Loisingha,Oct 29 [UDN}: : A ceremony to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for 33 development projects was held near Negipali Park under Budhipadar Gram Panchayat in the Loisingha Assembly constituency of Odisha’s Balangir district on Friday.
Odisha Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, who attended the programme as the chief guest, inaugurated various development projects completed at an expenditure of approximately ₹35 crore. He also laid the foundation stones for 13 projects to be taken up at an estimated cost of ₹30 crore.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Naik said the state government was working in mission mode to accelerate rural development. He emphasised that the government’s priorities included providing drinking water, roads, electricity, employment and livelihood opportunities to people within stipulated timeframes. He added that the government was committed to fulfilling the promises made to the public during the elections.
According to the minister, the BJP’s double-engine government was formulating various welfare and development schemes for the general public, particularly the youth. He said the government’s primary objective was to meet people’s basic needs and make them self-reliant.
Naik further stated that the government’s welfare initiatives were not limited to the Subhadra Yojana. He informed the gathering that arrangements were being made to provide ₹70,000 crore for women’s self-help groups (SHGs) in the coming days, with the aim of strengthening their financial independence and expanding livelihood opportunities.
Referring to the implementation of the VB-G RAM G scheme in Balangir district, the minister claimed that it had helped address distress migration for work among 19,000 families, comprising approximately 45,000 people.
Local MLA and Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling attended the event as the guest of honour and highlighted the importance of rural development. He discussed the subsidies available to beneficiaries of housing schemes under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, along with the government’s major drinking water projects.
Dr Mahaling particularly stressed the need to expedite the completion and operationalisation of the mega drinking water project intended to serve the Loisingha and Agalpur blocks. He drew the attention of the Panchayati Raj Minister to the need to make the project functional at the earliest to ensure access to drinking water for residents.
Responding to the concern, Minister Naik assured the gathering that the mega drinking water project would become operational by March next year.
The programme was presided over by Additional District Magistrate Pabitra Behera, who also explained its objectives. Budhipadar Sarpanch Laxmi Pradhan and Project Director of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and Chief Development Officer of the Zilla Parishad, Taranisen Suna, were present on the dais.
During the event, Sarpanch Laxmi Pradhan urged the minister to facilitate the improvement and beautification of the local park and the upgrading of the road connecting Budhipadar with Negipali.
Among those present were Sub-Collector Alok Patel, Block Development Officers of Loisingha, Agalpur and Puintala, district-level officials, Anganwadi workers, Mission Shakti community representatives, including MBKs and CRPs, Bank Mitras and members of the public.
The programme highlighted the state government’s efforts to strengthen rural infrastructure, improve access to essential services, expand livelihood opportunities and accelerate development across the Loisingha Assembly constituency.
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