Naveen meets PM Modi, roots for 'special category' status for Odisha again

Odisha's topography makes its coastline vulnerable to recurring natural disasters

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, once again raised the demand for according special category status to the state.

To shore up his demand, Patnaik said that 'natural calamity' should be a criterion for award of special category tag to states. “This will supplement state’s efforts for inclusive growth and development. The state should be provided Central assistance on 90:10 sharing pattern for Centrally sponsored schemes. He suggested that pending consideration of this request, the states hit by major calamities may be declared as ‘Special Focus States’ and granted benefits of a