Naveen Patnaik writes a fourth letter to the PM on demonetisation

BHUBANESHWAR: Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, was among the first regional leaders to welcome the Prime Minister's "bold step to curb black money".

But in the five weeks since the Government withdrew high value currencies, Patnaik has written four letters to the PM pointing out issues demonetisation is causing of currency is causing on the ground, particularly in rural Odisha.

In a letter to Narendra Modi on Friday, Patnaik sought the upper limit of Rs 20,000 for withdrawals to be eased for beneficiaries of rural housing schemes, who are being inconvenienced.

Sanctioned funds are given in four installments of Rs 20,000, Rs 30,000/35,000, Rs 40,000/45,000 and Rs 30,000. “Thus, the first installment of Rs 20,000 is within the limit of withdrawal from bank account set by the Reserve Bank of India post demonetisation, but the rest three others go beyond the stipulated limit of withdrawal,” said Patnaik.

Which lwas not only causing the poor beneficiaries but also impeding his administration’s efforts to complete five lakh pucca houses before the end of this financial year, he said.

Odisha claims to have built 1.4 lakh houses under different rural housing schemes both centrally sponsored and state funded. Patnaik today sought a waiver on withdrawal limits for beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin, Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana, Indira Awas Yojana and state funded Rural Housing schemes.

Patnaik is also part of a committee of Chief Ministers enlisted to help guide the Government's drive towards a cashless economy.