Bhubaneswar, 30 April (H.S.): A special session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly on women’s participation in Indian democracy saw a sharp political exchange, with Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launching a strong attack on the state government over issues of women’s safety, governance, and empowerment.

Addressing the House, Patnaik said he was “deeply distressed” while raising what he described as a serious issue concerning women’s rights and dignity in the state. He cited an incident in which a woman’s family reportedly faced extreme difficulty in accessing her bank deposits after her death, claiming that the family was forced to produce proof of death in a manner that exposed administrative insensitivity.

The BJD chief said such incidents reflect a broader failure of governance and lack of accountability in the system. He alleged that despite claims of a “double-engine government,” administrative delivery at the ground level has “completely failed,” particularly in matters affecting ordinary citizens.

Patnaik further claimed that women’s safety and dignity in Odisha remain a matter of serious concern, and said that such issues have also drawn attention in international media reports. He accused the government of focusing more on publicity than effective governance.

Highlighting his party’s record, Patnaik stated that Odisha was the first state in India to implement reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions, later increasing it to 50 per cent. He said his government consistently worked to strengthen women’s political participation and empowerment.

He also urged the Centre to immediately implement the Women’s Reservation Bill passed in Parliament, alleging that several political parties have historically used the issue of women’s empowerment for electoral gains without taking concrete steps.

Raising concerns over the proposed delimitation exercise, Patnaik warned that it could have an adverse impact on the state’s political representation and rights. He described it as an issue that could affect Odisha’s long-term interests.

Concluding his speech, Patnaik asserted that he would continue to safeguard Odisha’s rights and interests and would not allow any injustice against the people of the state as long as he remains active in politics.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda