Bhubaneswar: The budget session of the Odisha Assembly commenced on Thursday with Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati lauding the state government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, for implementing several landmark decisions aimed at empowering the poor, youth, farmers, and women.
Addressing the Assembly, Governor Kambhampati highlighted the government’s achievements over the last eight months, stating that the administration has introduced a series of welfare and developmental initiatives across various sectors.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to a people-first approach, ensuring essential services, generating employment opportunities, and developing crucial infrastructure in the state.
“My government has taken historic steps in a short span of time, launching numerous schemes and hosting key programs in the interest of Odisha and the nation,” the Governor remarked.
He underscored the government’s focus on women’s empowerment through the innovative Subhadra scheme, launched in 2024. This initiative aims to support around one crore women aged 21 to 60 by providing financial assistance, fostering economic independence, and enhancing awareness of their rights. Recognizing the vital role of ‘Nari Shakti’ in Odisha’s progress, the government has set a vision for a prosperous state by 2036.
The Governor also praised the state’s agricultural reforms, particularly the Samruddha Krushak Yojana, under which the government is procuring paddy from farmers at Rs 3,100 per quintal, including an input assistance of Rs 800 per quintal during the current kharif marketing season. Additionally, the administration has prioritized crop diversification by encouraging the cultivation of pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, and high-value crops across two lakh hectares of farmland.
As part of the Rice Fallow Management project, steps are being taken to improve farm income, enhance cropping intensity, and maintain soil health through collaborations with leading research institutes and local agencies.
Governor Kambhampati also commended the successful hosting of major events, including the DG and IG Conference in November 2024, the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, and the visit of the President of the Republic of Singapore, along with the Utkarsh Odisha-Make in Odisha conclave in January 2025. These events, he said, have strengthened the state’s global presence and investment prospects.
The state’s ambitious vision for 2036—’Samruddha Odisha’—has garnered over three lakh suggestions from citizens, with the government aspiring to build a $500 billion economy by then. Furthermore, Odisha’s roadmap for ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ envisions the state contributing $1.5 trillion to India’s economy by that milestone year.
“To achieve these goals, every individual, organization, and the state must make the best use of this Amrut Kal to remain proactive, innovative, and progress-oriented,” stated the Governor.
The third session of the 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly will continue until April 5 in two phases, with Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, who also holds the Finance portfolio, set to present the budget for the financial year 2025-26 on February 17.
