By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneshwar, July 04, 2019: The Central government has not accorded the status of special category state to Odisha as the Fourteenth Finance Commission does not make any distinction between special and general category states, said union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Nityanad Ray.

“The Fourteenth Finance Commission has made no distinction between special and general category states, and the status of special category states doesn’t exist today,” Rai’s said in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday responding to a question by Rajya Sabha member and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader from Odisha, Prasanna Acharya.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had earlier requested PM Modi to accord special category status to Odisha in the state, at the fifth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog on June 15.

Rai’s answer also elaborated the total assistance provided to help the state recover from the devastation caused by Cyclone Fani.

“In order to support the people of Odisha affected by Cyclone Fani, the Central Government had released in advance an assistance of Rs 340.875 crores from SDRF on April 29. Further, in pursuance to the visit made by Prime Minister to Odisha after the cyclone, Central Government had released an government cyclone Fani additional financial assistance of Rs. 1,000 crore to Government of Odisha on May 7,” the reply stated.

It also mentioned about the visit by the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) between May 12-15 to the state for the assessment of damages. The Center was waiting for the report by the IMCT following which it would provide further financial assistance and also take into consideration the assistance sought by the state government from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), the minister added in his reply. .

Odisha has submitted a memorandum seeking an assistance of Rs 5227.68 crore from NDRF.