Bhubaneswar: Odisha is one of the fastest growing States in India. Odisha’s post-COVID growth revival is quite exemplary in terms of economic growth as per Advanced Estimate 2022-23 of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), Governor Raghubar Das said in his maiden speech at State Assembly today.
“The State economy has witnessed an annual average growth rate of 6.47% at 2011-12 prices during the period from 2012-13 to 2022-23 (AE), which is higher than the National/ Indian Annual Average Growth rate of 5.59%,” he said.
As per the Advance Estimate, Odisha’s Economy has registered a growth rate of 7.8% in 2022-23 (AE) at 2011-12 prices which is higher than the Indian Economy projected to grow by 7.0% in 2022-23 (AE), the Governor said.
Similarly, he said, the growth rate of Agriculture & Allied Sector of the State during 2022-23 (AE) at 2011-12 prices has increased by 6%, whereas, in industries and service sector of the state, a growth rate of 6.1% and 8.8% has been achieved respectively.
The per capita income in Odisha at current prices has grown significantly at 16.9% in 2022-23 (AE) to reach 7 1.51 lakh from 71.29 lakh in 2021-22. Further, the unemployment growth rate of Odisha has declined from 7.1% in 2017-18 to 6.2% in 2019-20, Das stated.
Under the Critical Gap Fund for District Plan, Rs 42 crore has been provisioned for 30 districts to address the basic rural infrastructure needs on priority with special emphasis on zero connectivity areas, health and drinking water etc. Allotment of Rs 42 crore for the year 2023-24 for implementation of aforesaid scheme has been communicated to 30 Districts.
“My Government has introduced the Infrastructure Development Fund Scheme for KBK districts with an outlay of Rs 130 crore per annum out of State Resources with effect from 2017-18 for creating and maintaining infrastructures and assets in the areas of irrigation, inter-district roads, critical RD roads, drinking water supply and development of ST/SC school buildings and hostels,” he said, adding, Till 2023-24, Rs 820.56 crore has been released to different line departments for undertaking such works and Rs 130 crore has been kept in the Budget for the year 2023-24 under the scheme.
The Governor said the overall law and order situation in the State has remained by and large peaceful. The Left Wing Extremism (LWE) activities have remarkably declined in the State due to proactive operational and administrative response of the State Government.
He informed the House that 42 Maoist cadres were neutralized in police action, 145 were arrested and 63 surrendered with timely and effective action. Besides, 162 guns, 480 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and large quantity of other articles have been recovered during anti-Maoist operations.
The number of LWE affected districts now stands reduced at 10 from 21 due to proactive response of the security personnel. Under Operation “Ghar Wapsi” in Swabhiman Anchal of Malkangiri district, once a stronghold of LWE, more than 3,200 active militias and supporters have returned back to the social mainstream, he pointed out.
Socio-Economic Transformation & Upliftment (SETU) scheme has been introduced during 2018-19 for development of erstwhile 151 cut-off villages of Chitrakonda Block in Malkangiri district. So far, a sum of Rs 292 crore has been provided under SETU for undertaking projects in the sphere of livelihood, connectivity, electrification, agriculture & fishery, Das said.
The Governor lauded the State Government on the successful completion of the Rs 800 crore Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa and its dedication to the devotees all around the globe on 17h January this year.
The Puri Heritage Corridor project, which has significantly enhanced the overall spiritual experience and convenience of the devotees visiting this 12th century shrine in the pilgrimage city of Puri was dedicated in a splendid ceremony in presence of thousands of devotees from across the State and abroad.
He said the 75 meter wide heritage corridor around the Srimandir, the central symbol of Odisha’s pride will now provide an opportunity to the devotees, pilgrims and visitors to enhance their spiritual experience of the temple, Neelachakra and Meghanad Pachery, provide state-of-the-art amenities to the visitors, and strengthen the safety and security of the devotees.
To ensure seamless transportation to this 12th century shrine in Puri, the Government has also launched Shree Jagannath Express Bus Service from all districts of Odisha to the holy town of Puri under the state’s flagship LAccMI (Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative) Scheme.
Just 10 days after the dedication of the Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa to the people of Odisha, the Government dedicated the redeveloped Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur district, one of the most revered shrines in the western region of the state.
This 16th century shrine on the banks of the Mahanadi has undergone transformation over 39 acres of its peripheral area under a Rs 200 crore, the Governor said.
“With humility, my Government acknowledges the invaluable contribution of those who volunteered to forego their land for both Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa and the ‘SAMALEI’ project,” Das said.
To preserve, protect and promote our ancient temple heritage, the Odisha Government’s Rs 280 crore ‘EKAMRA’ project for development of areas surrounding the 11th century Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar is going ahead at a steady pace, he added.
He also lauded the organization of the first of its kind ‘Biswa Odia Bhasa Sammilani’ to promote Odia Language in a big way inside and outside the State and abroad.
“I would like to reiterate in unequivocal terms that my Government is firmly committed to develop all regions of the State and empower all sections of the people. I now leave it to your deliberations and wish you all success. “Bande Utkal Janani”,” the Governor ended his speech with these words.
