The former minister breathed his last at 9:30 am, his daughter Anita Subhadarshini informed.
As per reports, his mortal remains will be taken to Swargadwara in Puri where his last rites will be conducted and he will be consigned to flames.
Patnaik was six times elected to the Legislative Assembly of which four times he had won from Kodala constituency in Ganjam on Janata Party ticket, Janata Dal and Biju Janata Dal in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000.
In his first term as MLA in 1971, he was appointed as the Health Minister of the State.
In 1998, he was the Leader of Opposition (LoP) during the tenure of Janaki Ballabh Patnaik as the CM.
He was appointed as the Finance Minister from 2000 to 2002 during Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's first term.
He was popularly termed as Ganjam Tiger as he was a strong leader from the region. Patnaik was among the trusted leaders of former CM Biju Patnaik.
Patnaik had an influencing political journey and had engraved several milestones throughout his career.
A pal of gloom has descended in the district following the huge loss in the State politics.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan condoled the demise of the veteran leader and said Odisha lost an experienced politician and a skilled man.
BJP national vice president Baijayant Panda wrote, "Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of senior Odisha BJP leader Shri Ramakrushna Patnaik. He had a storied career & held many important positions, including finance minister of the state. I fondly recall his affection & guidance in my early years in public life. Om Shanti."
Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of senior Odisha BJP leader Shri Ramakrushna Patnaik. He had a storied career & held many important positions, including finance minister of the state.
— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) December 24, 2021
I fondly recall his affection & guidance in my early years in public life.
Om Shanti 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/nUXAyD5SWQ
"Do not ashame me by referring that I am most able minister in the state. I am, in fact, the most inefficient and helpless minister in the government," Rout said in the assembly while replying an adjournment debate on closure of sugar mills causing frustration among farmers.
Rout having 40-years experience in politics, said he had brought laurels for the state as Pancahayati Raj, Agriculture and other ministers.
"But, I have "failed" in the Cooperation department," Rout said.
Rout, who hold the Cooperation portfolio said: "I am pained that most of the members of this House refer me as the most efficient. But, in reality, I am not because of the hurdles being put on my way."
Though the entire House including leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress, was surprised over Rout's statement, he went on speaking that it was very difficult to run a "democratic government under bureaucratic influence."
The minister said he did not get adequate support from the bureaucracy to take up welfare programmes, be it revival of defunct sugar mills or cold storages which could help farmers to a great extent.
"Had we sufficient cold storages, our farmers will not go for distress sale of vegetables besides potatoes and tomatoes," Rout said adding that he now tries to set up cold storages with help of RMC (regulated market committee).
The minister also said that though he has a lot of ideas to help the farmers and make Cooperation department viable, he could not do it because of the lack of "attitude and cooperation" from the bureaucracy.
Rout also admitted in the House that the farmers are under duress for closure of sugar mills and cold storages.
Also Read: Din continues in Odisha Assembly over farmer suicides
Earlier, Leader of Opposition Naraisngha Mishra of Congress had alleged that the state government failed to help the sugarcane farmers across the state. He said the farmers do not get their dues from the sugar mills run by the cooperative societies.
Rout said there are five sugar mills in the state of which only two were in operation. Remaining three sugar mills have been closed due to several factors and his efforts to revive such units has faced hurdles from the bureaucracy.
The minister, however, assured the House that he would again try to make such defunct sugar mills operational.
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Toursim and Culture Minister Maheshwar Mohanty was today operated upon and the bullet lodged in his ribs removed after he was shot at by assailants in his Puri constituency.
The condition of the 59-year-old minister is stable and "he is out of danger," hospital sources said.
The minister was in the intensive care unit of the private hospital after the surgery by a team of four doctors.
Mohanty last night sustained bullet injuries on his left arm and back when the attackers, who were apparently following him on a two-wheeler, opened fire at him in a narrow lane near his house in Puri, police said.
He was rushed to a hospital in Puri and subsequently shifted to Bhubaneswar.
Superintendent of Police, Puri, said investigation was in progress and some people were being interrogated.
A host of leaders including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visited the hospital and wished him speedy recovery.
Patnaik has asked the police to take steps to apprehend the attackers at the earliest.
Mohanty, 59, was driving a scooty back home from a function when two miscreants, who were apparently following him on a two-wheeler, opened fire at him in a narrow lane near Amala Club in the heart of the town at around 8pm, sources said.
The minister sustained a bullet injury on his left arm and suffered head injuries after he fell from the scooty on being fired at, family sources said.
