Bhubaneswar: Lashing out at those opposing the state’s development journey during his visit to Kendrapara, 5T Chairman Kartik Pandian Monday said, “You can’t wake up a person who is pretending to be asleep.” Addressing a gathering near Baladevjew temple about the transformation the state is going through, the 5T Chairman said Odisha getting appreciated internationally for its disaster management skill is one of the examples of transformation. “However, a few (Opposition) can’t see the transformation. It’s easy to wake up a person who is sleeping. But hard to wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep,” Pandian said, adding, “Let them sleep.”
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s relentless effort for the welfare of all needs people’s cooperation, he said. “Kendrapara is Biju Babu’s workplace. Our CM loves the district a lot, and wants the district to get developed. Kendrapara is going to have world’s biggest investment. The district will get a massive facelift, with big-ticket companies like ArcelorMittal setting up factories here. Youths will get employment,” Pandian said. He added, “We have instructions from the CM to accept all demands from the district. All schools and colleges here will be transformed within two months.” The 5T Chairman informed the gathering about the state’s achievement in disaster management and CM’s ‘zero casualty’ policy. He also highlighted the state government’s efforts towards poverty alleviation and food security since 2007. He said the state government has been undertaking a host of initiatives towards empowering farmers and boosting agricultural output. “Now, Odisha is a food surplus state,” he said.
Odisha’s government has been taking revolutionary measures for developing sports. “The world is witness to it,” he said, adding that Odisha is now a revenue surplus state. Attracting foreign investment, providing piped water, facilities like Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, school and college transformation, and shrine and heritage site transformation are all steps towards a new and empowered Odisha, he said. The 5T Chairman reviewed various developmental projects and interacted with farmers and Mission Shakti SHG members in Kendrapara. Pandian announced the decision of the CM to provide Rs 3.03 crore towards the development of the Jagannath temple in Keradagada.