The Odisha government approved a transformative scheme on Wednesday to develop the birthplaces of the state’s eminent personalities, known locally as ‘Baraputras.’ This initiative, which includes freedom fighters, social reformers, poets, and other legends from different fields, has been allocated a budget of Rs 345 crore.
The state cabinet, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, in all, approved 10 proposals of seven departments during its meeting held on Wednesday evening.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, briefing reporters, detailed the newly approved ‘Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana,’ explaining that the project focuses on redeveloping the native villages and residences of these great figures to honour their legacy.
Under the scheme, the ancestral houses of these ‘Baraputras’ will be preserved and converted into heritage museums. The government also plans to build supporting infrastructure, including library facilities, interpretation centres, conference halls, open-air theatres, and children’s parks to enrich these historical sites, he said.
To further commemorate these icons, statues and memorials will be erected. The plan also incorporates an economic element by setting up dedicated outlets to sell local handicrafts, handloom products, and renowned regional cuisines, thereby boosting local livelihoods, Ahuja said.
Ahuja noted that this integrated strategy aims to blend heritage preservation with sustainable local development.
In the initial phase, 25 legendary sons of Odisha have been selected for this development. Financial assistance of up to Rs 15 crore per birthplace will be provided. Accordingly, the total estimated expenditure for the first phase will be Rs 345 crore, the chief secretary said.
The cabinet also approved to pass an ordinance establishing a uniform reservation framework for teacher recruitment in public universities. This new rule seeks to standardize direct recruitment processes for educators across all state-run institutions, Ahuja said.
According to the Chief Secretary, the university will now be treated as a single unit for the recruitment of professors, associate professors, and assistant professors. This change replaces the older department-wise reservation system to ensure a more equitable and consistent hiring process.
Furthermore, the state government has also approved three major irrigation projects worth Rs 534 crore. These projects are set to benefit 176 villages across Jharsuguda district and specific blocks in Kalahandi district—namely Karlamunda, Narla, and Kesinga—with a completion target of three years.
The cabinet has also approved another scheme — Utkarsh ITI Yojana — for upgradation of five government-run ITIs in Puri, Bolangir, Koraput, Kendrapara, Sundargarh districts with an outlay of Rs 500 crore for three years, Ahuja said.
Odisha government decided to cover approximately Rs 735 crore in costs related to one year’s rent for the installation of smart meters in domestic households across the state.
