The State Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday took 16 major decisions relating to the Departments of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Planning and Convergence, Revenue and Disaster Management, Steel and Mines, and Water Resources.
The decisions included a special programme for promotion of millets in tribal areas. The special programme for promotion of millets in tribal areas of the State (Odisha Millets Mission) was launched by the State Government in 2017 to revive millets in farms and on plates.
Currently, the Government has its area of implementation from 84 blocks in 15 districts to 142 blocks in 19 districts from 2022- 23 onwards. For smooth implementation of the programme, the Cabinet approved an estimated budget of Rs 2,808.39 crore for six years (2021-22 to 2026-27.
In the first phase of implementation (2017-18), the programme was operational in 30 blocks in seven districts (Gajapati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nuapada, and Rayagada) and is expanded to another 35 blocks in four districts in total 55 blocks in 11 districts. In the second and third phases, the programme reached out to 84 blocks in 15 districts.
The Cabinet also approved execution of four pipe water supply projects in Dhenkanal district. The projects would provide safe drinking water in the district out of JJM funding. By execution of the projects, around 32,2,204 people of 271 villages under 71 GPs of four blocks of the District would be benefited.
Besides, three pipe water supply projects in Kendrapada district; and execution of two pipe water supply projects in Baleswar district were also approved.
The financial bid for Khalpal in-stream storage structures across river Bramhani; community harnessing and harvesting of rainwater; cyclone-resilient saline embankment projects, and construction of barrage-cum- bridge across river Koel also got the Cabinet nod.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal for creation of additional posts in the Odisha Revenue Service Group-B cadre.