Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s Independence Day address paints a vivid picture of a future Odisha, while also acknowledging the state’s rich history and its contribution to India’s freedom struggle. His speech is a powerful call to action, emphasizing a collective journey toward a prosperous future for the state, with a strong focus on security, both national and for the citizens of Odisha, especially women.
Odisha’s Path to Prosperity
The Chief Minister’s vision for the next decade, branded as the “Decade of Odisha,” is ambitious and transformative. He envisions a prosperous Odisha that will be among the top five states in India by 2036, the centenary of the state’s formation. This prosperity will be fueled by a robust economy, projected to reach $500 billion by 2036 and a remarkable $1.5 trillion by 2047. He confidently states that this is achievable due to the government’s “will, vision, resources and the support of the people of the state.” This collective journey is underpinned by 36 special programs designed to spur development across various sectors.
Honoring the Past, Securing the Future
Shri Majhi’s speech is a tribute to the freedom fighters who paved the way for India’s independence, from national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, to Odisha’s own heroes like Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das and Veer Surendra Sai. He pays special homage to the Paik Uprising of 1817, highlighting it as a significant milestone in India’s freedom struggle, predating the Sepoy Uprising of 1857.
ACS Home, Shri Satyabrata Sahu, Development Commissioner Smt.Anu Garg, Advisor to Chief Minister Shri Prakash Mishra, ACS Revenue Shri D R K Singh and others graced the occasion.
This reverence for history is juxtaposed with a firm stance on contemporary national security. The Chief Minister praises the “tough and strict” policy against terrorism, citing the “Pahalgam massacre of April 22” as a barbaric act that was not just a terrorist attack but an assault on India’s “nationhood, sovereignty and integrity.”
He lauds the retaliatory “Operation Sindoor,” carried out by the Indian Army under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which destroyed nine terrorist hideouts and 11 Pakistani military bases. Majhi expresses immense pride in this operation, noting that it showcased the prowess of India’s own defense technology, a direct result of the “Make in India” program. This, he asserts, has created a “new identity for India in the field of defense.
Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja, DGP Shri Y B Khurania, ACS Information & Public Relations & Industries, Shri Hemant Sharma and other senior officers were present in the occasion.
Department of Information & Public Relations organized the entire program, which was well attended. Director Information & Public Relations, Shri Anuj Kumar Das Pattanaik,Director I & PR coordinated the program.