Odisha Girls’ and Women’s Policy 2014 gets cabinet nod

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury
Bhubaneswar, July 16:

The state Cabinet today cleared the Odisha State Policy for Girls and Women, 2014, which aims at “creating an enabling environment for girls and women and promotes equal opportunities, eliminates discrimination, ensures holistic development and empowerment through changes in social attitudes, building strong institutions and enhancing capacities.”

The policy aims to establish One Stop Service Centres in all the districts in a phased manner to extend care and support services for a range of needs of women victims/survivors of violence.

Under the new policy, the stamp duty on purchase of land or house will be less than normal if the owner is a woman.

The women’s SHG groups will also pay lesser amounts while taking government land on lease. Moreover, landless women will be provided with free government land of 4 decimals under the policy, sources said.

In order to offer additional incentives to girls in the education sector, the policy lays emphasis on the setting up of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV)-like hostels at each block, and upgradation of existing KGBVs to secondary level by expanding their capacity.

 

Other Major Decisions 

The Cabinet also approved the facilitation of rice selling by farmers outside the state.

The cabinet has decided to exempt 2% market fee and 2% sales tax on sale of rice outside the state.

The Cabinet also cleared the proposal for setting up of the Birla Global University in the city.

The  report of Justice AS Naidu on hooch tragedy, which had claimed 43 lives in Cuttack and Khordha districts in 2012 was also approved by the Cabinet.

The Commission has recommended compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh each to the families of the victims and suggested offering cash rewards to the whistleblowers who inform the authorities about production and sale of illegal liquor in the state.

The one-man commission, which began investigation into the tragedy in the first week of July last year, recorded the statements of 49 people in 56 sittings. It also received 123 affidavits during the  hearing process.

The tragedy had led to the resignation of former Excise Minister AU Singhdeo.

Besides this, the Cabinet also approved the amendment of regulations on micro and small enterprises and Indian Stamp Act.

It has also decided to raise the ex gratia following death and injury due to attack of wild animals.

Now, the deceased family will get Rs 3 lakh instead of Rs 2 lakh as ex gratia following attack of wild animals. The injured person will get Rs one lakh instead of Rs 75,000.