Since election is round the corner, the visit of BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to his home district Ganjam on Sunday seemed quite significant. He was in a hurry to declare a band of welfare schemes and lay foundation stones for the Phailin-affected people without disclosing the source of funding and the time span for their completion.
Addressing a public meeting at Chhatrapur, Patnaik said Odisha and Odias are fighting with the Centre for their dignity and legitimate interests as the Central Government has deliberately neglected the State in all spheres. He urged the people to give a befitting reply to the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre in the ensuing general elections.
On the occasion, Patnaik inaugurated an assistance programme for 5,000 Phailin-affected fishermen at a rate of Rs 1 lakh to each for purchase of boats and nets. Besides, one lakh fishermen would be imparted technical training soon to face such natural disasters in future, he added.
He also inaugurated animal and husbandry health mobile services in the district. Among other welfare schemes, he inaugurated a newly-built freedom fighters’ memorial at Chhatrapur and laid the foundation-stone of a cyclone and a flood shelter room in Ganjam and Chhatrapur blocks, respectively.
Political observers feel this is the last official visit of Patnaik to the district before the elections.The meeting was coordinated by Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Debi Prasad Mishra. Among others, Revenue Minister SN Patro, Brahmapur MP Siddhant Mohapatra, Rajya Sabha member Renubala Pradhan, Kabisuryanagar MlA V Sugyana Kumari Deo, Gopalpur MlA Pradip Panigrahi, Surada MlA Purnna Chandra Swain, Khallikote MlA Purnna Chandra Sethi, Chhatrapur MlA Adikanda Sethi, Polasara MlA Niranjan Pradhan, Aska MlA Debaraj Mohanty, Zilla Parishad President Sujatarani Pallai and district Collector Premchand Choudhury were present.