Naveen Patnaik, the chief minister of Odisha, presented a four-point charter of demands to the NITI Aayog on Thursday, underlining the importance of its fulfilment for the development of the state, according to officials.
They added that Patnaik requested in the charter, in addition to a special category status for Odisha, the extension of the railway network, banking options in rural communities, and telecommunication services in outlying regions.
During their visit to the state, the CM presented the demands to Dr. Vinod K. Paul and Vice-Chairman Suman Bery of the NITI Aayog.
Patnaik asserted that the state would provide extensive notes on the demands and claimed that Odisha had been gravely underserved in the fields of banking, telecommunications, and trains.
He cited Odisha’s frequent exposure to natural disasters like floods and cyclones as evidence for his demand for special treatment.
He explained to the NITI Aayog team that because disasters place a load on the state exchequer, it is important to have enough infrastructure in places that are more susceptible to economic loss.
On behalf of the think-thank, Bery promised the state administration that the appropriate actions would be taken.
The team also invited Patnaik to the upcoming seventh governing council meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi on August 7, the officials stated.
Earlier, while attending other functions and meetings, the NITI Aayog team assured the Odisha government that the state would be engaged in various developmental initiatives to take it forward on the path of growth, they added. PTI AAM RMS RMS
Prasanta Patnaik 
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