Bhubaneswar: Affirming Odisha’s commitment to cooperative federalism and inclusive regional development, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday urged the Centre to advise banks to open their branches in unbanked gram panchayats in the state.
Speaking at the 27th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council held at Ranchi, Majhi presented a comprehensive overview of the state’s developmental roadmap, underscoring major initiatives across women and child welfare, healthcare, education, urban planning, and power infrastructure.
The Chief Minister also urged the Centre to take necessary steps to address internet connectivity issues to encourage banks to open their brick and mortar (B&M) branches in unbanked gram panchayats in the state.
This apart, the CM sought steps to hike the fixed component of commission along with variable commission to business correspondent to check their attrition rate.
Out of 6794 gram panchayats in Odisha, only 2421 have brick & mortar branches, while the rest 4373 gram panchayat do not have any brick & mortar branch.
In order to meet the banking needs in unbanked/under banked gram panchayats, the state government in collaboration with six Public Sector Banks has launched a scheme for providing banking services to all unbanked GPs of the state through CSP Plus banking outlets. Odisha is the only state in the country to adopt such unique model of financial inclusion, said the Chief Minister.
The CSP Plus banking outlets are providing major banking services just like a brick & mortar branch. So far, 2,742 CSP Plus outlets have been opened in 2,742 unbanked gram panchayats covering all 30 districts. The remaining 1,631 unbanked gram panchayats will be covered by CSP plus outlets shortly, he added.
The Chief Minister strongly favoured inclusive growth, regional solidarity and welfare of people to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat.
He said the basic objective of the zonal councils comprising the states belonging to a particular region is to create healthy inter-state and centre-state relation, foster cooperation and to discuss matters common to them and the central government so as to solve inter-state problems and promote balanced socio-economic development.
“Odisha along with the other states of this zone – West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand- shares not only geographical boundaries, but also intertwined histories, cultures, economies and challenges. Collective progress, therefore, hinges on how well we collaborate and support each other through this Council. I am hopeful that the meeting will provide a useful and an open forum for consultations on such matters of our zone and to strengthen Centre-state relations,” Majhi said.
Highlighting the state’s strides in women empowerment, health, education, and power, Majhi said Odisha has launched major schemes like the Odisha Pusti Mission, Subhadra Sambedana for women’s safety, and “Ame Padhiba Ama Bhasa Re” to educate tribal children in 17 languages.
The state allocated Rs 15,223 crore for women and child welfare this year. On health, Odisha’s unified ABPMJAY-GJAY and Ayushman Vay Vandana schemes now cover over 3.6 crore people, offering Rs 5 lakh cashless care, plus an extra Rs 5 lakh for women and seniors.
Education reforms include 45,000 pre-primary classes under NEP 2020, PM SHRI model schools, heritage school upgrades, and extended mid-day meals up to Class X.
Stating that Odisha set up 23 POCSO and 21 fast-track courts to speed up justice in sexual offences, he said the state remains power-surplus with near-universal electrification, targets 40% renewables by 2030.