Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, speaking at the Garib Kalyan Samabesh in Chhatrapur, underlined Ganjam’s immense potential and its crucial role in Odisha’s development. Paying tribute to the district’s rich history, he recalled how the foundation for a separate Odisha province was laid here and noted the first Rambha Conference, initiated by Khallikote King Harihar Mardaraj, to safeguard Odia interests.
Pradhan praised Ganjam’s skilled and hardworking people, many of whom contribute significantly to economies in other states like Gujarat and Surat. However, he expressed concern over the district’s lag in development under previous leadership, stressing the need to strengthen local business infrastructure to curb youth migration.
Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, Pradhan pointed to world-class institutions like IJAR and the innovative seawater desalination project by IREL (India) Limited as examples of modern solutions for the district. He outlined the government’s welfare measures, including PM Awas Yojana, Subhadra Yojana, PM Surya Ghar Yojana, farmer support schemes, and PM Shri Yojana for school development.
He further noted ongoing efforts to bolster road, railway, port, and industrial infrastructure, reiterating the government’s commitment to transforming Ganjam, Gopalpur, and Berhampur into thriving hubs of business and tourism.
