Patnagarh BJD MLA Saroj Kumar Meher, who landed in controversy and was later arrested for forcing a Works Department Junior Engineer to do sit-ups in public for poor-quality road construction work in his constituency, is now again in news but for a good reason.
In an exemplary move, the first-time MLA on Tuesday said he would donate 25 per cent of his salary for development of hospitals in his constituency and the remaining 75 per cent for the welfare of poor and underprivileged people.
“I had earlier told that I will donate 25 per cent of my salary to hospitals in Patnagarh that are grappling with several issues.
Besides, I will give the rest 75 per cent to poor and needy in all three blocks under my constituency. I took the decision after visiting the grassroots areas,” he said.
When asked about his own sustainability, Meher said, “I belong to a farmers’ family. I have some business also. I will run my family as I used to before being elected as an MLA. I don’t want to live a luxurious life.”
The MLA was released from the Jharpada Special Jail here on July 6 after the Bhubaneswar Additional District Judge (ADJ) Court granted him conditional bail. He spent 12 days in the jail.
