local MP RK Jena on Thursday submitted a memorandum to Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy during his visit to here drawing his attention pertaining to the pathetic condition of agriculture and allied sectors in Baleswar district.
There is a common perception that Baleswar is one of the developed districts in the State but, in reality, it is far different. The statistics indicate its per capita income is less than that of KBK districts, Jena mentioned in the memorandum.
According to the recent Economic Survey of Odisha for 2014-15, the district’s per capita income has been pegged at Rs 19,268, much below the State average of Rs 25,891.
Informing about KBD districts, he said while Kandhamal’s per capita income is Rs 40,729, the second highest in the State after Jharsuguda (Rs 49,021), it is Rs 21,698 of Boudh, Rs 25,161 of Koraput, Rs 23,340 of Balangir and Rs 19,404 of Kalahandi.
Baleswar stands at 22nd position in the list in terms of real per capita NDDP and 8th in terms of Gross District Domestic Product (GDDP at constant prices) in the State.
The district having a population of over 23 lakh and literacy rate of 70.56 per cent has an area of 3,806 sq km. Of its 5,29,407 families, as per the 1997 BPl census, 2, 88, 236 families belong to poor category.
Nearly 2.5 lakh people depend on either marine or inland fisheries.
Though Balaswar houses five large industries besides around 3,900 small scale units, its economy mostly depends on agriculture, he pointed out.
As per Economic Survey 2014-15, Baleswar has only 423 MSME units and a total of Rs 20.31 crore investments have been made in the sector. These 423 MSME units have also managed to provide employment to 1,635 persons.
“A major portion of people of the district still depends on agriculture, fishery and industry sectors. But these sectors have not been developed yet,” Jena lamented and sough the Minister’s intervention.
The demands made by the MP include strengthening of infrastructure for training, research and laboratories centres, establishment of agricultural farms, an agro industrial estate and agro poly centres, promotion of hybrid maize and sunflower cultivations, e-Pest surveillance, implementation of Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI) in the district.
Jena too requested the Minister to take implement various State and Central agriculture, fishery and related schemes lavishly in the district so that the income of people would grow.