Naveen to reiterate SCS for Odisha at NDC meet

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik likely to raise special category status (SCS) for Odisha issue at the 57th National Development Council (NDC) meeting in New Delhi on Thursday.

Patnaik who is on a four day visit to Delhi, may also demand extension of Revised Long term Action Plan (RLAP) programme for KBK at the meeting.

According to sources, Odisha has been pressing for SCS since 1979 and in the latest appeal on January 3 this year Patnaik had handed over a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on SCS when the latter was in the state capital to inaugurate the 99th Indian Science Congress.

The state's prolonged demand looked brighter when the Rajya Sabha standing committee on commerce recommended to provide SCS to Odisha and two other states in its demands of grant reports for 2012-13, tabled on April 30 this year.

The special category status, currently enjoyed by Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and north eastern states entitles a state to get special financial package from Centre for upliftment of several sectors including industries.

Official sources said the Chief Minister is likely to attend the National Water Council meeting on December 28 and return to the state capital on December 29.