The State Government on Tuesday decided to increase the salary of doctors working in the remotest areas by 100 per cent. A decision to this effect was taken at a Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat. The remote areas where these doctors are working have been divided into four parts. Doctors working in the "remotest areas" would get 100 per cent hike in their salary while the doctors working in the "remote and far-off tribal areas" would get additional Rs 40,000 apart from their salary. Of the 21 proposals discussed at the Cabinet meeting, the Government decided to provide three acres to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in Sambalpur city for setting up a doppler radar unit.
Also, the Cabinet approved the amendment to the Investor Protection Act, 2009, in which persons with a deposit of less than Rs 10,000 would be considered as small investors while the Government would give priority on refund of their money they had invested in the chit fund companies. To encourage sportspersons, the Cabinet approved a proposal for appointment of the athletes, winning gold medals in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, in the Odisha Police as Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs).
Considering the shortage of potato in the State and to encourage potato cultivation, the Cabinet cleared the proposal to launch a State Potato Mission. Besides, it also approved a proposal for setting up of 15 community toilet complexes in Puri for the ensuing Nabakalebar festival. The proposed toilet complexes would be constructed by the Sulabh International Service.
This apart, the Cabinet also approved the reports of three Commissions of Inquiry. Considering the priority of the Government to welfare of the physically-challenged persons, the Cabinet approved a proposal for creation of a new department known as Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disability. "This department, which was earlier with the Women and Child Development Department, will now function independently," Chief Secretary GC Pati told the media after the meeting.