Bhubaneswar, Dec, 27:The Odisha government has decided to launch the “Baraputra Heritage Village Scheme” to honor and preserve the memory of Odisha’s Baraputras (freedom fighters). The scheme will be implemented under the “Developed Village, Developed Odisha” initiative, with revised guidelines issued to ensure cleanliness and strengthen community participation. This important decision was taken during a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. In this meeting, ten proposals from seven departments were approved.
Under the proposal from the Department of Culture, the residences of Baraputras will be developed into museums. These will include lecture centers, libraries, conference halls, open-air auditoriums, and children’s parks, along with other facilities. Statues or memorials of the Baraputras will be installed. Four local livelihood centers will be established to promote and sell local delicacies, handicrafts, and handloom products. Various meetings, discussions, and cultural programs will be conducted highlighting the lives, ideals, and values of the Baraputras. In the first phase, 25 Baraputras’ names have been included in the project.
The Panchayati Raj Department submitted a proposal to ensure cleanliness and accountability in the project. According to this, all projects costing more than ₹10 lakh will be subject to a three-year liability period from the completion date, meaning the implementing agency will be responsible for any defects during this period. This rule will be enforced in the current financial year under the “Developed Village, Developed Odisha” program.
Approval of Water Resources Proposals
The cabinet also approved three important proposals from the Water Resources Department. ₹167.33 crore has been sanctioned for the Parvati Giri lift irrigation project, with an additional ₹13.38 crore for operation and maintenance over the next 15 years. Similarly, for four other lift irrigation projects, ₹176.87 crore has been approved for execution and ₹14.15 crore for maintenance, benefiting farmers in Jharsuguda district. Another proposal was approved for the Sadul Barrage project in Kalahandi district: ₹73 lakh for laying pipelines for irrigation over 5,000 hectares, with an additional ₹7.73 crore for operation and maintenance over the next five years.
Higher Education Appointments and ITI Upgradation
The cabinet approved a reservation policy for teacher appointments in state universities, covering positions of Professors, Associate Professors, and Assistant Professors. This will ensure SC, ST, OBC, and other reserved category candidates are represented.
Under the “Developed Village, Developed Odisha” scheme, Baraputra residences will serve as museums, promoting awareness of their values and legacy. A new monitoring system will be implemented to ensure accountability, and five government ITIs will receive zonal recognition within three years. Furthermore, proposals for upgrading five ITIs into Zonal ITIs were approved, which include ITIs in Puri, Balangir, Ambaguda (Koraput), Rajkanika (Kendrapara), and Raurkela.