Is Odisha Truly Safe for Women? Congress Panel Raises Alarming Concerns
Congress Team Highlights Safety Issues for Women in Odisha
Bhubaneswar: A recent investigation by a fact-finding team from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has raised serious concerns regarding the safety of women in Odisha, including the home district of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Keonjhar.
The team highlighted a troubling rise in crimes against women in the state, citing multiple incidents of rape, gang rape, and murder.
Led by general secretary Deepa Dasmunsi, the five-member all-women team visited four districts—Kandhamal, Ganjam, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj—over the past four days to gather insights from victims' families, local residents, and police officials.
During a press briefing in Bhubaneswar, team member and MP Praniti Shinde expressed her dismay, stating, "After meeting the families of victims, it is evident that women are not safe in this culturally rich state. A girl from a disadvantaged background was murdered while the state celebrated a women's festival."
Shinde described Odisha with three words: lawlessness, corruption, and rape, claiming that these issues overshadow any positive developments in the state.
She criticized the administrative system for its failure to instill fear of the law, alleging that incidents of rape or murder occur in every fifth family.
Shinde lamented that the Chief Minister has not made time to engage with the committee, which she views as a disregard for the victims and their families.
She further noted the government's failure to address women's safety issues, indicating a lack of seriousness from the Chief Minister regarding the rising atrocities.
The team uncovered shocking facts during their visit, which they intend to report to their leadership, but lamented the CM's unavailability for discussions.
Deepa Dasmunsi, the convenor of the Congress panel, claimed that the BJP's governance has led to an increase in violence against women over the past year.
She pointed out the rise in human trafficking, disappearances of women and children, and various crimes against women, asserting that the Chief Minister is unwilling to confront these pressing issues.
Rajya Sabha MP Ranjeet Ranjan added that assaults on women occur every 5 kilometers in Odisha, attributing the rise in rape incidents to the lack of convictions and a troubling alliance between the government, police, and perpetrators.
Shobha Oza, another panel member, announced that the Congress party plans to bring these issues to the attention of the President of India and Parliament.