families or close relatives of such family shall not be eligible to become EC member of the same Community Institution.
The notification had led to demonstrations by thousands of Mission Shakti members and Nikhila Odisha Jeebika Mission EC Sangha, demanding withdrawal of restructuring instructions and permanent appointment of EC members. Sarba Shakti Mayee Mission Shakti Federation of Keonjhar later moved the HC, arguing that an executive order cannot be issued to remove those elected since Mission Shakti is registered under Societies Registration Act.
Also Read: Odisha Deputy CM Appeals To ‘BJD Aligned’ SHGs Members To Accept The Change In Guard
Earlier this month, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida again appealed to members of SHGs to accept the change in guard in the state and participate in the restructuring process.
She had earlier said that the entire SHG network will be reorganised and new appointments to the GPLFs, CLFs, BLFs will be made through elections to these federations. The current presidents and secretaries of GPLFs, CLFs, BLFs who have served for two consecutive terms exceeding four years, will no longer be eligible for holding the posts as per the new provisions, she added.