Bhubaneswar, Feb. 27: An allocation of Rs 293 crore has been made to develop and manage tourist infrastructure in this year's state budget.
The government will develop tourism facilities at the beaches in Gopalpur, Tampara, Barkul and Satapada. Also, ecotourism destinations will be developed to increase tourist footfall. Some of the spots include Mangalajodi and Berhampura under the Chilika wildlife division, Barakhandia and Dhodrokusum under the Hirakud division, Daringbadi and Belghar under the Baliguda division and Dangmal under the Rajnagar division among others.
Odisha is endowed with natural beauty boasting of 31 per cent forest cover, two national parks, 19 wildlife sanctuaries and three tiger reserves apart from some rivers and reservoirs.
Funds have also been allocated for the tourism department to conduct road shows and take part in international events. A sum of Rs 6.50 crore has been allocated for the Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana, free pilgrimage tour for senior citizens. The chief minister had launched the pilgrimage programme for senior citizens in Berhampur, where a special train carrying around 977 senior citizens of 10 south Odisha districts left for Rameswaram and Madurai in a nine-day tour.
An amount of Rs 10 crore has been allocated to set up Kalamandal, a one-stop destination for all cultural activities in the state, on six acres in Bhubaneswar. A sum of Rs 5 crore has been allocated to renovate auditoriums. A sand art museum will be set up in Puri. A sum of Rs 8 crore will be utilised in setting up two chairs at University of Hyderabad in the name of Bhakta Kabi Madhusudhan Rao and Central University of Gujarat in the name of Kuntala Kumari Sabat.
The handloom and handicraft sector is another focus sector with thrust to improve designs, enhance productivity, credit linkage, build capacity of weavers and provide social security.
The handloom and handicraft sector is another focus sector with thrust to improve designs, enhance productivity, credit linkage, build capacity of weavers and provide social security. Around Rs 202 crore has been earmarked for the same. The Baristha Bunakar Sahayata Yojana has been formulated to reward traditional weavers and craftsmen. A sum of Rs 5 crore has been allocated for the same.
HIGH POINTS
Puri project
Finance minister Pradip Amat introduces budget by announcing Abada scheme for holistic development of Puri and transform it into a world-class heritage city
Budget allocation: Rs 100cr
Pre-school
Govt to provide uniforms for children undergoing pre-school education under Malatidevi Park Vidayalaya Paridhan Yojana
Budget allocation: Rs 34cr
Schoolchildren
Govt will provide free school bags and educational kit to all children from Classes I-V, free school uniforms to all children from Classes I-VIII and free bicycles to Class IX students of government and government-aided schools, Sanskrit tols and madarsas under Gangadhar Meher Sikshya Manakbrudhi Yojana
Women
♦ Under Mukhya Mantri Mahila Sashaktkaran Yojana state to provide financial assistance to women self-help groups and their federations under Mission Shakti.
Budget allocation: Rs 90cr
♦ Hot cooked meals will be given to pregnant and lactating women in lieu of take home ration and additional meals to those diagnosed as high-risk pregnant women
Budget allocation: Rs 70cr
♦ Govt to construct working women’s hospital
Budget allocation: Rs 10cr
♦ Biju Kanya Ratna Yojana to arrest declining child sex ratio
Budget allocation: Rs 1cr
♦ Biju Sishu Surakshya Yojana to provide protection and safety net to children whose parents are affected with HIV/AIDS
Budget allocation: Rs 3cr
Farmers
♦ Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana will provide cashless health insurance to 57 lakh farmers and their families through a network of 100 hospitals
Budget allocation: Rs 88cr
♦ Central sponsored Blue Revolution will be used to undertake activities such as fish seed rearing centres, integrated development of reservoirs, rejuvenation of water bodies and capacity building of fish farmers. Govt has signed MoUs with 14 companies at the Make in Odisha Conclave and attracted investment of Rs 1,940 crore to promote fisheries sector
Budget allocation: Rs 22cr
♦ Mukhya Mantri Adibandandha Tiyari Yojana to build 400 check dams. Parabati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation Scheme will also be implemented
Budget allocation: Rs 1546cr
MNREGA
Govt to create a corpus find of Rs 300 crore to facilitate timely payment of wages under MNREGA pending receipt of central assistance for the wage component
Connecting villages
Govt to improve road network in 142 remote and inaccessible villages in 17 Maoist-affected districts
Budget allocation: Rs 50cr
Odisha Bhavan
Govt to construct state facility in Bangalore
Smart Cities Mission
Smart City Mission being implemented in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela to improve infrastructure, decent quality of life, clean and sustainable environment and smart solutions for civic services
Budget allocation: Rs 392cr
Health needs
Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Seva Yojana to provide financial assistance up to Rs 3 lakh to needy and poor patients to cover cost of treatment for critical illness
Medical colleges
Seven new medical colleges to come up to help increase availability of doctors and improve health services
Budget allocation: Rs 400cr
Special assistance
To resolve water crisis, Berhampur’s Janivilli reservoir will be developed. It will provide water to Berhampur town and 53 villages
Budget allocation: Rs 489cr
Compiled by Subhashish Mohanty
