After it was recently hit by cyclone Fani, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has in his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged for the states hit by major disasters to be declared as ‘Special Focus States’ and to be accorded with benefits of the special category status for a specified period.
Patnaik justified his demands for Odisha by citing the unique geo-climatic conditions of the state, which make it vulnerable to multiple and frequent natural disasters.
From 1900 to 2019, Odisha has experienced one or the other disaster like flood, cyclone or drought every year.
“Odisha has been affected by about 35 per cent of all the cyclonic and severe cyclonic storms that have crossed the eastern coast of India,” Patnaik said while urging the prime minister to include natural calamity as an indicator to accord special category status to Odisha.
This will supplement the state’s efforts for inclusive growth and development, he said adding the state should be provided central assistance on 90:10 sharing pattern for centrally sponsored schemes.