Bhubaneswar, Feb 5: Odisha is one of the fastest growing states in India and its post-COVID growth revival is quite exemplary in terms of economic growth, said Governor Raghubar Das on Monday.
Addressing the inaugural day of the budget session of the Odisha Assembly, the Governor said, “The State economy has witnessed an annual average growth rate of 6.47% at 2011-12 prices during the period from 2012-13 to 2022-23 (AE), which is higher than the National/ Indian Annual Average Growth rate of 5.59%.”
As per the Advance Estimate, Odisha's economy has registered a growth rate of 7.8% in 2022-23 (AE) at 2011-12 prices which is higher than the Indian Economy projected to grow by 7.0% in 2022-23 (AE), the Governor said.
Similarly, he said, the growth rate of Agriculture & Allied Sector of the State during 2022-23 (AE) at 2011-12 prices has increased by 6%, whereas, in industries and service sector of the state, a growth rate of 6.1% and 8.8% has been achieved respectively.
The per capita income in Odisha at current prices has grown significantly at 16.9% in 2022-23 (AE) to reach 7 1.51 lakh from 71.29 lakh in 2021-22. Further, the unemployment growth rate of Odisha has declined from 7.1% in 2017-18 to 6.2% in 2019-20, Das stated.
Das said the overall law and order situation in the State has remained by and large peaceful.
The Left Wing Extremism (LWE) activities have remarkably declined in the State due to proactive operational and administrative response of the State Government.
He informed that 42 Maoist cadres were neutralized in police action, 145 were arrested and 63 surrendered with timely and effective action. Besides, 162 guns, 480 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and large quantity of other articles have been recovered during anti-Maoist operations.
The number of LWE affected districts now stands reduced at 10 from 21 due to proactive response of the security personnel. Under Operation "Ghar Wapsi" in Swabhiman Anchal of Malkangiri district, once a stronghold of LWE, more than 3,200 active militias and supporters have returned back to the social mainstream, he pointed out.
The Governor praised the State Government on the successful completion of the Rs 800 crore Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa and its dedication to the devotees all around the globe on 17h January this year.
The Puri Heritage Corridor project, which has significantly enhanced the overall spiritual experience and convenience of the devotees visiting this 12th century shrine in the pilgrimage city of Puri was dedicated in a splendid ceremony in presence of thousands of devotees from across the State and abroad.
He said the 75 meter wide heritage corridor around the Srimandir, the central symbol of Odisha's pride will now provide an opportunity to the devotees, pilgrims and visitors to enhance their spiritual experience of the temple, Neelachakra and Meghanad Pachery, provide state-of-the-art amenities to the visitors, and strengthen the safety and security of the devotees.
The Government dedicated the redeveloped Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur district, one of the most revered shrines in the western region of the state.
This 16th century shrine on the banks of the Mahanadi has undergone transformation over 39 acres of its peripheral area under a Rs 200 crore, the Governor said.
“With humility, my Government acknowledges the invaluable contribution of those who volunteered to forego their land for both Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa and the 'SAMALEI' project,” Das said.
To preserve, protect and promote our ancient temple heritage, the Odisha Government's Rs 280 crore 'EKAMRA' project for development of areas surrounding the 11th century Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar is going ahead at a steady pace, he added.
