By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday replied to the motion of thanks on the Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal’s speech in the State Assembly, and said, Odiaha registered 10.1 per cent growth compared to 8.8 per cent growth in national level.
Over the last 10 years, the State has grown at an average rate of 6.5 per cent against the national average of 5.3 per cent. However, during the fiscal 2020-21, due to the slow down, the State’s economy contracted by 5.3 per cent compared to 7.3 per cent contraction in the national economy and that would mean, the State was comparatively less affected, he said.
Odisha has emerged as a leading investment destination with attracting over Rs.4.4 lakh crore investment intents during the last three years, with more than 1.53 lakh employment opportunities, he said.
“We aim to saturate all rural households with tap water connection by 2024 with a capital outlay of Rs.50,263 crore under the State saturation plan. Odisha is a trend setter in the country in achieving universal coverage of tap-water connections,” he stated. Our food security mission has secured 4th place among large States in the third State Food Safety Index for 2020-21, he said.
Patnaik said cash incentive of Rs.2,000 (in two tranches) per to each of the beneficiary families has also been provided by incurring an expenditure of Rs.960 crore.
The government has distributed financial assistance of Rs.3,000 under Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana to each beneficiary for repair, renovation of their pucca houses sanctioned since 2014. It is further proposed to provide financial assistance of Rs.5,000 each to eligible but left-out households of the state who are yet to get any rural housing assistance, he added.
