Baripada: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday announced 11 welfare projects, laid the foundation stone for six more developmental projects and addressed a Mission Shakti convention during his one-day visit to Mayurbhanj on Wednesday.
At the Mission Shakti Conclave at Chhau Padia in Baripada, the CM provided Rs 15,000 seed money to 20,295 women Self-Help groups (SHGs) and Rs 25 lakh financial assistance each to 26 block-level federations in the district.
The Chief Minister provided Rs 3,000 each to 39,418 SHGs for digital empowerment under the Mission Shakti programme. A total of Rs 49 crore was allocated to the SHGs and block-level federations of Mayurbhanj district on the occasion.
Naveen inaugurated bridges constructed over Champa and Son rivers in Udala block as also the newly-constructed maternity and child care institute at Udala sub-divisional hospital.
He also inaugurated a 300-seat girls’ hostel at Baripada Women’s College and Maharaja Purna Chandra Junior College and a 400-seat girls’ hostel at Maharaja Purna Chandra (Autonomous) College at Takhatpur.
The Chief Minister assured to provide funds and hold a discussion with the Centre for the revival of the Urban Cooperative Bank in the district. He announced the construction of a Ring Road to protect Baripada from floods.
A Chhau Nrutya Research Centre will also be set up in Baripada soon, announced Naveen.
Mission Shakti was launched on March 8, 2001 by the Chief Minister to empower women by organising them into SHGs.
