Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday announced cash incentives for districts for successful implementation of various Government welfare schemes.
The incentives ranging from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore would be provided in seven categories.
While Rs 1 crore each would be provided to best district in the disbursement of incentives for rural pucca houses, coverage of BPl households in rural electrification, overall tribal welfare, implementation of welfare package for construction workers, skill development in employment generation and credit linkage to women self help groups (SHGs). Similarly one best model gram panchayat selected in each of the 30 districts would receive a cash award of Rs 50 lakh.
The Chief Minister announced this at the valedictory session of the two- day Collectors’ conference.
“This will promote healthy competition among the districts to do good work for the people,” Patnaik said
Maintaining that four lakh old, destitute, widows and differently abled persons had been covered by various pension schemes in the State, the Chief Minister directed the Collectors to ensure inclusion of additional three lakh left-out eligible persons under these categories by August this year.
On the occasion Patnaik felicitated Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur and Khordha Collectors with cash awards for their remarkable performance.
“Mayurbhanj received a cash award of Rs 25 lakh for adding value to fruit cultivation while Nabarangpur bagged Rs 15 lakh for its campaign against superstition and Khordha got Rs 10 lakh for its effort of eye care for all. The award money would be spent for further development of the practices,” said Chief Secretary AP Padhi after the CM awarded the Collectors.
The CM also directed Collectors to exclude the ineligible beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) by July 31.
Around 3.42 lakh applications are pending before the Collectors in different districts, which they would verify in the next two months, he added.
Patnaik also directed to introduce Paddy Procurement Automation System (P-PAS) for the farmers in 134 blocks to make payment for the procured paddy more transparent.
later in the evening during the joint conference of Collectors and SPs, the CM asked them to act strictly against the law violators without any fear irrespective of their positions.
He advised the Collectors and SPs to review the performance of public prosecutors regularly to ensure that criminals get punishment and asked them to act against tainted chit fund companies.
He directed officials to expedite the process of introduction of Comissionerate Police system in Brahmapur, Rourkela and Sambalpur.