Naveen government anti-SC/ST, says Congress

BHUBANESWAR: Criticising the State Government as anti-tribal and anti-Dalit, Congress members on Tuesday walked out of the Assembly alleging that the Orissa Reservation of Vacancies in Post and Service (for SC and ST) Act, 1975, is not being implemented in letter and spirit. “As the State Government has no intention to implement the law, we are walking out of the House in protest,” Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh said. The issue cropped up during discussion on the admissibility of an adjournment motion notice. Alleging that the BJD is not interested in the welfare of the tribals and Dalits, Singh sought to know why did not the Government did not challenge the judgment of the High Court which quashed a State Government resolution of providing promotional facilities to ST and SC employees in the service. “Why did not the Government challenge the Orissa High Court’s judgment with regard to the ORV Act,” Congress member and prominent tribal leader Dambarudhar Ulaka too asked. “If the Government can file special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court for Vedanta company, why can’t it do the same for protecting interests of tribals and Dalits,” Congress member Chakradhar Paik asked adding these two communities (ST & SC) comprise 40 per cent of the State’s population.  Stating that there are 61 MLAs belonging to ST and SC communities in the 147-member Assembly, Paik said the Government should amend the ORV Act, 1975, in order to provide reservation in the matter of promotion of ST and SC employees. The Opposition members also criticised the Government for not implementing reservation norms while making contractual appointments. “Though reservation is provided in appointment of Sikshya Sahayaks, similar facility should be available in other posts,” Ulaka demanded. He alleged that the ratio of ST and SC staff in the Government service had been declining in comparison to their population.  Raising calling attention notice, Padmanabha Behera and Sipra Mallick (both BJD) also said it is high time the ORV Act was amended as it is not serving the interest of SC and ST people. Making a statement, ST and SC Development Minister Lalbehari Himirika said the Government was working on an amendment to the ORV Act to make provision of reservation in the promotion of ST and SC employees. As the Minister did not give a time frame to bring such an amendment, the Opposition members walked out in protest.