Bhubaneswar: The BJP-led government in Odisha is gearing up for a grand celebration to mark the completion of its first year in power, with a series of programmes aimed at showcasing its achievements and outreach initiatives.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who took the oath of office on June 12, 2024, will lead the state-wide observance, which is expected to highlight key milestones across various sectors.
A high-level meeting chaired by Usha Padhee, principal secretary of the housing & urban development and commerce & transport departments, was convened to chart out the roadmap for the anniversary celebrations, an official release stated. Senior officials from both departments actively took part in the deliberations.
During the meeting, Padhee stressed the importance of organising the celebrations in a meaningful, inclusive, and impactful manner, ensuring that the state government’s achievements over the past year are effectively communicated to the public. She underlined that the proposed initiatives should reflect the administration’s commitment to development, transparency, good governance, and public welfare.
A broad range of activities was proposed, including public outreach programmes across all 115 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), regional transport offices, and port areas to spotlight key developmental milestones. Plans also include exhibitions, multimedia campaigns showcasing success stories, transformative initiatives, and foundation stone-laying as well as inauguration ceremonies for major projects.
Padhee directed officials to prepare sector-specific action plans and to ensure maximum public participation in the planned activities. The meeting further resolved to finalise a comprehensive calendar of events, with emphasis on close coordination among all concerned departments and stakeholders.
The celebration comes after a historic political shift in the state. In 2024, the BJP ended the Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) uninterrupted 24-year rule, bringing to power its first full-term government in Odisha after over a decade and a half in opposition. The BJP had previously shared power with the BJD from 2000 to 2009 before the alliance collapsed, with then-Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik severing ties with the saffron party.
A high-voltage campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah paved the way for the BJP’s electoral victory in the state, promising transformative governance and fast-paced development.
In the past eleven months, the Mohan Majhi government claims to have fulfilled a significant portion of its electoral promises. Notable achievements include opening the long-shut Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of Lord Jagannath’s temple after over four decades, and providing farmers with an additional Rs 800 bonus per quintal over the minimum support price of Rs 2,300.
Another flagship initiative, Subhadra Yojana, offering a one-time financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to women aged 21 to 60, has already benefitted over one crore women across the state.
As the government prepares to mark its one-year milestone, the upcoming celebrations are expected to not only recount its achievements but also set the tone for its developmental roadmap in the years ahead.
