Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday launched the week-long ‘Akanksha Haat’ campaign to promote locally made products from the state’s most underdeveloped regions. The announcement came during the ‘Sampurnata Abhiyan Samman Samaroha’ organised by the Planning and Convergence Department at the State Convention Centre in Bhubaneswar.
In his address, the Chief Minister underlined the success of the Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme, calling it a model for grassroots development. He said the programme had made significant strides in improving socio-economic indicators such as health, education, agriculture, water resources, skill development, and financial inclusion.
Majhi emphasised that the initiative is guided by three core principles — Convergence (aligning central and state schemes), Collaboration (ensuring cooperation among stakeholders), and Competition (fostering healthy rivalry based on performance indicators). He added that the programme, initially implemented in districts, has now been successfully extended to blocks.
Highlighting the ‘Vocal for Local’ movement championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Majhi noted that Odisha launched the ‘Akanksha’ brand in 2024 to support local producers. The newly launched Akanksha Haat aims to give rural entrepreneurs, including women’s self-help groups (SHGs), farmers, artisans, and weavers, access to wider markets. Products showcased during the campaign will also be made available on digital e-marketplaces, thus expanding their reach and improving quality, pricing, and availability based on market demand.
The Chief Minister also lauded the performance of Odisha’s aspirational districts and blocks, which have collectively won awards worth ₹165 crore under the central government’s recognition scheme. Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts received gold medals, Kandhamal and Koraput bagged silver, while Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Kalahandi, and Nuapada secured bronze. In the Aspirational Blocks category, Khairput, Mathili, Chitrakonda, and Dabugaon won gold, while several others received silver, bronze, and copper medals.
Congratulating the awardees, Majhi encouraged underperforming regions to strive harder, reaffirming the state’s commitment to inclusive development.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, and Special Secretary T. Aao also addressed the gathering. Ahuja praised the spirit of teamwork driving these outcomes, while Garg stressed that the Aspirational Blocks Programme had enabled government schemes to reach even the most inaccessible areas. She reiterated that these initiatives will play a vital role in realising the vision of a prosperous Odisha by 2036.
The event saw participation from District Collectors and Block Development Officers from across the state’s aspirational districts and blocks.
