A delegation, comprising Odisha Film Development Corporation chairman Satyabrata Tripathy, Odia Language Literature & Culture department Director Dilip Routrai, Joint Director Subodh Chandra Acharya, and Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Prabodh Rath, met the 86-year-old ailing singer in the hospital and handed over a cheque of Rs 1 lakh to him on Wednesday as assistance towards his treatment.

Director Dilip Rautrai has been directed to oversee the medical arrangements.

Born on January 20, 1938, Pranab was inspired by his father Late Lal Mohan Patnaik, a former Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.He began his music career in 1958 as a playback singer with the film ‘Maa’. He mostly sang Odissi, folk, devotional, semi-classical, and traditional songs and also rendered voice to Hindi and ghazal numbers.

He also got an opportunity to sing with renowned singers including Usha Mangeshkar, Bhupinder Singh, Hemelata and Vani Jayram. He is a recipient of Jayadev Samman- the highest film award of the state.

A presentation of Odisha Crafts Museum, this e-audio tour is available in three languages – Odia, Hindi, and English. The audio guide serves as a personal companion, guiding guests through captivating narratives and providing insights into the artefacts on display. It creates an immersive experience that connects visitors with the heart and soul of Odisha’s rich cultural heritage.

This innovative offering introduces visitors to a seamless blend of technology and cultural exploration, ensuring an unforgettable and enriching museum experience.

The CM also unveiled the museum’s revamped website, showcasing avant-garde features like an enthralling 360 Virtual tour, an E-ticketing system, and a curated collection of mementoes from the souvenir shop designed to elevate the user experience.

The Chief Minister also released a captivating Coffee Table Book, an artistic marvel created by the renowned maestro of contemporary art Mr. Trotsky Marudu. The Coffee Table Book captures the essence of Odisha’s rich cultural heritage, paying tribute to the skilled artisans who have enriched the state’s heritage with their masterful creations.

Handloom, Textiles & Handicrafts Minister Smt. Rita Sahoo, Chief Adviser CMO R. Balakrishnan, Chief Secretary P.K. Jena, Development Commissioner Smt. Anu Garg, Principal Secretary Arabinda Padhee and other senior officers were present.

The E-Audio Guided Tour is a milestone achievement in Odisha’s cultural landscape. It is set to transform the way visitors engage with the museum’s treasure trove of art and heritage.

This initiative reflects the State’s commitment to preserving and promoting Odisha’s artistic legacy while embracing the advancements of modern technology. The tour promises to create a deeper and more meaningful connection between visitors and our cultural heritage.

During his visit to the district to review the progress of various developmental works and redressal of public grievances, Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian went to community health centre (CHC) at Chhendipada. During discussion on development of the CHC, the local people demanded its inclusion under the government’s Ama Hospital.

Pandian apprised the Chief Minister of the demand over video phone call at the meeting. Naveen immediately approved the proposal and directed Health department to take steps to start the project.

The secretary also reviewed the progress of mega pipe water supply project for Talcher, Kaniha and parts of Banarpal. The project, which is implemented with a cost of Rs 357 crore, will be completed by August. It will benefit 124 villages.

He took stock of the instream storage structure Brahmani river being built at a cost of Rs 221 crore. It will be completed by July, 2025. He also reviewed the progress of mega pipe water supply project plan for Chhendipada taken up at a cost of Rs 415 crore. The project, which will benefit 172 villages of the block, will be completed in August.

Then Pandian proceeded to Bantala in Angul block, where he interacted with public, heard their grievances and assured expeditious redressal. He reviewed the progress of mega piped water supply project for Angul and parts of Banarpal coming up with a cost of Rs 357.92 crore. It is targeted to be completed in March, 2025 and will benefit 278 villages.

The 5T secretary addressed Intermediate and Graduate students from different colleges at Biju Maidan in Angul town. He informed them about the Chief Minister’s approval for including 47 Plus II and Degree colleges of Angul under 5T Transformation at a cost of Rs 15.25 crore.

Pandian also visited Maa Hingula temple and interacted with the temple committee, priests and public regarding the development of the temple. He also went to Maa Bayani Pitha, Patrapada under Chhedipada block.

Special Secretary to CM R Vineel Krishna, DIG Brijesh Rai, Angul collector Siddharth Swain, SP and district officials accompanied Pandian during the visit.

The State government is committed to converting the investment intents into ground reality and in this endeavour, holds SLSWCA meetings at regular intervals to fast-track the grounding of projects. This showcases the government’s intent to reinforce Odisha’s rank as 2nd among the States in attracting ongoing investments in FY 2023. Projects spread across diverse sectors like Metal Downstream and Ancillary, Chemicals, Food Processing, Agro Processing, Plastics, Textiles Apparel, IT & ESDM, and Renewable Energy received approvals in the 119th SLSWCA. The approved projects will be set up across various parts of the State including Balasore, Bolangir, Kalhandi,Khurda,and Jajpur Districts.

