1. Bill Gates, along with state officials, visited a slum area in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
2. During the visit, Gates interacted with residents and inquired about their well-being.
3. He also asked about the impact of welfare schemes on their lives and the changes they have experienced.
Bhubaneswar, Feb 28: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates made a notable visit to a slum area in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, accompanied by state government officials. During his visit, he engaged with the residents and inquired about their well-being and the impact of welfare schemes on their lives.
Gates visited the Biju Adarsh Colony in the Maa Mangla Basti, where he interacted with the slum dwellers and members of women’s self-help groups (SHGs) operating in the area.
State Development Commissioner Anu Garg showcased the amenities provided to the residents, including land rights, access to tap water, sanitation facilities, and electricity.
Pleasure meeting @Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Mr @BillGates. Had a wonderful discussion on our technology driven farmer empowerment initiatives, several welfare initiatives like #JagaMission, #MissionShakti, #OdishaSchoolTransformation, #BSKY and healthcare… pic.twitter.com/1XLSJYZzDj
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) February 28, 2024
Expressing satisfaction over the transformation of the slum area into a model colony, Gates inquired about the changes in the residents’ lifestyle due to the implementation of various welfare schemes.
He was keen on understanding their living conditions before and after the introduction of these initiatives.
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Later in the day, Gates met with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to discuss further collaborations and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the people in the region.
As part of his trip, Gates also participated in other events such as the ‘Mukta’ scheme, which focuses on providing employment opportunities for the urban poor, and ‘Mission Shakti’.
Additionally, Gates visited Microsoft’s India Development Center (IDC) in Hyderabad, where he addressed a gathering of bright engineering minds. Rajiv Kumar, Managing Director of Microsoft IDC, highlighted Gates’ optimism regarding the potential for an AI-powered India.
Since 2017, the Odisha government has been collaborating with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to drive innovation in data-driven decision-making, particularly in the Department of Agriculture & Farmer Empowerment and the Fisheries and Animal Resource Department.
