ORISSA

‘Joranda Gadi under Govt’s 5T plan’

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As per direction of CM Naveen Patnaik, 5T Secretary VK Pandian visited the Joranda Mahima Gadi in Dhenkanal district on Monday and informed about the State Governments plan to develop, beautify and transform the heritage spot.

He lauded the Mahima religion for its emphasis on , Fraternity and world peace. CM Patnaik is deeply influenced by the core principles of the Mahima religion, he said. He informed that the CM has kept a hand fan made up of palm leaf used by the Mahima Sadhus at his residence. The fan inspires him to live a simple and selfless life with a broad vision.

The State Government would provide all support to promotion and propagation of the Mahima religion, assured Pandian, adding that all Mahima Peethas across the State would also be developed. Naming the Balangir Medical College after Mahima Saint Bhima Bhoi is a sign of the Government’s commitment towards the development of the religion, said Pandian.

Pandian said that a bridge has been built over the Brahmani river from Kaluria to Sardeipur at a cost of Rs 235.56 crore by which people of 62 villages have been benefitted. Besides, the tourists and devotees to the Mahima Gadi are able to conveniently commute. The CM has named the bridge as Mahima Setu.

Odisha forms advisory panel for Covid strategy

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The announced formation of a high-powered advisory committee to guide the government on preparing for possible future waves of the pandemic and on vaccination strategy.

Public Health expert K Srinath Reddy, who has earlier worked as health adviser to theNaveen Patnaikgovernment with a cabinet ministers rank in 2017, will head the panel. Renowned doctors Ramakant Panda and Devi Shetty are members of the committee.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday wrote to Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal for evacuation of surplus rice from Odisha.

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Patnaik stated that during this Kharif season, a record 14,94,320 farmers have sold paddy to the Government at MSP. The paddy procurement for Kharif season (KMS 2022-23) is going to be closed by March 31. About 65.23 LMT of paddy equivalent to 44.23 LMT Kharif CMR has been procured as on March 22.

In the ensuing Rabi (2022-23), it is expected that about 10 lakh MT of CMR would be procured in the State. Thus, total 54 lakh MT CMR is likely to be procured during 2022-23. Odishas own consumption would be 24 lakh MT of rice under NFSA, SFSS and other welfare schemes.

So, the State would be left with approximately 20 lakh MT of surplus rice. Non-evacuation of above quantity of surplus rice from the State would severely affect the States paddy procurement operations in the coming seasons as well as it would adversely impact the livelihood of lakhs of famers, Patnaik stated.

CM launches agri credit portal SAFAL

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Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday launched a common credit portal SAFAL, a simplified application for agricultural loans, which he said, can revolutionise the credit provisions for farmers and agri-entrepreneurs.

He said the application is a one-stop solution for farmers and agri-entrepreneurs to avail formal sector credit from public and private-sector banks, , State Cooperative banks and small finance banks. Farmers and agri-entrepreneurs would have access to more than 300 term-loan products being offered by 40 plus partner banks.

Besides, he added, it has been integrated with Krushak Odisha as well as access to 70 plus model project reports. It would ease the loan application process benefiting both the farmers and banks significantly. The portal would also reduce information asymmetry by sending farmers real-time notifications at every stage of their loan application, he assured.

He hoped the SAFAL would be a facilitator of credit to spur the Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and allied sectors and increase the economic prowess of farmers in the long run.

Federalism is inherently an instinct in life and blood of every Odia as the legacy is inherited from Utkalgaurab Madhusudan Das, the founding father of Odisha’s unification, who as member of Bihar-Bengal-Odisha Legislative Council had demanded decentralisation of power in order to strengthen local bodies in the country.

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The concept of decentralisation was echoed later by Biswanath Das and other members in the Constituent Assembly. Madhubabu was the pioneer of concept of linguistic States to meet regional aspirations by his strategic and distinct approach in British India. Many leaders of Odisha led by him ignored Congress’s call to boycott .

He inspired the Odias to submit memorandums to the commission for unification of Odia speaking tracts though the entire Congress party was opposed to the Simon Commission.

This paved the way for creation of Odisha State in 1936 for which Odisha province could send representatives to the Constituent Assembly formed in pursuance to May 1946 decision of the Cabinet Mission to frame a constitution for independent India.

The State Government on Saturday renamed its Forest & Environment Department as Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department.

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The department would now give focus on https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change along with forest and Environment protection and conservation, The department would be the nodal agency of the State for Climate Change Actions.

Development of State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) along with other plan, policy, programme, project on climate actions and implementation plan in line with the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), 2015 as per the State perspective in close coordination with the line departments would be its responsibility.

It would focus on formulation of policies for promotion of non- conventional alternative sources of power like solar and Wind Energy and publicity to encourage use of such Resources. Mobilisation of finance from various national, international, multilateral, bilateral and other sources, including private partners, would be its lookout.

