Addressing a large gathering at Mahatma Gandhi Marg on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, the Chief Minister of Odisha paid rich tributes to the nation’s freedom fighters and outlined a comprehensive roadmap for a prosperous and inclusive Odisha.
Beginning with the traditional “Jai Jagannath,” the CM greeted citizens of the state and Indians across the world. He described the Indian freedom struggle as not merely a fight for independence but the first step in nation-building. He highlighted the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi’s satyagraha and non-violence, alongside the revolutionary contributions of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh and others. Special homage was paid to Odisha’s own heroes, including Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das, Madhusudan Das, Nabakrushna Choudhury, Laxman Naik, Surendra Sai, Buxi Jagabandhu, Jayee Rajguru, and the historic Paika Rebellion of 1817—nearly 40 years before the 1857 uprising.
The CM underlined that Odisha’s people’s movements—from the Paika Rebellion and Ghumusar uprising to the Raktatirtha Eram and various tribal revolts—formed an inseparable part of the national freedom struggle.
Turning to contemporary India, he credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership over the past 12 years for transforming the country into a confident, self-reliant and globally respected nation. From Swachh Bharat to direct benefit transfers, affordable healthcare, and defence self-reliance (including indigenous systems like Agni, BrahMos and recent rocket launches by young scientists), he said India’s progress has been remarkable. The near-elimination of Left-Wing Extremism (Red Terror), which once affected nearly half of Odisha, was highlighted as a major achievement under the guidance of the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Development works in previously affected districts have now accelerated.
In Odisha, the CM said the government—blessed by Lord Jagannath and the people—has worked for the past two years under the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas.” With nearly a quarter of the population belonging to Scheduled Tribes, 16% Scheduled Castes, half women, and about 60% dependent on agriculture and allied sectors, the focus has been on inclusive growth.
Key announcements and achievements included:
- Mission Power aiming to provide roads, electricity and drinking water to every village by the end of 2027.
- Completely free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level in government and aided institutions—the first such initiative in the country.
- Mid-day meals extended to Classes 9 and 10, free textbooks for Classes 9 and 10 (announced today), and plans for 2,200 Godavarish Mishra Model Primary Schools.
- 26,000 teachers already appointed, with another 45,000 in process.
- Health coverage for 3.70 crore people (80% of the population) through Ayushman Bharat and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, plus new medical, nursing, Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic colleges.
- Strong support for farmers: paddy procurement at ₹3,100, ₹10,000 annual assistance under PM-Kisan and CM-Kisan, and various schemes for dairy, fisheries and animal husbandry. The CM clarified that Agri-Stack registration has no link with paddy procurement and that P-Pass registration will continue as usual.
- Women empowerment through Subhadra and Lakhpati Didi schemes (over 1 crore and 26 lakh beneficiaries respectively), Kanya Bibaha and Kanya Sumangala Yojana, making daughters an “asset” rather than a burden.
- Industrial growth: ₹21 lakh crore investment proposals received, ₹10 lakh crore worth 453 projects approved, and 152 projects (₹3.5 lakh crore) already inaugurated or grounded, creating 2.5 lakh jobs. Focus on textiles, pharmaceuticals, food processing, semiconductors, AI, tourism and IT is driving reverse migration.
- Infrastructure push: Odisha spends 6.5% of its GSDP on infrastructure—the highest in the country. Major projects include rail modernisation, national highways, Puri International Airport, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Region, and three new expressways with ₹31,000 crore investment.
- Youth skilling: World Skill Centres (including partnership with Singapore), ITI upgrades, AI labs, and Odisha emerging as a national skills champion with 57 medals in India Skills 2025-26. The CM urged youth not to be misled by external forces and to focus on careers, expressing full confidence in PM Modi’s ability to address their concerns.
- Social justice: Proportional reservation for SC/ST in medical and technical education, enhanced support for tribal areas, free rice under Annapurna Yojana, and expansion of Madhubabu Pension.
- Governance reforms: Doorstep grievance redressal (15,000 complaints heard with 96% resolution), zero tolerance for corruption, raising the upper age limit for government jobs from 32 to 42, and removing the six-attempt limit for Odisha Civil Services exams so candidates can appear till the maximum age.
The CM reaffirmed commitment to Odia identity—promoting the Odia language, beautifying major temples and developing Puri as a global spiritual-tourism destination—while aligning with the national cultural renaissance under the “Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi” approach.
Concluding the address, he called upon every Odia to work towards a prosperous, empowered, inclusive and developed Odisha. “The next ten years will be Odisha’s decade. We will build a prosperous Odisha by 2036 and a developed Odisha and developed India by 2047. This is my prayer at the feet of Lord Jagannath,” he said. The speech ended with the slogans: Vande Mataram, Bharat Mata ki Jai, and Vande Utkal Janani.
