image credits: Naveen Patnaik
Naveen Patnaik, born on October 16, 1946, in Cuttack, reshaped Odisha as the president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Chief Minister from March 5, 2000, to June 12, 2024. His 24-year tenure reduced Odisha’s poverty rate from 70% in 2000 to 10% by 2024, per NITI Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index. The KALIA scheme, launched in 2018, supported 75 lakh farmers with ₹12,500 crore in financial aid by 2023, boosting agricultural incomes. Odisha’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) grew from ₹77,000 crore in 2000-01 to ₹7.7 lakh crore in 2022-23, achieving a 7% annual growth rate from 2018 to 2023. Patnaik’s policies attracted ₹2.38 lakh crore in investments between 2019 and 2023, establishing Bhubaneswar as an IT hub with companies like Infosys and TCS expanding operations.
Women and Tribal Empowerment in Naveen’s Tenure
Patnaik’s commitment to social equity uplifted marginalized groups. The Mission Shakti program, launched in 2001, empowered 70 lakh women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), contributing ₹1.5 lakh crore to the economy by 2023. It provided interest-free loans up to ₹10 lakh, benefiting 6 lakh SHGs and enabling women to lead 38% of Odisha’s gram panchayats by 2020. The Special Development Council (SDC), established in 2017, served 1.17 crore tribal people (22.85% of Odisha’s population, 2011 Census) across 117 blocks. By 2023, the SDC preserved 7,000 sacred tribal groves and allocated ₹500 crore for cultural and economic projects, supporting Odisha’s 62 tribal communities.
Naveen Patnaik’s Role in Promoting Odia Culture
Before politics, Patnaik authored books like A Second Paradise (1985). As Chief Minister, he promoted 64 traditional art forms, including Odissi dance and Pattachitra painting, employing over 2 lakh artisans. The Odisha State Film Policy 2016 revitalized the Odia film industry, leading to 300 films produced annually by 2023. Patnaik’s ₹800-crore ABADHA scheme, launched in 2014, upgraded Puri’s Jagannath Temple infrastructure, benefiting 1.5 crore annual pilgrims by 2023. The Ekamra Utsav, launched in 2023, celebrated Bhubaneswar’s 2,000-year-old heritage, drawing 5 lakh visitors in its inaugural year.
Naveen’s achievement in Disaster Management
Patnaik’s tenure set global standards in disaster management. During Cyclone Fani in 2019, his administration evacuated 1.2 million people in 72 hours, limiting deaths to 64 despite winds of 200 km/h. The Odisha Disaster Management Authority, strengthened under Patnaik, earned UN recognition in 2019. In healthcare, the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, launched in 2018, provided free treatment to 4 crore people by 2023. With ₹5 lakh annual coverage per family, it reduced out-of-pocket healthcare costs by 40% by 2022.
Patnaik’s leadership transformed Odisha into a cultural and industrial powerhouse. His government’s promotion of hockey, including hosting the 2018 and 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cups, established Odisha as India’s hockey hub. The state’s sponsorship of the national team since 2018 and the ₹120-crore Kalinga Stadium upgrade supported 15,000 spectators per event. As Odisha’s longest-serving Chief Minister, Patnaik’s legacy of inclusive growth, cultural preservation, and effective governance has shaped the state.
