Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, approved eight important proposals during its meeting on Wednesday. These decisions encompass a range of initiatives aimed at boosting infrastructure, animal welfare, fisheries, education, and irrigation in the state.
Poultry Development Scheme Approved
The Cabinet greenlit the sub-scheme Poultry Development under the State Sector Scheme Prani Sampad Samruddhi Yojana (PSSY), with a total budget allocation of ₹1,031.19 crore for the period 2024-2029. The scheme aims to benefit over 3.7 lakh farmers, including Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs), and is expected to produce an additional 95.58 TVT meat per year and 5.5 lakh eggs per day, thus enhancing the state’s poultry sector.
Fisheries Infrastructure Development
The Cabinet also approved ₹696.21 crore for the Infrastructure Development scheme within the Fisheries sector. This initiative, which will run from 2024-2027, includes the development and upgrade of 619 projects covering fish markets, fish farms, and other related infrastructure. The scheme is set to benefit 16 lakh fishers, improving the sector’s infrastructure over the next three years.
Animal Resource Development (ARD) Infrastructure
With an allocation of ₹449.71 crore, the Infrastructure Development scheme in the ARD sector aims to build and renovate veterinary hospitals, Livestock Aid Centres, and other veterinary institutions. This will improve veterinary service delivery and is set to be implemented over three years (2024-2027).
GOMATA Scheme for Animal Welfare
The Cabinet approved the Goal for Management and Treatment of Animals (GOMATA) scheme in the ARD sector, with a total outlay of ₹342.66 crore for 2024-2027. The scheme will provide essential veterinary services, including vaccination and treatment, benefitting 2.5 crore livestock annually.
Fisheries Welfare: MMKY Scheme
The Mukhyamantri Maschyajibi Kalyan Yojana (MMKY), aimed at enhancing the fisheries sector, was approved with a total budget of ₹2,239 crore for the period 2024-2029. The scheme will cover various sectors such as freshwater, brackish water, and marine fisheries, benefiting approximately 14 lakh fishers, including over 6 lakh fishers and 7.3 lakh WSHG members.
Odisha Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024
In a bid to curb malpractices in public examinations, the Cabinet approved the Odisha Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The Act will address issues like impersonation, cheating, and exam disruptions, and impose stringent penalties on offenders. Offenders could face imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to ₹10 lakh, while service providers involved in malpractices could be fined up to ₹1 crore.
Extension of Water Sector Infrastructure Development Programme (WSIDP)
The Cabinet also approved the extension of the Water Sector Infrastructure Development Programme (WSIDP) for another five years, with an estimated cost of ₹9,652.24 crore. This scheme will create an additional 158,318 hectares of irrigation coverage and stabilize 6,435 hectares, improving irrigation infrastructure and addressing flood and drought issues across the state.
These initiatives reflect the Odisha government’s commitment to strengthening the state’s infrastructure, welfare programs, and agricultural sectors, promoting sustainable growth, and ensuring better services for the people of Odisha.
