Berhampur: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik got emotional and tears rolled down his eyes after watching a heart-touching performance by the India’s Got Talent winner, the Prince Dance Group, on deadly cyclone Phailin here May 7.
The Berhampur-based dance troupe was staging the four-minute play based on the 2013 Phailin storm, during the launch of the world’s largest slum land title transfer project of the BJD government at Chhatrapur May 7. Patnaik was seen weeping as the play progressed.
Not just the CM, but the entire spectators turned emotional at the presentation of the plight of those hit by the natural disaster.
The play showed slum dwellers trying to save their families from the disastrous cyclone, as also their struggle to rebuild their homes, the apathy of the district administration, the eviction of slum-dwellers and their joy when the government announced a plan to provide them land rights.
The security personnel handed over a handkerchief to the CM to wipe his tears. Patnaik was seen being emotional throughout the programme and even after the show too. The entire sight was captured on camera by news channels.
As per the historic decision of his government, Patnaik handed over land right certificates to 2,000 slum-dwellers from nine urban local bodies of Ganjam and Puri districts. The decision of the government is seen as a major help and respite to lakhs of the urban poor across the state.
Under the Odisha Land Rights to Slum Dwellers Act, 2017, land rights will be given to slum dwellers in Notified Area Council (NAC) and municipalities areas, while the urban poor living in municipal corporation areas will get property rights.
