Odisha Urban Livelihood Mission to be launched: Governor

BHUBANESWAR: Amid boycott of his address in the Assembly by opposition Congress and BJP, Governor SC Jamir today announced the launch of " Odisha Urban Livelihood Mission" and said the state's growth rate has surpassed the national average despite global economic slowdown.

As soon as the Governor began addressing the opening day of the Budget session, Congress stalwart and leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra and BJP legislature party leader Basant Panda were on their feet hitting out at the BJD government over the chit fund scam and other issues.

Accusing the government of adopting undemocratic methods during the last assembly session, opposition leaders sought the Governor's intervention to ensure healthy discussion in the House to uphold democratic traditions before leading walkout by their respective party legislators.

Listing achievements of the state government, the Governor said despite the adverse impact of global economic slowdown, Odisha registered a reasonably high average annual growth rate of 6.84 per cent during the first two years of the 12th plan as against national average of 4.7 per cent.

Jamir said the 77 urban local bodies (ULBs) that were left out of the National Urban Livelihood Mission, have been brought under a new scheme, called "Odisha Urban Livelihood Mission" and it would be launched soon by the state government as a state funded programme.

He said improvement in fiscal situation has given considerable space to shift focus to create capital assets, which is being financed from the surplus that government is able to generate in revenue account.

"We have not resorted to any market borrowing since last eight years and this is a good lesson for others to emulate," Jamir said.