Droupadi Murmu set to become first President to address Odisha Assembly
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Droupadi Murmu is set to script history on Thursday by becoming the first President to address the Odisha assembly during her two-day visit to the state, officials said.
Murmu is scheduled to address members of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm, Speaker Surama Padhy said.
The President hails from Odisha, and is a former member of the assembly.
Murmu will arrive at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here at 2 pm and reach the Raj Bhavan at 2.20 pm to inaugurate the Kalinga Atithi Nivas, the officials said.
She was elected to the Odisha assembly from the Rairangpur seat in Mayurbhanj district twice – 2000 and 2004.
Padhy said Murmu will be the first President to visit and address the Odisha Assembly.
Murmu was also a minister in the BJD-BJP coalition government in Odisha.
The President will also visit room number 11, the chamber in the assembly from where she functioned as a minister.
She served as an MoS with independent charge for Commerce and Transportation from March 6, 2000 to August 6, 2002, and Fisheries and Animal Resources Development from August 6, 2002 to May 16, 2004.
The chamber has been renovated ahead of her visit, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling said.
In 2007, Murmu had received the ‘Nilkanth Award’ for the Best MLA of the Odisha assembly.
Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, MPs from the state and eminent personalities are also scheduled to attend the proceedings when the President addresses the assembly.
Keeping in view the President's visit, the Odisha government has made elaborate security arrangements in Bhubaneswar, including in and around the assembly, the officials said.
The Winter Session of the assembly will begin on Friday and is scheduled to continue till December 31.
Murmu will leave for Uttar Pradesh on November 28.
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Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah launches new e-Khata scheme
Belagavi: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday launched the ‘e-Khata – now from the comfort of your home’ scheme, which will allow people to access khata-related services online without visiting government offices, The New Indian Express reported.
The launch took place at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, appointment orders were distributed to pourakarmikas, house ownership documents were handed over to beneficiaries, and an e-Khata handbook was released. The programme was organised by the Directorate of Municipal Administration and the Belagavi City Corporation.
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Urban Development and Town Planning Minister Byrathi Suresh said over 6,000 urban civic workers, including pourakarmikas and sanitation staff, are being provided houses under the Gruha Bhagya scheme. He reportedly said 6,119 workers have been identified as beneficiaries, and the government has already released Rs 326 crore for the project.
As per the report, so far, construction of 4,159 houses has been completed. In addition, approvals have been issued for 172 houses in Belagavi and 133 in Vijayapura. The event was attended by several ministers, MLAs and senior officials.
