‘Rural development needed for overall growth of Odisha’

Bhubaneswar: BJD MLA from Khandapara Soumya Ranjan Patnaik today harped on the development of rural areas and said it was necessary for the overall growth of the state.

Participating in the debate in the state assembly on the thanks giving motion on Governor’s address to the House, Patnaik referred to the announcement of the government that it would make efforts to develop five cities in the state into smart cities. Of course development of urban areas is necessary, but ensuring development of basic amenities in the rural areas will bring the overall growth of the state, he said.

Inhabitants of rural areas get attracted to the urban areas for the availability of basic amenities and livelihood opportunities. They do not want to go back to their native places because of lack of basic amenities there. So rural areas should be developed with basic amenities, said Patnaik.

There should be uniform distribution of uninterrupted power to both rural and urban areas. Similarly, safe drinking water should be made available to the people in general and adequate irrigation to the farm sector, he said.

Stating that the success of the measures initiated by chief minister Naveen Patnaik to end poverty and hunger and bring improvements in the spheres of health, education and women empowerment has won the hearts of the people, the ruling party MLA said this was proved with the historic popular mandate received during the recent elections. The implementation of the newly schemes like Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation and Mission Shakti has started immediately after his government assumed office, he said.

Patnaik appealed all the MLAs to extend their support irrespective of party affiliations to Naveen’s tireless drive for the rapid and inclusive growth of the state. “The opposition political parties are criticising the government for opposition sake”, he said.

All should cooperate in the successful realization of Naveen’s 5-T (team work, technology, transparency, transformation and time), said Patnaik.