Speaking on the occasion, Pandian said that the Chief Minister will launch a portal for online registration for Nua-O Magic Smart Cards for eligible students in the state on March 5 to provide several facilities, 5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman V K Pandian announced on Monday.

After the CM launches the Magic Smart Card scheme on March 5, eligible students of Plus III and PG classes will be able to get themselves registered in order to get a host of facilities, he said.

The Magic Smart Cards would be distributed to all eligible students on August 15 after scrutiny, verification and completion of all formalities, Pandian said.

Pandian attended the Nua-O Scholarship distribution programme in these three districts where he interacted with the students from 57 colleges of Sambalpur, Angul and Deogarh. Under the scheme all eligible PG and UG students from state government universities, Govt Colleges, non-Govt aided and unaided Colleges will be benefitted.

The scholarship amount for general and OBC male and female students is Rs. 9,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively whereas for SC/ST and Nirman Shramik male and female students it is 10,000 and Rs 11,000 respectively.

Pandian informed that 13,423 students from 21 colleges of Sambalpur district; 11,265 students from 25 colleges of Angul district and 3,424 students from 11 colleges of Deogarh district will get their scholarship amount in their bank accounts today. With this, Rs. 28.00 Crores sanctioned for 28,112 nos. of students from these three districts. He distributed Nua-O Scholarship Sanction Orders to the students.

He said that the decade of 2024-34 will be the era of the youth, who will be empowered by the state government to achieve the goal of Nua Odisha.

Pandian said that the government’s next major initiative will be to cover all the students through the launching of the futuristic Nabin Odisha Magic Card, a points- system based smart card which will engage and empower the youth and enable them towards academic development, personality development, skill development and employment. It will create a platform for the youth to aspire and achieve their dreams. It will be encouraging and empowering the youth by providing physical and digital access to resources which will help them in their career growth and personality development.

This card will be a “Passport to Prosperity”. Based on points earned through various activities and parameters the cards will be upgraded to *Silver, Gold and Platinum level. The Cards will be allotted and upgraded based on the performance of student in terms of attendance, discipline, academic performance, participation in extracurricular activities, sports, online courses, personality development courses etc.

Every involvement of the student will be measured, honoured and valued. Their academic achievements, creativity, sports achievements, social/community work, etc. will be recognised and appreciated through this points-system.

These cards can provide access to various facilities like – Bus/Train/Flights concession; access to Phone/ Data recharge and Wi-Fi ; e-libraries; Online Academic courses ; Personality development courses and workshops ; Coaching Centres and Tuition classes; Skill Development courses ; Career counselling; Language courses including Odia and English; “Earn While You Learn” opportunities; Volunteering opportunities; Access to stadiums during the national and international tournaments; Access to Journals and Seminars; Access to tourist places, Museums, etc.

This card will also provide Job and Placement opportunities through sharing of this data with the potential recruiting companies-A LinkedIn type platform for the students to interact with the industry and will integrate with the Start Up ecosystem to encourage the students to aspire to be entrepreneurs and also to provide priority loans for the students under various schemes like Swayam etc. Government will actively engage with the private sector to provide more benefits to the students through these smart cards.

The Government will take further inputs from the students and teachers on the various activities which can be included in this points-system. The Card will be completely technology driven and will be a revolutionary concept towards youth engagement and empowerment.

The five NACs that are being upgraded to municipalities are Boudhgarh in the Boudh district, Karanjia in the Mayurbhanj district, Kantabanji in the Balangir and Chatrapur and Aska NACs in Ganjam district, official sources said.

The decision was taken following 5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman V K Pandian’s district tours and keeping the demands of people along with development of the areas in mind.

The newly created NACs are Pallahada and Chhendipada in Angul district, Basta and Simulia in Balasore district, Paikamal and Veden in Bargarh district, Agarpada in Bhadrak district, Belapada and Sintala in Bolangir district, Binjharpur, Panikoili, Jaraka and Chandikhole in Jajpur district, Jayapatna in Kalahandi district, Raikia in Kandhamal district, Boriguma in Koraput district, Sinapali in Nuapada district, Chandili, Muniguda and Bisamakataka in Rayagada district, Dunguripali in Subarnapur district, Banei in Sundargarh district, Shergarh and Kukudakhandi in Ganjam district, Kantilo in Nayagarh district, Tangi and Begunia in Khordha district, Salepur, Badamba, Narasinghpur and Niali in Cuttack district, Betonati in Mayurbhanj district, Parjang in Dhenkanal district and Kantamal in Boudh district.

