Bhubaneswar, March 6 : Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said on Sunday that his father and legendary leader of Odisha Biju Patnaik had immense faith in the youth as he considered them a big asset to bring about a change in the socio-economic development of the State.
Biju Babu’s biggest asset was the youth society as he knew it very well that it can bring in a sea change in the socio-economic development of the state, said the Chief minister addressing a meeting at the Baramunda ground as part of the Panchayati Raj Day and the year-long birth Centenary celebration of legendary Biju Patnaik.
“He was truly a protagonist of the Odia race and culture,” Patnaik said adding, “Despite being at the helm of national politics, Biju Babu had always respected the trust of the poor people.”
“He had always fought for more powers to panchayats. He had championed the cause of the women and created opportunities to utilise their capacity and talent for the development of the country”, Patnaik said.
Paying glowing tributes to the legendary leader, the Chief minister said Biju Babu was like the mythological Bhagirath, who brought Ganga to the earth to save human civilisation, and successfully brought development to each village of the State.
Patnaik said Biju Babu was a symbol of Odisha’s progress and pride. “He was not a person, but an institution,” Patnaik said.
The visionary leader had immense faith In his work and always stayed away from publicity and it is the responsibility of every Odia to spread his ideology and moral values to all youths, students and women in each village to inspire them to work with courage and conviction, he said.
Inaugurating the 12th Entrepreneurs Week the Chief Minister announced setting up of 38,000 MSME units across the State.
“We would take a number of initiatives to mark the centenary year of Biju Babu. They are 10 food parks, 10 livelihood business incubators, 10 new village industries clusters, 5 food processing corridors, and 38,000 MSME units. I hope that these initiatives will vitalize the MSME sector,” said Patnaik.
He said the State government is aware of the importance of the MSME segment and has taken a number of initiatives to promote MSMEs through policy framework like MSME development policy 2009, Odisha Food processing policy 2013, Odisha Procurement Preference Policy 2015. The Odisha Industries Facilitation Amendment Rule 2015 has been notified to provide a conducive environment for industrialization.
Industrial Policy Resolution 2015 has also been launched with a plethora of incentives to attract investment, he said.
MSME Minister Jogendra Behera, who also spoke at the function, urged the youth to inculcate the spirit of entrepreneurship which will directly give a boost to the MSME sector for self-employment and income generation.
Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi deliberated on the need to find ways to fund start-ups in the state.
Meanwhile, glowing tributes were paid to legendary leader across Odisha on the occasion of his birth centenary.
The day began with floral tributes being paid by leaders of ruling Biju Janta Dal (BJD) at Biju Patnaik’s statue in the Assembly complex and party office.
A mini marathon was flagged off by the Sports and Youth Affairs minister Sudam Marandi on the occasion. Later, the winners of the mini marathon were awarded by the chief minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik.
An 18-feet tall statue of Biju Patnaik was unveiled at the Airport Square in Bhubaneswar on the occasion and a sand art exhibition inaugurated inside the lobby of the Bhubaneswar Airport named after the great leader.
Prime minister Narendra Modi paying tribute to Biju Babu tweeted, “Biju Babu was a man of the masses & a visionary who devoted his life to serving society. I pay my tributes to him on his birth anniversary.”
“All the young leaders who came in contact with late Biju Patnaik and seen the work done by him wish a person like him to walk the earth again,” said Health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak.
In Paradip, a mega function has been organised by Biju Memorial Trust headed by Cooperation and Excise Minister Damodar Rout to mark the occasion.
The proceedings kicked off with a floral tribute to the great leader’s statue at Atharabanki followed by an all-faith prayer meeting was organised.
In Cuttack floral tributes were offered at all the statues across the city on the occasion.
Reports of celebration of the Day came from almost every part of the State where tributes were paid to the visionary.
