Bhubaneswar: Odisha known for ‘poverty’ is now known for the fastest ‘poverty reduction’ in our country. “The State’s Governance model rooted in the empowerment of women – Misson Sakti is something which we are truly proud of,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said today.
Naveen was addressing an event organised by Capital Foundation in New Delhi on Sunday. The Odisha CM was honoured with the Lifetime Achievemnet Award at the ceremony by former Chief Justice of India, Justice NV Ramana. He dedicated the award to the 4.5 crore people of Odisha who, Naveen said, ‘have been continuously blessing me to serve them for the past 22 years’.
“The faith they have in me is the biggest inspiration to work towards an Empowered Odisha. Odisha has come a long way in the last 22 years. After the supercyclone of 1999 who would have thought that Odisha will set global benchmarks in disaster management and get awarded by the United Nations.”
The CM added that empowerment of tribal communities has always been close to his heart and Odisha leads the country in providing land rights under the Forest Dwellers Act. “More than half a million tribal girls study in our hostels.” “Farmers have always been the backbone of our state and their hardwork has fetched the state the Krishi Karman award four times. Odisha is the only state to have doubled farmer’s incomes,” the CM added.
“Odisha produces the maximum Steel and Aluminium for the country. I should mention here that Odisha increasing her steel production by nearly 10 times in the last 2 decades has helped the country during the Covid crisis. Odisha supplied life saving oxygen to 17 states during the Covid pandemic. In the manufacturing sector, Odisha attracts the maximum investment in the country.”
“Odisha is set to host the Hockey World Cup twice in a row and has set up high performance centres in various sports, Odisha the sports capital of India has set standards for other states to follow. Skilled in Odisha is a brand which not just Odisha but the country is proud of. Land rights for slum dwellers in urban areas made global urban planners rethink and have a serious look at our model of empowering slum dwellers.”
“Our path breaking health initiative ‘Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana’ provides near universal health assurance to more than 80% of people of Odisha. Our 5T principles and MO Sarakar initiatives have strengthened peoples faith in professional governance with a humane face. While I humbly accept this Lifetime Achievement Award, my lifetime’s achievement will be to see an Empowered and Spirited Odisha claiming her place in the Sun,” the Chief Minister said.
“We are on the right path and by Lord Jagannath’s grace and the support of our people we shall get there soon. I once again thank Capital Foundation for bestowing this great honour on Odisha and her people,” the Odisha CM concluded.
