Dharmendra Pradhan urges Greater Public Participation in Decision Making Process

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has stressed upon the need of greater public participation in the process of Decision Making rather than limiting it to a privileged class, while addressing the ‘Odisha Nirman Conclave’ in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

The Minister said that as many as 70 percent populations in Odisha are involved in agriculture sector contributing only 15% to the GDP of the state. It shows acute poverty of the farming community. “Odisha needs a Punarnirman (Reconstruction) not Nirman or Naba Nirman”, said Pradhan .

It’s painful that Odisha which is richer in ores & minerals than 20 Countries in the world is labelled as a poor state with rich people, Pradhan said. In places like Silicon Valley Odias are among most successful. But Odias in Odisha are poor. This is the dichotomy which we need to overcome, he added.

Stressed upon the need of greater public participation in the process of Decision Making rather than limiting it to a privileged class, Pradhan said that all such efforts to discuss & debate issues of public concern in independent forums must be appreciated.

The Minister also urged to work on the development of Odia language to bring talent & intellectual capabilities hidden untapped in the villages to the fore.

Pradhan further said that, everybody has own responsibility towards nation building and no one should refrain from this noble cause.

Odisha Nirman Conclave is organized by Eastern Media Ltd, owned by Media tycoon and legendry social as well as political activist in Odisha Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, in order to brainstorm of intellectuals, politicians, social activists, and people from different sections for the all round development of Odisha.