Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi marked the 79th Independence Day at PMG Square on Friday with a strong message on security, welfare, and jobs. Paying tribute to freedom fighters, he lauded India’s armed forces for ‘Operation Sindoor’, which dismantled terrorist bases and Pakistani posts, and urged citizens to support “Vocal for Local” and “Make in India.” Calling his 14 months in office the beginning of a “new journey of development,” the CM outlined initiatives centred on four groups—women, farmers, the poor, and youth. He highlighted nearly 28,392 government posts already filled, recruitment for another 34,500 underway, and approvals for 22,896 vacancies, projecting over 85,000 hires against a two-year target of 65,000. Majhi also announced Odisha’s big push into private-sector jobs with the Union Cabinet’s semiconductor project and plans for a Pharma Conclave to attract global drug manufacturers, aimed at transforming the state into a pharma hub with 2.5 lakh jobs. Women’s empowerment was underscored with over 1 crore enrolments under Subhadra Yojana and Rs 89,861 crore earmarked in the budget for women-focused schemes. On safety, he promised zero tolerance against crime, drugs, and organised crime, declaring colleges “safe zones” with bans on alcohol and narcotics under the ‘Shaktishri’ programme. Education reforms include ‘Godabarish Mishra Model Primary Schools’ in every panchayat, rollout of NEP-linked schemes, an 11.25 per cent quota for socially and educationally backward groups, and internships for undergraduates. An ‘Agniveer’ training initiative will prepare Odia youth for defence services. Healthcare measures include the merger of Ayushman Bharat, Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana and Ayushman Bayo Bandana, extending insurance to 82 per cent of citizens with treatment worth Rs 936 crore delivered to 4 lakh beneficiaries. Odisha now has 12 medical colleges, with four more planned, a proposal to upgrade Berhampur Medical College to AIIMS-plus, and 2,250 budget beds for attendants at major hospitals. Closing his address, Majhi urged unity, honoured soldiers’ sacrifices, and called on citizens to embrace Indian products.
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