(Reopens CES7)

Stating that the government was providing food security to the poor and vulnerable, the governor said rice was being provided at Rs one per kg to 36.90 lakh BPL families, 12.52 lakh Antodaya Anna Yojana families and 5.35 lakh APL families of 8 KBK districts. Stating that the government had taken several proactive initiatives to create a vibrant industrial sector, he said development of nine SEZs were approved by the Centre for Odisha of which five projects were notified. He said that the Angul-Chhendipada Rail Corridor would be developed at an investment of Rs 6,000 crore with infrastructure such as railway tracks. On the welfare of women, the governor said that 'Protection Officers' were appointed at the district level to address the issues of domestic violence under Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. Support centres for women were functioning in six districts -- Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak and Cuttack with the help of Oxfam India to prevent and counter crimes against women, he said. On the Maoist menace, Bhandare said there was progressive improvement on the front during 2012 with the death of 10 Maoists, arrest of 167 and surrender of 35. Besides, 83 firearms, 125 landmines and IEDs and a huge quantity of explosives and ammunition were recovered, he said. Due to the sustained anti-Maoist action, no violence was reported from Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Mayurbhanj and Sambalpur districts last year, Bhandare added.