Odisha CM celebrates Diwali with orphans

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday celebrated Diwali with orphans at a Centre run by an NGO here and greeted the people on the occasion.

The chief minister visited SOS Children's Village and celebrated the festival of lights with the inmates.

Patnaik also announced Rs 20 lakh for the NGO, a statement from his office said.

He advised the Chief Secretary, Development Commissioner, Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) and officers in the CMO to visit childcare institutions and celebrate the festival of lights with children, it said.

Sources said the whole exercise is aimed at imparting a human face to governance and seeks to bring about transformation with a focus on 5Ts (Transparency, Technology, Teamwork, Transformation and Time).

Similarly, the director-general of police and all senior police officers including superintendents of police (SPs) have been advised to spend time in battalions and celebrate Diwali with jawans and their family members on the day, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

All collectors were also asked to visit childcare institutions in their respective districts on the occasion.

Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy and other senior officers celebrated Diwali with the inmates of Chetna, a special home for children in the state capital.

Similarly, DGP BK Sharma visited the reserve police line here and celebrated the festival of lights with the family members and children of police personnel.

Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi visited children home in Cuttack and distributed sweets to the inmates on the occasion, sources said.

Patnaik said all should celebrate the festival of lights with joy and share the happiness with helpless people.

In a message on the occasion, he also urged people to work with determination to illuminate the lives of all with the light of development and take Odisha's pride and glory to a new height.