Odisha seeks more central help for calamity-affected people

Odisha's Panchayati Raj Minister Kalpatararu Das today urged the Centre to provide additional three lakh houses under the IAY and additional Rs 500 crore under the MNRGES for people affected by cyclone Phailin and resultant floods in the state.
Das made these the demands during his meetings with Union Panchyati Raj Minister V Kishore Deo and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh in New Delhi today, according to an official release here.
The minister also requested Deo to urgently release the arrears due to the state under the Backward Regions Grant Fund and Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sasaktikaran Abhiyan.
Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had written letters seeking additional Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) houses and additional funds of Rs 500 crore under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).