Governor Dr SC Jamir on Tuesday said the State Government has effectively contained the drought, brought down poverty and made the State the fastest-growing economy in the Country.
“The remarkable achievements of my Government to reduce poverty have thrown up new challenges of qualitative life keeping in line with the changing times,” Jamir said while addressing the opening day of the Budget Session of the State Assembly.
He said the Government has planned to increase State Plan further. “The Government is progressively increasing resource allocations to various State Plan activities. We intend to increase the Plan outlay to Rs45,000 crore for 2016-17 against Rs44,150 crore allocated in 2016-16.”
He said the Government has made all efforts to achieve nine per cent growth in coming years.
Regarding drought, he said the Government has successfully contained the adverse effects of drought and protected lives and livelihoods of affected families and their families.
The Government has released agriculture input subsidy of Rs519.3 crore for the affected farmers. Apart from this, the Government has also put the revenue and debt collection from the farmers on hold for three years, he added.
Besides, the Government has taken steps to extend road and railway connectivity in remote and inaccessible areas and provided banking services for the people in remote areas.
On the Maoist situation, the Governor said due to prompt action taken by the State Police with the Central forces, the activities of the Red Rebels is under control in many districts.
He said the overall law and order situation of the State is peaceful and communal harmony has been maintained. He said his Government has taken special measures to deal with the crimes against women.
“To ensure harsh punishment for the criminals, My Government has made provisions for high conviction rate,” he said and added, “The Government has proposed to establish 29 subordinate courts, including Special Track Courts, for speedy disposal of cases relating to atrocities on women.”
Jamir appreciated the Government for successfully organising the Nabakalebara Festival in 2015.
He said the Odisha Urban Housing Mission Directorate has targeted to construct 1.5 lakh dwelling units during the next financial year. Similarly, he said efforts are on to replace age-old pipelines in 66 UlBs which are prone to leakage and contamination.
He said the Government would set up 314 Adarsh Vidyalays in all the blocks. He said to pupularise science at grassroots level, the Government has opened a Sub-Regional Science Centre in Bargarh district and is going to open such centres in other parts of the State. He said a 2nd Planetorium would be set up at Burla in Sambalpur district soon.
Regarding steel sector, he said with the Tata Steel’s Kalinganagar plant becoming operational, the faith of investors in the State has been reassured. In ‘Make in India’ campaign held in Mumbai, the State has been able to attract investments over Rs70,000 crore, including a major portion in the non-mineral sector.
He said the Government has set a target to create 1.5 lakh MSMEs with an employment potential of four lakh more persons in coming five years.
On the energy sector, he said various thermal generation units will add 10,310 MW by 2021-22.
He said the Government is committed to provide 100 per cent coverage of pension, housing and other security schemes for welfare of all the PVTG households.