PM Modi joins President Murmu’s birthday celebrations in native Odisha village; announces Pahadpur as Solar Village
By Jitendra Biswal
Pahadpur (Odisha), June 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday joined President Droupadi Murmu in celebrating her 68th birthday at her native village Pahadpur in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, describing her remarkable journey from a remote tribal village to the Rashtrapati Bhavan as an inspiration for millions across the country.
The Prime Minister’s visit, marked by cultural programmes, interactions with tribal communities and development announcements, underscored the Centre’s emphasis on tribal empowerment and inclusive growth. Accompanied by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other dignitaries, Modi also participated in rituals at Jahira, the sacred worship site of the Santhal community.
Addressing a large public gathering after unveiling development projects worth around Rs 47,000 crore, Modi said he felt privileged to celebrate the President’s birthday in her ancestral village.
“Today I witnessed how affectionately the President interacted with the children of her village and blessed them. Those children may not fully realise that they are meeting the President of India. For them, she is their mother who has returned to her village with love and blessings,” he said.
Highlighting Murmu’s rise from humble beginnings to the country’s highest constitutional office, Modi said her life exemplifies the strength of Indian democracy and serves as a beacon of hope for tribal and marginalised communities.
In a major announcement, the Prime Minister declared that Pahadpur would be developed as a model solar-powered village or “Suryagram”.
“Every household in Pahadpur will be provided solar power facilities. People will receive free electricity and will also be able to earn income by selling surplus power generated through solar energy,” he said, adding that work on the project had already commenced.
Modi also highlighted the Centre’s commitment to tribal welfare through education and skill development. Referring to Ekalavya Model Residential Schools, he said nearly 500 such institutions are already operational across the country and another 750 have been approved.
“Education remains the strongest instrument of empowerment. Our government is ensuring that tribal children receive quality education and opportunities comparable to those available elsewhere,” he said.
The Prime Minister praised the BJP government in Odisha led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, saying the state was witnessing rapid economic transformation through industrialisation, infrastructure expansion and employment generation.
“Odisha is making remarkable progress. The state is leveraging its natural and human resources effectively to emerge as a major investment destination,” Modi said.
Referring to the Utkarsh Odisha initiative, he noted that investment commitments worth nearly Rs 20 lakh crore had been secured, while mega projects worth about Rs 3.5 lakh crore were under implementation. He also highlighted investments exceeding Rs 6,000 crore in the power sector.
Speaking on the occasion, President Murmu thanked the Prime Minister for visiting her village and participating in the celebrations. She described his presence as a reflection of his affection for tribal communities and appreciated the Odisha government’s welfare initiatives, particularly the Subhadra Yojana for women’s empowerment.
Chief Minister Majhi highlighted his government’s achievements in women’s welfare, employment generation, infrastructure development and tribal upliftment, reaffirming its commitment to inclusive and people-centric governance.
