TNI Bureau: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, marking his first 100 days in office, declared that his government has fulfilled key promises made during the election campaign, while outlining future plans to address the needs of the state’s people. Addressing a public meeting in Puri, Majhi emphasized the achievements of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government and reiterated their commitment to improving governance and delivering on the BJP’s election manifesto.
“We have fulfilled the promises made in our manifesto and will continue to do so,” said Majhi, a tribal leader from Keonjhar district and a four-time MLA. Highlighting a significant religious initiative, he added, “We opened four doors of Puri Srimandir on the very first day of coming to power. In the coming days, grievance cells will be set up in each district to address the problems of the people.”
Majhi and his cabinet colleagues presented the state government’s report card to the public, emphasizing various developmental initiatives. The BJP-led government, which assumed office on June 12 after defeating Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD), secured 78 seats in the 147-member Assembly, while the BJD won 51 seats. The Congress, Independents, and CPI(M) collectively won the remaining 19 seats.
In the celebratory event in Puri Majhi presented his government’s report card, highlighting achievements across several sectors. Attendees will include prominent BJP leaders, Union ministers, MLAs, and MPs, underscoring the significance of the milestone.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Majhi expressed his government’s strong commitment to the people’s aspirations, with a vision to transform Odisha into a “Viksit Odisha” by 2036. “The government should be guided by the welfare of the people. After 24 years of anti-people governance, the former BJD government was ousted. We are committed to fulfilling every promise in our ‘Sankalpa Patra’ (election manifesto) with sincerity and dedication,” Majhi stated.
One of the key actions taken within the first 100 days was the opening of all four doors of Puri Srimandir and initiating the process for inventorying the treasures in the Ratna Bhandar. The CM also emphasized his government’s swift action against corruption, noting that 58 officials, including 16 first-class officers, had been arrested for graft, with disproportionate assets worth Rs 66.50 crore identified.
Among the key accomplishments during the first 100 days is the launch of the Subhadra Yojana, a flagship program aimed at empowering women across the state. The scheme provides financial assistance of ₹50,000 to over one crore women over five years, with around 25 lakh women having already received their first installment of ₹5,000.
A ₹500 crore corpus fund has been set up for the conservation and management of the temple, with an additional ₹200 crore allocated for preserving Odisha’s cultural heritage.
Majhi’s government has prioritized farmers’ welfare with the introduction of the CM Kisan Yojana, which aims to provide financial support to farmers. A sum of ₹5,000 crore has been allocated for paddy procurement, with farmers receiving ₹3,100 per quintal, offering a significant boost to the agricultural sector.
On the occasion of Nuakhai, a major agrarian festival in the state, ₹925 crore was credited to the accounts of 46 lakh farmers under this scheme, benefiting both landholding and landless farmers.
The BJP government also revived the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell, a direct platform for citizens to report their concerns and receive solutions. This initiative has been widely praised for bridging the gap between the government and the people, with grievance cells being set up across all districts.
Healthcare reforms have been at the forefront of the BJP’s agenda, with the introduction of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana and the Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, aimed at improving access to treatment for life-threatening diseases. The government plans to expand the network of hospitals offering these services from 900 to 27,000 across the state.
In the education sector, 800 new PM Shree houses have been sanctioned, and several government schools are being transformed into centers of excellence.
Despite these achievements, the BJP government faced strong criticism from the opposition. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which had ruled Odisha for 24 years, accused the ruling party of renaming their flagship schemes without introducing significant changes. Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, now Leader of the Opposition, charged the BJP with copying more than 40 of his government’s schemes.
“The BJP lacks vision and has rebranded our schemes as their own without proper acknowledgment. Renaming Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana to Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana and other schemes like Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana shows their desperation to erase the legacy of great leaders like Biju Patnaik,” Patnaik said.
In addition, the BJP government faced backlash over a proposal to rename Ravenshaw University, a historic institution in Cuttack, which prompted fierce opposition from political parties and citizens alike. The Union Education Minister’s suggestion to change the name, questioning Ravenshaw’s role during the 1866 famine, ignited a political firestorm.
The law and order situation has also come under scrutiny. Opposition parties have pointed to several incidents, including the tragic fall of Lord Balabhadra’s idol during Rath Yatra in Puri, which left nine servitors injured, and the alleged assault of a Raj Bhavan staffer by the son of Odisha Governor Raghubar Das. Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik criticized the government for failing to take swift action in these cases, suggesting that the administration is falling short on maintaining public order.
The recent hooch tragedy in Chikiti, Ganjam district, where five people lost their lives, has also been a significant black mark on the administration’s record. Despite announcing a probe into the incident, the government has yet to issue compensation for the victims, drawing ire from opposition parties.