Naveen Patnaik Government gets into poll mode

BHUBANESWAR: With the panchayat polls drawing closer, the scheme-launching spree of the Naveen Patnaik Government continues. Besides, the Chief Minister has also started his district tours to gauge the pulse of the voters. The Government will launch the Janani Sishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) on Tuesday for pregnant women and newborn babies. A Central Government initiative, the scheme was launched by National Advisory Council (NAC) chairperson Sonia Gandhi on June 1. This will be again launched in the State by Health Minister Prasanna Acharya.The Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has strongly reacted to the scheduled launching of the JSSK scheme. Launching of schemes has become the one- point programme of Naveen Patnaik now-a-days in view of the panchayat polls, party general secretary Arya Kumar Gyanendra said.Even though the scheme was the initiative of UPA-II, as the executing authority in Orissa, the State Government will corner all the credit, he said. This is why the State Congress has decided to start padayatra from November 14 to 19 to make the people aware that the schemes launched by Naveen are actually of the Centre, he added.This is the third programme to be launched within the last one month by the State Government for the benefit of women. Naveen has already launched ‘Mamata’ scheme for the benefit of pregnant women and newborn babies to be implemented from State resources. He launched the bicycle scheme for schoolgirls on Saturday at Parlakhemundi in Gajapati district.Opposition leaders say that the schemes will definitely have its impact on the panchayat polls. The schemes will mainly influence the women voters who are key to the performance of a political party in any election.Meanwhile, the Congress has decided to convene the extended executive body meeting of the party to find a way out of the situation. Presidents of 314 block committees, OPCC members and the State office-bearers have been invited to the meeting.Besides, an orientation camp of the block presidents and panchayat-level leaders will be conducted on schemes launched by UPA-II.