By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 5, 2018: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday launched “Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas (our village, our development) programme for the rural people in the state to mark the Panchayati Raj Divas and sanctioned development projects worth Rs 2 crore.

As part of the programme, Patnaik will be interacting with the panchayat representatives and common people twice a week through video conferencing, officials said adding that it would strengthen panchayatiraj system in Odisha.

“We have initiated a new programme called Ama Gaon, Ama Bikas to hear the demands and address the grievances of people. I will be directly speaking to the people twice a week. Today, I sanctioned the projects worth Rs 2 crore for the development of four panchayats,” Patnaik told reporters after the meeting.

Naveen also held an online meeting with the people of Sambalpur, Ganjam, Koraput and Jajpur districts and assured them to look into their grievances, Panchayati Raj Minister Pradeep Maharathy said.

The village heads of the four gram panchayats aired their grievances in the presence of respective collectors, the minister said.

The state observes Panchayati Raj Divas on March 5 every year to mark the birth anniversary of legendary leader and Naveen’s father, Biju Patnaik

“On Panchayatiraj Divas and Biju Babu’s birth anniversary, we have initiated the new programme”, Patnaik said.

Through the programme, the government will directly talk to the panchayat representatives and public. The Chief Minister will have direct interaction with various panchayats every week and will sanction the projects proposed by the public, said a press release.

The government will sanction the projects worth between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh from its funds. The programme will encourage people’s participation in development of panchayats apart from connecting the top level of administration directly with the villages.

Patnaik on Saturday flagged off mobile video vans for ‘Ama Gaon Ama Vikas’ programme that is on the move across the State to highlight various welfare schemes of the State government at villages.

Through these Wi-Fi enabled vans, people can directly air their grievances to the Chief Minister’s Office through at the State Secretariat in the capital city.