Ahead of the Nabakalebar Rath Yatra on July 18, Union Minister for Information Technology and Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad launched the much-awaited Wi-Fi service of the BSNl in the Grand Road (Bada Danda) area and the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri on Thursday afternoon. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das, Puri MP Pinaki Misra and local MlA Maheswar Mohanty and BJP State president KV Singh Deo were present on the occasion.
Earlier in the day, Prasad laid foundation-stone for Baramunda Post Office building in Bhubaneswar at a function held at Hotel Mayfair in the capital city. Prasad emphasised the importance of the Digital India programme. While stressing on complete modernisation of the India Posts Department, he called upon people to avail maximum benefits under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.
Prasad said 57 lakh accounts have been opened across the country under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana and deposits to the tune of Rs 50 crore has been mobilised. He said he was happy that around two lakh accounts under the Yojana have been opened in the state while there is a need for opening of more such accounts. He said there is a need for empowering the girl child using digital technology.
Prasad said though very little time is left for lord Jagannath’s Nabakalebar Rath Yatra, his department would bring out a first day cover on Nabakalebar. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, State Tourism & Culture Minister Ashok Panda, Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patsani, BJP State president KV Singh Deo and several senior officials of Prasad’s department were present.