Jajpur MP Sarmistha Sethi Raises Issues Concerning Odisha During Parliament Session

New Delhi: Member of Parliament from Jajpur Sarmistha Sethi has raised many important issues concerning to Odisha during the current Parliament Session. Participating in the Question Hour in Lok Sabha yesterday, she raised the issue of setting up of Central Tribal University in Odisha and regarding the infrastructure and manpower requirements of Central University of Odisha, Koraput. In her question, Sarmistha said during the Covid and post-Covid periods, many children including a lot of tribal children who were pursuing higher education dropped out and asked whether the Ministry has taken any steps to bring back those children to the universities, any financial assistance or any kind of support provided to them, and any data regarding how many dropped out children returned to the universities.

She also questioned the Center on the negligence meted out to the Central University of Odisha at Koraput. “From the view point of infrastructure and manpower, the University seems to be on a neglected front. My question to the honorable Minister is what is the total number of vacancies in the teaching and non-teaching positions in the Central University Odisha, Koraput in my state that is Odisha and when these positions will be filled up.”

The Jajpur Member of Parliament participated in the Discussion on Supplementary Demands for Grants 2022-23 and put forth Odisha’s demands for consideration. In her speech, Sarmistha said that “The government is claiming that it is confident of accelerated growth and several international agencies see India as bright spot amidst the adverse impact of Covid-19 and Russia – Ukraine War. This is a positive thing, but high unemployment, increase in the number of poor people, less private investments, decline in public sector investment and record breaking food inflation in the recent times has affected all sections of society.”

She said, under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Odisha has taken many predevelopment measures such as reducing poverty, doubling farmer income, increasing steel production etc. She also said that through Mission Shakti, the Odisha government is working tirelessly to empower women to be model entrepreneurs and leaders. Odisha is committed to provide a Pucca Ghar to every household and the state is the only state where beneficiaries are getting financial assistance not only for the construction of houses but also for repairs. Rs 1444 crore has been directly credited to the bank accounts of 31 lakh household beneficiaries under Biju Pukka Ghar Yojana for repairing of their houses, she said in the Lok Sabha.

“When developmental activities are undertaken in such a large scale, the people of Odisha also expect the same support and cooperation from the central government in a federal structure, she said.