BJP's manifesto is 'holy scripture' for me, says Majhi as his government completes 100 days in office – The Week

Puri, Sept 19 (PTI) – As the first BJP government in Odisha celebrates its 100th day in office on Thursday, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the party's election manifesto was a “holy scripture” for him and his government had fulfilled the promises made to the people.
Majhi, a tribal leader from Keonjhar district and four-time MP, took office on June 12 after the BJP dethroned the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD after 24 years.
Addressing a large crowd, Majhi sharply criticized the previous BJD government, claiming that the people of Odisha rejected the party in the election because it was “anti-people and arrogant”.
“They (BJD) have also indulged in the heinous act of misusing Lord Jagannath's name for petty political purposes,” the Prime Minister said, without giving further details.
The last election proved that the population does not tolerate any government and perceives distance from it and its problems, he said.
“Our party was elected with the blessings and support of the people. During the election campaign, our leaders promised to do some things. In the last 100 days, we have accomplished many such tasks. Our manifesto is a holy scripture for me,” said Majhi.
The first BJP chief minister of Odisha state said he had listened to the problems of the people by convening regular grievance meetings and raising a large number of issues.
Although such meetings are currently being held in the state capital Bhubaneswar, the government plans to hold such meetings in different regions of the state, Majhi said.
“We also do not need a certificate from a private organisation to promote the government. It is the people who will give the certificate to the BJP government,” he said.
Commenting on the achievements of his government during the last 100 days, Majhi said that in the first cabinet meeting, it was decided to open all four gates of Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri and reopen the Ratna Bhandar (treasury).
“These two promises were immediately fulfilled. The state government has also set up a Rs 500 crore fund for the Shree Jagannath Temple,” he said, adding that another Rs 200 crore fund has been set up to maintain Odia pride (asmita), swabhiman (self-esteem) and language.
Apart from this, Majhi said, the state government, as promised in the election manifesto, has already made arrangements to provide Rs 3,100 per quintal of rice as minimum donation.
The government has provided a budgetary subsidy of Rs 5,000 crore for this purpose and farmers will receive the amount through their sale of paddy. The state has also introduced the CM Kissan scheme for farmers who will get financial assistance besides the PM Samman Nidhi scheme.
The Prime Minister said his government had also launched the “largest women-centric programme ever”, Subhadra, under which each beneficiary would receive Rs 50,000 over a period of five years.
“This is aid, not a loan. The women do not have to pay back the money, but can use it to support themselves,” he said.
Accusing the previous BJD regime of denying health benefits to the people of Odisha due to its “ego”, Majhi said his government was ready to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme to enable people to avail free treatment at 27,000 hospitals in and outside the state.