Bhubaneswar: Odisha aims to emerge as a beggar-free and tourist-friendly state.

This was announced by social security and empowerment of persons with disabilities minister Prafulla Samal and tourism minister Ashok Panda after chief minister Naveen Patnaik had reviewed the performances of these departments.

On the issue of beggars, Samal said: "We have identified a total of 6,482 beggars in the state. We will take step for their proper rehabilitation. Under a new scheme, Sahaya, we are providing them protection, care and rehabilitation. An allocation of Rs 5 crore had been made in 2017-18."

He said: "We are establishing rehabilitation centre where skill development training would be provided to them. Incentives would also be given to them with health care and counselling services. By providing them training facilities, we will ensure that they earn a livelihood for themselves. We will make them entrepreneurs. So far, 660 beggars have been spon- sored for skill development training."

Officials said the state would be able to present a good show before the foreign tourists if it made the cities beggar-free.

Panda said: "Odisha is emerging as a tourist destination. The state has embarked on an aggressive marketing strategy to promote and position Odisha as a preferred tourist destination in the country and world at large. Outdoor branding of Odisha tourism was undertaken at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International Airport in Calcutta and also in Mumbai Metro train."

He said: "The flow of tourist compared to the previous year has been increased by 30 per cent. The number of domestic consumers has crossed one crore."

The minister said: "We are also promoting ecotourism in the state. The tourism department has signed an MoU with the forest and environment department to promote ecotourism of the state."

He said: "To popularise ecotourism products of the state and draw more tourists, we have organised the first national bird festival at Mangalajodi around Chilika in association with the forest and environment department and the Chilika Development Authority."

The state has also claimed that most of the area in the Chilika has been made free from encroachments.