CM Naveen launches new programme to reach out to rural people

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated a new programme for the rural people on the occasion of 'Panchayati Raj Divas' in the state and sanctioned development projects worth Rs 2 crore.

As part of the "Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas' (our village, our development) programme, Patnaik will be interacting with the panchayat representatives and common people twice a week through video conferencing, an official said.

"We have initiated a new programme called 'Ama Gaon, Ama Bikas' to hear the demands and address the grievances of people. I will be directly speaking to the people twice a week. Today, I sanctioned the projects worth Rs 2 crore for the development of four panchayats," Patnaik told reporters after the meeting.

The CM today held an online meeting with the people of Sambalpur, Ganjam, Koraput and Jajpur districts and assured them to look into their grievances, Panchayati Raj Minister Pradeep Maharathy said.

The village heads of the four gram panchayats aired their grievances in the presence of respective collectors, Maharathy said.

"The CM sanctioned the projects 10 minutes into the programme and assured to review the projects from time to time," he said.

The development projects, such as construction of ponds and temples and mosques, will be in the range of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, he added.

The state observes Panchayati Raj Divas on March 5 every year to mark the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.