Govt draws flak for failure to stop starvation

Expressbuzz, Dec 19, 2009
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government got flak from the Opposition MLAs in the Assembly today for its failure to stop starvation deaths.Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh told mediapersons that while the State Government was busy holding meetings with industrialists to persuade them to set up shops in Orissa, people are dying of starvation in KBK districts. The issue was raised during zero hour in which Surendra Singh Bhoi (Cong) also participated, he said.Surendra Paramanik (Cong) expressed concern over the large number of liquor shops allowed to be set up by the State Government in rural areas which is having bad impact on the unemployed youths. The dilapidated bus stands in different towns, including the Capital city, was raised during the question hour.Though 85 per cent of people depend on buses for commuting, the State Government has not taken any step for their proper maintenance, they said and wanted to know how many bus stands the State Government has constructed during the last nine years.Singh said that Chakradhar Paika, Dambarudhar Ulaka, Shyam Charan Hansda and Ramchandra Kadam (all Cong) alleged large-scale irregularities in the activities of different development authorities in the State and wanted to know what steps had been taken to bring the guilty to book.Alleging that the State Government has failed to utilise funds for purchasing equipment in the hospitals and improve healthcare infrastructure, the MLAs wanted to know what steps have been taken to improve the health sector during the last nine years.While Sadhu Nepak (Cong) wanted to know the steps taken for increasing the number of beds in Bargarh Hospital, his party colleague Gobardhan Das alleged that no steps have been taken to bring a change in the health-care services in Kalahandi district.The delay by the State Government to provide land pattas to those who have enlisted as voters in 298 slums of the Capital city was criticised by the members. Stating that the State Government has announced provision of pattas to the slum- dwellers by March, Surendra Paramanik wanted to know the steps taken to fulfil the promise.