BHUBANESWAR: THE Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has decided to organise a Dalit Samabesh here to strengthen its organisation at the grassroots. This was discussed at the working committee meeting of the BJD Scheduled Caste Cell presided by its chairperson Bisnu Charan Das. The date of the conclave will be finalised after discussion with party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Several resolutions were adopted at the meeting for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes in the State. One of the resolutions wanted representation of SC leaders in all the committees of the BJD, proportionate to their population in Odisha. Besides, it was decided that the cell will work for taking welfare schemes launched by the State Government to villages, where Dalits are a majority.
Addressing the meeting, Das said more self-help groups of SC women should be formed to make them economically independent. He underscored the need for more financial assistance from banks to SC youths to make them self-dependent.
Das, a former minister, requested the Chief Minister to set up councils of SCs in all the districts for their all-round development. He also said, zonal committees of the Scheduled Caste Cell should be set up to further strengthen the organisation.
BJD vice-president and senior minister Surya Narayan Patro, Finance Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera, Minister of State for Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Snehangini Chhuria, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Chadrasarathi Behera, president of Biju Mahila Janata Dal Pramila Mallick, several party MLAs and presidents of all the 32 organisational districts of BJD attended.