Odisha Deepens Welfare Outreach in Kotia, Signals Diminishing Andhra Presence

Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari on Monday said that Andhra Pradesh's influence in the disputed region has been waning, attributing the shift to the effective implementation of Odisha’s welfare schemes.

“Several key initiatives, including ration distribution and the Subhadra Yojana, are now operational in Kotia. The people are actively engaging with Odisha’s programmes, and our administrative reach is strengthening,” Pujari told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

A multi-departmental push is now underway, with senior officials and ministers slated to visit the area in the coming days. Pujari confirmed that the Minister for food supplies and consumer welfare will soon travel to Kotia to distribute newly issued ration cards, for which registration has already been completed.

Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida is also expected to visit the region to oversee the rollout of the Subhadra Yojana, a flagship financial support scheme for women. Simultaneous district-level welfare camps are being planned to ensure maximum coverage and assess ground-level needs.

Pujari further disclosed that recent attempts by officials from Andhra Pradesh to assert presence in a few villages of neighbouring Gajapati district were met with community resistance. “People are increasingly identifying with Odisha’s administration and rejecting external interventions,” he said.

To bolster the state’s hold on the region, the government is in the process of setting up a permanent police outpost in Kotia. The move is aimed at improving law enforcement and monitoring cross-border activity.

Looking ahead, the state is drafting proposals for long-term human development in the area, including a scholarship scheme for meritorious students from Kotia. The initiative seeks to foster education while reinforcing the community’s integration into Odisha’s socio-administrative framework.