Bhubaneswar: BJD MP Sasmit Patra on Wednesday urged the central govt to grant special category status to Odisha, citing the state's vulnerability to natural disasters which result in economic losses.
Speaking during a special mention in Rajya Sabha, Patra emphasised that this demand has been pending for over two decades. He highlighted how multiple cyclones, including the 1999 Super Cyclone, Phailin, Hudhud, Titli, Fani and recent ones like Dana, caused massive destruction to the state's infrastructure and economy.
"The current SDRF and NDRF funds are inadequate to address the extensive damage Odisha faces regularly," Patra stated. He explained that special category status would enable a more favourable 90:10 centre-state funding ratio for central programmes, allowing Odisha to better utilise its resources for reconstruction efforts.
The BJD MP reminded the House that party president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik had repeatedly raised this issue. The demand was also a key promise in the party's 2014 election manifesto.
Patra stressed that this was not just a political demand but a genuine need of 4.5 crore Odisha residents. The state suffered significant losses due to recurring natural calamities, including floods and deficit rainfall, which severely impacted public infrastructure and citizens livelihoods.