Bhubaneswar: Sumani Jhodia, a tribal woman who was appointed by Biju Patnaik in the 1990s as an adviser and enjoyed the powers of a superintendent of police (SP), fondly remembers how the former chief minister used to encourage her every time they met.

Sumani, who hails from the tribal-dominated Rayagada district, was in Bhubaneswar to attend a workshop on increasing the learning habits in tribal areas, said: "I still remember how Biju babu had helped tribal women wage a fight against liquor traders. Even though earlier we did not agree to take the responsibility, he had instilled a sense of confidence in us by saying that entire administration would support me and my colleagues on our endeavour to stop the trade of illicit liquor."

Biju had invited Sumani and 28 other women to listen to their grievances, particularly on the issue of stopping the sale of liquor. At the meeting, Sumani had told Biju how the male members of the family sold jewellery, land and everything else for liquor and ruined their lives.

"Biju babu had first told us he could not stop the trading of liquor. But, he came up with an idea saying he would only help if we took it up ourselves and launched a fight against the trade," she said,

Sumani said: "At first, I was reluctant to take the responsibility. When he insisted, we agreed. He had appointed eight tribal women as my advisers and I was appointed their leader. He had given me a jeep that I had later handed over to a hospital in our areas to serve as an ambulance."

"I still have the police uniform that Biju babu had given me. I still remember how Biju babu had introduced us to the district collectors and SPs. He even told the officers that if they failed to support us, they would face action," Sumani said, adding that though they had been fighting to get the status of tribal people, the administration was yet to accord them that.

She also had a few goods words for Biju's son Naveen.

"I have met Naveen and told him how I had been close to his father. When I asked him whether he was able to understand our language, Naveen smiled and said: " Kicchii kicchii (a little bit.)"

She said: "I doubt whether Naveen knows we are no more being specially treated by the administration. We have issues concerning education and health care among others that need to be addressed."