Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today unfurled the national flag at the historic Barabati Stadium amid enthusiastic crowds and vibrant parades during the state-level celebrations of the 77th Republic Day.
In a comprehensive address, the CM celebrated India’s constitutional legacy, praised the rapid national development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and detailed his government’s 19-month achievements while unveiling an ambitious roadmap to position Odisha among the top five states in the country by 2036—the centenary year of Odisha’s formation as an independent state.Reflecting on the state’s progress since his government assumed office, Majhi stated, “Odisha has also been a recipient of this rapid development for the past 19 months. Our government is working tirelessly to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the common man, basking in the love and immense blessings of the people of the state.
” He reiterated the goal of building a prosperous Odisha where every citizen, region, and district thrives, guided by PM Modi’s mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas.Emphasizing adaptation to technological change, the CM said the government is prioritizing new technologies to keep the state at the forefront of development. Special focus remains on four key categories highlighted by PM Modi: the poor, farmers, youth, and women. “Odisha is a welfare state… your government has made various schemes to provide education, health, basic amenities like electricity, water and roads to the people,” he affirmed.
On education, Majhi announced transformative changes ahead. He referenced the recent foundation stone laying of Godavarish Mishra Adarsh Primary School in Banpur, describing it as a future national model with world-class infrastructure and trained teachers to ensure rural children compete equally with urban peers. He highlighted the full implementation of the New Education Policy-2020 in Odisha—delayed elsewhere for political reasons—and noted that the state allocates over 14% of its budget to education, prioritizing quality infrastructure over superficial changes.In healthcare, the CM credited the rollout of Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana combined with Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, benefiting 3.5 crore people with world-class medical facilities. He also mentioned the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana for senior citizens.
Women empowerment dominated a significant portion of the speech. Quoting scriptures—”Yatra Naryastu Pujyante, Ramante Tatra Devah” (where women are respected, gods reside)—Majhi stressed that no prosperous Odisha is possible without women’s development. He praised PM Modi’s Beti Bachao Beti Padhao launch in 2015 and highlighted his government’s immediate approval of the Subhadra Yojana in its first cabinet meeting.
Over one crore women have received assistance in the first eight months, with a record ₹89,862 crore allocated in the current budget for women’s development (about 30% of the total budget), covering education, health, transportation, and livelihood. Odisha leads in PM Modi’s Lakhpati Didi scheme, treating women’s empowerment as a core commitment.On women’s safety, Majhi reiterated a “zero tolerance policy.”
He recalled the low conviction rates for crimes against women in 2022 (9.2%) and 2023 (6.9%), and expressed satisfaction that the rate has surged to 41% in the first six months of 2025, exceeding 62% in June. “One thing is clear… perpetrators of violence against women have only one identity and one address: jail. There is no political justification for this,” he declared firmly.
