Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday urged all elected representatives and stakeholders in Odisha to work collectively toward building a prosperous and progressive state by 2036 — the centenary year of Odisha’s formation — calling it a significant milestone that could help India achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. She was addressing members of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, a place she said holds deep personal memories from her years as a legislator and minister.
Reflecting on Odisha’s historical and cultural identity, President Murmu said the state has played a remarkable role in India’s freedom struggle and nation-building. She highlighted Odisha’s tribal communities for their courage in resisting colonial rule and emphasized the state’s long tradition of women’s empowerment, noting that Odisha has never had a legislative assembly without women members, according to a PIB India release.
The President praised the current Assembly for maintaining a healthy democratic dialogue and for passing several welfare-oriented legislations. She also acknowledged the rapid progress being made in various sectors, including agriculture, education, health, empowerment of tribal communities and other vulnerable groups, industrial development and disaster management. According to her, the coordinated efforts of the state and central governments are giving new momentum to Odisha’s industrial growth.
Calling Odisha a land blessed with rich natural and human resources — from minerals and forests to water and fertile land — she said these strengths can propel the state to become a leading economic powerhouse in India. “Nature has blessed Odisha with all kinds of bounty,” she said, stressing the need to leverage these advantages for inclusive development.
Addressing members of the House directly, President Murmu said the people of Odisha have placed immense trust in their elected representatives. She reminded them that it is their responsibility to meet citizens’ expectations and “bring smiles to their faces.” In the modern age, she said, public representatives are constantly watched and followed, and their conduct — inside and outside the Assembly — must serve as a guiding example for society.
She urged legislators to uphold dignity, responsibility and the spirit of “Nation First” as they steer Odisha toward its centenary goals.