The creation of new NACs and municipalities was prompted by public demand and factoring in the rising population and socio-economic development of the state, the sources added.

Pandian reviewed the progress of Baitarani Left Embankment Strengthening and Road Development Project at a cost of Rs 150.24 crore. The project was taken up based on feedback from people during his last visit to Dhamnagar in December 2023.

The embankment strengthening project will reduce the impact of floods in Bhandaripokhari, Dhamnagar and Chandbali area from river Baitarani. The pucca road from Biridi to Tintar Ghat on the river embankment will reduce the travel time by 2 hours, provide faster access to Jajpur Medical College and also to NH 16. The project would benefit approximately 1,20,00 people in Bhadrak.

He also reviewed the progress of Akhuapada and Kochila instream storage structures over river Baitarani at a total cost of Rs 681 crore. Both the projects would provide irrigation facilities to an ayacut area of 81,200 acre. Water would also be available in the Rabi season for cultivation. It would also help in fishery sector development in the area.

During his interaction with the public in meetings at Akhuapada Field and IGM College Field in Dhamnagar, he informed about major decisions taken by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik including increase in social security pensions across all categories by Rs 500 each that would benefit around 58 lakh beneficiaries.

He also informed that financial assistance under MAMATA Yojana has been increased from Rs 5000 to Rs 10,000. This will further benefit women and infants towards improved nutrition and better health outcomes.

He said the Chief Minister has launched a novel initiative in providing Nua-O Scholarships to the under-graduate and post-graduate students studying in state universities, government and non-government aided colleges including Sanskrit Colleges and unaided colleges under Higer Education department.

Under the initiative, male students will get Rs 9,000, while the female students will get Rs 10,000 per annum. The students belonging to SC/ST and Nirman Shramik families will get Rs 10,000 (male) and Rs 11,000 (female) per annum. The scholarships for the current academic year will be deposited in the bank accounts of the eligible students from February 26.

He informed about the rolling out of bus service under LaCCMI scheme in every panchayat of the district in which the bus fare for female passengers and students will be Rs 5 only.

For the convenience of passengers and ease of travel, the Bhubaneswaer Development Authority (BDA) has made Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card mandatory for all the buses using the ISBT, sources said.

RFID readers will be installed at the entry and exit points of the terminal as well as the bus bays. The passengers can track the buses with real time location of the buses from the RFID.

The ISBT, which will be inaugurated soon, will have three entry gates and around 50 bays. Once a bus enters the terminal, the system will detect its RFID tag and the driver will be displayed a bay number on the LED screen installed a few metres from the entry gates. After a bay is allocated, the driver can park the vehicle there to pick and drop passengers, the sources added.

The passengers can also get information about arrival and departure of their buses from airport-like information system. At least 10 LED systems will be installed at different places including the waiting area of the terminal to display the information.

Besides, they can get information on their buses like terminal, routes from the website of ISBT. Around 1,500 buses will be tagged with RFID.

The authorities have also decided to start prepaid auto-rickshaw services from the terminal. A dedicated parking space has been set up in the ISBT for vendors.

Among the bus stands inaugurated, three are in Keonjhar, two each in Angul, Balasore, Kendrapara, Rayagada and Nayagarh and one each in Boudh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Koraput, Nuapada, Sambalpur and Sonepur districts.

“Transport has an indispensable role in economic activity. Our goal is to improve the transport system between villages and cities. The 5T initiative is focussed on improving infrastructure and public transport system. The villages are also being connected to the blocks under LAccMI public transport system,” the CM said.

He further said that work on metro rail project has started in Bhubaneswar. “Improvement in transport facilities will benefit farmers while facilitating children’s education,” he said.

Naveen said the new bus stands will be gradually developed into business hubs, giving a push to economic activities in these area. “It is necessary to strengthen public transport infrastructure as well as sensitise people so that they can use this public transport system extensively. Attention should be paid to the safety of people at the new bus stand along proper upkeep of the common facilities,” he added.

The government has planned to open a bus stand in every block of the state under this initiative to boost rural infrastructure.

Pandian said that bus stands play an important role in creating an identity of an area. “These bus stands are your property and I would request everyone to maintain it properly,” he added.

He also spoke about various developmental projects undertaken by the state government under the 5T initiative in various regions.

State Commerce and Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu, Minister for Planning and Coordination Rajendra Dholakia, Minister for Scheduled Tribes and Castes Development Jagannath Saraka and State Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Pradeep Kumar attended the programme along with local legislators. Principal Secretary, Department of Commerce and Transport, Usha Padhi and CMD of OSRTC Diptesh Patnaik were also present.

