Odisha seeks PPP to meet inclusive growth goal : Governor Jamir
By Bauribandhu Maharana
06 Feb, Bhubaneswar (odibizinfo)
Claiming that Odisha has made impressive achievements in terms of economic growth and poverty reduction, Governor Dr.SC Jamir sought the partnership with private sector to sustain the targeted growth rate and to meet state’s inclusive growth goal.
Odisha needs development of required infrastructure and delivery services through Public-Private –Partnership, Governor said Friday while addressing the state Assembly on the first day of the budget session in Bhubaneswar.
However, the inaugural session of the 2015 calendar year was marked by walk outs by the two main opposition parties – Congress and BJP protesting against “dictatorial attitude of your Government , “chocking” the opposition voice and it’s misdeeds.
Before staging walk outs separately , the senior Congress leader and Leader of Oppostion , Narasingha Mishra and the BJP floor leader made parallel speeches. “ So many issues which ought to have been addressed by you are not available in the booklet circulated to us”, alleged Mishra.
In his address, Governor said that despite the adverse impact of global economic slow down, Odisha had been able to register a reasonably high average annual growth rate of 6.84 per cent during the first two years of 12th Plan as against national average of 4.7 per cent .
“ The real per capita income in Odisha at 2004-05 prices has increased from Rs.14,862 in 1999-2000 to Rs.25,415 in 2012-13 “, Jamir said claiming ,”Odisha is the only state in our country where there is a highest reduction in poverty levels of 24.6 percent between 2004-05 to 2011-12”.
However, the Governor was silent on the achievement on the poverty reduction during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 fiscal.
Jamir said the improvement of fiscal situation has given the state a considerable space to shift the focus and create capital assets which is being financed from the surplus generated by the government.
Highlighting the success in the fiscal management front , he said, the state has not resorted to any kind of market borrowing since last eight years, a good lesson for other states to emulate.
.
Stating that government has taken a number of initiatives to improve the living conditions of people, he pointed out that Several schemes launched by the state government in the past such as Biju Krushak Vikash Yojana and jalanidhi aimed at enhancing the socio economic status of the farming community have indeed started showing good results and provided the necessary confidence to encourage more farmers to avail the benefits.
Jamir said the left wing extremism continues to be a big challenge for the state government in the expansion of inclusive development activities in the remotest areas although its
intensity has been greatly reduced in the recent past.
He said the significant achievement of law and order machinery in containing this form of extremism must be appreciated and encouraged and their resolved to eradicate such
menace hindering griwth and development of vulnerable sections of
the society must be strengthened.
The state government ,the Governor said is working to fill the security vacuum in new areas by augmenting the strengthening the Special Operation Group, Special Intelligence Wing, District Voluntary Force . Odisha Striking Force. This apart to counter the threats likely to come from the sea route, the Odisha government had established 13 more marine police stations at strategic locations along the coast.
While the first phase will be held from February 6 to 21, the second phase is scheduled to be held from March 10 till the conclusion of the session on April 4.
The budget for 2015-16 will be presented by Finance Minister Pradip Kumar Amat in the Assembly on February 16 and the Appropriation Bill will be placed in the House on March 31.