Sunday, March 30, 2014

BJD promise for a second agriculture university of the state in the KBK region

Thanks to Prof. Chitta Baral for sharing this.

Note: We have been demanding for a Central Agriculture University in Kalahandihttp://kalahandia.blogspot.com/2012/02/lets-push-for-central-agriculture.html , and based on this state Govt. has also appealed to central Govt. Earlier central agriculture minister Sharad Pawar had also recommended to state Govt. for establishing second agriculture university in Kalahandi citing letter of Kalahandi MP Bhakta Charan Das, this was further forwarded by state Govt to OUAT for studying the matter, we sincerely hope OUAT has given positive evaluation for Kalahandi and the promised Second Agriculture University is established in Kalahandi if BJD returns to power in Odisha in 2014.

Times of India, March 30, 2014
BHUBANESWAR: If the Naveen Patnaik government's pre-election sops were not enough to impress the electorate, its post-poll "guarantee" is bound to raise its eyebrows.

On Saturday, the BJD released its manifesto for the upcoming twin elections by not just making a 'promise' but extending 'minimum guarantee' to fulfill primary infrastructure needs in areas like road communication, drinking water, electrification, irrigation, agriculture and education in a time-bound manner.

The manifesto, made public by the BJD president here, said Naveen was determined to fulfill this minimum guaranteed programme. Naveen said work on implementation of the manifesto would commence the day he takes oath of office, if elected to power.

The regional party, in power in Odisha since March 2000, said it would provide "shelter security for all", construct expressway connecting northern and southern parts of Odisha, concretize all village roads and all villages will have universal access to electricity and piped water supply. It said it would launch a 'chief minister sadak yojana' to connect villages having less than 100 people, start a 'chief minister employment generation scheme' to impart skills to at least 150 youths in each panchayat and put in place a 'Biju Bal Vikash Yojana' for rehabilitation of orphan and destitute children.

"Every household in the state should have a pucca (permanent) house. In a phased manner, all kutcha (makeshift) houses will be provided assistance for conversion to pucca houses," it said. "Shelter security will include homestead land and households in rural areas would be considered for housing loan. If government land is not available, private land will be purchased by government and provided to homestead-less persons. There shall be a 'shelter security mission' under the chief minister to monitor this initiative," it added.

The BJD also said it would endeavour to make health insurance coverage universal. Besides, it envisages enactment of a 'revolutionary' Food Security Act; scaling up public distribution system and making it universal. "BPL would not be the only criteria for availing food security benefits, other indicators reflecting economic status would be introduced so as to make the coverage inclusive and holistic," it said.

On education, the BJD said it would focus on improving the quality. "Every block would have a model public school and high schools in panchayats would be provided requisite infrastructure," it added. It also 'guaranteed' bicycles to all class 10 students, interest subsidy on education loans for technical and professional education and girls hostel in "good numbers" in urban areas.

The BJD also said it would reduce interest rate on agricultural loans from two to one per cent within one year; create an additional irrigation potential of over 10 lakh hectare; establish second agriculture university of the state in the KBK region; provide SHGs with loans at one per cent interest rate; register all street vendors and small traders in the state; give one time financial assistance to senior citizens for pilgrimage; and, formulate a 'holistic women policy' to enhance economic and social status of women.

It also tried to woo the people of western parts of the state, announcing that if it retains power it would pressurize the Union government for inclusion of Koshali in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Areas with population of 1,000 will be declared as a panchayat and its headquarters will have high mast lighting and a community hall, he added. Villages and people who give land for the industries will not only be paid compensation but will also be made shareholder of the industries concerned.

Highlighting achievements during the BJD regime, Naveen hailed the state government's disaster management, especially during cyclone Phailin in October 2013, poverty reduction, increase in agriculture productivity, 50 per cent quota for women in PRIs and ULBs and Odisha attracting high private investment. "When our party came to office, the state was bankrupt. Now Odisha is a revenue surplus state," he noted.

The opposition parties, however, termed the announcements eyewash. "The BJD manifesto is eyewash. It has made promises with an eye on central funds," said OPCC chief Jayadev Jena. Senior BJP leader B B Harichandan said the BJD has not fulfilled the promises it had made in previous elections. "The latest promise will never be fulfilled," he added.

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