President Murmu, PM Modi visit Mayurbhanj, offer prayers at tribal sacred groves
Mayurbhanj, June 20
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited Pahadpur village in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, in a joint engagement in the tribal-dominated region of the State.The The
President and the Prime Minister offered prayers at the sacred grove, Santhali
Jahera and Ho Jahera, reflecting the cultural and spiritual traditions of the tribal communities. They also visited a Skill Centre and Pahadpur School, interacting with ongoing initiatives focused on education, capacity building and livelihood generation in rural and tribal areas.
The visit comes against the backdrop of a major development push in Odisha, where the Prime Minister also participated in a programme at Rairangpur marking the completion of two years of the State government. The theme of the programme was "Vikas ra Dhara, Odisha Sara".
According to an official release, projects worth over Rs 47,600 crore were inaugurated, and foundation stones were laid across key sectors including energy, industrial infrastructure, road connectivity, drinking water, health, education, tourism and irrigation. The initiatives are aimed at strengthening infrastructure, improving connectivity, enhancing energy security and generating employment opportunities across Odisha.
Among the major projects are the 600 MW Upper Indravati Pumped Storage Project and the expansion of the IB Thermal Power Station with two 660 MW units. The Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited project in Jharsuguda will also boost the cleaner use of domestic coal resources and reduce import dependence.
Other projects include a municipal solid waste-based compressed biogas plant in Bhubaneswar, a bridge over the Kathajodi river linking Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, multiple road and irrigation projects, as well as upgrades in health and transport infrastructure, including a 300-bedded district hospital in Boudh.
The programme also saw the inauguration of several infrastructure projects, including bypasses, multi-tracking railway works, sports facilities and tribal research centres, aimed at accelerating inclusive growth in the State, the release added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
47,600 crore projects sound impressive but I hope it's not just election gimmickry. We need sustained development, not photo ops. The skill centre visit is good, but what about regular monitoring of these initiatives? Action speaks louder than press releases.
As an Odia, I'm proud to see our state getting such attention. The Upper Indravati project will transform energy security in western Odisha. But I hope the local tribal communities get priority in employment from these projects - not just outsiders coming in.
It's remarkable to see both the President and PM visiting together - shows unity in governance. The focus on tribal culture alongside modern infrastructure strikes the right balance. Development shouldn't erase traditions.
I appreciate the PM's "Vikas ra Dhara" vision but where is the actual implementation in ground-level healthcare? A 300-bed hospital is welcome but tribal areas need primary health centres first. Also, biogas plant from municipal waste is innovative - hope it's replicated elsewhere!
The President herself being from a tribal community makes this visit particularly meaningful. Seeing her pray at the Jahera with the PM shows how far we've come as a nation. But let's not forget - real respect means ensuring tribal youth get quality education and jobs, not just ceremonial visits.
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