Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 9 : The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday released its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections with a promise to make Odisha the top state in the country by 2034, two years ahead of the state's centenary celebration.
Speaking about the nine-point manifesto, BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, "This manifesto will record history in Odisha. In the last 24 years, the BJD government has transformed Odisha from a poor, hunger-prone, backward state gripped by natural calamities to an identity-based State of modern growth, culture and asmita."
"With the grace of Lord Jagannath and the blessings of the people, the guarantees presented in this pro-people manifesto will be implemented through the 5T Governance and by 2034, two years before celebrating 100 years of the formation of Odisha, Odisha will be given the status of number one state in growth and development in all spheres with the help and strong leadership of all," he announced.
"It is our youth who will write the success story of Odisha. They will be empowered and enriched to write the future of the number one State. A separate budget of Rs 1 lakh crore will be kept for 10 years for the youth of Odisha. This youth budget will be presented in the legislative assembly on the lines of climate and gender budgets. The Nua O scholarship money will be increased to Rs 14,000 per annum for girls and Rs 12,000 per annum for boys," he said.
Patnaik announced that two lakh Government jobs will be provided in the next five years. Stating that 75 per cent of the households in Odisha are using 100 units of low consumption and another 10 per cent are using 100 to 150 units, he announced free power up to 100 units and discounts for 50 units from 100 to 150 units of power.
The Chief Minister has also announced Kalingashree and Kalinga Bhushan awards to be given every year on the lines of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.
For the promotion and preservation of rich culture and Odia language, he said a corpus of Rs 1000 crore will be segregated as a heritage development fund to preserve our places of worship, heritage sites and places associated with important personalities.