Bhubaneswar, July 29: In a significant push to bolster grassroots entrepreneurship, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday launched the week-long ‘Akanksha Haat’ campaign aimed at promoting locally produced goods from the state’s most underdeveloped regions.
The launch took place during the ‘Sampurnata Abhiyan Samman Samaroha’ organised by the Planning and Convergence Department at the State Convention Centre in Bhubaneswar.
Addressing the gathering, CM Majhi highlighted the transformational impact of the Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme, terming it a replicable model for inclusive development. He noted that the initiative has led to marked improvements in health, education, agriculture, water management, skill development, and financial inclusion.
He underscored that the programme is anchored on three guiding principles — Convergence (harmonising central and state schemes), Collaboration (multi-stakeholder cooperation), and Competition (performance-based incentives). Initially implemented at the district level, the model has now been successfully scaled down to individual blocks.
In line with the ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha launched the ‘Akanksha’ brand in 2024 to uplift local entrepreneurs. The Akanksha Haat initiative will provide a vital platform for rural producers — including women-led self-help groups (SHGs), farmers, artisans, and weavers — to showcase and sell their products.
To expand market access, the campaign will also facilitate online sales through digital platforms, helping improve product quality, pricing, and availability in response to consumer demand.
Majhi also applauded the achievements of the state’s aspirational districts and blocks, which collectively earned ₹165 crore in awards under the Central Government’s incentive scheme. Among districts, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur secured gold medals, Kandhamal and Koraput earned silver, while Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Kalahandi, and Nuapada won bronze.
In the aspirational blocks category, Khairput, Mathili, Chitrakonda, and Dabugaon took home gold, with several other blocks receiving silver, bronze, and copper recognitions.
