Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 11 (ANI): Next year the 28th Eastern Zonal Council meeting will be held in Odisha's Puri, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said.

Majhi who returned to Bhubaneswar after attending the 27th Eastern Zonal Council meeting held in Ranchi on Thursday said this in a statement to mediapersons at the airport.

The Chief Minister said that he had proposed to hold this meeting in Odisha next year and this was accepted by Union Minister Amit Shah and all other members. It was announced in the meeting that it will be held in Puri.

The Chief Minister said that the 27th Eastern Zonal Council meeting covered Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha had successfully concluded.

In particular, discussions were held on how to accelerate the social and economic development of the region and how to reach the unreached areas with the schemes. The role of all these states is important in fulfilling the goals of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's developed India. The meeting focused on various successful schemes and programs to achieve the goals of developed India for the betterment of every section of society.

The Chief Minister said that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah has emphasised the need to completely eliminate Naxal activities from the country by March 31, 2026, and various ways to solve the Naxal problem were also discussed in this meeting. So far, considerable success has been achieved in this regard. The meeting thanked the Union Minister for the focused steps he is taking to solve this problem.

The meeting also focused on ensuring that the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat scheme reach everyone (Saturation Stage) and that all beneficiaries get their benefits.

He said that he also briefed the meeting about the success of various schemes of Odisha. Information was given on various programs such as women empowerment, success of Shri Anna Yojana, success of Ayushman Bharat Yojana, etc.

Chief Minister Majhi said that there is a need for further improvement in the banking services sector in Odisha. Banking services have not reached many areas. Therefore, he said that he has proposed in the meeting to take appropriate steps to provide banking services to more areas of Odisha.

Deputy Chief Minister Parvathi Parida and Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling also attended the meeting.

Many MLAs were present at the airport and gave the Chief Minister a grand welcome after he returned from Ranchi. (ANI)