PM Modi in Odisha: The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the State-level function to commemorate the completion of one year of the Government of Odisha at Bhubaneswar today. In line with his commitment to holistic development of Odisha, PM also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over Rs 18,600 crore covering critical sectors including drinking water, irrigation, agricultural infrastructure, health infrastructure, rural roads and bridges, sections of national highways, and a new railway line.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Shri Modi remarked that June 20 is a very special day, marking the completion of one year of Odisha’s first BJP government. “This anniversary is not merely that of a government, but of the establishment of good governance devoted to public service and public trust”, said the Prime Minister, underlining that the government has made sincere efforts to live up to the expectations of crores of voters in Odisha. Shri Modi extended his heartfelt greetings to the people of Odisha, acknowledging their support and trust. He congratulated Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi and his entire team for their commendable work, noting that their efforts have given fresh momentum to the development of Odisha.
“Odisha is not merely a state, but a shining star of India’s rich heritage”, exclaimed Shri Modi, highlighting that for centuries, Odisha has enriched Indian civilization and culture. He noted that in today’s time, when the mantra of development and heritage has become the foundation of India’s progress, the role of Odisha has grown even more significant. The Prime Minister stated that in the past year, Odisha has wholeheartedly embraced the mantra of development alongside preserving its legacy, stressing that the state has advanced rapidly on this path.
Noting the auspicious coincidence that as their government in Odisha completes its first year, the people are also engaged in preparations for the grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Shri Modi stated that Lord Jagannath is not only an object of worship but also a source of immense inspiration. He affirmed that with the blessings of the Lord, issues related to the Shree Mandir have also been resolved. The Prime Minister congratulated Shri Mohan Majhi and his government for honouring the sentiments of crores of devotees. He underlined that immediately after the formation of the government, all four gates of the Shree Mandir were opened. Shri Modi further stated that the Ratna Bhandar of the temple has also been opened, clarifying that this is not a matter of political triumph but a respectful act acknowledging the faith of crores of devotees. Shri Modi added that he politely declined the invitation of US President to visit USA after the completion of the G7 summit in Canada, as he had already planned to visit the holy land of Lord Jagannatha today.
The Prime Minister stated that for decades after independence, the people of the country witnessed the previous regime’s model of governance, which lacked good governance and did not make people’s lives easier. Criticizing the previous regime’s model for delaying, obstructing, and derailing development projects, and for widespread corruption, calling it the hallmark of their development model, Shri Modi noted that in recent years, the country has broadly experienced our development model. He observed that in the past decade, several states witnessed the formation of BJP governments for the first time. The Prime Minister emphasized that these states did not just see a change in government, but entered a new era of social and economic transformation.
Citing the example of Eastern India, the Prime Minister pointed out that a decade ago, Assam was plagued with instability, separatism, and violence. He remarked that today, Assam is progressing on a new development path. Shri Modi stated that insurgent activities ongoing for decades have now ceased and asserted that Assam is now surpassing many other states of the country on several parameters. Referring to Tripura, the Prime Minister mentioned that after decades of Leftist rule, the people gave their party a chance. He highlighted that Tripura lagged behind on every development indicator, with infrastructure in disrepair and the government system unresponsive to public concerns. Pointing out that people were troubled by violence and corruption, he remarked that today, Tripura is emerging as a symbol of peace and progress.
Mentioning that Odisha too had been grappling with numerous challenges for decades, the Prime Minister noted that neither the poor nor the farmers received their due rights. He highlighted that corruption and red-tapism were dominant, and infrastructure across the state was in a dire condition. He also observed that many regions of Odisha were increasingly left behind in the development process. Shri Modi remarked that such challenges had become the unfortunate reality of Odisha, asserting that over the past year, their government has worked with full resolve to address these issues. He emphasized that the combination of the Union and State Government model of development has started to show visible results.
The Prime Minister pointed out that thousands of crores worth of projects inaugurated and launched today reflect the impact of the combination of Union and State Government approach. He stated that this model has brought double benefits to the people of Odisha. Citing an example, Shri Modi reminded that for a long time, lakhs of poor families in Odisha remained outside the coverage of the Ayushman Bharat scheme. He stated that today, both the Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana and the Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana are working in tandem. This, he said, has ensured free medical treatment for nearly 3 crore people in Odisha. The Prime Minister added that this benefit is available not only in hospitals within Odisha but also for those working in other states across the country. He noted that of the 2 lakh people in Odisha who have received treatment under this scheme so far, many have availed free care in more than a dozen other states.
He emphasized that such medical access was unimaginable just a year ago. Shri Modi stated that this combination of Union and State Government model has brought further value through initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana. He highlighted that over 23 lakh senior citizens above 70 years of age in Odisha are now eligible for free treatment up to ₹5 lakh under this scheme which has significantly reduced the healthcare burden on ordinary families. Similarly, the Prime Minister stated that earlier, farmers in Odisha did not receive the full benefit of the PM-KISAN scheme. He noted that now, farmers are receiving double benefits from both central and state government schemes. He affirmed that the government had promised higher procurement prices for paddy, which has benefited lakhs of paddy farmers in Odisha.
