Bhubaneswar: A high-level meeting titled “Samruddha Gaon, Samruddha Sambal Sambalpur” was convened on Sunday under the chairmanship of Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan. The meeting, held in the presence of senior district administrative officials, focused on holistic rural development in Sambalpur.
Key issues discussed included the provision of basic amenities, improved sanitation, access to safe drinking water, livelihood generation, administrative reforms, and infrastructure development in rural areas.
Emphasis was laid on strengthening the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), promoting self-reliance among small business owners through the PM SVANidhi scheme, and enhancing financial independence among women involved in Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
“There is no dearth of schemes from the Central and State Governments. Several departments and programs are already active. Our primary objective is to ensure these initiatives translate into real benefits for citizens,” Minister Pradhan stated.
He further highlighted the untapped potential of Sambalpur, including its resources, production capabilities, and market opportunities. Pradhan also stressed the importance of promoting the “Sambalpuri Brand” on national and global platforms.
Odisha Rural Development, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra, and other senior officials were also present at the meeting.
