Odisha: Budget for crop diversification programme gets Cabinet approval

Bhubaneswar: The state Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today approved a budget of Rs 92955.65 lakh for Crop Diversification Programme for three years (2022-23 to 2024-25).

The state government has launched the Crop Diversification Programme during 2022-23 fiscal. The programme aims at promoting the cultivation of pulses, non-paddy and high value crops for better income to the farmers.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to the guidelines for production and distribution of the take home ration (THR) provided to the ICDS beneficiaries in Anganwadi Centres through the women self-help groups.

The aim of this initiative is to decentralize the supply of supplementary nutrition through the involvement of local community.

The Cabinet also decided to amend the Odisha Municipal Act-1950 and Odisha Municipal Corporation Act-2003 for better delivery of public services by the ward committees.

The Cabinet also decided to conduct combined graduate level recruitment examination instead of multiple Group-B and Group-C specialist posts and services, conducted by the Odisha Staff Selection Commission, in order to streamline the recruitment process and complete the recruitment examination in a reasonable time period.

The state government would provide financial assistance to the tune of Rs 4.04 crore to JD Centre of Arts, Khandagiri, for construction and expansion of its buildings. The Cabinet has approved a proposal in this regard, said an official.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to several proposals of Electricity, Water Resources, Health, Steels and Mines and Revenue departments, added the official.