In a landmark event at the State Convention Centre, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi turned World Veterinary Day into a launchpad for one of the state’s most ambitious animal husbandry and fisheries overhauls in recent years.
With a total investment push exceeding Rs 277 crore, the Chief Minister inaugurated 76 newly constructed veterinary hospitals and 4 animal welfare centres built at a cost of nearly Rs 100 crore. He also witnessed the signing of a Rs 177 crore MoU with six PSUs for the construction of 219 additional veterinary hospitals and disease diagnostic laboratories across the state. A highlight of the day was the announcement of a state-of-the-art Rs 10 crore molecular laboratory to be established at Phulnakhara in Cuttack, along with a ₹6 crore upgrade to the state-level animal feed testing laboratory.
Speaking at the function, CM Majhi painted a powerful picture of the veterinarian’s role in society. “Veterinarians treat animals who cannot speak. In reality, they are great souls. For our livestock, they are living gods,” he said, drawing loud applause from the gathering of veterinarians, farmers, and animal rearers.
The Chief Minister also used the occasion to mark OPOLFED’s golden jubilee by launching dedicated marketing centres for brown eggs and the indigenous ‘Aseel’ chicken breed. He expressed confidence that the new centres would ensure fair prices for poultry farmers. Simultaneously, he inaugurated a ₹50 crore fish landing centre at Kasia in Bhadrak and the upgradation of the Dhamra fish harbour – twin projects aimed at transforming the lives of thousands of fishermen.
In a major announcement for dairy farmers, Majhi formally launched the Mukhyamantri Kamadhenu Yojana, a Rs 1,423 crore scheme that will benefit over 15 lakh Gopalaks (dairy farmers) in the next five years. Under the scheme, up to 70% subsidy will be provided for high-yielding milch cows. He also highlighted the Mukhyamantri Prani Kalyan Yojana with Rs 33 crore allocated for new goshalas, feed, maintenance, and healthcare, and the Prani Sampada Samriddhi Yojana worth Rs 1,031 crore that will support 3.73 lakh poultry farming families.
Looking ahead, the Chief Minister set an ambitious target: making Odisha the fifth-largest egg-producing state in the country by 2047. “Our goal is not just to double farmers’ income – we want to multiply it several times over,” he declared, stressing the need to promote allied activities like pisciculture, goat-rearing, and backyard poultry alongside traditional agriculture.
He called upon everyone to strengthen the ‘One Health’ approach – an integrated vision linking animal health, food safety, and public health. “Odisha Vision 2036 and 2047 will see the state become self-reliant in milk, egg, and meat production,” Majhi added.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the state government will deploy 2,000 trained ‘A-HELP’ (Community Animal Health Workers) to provide doorstep vaccination and healthcare services in rural areas.
Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulanand Mallick echoed the Chief Minister’s sentiments, stating that veterinarians form the first line of defence against zoonotic diseases and play a critical role in ensuring food and health security.
The event concluded with the Chief Minister honouring outstanding veterinarians, progressive livestock rearers, and farmers, and engaging in a warm interaction with them. He urged collective efforts to build a developed and prosperous Odisha.
Present on the dais were Animal Resources Development Commissioner-cum-Secretary Prem Chand Choudhary and Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Dr. Vijay Amrut Kulange, among other senior officials.
The day’s announcements signal a clear message: Odisha is ready to put animal health, farmer prosperity, and sustainable growth at the heart of its development journey.
