Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday hailed the Union Budget 2026–27, describing it as futuristic, youth-focused, people-centric, and employment-oriented.
Addressing a press conference at the party office in Bhubaneswar, Pradhan said the budget reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas.”
He said the budget aims to fulfil the aspirations of people across all sections of society.
Highlighting the ‘Purvodaya’ initiative, Pradhan said the budget lays out a clear roadmap to develop Odisha as a major growth hub, with special emphasis on the new-age economy.
In a post on X, he said, “Sectors such as biopharma power, India Semiconductor 2.0, education-to-employment, development of National Waterway No. 5, a new rare earth corridor, and the East Coast Development Corridor will significantly benefit Odisha.”
BJP state President Manmohan Samal also participated in the press conference and said the budget paves the way for building a developed India and a developed Odisha.
Samal said a record allocation of ₹10,928 crore for railways, along with the development of National Waterway No. 5, the rare earth corridor, and the East Coast Development Corridor, will help Odisha emerge as a new centre for industry and employment. He added that the reduction of tax on kendupatra (tendu leaves) from 5% to 2% will directly benefit 15 lakh kendupatra workers and tribal communities.
He further said that special assistance for cocoa, cashew and coconut cultivation in coastal areas, strengthening the blue economy for fishermen, and tourism development through projects like ‘Turtle Trails’ at places such as Gahirmatha reflect the Modi government’s commitment to Odisha’s all-round development.
