Balasore: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday launched as many as 191 development projects worth Rs 1806 crore for the people of Balasore district.
During his visit to the district, the Chief Minister dedicated Rs 374 crores projects and laid foundation stones for projects worth Rs 1431 crores. The CM also inaugurated a newly constructed railway overbridge at Somnathpur in Balasore.
On the occasion, Naveen also released financial assistance of Rs 220 crore to 5600 self-help groups of Mission Shakti in the district. Around 60,000 SHG members have received the assistance. The CM called upon the SHG members to become entrepreneurs and urged them to take this movement to a new level.
Emphasizing the importance of ‘One Panchayat One Product’ the Chief Minister said that if each Panchayat can produce one particular product, then it will facilitate the creation of a market for it and a unique identity of the Panchayat can also be created. He also expressed hope that the Mission Shakti members will create a new history in Odisha’s industrial development.
The Chief Minister said that in the next five years, interest-free loans of Rs. 50,000 crore will be given to the SHGs.
Speaking on the occasion, Naveen said that Balasore is a leading district in the fields of education, literature, industry, agriculture and infrastructure. Today’s programme will take this trend of development to a new level, he added.