BHUBANESHWAR: 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 over by chairperson Bisnu Charan Das.
The date of the Samabesh will be finalised after discussions with party president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Several resolutions were adopted at the meeting for the welfare of the scheduled castes in Odisha.
One resolution wanted a representation of scheduled caste leaders in all BJD committees proportionate to their population in Odisha. It was decided that the cell will work to take welfare schemes launched by the state government to villages with a Dalit majority.
Addressing the meeting, Bisnu Charan Das said more self-help groups of scheduled caste women should be formed to make them economically independent. He underscored the need for more financial assistance from banks to scheduled caste youth to make them self-dependent.
Bisnu Charan Das, a former minister, requested Naveen Patnaik to set up scheduled caste councils in all districts for their all round development. He also said that 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 the Biju Mahila Janata Dal Pramila Mallik, several party MLAs and presidents of all the 32 organisational districts of BJD were present.