May 12th 2024.
Bhubaneswar is a vibrant city brimming with political activity, especially in the midst of the Assembly polls. One of the key players, BJD leader Kartik Pandian, made a bold statement on Sunday. In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise to make Odisha the number one state in the country if the BJP is voted to power, Pandian claimed that Odisha is already "much ahead" of Gujarat in various parameters.
Pandian, a former bureaucrat who has now entered the political arena, presented compelling statistics to back up his claim. With a touch of sarcasm, he remarked, "Look who wants to make Odisha number one." He then proceeded to highlight the stark differences in several indices between Gujarat and Odisha.
Despite the BJP's rule in Gujarat for 25 years, Pandian pointed out that the situation in the state is quite dismal compared to Odisha. For instance, the malnutrition rate in Odisha is 30%, while in Gujarat it is higher at 40%. Similarly, the prevalence of anaemia among women and children is also higher in Gujarat compared to Odisha.
Pandian also shed light on the progress made by Odisha in terms of immunisation and financial inclusion. He proudly announced that 90% of children in Odisha have been vaccinated, while in Gujarat it is only 76.3%. Additionally, more than 86% of women in Odisha have bank accounts, while in Gujarat it is only 70%. The gap is even wider when it comes to mobile phone ownership, with over 50% of women in Odisha owning one compared to only 48.8% in Gujarat.
Furthermore, Pandian highlighted the per capita debt in Gujarat, which is almost three times higher than that of Odisha. He also pointed out that primary enrolment ratio in schools is higher in Odisha, with almost 98% compared to Gujarat's 90%.
It is worth noting that these statistics are even more significant considering that Modi, who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat for three terms before becoming the Prime Minister, was unable to bring the state up to the level of Odisha. As the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections commence in Odisha, Pandian's remarks serve as a reminder to the people of the state to carefully consider their options before casting their vote.
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