Mohanty, repersenting Puri assembly constituency, was taken to a hospital here and subsequently shifted to Bhubaneswar.
Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Puri Gyanendea Sahu said the condition of the minister is stable but doctors decided to shift him to a Bhubaneswar hospital.
Mohanty, who has been an MLA consecutively since 1995, also holds the Law portfolio.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed concern over the incident and asked the police to take steps to apprehend the attackers at the earliest.
Director General of Police Prakash Mishra has formed a special team which rushed to the seaside pilgrim town in a bid to trace the attakers, police said.
Keeping in view the damages caused to the schools in Fani-hit Puri district, the newly-appointed minister has directed all the concerned officials to expedite the restoration process and complete the construction work of these schools as soon as possible.
"All schools damaged by the cyclonic storm should be repaired and renovated by June 19 or before reopening of schools, whichever is earlier," said Dash to all District Education Officers (DEO) and Block Education Officers (BEO) through video-conferencing from the Secretariat.
He also informed that distribution of books to students would be given top priority now as the recently published matric results were disastrous.
This apart, Dash said that schools whose performance was below par and the ones which registered ZERO result have been sent notices seeking an explanation on the low performance.
Newly-appointed Minister of School & Mass Education, Samir Ranjan Das holds review meeting at State Secretariat after assuming charge. #LISTEN to what he says pic.twitter.com/ur8S4A5hKQ
— OTV (@otvnews) May 30, 2019
During the meeting, the Minister directed officials of the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) to launch a probe and find a solution to the issue of irregularities which surfaced during the conduct of OTET. Dash also admitted that there were mistakes in answer key while stating that rechecking fees collected from students will be refunded.
"Within a month, the OTET results will be published and the board has been directed to refund rechecking fee to students," said Dash.
The meeting was also attended by Special Secretary, Additional Secretary, BSE Council Chairman and Chief Controller.
It is pertinent to mention that scores of candidates on Saturday hit the streets and staged demonstration in front of the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) office in Cuttack reiterating their demands for justice over massive irregularities in the conduct of OTET. Earlier on October 10 and October 14, the examinees had demonstrated in front of the board office. The activists of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had also joined the protest with the aggrieved candidates.
"Even though Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme will be converged with the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), the KALIA scheme will continue for the farmers," said the Minister.
Sources said the state government is in discussion with the Union Agriculture Ministry to finalise the modalities for the merger of the scheme.
As per the plan, instead of Rs 10,000 under the KALIA scheme, the state government will now give Rs 4,000 to farmers while the remaining Rs 6,000 will be given to farmers under the PM-KISAN yojana, sources added.
Since PM-KISAN has no provision for the landless farmers, the state government will continue to pay Rs 12,000 per year under the KALIA scheme.
Meanwhile, Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) convenor Akshay Kumar said the state government has cheated the farmers with the proposed merger of KALIA and PM-KISAN.
"Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has cheated 75 lakh farmers in the state. Farmers will lodge FIRs against the Chief Minister on December 16," said Kumar.
The opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also criticised the state government for failing to provide assistance to the farmers.
"KALIA scheme was an election gimmick. As the election is over, the government has backtracked from its promise. It's a mockery to the farmers," said Congress leader Ganeswar Behera.
BJP leader Bishnu Sethi said the state government is playing with the farmers by not giving the assistance under the scheme.
Under the KALIA scheme, financial assistance of Rs 25,000 per farm family over five seasons will be provided to small and marginal farmers. Besides, financial assistance of Rs 12,500 will be provided to each landless agricultural household for agricultural and allied activities.
(IANS)
Addressing mediapersons, Das said, "I have ordered for an inspection into the case and only after a report we will take the required action as per law. We will come to a conclusion within first week of January."
The NHRC on Saturday issued fresh orders to cancel the registration of the hospital in connection with an illegal kidney transplantation of a patient.
The human rights’ body issued the direction to the Odisha Chief Secretary and also asked to pay compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the victim within six weeks after Apollo Hospitals’ arguments on the matter were rejected.
The matter pertains to a kidney transplant surgery which was conducted in the hospital in 2013. A kidney was reportedly transplanted from Jayaram Dora (donor) to Raghaba Ram Dora (recipient) without verifying or conducting proper enquiry. Later it was found out that the kidney of another donor, Anil Swamy was transplanted to Raghaba Ram. As per the details of the investigation, Swamy was misrepresented as Jairam Dora.
It turned out that the Minister was on a visit to the hospital to review implementation of 'Mo Sarkar' initiative. During his visit, Panigrahi spoke to patients and took feedback from them about the facilities and services provided at the hospital.
