Berhampur: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched a number of development projects worth Rs 2,000 crore in several parts of Ganjam district on Sunday.
During a visit to his home district, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stone for different projects while attending public meetings at Chhatrapur, Hinjili and Kabisurya Nagar. While projects worth Rs 1000 crore were launched in Chhatrapur, Rs 590 crore projects were unveiled in Hinjili. Similarly, many projects worth worth Rs 316 were launched in Kabisurya Nagar area, the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister, who is also the president of Biju Janata Dal (BJD), distributed ‘gram-kantak housing pattas’ (record of rights) to over 20,000 people who have been living on government land for generations in the district. In Kabisurya Nagar area, highest number of 11,000 people were handed over RoR, he said.
Similarly, over 3,500 people were given RoR in Chhatrapur, as many as 4,500 pattas were distributed to people in Hinjili.
Lauding women for playing a significant role in the state’s progress, Naveen distributed interest-free loans of Rs 619 crore to self-help groups (SHGs). These loans were given to 2.24 lakh women of 22,200 SHGs.
Affirming the state government’s resolve to transform women SHGs into SMEs, the Chief Minister said loan up to Rs 5 lakh is being given to women without interest as part of efforts to make them entrepreneurs.
In the next five years, interest free loans to the tune of Rs 50,000 crore will be provided to different women SHGs for their prosperity, he said.
Similarly, farmers are being provided with interest-free loans up to Rs one lakh for giving a boost to agriculture and allies sector, said Naveen.
After addressing the public meeting and launching different projects at Kabisuryanagar, the Chief Minister travelled to Hinjili where he will inaugurated 209 projects worth Rs 109.25 crore for Dharakote, Digapahandi, Hinjilicut, Kukudakhandi, Sanakhemundi and Sheragada blocks. Naveen wound up his Ganjam visit with a public rally at Chhatrapur before flying back to Bhubaneswar.
Stating that Ganjam has set milestones in healthcare and education sectors, the Chief Minister said 50,000 beneficiaries have benefited from Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) in the district so far for which the state government has spent over Rs 90 crore.
Similarly, the high schools in the district have been transformed under the 5T initiative. All schools in the district will be transformed by December this year, he said, adding, out of 630 high schools in Ganjam district, 471 schools have been transformed so far.
Security was tightened for the CM’s visit and 48 platoons of police will be deployed at the three meeting venues, a senior police official said.
