Phulbani: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday inaugurated a 100-seat government medical college and a 650-bed hospital in Phulbani, fulfilling a long-pending demand of the people of Kandhamal district for accessible and quality healthcare.
He also launched and laid the foundation stone for a slew of developmental projects worth approximately ₹750 crore, marking a significant push for the region’s socio-economic transformation.
The new medical college, along with the hospital, is set to become a healthcare and education hub not just for Kandhamal, but also for nearby districts like Boudh, Nayagarh, and Kalahandi.
The Chief Minister called the facility a “new chapter in Odisha’s healthcare journey,” noting that it will improve healthcare delivery, provide new educational avenues for local youth, and generate employment in the region.
In his address, CM Majhi emphasized that the state government had acted swiftly to implement the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which had been withheld previously due to political reasons.
Now, with the scheme operational in Odisha and integrated with the Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, nearly 3.5 crore residents can access free treatment at over 29,000 empaneled private hospitals across India. Together with the Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme, the initiatives aim to benefit over 80% of the state’s population.
Majhi also took a sharp dig at previous administration, accusing them of neglecting healthcare infrastructure for 24 years “in the name of world-class services.” He assured that the government is now focused on rapid reform.
“There will be no shortage of doctors in Odisha within the next year,” he promised, citing a record allocation of ₹23,635 crore to the healthcare sector — the highest in the state’s history, amounting to 8.2% of the total budget.
As part of his visit, the Chief Minister inaugurated five completed projects worth ₹655 crore and laid the foundation stone for another five projects totaling ₹94 crore. These initiatives span a wide range of sectors including rural drinking water, mega piped water supply, school infrastructure, healthcare centers, roads, tourism, Mission Shakti markets, and community infrastructure.
Highlighting the government’s vision for Kandhamal’s development, Majhi spoke of plans to establish industries in every district, including Kandhamal, to generate employment and drive industrialization. He also focused on the promotion of tourism in Daringbadi, often dubbed the “Kashmir of Odisha,” announcing that ₹18 crore has been sanctioned for tourism projects there, with work on the development of Putudi Waterfall already underway at a cost of ₹4.5 crore.
Touching on tribal welfare, Majhi noted that 54% of Kandhamal’s population belongs to tribal communities. Under the Forest Rights Act, the government has distributed over 20,000 individual land titles in the district over the past six months alone. He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that no family in the state remains landless, with a special focus on those owning less than three decimals of land.
Looking ahead, Majhi outlined the state’s broader developmental roadmap, aiming for a prosperous Odisha by 2036 and contributing to a developed India by 2047. The strategy focuses on comprehensive growth, improved infrastructure, industrial expansion, and inclusive development with a special focus on the marginalized and tribal communities.
The event was attended by Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Kandhamal MP Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi, Phulbani MLA Umacharan Mallick, senior government officials, and a large gathering of residents.
