Odisha transforming at fast pace united by sense of empowerment: Naveen

Bhubaneswar, Jan 11: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday said the State is transforming at a fast pace united by a sense of empowerment.

The youth and the women of Odisha are out to serve society and ensure transformation, he said addressing the Mind Rocks programme organized by India Today magazine here.

Patnaik said the youth of Odisha are proving their mettle in skill, in sports, in entrepreneurship and in many diverse sectors.

The young Odisha is inspired, energised, bereft of any baggage or stigma and ready to go out to create new milestones for society and the Nation, he added.

Patnaik said in Odisha, more than 40 per cent of the  population belong to the age group of 15 to 25.

Nationally, half of Odisha’s youth are below the age of 25. So, these youngsters are the future of the Nation with immense potential to excel in any field of their own choice,” the Chief Minister said.

“But, whatever you do in life, your true identity, your true worth as a human being will be reflected when you stand up for your fellow brothers and sisters in society,” he said adding, “The commitment to bring change in society, the determination to transform lives around you must be a mark of your generation. We are born to serve society. We all are angels to make this beautiful world more beautiful with a continuous endeavour to make our world a better place to live.”

He cited three instances which he claimed may set the tone of the discussion and make the participants contemplate over the future course of action.

“About a week ago, two girls of Kendrapada district Purnima and Sabita risked their own lives, braving fearsome crocodiles in deep waters of the Mahanadi in a dark night to save many lives from a boat capsize and about six months ago in June last year Mamata Kadiami of Malkangiri district championed the cause of women when she directly told me about the special needs of women in health care; thus successfully enhancing the healthcare cost of women up to 7 lakh under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana,” he said and added, “Then there is another woman of Sundergarh district, Jayanti Ekka, a leading woman entrepreneur of a Self Help Group under Mission Shakti.”

He said everyone witnessed her grit, leadership and entrepreneurship ability during the Make in odisha in November.

She has been engaged in empowering hundreds of women in her areas, he said.

The Chief Minister said, “I believe, these instances signify the massive transformation that is happening across the State. These incidents signify courage, compassion, humanity, service, rights, empowerment and leadership.”

He said that is what will unite everyone with a common thread.