Bhubaneswar: The state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Wednesday approved Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana to honour the contributions of the state’s distinguished freedom fighters, poets, litterateurs, educationists, social reformers, and other iconic figures.
According to an official release, the scheme seeks to go beyond mere acknowledgment by creating lasting tributes that inspire future generations and promote cultural awareness. By preserving both tangible sites and intangible values, it aims to encourage community involvement in heritage conservation while generating local economic opportunities through tourism and related activities. “With the objective of preserving tangible and intangible heritage, promoting community-based cultural conservation and creating localised heritage assets, it is proposed to implement the ‘Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana’ in the state as a structured, budget-supported intervention.”
Key features of the scheme include:
>> Converting the birthplaces or residential homes of these eminent personalities into heritage museums.
>> Developing supporting facilities such as interpretation centres, libraries, conference halls, open-air theatres, children’s parks, and other infrastructure.
>> Erecting statues and memorials to honour their legacies.
>> Setting up outlets for selling local cuisine, handicrafts, and handloom products to boost livelihoods.
>> Organising seminars, cultural programs, discussions, and interactive sessions focused on their lives and ideas.
It further noted that this integrated approach is aimed at preserving heritage, fostering cultural awareness and catalysing sustainable local development. “In the first phase of the scheme, 25 eminent sons of Odisha have been identified for development. Financial assistance of up to Rs 15 crore per birthplace will be provided, based on actual requirements for the development and preservation of these heritage sites. Accordingly, the total estimated expenditure for Phase I will be Rs 345 crore.”
Based on the experience and outcomes of Phase I, the government may select places related to other eminent personalities in subsequent phases and allocate funds as required for the development of their respective birthplaces, it further stated.
This move is expected to elevate Odisha’s profile as a cultural tourism hub, building on its legacy of visionary leaders. The scheme echoes similar heritage preservation efforts in the state, reinforcing the government’s commitment to intergenerational transmission of Odia values and sustainable development rooted in history.
