CM Launches New Scheme For People’s Empowerment

Bhubaneswar: To create awareness among the people about various schemes of the Odisha government and improve transparency in the distribution of individual and social benefits, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday launched a new scheme, ‘People’s Empowerment—Enabling Transparency and Accountability of Odisha Initiative (PEETHA) in the state.

A sub-scheme of Ama Gaon Ama Bikash Yojana, PEETHA is a part of the 3-Ts initiative of Technology, Transparency and Team Work model. According to the scheme, which will begin from this month, camps will be organised at the gram panchayat level from the 15^th to 20^th of every month. In these camps, along with the distribution of benefits of AMA- led, Mission Shakti benefits, social security assistance like Madhu Babu Pension Yojana and Artist Pension, benefits to construction workers and any other individual benefit as per local requirement will be taken up. Besides, awareness will be generated about the important initiatives of the government on various themes.

Block-level observers will monitor the scheme while voluntary social workers will assist in its implementation.

Every month, the best panchayat in each block will be awarded a cash award of Rs 5 lakh for organising PEETHA. Upon completion of camps, the best panchayats in each district will be awarded at the district level, while the panchayats, blocks and the best districts will be felicitated and awarded with special funds at the state level.