**Bhubaneswar:** All agencies of the Odisha government are working in tandem to ensure that the projects targeted rural areas reach the beneficiaries on time and in an effective manner, Finance Department Minister, Sashi Bhusan Behera said.
Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s allegations that the Central funds are not being utilised by the State government, Behera said that Modi is not aware of the facts and figures at the grassroots.
“The manner in which KALIA, PEETHA and other shcemes of the State government are being prioritised, can be understood only if our leaders travel to the far-flung villages,” added Behera.
On the other hand, PCC president Niranjan Patnaik said that Modi was claiming credit for the railway projects in Odisha which were initiated during the UPA government.
“Railway projects are ongoing works. It was during the Congress government, the Bolangir railway projects were started and now the BJP goverment is taking credit and trying to misguide the people of this state,”
SC and ST Development Minister Ramesh Majhi said that since 2013-14 the funds for the development of the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students have kept on reducing.
“What funds is the Prime Minister talking about? The Central funds meant for the stipend of SC and ST students have been nearly struck off. First let him earmark those funds and then pose questions,” said Majhi.