Odisha govt responsible for chit fund scam: Soumya Ranjan

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Jul 16, 2014 at 12:43 PM Updated On : Jul 16, 2014 at 1:15 PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau,

Baleswar, July 16:

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Editor of ‘Sambad’ and chairman of Eastern Media Ltd Soumya Ranjan Patnaik on Tuesday attributed the mega chit fund scam in Odisha to the involvement of the state government, economic liberalization and craze among the people to get rich quickly.

“To ensure that such incidents do not recur, drastic steps should be taken”, he said while presiding over a workshop on chit fund awareness at Sambad Bhawan in the Industrial Estate premises here.

Patnaik said that both the state government and the media should work in tandem to create awareness among the people.

“The state government should take steps to amend the existing rules on deposit of money in private companies and formulate new laws to check such huge fraud. Besides, pressure should be put on the state government to return the deposit money to the people. The process should begin with a political will at the society level to end such unethical practices,”, Patnaik said.

In his address, former MP and president of Utkal Bharat Kharavela Swain claimed the involvement of the state government in the mega chit fund scam.

“The presence of the chief minister and others ministers in the functions arranged by these chit fund companies bears ample testimony to it. There is no justification for the state government to return the deposited money to the affected investors from the taxpayers’ money,” he added.

Former local MLA Pradip Panda said the mushrooming of chit fund companies in Odisha is due to the faulty policy of the state government.

Among others, state convener of “Arthika Sanstha Mananka Dwara Khyatigrasta Milita Manch” Jayant Das said that the Manch would continue its agitation in the state and the Centre till the affected investors get justice.

The speakers were of the opinion that such huge monetary fraud in Odisha is not possible without the involvement of government machinery.

“The hasty announcement on constitution of a Rs 300 crore corpus fund by the state government to return the moneyd eposited to the people gives ample evidence of its involvement in this mega scam,” they pointed out.

Bureau chief of Sambad’s North Odisha edition Chittaranjan Chiranjit gave the welcome address while Sibalal Panda proposed the vote of thanks.