BJD accuses Odisha Government of being anti-tribal and anti-Dalit

Bhubaneswar, Sep 3 (UNI) The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today sharply criticised the BJP government in Odisha, accusing it of pursuing anti-tribal and anti-Dalit policies.

Addressing a press conference, senior BJD leader and former Minister Pramila Mallik expressed apprehension that the popular Anvesha scheme for tribal students might be discontinued.
She pointed out that grants for tribal children have not been released for the past five months, raising fears that the scheme may come to a halt.

Mallik further alleged that under the SC/ST Atrocities Act, cases of atrocities were earlier investigated by officers of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) rank. However, the BJP government has now delegated such cases to inspectors or sub-inspectors, which, she said, exposes its anti-tribal and anti-Dalit stance.

Highlighting the importance of Anvesha, Mallik noted that tribal students residing in 98 hostels across 163 public schools in 17 districts have been benefitting from the scheme.
In 2015–16, as many as 22,340 tribal students received support under the program launched by the then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The scheme covered education, clothing, books, hostel, and medical expenses, with the government spending a total of Rs.53,000 per student annually — including Rs.20,000 towards school fees, Rs.18,000 for clothing, books and transport, and Rs.15,000 for food.
She alleged that unlike previous years when the grants were disbursed at the beginning of the academic session, this year no funds have been released, creating a “deplorable situation” in hostels.
Many students, she added, have been forced to leave in the absence of financial support.

BJD Vice President Sudam Marandi also criticized the government’s decision to allow inspectors instead of DSP-rank officers to investigate atrocities against SCs and STs.

He termed it “a serious conspiracy against tribal and Dalit communities” and warned that the BJD would launch street protests if the decision was not withdrawn immediately.

Party media coordinator Dr. Priyabrat Majhi said Rule 7 of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Rules, 1995 clearly stipulates that investigations must be conducted by an officer of DSP rank.
The rules, framed under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, were passed by Parliament and implemented by the Centre.

Majhi alleged that the Odisha government, through an amendment notified on August 30, had allowed inspectors or sub-inspectors to conduct investigations.
He said this was legally untenable, as the state government has no authority to unilaterally amend rules framed by Parliament.