State Government has formed a State-level committee headed by CM Naveen Patnaik and made an expenditure provision of Rs 1.96 crore in Supplementary Budget for celebration of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda informed this in the State Assembly in response to a question of BJP MLA Dilip Ray on Saturday.
The team formed on September 19, 2018 comprises CM Patnaik as Chairman and 74 other members, including Leader of Opposition Naras-ingha Mishra, former CMs Hemandanda Biswal and Giridhar Gamang, 15 Ministers, Government Chief Whip Amar Prasad Satpathy, State Planning Board Member Rama Chandra Panda, four MPs, many MLAs, journalists, Gandhian leaders and social activists.
Besides, an administration committee headed by Chief Secretary AP Padhi and district-level executive committees headed by district Collectors has been formed for smooth conduct of the anniversary. District Collectors have been asked to see that the anniversary is observed in all educational institutions from schools to university levels and village to Panchayat Samiti level and in all urban local bodies.
A Special programme to be held in Cuttack on March 23, 2019 to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s first visit to Odisha. Similarly, one important road in each district to be named after Mahatma Gandhi and various social welfare programmes for SC, ST and Disabled to be under taken.