Mohan Majhi government in Odisha changes names of 21 schemes

Many schemes bearing name of former CM and legendary Biju Patnaik have been replaced

The Mohan Majhi government informed the Odisha State Assembly on Thursday (November 28, 2024) of its plan to rename 21 schemes previously implemented under the Naveen Patnaik administration. Schemes named after Late Biju Patnaik, the legendary leader and former Chief Minister, have been rebranded with neutral names.

Some of the major schemes cashed in on by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to derive electoral benefits have also undergone the change. Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA), which was launched by Naveen Patnaik just before 2019 elections, is now known as PM-KISAN scheme.

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LAccMI (Location Accessible Multimodal Initiative) under which all villages were connected with block headquarter with highly subsidised bus services is rechristened as Gramanchal Paribahan.

According to political analysts, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appears to gradually remove Biju Patnaik’s name from various government programmes in the State. The BJD, which has governed the State continuously for 24 years, was named after Biju Patnaik, the father of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. A revered figure in State’s history, Biju Patnaik is often credited as the architect of modern Odisha, known for his visionary ideas that were ahead of their time. The BJD has consistently sought to preserve his legacy in the public consciousness, leveraging it for political advantage.

“As long as Biju’s name remains linked to various schemes, the BJP will struggle to differentiate itself as a distinct political entity. The continued association of Biju’s legacy with these schemes will only be seen as advancing the BJD’s political agenda,” a senior BJP leader remarked.

Several prominent schemes in Odisha, including the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), Biju Pucca Ghar, Biju Setu Yojana, Biju Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana, Biju Saharanchal Vidyutikaran Yojana (BSVY), Biju KBK, Biju Kandhamal ‘o’ Gajapati Yojana, and Biju Sishu Surakhya Yojana, have been discontinued.

The BJP has adopted a strategic approach in renaming these initiatives. Instead of honouring another political figure, it has opted for neutral names, minimising the potential for controversy. Notably, some schemes now bear the title of ‘Mukhya Mantri’ (Chief Minister), while others have been renamed after revered figures including freedom fighter Gopabandhu Das and literary icon Godabarish Mishra, replacing the legacy of the late Biju Patnaik.

In fact, the Majhi Government has come up with seven new schemes. None of the seven schemes bear name of Sangh Parivar icons.

Published - November 28, 2024 04:44 pm IST