New OPCC chief Das emphasizes social justice, plays dalit card

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, while responding to the discussion on the state budget, took aim at the opposition, stating that they had failed to find faults with the government's clear roadmap for a developed Odisha.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

Instead, they resorted to questioning the government's ability to execute plans within just four months of taking office and raising concerns over increasing debt.

Majhi pointed out that the opposition had not significantly criticized the budget's various schemes and programs but instead focused on concerns such as expenditure capacity, debt burden, and political issues. He remarked that the high expectations stem from the overwhelming success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in shaping an empowered India.

The primary education sector was neglected for over two decades during the BJD regime, the industrial hubs were controlled by just three families without whose consent not a single industry could engage people or even park their vehicles. The BJD promised 35% irrigation in each block of the state and everyone here knows about this empty promise, he quipped.

The Chief Minister reaffirmed his government's vision to make Odisha a prosperous and strong state by 2036, with the 2025-26 budget serving as a crucial step towards that goal. The budget emphasizes key sectors such as infrastructure, urban development, agriculture, irrigation, capital investment, port-based development, industrialization, and public sports. It reflects the administration's commitment to holistic development, including education, healthcare, and social security.

The Budget Estimate: Rs 2,90,000 crore for 2025-26, a 10% increase from the previous year, program expenditure is Rs 1,70,000 crore, accounting for 59% of the total budget while capital expenditure is Rs 65,012 crore, making up 6.1% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP)—the highest among major states.

To accelerate highway and expressway construction, the government will establish the Odisha Highways Authority, modeled after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). A comprehensive plan has been outlined to construct 75,000 km of world-class roads by 2029-30.