Chit fund scam, natural calamities hit Odisha in 2013

Overcoming challenges like chit fund scam and other controversies that rocked Odisha in 2013, the ruling BJD swept the civic bodies polls to remain buoyant ahead of the Assembly elections due in the New Year.
Odisha saw soaring crimes against women, growing Maoist activities, sluggish industrial activities, non-implementation of mega projects, shrinking farm sector and natural calamities.
Chit fund scam kept the Naveen government under attack for most part of the year. It was accused of being hand in gloves with different ponzi companies which looted poor investors. Congress demanded a CBI probe saying Crime Branch of Police was incapable of handling the issue as several companies were registered under Multi-State Cooperative Society rules".

The state government rejected the demand, saying actions were taken against 159 ponzi companies and 425 cases registered against them, while Crime Branch had filed charge sheet in 236 out of total 425 cases. It also said police arrested 640 people, including heads and chairman-cum managing directors, directors of different ponzi companies.
As the government was grappling with the issue, mining, coal, land and a host of other scams, the state was hit by a very severe cyclone Phailin on October 12 and the resultant heavy rains that triggered devastating floods in vast areas.
The twin calamities claimed about 45 lives. Around 11.54 lakh people were evacuated for the disasters which affected over 1.32 crore people in 18,374 villages spread over 17 of the state's 30 districts.

The state government sought a financial assistance of Rs 4,242.41 crore from the Centre towards repair and restoration works. The centre announced Rs 1,000 crore as interim assistance.