Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth more than Rs 47,600 crore in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, asserting that the Centre’s vision of developing eastern India was central to achieving the goal of a developed India and announcing that President Droupadi Murmu’s native village, Pahadpur, would be transformed into a model solar village.
The Prime Minister joined President Droupadi Murmu in her home district as the two leaders visited Pahadpur village, offered prayers at the sacred Santhali Jahera and Ho Jahera groves, and interacted with students at local educational institutions before attending a state-level function in Rairangpur marking two years of the BJP government in Odisha under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Addressing the gathering, Modi extended birthday greetings to President Murmu and praised her journey from a small tribal village in Mayurbhanj to the highest constitutional office in the country.
”I extend my heartfelt birthday greetings to President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. I wish her long life and excellent health,” the Prime Minister said, describing her rise as a matter of pride not only for Odisha but for the entire nation.
Referring to his visit to Pahadpur, Modi said the President’s commitment to education and social service was inspiring children from tribal, poor and marginalised communities to dream bigger and pursue higher aspirations.
In a major announcement, the Prime Minister declared that Pahadpur would be developed as a solar village.
”Pahadpur village will now be rapidly developed as a solar village, that is, solar power will be ensured in every home here,” he said, drawing parallels with Odisha’s iconic Sun Temple at Konark and expressing confidence that the village would become a model for renewable energy-led rural development.
The Prime Minister said Odisha was witnessing rapid progress under the BJP’s “double-engine government” and highlighted the significance of the newly launched projects across sectors including railways, roads, energy, urban infrastructure and industry.
”The vision of the Central Government is the development of India through the development of Eastern India,” Modi said, reiterating that the Centre’s Purvodaya policy was aimed at unlocking the economic potential of eastern states.
He said projects worth nearly Rs 47,600 crore launched on Saturday would strengthen connectivity, improve public services, create employment opportunities and boost economic growth across Odisha.
Modi noted that the state had emerged as a key investment destination and said initiatives such as Utkarsh Odisha had attracted investment proposals worth nearly Rs 20 lakh crore. He added that mega projects worth over Rs 3.5 lakh crore were already under implementation in the state.
Highlighting infrastructure expansion, the Prime Minister said more than Rs 6,000 crore was being invested in Odisha’s power sector, while urban development was being accelerated through the Samruddha City Scheme.
”The Centre and the State Government are working together to fully harness Odisha’s strengths through record investments in railways, highways, economic corridors, ports, semiconductors, green energy and modern industries,” he said.
The Prime Minister also outlined several welfare measures undertaken by the Odisha government, including paddy procurement at Rs 3,100 per quintal, financial assistance to women under the Subhadra Yojana, implementation of Ayushman Bharat, support for tribal students through the Madho Singh Haat Kharcha Yojana, and steps taken to reopen all four gates of the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Modi devoted a substantial part of his address to tribal welfare, emphasising that the upliftment of tribal communities remained a key priority of his government. Referring to President Murmu’s long association with tribal communities,
he said tribal regions had historically remained deprived of essential services and infrastructure and required focused intervention.
”To uplift tribal society, we are connecting tribal youth with opportunities for education and employment,” he said.
Highlighting the Centre’s initiatives, Modi referred to the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan and the PM JANMAN Mission, which targets Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) to ensure the delivery of welfare services to remote communities.
On education, he said nearly 500 Eklavya Model Residential Schools had already been established across the country and around 750 had been sanctioned.
”These children should get better facilities for studies; for this, around 500 Eklavya Model Schools have been opened across the country,” he said, while also announcing approval for a new Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Mayurbhanj district.
The Prime Minister said more than 1.5 crore tribal students had received pre-matric and post-matric scholarships and highlighted the government’s efforts to tackle Sickle Cell Anaemia, a disease that disproportionately affects tribal populations. He said over four crore health cards had been distributed under a nationwide campaign and that Ayushman Bharat coverage had been expanded among tribal communities.
Modi also paid tribute to noted Odia and tribal cultural figures, including Pandit Raghunath Murmu, the creator of the Ol Chiki script for the Santhali language, and highlighted efforts to preserve and promote tribal languages and heritage.
Looking ahead, he referred to two significant milestones on the horizon — the centenary of Odisha’s formation in 2036 and the centenary of India’s Independence in 2047.
”Odisha’s aspirations and India’s aspirations are aligned. A stronger Odisha will contribute directly to a stronger India,” he said.
The Prime Minister also urged people to participate enthusiastically in the International Day of Yoga on June 21, describing Odisha as a land deeply connected with knowledge, spirituality and yoga traditions.
Saturday’s programme formed part of the celebrations marking two years of the BJP government in Odisha and showcased a series of major infrastructure and welfare initiatives aimed at accelerating the state’s economic growth and improving living standards, particularly in tribal and rural regions.
