Bhubaneswar: Though the state government has rejected NITI Aayog’s proposal on appointment of prabhari officers in eight backward districts in Orissa, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has again requested the BJD government to reconsider its decision.
Pradhan has written letters to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi to reconsider the state’s decision of not including eight backward districts in the Centre’s ‘aspirational districts’ list.
The Centre had identified eight state districts – Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Dhenkanal, Bolangir, Koraput and Malkangiri as aspirational districts.
However, the state government rejected the proposal as it has already appointed senior bureaucrats to undertake developmental activities in backward districts. Besides, secretary-rank officials are also visiting the districts every month.
“It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s feeling that the dream of a developed country cannot be fulfilled without developing the eastern region of India. Orissa has a prominent role in this vision; therefore, we should start this mass movement in the year 2018. It is our responsibility to form a new India and a new Orissa by 2022,” Pradhan said in his letter.
BJD has refrained from commenting on the Pradhan’s letter, as it is not a political issue. “The Union minister has written letter to CM and Chief Secretary. The state administration will take a proper decision on it and inform the minister,” BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said.
PNN
