Rairangpur: President Shrimati Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in a series of events marking the completion of two years of the government of Odisha. Centered around the theme Vikas ra Dhara, Odisha Sara, the visit highlighted a massive push for regional development, with the Prime Minister inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for various projects worth over 47,600 crore rupees.
Greeting the people during a time of celebration that included the recent Raja Festival and upcoming Rath Yatra preparations, Prime Minister Shri Modi emphasized how a coordinated approach between the central and state governments is accelerating development. He noted that the state is transforming the lives of ordinary citizens through welfare schemes, substantial investments, industrial growth, and expanded employment opportunities.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to eminent personalities from Odisha, such as Pandit Raghunath Murmu, who created the Ol Chiki script for the Santhali language, Dr. Damayanti Besra, and Shri Charan Hembram. He highlighted ongoing central efforts to preserve Santhali culture, including the presentation of the Indian Constitution in the Santhali language. Additionally, he extended heartfelt birthday greetings to President Murmu, praising her journey from Mayurbhanj to the nation’s highest constitutional office as an inspiration for underprivileged and tribal youth.
A major announcement during the visit detailed plans to develop Pahadpur village into a model Solar Village, ensuring solar power generation for every household and drawing a parallel to the iconic Sun Temple at Konark. Prime Minister Shri Modi lauded the rapid progress made under Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, reiterating the Purvodaya policy aimed at unlocking the potential of eastern India. He stated that massive investments in railways, highways, ports, semiconductors, and green energy are transforming Odisha into a gateway to economic growth for the country.
Industrial development is seeing a massive surge through the Utkarsh Odisha initiative, which has already attracted investment proposals worth nearly 20 lakh crore rupees, with mega projects exceeding 3.5 lakh crore rupees currently under implementation. Further infrastructure boosts include an investment of over 6,000 crore rupees in the power sector and accelerated urban development through the Samruddha City Scheme.
Prime Minister Shri Modi also reviewed a variety of key welfare initiatives currently benefiting the state’s populace. These include procuring paddy from farmers at 3,100 rupees per quintal, providing financial assistance to over one crore women under the Subhadra Yojana, expanding healthcare through Ayushman Bharat, and supporting tribal students via the Madho Singh Haat Kharcha Yojana. He also acknowledged the implementation of the PM JANMAN Mission and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, which coordinate multiple departments to improve healthcare, education, and housing in historically underserved tribal villages.
Education and healthcare for tribal youth remain central to these development goals. The Prime Minister announced the approval of an additional Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Mayurbhanj district, supplementing the hundreds of Eklavya Model Residential Schools and scholarships provided nationwide. On the health front, he discussed the nationwide campaign against Sickle Cell Anaemia and the expansion of the Jal Jeevan Mission to deliver safe drinking water to remote households.
Looking toward future milestones, including the centenary of Odisha’s formation in 2036 and India’s independence centenary in 2047, the Prime Minister noted that the aspirations of the state and the nation are deeply aligned. He concluded his address by inviting citizens to embrace the upcoming International Day of Yoga and congratulating the people of Odisha on the newly launched transformative projects.