In Odisha, two government initiatives, Ama Odisha and Nabin Odisha, quietly work to improve the lives of its people. These programs, despite their simple approach, carry a huge impact. Ama Odisha, often known as “Ama Gaon, Ama Bikash,” focuses on rural communities, while Nabin Odisha, or “New Odisha” focuses on overall and holistic development.
This scheme was launched on 10th October 2023 by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. This approval came on a Monday, marking the scheme as one of the nine proposals that received the cabinet’s approval on that day. The plan was originally started in the districts of Keonjhar and Bhadrak. Later on, it was implemented in the districts of Puri, Nayagarh, Mayurbhanj, Bargarh, Deogarh, Cuttack, and Kendrapada.
Ama Odisha and Nabin Odisha Objective
The State government has allocated ₹148.50 crore for 297-gram panchayats in six Assembly constituencies in Keonjhar district, and ₹109 crore for 218-gram panchayats in Bhadrak district. Odisha has set aside 3,397 crores for the development of 6,794-gram panchayats around the state. This huge sum of money will be used for a gigantic 90,723 projects. Each panchayat is authorised to receive 50 lakh for various projects ranging in cost from 2.5 lakh to 10 lakh.
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Mr Patnaik expressed the importance of preserving the Jagannath culture in villages through the Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha program. The initiative aims to develop all temples and religious sites as important centres of culture and tradition for future generations.
The Odisha Chief Minister also highlighted the efforts being made to improve digital infrastructure in every village. This progress will result in the development of research parks, work hubs, banking facilities, and the inclusion of primary schools in the programme.
Political Debate Surrounding This Scheme
The scheme, made to help villages grow and celebrate Odisha’s culture, has turned into a hot topic among political groups. Several leaders from opposition parties like BJP, and Congress have questioned BJD about this scheme. One major point of disagreement is about a symbol – a conch shell – used in the scheme’s ads.
This symbol also represents the ruling party, and other political parties believe it’s wrong to use it in government ads. They say it’s like using government resources to promote the ruling party. This issue has made many people question the real intentions behind the scheme. MLA Mohan Majhi, a senior leader from BJP said that the symbol is being used to manipulate public opinion and he is going to challenge it in court.
Moreover, the scheme was announced just before the elections were about to happen. Opposition parties see this timing as a way for the ruling party to win people’s hearts and get their votes. They say it’s like telling people, “See, we are doing good work, now vote for us.” This has made the scheme look more like a political strategy rather than a genuine effort to help the villages.
Opposition parties claim that the guidelines are not being followed properly, creating doubts about the fairness of the scheme. Now, the Odisha government has to answer these legal challenges. So, what started as a plan to improve rural areas is now trapped in political and legal debates, making the future of the scheme uncertain.
Official Website: amaodisha-nabinodisha.odisha.gov.in