Bhubaneswar: In an attempt to provide cancer care at the doorsteps of patients, the state Cabinet Friday approved a budget of Rs 1001.14 crore for expanding comprehensive cancer services across the state. Briefing about the Cabinet decision, Chief Secretary PK Jena said 11 comprehensive cancer care units will be set up within a period of two years. The cancer units will be set up at District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) Bargarh, VIMSAR, Burla, SLN Medical College & Hospital Koraput, MKCG Medical College & Hospital Berhampur, Saheed Rendo Majhi Medical College & Hospital Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi, BB Medical College & Hospital Bolangir, PRM Medical College & Hospital, Baripada, FM Medical College & Hospital, Balasore, Dharanidhar Medical College & Hospital, Keonjhar, Government Medical College & Hospital, Talcher and Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar.
Once the units start functioning, cancer patients need not have to travel far or outside the state to seek advanced cancer care. This will definitely reduce the out-of-pocket expenditure of the people suffering from cancer and their family members, he said. Under this package, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, histopathology, once-surgery, chemotherapy, and palliative care services will be strengthened, Jena said. Each facility will be added with 50 to 100 beds with operation theatres, ICUs, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and palliative care units and with the provision of future expansion when required. Posts for specialists, super-specialists, and technical staff will be created as regular cadres under the state government to provide uninterrupted services at these facilities, he said.
Similarly, the Cabinet has approved a provision of Rs 500 crore for five years (2023-24 to 2027-28) for implementation of the Price Support Scheme (PSS) by Odisha State Co-operative Marketing Federation Ltd. (MARKFEDOdisha) for procurement of oilseeds & pulses in the state on behalf of NAFED. The decision was taken with the objective to support more than 1,500 PACS, LAMPCS, FPOs, WSHGs, etc. reaching around 1 lakh farmers in the next five years to support the beneficiaries and prevent distress sales. As per the Cabinet decision, the Canal Lining and System Rehabilitation Programme (CLSRP), which was launched during 2013-14, will continue for another five years with an outlay of Rs 2,032.92 crore. The scheme has been renamed Mukhyamantri Canal Lining Yojana. The scheme has been extended to take up the ongoing 287.62 km of lining in major and medium irrigation projects and 24.58 km of canal lining work in minor irrigation projects and new lining works of 660.28 km of lining in major and medium irrigation projects and 295.34 km of canal lining work in minor irrigation projects. The government has extended the deadline for One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme of arrear water rates dues of central and state units/organisations and private industrial, commercial, and other establishments. The last date for receipt of such applications is extended up to September 30, 2023 and the last date for settlement of such applications under OTS scheme is now extended up to March 31, 2024.