Bhubaneswar, Dec 26: Poverty rate in Odisha will be reduced below ten per cent in next five years, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said on Sunday.
Addressing the 25th foundation day function of the BJD, CM Patnaik said there was a great difference between Odisha in 2000 and now. The state, he claimed is ahead in the whole country in reducing poverty.
The BJD supremo said the poverty in the state has come down from 63 per cent to 29 per cent. As many as 80 lakh people have gone up the poverty line. Patnaik said with the cooperation of the people, Odisha will create a history by bringing down the poverty to ten per cent in the next five years adding the state government will take whatever steps required to achieve the goal
The BJD which was launched 25 years ago on the ideology of Biju Babu has been converted to a social movement in Odisha on Sunday, Patnaik said. It has become a symbol of the hope and aspirations of 4.5 crore people of the state and marching ahead day by day with the blessings of the people of the state.
Naveen said Odisha has got international recognition in disaster management and received appreciation from everyone from the UNO to Niti Aayog. He said there was a day when we depend upon other states for food. But the situation has changed and Odisha today figured the third position in supplying food to the country.
Giving the credit to the farmers for the achievement, Patnaik said, “it also reflects our commitment to expand irrigation facilities in the state.’’
Odisha, he said, is also ahead of other states in woman empowerment and figured at the top in providing 50 per cent reservation to women in Panchayat and urban local bodies. The BJD, the party chief said would continue its fight till the demand for reservation of 33 per cent of seats in parliament is fulfilled.
The mission Shakti, he said has empowered women in every family leading to a movement of 70 lakh women and creating a new era in the development sector. Stating that the development of the ST/SC and OBC is the priority of the BJD government, he said many programs are launched for improvement in their livelihood.
Patnaik said during covid pandemic the state investment to the tune of Rs 4 lakh crore, highest in the country. It has brought new employment opportunities for the youths.
The government, he said has provided free treatment to people and supplied oxygen to 17 states during covid pandemic. The Biju Swasthya Kalyan smart health card has brought a revolution in the health care sector in the state, he claimed.
He said BJD is the only party in the country whose popularity has been rising year after year and thanked lakhs of party workers for their sacrifice, hard work and sincerity for the success of the party. Patnaik said with the cooperation of the people BJD will serve the state for hundreds of years.
He said, “We do not have any boss in Delhi. The people of Odisha are the boss of the BJD and we are only accountable to the people of the state”
