Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said Thursday the benefits of development must reach the people in both urban and rural areas to achieve inclusive growth.
Odisha has more than 50,000 villages and over 100 small and big towns and their overall development is important, the chief minister said after unfurling the national flag at the state level Independence Day function at the Mahatma Gandhi Marg here.
The development of infrastructur, agriculture and allied sectors in the state are essential, Patnaik said.
The development and welfare of the people including farmers, workers, women, physically challenged, poor, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and students was required for achieving inclusive growth, he added.