Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today urged the Opposition to do politics during elections but not on sensitive crimes, development of the state or the image of the state and its people.
“I sincerely appeal to the Opposition, we can do politics during elections but not on sensitive crimes, development of the state or the image of the state and its people. We should always work together for a larger cause, for a “New and Empowered Odisha,” said Patnaik while making a statement on the Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s address in the Odisha Assembly on Wednesday.
The CM expressed his unhappiness over the Opposition remaining busy politicising every crime and trying to defame the state and its people.
Patnaik drew the attention of the House to the judgement delivered by the Court in Nayagarh in the tragic Pari case.
“I would like to remind the Members of the Opposition about the kind of obstruction they did in this House and tried to politicise this sensitive case. The people of Odisha knew very well all those who were trying to get bail for the accused and all those who tried to derail the judicial process. Now that the accused is convicted, where will the Opposition especially the State BJP who tried to politicise this issue at the cost of stalling justice to ‘Pari go,” he said.
Pointing out that he has been a member of the House for the last 24 years Patnaik said that he had never seen this kind of politicisation of sensitive issues.
“People won’t forgive those who defame their state for narrow political interests. People won’t forgive those who tried to stop the Shree Mandir and Lingaraj projects. People won’t forgive those who block the development of the state,” he said lashing out at the Opposition.
The Chief Minister said that one of the challenges faced by his government during this tenure was the COVID-19 pandemic.
He expressed his satisfaction that the state could put in its best efforts and worked as a team and ended off with one of the lowest fatality rate in the country.
“From testing to treatment everything was provided free of cost to the people of Odisha and we were perhaps one of the few states who have done it,” he pointed out.
The Chief Minister highlighted the role of oxygen produced in Odisha in helping save thousands of lives across the country. Oxygen was supplied to more than 17 states in the country, thus Odisha played a major positive role in saving people’s lives across the country, he added.
Patnaik stated that conducting the Hockey World Cup both in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela as venues was his government’s tribute to the hockey-loving people of Sundargarh.
A world-class stadium was created in record time and hockey fans throughout the world experienced the professionalism of Odisha in hosting such world-class events, he added.
The Chief Minister said, “I feel blessed that during this tenure the Parikrama project of Lord Jagannath was completed with HIS blessings. As the Gajapati Maharaj said in 500 years this is the first major work taken up in Shree Mandira for improving devotees experience. I am so grateful for all those who have helped in this project. In addition to Shree Mandir, the Maa Samalei Project was also dedicated recently. Almost all the major temples, across the State are being renovated and restored. In addition to these Churches and mosques, every religious institution of importance is getting renovated.”
He informed that in every panchayat two or three temples and religious institutions are getting renovated under ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ initiatives. He said that he believed in honouring people’s faith and that is the motivation behind taking up renovation and restoration of religious institutions throughout the State cutting across religions.
Patnaik underlined the role of the 5T principles of governance of his government.
“On the day our Ministry took oath, I announced the 5T principles of Governance for my Government. I am happy to say at the end of this term that this has been one of the biggest game changers in governance not just in Odisha but throughout the country,” he pointed out.
The Chief Minister informed that every higher education institution of the Government or Government-aided is being covered under 5T and students have a great atmosphere for learning. This is one of the biggest achievements in this term, he added.
He said that by implementing 5T principles the government has achieved a great deal of irrigation coverage helping the farmers from Lower Suktel to Kanpur irrigation Anandapur barrage and many projects which have been pending for years have all been completed. In addition to that Gangadhar Meher Irrigation Project has been completed in a record time, he added.
The Chief Minister was of the view that Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana has been a big game changer where more than 1.5 lakh patients are getting covered every month and the state is spending almost Rs 250 crore every month.
“Imagine the kind of burden otherwise it would have been on the people of Odisha every month. This has been one of the biggest interventions of this Government and I am proud to say this is one of the best schemes in the country providing almost universal health coverage to a state’s population,” he said.
He pointed out that hospital transformation has been taken up under the 5T initiative in the name of the Ama Hospital programme.
“We have recruited doctors at the level of Asst. Surgeons and almost all our vacancies are being filled up. This is a record achievement for our Government and this shows our commitment towards the health of the people of Odisha,” he added.
As regards empowering the tribal people of the state, the Chief Minister stated that his Government has come up with a great initiative to procure 100% minor forest produce and ensure the minimum support price through a path-breaking scheme called LABHA.
In addition to that through the special development councils the government is taking steps to preserve, promote and conserve tribal language, literature, folk art and all that is unique to them, he added.
“As regards women empowerment, I have always walked the talk,” the Chief Minister said.
He informed that about Rs 15,000 crore will be disbursed amongst the Mission Shakti groups with zero per cent interest.
“This is a record high of all time and this shows the financial empowerment of women in our state,” he pointed out.
He said that crime against women has come down by 20 per cent and the conviction rate in the state has almost doubled.
The Chief Miniter said that Odisha is the number one revenue surplus state in the country.
“We have got the second highest manufacturing investment in the country and in IT we have got all major MNCs to the state while doing all this, we have also increased the area under irrigation hugely. More than one crore people have been lifted out of poverty as per the NITI Aayog report. These are tremendous achievements and the people of Odisha appreciate this growth trajectory,” he pointed out.
He stated that the people have blessed his government in the recent Panchayat Elections and BJD won all 30 district Zilla Parishads.
