Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, unfurled the National Flag and addressed the state on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day. Extending his warm greetings to the people of Odisha as well as Indians living across the globe, the Chief Minister highlighted India’s remarkable journey since gaining independence and outlined the state government’s roadmap for comprehensive development.
Paying rich tributes to the legendary freedom fighters of the national movement, including Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the Chief Minister emphasized that while various ideologies contributed to the struggle, non-violence remained its core foundation. He also paid deep respects to Odisha’s iconic freedom icons such as Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das, Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das, Shaheed Laxman Nayak, Veer Surendra Sai, Baji Rout, Maa Ramadevi, and Parbati Giri, while recalling early historic movements like the Paika Rebellion of 1817 and various tribal uprisings that shaped the freedom struggle.
Reflecting on the nation’s progress over eight decades, Chief Minister Shri Majhi commended the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in transforming India into a self-reliant and globally competitive economy. He noted that key initiatives launched over the past twelve years have strengthened social, economic, and political foundations across the country. He further pointed out that internal security has seen significant improvement, highlighting the end of red terror and Maoist violence as a major milestone that has accelerated development in previously affected regions of Odisha.
The Chief Minister detailed several major announcements and governance initiatives aimed at fostering an inclusive and prosperous Odisha:
- Free Education Initiatives: Education from kindergarten to post-graduation (KG to PG) has been made entirely free in all government and government-aided institutions across the state. In addition, free textbooks will now be provided to students of Class 9 and Class 10, extending beyond the previous limit of Class 8. Mid-day meals have also been introduced for Class 9 and 10 students. To enhance foundational education, construction of 2,200 Godabarisha Mishra Adarsha Primary Schools is underway, alongside the ongoing recruitment of teachers.
- Civil Services Examination Reforms: In a major decision for job aspirants, the Chief Minister announced the removal of the six-attempt cap for the Odisha Civil Services Examination. Candidates will now be eligible to attempt the examination up to the prescribed maximum age limit of 42 years. Furthermore, regulations regarding compassionate appointments for families of deceased government employees have been relaxed.
- Paddy Procurement Clarification: Addressing concerns regarding farmer registration, the Chief Minister clarified that Agri-Stack registration is entirely independent of P-PASS registration for paddy procurement. Farmers need not worry about selling their yield, as paddy purchasing will continue seamlessly based on P-PASS registration as in previous years.
- Infrastructure and Industrial Growth: Highlighting that Odisha allocates 6.5 percent of its GSDP toward infrastructure—the highest proportional spending in the country—the Chief Minister outlined ongoing multi-crore initiatives, including the Namo Expressways and Atal Expressway totaling 31,000 crore rupees. Industrial momentum remains strong, with investment proposals worth 21 lakh crore rupees received over the past two years, leading to significant job creation and triggering reverse-migration of skilled workers back to the state.
- Women and Social Empowerment: Programs such as Subhadra, Lakhpati Didi, Chief Minister Kanya Vivaha Yojana, and Chief Minister Kanya Sumangala Yojana continue to drive financial and social independence for women, ensuring structured support from higher education to self-employment.
Concluding his address, Chief Minister Shri Majhi called upon all citizens to dedicate themselves toward building a prosperous, inclusive, and empowered Odisha. Set against the target of achieving a Developed Odisha by 2036—marking the centenary of the state’s formation—and contributing to a Developed India by 2047, he reiterated the state’s commitment to progress under the blessings of Lord Jagannath.