Urging people to promote positivity and protest negativity to ensure rapid development, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday observed that negativism and negative mindset spoil the confidence level of human beings.

Addressing a gathering after launching ‘India against Negativity’ (IAN), a forum to fight against negativism, the Chief Minister said, “This is a time when our State and the nation are on a move to achieve rapid development. We are trying to fast-track socioeconomic development by bringing visible changes in the lives of the people. But there is also vexing issues which are coming in the way, and we are consciously intervening to find solutions to the issues. A constant focus on the issues can upset our development initiatives.” Focusing on involvement of youth mass to fight against negativity and pessimism, Patnaik called upon likeminded people to come under the umbrella of the India Against Negativity to ensure a prosperous State and nation.

IAN advisory board chairman and former Supreme Court judge Ananga Kumar Patnaik urged people just to focus on positivism instead of negative mindset. Despite having all the resources like minerals, rivers, Odisha continues to be a backward State due to various reasons. So, in order to have a rich Odisha and also a rich nation everyone should fight negativity and pessimism, said Justice Patnaik. Justice Patnaik said, “The phenomena of problems coming in the way of growth are what I called is negativity.”

IAN convenor Achyuta Samanta, lok Sabha member Prasanna Patasani, Rajya Sabha member Ranjib Biswal, Puri Gajapati King Dibyasingh Deb and Justice MM Dash also spoke on the occasion.  The valedictory session of the meeting was addressed by Governor SC Jamir.