Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today approved five proposals hiking the minimum wage for workers at a cabinet meeting as per the poll manifesto.

At the meeting, the government approved to hike the minimum wage to Rs 450 from Rs 352 for unskilled workers, to Rs 500 from Rs 442 for skilled workers and to Rs 600 from Rs 502 for highly skilled workers in the state.

Briefing the media after the meeting, the CM said that the state government will allocate Rs 200 crore corpus fund for Odia Asmita.

To promote Odia language and literature, the corpus fund will be utilised for building an Odia Asmita Bhawan, palm leaf manuscript collection, 'Kalakar Gourav Nidhi Yojana', setting up Odia chair at national-level universities, promotion of Oddisi dance and music, Paika Rebellion Smaraki establishment and national status for Balijatara. The concerned department has been directed to prepare a guideline and a committee consisting of experts will be set up for its execution, he said.

This apart, the state government approved a proposal for appointment of 20,000 junior teachers at primary and upper primary schools under School and Mass Education Department.

As per the decision at the cabinet, 2065 defunct lift irrigation projects will be functional for which Rs 1044.84 crore will be spent in five years.

The new government led by CM Mohan Majhi also decided to include 6 lakh farmers under PM KISAN scheme in Odisha.

"All the farmers who were deprived to get benefits under KALIA scheme, will be included under the PM KISAN Yojana," Majhi said.