Bhubaneswar: Union Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday described Odisha Government’s KALIA Scholarship scheme as an ‘election gimmick’ and wondered why Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is not implementing the newly introduced reservations in Government jobs and higher education for the economically weaker sections in the general category.
Pradhan, who took to the twitter to slam the CM, said the KAILA Scholarship scheme was designed to befool the farmers and other backward class (OBC) families in the State.
“After 72 years of independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced reservations for economically backward sections in OBC general category both in education and jobs sectors. Instead of giving them their constitutional right, the State Government is hoodwinking them by introducing KALIA Chhatrabruti,” tweeted Pradhan.
President Ram Nath Kovind last month gave his assent to the constitutional provision to provide 10 per cent reservation in Government jobs and education to economically backward section in the general category after it was passed in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during the recently concluded Budget Session.
“It is very unfortunate that Naveen Patnaik Government is playing with the economically backward sections. Where the problem lies in introducing the reservation facility,” questioned Pradhan.
The Union Minister’s response came on a day when the Chief Minister launched the scholarship programme to help farmers’ children to pursue technical and professional education to realise their dreams. Under the programme, State Government will bear educational expenses of students for pursuing studies in State Government institutions.
