Bhubaneswar: CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday inaugurated a state-level budget awareness workshop, “Ame Janiba, Ama Budget” (We will know, our budget), and said the budget was not merely a statement of income and expenditure but a roadmap for Odisha’s overall development and fulfilment of citizens’ aspirations.Addressing the workshop at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre, Majhi said the state govt, in line with the national vision, has set ambitious targets to raise per capita income from Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 32 lakh by 2047, improve living standards, reduce multi-dimensional poverty to 5%, increase women’s workforce participation to 70%, raise average life expectancy beyond 80 years, and eliminate anaemia and malnutrition.Referring to the budget for 2026-27, the chief minister said it was aligned with Odisha’s long-term development vision and aimed at strengthening the foundation for a prosperous state. The budget proposes 31 new initiatives, including programmes and schemes, with a total outlay of Rs 3.10 lakh crore, giving special emphasis to capital expenditure. The allocation is around 7% higher than the previous year’s budget estimate.Majhi said the govt has set a goal to transform Odisha into a $500-billion economy by 2036 and a $1.5-trillion economy by 2047. While acknowledging the scale of the challenge, he said the people of Odisha have the strength to turn the seemingly impossible into reality, and expressed confidence that the targets would be achieved with the blessings of Lord Jagannath.The budget, he said, prioritises infrastructure, industry, tourism, agriculture, women’s empowerment, education and health. Odisha will be developed as a major logistics hub through projects such as the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Corridor (BCPPER), National Waterway-5, and new industrial corridors and port projects. He said the Shamuka tourism project in Puri and the Chilika restoration plan would give fresh impetus to tourism.The chief minister said special provisions have been made for rural development, employment generation and addressing bonded labour migration. Initiatives such as Subhadra, Lakhpati Didi and Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangal, along with higher allocations for women-centric programmes, would further strengthen women’s empowerment. In the health and education sectors, the govt plans to enhance services through new medical colleges, universities and ICU facilities.Majhi said the Ame Janiba, Ama Budget campaign would be organised at all levels across the state till April 14 to explain key features of the budget in simple language. He appealed to people to actively participate and share feedback.
