Baripada: Bhanja Sena, a prominent social organisation in Mayurbhanj district, under the leadership of Kalinga Keshari Jena,

submitted a memorandum addressed to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha through the Block Development Officer (BDO) of the concerned block. The memorandum called for immediate and long-term measures to resolve the district’s fundamental problems relating to education, healthcare, safe drinking water, and employment opportunities for the youth. The memorandum was submitted by the Bhanja Sena block unit in the presence of prominent youth and student organisers. Mayurbhanj, known for its lush greenery, rich natural resources, glorious heritage, culture, art, and traditions, is one of Odisha’s distinctive districts. It has produced numerous talented artists, sportspersons, educationists, and social workers. However, several areas of the district continue to face challenges in accessing basic facilities essential for a healthy, educated, and developed society. The organisation highlighted the following major issues in its memorandum: 1. Permanent Solution to Drinking Water Problems Bhanja Sena urged the government to formulate an integrated, long-term plan to ensure a regular supply of clean and safe drinking water in both rural and urban areas. It stressed that the initiative should focus not only on laying pipelines but also on water quality, regular supply, proper maintenance, and meeting future needs. 2. Improvement of Healthcare Services The organisation called for strengthening healthcare services throughout Mayurbhanj, particularly at Pandit Raghunath Murmu (PRM) Medical College and Hospital in Baripada. It demanded adequate manpower, specialist doctors, modern medical equipment, improved infrastructure, and stronger emergency services. The memorandum emphasised that residents of Mayurbhanj should not have to travel outside the district merely to receive advanced medical treatment. 3. Comprehensive Reforms in Education Bhanja Sena stressed the need to improve educational facilities from Anganwadi centres to higher education institutions. It urged the government to review and address infrastructure and educational challenges in primary and upper-primary schools, high schools, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), Adarsha Vidyalayas, Eklavya Model Residential Schools, and residential schools serving Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, and other disadvantaged students. It also called for strengthening colleges and higher and professional education institutions, including Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University and PRM Medical College, through adequate teaching staff, modern laboratories, libraries, hostels, and other essential educational facilities. 4. Reduction in School Dropouts and Eradication of Child Labour The organisation expressed concern over children being deprived of education and forced into labour. It urged the government to take sustained measures to reduce school dropout rates, bring children who have left school back into the education system, and eradicate child labour completely. 5. Complete Eradication of Child Marriage Bhanja Sena also called for a coordinated campaign to eliminate child marriage in the district. It emphasised the need to create awareness among families and communities, provide adolescent girls with opportunities for higher education and skill development, and ensure strict enforcement of the law wherever necessary. In its memorandum, the organisation stated that these demands were not merely a list of problems but a reflection of the concerns surrounding the future of children, the aspirations of young people, and the overall development of Mayurbhanj. It highlighted the need to create local employment opportunities so that young men and women could lead dignified lives in their home district rather than being compelled to migrate to other states as migrant labourers. The organisation appealed to the Chief Minister to personally examine these issues, conduct a high-level review if necessary, and prepare a coordinated action plan involving the concerned departments. It also called for the implementation of both immediate interventions and long-term development measures. Expressing hope for positive government action, Bhanja Sena stated that timely intervention by the Chief Minister could bring renewed hope to millions of people in Mayurbhanj and help secure a safer, more prosperous, and dignified future for the district.