Odisha to open new directorate for ‘Mission Shakti’

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 5:

In a significant move, to give a further boost to women empowerment in the state, the Odisha Cabinet today approved a proposal to open a separate directorate for ‘Mission Shakti’ under the Women & Child Development department.

Further, the Cabinet also approved a proposal to rename Women & Child Development department as Women & Child Development and Mission Shakti department.

“A directorate for ‘Mission Shakti’ will operate under the Women & Child Development department. The Cabinet has given its approval for renaming the department as Women & Child Development and Mission Shakti,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Arukh briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting here at the State Secretariat today.

In order to prioritize and augment drinking water supply in rural areas, the Cabinet approved merger of Rural Water Supply & Sanitation with Panchayati Raj department which was earlier with the Rural Development department. Along with approval for the merger of the section, the Cabinet approved renaming of the department to Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water department.

“Panchayati Raj department has been changed to Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water department. With its operationalization, provision of drinking water to people in rural areas of Odisha will be expedited,” informed Arukh.

The Cabinet approved to provide 200 acres of land to free of cost to IISER Berhampur and as well as charge rent and cess on the land provided at concessional rates.

“The Government of India is being provided with 200 acres of land free of cost for IISER. Today we have also fixed their rent and cess at concessional rates. They will pay rent at Rs 100 per acre and towards cess they will pay Rs 75. We will apply this principle for all national level and state level institutions. It will be applicable for AIIMS, NISER like institutions” said Chief Secretary A P Padhi explaining on the Cabinet decision at the press briefing.

In yet another significant decision the Cabinet today approved merger of Public Grievances and Pension Administration department with the General Administration department. The new department has been renamed as General Administration and Public Grievances department.

“The state government has decided to merge the Public Grievances and Pension Administration department with General Administration department. After merger it will be named as General Administration and Public Grievances department. The decision was taken to fully utilize the services of the officials of Public Grievances and Pension Administration and better management of pension administration,” Arukh clarified.

Further, the Cabinet today decided to reduce interest on water rent arrears for state and Central public sector undertakings (PSUs) to 12% from existing 24% per annum.

“It will be only 12% simple interest per annum on water rent,” informed Padhi.

The Cabinet has approved a total of six proposals today.