Naveen Patnaik lists his govt’s achievements as BJD eyes for a fifth term

BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday said his government has fulfilled most of the promises made by his party before the 2014 polls thereby setting the tone for a fifth straight term.

With announcements for the forthcoming general and assembly elections is expected anytime soon, the chief minister held the council of ministers meeting to mark the 103rd birth anniversary of legendary leader Biju Patnaik which is also being celebrated as Panchayati Raj day.

Naveen on the occasion thanked people of the state for their continuous support to his party and spoke about New Odisha, apparently to counter BJP’s New India slogan.

“With the blessings of Lord Jagannath and your good wishes, I have been serving Odisha. I will continue to work to fulfill the promises for a New Odisha. Your blessings are my power,” he said addressing about 4.5 crore Odia people as his family.

Some of the major promises vis-a-vas achievements listed by the chief minister include shelter security, creation of 10 lakh hectares of additional irrigation, food security for all, youth empowerment, universal health coverage, social security for all, loan to farmers at 1 per cent interest, women empowerment, industrial development and quality education.

“We had committed to convert all the kutcha houses in the rural areas into pucca houses. During the last five years, we have constructed more than 20 lakh pucca houses for our people,” said Naveen.

On irrigation potential, Naveen said irrigation potential has already been created in nine lakh hectares while the 10 lakh targets will be fulfilled by May.

As the cheap rice scheme has one of the key factors behind his successive electoral success since 2009; Naveen said deserving people even if they are not in the BPL list must be covered under the food security. “We are implementing our own food security scheme,” he added.

Unfazed by criticisms by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top BJP leadership for not accepting the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat scheme in Odisha, the chief minister said boasted on his government’s Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.

“Through the scheme, we are providing universal health coverage, free medicines, diagnosis and treatment from sub-centres to medical colleges,” Naveen pointed out.

Naveen, who earlier took on the NDA government at the Centre for discontinuing, funds for development of backward regions in the state. said his government is continuing with special initiatives for Koraput-Balangir-Kalahandi areas.

Apart from two medical colleges at Koraput and Balangir; Naveen said more than 70 per cent work under the Biju Expressway that passed through the KBK region, was completed.

The secretariat was specially decorated with flowers while the corridors were filled with colorful standees highlighting achievements of his government.

Though arrangements were made for live telecast of the meeting, it was disrupted due to technical glitches. A special film on government’s achievement was prepared; but it could not be aired properly.