Rural areas facing difficulty : Odisha govt

Demonetisation has hit the rural populace in Odisha, its government told the central team here to review the scenario in the state post the announcement.
"The central team discussed the problems faced by the people in Odisha. We have told them that though situation has improved a little in towns, but the people in rural pockets continue to suffer," special secretary to the finance department A K Meena told reporters after the meeting.
The government requested the team, which deliberated on strategies to address problems faced by the people post- demonetisation, and RBI to supply more currency notes of lower denominations like Rs 100 and Rs 500.

Appreciating steps taken by the state government in handling the situation, the team assured that it would inform the Centre about the difficulties faced by it.
"The demonetisation has been welcomed by all though some difficulties exist. The state government has taken very good steps to remove these difficulties. Specially distribution of old age pension amounting to Rs 140 crore on November 15 is worth praising," said Suresh Kumar Vashisth, the joint secretary to the food and public distribution department.
The state government also suggested the Central team to ensure easy payments to farmers through cooperative societies and Primary Agriculture Committees during paddy procurement.

Besides Vasisth, Director of Urban Development Saurabh Jain, Reserve Bank of India officials, other bank officials and state government officials attended the meeting.
The central team leader Ashok Dalwai, who is the additional secretary in the union ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare, said it will visit Berhampur, Jajpur and other places to take stock of the situation.