Odisha deserves Special Category State status, reiterates CM Naveen Patnaik

Odisha Uncategorized

Bhubaneswar, February 17, 2018: NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv
Kumar on Saturday met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat
here. The CM raised important issues of Odisha’s interest, including the most “deserved”
Special Category State status for the State for fast tracking ongoing
development activities.

“I have again raised our demand for restoration of Central
Assistance for Special Plan for KBK, Integrated Action Plan (IAP) &
Backward Region Grants Fund (BGRF) districts and sought increase in central
share in State Disaster Response Fund from 75% to 90% as committed by
Government of India,” said Patnaik in his facebook page.
The CM discussed a whole gamut of issues and emphasised
adequate fund allocation and proper extension of central schemes to fast track
development and give fillip to welfare initiatives for the people.
Infrastructure development, road, rail and port connectivity, rural development
and payments of state’s dues featured in the discussion.
Patnaik asked Kumar for restoration of central assistance for
Special Plan for KBK, IAP & BRGF Districts, revision of long overdue
royalty on coal, sharing pattern of Centrally Sponsored Schemes on par with
North-Eastern and Himalayan States, advanced intimation of annual allocation
under Centrally Sponsored Schemes, funds released should not be less than
allocation.
The CM urged the NITI Aayog VC to consider population range
norm for upgrading existing roads to be relaxed to 100 and above in 38 LWE
blocks, to give special attention to financial inclusion in 4,376 unbanked GPs,
mobile connectivity to 11,200 villages and broadband to all GPs especially in
LWE areas, adequate funds for development and maintenance of National Highways
and expediting construction of rail lines for which the State Government is
providing 50% funds and land free of cost. 
Patnaik also sought an extension of Amritsar-Kolkata
industrial corridor to Vishakhapatnam for strategic linking between various
industrial corridors and modification in Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana,
modelled on Odisha’s flagship scheme MAMTA, for wider coverage.

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