Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati unfurled the National Flag during the Republic Day function organised at the Mahatma Gandhi Marg here on Sunday.
As many as ten tableaux showcased topics like patriotism, cultural heritage and development growth in various sectors including rural development, technology and education.
Altogether 49 contingents participated in the parade. The daredevil motorcycle show by the students of Maharishi College of Natural Law, skating by Odisha Skating Academy, dances by the Santali community and cultural performances by traditional troupes like Ghoda and Dhemsa were major attractions of the event.
At a district-level function, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi unfurled the National Flag at the Bidanasi Mini Stadium Cuttack.
In his address, the Chief Minister said the government is committed to developing Odisha and the nation.
The Chief Minister said villages are the souls of the country and the state. “A major portion of our population lives in Villages. The government has planned for the development of the villages in a major way,” he said.
An amount of Rs 5,000 crore would be spent for the development of infrastructure in villages in the next five years at the rate of Rs 1,000 per year. The key to the development of villages would be entrusted to the villagers, he said.
The chief minister appealed to the people to unite and make Odisha a prosperous state by 2036 and the nation by 2047 following the path of Babasaheb Ambedkar who gave the nation the Constitution.
Majhi said from day one of assuming power, the state’s BJP government has been working continuously for the development of the state, and the people are reaping the benefits.
Describing various initiatives taken by the government, he said among other things the four doors of the Jagannath Temple were opened or the devotees, and a corpus of Rs. 500 crore was provided for the good management and development of the temple,
Subhadra Yojana was implemented for women’s empowerment, and provision was made for procuring paddy from farmers at Rs 3100 per quintal. The government declared unseasonal rain as a state disaster and was providing compensation to farmers for the crop loss.
“Women are the main part of our society and half of the population. Under Subhadra Yojana, a programme has been started to provide Rs. 10,000 annually to more than one crore mothers of the state for five years,” said Majhi.
He said so far 80 lakh beneficiaries have availed the benefit under the Subhadra yojana.
The Chief Minister said significant development is going to happen in the health and education sectors in the coming days.
He hoped that the next five years, would be a golden age for infrastructure development for Odisha and the double-engine government would double the development of the state.
The CM said instead of exporting the minerals, the government is committed to bringing an industrial revolution in the state by attracting investments to add value to the minerals. UNI BD SSP