CM Majhi Plants Ashoka Sapling, Joins Mega Blood Donation Camp; Over 6,500 Units Targeted

Bhubaneswar, 17 September (H.S.): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday launched a month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 76th birthday, by planting an Ashoka sapling at Lok Seva Bhawan and participating in a mega blood donation camp at the IDCO Exhibition Ground in Unit-3 here.

More than 6,500 units of blood are targeted to be collected through the mega blood donation camp being organised as part of the campaign.

“Donating blood and experiencing the satisfaction of saving a life reflects our high human values. Despite advances in science, there is no substitute for blood, and it cannot be manufactured in any factory,” Majhi said while addressing the programme at the exhibition ground.

The Chief Minister said the state government is committed to ensuring that no life is lost prematurely due to a shortage of blood. To strengthen blood security in Odisha, the state government has allocated ₹50.54 crore in the 2026-27 Budget for the ‘Atal Raktadan Abhiyan’. Under the initiative, blood banks are being established at new medical colleges, while existing blood banks are being modernised.

Extending birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of the people of Odisha, Majhi described him as the “architect of a developed India” and said his five decades of public service and 25 years of continuous governance had brought about major transformation in the country.

He said the month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, inspired by Modi’s public welfare-oriented ideals, was not merely a programme but a broad people’s movement centred on human service and sacrifice.

Highlighting India’s development, Majhi said that under Modi’s leadership, India had emerged as an influential geopolitical and economic power. He also said the country’s dependence on defence imports had declined from 70 per cent to 35 per cent, while India was moving towards self-reliance in areas such as semiconductors and space technology.

The Chief Minister said the goal of building a developed India by 2047 would be achieved. He appealed to the youth of Odisha to devote some time from their daily lives to social service and nation-building, describing it as a meaningful tribute to the Prime Minister.

Urban Development and Housing Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said the occasion was not an ordinary day but an opportunity to remember Prime Minister Modi’s 25 years of public service and commitment. He stressed the importance of blood donation in saving lives and said the mega camp could create a new record in blood collection in the state.

Rajya Sabha MP Manmohan Samal said Modi had completed 25 consecutive years as a public representative and had established a distinct global identity through his continuous service to the people. He said the mega blood donation camp could help address the shortage of blood experienced by blood banks after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rajya Sabha MP Sujit Kumar, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, Khurda MLA Prashant Kumar Jagdev, Bhatli MLA Irashis Acharya, Mahakalapada MLA Durga Prasanna Nayak, BJP Yuva Morcha State President Abhilash Panda, senior party leaders, blood donors, young volunteers and media representatives were present at the programme.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda