Naveen promises development for tribals

Expressbuzz, Feb 8, 2009

BHAWANIPATNA: In a bid to woo the tribals ahead of elections, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday promised all-round development for the tribals and KBK region. ‘‘Steps are being taken to protect the tribals from exploitation and provide them the land rights,’’ he said. Naveen was here Saturday to inaugurate a number of projects. At Chilipa under Dharamgarh sub-division, he inaugurated the aqueduct of Upper Indravati Project as a part of the right canal extension programme. Naveen laid the foundation stones for the proposed Government Engineering College at Singhjharan, Government Agriculture College on Bhawanipatna Agriculture farm premises and 132/33 KV grid sub-station at Bhangabari.


At Bhawanipatna, he inaugurated the new school building of Kendriya Vidyalaya and an SC/ST hostel building of Maa Manikeswari College at Thuamul Rampur. He also distributed bicycles to SC/ST girl students of the school.

Addressing the ‘Vikash Samabesh’ at the police parade ground in Bhawanipatna, Naveen said the State Government is giving top priority to agriculture and industrial development. ‘‘Employment opportunities in technical field have to be created in Kalahandi. Technical education and the proposed Government Engineering College would play a vital role in this regard,’’ he added.

The agriculture and engineering colleges would start functioning from the coming academic session and for the current year, Rs 5 crore each has been allotted for development of both the colleges.

On agriculture front, Naveen said unless there is development in the farm sector, poverty cannot be eradicated. Keeping this in view, the State Government has formulated the new agriculture policy which would provide minimum support price for the farmers and irrigation facilities.

Among others, Lok Sabha member Bikram Keshari Deo, Ministers Surendra Naik, Pradipta Kumar Nayak and MLA Balabhadra Majhi spoke. No untoward incident was reported during the Chief Minister’s visit except for demonstration by a group of Youth Congress activists near Ghodaghat square in Bhawanipatna. They were all taken into custody and later released.