developmental schemes. He also sought the people's cooperation in this regard.
The Chief Minister said his government
was focussing on growth of agriculture,
irrigation, infrastructure development,
rural roads, drinking water, and growth
in the IT sector, education and healthcare.
Improvement in the people's quality of life
was the main objective of his government,
Patnaik observed.
He said that a special package, comprising
a series of schemes, had been finalised
by the State government for ensuring development
of agriculture.
While a target had been fixed to bring
35 per cent of cultivable area in all the
314 blocks under irrigation cover, contract
farming had been introduced in several areas
for the benefit of the farmers, Patnaik
said.
Stating that rural development was also
a priority area for his government, Patnaik
said efforts were on to improve rural road
connectivity and ensure availability of
safe drinking water in villages. The Jaldhara
scheme was being implemented to provide
piped water facility to 1000 villages in
the first phase.
The government had also launched new schemes
such as the Biju KBK Yojana, Gopabandhu
Gramin Yojana and Biju Gramjyoti Yojana
for rural development.
Mentioning about the excellent performance
of tribal schools in this year's High School
Certificate examination, Patnaik said that
priority was being accorded to education
of tribal children. A total of 1000 hostels
for tribal girls were being established
in the State, he added.
As regards growth in the information technology
sector, the Chief Minister said Bhubaneswar
was fast growing as a major IT hub in the
country. Companies such as TCS, Infosys,
Wipro, Genpact and Satyam had already started
their operation and very soon many companies
were going to begin BPO business, he said.
The State's software export was likely
to cross Rs 700 crore during the current
financial year, the Chief Minister said.
Patnaik said the government was also taking
measures for proper utilisation of the rich
mineral resources for the development of
the State and its people. A total of 25
steel industries had already started production,
he added.
In the beginning of his speech, Patnaik
paid tributes to the memory of those fought
for the country's freedom.
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