RS: BJD’s Sasmit Patra Raises Issues Related To India’s Preparedness For COP-25 And Banking Coverage in Odisha

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha member Dr Sasmit Patra has raised two important issues in the House concerning India’s preparedness for the upcoming COP-25 Climate Change meeting to be held in Chile and banking coverage in Odisha.

Keeping a view on India’s important role in global climate change, Sasmit raised the issue of COP-25 meeting and India’s preparedness. In a question to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Sasmit asked on the preparedness and roadmap of India for the upcoming COP-25 Climate Summit at Chile in the background of the good work done by India in the area of Climate Change through international diplomacy.

The Union Minister responded citing specific instances of the achievements in international diplomacy undertaken in the area of climate change and deferred to his colleague Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change for detailed response.

In another participation in the Rajya Sabha proceedings on Thurseday, Sasmit raised the important issue of inadequate Banking Coverage in Odisha. Through a SpecialMention, Sasmit demanded increase in Banking Coverage in Odisha. About 70% of Odisha lacks brick and mortar banking services today with a large number of Unbanked Panchayats without any services. In this grim situation there is a dire need for increasing the Banking coverage of Odisha for true financial inclusion as envisaged by the RBI Committee in 2016. Sasmit also placed in the House statistics related to Banking Services in Odisha for the Government to take immediate steps.