The State Cabinet on Friday approved a proposal to amend ‘The Orissa Gram Panchayat Act’ which would facilitate creation of at least 500 new panchayats.
Sources said the amendment on being effective would ensure creation of about 500 to 600 panchayats keeping with the promise made by the ruling BJD in its 2014 election manifesto to form a panchayat for every 1,000 population.
The Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat also approved a proposal for establishment of a health university in the State. It also approved a proposal for grant of Rs15-crore cash credit to the Aska Cooperative Sugar Factory, the sources said.
A proposal to amend the Bihar and Orissa Places of Pilgrimage Act also got the Cabinet’s nod. The Cabinet, which gave its approval to six proposals, also approved a proposal to give appointments to meritorious sportspersons in Government jobs, the sources added.