States » EastPosted at: Oct 28 2026 1:16PM


Congress seeks dedicated budget for Kotia, urges Odisha Government to protect residents’ interests

Bhubaneswar, Oct 28 (UNI) Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das has urged the state government to prioritise the development of Kotia panchayat in Koraput district, safeguard the dignity and self-respect of its residents, and ensure that they receive adequate welfare benefits and essential public services.
Holding the BJP-led “double-engine” government responsible for addressing the region’s challenges, he demanded a dedicated budget for Kotia’s development and referred to Article 371 of the Constitution while calling for focused investment in livelihoods, infrastructure and basic amenities
During a visit to several villages in the Kotia region,on Tuesday Das interacted with residents and heard their grievances concerning welfare schemes, pensions and access to government services.
He called on the BJP-led Odisha government to take concrete measures to improve living conditions and protect the interests of people in the strategically sensitive border region, which has remained at the centre of a long-standing territorial dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
“You came to power talking about Odia identity and pride. Now protect the self-respect of the people of Kotia,” Das said, urging the state government to translate its commitments into tangible benefits for residents.
The OPCC president alleged that prolonged neglect by successive governments had contributed to the present situation in Kotia.
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Das stressed that residents should not be left deprived of essential facilities and support. He urged the government to formulate measures that would ensure the region’s overall development and improve the quality of life of its people.
Raising the territorial issue, Das urged the Andhra Pradesh government to immediately stop conducting panchayat elections in Kotia. He argued that Odisha already had elected representatives in the region, including a sarpanch and a zilla parishad member, and maintained that there was no justification for Andhra Pradesh to claim the territory as its own.
Highlighting the historical background of the dispute, Das said Kotia had been part of Odisha since the state was formed on a linguistic basis in 1936. He also pointed out that Andhra Pradesh was established in 1956 and alleged that the region’s present circumstances were largely the result of years of neglect.
During their interaction with the Congress delegation, residents raised concerns over differences in welfare benefits and public services provided by the governments of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
According to the villagers, they receive a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 from Odisha, compared with Rs 4,000 from Andhra Pradesh. They also claimed that Andhra Pradesh had issued ration cards to them well before they received similar cards from the Odisha government.
Residents further alleged that accessing pension benefits from Odisha had become more difficult since the BJP government assumed office. They said they were being forced to make repeated trips to banks to withdraw money credited to their accounts.
The delegation also learnt that Andhra Pradesh officials had been visiting the region frequently over the past several years, reflecting the continuing administrative and political contest between the two states for influence in Kotia.
The delegation accompanying Das included Congress Legislature Party leader Ramachandra Kadam, Koraput MP Saptagiri Ulaka, Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Laxmipur MLA Pabitra Saunta, Bissam Cuttack MLA Nilamadhab Hikaka, Chitrakonda MLA Mangu Khilla and Odisha Mahila Congress president Minakshi Bahinipati, among others.
The visit focused on understanding residents’ grievances, examining differences in welfare delivery and highlighting the need for improved public services in Kotia.
As part of the fact-finding exercise, the Congress delegation met Southern Range DIG Akhilesh Singh, Koraput District Collector Manoj Satyavan Mahajan and Superintendent of Police Rohit Verma to brief them on the situation and share its findings.
During the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister K. V. Singh Deo arrived at the venue and listened to the facts, findings and experiences presented by Das. Singh Deo assured the delegation that the state government would take strong measures in the future to protect Kotia.
UNI DP
Tags: #Congress seeks dedicated budget for Kotia# urges Odisha Government to protect residents’ interests
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