post news network
Cuttack, August 25: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday inaugurated 100 bridges built at a cost of `328 crore across the state under the Biju Setu Yojana through video conferencing.
Patnaik launched a programme to include additional 3 lakh beneficiaries under the Madhubabu Pension scheme in the same event during his visit to Mahanga in the district here. More than 40 lakh people are getting pensions under the scheme.
He also launched the ‘Mahaprayan’ scheme of the state government for taking a body from the hospital to the deceased’s house. As many as 40 mortuary vans were dedicated to the state on the occasion.
Mahaprayan scheme was launched keeping in view the success of Harischandra Yojana. Under Harischandra Yojana, poor people get financial assistance for cremation, while Mahaprayan scheme would facilitate transportation of bodies from hospital to the village of the deceased, Patnaik said while launching the scheme.
Patnaik also claimed that his government is giving priority to rural development. “The state government is trying to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas in terms of infrastructure. Steps are being taken to empower village panchayats and provide basic amenities to the people,” Patnaik said.
He distributed pensions among some beneficiaries of Madhubabu Pension scheme, tri-cycles among a few differently-abled persons and laptops to some meritorious students. He also provided monetary assistance for house constriction to some needy people.
Rural development minister Badri Narayan Patra, women and child development minister Usha Devi, steel and mines minister Prafulla Mallick, MPs Bhatruhari Mahatab and Baijayanta Panda and MLAs Pratap Jena and Chandrasarathi Behera among others were present on occasion.
