Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi led the celebrations of the 79th Independence Day in Odisha by unfurling the national flag at the PMG Square in Bhubaneswar.
Addressing the state-level Independence Day celebrations in Bhubaneswar, CM Majhi extended his greetings and best wishes to the people of Odisha, all Indians across the country, and those living abroad.
During his I-Day speech, the Chief Minister also paid homage to freedom fighters from all schools of thought who united with the sole objective of ending British rule.
Emphasising the significant role of Odisha in the independence movement, Majhi recalled the sacrifices of several prominent Odia freedom fighters, including Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das, Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das, Shaheed Laxman Naik, Veer Surendra Sai, Chakra Bisoi, etc.
He also paid tributes to Bakshi Jagabandhu and Jayee Rajguru, the leaders of the Paika Rebellion in Odisha in 1817, which occurred four decades before the 1857 sepoy mutiny, known as the First War of Independence.
Majhi also outlined a bold vision for the state’s future, while also commending the nation’s security forces. Majhi highlighted recent achievements in industrialization and employment, and announced new initiatives in governance, urban development, and environmental protection.
He praised the central government’s strong stance on terrorism, specifically referencing the recent ‘Operation Sindoor’ as a fitting response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. He commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the bravery of the Indian Army, who destroyed nine terrorist hideouts and 11 Pakistani military bases during Operation Sindoor.
The CM highlighted the demonstration of indigenous advanced defence technology for the first time during the operation, calling it a testament to the success of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Odisha’s economic and industrial transformation
Turning to Odisha, CM Majhi said that for the past fourteen months, the state has embarked on a new journey of development. He said that under the guidance of the Prime Minister, the state has prepared targeted plans for its four key population segments – women, farmers, poor and youth-with the aim of inclusive and rapid development.
To achieve the target, the government is focussing on livelihood, infrastructure, social development and empowerment and Odia Asmita (Odia identity).
He noted a “radical change in industrial policy” that has attracted a record Rs 17 lakh crore in investment proposals, with the potential to create 13 lakh jobs.
The CM highlighted that in the last six to seven months alone, more than 60 new industries have been established, securing over Rs 1.80 lakh crore in investment and ensuring over one lakh employment opportunities. He urged people to wear traditional Odia handloom attire at least once a week.
Majhi also encouraged citizens to take advantage of schemes like the Chief Minister’s Agriculture Industry Scheme, which provides up to Rs 1 crore in financial assistance.
The Chief Minister urged everyone to take advantage of various schemes launched by the government and become self-reliant.
Outlining his government’s vision, CM Majhi declared that Odisha aims to become one of the top five economies in India by 2036, the 100th anniversary of the state’s formation.
He highlighted key areas of focus:
- Law and Order: CM Majhi stated that a special law will be brought on organised crime and a zero tolerance policy on corruption and crimes against women.
- Education and Safety: The CM said zero tolerance has been adopted for crimes against women. The ‘Shaktishri’ program will be implemented to create a safe environment in all higher educational institutions, and a fast-track grievance redressal system will be accelerated, the CM stated.
- Employment: In terms of employment, 85,000 government posts are going to be filled in two years, surpassing the initial target of 65,000, CM Mohan Majhi announced in his Independence Day speech.
- Urban and Cultural Development: CM Majhi urged the people of Odisha to wear handloom clothes at least once a week in support of ‘Vocal for Local’. He mentioned that the government is committed to making Jagannath Dham a world-class religious and cultural destination and to transforming Puri into a metropolitan city.
- Environment: In a major initiative to protect the environment, the Chief Minister announced that 75 lakh trees will be planted across the state on PM Modi’s 75th birthday as part of the ‘Ek Peed Ma Ke Ke Naam’ program.
- Heritage: A police memorial has been announced to pay tribute to the security personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty, which will be the best example of their sacrifice and dedication. The government has focused on agriculture, education, health, transportation, infrastructure, environment, heritage, culture, and has prepared 36 special programs for development in various sectors in view of the 100th anniversary of the formation of Odisha in 2036.
The Chief Minister stated that the Union Cabinet’s approval for the establishment of two semiconductor units in the state will bring a revolution in the electronics and IT sector in Odisha.
He said that the state government will organise a pharma conclave in the coming days, which is expected to be attended by major pharmaceutical companies from across the country and abroad.
He expressed hope that this initiative will transform Odisha into a pharmaceutical hub and generate over 2.5 lakh employment opportunities.
He also announced that under the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, each eligible family in the eight KBK (Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, Sonepur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, and Rayagada), and Boudh, Gajapati, and Kandhamal districts will receive 5 kg of free rice per month for three months.
The Independence Day celebrations in Bhubaneswar concluded with a grand parade featuring 50 platoons from various forces, including the Border Security Force, CRPF, and NCC. The Chief Minister also awarded best platoon honours to participants of the Republic Day parade and recognized the winning floats, which showcased the state’s rich culture and development initiatives.
