BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday extended his warm wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 75th birthday and called it a ‘day of joy’.
Participating in a series of programmes - ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Abhiyan’, ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ and ‘Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar’ - to mark the occasion, the chief minister said the visionary leadership of Modi has given India new momentum and direction. Historic development achievements across the nation, including Odisha, have been possible under the PM’s guidance.
“I pray Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath for the Prime Minister’s good health, long life and continued energy to serve the nation,” Majhi told mediapersons.
Praising Modi’s selfless service to the nation, the CM said Modi is the first Prime Minister, born after India’s independence, who has consistently prioritised the country’s interests throughout his 55-year political career. He has dedicated his life to serve Mother India; his vision, leadership and work style are unique and his life is a testament to the values of service and dedication, inspiring others to follow, Majhi said.
The chief minister said that every decision taken by the Prime Minister reflects his commitment to addressing the problems faced by ordinary people. Citing examples of welfare schemes launched by the PM, such as Ujjwala Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Matru Vandana Yojana and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Majhi said all these efforts are to improve the lives of common people and promote national development.
Joining a massive plantation programme under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign at Ekamra College in the city, the chief minister said this initiative is a tribute to the Prime Minister, mother earth, and future generations. Highlighting the importance of planting trees in memory of one’s mother, Majhi said, the campaign promotes environment conservation and sustainable development.
“We have successfully fulfilled our target to plant 75 lakh trees in a single day with over 1.49 crore trees planted across the state. This collective effort reflects our deep sense of duty towards mother earth and has grown into a true mass movement,” he said and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to this noble cause.
Launching the ‘Seva Parva,’ which would continue till October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti), by attending the Swachh Bharat programme at Master Canteen bus stand, the chief minister said this reflects the government’s commitment to promoting community service and social responsibility among citizens.
Later in the day, he launched ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar’ campaign at a state level programme at Exhibition Ground. This campaign, he said, will focus on raising awareness about women’s health, nutrition and hygienic issues.
Under the campaign, screenings will be conducted for conditions ranging from blood pressure and diabetes to anaemia, tuberculosis and cancer. He assured that all tests and medicines will be provided free of cost, with the government bearing the expenses. The campaign aims to benefit 1.5 crore women and girls across the state.
Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, several minister, MLAs and BJP leaders were present at the programme.