Bhubaneswar: BJP’s four-time MLA Mohan Charan Majhi took oath as the 15th chief minister at Janata Maidan Wednesday. On this occasion, Orissa POST talked to a cross-section of people about their expectations from the new chief minister.
According to Narayan Prusty, a social activist, the new CM must take action against rising crimes like chain snatching and drug peddling. Law enforcement must be strengthened.
Rupesh Kumar Deep, an unemployed youth, said Majhi must focus on employment generation. He said according to the annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the state’s unemployment rate remains higher than the average in India.
Namrata Chadha, a noted woman social activist stressed banning liquor as it creates domestic violence and crime against women.
Expecting the new CM to improve the quality of education, Srusti Misra, a university student sought an increase in literacy rate, especially among women. She also wanted the new government to focus on expanding healthcare facilities.
Being a tribal himself, Majhi should work towards strengthening the indigenous forest conservation efforts, climate activist Ranjan Panda said.
Social activist Sudarshan Chhotoray said as a tribal, the CM must try to implement PESA (Provisions of the Panchayats Act) 1996 which is still not implemented in Odisha. PESA is meant to recognise, empower and promote the social, economic, cultural and political way of life of the Scheduled Tribes (adivasis). He also must look after the tribal people’s development more than industrial development, he added. City-based environmentalist JK Panigrahi said Odisha is a nature-blessed state with rich minerals, forests and water resources that need to be used adopting sustainable mechanisms. The new chief minister is expected to give adequate justice to the environmental component.
ARINDAM GANGULY, OP