The capacity enhancement of Government departments, institutions and organisations (both Government and non-Government) to deal with emerging climate change issues in the State along with promotion of awareness on climate change and its impact would also be within its jurisdiction.

Odisha seeks 25,000cr for disaster-proof power infra

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:Odishahas asked the Centre to consider sanctioning Rs 25,000 crore for disaster-resilient power in cyclone-prone coastal areas of the state and Rs 900 crore for 1,000 mobile towers to improve connectivity in remote areas in the Union Budget to be presented by finance ministerNirmala Sitharaman.

These issues were raised by state finance ministerNiranjan Pujariin the pre-Budget consultation meeting with the Union FM, a senior government functionary said.
The state has pointed out that Cyclones are almost an annual affair for Odisha, causing severe damages to the electrical infrastructure. Odisha has an estimated requirement of Rs 25,000 crore for the creation of disaster-resilient infrastructure with selective underground cabling up to 30km from the coastline. The Centre should consider extending the necessary financial support to Odisha and other cyclone-prone states for disaster-resilient power Network, Odisha has told the Centre.

It has also sought to include private distributor companies under any of Centres power reforms scheme. This apart, it has sought central aid for the proposed new power projects at Upper Indravati (600MW),Balimela(510MW) andUpper Kolab(320MW).

Stating that Odisha has the most number of villages (6,278) without mobile connectivity, the state has sought financial aid for 1,000 mobile towers to be installed at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore. Notably, the Union Cabinet had earlier this month approved 3,933 mobile towers (Rs 3,200 crore).

Odisha has also requested the Centre to upgrade 256 mobile towers in Left-Wing extremism-affected areas to standard 4G towers for better coverage and data capability.

Odisha has asked the Centre to continue with the GST compensation to the states beyond July 2022, at least till 2025-2026 citing that in recent years the states own tax revenue as a Percentage of gross state domestic product (GSDP) has declined, especially since the introduction of the GST.

Satsang system a social, cultural movement: Odisha CMNaveen Patnaik

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Satsang system of life initiated by Thakur Anukulchandra has transformed into a social and cultural movement, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday. Addressing a massive gathering of Satsang followers at Talabania Sports Complex here on the occasion of the centenary celebration of the spiritual leaders arrival at Puri, Naveen said Thakur Anukulchandra dedicated his life to social service.

Beginning his address with the chants of Jai Jagannath and Jaiguru, the CM said Thakur Anukulachandra came to Puri with his disciples at the request of freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Boses parents. There are millions of his disciples not only in the country but also Odisha.

Plan to reduce poverty to 10% in next 5 yrs: Naveen Patnaik

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Chief minister and BJD presidentNaveen Patnaik announced his government’s plan to bring down POVERTY in the state to 10% in the next five years. Addressing party workers across the state through video-conference, marking the 25th foundation day of the BJD,NaveentermedOdishaa leading state in terms of reducing poverty.

The Odisha Economic Survey 2020-21 said poverty level in the state had gone down from 57.20% in 2004-05 to 32.6% in 2011-12, a reduction of 24.6%. Official sources said the state plans to come up with more Social Welfare Programmes and development initiatives to uplift the living standard of people, which will help in poverty reduction.
Naveen, on the occasion, presented a comparative picture of Odisha before the BJD assumed power in March 2000 and the present scenario. He said the state has now been progressing with a new identity in all sectors – be it Education, Sports, Health and Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture.

The Odisha Economic Survey 2020-21 said poverty level in the state had gone down from 57.20% in 2004-05 to 32.6% in 2011-12, a reduction of 24.6%. Official sources said the state plans to come up with more social welfare programmes and Infrastructure Development initiatives to uplift the living standard of people, which will help in poverty reduction.

Odisha to become trillion-dollar economy

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Odisha is destined to become a trillion-dollar economy in the near future, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Make in Odisha (MIO) Conclave-2022 while addressing leaders and investors.

We will emerge as the gateway to East and Southeast Asia. I invite you to come and invest in a new Odisha, he said.

Odisha is fast emerging as a major Investment destination in the country. We are a progressive State with clear focus on transformation in all sectors. Our fiscal prudence and economic management has been appreciated across the country. We are one of the few States with adequate revenues to undertake large-scale Infrastructure projects, said Patnaik.

Our new Industrial Policy provides the support and incentives which are beyond the best in the country. We are launching new policies in the sectors of tourism, RENEWABLE ENERGY, apparel and textile, Food Processing, exports and so on, he mentioned.

Odisha has attracted major investments in steel and aluminium projects and will emerge as the global hub in these sectors by the turn of this decade. We are ambitious to develop Odisha in other sectors too, Patnaik said.