Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya and Krushak Divas, Sunday, inaugurated various people centric projects.
The Chief Minister first visited the instructional farm of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) where he performed ‘Akhi Muthi Anukula’ and greeted the farmer brothers and sisters of the state.
Later, he went to Lok Seva Bhawan and inaugurated a Millet Shakti Cafe there. Realising the importance of Mandia and other millet food grains in controlling malnutrition, the state government has implemented the Millet Mission. So far 142 millet outlets have been opened in the state.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister also virtually inaugurated the Krushi Samiksha Kendra (KSK), set up under the 5T approach of the state government in the premises of Krushi Bhavan. It is India’s first integrated command & control centre in the agriculture domain.
Through the application of computer and information technology, it can help in decision-making by obtaining real-time information from the field and will play an important role in the successful implementation of various schemes and support to the farmers. Principal Secretary of Agriculture Department, Arabinda Kumar Padhee, briefed the Chief Minister about the activities of the KSK.
Along with this, the Chief Minister also inaugurated a creche ‘Kalika’ for the children of the employees working in Lok Seva Bhavan. Currently, it can accommodate 20 children in the initial phase.
Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Fisheries & ARD, Ranendra Pratap Swain; Minister of Women & Child Development and Mission Shakti, Basanti Hembram; Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena; Development Commissioner cum Additional Chief Secretary, Anu Garg; Commissioner‐Cum‐ Secretary, Mission Shakti Department, Sujata R. Karthikeyan; among others were present at this event.