Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will press for enumeration of Other Backward Classes (OBC) during the National Population Register (NPR) exercise to be undertaken in the country.
“The Chief Minister has emphasized for the addition of a column in the NPR questionnaire in the caste category for OBC like it exists for ST, SC and others. So that the exact number of OBCs in the country can be known,” said Pinaki Mishra BJD MP from Puri briefing reporters here today after attending a meeting of BJD Parliamentary Party members at Naveen Nivas to chalk out a strategy ahead of the commencement of the budget session of the Parliament from January 31.
The Puri MP said that OBCs are a very important constituent who have been left out and it was unfortunate that they have not been enumerated. They have not been enumerated in the 2011 Census or it all they have been enumerated the data has not been disclosed, he added.
Mishra pointed out that the BJD has a strong objection to 13(2) in the NPR questionnaire which seeks details of the birthplace of the parents of the respondent. He, however, added that since the Central government has clarified that it is optional on part of the respondent to reply or not, Odisha has decided to delete that column.
The BJD MP said that the party will raise routine issues like expediting pending railway projects in the State, the imposition of clean energy cess, Finance Commission Award to compensate State on account of GST implementation, flagging of inter-state river water disputes-Polavaram and Mahanadi.
The BJD MP informed that the Chief Minister is personally monitoring the performance of MPs.
“We have been provided with a performance chart. We have been advised for better coordination and close contact between the MPs and the MLAs for better delivery of the agenda the Chief Minister has for the people. There is a very close audit now on this account,” said Mishra.
Responding to queries from reporters on the proposed Legislative Council Mishra said, “The proposal for Legislative Council is an unanimous resolution of the State Assembly, there is no party politics in it. Legislative Council is already on the anvil as far as the Central government is concerned”.