In the interim budget of 2024-25 presented in the assembly last week, finance minister Bikram Keshari Arukha proposed development of 132 new bus stands under the scheme with an outlay of Rs 210 crore. Fifty-five such bus stands were redeveloped under the scheme in 2023-24, he had informed.

In August 2023, the CM had inaugurated 21 bus stands in 13 districts and laid foundation of 124 at block headquarters in 26 districts under the initiative.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved a proposal in this regard on Tuesday. The proposal was submitted by 5T chairman VK Pandian after he received suggestions from women during his tour to different places earlier.

As per the decision, the financial assistance to the beneficiaries has been increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.

The money will be transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries in two instalments. The first instalment of Rs 6,000 will be paid 6 months after pregnancy and the second payment of Rs 4,000 will be made after the child completes 10 months.

The revised benefit will come into effect from August, 2023. The beneficiaries will get their pending dues between February 20 and 25.

All women above 19 years are eligible to get the enhanced assistance for two children. The women of 13 particularly vulnerable tribal groups can avail the benefit for each pregnancy.

The chief minister had launched the MAMATA scheme to alleviate the issue of maternal and infant undernutrition in 2011. The scheme provides monetary support to the pregnant and lactating women to enable them to avail improved nutrition for themselves and their child.

Around 60 lakh pregnant women have already benefited from the scheme in the state so far. The government has already paid Rs 2,900 crore to them.

Chief Executive Officer of State Health Assurance Society ( SHAS) D Brundha along with Additional Secretary Health & Family Welfare Department and Joint CEO SHAS Subhananda Mohapatra received the award from Chairman, SKOCH, Sameer Kochhar at New Delhi on Saturday evening.

BSKY was conferred with the national award in health sector for its innovativeness, inclusivity, transparency, and effectiveness. The scheme has brought about observable transformation in universal healthcare scenario of Odisha. All 119.8 lakh families of Odisha have been included under BSKY Componenet-1 for free universal treatment, including high-end pathological tests, in all government health facilities, an official release said.

Besides, 99.3 lakh economically vulnerable families with around 3.56 crore members have been brought under the umbrella of BSKY Componenet-2 for cashless treatment in empanelled hospitals both inside and outside the state.

So far, 816 private sector super specialty hospitals from 17 states, including Odisha have been brought under the fold of BSKY, it added.

Health and Family Welfare Secretary Shalini Pandit complemented the BSKY team and urged them to keep up the good works in service of the people with all care and alertness on 24×7 basis.

It may be pertinent to mention here that BSKY had also bagged SKOCH Gold Award for 2019.

While boys will get Rs 9000 each, every girl will get 10,000. Students, whose parents pay income tax or are permanent government employees, will not be eligible for the scholarship under this scheme.

The government will transfer the scholarship amount to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries between February 20 and 25, Pandian said while addressing a students’ gathering at N C College ground here.

He further said that no state in the country has such a scheme where scholarships are given to around 95 per cent of the students.

The scheme is being viewed as yet another benefit being doled out to young voters keeping the ensuing elections in mind.

Government chief whip Prashanta Muduli brought a motion to adjourn the House sine die for the remaining period of the session.

While the BJP members wanted to speak on the motion, Speaker Pramila Mallik did not allow them. After they staged a walk-out in protest, the Speaker announced that the Assembly was adjourned sine die.

The budget session, which began on February 5, was scheduled to conclude on February 13. It was supposed to transact business on seven working days.

Finance Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha tabled Rs 1.18 lakh crore vote on account for the first four months of financial year 2024-25 in the Assembly on Thursday. The Appropriation Bill was passed in the Assembly on Friday.

As elections to the state Assembly and Lok Sabha are likely to be held soon, this was considered as the last session of the present Assembly.

Several senior leaders including Narasingha Mishra and Suresh Routray bid farewell to the Assembly as they had announced retirement and not to contest elections.

“The unique terrestrial ecosystem with wide array of flora and fauna has been recognised as a prized gift of nature,” he posted on X.

The forest is spread over 350 hectares and is home to 608 faunal species. “Its floral diversity includes 182 species of trees, 76 species of shrubs, 177 species of herbs, 69 species of climbers and 14 species of orchids and threatened medicinal plants,” he added.

Notably, the Odisha government had earlier notified Mahendragiri hills in Gajapati, Mandasaru gorge in Kandhamal district and picturesque Gandhamardan hill range of Balangir and Bargarh districts as bio heritage sites in the state.