A new historic chapter was added to the healthcare sector of Mayurbhanj and the entire North Odisha today. During his visit to Baripada today, Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated a new 650-bed Teaching Hospital at the Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital. On this occasion, he also launched and laid the foundation stones for various developmental projects worth over ₹430 crore aimed at the all-round development of the district.
Notably, the government is investing a total of ₹430.26 crore to strengthen the infrastructure of Mayurbhanj district. Under this massive budgetary allocation, 39 major developmental programs related to connectivity, health, drinking water, and other public welfare sectors have been launched or had their foundation stones laid. These projects will bring widespread improvement to the local area in the coming days, generating unprecedented enthusiasm among the local public.
Within this massive developmental program, foundation stones were laid for 21 projects worth over ₹282 crore, while 18 projects worth over ₹149 crore were inaugurated. Specifically, 83 drinking water projects built with an investment of nearly ₹100 crore were inaugurated today, which will resolve the long-standing drinking water issues in these areas and significantly improve the daily lives of the public. All these projects will assist in providing essential basic services to the residents of the district.
The main attraction of this public development program was the dedication of the new building of the 650-bed Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital. The Chief Minister stated that this state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary hospital will bring a new revolution to the healthcare sector, benefiting not just Baripada or Mayurbhanj district, but the entirety of North Odisha and its neighboring regions.
Built at a cost of approximately ₹258 crore, this modern 650-bed Teaching Hospital is one of the most critical health infrastructure projects in North Odisha. Equipped with modern facilities, advanced diagnostic services, specialized medical departments, critical care facilities, emergency services, and advanced teaching infrastructure, this hospital will strengthen the region's healthcare manifold, the Chief Minister said.
This new teaching hospital will not only provide healthcare services to the people of Mayurbhanj but will also heavily benefit patients from neighboring districts, adjacent states, and nearby tribal regions. The Chief Minister noted that due to the increased bed capacity, specialized treatment facilities, and state-of-the-art infrastructure, it will serve as a premier referral center for North Odisha. Advanced medical treatments for which people previously had to travel to distant cities will now be available close to home, mitigating the financial and physical hardships of patients' families while ensuring appropriate treatment at the right time. Since Mayurbhanj district is home to a large population of tribal brothers and sisters, he expressed strong confidence that this medical college will play a pivotal role in community health, maternal and child healthcare, public health research, and building health awareness among tribal communities.
Speaking on the state government's various welfare schemes and health infrastructure development, the Chief Minister stated that under the Ayushman Bharat-Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana, free quality healthcare is being provided to 3.46 crore individuals across 1.30 crore families of the state in renowned public and private hospitals across the country. Within just 20 months of the current government coming to power, three new medical colleges have been made operational in Jajpur, Kandhamal, and Talcher. While the foundation stone for a medical college in Nabarangpur was laid last February, medical colleges will also be established very soon in Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, and Bhadrak. Similarly, to strengthen the AYUSH healthcare system, steps are being taken to open three new Ayurvedic medical colleges in Gajapati, Malkangiri, and Rayagada, along with two new Homeopathic medical colleges in Nayagarh and Nuapada.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister visited the Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital and interacted with the medical students.
Addressing the medical students, the Chief Minister remarked that medicine is not merely a profession or a livelihood; it is a sacred, divine vow. Society views doctors as the 'second form of God' because the responsibility of protecting life between birth and death rests in their hands. A doctor’s stethoscope and pen possess immense power to bring positive change to society, and wiping the tears from the eyes of a dying patient is a physician's greatest success in life.
In his speech, the Chief Minister recalled the sacrifices and ideals of the great social reformer Guru Gomke Pandit Raghunath Murmu. He mentioned that Mayurbhanj is the land of simple and innocent tribal brothers and sisters. Therefore, the future doctors graduating from this institution should consider it their primary duty to serve the poor, the downtrodden, the neglected, and those living in remote areas at the very end of the line.
Reiterating the message of Sanatan culture—"Seva Hi Paramo Dharma" (Service is the supreme duty)—the Chief Minister stated that true medical education is a rare blend of science and compassion. Modern medical equipment cannot understand a patient's pain, but a doctor's kind words and empathetic behavior provide genuine healing to a patient. While praising the hard work of the medical students, the Chief Minister expressed hope that they would become the primary drivers in making Odisha the top state in the country in the healthcare sector.
Attending the ceremony, the State Minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change and Employees' State Insurance, Shri Ganesh Ram Sing Khuntia, praised the Chief Minister, stating: "The Honorable Chief Minister has always extended a generous helping hand for the progress of Mayurbhanj district. It is due to his vision and continuous support that Mayurbhanj has reached new heights of development today."
Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Parliamentary Affairs, and Electronics & Information Technology, emphasized the strengthening of health infrastructure, stating that the government is committed to providing the best medical services to the people of the district. Making the 650-bed Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital fully operational will provide a massive boost to Mayurbhanj's health infrastructure. He firmly asserted that this new hospital will transform the healthcare map of North Odisha in the coming days.
The event was graced by the presence of several esteemed guests who added to the distinction of the program, including Mayurbhanj MP Shri Naba Charan Majhi; District Planning Board Chairman and Udala MLA Shri Bhaskar Chandra Madhei; Baripada MLA Shri Prakash Soren; Saraskana MLA Shri Bhadav Hansdah; Rairangpur MLA Shri Jalen Naik; Bangiriposi MLA Ms. Sanjali Murmu; Karanjia MLA Shri Padma Charan Haiburu; Badasahi MLA Shri Sanatan Bijuli; and Special Development Council (SDC) Chairman Dr. Budhan Murmu. Representing the administration, Mayurbhanj Collector Shri Hemkant Say was also present to oversee and manage the entire mega inauguration ceremony.
