State Government is financing public welfare schemes from its own pockets: Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: Attending the Biju Patnaik birth centenary celebration at BJD State office here today, party Supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik alleged the Central Government of closing many public welfare programmes and schemes. The State Government is financing the schemes from its own pockets, he added.

In his address to the public, the Chief Minister said, "The Central Government has closed many programmes ignoring the interest of tribal and backward class people. But in view of the public interest we are continuing the programmes from own funds."

Counting the achievements of his party, Patnaik said, "Visible improvement has been seen in various sectors in the State. A vast change has been seen in between the Odisha of the year 2000 and now including development in infrastructure, increase in employment, production and investment in various sectors."

Women have also been empowered and youths have gained self confidence in the State, added the Chief Minister.

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said, “Some people are unable to see us overtake the national increment rate. A Prime Minister of India is ridiculing the poverty of Odisha and his followers are giving false statements regularly, similar to the propaganda minister of Adolf Hitler.” He questioned, “Are they able to see the development in the State, the eradication of poverty and how Odisha has became number one under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.”