Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accord special category status (SCS) to Odisha and help in the transformation of the State.
In a letter, Patnaik informed the PM that the unique geo-climatic conditions of Odisha make it vulnerable to multiple and recurring natural disasters and it has experienced one or the other disasters like flood, cyclone, tornado or drought every year during the period from 1900 to 2018. More than 80 per cent of the geographical area and nearly 90 per cent of population of the State are vulnerable to one or more disasters.
Odisha has been affected by about 35 per cent of all the cyclonic and severe cyclonic storms that have crossed the eastern coast of India. With the current trend of the climatic change, the coastal areas of Odisha are likely to be more vulnerable to extreme climatic events and severe cyclonic disturbances.
The reconstruction of damaged public infrastructure falls outside the ambit of SDRF and NDRF norms with a few exceptions. Additional assistance from NDRF provided in case of a calamity of a severe nature is highly inadequate relative to damage to infrastructure and livelihoods leaving the State with no alternative but to manage recovery and reconstruction from its own limited resources.
Despite several challenges, Odisha’s Gross State Domestic Product has increased by about 50 per cent during last six years. Poverty in Odisha has declined by 24.61 per cent from 2004-05 to 2011-12, which is the highest reduction among major States in the country. The State has launched its own food security and health security schemes. IMR and MMR have been reduced.
The State’s DAMaN for checking malaria and the MAMATA for helping pregnant women have been very successful To empower women, more than 6 lakh SHGs have been formed under the Mission Shakti programme comprising of 70 lakh members, who are involved in income generating activities. Odisha has bagged the best State Award in skill development of rural youth for two years in a row.
“Our pace of transformation has been remarkable and our growth has been inclusive. Further, the nation benefits immensely from the natural resources of
Odisha. In fact, the iron ore deposits and other minerals have contributed significantly to nation building throughout the years. Odisha plays a major role in the energy security of the country through its coal deposits. Railways get among their highest profits from Odisha,” the letter read.
He lamented mentioning that successive Central Governments have neglected Odisha. It is a fact that Odisha remains at the bottom in the country in most Central subjects like tele density, railway network, banking network and coverage, National Highways and air connectivity.
“It is in this premise of historical Central neglect and frequent natural calamities that my Government has been demanding SCS for Odisha, which will supplement our efforts in transforming the State. Odisha is registering a growth rate higher than the nation’s growth rate. Providing SCS will further accelerate industrial development and, in turn, create more jobs for our youth. Kindly, consider Odisha’s request as a unique one and support us in the fast pace, inclusive development of Odisha,” wrote the CM.
