The Odisha government will lay emphasis on agriculture development and farmers’ welfare as a major strategy for bringing poverty below 5% over the next five years, Governor Ganeshi Lal said here on Tuesday.
Addressing the inaugural session of the 16th Assembly, Prof. Lal said the State government will continue with the pace of irrigation development with an investment of ₹50,000 crore in addition to commitment on the existing projects.
Interest-free crop loans
Stating that sustainable input management is the key to agricultural productivity, Prof. Lal said the State government has envisioned that all farmers and landless agricultural labourers would be covered under the KALIA scheme.
Prof. Lal added the government will provide interest-free crop loans to small and marginal farmers up to ₹1 lakh.
Mentioning that empowerment of women has been the key to the State’s progress, Prof. Lal said the government will ensure that women self-help groups under Mission Shakti programme will get government business worth ₹5,000 crore. The Governor further said that the State government proposes to create Mission Shakti as a separate department and form a State-level federation supported by SHG federations from gram panchayat, block to the district. Mission Shakti buildings will be constructed by the government in each gram panchayat and district headquarters, he added.
He said that the government will pursue the cause of one-third reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies to its logical end.
The Governor informed the House that the government will bring a new industrial policy in line with the perspective plan with emphasis on creation of job opportunities.
‘Make in Odisha’
Stating that the government will carry forward the benefits accrued from last two editions of the ‘Make in Odisha’ campaign, Prof. Lal said efforts will be made to create 30 lakh employment opportunities in six focus sectors, and 75% jobs will be reserved for qualified local youths in all upcoming industries in the State.
This session of the Assembly will be held in two phases – from June 25 to July 3 and from July 12 to August 8. Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari will present the budget on June 28.
