Bhubaneswar: The foundation of India’s secular fabric lies in Unity in Diversity and perseverance of this unique characteristic needs taking all along the development path. For a country like India where no religion or community is lesser than the other, helping the minorities further strengthens the bond of unity.
In this sphere, Odisha has a unique place in the country. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaiks’ gracious efforts to unite and help all religions and communities through financial help for preserving their heritage and cultural ethos are surely a welcome step.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s recent announcement to provide financial assistance to minority religious institutions in Odisha has been widely appreciated by the members of minority communities, who consider it a great initiative in strengthening communal harmony in the State.
The Chief Minister sanctioned Rs 16 crore to different minority religious institutions across the State for creation of pilgrim amenities and community halls for visitors. The funds will be disbursed from the Special Problem Fund during the 2019-20 financial year.
Welcoming the decision, Father Dibakar Parichha, Archdiocese at Satyanagar Jesus Christ & Mother Merry, Bhubaneswar Catholic Church said, “Odisha is a peace-loving state for centuries. The communal harmony of the State remains intact under the dynamic leadership of Naveen Patnaik”.
“We really appreciate the initiative of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. It will go a long way in meeting infrastructure requirements of our Church”, Parichha said.
As per the decision, the Odisha Government will provide a sum of Rs 2 crore to the Jesus Christ Church in Satyanagar in the capital city.
“We will go by proper planning to utilize the funds once we receive it”, added Parichha.
The people of Berhampur also expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister for the grant of funds to the two oldest minority religious institutions in the city – Giri Road Berhampur Odia Baptist Church (CNI) and Jammia Masjid of Bhapur Bazar.
Paul Sahu, Secretary of the Odia Baptist Church (CNI) said that they were in dire need of funds for expansion to accommodate increasing number of worshipers to the Church.
The Odia Baptist Church (CNI) is the oldest Church in south Odisha. The 180-year old Church had seen major renovation works way back in 1968. In the last 45 years, the population of the city increased tremendously, so also the worshipers to this iconic Church, said Sahu.
“It has always been a tough task to accommodate all the worshipers in the prayer hall in the Church. Hence we were seriously thinking of expansion of the prayer hall, but fund was a constraint”, he said.
“The announcement of Chief Minister to sanction fund to our church is like a blessing. It will really helpful for the expansion”, he added.
Holding similar views, Naushad Ahmed, who regularly visits the Jammia Masjid at Bhapur Bazar, Berhampur said that it is really a great initiative of our Chief Minister in further strengthening secularism and communal harmony in Odisha.
Atif Alam, Imam of Sambalpur Zilla School Chhak Paltan Masjid said, “This is for the first time that the fund will be sanctioned to our Masjid. We wholeheartedly express our gratitude the Chief Minister for the decision”.
“We have land and architectural design to transform the historic site, but finance was the constraint. Now we can overcome the financial constraint”, he said.
The fund will be used for the new market complex and community centre at Paltan Masjid, he said.
Earlier, the minority cell and Muslim people of Sambalpur district had given a memorandum to District Collector Subham Saxena expressing their gratitude to the Chief Minister for the remarkable step.
As per the announcement, Paltan Masjid will be provided a sum of Rs 1 crore for development works.
All these announcements for welfare of the minority institutions will lead to further the cause of harmony and will pave the way for preserving the heritage of the institutions.
The feeling of oneness endears Naveen with them. His generosity and inclusive approach strengthens the secular and pluristic fabric of Odisha. It becomes an example for others to emulate.
The hand of cooperation and friendship that Naveen has extended will be grasped firmly by one and all and inspire them to work for New Odisha.