Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi participated in a mass cleanliness drive near the historic Lingaraj Temple as part of the nationwide ‘Swachhata Hi Seva 2025’ campaign.
The event coincided with the 110th birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, a revered nationalist thinker and proponent of integral humanism.
Thousands of citizens, including ministers, MLAs, the Mayor, local residents, and students, joined hands under the theme “One Day, One Hour, Together” to clean the temple surroundings. The Chief Minister also planted saplings near Debipadahara pond under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ initiative, promoting environmental sustainability.
Organized by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, the event began with a tribute to Pandit Upadhyaya. In his address, CM Majhi emphasized the importance of remembering great thinkers and presenting their values to future generations. He praised Upadhyaya’s philosophy of Antyodaya—uplifting the last person in society—and highlighted his influence on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision for Good Governance.
Majhi noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most devoted follower of Upadhyaya’s ideals today, with every government scheme aimed at empowering the poor and marginalized. He called upon citizens to pledge towards building a prosperous and new Odisha, stressing the need for greater awareness and action in cleanliness.
The Chief Minister also announced plans to convert waste into coal and energy in the coming days, signaling a bold step toward sustainable development.
The event saw participation from Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, Mayor Sulochana Das, social worker Jagannath Pradhan, and other dignitaries. Bhubaneswar Municipal Commissioner Chanchal Rana delivered the welcome address.