THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 6, 2026

Odisha’s development journey witnessed a significant milestone on Friday as Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth more than ₹3,275 crore during his one-day visit to the state. The initiatives — spanning cooperatives, agriculture, industry, and security — mark a major push towards the vision of “Viksit Odisha-2036” and “Viksit Bharat-2047.”

The key event was held at the IDCO Exhibition Ground in Unit-III, Bhubaneswar, where Shah launched several initiatives linked to the cooperative sector and national security. The programme was attended by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, Law, Works and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik, and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, among others.

Addressing the gathering, Amit Shah described Odisha as a land of rich culture and heritage and said India is rapidly progressing on the path of development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He highlighted recent global discussions on Artificial Intelligence that saw participation from leaders and experts from various countries, adding that India is positioning itself at the forefront of emerging technologies.

Shah also reiterated the Centre’s resolve to eliminate Naxalism from the country in the coming years. He said the new government in Odisha has aligned its development agenda with the national vision of building a developed India by 2047. Initiatives such as providing an MSP of ₹3,100 for paddy farmers and empowering women through the Subhadra Yojana are part of this broader roadmap, he noted.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the day marked the beginning of a new chapter in Odisha’s development journey. “Projects worth ₹3,275 crore have been inaugurated or launched in a single day, and MoUs have been signed for six additional projects. These initiatives will strengthen farmers, empower youth, uplift mothers, and ultimately enrich the entire state,” he said.

Majhi also acknowledged Shah’s role in strengthening policing systems across the country. He noted that the conviction rate in crimes against women in Odisha rose to 41 percent in the first six months of 2025, compared to only 6.7 percent in 2023. He emphasized that the principle of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation) aligns closely with the state’s development vision, as cooperative institutions enable economically weaker sections to participate in the growth process.

A major highlight of the visit was the launch of the Odisha Cooperative Policy-2026, making Odisha the first state in the country to implement such a policy. Based on the vision of the national cooperative framework, the policy seeks to strengthen the cooperative ecosystem and contribute to the goal of a prosperous Odisha by 2036. As part of this effort, 1,566 PACS Common Service Centres were also inaugurated. An MoU was signed for the establishment of a campus of the Tribhuvan Cooperative University.

In a move expected to revive the regional economy, an agreement was signed with Indian Potash Limited to revive the long-defunct Badamba Cooperative Sugar Mill, fulfilling a long-standing aspiration of thousands of residents in the Badamba region of Cuttack district.

The cooperative dairy sector also received a boost. The Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (OMFED), often described as the “Kamadhenu of Odisha,” currently collects more than five lakh litres of milk daily, providing livelihoods to thousands of farmers. It also supplies about 30 tonnes of pure ghee every month to Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, preserving the sanctity of rituals. During the programme, a new milk processing plant with a capacity of 30,000 litres per day was inaugurated at Tangi in Khordha district.

On the security front, Shah inaugurated an exhibition on the new citizen-centric criminal laws and witnessed the signing of an MoU between the Odisha Police, the Rashtriya Raksha University, and Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar to enhance modern training for police personnel. He also virtually inaugurated 20 new cyber crime and economic offence police stations across 20 districts, along with 24 additional police stations aimed at strengthening law-and-order infrastructure.

Earlier in the day, the Union Minister attended the CISF Foundation Day celebrations at Mundali in Cuttack district.

Later, at Paradip, he dedicated to the nation the Sulphuric Acid Plant-III at the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) facility, further boosting fertilizer production and industrial capacity in the region.

The event also saw the virtual inauguration of infrastructure for 141 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), the launch of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) office portal, the direct-to-consumer portal of the National Cooperative Organics Limited, and the introduction of the “Coop Mark” developed by the National Cooperative Exports Limited. Additionally, an AI-based multilingual digital learning platform named “SaVidya” was unveiled.

Several initiatives aimed at strengthening the dairy sector were also launched, including registration certificates for two milk producers’ cooperative societies and financial assistance to beneficiary farmers under the Mukhyamantri Kamadhenu Yojana. An MoU was signed with the National Dairy Development Board to upgrade a training and demonstration centre.

During the programme, a video presentation showcased development initiatives across multiple departments. In total, 69 projects worth ₹1,159.03 crore were inaugurated, while foundation stones were laid for 130 projects valued at ₹2,116.06 crore, taking the combined investment to over ₹3,275 crore.