BHUBANESHWAR: In accordance with the state's flagship programme MUKTA for the 2023–24 fiscal year, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved Rs 183.81 crore for 42 urban local bodies (ULBs) scattered over 10 districts of the Southern Revenue Division on Monday.

The districts include Gajapati, Ganjam,Nuapada, Koraput, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal and Boudh.

localThe Mukhyamantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyan Yojana's (MUKTA) main goal is to lower unemployment. The programme, which Patnaik introduced in 2020, offers migrant workers and the urban poor employment options.

The 42 ULBs have created ward-level workable annual action plans under MUKTA, according to the CMO, through a participatory process engaging local residents and other stakeholders.

These initiatives will be carried out directly by Mission Shakti Groups as the implementing agency and are demand-driven, technically possible, and environmentally sustainable.

The MUKTA-approved Basket of Projects includes climate-resilient work such as the construction of multipurpose community centres, wall painting, open-air gyms, child play areas, playgrounds, walking tracks, vending zones, and other labor-intensive projects. It also includes the development of open spaces and water bodies.

Around 50 ULBs in the Central Revenue Division's Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Khordha, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh, and Puri districts were covered in the first phase.

An official stated that the remaining 10 districts in the Northern Revenue Division's 36 ULBs will be covered in the third phase.

The MUKTA (Mission for Universal Knowledge and Total Awareness) scheme introduced by the Odisha government aims to provide comprehensive access to education and information for all citizens of the state. The scheme focuses on bridging the digital divide by establishing digital libraries and learning centers equipped with computers, internet connectivity, and educational resources in rural and remote areas. Through MUKTA, the government envisions empowering individuals with essential knowledge and skills, fostering digital literacy, and promoting inclusive development across Odisha, ultimately enabling citizens to thrive in the digital age.

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