AMENDING ORV ACT TO ENSURE PROMOTIONAL AVENUES

AMENDING ORV ACT TO ENSURE PROMOTIONAL AVENUES 21/12/2011
ODISHA NEWS

Odisha Government to amend ORV Act to ensure promotional avenues. This was announced by SC and ST development minister Lal Bihari Himrika on Tuesday at the State Assembly. Accepting the demands of members cutting across party lines, SC and ST development minister Lal Bihari Himrika on Tuesday assured the State Assembly that the state government would take immediate steps to bring amendments in the Odisha Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, 1975 (ORV Act) to ensure their promotional avenues in government services.


The minister, while replying to an adjournment motion on the issue, also told the House that a special amendment was under process to provide reservation for the SC/ST candidates in the contract and ad hoc appointments in government offices and other institutions.


During reply, the minister, sharing the concern of the members, said that the process to bring necessary amendments in the ORV act was underway.
A high power Committee headed by the development commissioner had already given its report suggesting necessary amendments in the Act.
The final draft Bill would be prepared after examination and consultation of various related departments and would be placed in the Assembly after getting cabinet approval.


He also said that a resolution to bring special amendment in the ORV Act, providing reservation in case of contract jobs has been sent to the General Administration department for its views.


It would also be placed before the cabinet soon, he said.
On the other hand, the main Opposition Congress members staged a walkout, expressing their displeasure over the reply of the minister for failing to give a definite deadline to bring the necessary amendments in the Act.


As the state government has no intention to implement the law, we are walking out of the house in protest, leader of opposition Bhupinder Singh of Congress said.
Alleging that the ruling BJD was not interested in the welfare of the tribals and dalits, Singh sought to know why the state government did not move the Supreme Court against judgement of the High Court which quashed a state government resolution of providing promotional facilities for ST and SC employees in the service.
Why the state government did not challenge the judgement oif the Odisha High Court with regards to the ORV Act, Congress member and tribal leader Dambarudhara Ullka asked.


If the state government can file special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court for Vedanta company, why can't it do the same for protecting interest of tribals and dalits, Congress member Chakradhar Paik asked, adding that these two communities (ST & SC) comprise 40 per cent of the state's population.


SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA