Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth over ₹47,600 crore in Odisha and announced that Pahadpur village, the native village of President Droupadi Murmu in Mayurbhanj district, would be developed as a model Solar Village.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister and President Droupadi Murmu visited Pahadpur village, where they offered prayers at the sacred Santhali Jahera and Ho Jahera groves and visited local educational and skill development institutions.
Addressing a public programme at Rairangpur to mark two years of the BJP government in Odisha, themed “Vikas ra Dhara, Odisha Sara”, PM Modi said the double-engine government was accelerating the state’s development through welfare initiatives, infrastructure projects, industrial growth and employment generation.
Greeting the people of Odisha during the festive season marked by the Raja Festival and preparations for the Rath Yatra, the Prime Minister said the Centre and the state government were working together to transform Odisha into a major growth engine of eastern India.
Extending birthday greetings to President Murmu, PM Modi described her journey from Mayurbhanj to the country’s highest constitutional office as a source of pride for Odisha and the nation. He praised her commitment to public service and said educational institutions established under her guidance were inspiring tribal and underprivileged children.
Announcing the Solar Village initiative for Pahadpur, PM Modi said every household in the village would be equipped for solar power generation. Drawing a parallel with the Sun Temple of Konark, he expressed confidence that Pahadpur would emerge as a national model for renewable energy adoption.
The Prime Minister highlighted the state’s growing investment profile, saying Odisha had received investment proposals worth nearly ₹20 lakh crore under the Utkarsh Odisha initiative, while projects worth over ₹3.5 lakh crore were already under implementation. He also noted that more than ₹6,000 crore was being invested in the power sector.
PM Modi praised the Odisha government’s welfare measures, including paddy procurement at ₹3,100 per quintal, financial assistance to women under the Subhadra Yojana, implementation of Ayushman Bharat and support schemes for tribal students. He also welcomed the reopening of all four gates of the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Emphasising tribal welfare, the Prime Minister said initiatives such as the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan and the PM JANMAN Mission were helping improve living conditions and ensure the delivery of government services to tribal communities, particularly Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
He announced that approval had been granted for a new Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Mayurbhanj district and highlighted the expansion of Eklavya Model Residential Schools and scholarship programmes for tribal students.
Referring to Odisha’s centenary year in 2036 and India’s centenary of Independence in 2047, Modi said the aspirations of Odisha and India were closely linked and that a stronger Odisha would contribute significantly to a stronger India.
The Prime Minister also urged people to participate in the International Day of Yoga on June 21 and adopt yoga as a way of life.
