Odisha: Naveen Patnaik, the chief minister of Odisha, announced a Rs 960 crore package for the needy, a day after announcing a Rs 1,444 crore house repair package for 30 lakh people ahead of panchayat elections.

Naveen announced a Rs 1,000 livelihood support for Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) cardholders and ration cardholders in Odisha, saying the help was intended to ease people's financial stress during the pandemic.

In Odisha, beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS) would receive financial assistance. The state government would allocate Rs 960 crore for this purpose, and the scheme will help roughly 96 lakh families. According to a press statement released by the chief minister's office, the chief minister has asked staff to deposit the funds straight into beneficiary accounts within seven days.

On Wednesday evening, Naveen spoke with women from Mission Shakti, a non-profit organisation that supports women's self-help groups (SHGs) across the state, and announced a series of programmes aimed at empowering women. He also promised a Rs 200 crore e-transfer for interest subsidy for women's cooperatives.

In Bhubaneswar, the chief minister lay the foundation stone for Mission Shakti Bazar, a marketplace for women SHG members to sell their wares. Members of women SHGs would also operate as bank correspondents in places where there are no banks, according to Naveen.

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