May 9th 2024.
Bhubaneswar: In an effort to elevate Odisha's status in the country, the ruling Biju Janata Dal unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections on Thursday. The party's goal is to make Odisha the top state in the nation by 2036. BJD president Naveen Patnaik released the manifesto, which includes plans for the introduction of Kalingashree and Kalinga Bhushan awards, similar to the prestigious Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards, to honor the state's rich culture and heritage.
Patnaik announced that the manifesto will be officially accepted by the state cabinet in its first meeting after the new BJD government is formed following the elections. He expressed confidence that with the implementation of the manifesto through the 5T governance model, Odisha will be transformed into a modern and proud state, with a strong sense of identity.
The manifesto places a strong emphasis on empowering the youth, with a separate budget of Rs 1 lakh-crore allocated for their development over the next decade. The party also promises to increase scholarships for girls and boys, as well as create two lakh government jobs in the next five years. To further encourage skill development and entrepreneurship, plans for a new skill university, state institute of fashion technology, and AI university in Odisha were also announced.
In terms of industry, the manifesto highlights the importance of attracting investments in new technologies such as semiconductors, IT, and artificial intelligence, while also promoting eco-friendly tourism. It also promises free electricity for households using up to 100 units and subsidised electricity for those using 100 to 150 units.
Middle-class families can look forward to initiatives like Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana coverage, interest subvention on home loans, and scholarships for their children's education, as stated in the manifesto. Additionally, the party aims to empower women, tribal, OBC, and minority communities through interest-free loans, financial linkages for self-help groups, and pension schemes.
According to the manifesto, self-help groups will be provided with government business worth Rs 20,000 crore in the next 10 years. Individual women entrepreneurs will also be assisted with a corpus fund of Rs 100 crore, which will provide subsidised loans of up to Rs 10 lakh to help them start and grow their businesses. Mission Shakti will be extended to provide pension for women. Furthermore, all grassroots women workers, community support workers, anganwadi workers, and ASHAs will receive Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana coverage and social security pensions, as promised by the BJD in their manifesto.
The manifesto also addresses important issues such as food security, agricultural support, heritage preservation, and language development. The party plans to continue and expand initiatives like the KALIA scheme for farmers, as well as provide financial assistance for dependent girl marriages and crop loans.
With this comprehensive manifesto, the Biju Janata Dal envisions a brighter future for the people of Odisha and aims to make the state a leader in the country.
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