Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday led the Ekta Padayatra in Sambalpur to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The march, which began at the Reserve Police Ground and concluded at the Women’s College Square, witnessed energetic participation from students, youth groups and several local organisations.
Addressing the gathering, Pradhan urged people to work with renewed dedication towards building a clean, healthy and progressive Odisha. He noted that the state will complete 100 years of its formation as a linguistic state in 2036, while India will celebrate 100 years of Independence in 2047.
“Our ancestors fought for Swaraj. Today, our duty is to fight for Samruddhi,” he said, stressing that the next two decades will be crucial for creating a developed Sambalpur, a developed Odisha and a developed India.
Emphasising the importance of civic responsibility, Pradhan encouraged citizens to transform Sambalpur into a model city inspired by Gandhian values. He highlighted the need to improve nutrition levels in rural regions and ensure proper care for children, especially newborns. Strengthening sports infrastructure, he added, will help instil confidence and self-reliance among nearly two lakh families living in the area.
Pradhan also recalled the contributions of icons such as the Bamanda king Sir Basudev Sudhal Deb, poet Gangadhar Meher and other eminent figures who played a vital role in shaping Odisha as a linguistic state.
During the march, the Union Minister paid floral tributes at the statue of Veer Surendra Sai near Jail Chowk and at the Shaheed Stambh at Nelson Mandela Chowk to honour the freedom fighters who laid down their lives for India.
Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, Higher Education and Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, and Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra were also present at the event.
