Bhubaneswar, June 10: As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Odisha nears its first anniversary in power, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today emphasized that within a short time, the people of Odisha had begun to recognize the administration as a “government of the people”.
He credited this connection to a proactive approach that included direct interactions with citizens across all districts.
“Within this brief span, we have sincerely worked to meet the expectations of 4.5 crore Odias,” Majhi stated.
“Our government has broken the artificial barriers between the administration and the people. Today, any citizen can meet ministers and even the Chief Minister without any obstruction.”
Major milestones in the first year
Majhi highlighted four key decisions taken during the very first cabinet meeting on June 12, 2024, which laid the foundation for the government’s policy direction:
Launch of Subhadra Yojana
An additional ₹800 for paddy procurement
Opening of all four gates of the Shri Jagannath Temple
Establishment of a ₹500 crore corpus fund
These decisions, he said, were symbolic of the government’s resolve to take swift action and were followed by numerous other initiatives in sectors such as women’s empowerment, agriculture, education, health, and infrastructure.
Sectoral reforms and initiatives
Women empowerment:
Under the landmark Lakhpati Didi initiative, 17 lakh women have become economically self-reliant—setting a national benchmark.
Agriculture:
The Samruddha Krushi Yojana was launched with a record ₹37,838 crore budget allocation to ensure prosperity for farmers.
Education:
The establishment of Godabarish Mishra Adarsha Vidyalayas and the implementation of the National Education Policy, including early childhood education, have modernized learning systems.
Health:
The state adopted the Ayushman Bharat scheme
Tribal and SC welfare:
A massive ₹68,881 crore was allocated to uplift marginalized communities.
Employment:
Over 28,000 government jobs have been offered in the past year, with a promise to provide 40,000 more in the current year.
Housing and drinking water:
Efforts have been initiated to provide piped drinking water to 90% of the population by 2026 and houses to 5 lakh underprivileged families.
Infrastructure:
Major improvements have been seen in railways, national highways, and air connectivity—strengthening Odisha’s physical foundation for growth.
A vision for 2036
Looking ahead, Majhi laid out a bold vision for the future:
Odisha to become one of India’s top five states by 2036
Transformation into a $500 billion economy
A key role in building a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, in line with PM Modi’s vision
He reiterated that his government’s agenda aligns with the Prime Minister’s guiding mantra: “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas.” With a focused approach on the poor, farmers, youth, and women, Majhi promised continued momentum in development.
