Bhubaneswar: At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic taking its toll on country’s economy, forcing minus 23% economic growth in first quarter of the current fiscal , Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today emphasized the need to scale up livelihood activities to protect rural Odisha particularly poor people from the adverse impact of economic slowdown.
Chairing a high level review meeting with Collectors and officers through video conferencing to take stock of COVID-19 pandemic situation in the State, the Chief Minister said, “You all might be aware that the last quarter, the economic growth of country is minus 23%. Let us not allow people to be affected by this”.
The CM urged the Collectors to scale up livelihood activities to rebuild the economy impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“MGNREGS and all livelihood activities must be scaled up like never before and closely monitored. With Economy slowing down, it is important to pump in funds to rural households”, the Chief Minister told the senior officers and Collectors.
Naveen said that the Collectors must ensure scaled up activities in livelihood sectors coupled with increased fund flow. This is the only way by which we can protect rural Odisha particularly poor people from the impact of Economic Slowdown, he added.
MSME and other Industrial activities should be fully supported to reach pre-Covid levels, he stressed.
Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Soil Conservation, Forestry and Agriculture interventions as announced in my Covid livelihood package should be followedup as a top priority, Naveen stressed.
He also urged the officers to closely monitor credit flow to farmers, Self Help Groups of Mission Shakti, MSMEs and Weavers.
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