CM Naveen Patnaik demands 'special category state' status for Odisha at NITI Aayog meet

Pressing for demand for special category state (SCS) status for Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday at NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting requested Central government to make Odisha a special focus state and provide funds for disaster proofing as state gets frequently impacted by natural calamities. 

"Odisha is impacted almost every year by natural disasters. I would sincerely request Central government to make Odisha a special focus state and allocate funds for disaster proofing," Chief Ministers was quoted as saying by ANI. 

Chief Minister h on July 28 raised similar demand during a meeting with chairman of NITI Aayog Suman Bery and member VK Paul at Naveen Nivas in Bhubaneswar. He h stressed that SCS status is very important for Odisha which faces natural disasters like cyclones and floods every year, resulting in massive dam to state infrastructure.

NITI Aayog's governing council meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired seventh governing council meeting of NITI Aayog along with Lieutenant Goverrs and Chief Ministers of various states. This was first in-person meeting of Governing Council since July 2019.

meeting is expected to discuss crop diversification, including country's goal to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oil. This assumes significance given that India imports nearly 65 per cent of its edible oil requirements, which places significant dependence on an important part of country's diet. 

Several or important issues, including presentations on National Education Policy (NEP) are being discussed in meeting. According to sources, drafts and presentations are expected by state authorities on NEP, its implementation issues, and how it can be me in compliance with states.

According to NITI Aayog's statement, “ nda of meeting, interalia, includes crop diversification and achieving self-sufficiency in oilseeds and pulses and agri-communities; implementation of National Education Policy–school education; implementation of National Education Policy–higher education; and urban governance.”

Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar did t attend meeting. Except for two, all hes of states were present at brainstorming session.