Mayurbhanj: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated and laid foundation stones for a series of welfare projects during a whirlwind tour to Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts today. Addressing Mission Shakti convention at Mahuladiha Ground in Rairangpur, Naveen inaugurated 21 welfare projects worth Rs 45 crore and also laid foundation stones of 15 projects worth Rs 960.34 crore for Rairangpur and Karajia sub divisions.
Under the Mission Shakti programme, the CM handed over seed money of Rs 15,000 each to as many as 7, 453 Self Help Groups (SHGs) of the district while Rs 25 lakh each was provided to 12 block level SHG federations of the district.
Similarly, 7,000 women were provided Rs 3,000 each as part of digital empowerment initiative of the State government to purchase smart phones.
Besides, two high-level bridges over Balijod canal on Baripada-Bamanghati road, 50-bedded special centre at Karajia Sub-Divisional Hospital and two child and mother care centres in Thakurmunda Community Health Centre (CHC) were among the other developmental projects inaugurated by the chief minister.
Later in the day, Naveen attended KALIA Samavesh at Pandapada in Keonjhar district. He inaugurated 17 welfare projects worth Rs 66 crore and laid foundation stones of 47 projects worth Rs 2,100 crore for Keonjhar district.
The CM laid foundation for residential houses of Keonjhar police department, 50-seated skill development and training centre, girls' and boys' hostels in Dharanidhar Autonomous College, piped water supply project.