Panchayati Raj system in danger: Naveen

Bhubaneswar: The BJD president and Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, on Thursday alleged that the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the State were in great danger and needed to be empowered. Patnaik said this while paying tribute to his father and former chief minister Biju Patnaik on his 110th birth anniversary at a memorial meeting at the BJD State headquarters, “Sankha Bhawan”. “It is a matter of concern that in Odisha, Panchayati Raj Institutions are in great danger now,” Patnaik said, referring to the reforms carried out by Biju Patnaik as the chief minister from 1990 to 1995. The former five-time chief minister said that no one can forget Biju Patnaik’s contribution to the development of Odisha, from women’s empowerment to the Panchayati Raj system.

Biju Patnaik was the first chief minister in the country to reserve 33 per cent of seats for women in PRIs and also empowered gram panchayats by giving financial power as well as authority to sarpanches, samiti members and block chairpersons, he said.

However, after the BJP assumed power in 2024, the State government transferred certain financial powers to officers instead of the PRI members, the BJD chief alleged and demanded restoration of power with panchayat bodies.

“Only a leader who respects the power of the people can strengthen the Panchayati Raj system. If the Panchayati Raj system is weak, the hope of the people is also lost. It is a matter of concern that in Odisha, Panchayati Raj Institutions are in great danger now,” he said.

He said following the ideals of Biju Patnaik, the BJD, the party named after him, would create public awareness to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system. “That will be the best tribute to Biju Babu,” Naveen Patnaik said.