Bhubaneswar: There are many types of leaders in the world – some politically successful, some socially influencing and some others who have the sole aim of serving the humanity. We find very few examples of leaders who have accomplished all the above for the betterment of the state and the society. Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Odisha, is one such personality who is a true embodiment of selfless service and everything that is par excellence. India has seen a very few leaders who have made such a contribution to the uplifting of common people as Naveen has did in his 25 years of political life.
As the Chief Minister turns 76 today, the people of Odisha are looking at him with much admiration and respect that few others in the country get. For the 4.5 crore people of Odisha, Naveen today has risen above the threshold of leadership and has become a father figure. The remarkable turnaround of Odisha under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in various parameters of political, social and economic sphere is the testimony to his welfarist and humanist approach to governance.
While being the son of legendary politician Biju Patnaik was the reason for his entry into the political scene of Odisha in 1997, the next course of action has been his own charting. The gentle Chief Minister has turned the table for the people of Odisha in the last quarter century. From a state known for its poverty and natural disasters, Odisha today has turned around to be the leader in economic growth and development of the people. In all the parameters of social and economic development, the Odisha model today has become a point of tremendous success.
Odisha is one of the most vulnerable States to natural calamities, witnessing major disasters every year often. Under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik, the state has emerged as a role model in the country for its disaster management techniques to tackle different natural disasters like devastating flood, phylin, Hudhud, cyclone, drought etc. in a successful manner.
In the words of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, empowerment of women is the empowerment of the nation. No household, no society, no state, no country has ever moved forward without empowering its women.
The Naveen-led government has taken several exemplary steps to politically and economically empower women. The historic decision of Naveen Patnaik to field women candidates in 33 per cent of Lok Sabha seats during general elections of 2019 heralded a new era of political empowerment of women in the country. Such a bold decision resulted in setting an example for rest of the country and indeed the world.
Similarly, Mission Shakti has shown the world that successful women empowerment has the trickle down impact on the economy, livelihood, social development, healthcare and education of the state. From a humble beginning in the year 2001, Mission Shakti today has become a force to be reckoned with. It has become a revolution today and brought under its ambit more than 70 lakh self-help group (SHG) members. Several decisions for economic empowerment of these women have been taken and one particular decision – to outsource a number of activities of the Government to these women self-help groups, has created huge opportunities for them to stand on their own for their economic betterment.
Mo Sarkar” (My Government) is a historic and landmark initiative by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for making governance people centric and categorically reaffirming at the practical level that people are the real masters and people’s representatives and public officials are there to serve them and not to act as their lords. Mo Sarkar mandates that people visiting the Government offices are treated with dignity and their grievances are dealt with and monitored with utmost sincerity. Such ideas of governance leading to service of people with dignity meant bringing about transformation of the way in which the Government functions. The adoption of five Ts- Technology, Transparency, Timely completion of work, Team work and Transformation- which remain at the core of the idea of Mo Sarkar, has made the government accountable to the people and the drive to get people’s voices heard in every aspect of governance as well as public service delivery.
Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for majority of the population. Nearly 48% of the manpower is engaged in the agriculture sector. Odisha is the only state in the country to have doubled farmers’ income in the last decade. From a rice deficit State, Odisha is now the third largest contributor to the PDS system in the country. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s innovative schemes like “Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation” have ensured farmers’ empowerment. KALIA is the biggest ever individual beneficiary scheme in the history of Odisha. This path breaking scheme has been an eye opener for many States and the Central Government. Food production in the State has multiplied over the years and is sustainable. The hard working farmers of Odisha are responsible for the State getting the prestigious KRISHI KARMAN award five times since 2013-14.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has given utmost priority on transformation of the heritage sites in the state. Starting with the Puri Srimandir, the Naveen Patnaik Government has taken the initiatives for the facelift of major heritage sites, such as Lingaraj Temple, Chandi Temple in Cuttack, Nilamadhav Temple, Kantilo, Sarala Temple in Jagatsinghpur district, Samaleswari Temple development in Sambalpur district. On this line, the transformation works of Maa Taratarini temple has been completed and the Pratishtha Mahotsav of renovated temple was recently organized. The beautification of the Maa Taratarini temple in Ganjam district is the best example of 5T transformation initiative that the Naveen government has been sincerely pursuing for the development of the ancient shrines. The State Government has also allotted funds for repair and beautification of several mosques and churches. It affirms the Naveen Government’s commitment to respect all faiths equally and uphold secularism.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Odisha has made a giant leap towards achieving his mission of ensuring universal healthcare system. The introduction of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) scheme that assures free health services to all the people from sub-centre to medical colleges is a testimony to it. The scope of the BSKY has been enhanced with the introduction of BSKY Smart Health Cards, a first of its kind initiative in the country. In just three years, more than 71 lakh families constituting nearly half of the population of the state have been covered under the health initiative. The revolutionary step has helped millions of people in getting free treatment in both government and private hospitals. Exactly after three years of its launch, the revolutionary Smart Health Cards have been launched in the State to provide annual health coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family (Rs 10 lakh for female members). With this card, the patients get instant access to healthcare services at all government hospitals and more than 200 private hospitals both in Odisha and outside.