The Minister said that he was satisfied with the services at the hospital.
"I waited in the queue to get a ticket and met the doctor at Orthopaedics department. Also I got my X-Ray done at the hospital. I feel the services here are quite good," said Panigrahi.
Later, the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) chairperson, Srimayee Mishra also reached the hospital to review healthcare service delivery.
https://youtu.be/3ioLgNA_yXk
Behera said that he has some symptoms and is in home isolation.
I have tested COVID-positive today. Hence I request all my friends and associates who came in contact with me in last 7 days to test and isolate themselves, he said on social media.
The minister said that his health condition is stable at present.
Deputy chairperson of the State Planning Board Sanjau Dasburma has also tested positive for COVID-19.
Behera is the ninth minister in Odisha to be infected by the coronavirus.
The other ministers who have tested positive are Padmanabha Behera, Samir Ranjan Dash, Ranendra Pratap Swain, Tukuni Sahu, Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi, Susanta Singh, Arun Kumar Sahoo and Padmini Dian.
Besides, 28 other MLAs and three MPs have also been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Total 37 MLAs of the 147-member state assembly have been diagnosed with COVID-19. At present, the assembly has 145 members as two seats are vacant due to deaths.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wished Behera and Dasburma speedy recovery.
Read More: Covid-19: Odisha BJP State President Samir Mohanty Admitted To AIIMS After Testing Positive
It was revealed from the property statement of all the ministers including chief minister Naveen Patnaik, which was made public on Sunday.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is the richest among his colleagues with total assets worth Rs 78 crore while Sports Minister Tusharkanit Behera has shown his asset valuation at Rs 32,33,471, which is the lowest among all ministers.
Minister Naba Das is the second richest minister after the CM. Among his 80 vehicles, most of them are commercial vehicles.
The Chief Minister revealed that he has properties worth Rs 64,98,19,764 including jewellery of Rs 2.89 lakh and ‘1980’ model Ambasadoor car, the cost of which is estimated to be around Rs 8,905. Patnaik also has Rs 13.1 crore cash deposit in seven bank accounts among which Delhi Janpath branch of Bank Of India has the maximum Rs 1.3 crore saving deposit.
Naveen's immovable properties include land and building at Bhubaneswar, Delhi and Haryana. The cost of his building and landed property at Faridabad is estimated to be around Rs 10.75 crore. Similarly, he has obtained 2/3 share of Naveen Niwas, his residence in Bhubaneswar.
Law Minister Pratap Jena has movable and immovable asset worth Rs 10 crore while Ashok Panda and Captain Divyashankar Mishra have properties of Rs 8 crore and Rs 7 crore respectively.
While the total assets of Health Minister Naba Das as on March 31, 2019, is not available, his assets as on March 31, 2018, was more than Rs 33 crore.
Here's is the list of properties of ministers-
Pratap Jena: Rs 10,35,29,911
Ashok Chandra Panda: Rs 8,34,48,994
Dibya Shankar Mishra: Rs 7,31,76,408
Susanta Singh: Rs 4,93,94,644
Bikram Keshari Arukha: Rs 4,78,47,471
Niranjan Pujari: Rs 4,34,65,308
Sudam Marandi: Rs 2,61,18,026
Samir Ranjan Dash: Rs 2,23,75,761
Arun Kumar Sahoo: Rs 89,93,439
Prafulla Mallick: Rs 39,28,831
Tushar Kanti Behera: Rs 32,33,471
Meanwhile, the release of the property list of ministers has fuelled politics in the State with the Opposition firing salvo at the ruling BJD and also questioning the authenticity of the report.
The BJD however has said that the ministers have been submitting their genuine property list every year.
"As per the direction of the chief minister, we have disclosed the list of our properties. We have submitted all authentic documents. Earlier, we had also given the asset list. So, there is nothing to hide," Minister Padmanav Behera said.
On the other hand, the BJP has demanded the details of the wealth of ministers they have accumulated in last ten years.
"People of Odisha need to know the details of the ministers' assets which they have accumulated in last ten years. They should produce a comparative statement of their property list of last ten years. Secondly, they should also declare their sources of income and also explain how their wealth increased every year," BJP state general secretary Prithivraj Harichandan said.
Congress has alleged that no leaders have shown correct data regarding their assets.
"No leaders including me have submitted their real property list. This list is just an eye wash and it does not even bear a portion of their wealth", Congress MLA Suresh Routray said.