Ganjam Waiting For Naveen’s Power-Packed Visit On Sunday; BSKY Smart Cards and Projects Worth Rs 2200 Crore to Be Inaugurated and Foundation Laid

Berhampur: Odisha Government’s most ambitious health initiative the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana Smart Health Cards have become a resounding success in providing free healthcare to the common man in the state. The scheme, which was launched on 20th August this year from Malkangiri, has reached many districts and there remain a few more that will be added in the next few days. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who has been individually launching the BSKY Smart Cards in all the districts, is all set to go to his own constituency Hinjilicut to launch the Smart Health Cards for Ganjam district. Ganjam is going to be connected with the Smart health Card Network and more than 25 lakh people are going to have the cashless smart health facility.

People in Hinjili are today very happy to see their leader coming to them and gifting the BSKY Cards. The district administration led by the Collector is decked up to welcome the Chief Minister and has made all arrangements for the grand launch. Ganjam has always been in the heart of the Chief Minister. Be it transformation of High Schools under the 5T Initiatives or development of tourist places, Ganjam has occupied an important place in Naveen’s journey. Naveen’s visit to Ganjam on Sunday is a power packed one with a number of projects lined up for inauguration and foundation lying.

During his visit to Hinjili, Naveen will inaugurate 659 small and big projects totaling worth Rs 570 Crore and will lay foundation stones of 645 projects worth Rs 1582 crore. He is also going to launch new schemes and programs worth Rs 127 Crores. The most important projects to be inaugurated in the district on Sunday include infrastructure such as roads, drains, buildings and bridges worth Rs 242 crore. Also, 289 projects belonging to Education, Health and Drinking Water worth Rs 219 Crore are going to be inaugurated during Naveen’s visit to Ganjam. Likewise, the projects whose foundations will be laid include 439 i.e., the maximum from the Education, Health, and Drinking Water projects worth Rs 761 crore. In total, Naveen will inaugurate and lay foundation stones of projects worth more than Rs 2200 Crore.

On the tourism front, Naveen has approved a redevelopment plan for the most revered Temple of Ganjam – the Tara Tarini temple. The famous shrine of Taratarini is being developed with modern amenities and facilities for the lakhs of pilgrims who come from in and outside the state. The Singhadwar or the entrance of the temple, pilgrim amenities, pathway for walking, drinking water facilities, interpretation centre, mundan hall and public toilets besides renovation of hilltop temple premises are being revamped. According to Bapuji Rana, the chief servitor of Taratarini Temple, “This temple is getting transformed into a major tourist attraction. Pilgrims are very happy to get modern facilities here. The temple that was here a decade ago and the temple that is today are totally different. It is no way less than any other temple or shire of the state.”

Propelled by 5T Initiatives, the Ganjam District administration has been undertaking Transformation of the High Schools into state of the art learning places. Today, a number of High Schools of Ganjam have been transformed and they have the most advanced smart classrooms, digital libraries, science laboratories, play ground, toilets and other facilities are being provided to the students. For Bishnupriya Nayak, the Sarpanch of Keluapali, in Rangeilunda, “Our schools are being transformed into modern facilities. Our children are today very happy to study in the new infrastructure. The new school buildings have computer rooms and digital library. The students are showing much interest in studies today than earlier. We are eagerly waiting for the Chief Minister to come here. We are organizing a grand welcome for him”. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to have an interaction with the PRI members of the district and felicitate them for their commendable work during the two phases of Covid-19 pandemic.