Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday launched land rights to slum dwellers in five Municipal Corporations of the State by flagging off drone survey.
Attending a special program organized at the KIIT Convention Hall here, the Chief Minister flagged off the drone survey to give land rights to slum dwellers in five Municipal Corporations. Tata Steel Foundation will provide technical support for this.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Tata Steel Foundation and Jaga Mission for this program in the presence of the Chief Minister.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister inaugurated 707 Biju Adarsh Colonies in 33 urban areas of the State and announced that Hinjilikatu and Digapahandi have got a new status of being totally slum-free cities from today.
Expressing that it is a matter of great happiness for him, the Chief Minister said that Biju Adarsh Colonies are being established by providing basic facilities to the slum areas along with land rights.
The Chief Minister announced that by December 2023, all the slums in the state will be converted into model colonies and the entire state will be slum-free.
The Chief Minister said that Jaga Mission program has gained worldwide reputation. The Government of India has also awarded this innovative idea. The focus of this mission is People first.
Till date, 1 lakh 70 thousand families of slum areas in 105 cities of the State have been given land rights under Jaga Mission. He announced that land rights will be given to two and a half lakh slum families of the state by December 2023.
Having a place and a home of own increase sense of self. He said that this campaign will bring transformation in the lives of the poor people of the city.
Describing the Jaga Mission as a spiritual journey, which started in 2017, the Chief Minister said that this journey has brought much success and satisfaction so far.
Stating that Slum Development Associations have an important role in the development of slums, the Chief Minister said that these associations have been recognized and the opportunity to be partners in the development and governance system.
The associations will manage the Biju Adarsh Colonies. The Chief Minister said that provision has been made to provide 25 percent of the municipal budget to these associations for the development of infrastructure in the slums.
The Chief Minister said that the State government has started a pilot program to identify the causes of slums and prevent them so that the cities remain slum-free.
In the end, the Chief Minister said that the poor people of the country have an equal right to the benefits of development and growth. The Chief Minister said that his government can’t sit quietly until the poor get social and economic justice.
The Chief Minister said that the slum development program will play an important role in providing equal rights and justice to the urban poor. The spiritual journey will continue to play its role in bringing lasting happiness to the lives of 17 lakh slum-dwellers of the state.
Housing & Urban Development Minister Usha Devi participated in the program and praised the vision of the Chief Minister for the development of the cities of the state, especially the slums. She said that such an initiative is unique in the whole country.
Principal Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Department, G. Mathi Vathanan, delivered the welcome speech and Jaga Mission Director Sangramjit Nayak proposed vote of thanks. Ministers, MPs, MLAs, Mayors and Municipal Council Chairpersons of various urban areas were present in the program.
