BJD protests against Odisha government's decision to empower BDOs over panchayati raj institutions

Bhubaneswar: Opposition BJD staged a massive protest near the assembly on Tuesday, criticising the state govt for allegedly undermining the panchayati raj institutions (PRI)s by curtailing the authority of its elected representatives. BJP, however, said that the govt is committed to empowering the three-tier panchayati raj system.

BJD’s protest escalated to the point where police used water cannons to control the agitators along the Mahatma Gandhi Marg. The protest was in response to a recent state cabinet decision that increased the financial authority of block development officers (BDOs) for developmental projects at gram panchayats. BJD argued that the decision diminishes the power of panchayat members, who are predominantly from the opposition.

“The govt is conspiring to weaken the panchayati raj system. The powers of grassroots elected representatives, such as panchayat samiti members, sarpanches, and block and zilla parishad chairpersons, have been significantly reduced, rendering them ineffective,” BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra said.

BJD MLA and former panchayati raj minister Arun Kumar Sahoo highlighted that the govt has significantly cut budgets for projects requiring gram sabha approval. “Since the BJD has a strong presence in the state’s panchayati raj institutions, BJP is attempting to advance its political agenda by stripping these members of their powers. We demand the immediate reversal of the undemocratic decision,” Sahoo said.

BJP defended the govt’s actions, claiming that the delegation of power to BDOs would ensure transparency and efficient project execution in villages. “The decision would curb the corruption that was prevalent during the BJD’s tenure,” BJP MLA Irasis Acharya said. Another BJP MLA, Ashok Mohanty, said that the govt’s initiatives aim to enhance the panchayati raj system by allowing villagers to select their projects, unlike previous govts where decisions were made by officials and contractors.

On Sept 10, the cabinet approved amendments to the Odisha Panchayat Samiti Accounting Procedure Rules, 2002, increasing the technical sanction and administrative approval powers for developmental works in panchayats. According to the cabinet decision, the financial authority of BDOs to approve panchayat work bills was raised from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, eliminating the need for further countersignature by the panchayat samiti chairperson.