Odisha has consistently been a leader in the mining and metallurgy sector owing to its natural resource advantage. However, in the last few years, due to concerted efforts by the Government of Odisha, the State has been able to broad-base its industrial ecosystem.The State has attracted one of the leading multinational companies infood-processing sector in the form of Nestlé India Limited. Nestle will be setting up a food processing unit with an investment of over Rs 890 crores providing employment to over 800 people.

In the Textiles & Apparel sector, M/s. Colortone Garments Pvt Ltd (a subsidiary of First Step Baby-Wear), the 2nd largest baby-wear manufacturer in India is setting up an integrated apparel manufacturing facility along with 1.2 MW Rooftop captive solar power plant with an investment of over Rs 200 crores providing employment to over 4820 people.

Similarly, a marquee name in the chemicals sector, Himadri Speciality Chemical Limited also receives approval to set up their first chemical manufacturing unit in Odisha with an investment of over Rs 980 crores providing employment to over 1400 people.

Odisha is also becoming a major investment destination for companies in the plastics sector and threekey projects were approved in this sector during the 119th SLSWCA. IDVB Recycling Operations Pvt Ltd. is setting up a new unit of recycled pet flakes and recycled per resin products having an annual capacity of 63,000 MT with an investment of Rs 318 Crores providing employment to over 240 people. Purv Packaging Pvt Ltd is setting up a new manufacturing unit for Plastic caps, Pet preforms and other allied products, having an annual capacity of 1,017.70 Million Pcs with an investment of Rs 152 Crores providing employment to over 133 people.RDB Rasayans Ltd.is setting up of a new manufacturing unit for Flexible intermediate bulk containers & other allied products, having annual capacity of 6,000MT with an investment of Rs 59 Crores providing employment to over 390 people.

While Odisha remains the leader in the production of Steel, Stainless Steel, Alumina and Aluminium, it is also emerging as the leader in the metal downstream and ancillary sector. This claim was further strengthened today when the SLSWCA approved another two projects in the Metal Downstream and Ancillary sectors. The projects of Beekay Utkal Steel Private Limited and IFGL Refractories Limited were approved which aim to provide employment to more than 350 people of Odisha with an investment of over Rs 260 Crores. IFGL Refractories Limited, one of the leading refractory manufacturers in the country is setting up its 2nd unit in the State, while Beekay Utkal Steel Private Limited, a leading metal downstream company is setting up its 3rdunit in the state.

In the IT & ESDM sector, the committee gave a nod to 1 project, by Nisum Consulting Private Limited with an investment of INR 200 crores. The company proposes to set upa software development centre facility which will provide employment opportunities to over 640 people in Odisha.

The existing system of notification of a rural area as urban area brings about abrupt changes in the political and administrative set-up, impacting the socio-economic conditions of the citizens as there is no window period for them to accommodate the sudden change. It also lacks a participatory and inclusive approach, which often leads to resistance and breeds litigation.
Presently, 19% of Odisha’s population resides in urban areas and is expected to reach 21% by 2031. The growth of census towns or peri-urban areas account for nearly 40% of the urbanization in the state. However, these peri-urban and rurban areas have been grappling with the challenge of inadequate access to social infrastructure and civic amenities and services even after declaring such areas as urban areas. After intensive consultations with the experts and practitioners, it has emerged that absence of a comprehensive policy and robust institutions to contain unplanned urbanization has been the primary reason for this situation.
As a significant shift from the previous system therefore, the Rural-Urban Transition Policy aims as providing urban civic amenities of services to the people in the identified rural areas much before the areas are formally notified as urban areas. The policy allows creation of special budget for implementation of infrastructure projects and delivery of services while actively involving the elected representatives, officials, and all other stakeholders in the planning, execution and monitoring of the transition process.

Under the policy, rural areas after intensive process of identification will be declared as urban areas coming into effect from the date on which the tenure of the existing elected representatives expire. During the interim period, the notified the rural area will be taken up for up-gradation of infrastructure and services to provide all urban services on par with the adjacent urban areas. During the transition period, ward delimitation and other administrative measures will also be put in place so that from the effective date, the area will start functioning as a full-fledged urban area with all required urban infrastructure and services.
This policy provides for constitution of steering and implementation committees with top officials of the State Government including the Chief Secretary and experts driven from various domains viz. urban planning, finance, engineering, management, IT, etc. This will ensure convergence of Government schemes and inter departmental coordination for a smooth and seamless transition of the peri-urban and rurban areas into full-fledged urban areas.
The policy proposes to adopt a “Hub and Spoke” model with the State Urban Development Agency at the State Level and District Urban Development Agencies, Development Authorities at the city level serving as the Hub and Spokes respectively.
The policy will transform the urban landscapes like never before while effectively balancing the needs of both growth and sustainability.