Odisha Cabinet Approves 10 Proposals 

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday approved 10 major proposals of the nine departments.

The State Cabinet has approved a proposal of the School and Mass Education Department for upgradation and strengthening of one government-run primary school as model school in one gram panchayat under the Godavarlsh Mishra Adarsha Prathamik Vidyalaya (GMAPV) Scheme. A total of 6794 primary schools will be upgraded as model schools under the scheme. The state government will spend Rs 11939.41 crore over five years from 2024-25 to 2028-29. These model Schools will act as feeder Schools for Smart High Schools.

The cabinet has also approved a new scheme to strengthen the cold storage chain in the state. The scheme “Financial Assistance to Cold Storages” is introduced with the objective of strengthening cold storage facilities and infrastructure, to establish at least one cold storage in each of the 58 sub-divisions of the state to encourage private entrepreneurs to set up Cold storages in hitherto uncovered and economically feasible locations, to enhance income of farmers by providing better market opportunities, value-addition and processing of agriculture, horticulture and allied sector commodities, to address post-harvest losses, and to prevent distress sale of harvested crops.

The Cabinet has approved a customized incentive package for RIR Power Electronics Limited (RIR) to establish India’s first Silicon Carbide (SiC) semiconductor manufacturing facility in Bhubaneswar with a total investment of Rs 618.60 crore and the project will be implemented in two phases.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the manufacturing facility was held on 7th September 2024 at the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) Park in Info Valley, Bhubaneswar. The facility will focus on SIC-based devices, catering to electric vehicles (EV5), renewable energy, railways and defence and is expected to create 750 jobs. This will be India’s first compound semiconductor fab, significantly enhancing domestic manufacturing capabilities with high-value processes like epitaxial layer deposition and packaging.

The cabinet approved the “Bikashita Gaon Bikashita Odisha” (BGBO) scheme for rural Odisha. The outlay of BGBO is ₹5000 Crore. In 2024-25, Rs 1000 crore has been sanctioned.

The Cabinet also approved the proposal to amend Odisha Universities Act, of 1989.