Marking a historic day for northern Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited his home turf of Kendujhar to roll out a massive Diwali gift for the district.
The Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 330 developmental projects worth a staggering ₹1,292 crore, signaling an unprecedented transformation in the region’s education, healthcare, technology, and infrastructure sectors.
Of the total outlay, 198 projects worth approximately ₹411 crore were inaugurated, while foundation stones were laid for 132 new projects valued at over ₹880 crore.
Striking an emotional chord with the massive gathering, the Chief Minister remarked, “I may be the Chief Minister for Odisha, but for the people of Keonjhar, I am still your old ‘Mohan Bhai.’ I pledge to serve my motherland until my last breath.”
A Revolution in Primary Education
The centerpiece of the visit was the launch of the third phase of the state’s flagship education initiative, the ‘Godabarish Mishra Adarsha Prathamik Vidyalaya Yojana’. Calling the scheme his “brainchild,” CM Majhi laid the foundation for 630 model primary schools across the state, which will be built at an estimated cost of ₹4,000 crore. Out of these, 35 schools are dedicated to the Kendujhar district.
“The stronger the foundation of primary education, the brighter the child’s future,” the Chief Minister stated. He outlined the government’s ambitious vision to establish 2,200 such model schools by 2029 with a budget of ₹12,000 crore. These institutions, built on 5-acre campuses with ₹5 to ₹8 crore investments each, will feature modern classrooms, digital tools, and sports facilities, transforming schools in tribal areas into centers of excellence.
To further ease the lives of students, the CM inaugurated the South Campus of Dharanidhar University (built at ₹14 crore) and distributed National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC), enabling students to access free bus services.
Tech Jobs in Kendujhar: “No Need for Bangalore”
In a major boost to youth employment, the foundation was laid for a state-of-the-art 15-story Tech-Business Park. Spread over 5.51 acres and built with an investment of ₹237 crore, this facility is poised to become the most advanced commercial tech hub in Northern Odisha.
“With these projects, the youth of Keonjhar will no longer have to migrate to Bangalore or Hyderabad. Boundless opportunities for employment and progress have now opened up right here on our own soil,” Majhi declared.
Pioneering Healthcare Innovations
The Chief Minister also unveiled the state’s first completely indigenous, technology-driven ‘Preventive Cancer Screening Centre’ at Dharanidhar Medical College. Built with ₹6 crore from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), the center will provide all services entirely free of cost.
Expanding the region’s medical education footprint, foundations were laid for a 7-story Dental College (₹58.4 crore) and a 10-story Nursing College (₹63 crore). The CM also announced that a Government Pharmacy College will soon be established in Keonjhar. Additional inaugurations included a Mother & Child Health Department (₹10 crore) and a Modular OT complex (₹32 crore).
To strengthen emergency and civic services, 23 new ambulances and 26 sanitation vehicles (including tractors, sprinklers, and LCVs) were handed over to local municipalities. Furthermore, the CM announced major road infrastructure upgrades, including 6-lane roads connecting Keonjhar and a new Ring Road for Barbil.
The event witnessed the virtual interaction of the Chief Minister with school students from Kataka and Dhamnagar, adding a personal touch to the sweeping developmental agenda. The mega ceremony was attended by prominent state ministers, MLAs, and district officials, affirming the government’s commitment to building a self-reliant and modern Odisha.
