NRO plea for WODC Chief

Tathya.in, July 12, 2011
Bhubaneswar:12/July/2011


Digambara Patra, a leading NRO has urged the Chief Minister to appoint an academician as the next Chairman of Western Odisha Development Council (WODC).

The present incumbent term comes to an end on 30 July.

While appreciating the Chief Minister’s initiative to bring down the regional disparity between Western and Coastal Odisha, Prof. Patra, who teaches in the American University at Beirut said this region needs special attention to overcome existing regional disparity.

He pointed out that WODC Chairmanship has gone to undivided Balangir (2 times) and undivided Sambalpur (once).

But it has not come to undivided Kalahandi or undivided Sundergarh at all.

The main reason of regional disparity of Western Odisha is education and infrastructure.

Appointment of an academician will strengthen these two important sectors.

It will also make WODC a non-political organization focusing on development to minimize regional difference and strengthen the state, whereas appointing a politician may encourage political lobby and weaken this organization by diverting from its main goal.

Prof.Patra said that the State Government had chosen an excellent path by appointing an academician last time.

There are other outstanding academicians in the undivided Kalahandi and Sundergarh districts who have been working for over all development of Western Odisha.

Some of them are now serving as members of WODC.

Appointment of such a member from undivided Kalahandi or Sundergarh who is already aware of functioning of WODC and problems in Western Odisha will further facilitate proper implementation of various ongoing projects and bring effectiveness to WODC.

This will also balance local power in the regional level of WODC, as some of the local regions feels neglected and unsecured when often such position is politically bestowed to particular localities, said the NRO.