In the last two decades, the sports infrastructure in the state has undergone massive transformation. With a humble beginning from hockey turfs in Bhubaneswar and Sundergarh, Odisha today has become the sports capital of the country. Successful organization of international sports events has caught the limelight of national and international even managers. Spending on sports infrastructure in the state in the last two decades has increased manifolds. Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar today is the state of the art sporting complex for athletics too. Odisha successfully organised Asian Athletics Championships, Women’s Gold Cup Football, Men’s FIH Olympic Qualifiers, Women’s FIH Olympic Qualifiers, Men’s Hockey Series Finals, Men’s Hockey World Cup, Men’s FIH Hockey World League, Hockey Champions Trophy, National Open Athletics Championships and many more events. The state is going to again host the FIH 2023 World Cup Hockey tournament in the year 2023 – a recognition for its commitment to furtherance of sports.
Odisha has taken a bold step to empower the common people by giving them land rights over where they reside. For the people living in forest areas, the state government has taken the step to provide them land rights. Under the Forest Rights Act, the state has given land titles to more than 4.36 lakh people dwelling in forest areas. Likewise, the government has also taken steps to give the slum dwellers a respective life with entitlement for land. Odisha’s JAGA Mission or the Odisha Liveable Habitat Mission (OLHM) that aims for empowering urban poor in the state won the bronze at the World Habitat Awards.
Under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik, Odisha’s economy is consistently growing at a higher rate compared to the national growth. During last seven years, the average growth rate of Odisha has remained about 8 percent compared to national average of about 6.9 percent. In spite of slowdown in global and national economy, Odisha’s economy continues to thrive. Along with its Manufacturing sector, the Information Technology and software industry is also experiencing robust growth.
Special Development Council: Creation of Special Development Councils (SDCs) is a path-breaking initiative for development of tribal communities in the State. The SDCs formed in the nine districts, such as Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Nabarangapur, where the tribals comprise about 50 per cent of the total population of the districts, help in preserving tribal culture, art, tradition, language and talents. Odisha is the first State in the country to have such councils for tribal development.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has implemented a slew of reformative measures to strengthen the higher education system in Odisha. The latest initiative is the University Amendment Bill, 2020, which seeks to bring a paradigm shift the way the govt-run universities in the State are functioning. It is a pragmatic step in the right direction in ensuring quality education, efficient faculty staff and quality research in the universities in Odisha. Another pathbreaking initiative is the the High School Transformation Programme. In the words of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, “It is the common responsibility of all of us to help the children realize their dreams and it is the dreams that chart the way forward in student life”. The High School Transformation programme is a demonstration of Naveen Patnaik’s vision of enabling Odisha students to excel in every field, know about new technologies and bring glory to the state.
Known for its track record of efficiently handling natural disasters, Odisha has managed to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic quite efficiently under the guidance of Naveen Patnaik.
Always fit and fine, CM Naveen has been working relentlessly for more than two decades for the betterment of the people and prosperity of the state.
According to Naveen, good governance and selfless public service are the pillars of democracy and there is no alternative to service of the people and humility in democracy.