Baripada: Hectic preparations are underway among politicians and officials ahead of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s visit to Mayurbhanj district on October 22 to launch Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana smart cards scheme in the backward district.
Patnaik is expected to land at Baripada Chow Grounds before the launch of smart health cards distribution programme at 11.29 a.m. A number of development projects and stone-laying ceremonies are also lined up as part of the Chief Minister’s itinerary at Baripada where he is expected to address a public meeting.
People and Biju Janata Dal workers in the district are apparently enthusiatic about the Chief Minister’s visit which will herald the distribution of health cards in the 26 blocks of the district ahead of the panchayat elections.
Although it is an official visit by the Chief Minister, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders see the visit as an attempt to boost morale of BJD workers in the district in view of the forthcoming panchayat elections. Union Minister of State for Tribal Welfare Bishweswar Tudu who is already in the distrct on Tuesday warned of BJP workers’ protests against the Chief Minister’s visit on Ocotber 22.
“The Biju Health Cards Yojana is an old scheme being recycled in Odisha where health services and infrastructure are poor. The Centre’s Ayushman Bharata scheme, on the other hand, is far better than this,” Tudu had said and alleged that the BJD was “fooling the people of Mayurbhanj with such stage shows”.
