Bhubaneswar: The state government handed over a memorandum to the Union ministerial delegation led by Mr Sharad Pawar detailing the development plans for strife-hit Kandhamal district.
As ST constitutes about 52 per cent of the district, it was proposed to have one Ekalabya Model Residential School (EMRS) in each block to cater to the needs of ST children. As at present there is one EMRS in K Nuagaon block, the remaining 11 blocks may be sanctioned with one EMRS each, the memorandum suggested.
This apart, at least six SC hostels (one each for two blocks) may be approved by the Union government to cater to the needs of SC children, who comprises of 17 per cent of the total population, the state government demanded while suggesting that the Orissa campus of the National Tribal University, Amrkantak may be located in Phulbani.
Talking about connectivity, the memorandum suggests making the entire 97-km stretch of NH-217 a double-lane. The main road from Madhapur (Boudh district) to Phulbani to Baliguda to Kotagarh to Muniguda (in Rayagada district) may be declared as a National Highway, was suggested. The memorandum also recommends for an amendment in present PMGSY norms.
On matters of livelihood, the memorandum urges upon the Union government that a research station of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) may be set up to study and find the solutions to the problems pertaining to cultivation of spices like turmeric, ginger and oil seeds.
It was further suggested that the Spice Board of India may set up a branch to provide market intelligence and also to market the spices produced in the district.
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