Naveen Patnaik, the chief minister of Odisha, has received the Capital Foundation’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” in honour of his remarkable leadership abilities.
In the presence of Justice NV Ramana, a former Chief Justice of India, he received the honour. The India International Centre in New Delhi hosted the award presentation.
Speaking at the event, Shri Naveen Patnaik said, “Capital Foundation over the years has evolved and established itself as an important space for open debate, and discussions on various areas of public policy, democratic governance and reforms in various sectors that impact policymakers. For more than three decades now the Foundation has provided a platform for various opinion makers to voice their views freely thus contributing to overall governance. I feel honoured that I have been chosen for the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Capital Foundation.”
Thanking the people of Odisha, the Chief Minister said, “I would like to thank the Foundation for recognizing and appreciating the good work happening in various sectors. I dedicate this award to the 4.5 crore people of Odisha who have been continuously blessing me to serve them for the past 22 years. The faith they have in me is the biggest inspiration to work towards an empowered Odisha.”
“Odisha has come a long way in the last 22 years. After the supercyclone of 1999 who would have thought that Odisha will set global benchmarks in disaster management and get awarded by the United Nations. Odisha, once known for ‘poverty’, is now known for the fastest “poverty reduction” in our country,” added Shri Patnaik.
Speaking about the development in the coastal state, the CM said, “Our Governance model rooted in the empowerment of women Misson Sakti is something which we are truly proud of. Similarly, empowerment of tribal communities has always been close to my heart and Odisha leads the country in providing land rights under the Forest Dwellers Act.”
“More than half a million tribal girls study in our hostels. Farmers have always been the backbone of our state and their hard work has fetched the state the Krishi Karman award four times. Odisha is the only state to have doubled farmers’ incomes,” CM added.
He claims that Odisha produces the most steel and aluminium in the nation. “Over the past 20 years, Odisha has virtually ten-folded its steel production and has aided the nation through the COVID crisis. During the pandemic, Odisha provided 17 states with oxygen that saved lives. Odisha draws the most investment nationwide in the manufacturing sector, according to Patnaik.
The Hockey World Cup will be held twice in Odisha, which has also established high-performance facilities for a number other sports.
“Odisha, India’s sports mecca, has set the bar high for other states to match. The country, not just Odisha, takes pride in the brand “Skilled in Odisha,” said the state chief minister.
“Odisha, the sports capital of India has set standards for other states to follow. Skilled in Odisha is a brand which not just Odisha but the country is proud of,”The CM of Odisha boasted.
Prasanta Patnaik