Speaking at the 57th National Development Council (NDC) meeting in New Delhi the CM stated that the DCTS adopted by the Central Government for targeting of subsidies “needs a careful consideration” in view of the present inadequacy of rural banking infrastructure and connectivity.
He suggested that the objective of the food and nutrition security can be more effectively addressed at present by bringing improvements in the public distribution system (PDS) and in other cases, by improving the banking infrastructure first, an official release said.
Pointing out the super normal profits being enjoyed by miners, Patnaik stressed on levying mineral resources rent tax (MRRT) on mining companies at 50% of the surplus rent.
The Chief Minister concluded that Odisha be declared as a Special Category State (SCS) since it has high concentration of ST & SC population. The state except having an international boundary, satisfies all criteria of SCS and it has adverse socio-economic and human development indicators with per capita about two-third of the national average, he said.