Odisha Governor Urges Media to Highlight Welfare Schemes for Wider Awareness

Bhubaneswar, Oct 17: Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati on Thursday urged media professionals to play an active role in promoting welfare schemes of the Central and State governments to enhance public awareness and ensure that more citizens benefit from them.

Addressing representatives of various media organizations at the Raj Bhavan, Dr. Kambhampati said that increased coverage of social security and financial inclusion programmes could help bring welfare benefits to the doorstep of common people.

He cited key initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Atal Pension Yojana, and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, noting that many citizens remain unaware of their advantages. “If the media highlights these welfare schemes, more people will benefit from them,” the Governor emphasized.

Dr. Kambhampati underlined the importance of these schemes in ensuring financial stability, social protection, and long-term security for families. He added that broader awareness could expand access to insurance, pensions, and savings programmes, strengthening the overall well-being of society.

During the interaction, the Governor also discussed several state-related issues with journalists, including tribal development, education, infrastructure, rural growth, migration, and media safety.

Expressing optimism about Odisha’s progress, Dr. Kambhampati said he was confident that the state could achieve developed-state status by 2036. He referred to ongoing and upcoming projects under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Indian Railways, as well as semiconductor ventures and investment proposals under the Utkarsh Odisha initiative.

Invoking the Prime Minister’s vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, he urged government departments to focus on self-reliance and people-centric development. The Governor also called for collective social responsibility in crime prevention and emphasized skill development as a means to reduce migration.

Dr. Kambhampati commended media professionals for their commitment to informing and educating the public. A video presentation showcasing the Governor’s initiatives during his first six months in office was also screened during the session, which saw enthusiastic participation from media representatives across the state.