Deprived of benefits, green card holders stage demo

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Rourkela: Deprived of facilities and benefits from various government schemes, hundreds of green card holders raised a banner of protest today against the government apathy towards their problems.

Led by Ajay Sharma, President of Rourkela Jana Bikas Manch (RJBM), the green card holders demonstrated outside the ADM office in support of their various demands.

Shouting anti-government slogans with placards in hand, the demonstrators alleged that state government has been turning a deaf ear to their plight. They said that despite a government notification in 1983 for 5 per cent reservation in the government housing projects especially in LIG or MIG in urban and rural areas, the green card holders are deprived of this benefit. There is also provision of homestead land of eight decimals for these families free of premium, apart from 5 per cent reservation for their children in engineering, medical, polytechnic and ITI institutions, they said.

In case the card holder or spouse is a state government servant, he or she is entitled to get an incentive allowance twice the amount of increment, they added. RJBM members alleged that majority of the beneficiaries of green card are deprived of their rights and entitlements as codified in the card. The green card holders submitted a memorandum to the chief minister through ADM and also copy to Health and Family Welfare Minister. They have urged the chief minister to do the needful to fulfill their demands.

The green card holders have threatened to intensify stir unless their demands were not fulfilled in the next two months. “In case of no action in next two months, we will take to the streets in the State Capital,” warned Rajkishore Pradhan, Vice President of RJBM.

Among others Chandrabhanu Das, Kabi Pradhan, Shekhar Sharma were present in the demonstration.

About 400 forms have been submitted to the ADM in this connection. Rourkela ADM, R N Mishra, assured them that steps would be in this direction.

 

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