Noting that there were several central government schemes from which Odisha could not previously derive full benefits, the Prime Minister emphasized that today, people are receiving the benefits of both central and state government schemes. He further stated that all guarantees made during the elections to women, farmers, and the youth have been implemented swiftly on the ground.
Underlining that a major achievement of the government has been the empowerment of the underprivileged, Shri Modi highlighted that a significant tribal population resides in Odisha. He expressed regret that in the past, the tribal community faced consistent neglect by being subjected to backwardness, poverty, and deprivation. The Prime Minister remarked that the party which ruled the country for a long time exploited the tribal population for political gains, as this group neither offered development nor ensured the participation of tribal communities. He added that they pushed vast regions of the country into the flames of Naxalism, violence, and oppression.
Shri Modi stated that prior to 2014, over 125 tribal-majority districts across the country were affected by Naxalite violence. He remarked that these tribal regions were unfairly stigmatized under the label of the “Red Corridor.” The Prime Minister noted that most of these districts were declared backward and subsequently abandoned by previous regimes. He affirmed that in recent years, his government has worked to bring the tribal society out of an environment of violence and onto a new path of development. The Prime Minister emphasized that their government has taken strict action against those spreading violence. At the same time, he said, a new wave of development has been ushered into tribal regions, as a result, the reach of Naxalite violence has now shrunk to fewer than 20 districts in the country. Shri Modi expressed confidence that with the pace of ongoing action, tribal communities will soon be free from the shadow of violence, assuring that Naxalism will be eradicated from the country.
“Fulfilling the dreams of tribal communities, providing them new opportunities, and reducing the difficulties in their lives is a top priority for the government”, stated Shri Modi. He highlighted that for the first time, two major national schemes have been launched specifically for tribal development. The Prime Minister noted that more than ₹1 lakh crore is being spent on these two initiatives. He outlined the first scheme as the Dharati Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. Under this scheme, the Prime Minister said, development work is being carried out in over 60,000 tribal villages across the country. In Odisha as well, he mentioned, houses are being built for tribal families, roads are being constructed, and electricity and water facilities are being established. Shri Modi informed that 40 residential schools are also being built across 11 districts of Odisha. He noted that the central government is spending hundreds of crores of rupees on these initiatives.
Discussing the second major scheme, PM Janman Yojana, Shri Modi stated that the inspiration for this scheme emerged from the land of Odisha. He acknowledged the guidance of the nation’s first tribal woman President, and Odisha’s daughter, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, in shaping this initiative. The Prime Minister highlighted that the scheme focuses on supporting particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) within the broader tribal community. He noted that development work worth hundreds of crores is being carried out across many small tribal hamlets under this scheme.
Highlighting that a large number of fishermen reside in Odisha, the Prime Minister noted that for the first time, a major nationwide scheme—PM Matsya Sampada Yojana—has been formulated for their welfare. He stated that fishermen are now receiving the benefit of the Kisan Credit Card facility as well. The Prime Minister announced that the central government is setting up a special fund of ₹25,000 crore, which will greatly benefit those living along Odisha’s coastline and generate opportunities for the youth.
“The growth of 21st-century India will be powered by Eastern India. This is the era of Purvoday,” declared Shri Modi, stating that with this spirit, the government is focused on the development of Odisha along with the entire eastern region. The Prime Minister observed that after the formation of their government a year ago, this campaign has gained further momentum. Noting the expansion of industrial zones from Paradip to Jharsuguda, he highlighted that this is strengthening Odisha’s mineral and port-led economy.
The Prime Minister stated that the central government is investing thousands of crores of rupees in enhancing road, rail, and air connectivity in Odisha. He added that projects such as the establishment of a mega dual-feed cracker and downstream unit in Paradip, a crude oil storage facility in Chandikhole, and an LNG terminal in Gopalpur will position Odisha as a major industrial state. Shri Modi remarked that these developments will boost industries related to petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, and plastics. He stated that this will lead to the creation of a vast network of small and medium enterprises. He emphasized that it will generate lakhs of new employment opportunities for the youth. The Prime Minister highlighted that in recent years, nearly ₹1.5 lakh crore has already been invested in Odisha’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors. “Odisha is rapidly advancing towards becoming India’s petrochemicals hub”, he added.
The Prime Minister stated that achieving great goals requires far-sightedness and long-term vision. “Our government is not limited to one-year achievements or five-year targets. We are building a roadmap for the coming decades,” stated Shri Modi, noting that the Odisha government has drafted a special plan for 2036, the centenary year of the state. He added that the Odisha BJP government also has a roadmap in place for 2047, marking 100 years of India’s independence. Having reviewed Vision 2036, he described it as highly ambitious and expressed full faith in the talent and dedication of Odisha’s youth to achieve every objective. “Together, we will take Odisha to new heights of development,” he affirmed, concluding with warm wishes.
The Governor of Odisha, Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Ministers Shri Jual Oram, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan & Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw were present among other dignitaries at the event.
