Bhubaneswar: To honour the legacy Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and his contributions to tribal welfare in Kandhamala, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has decided that the Government Medical College and Hospital in Phulbani will be named after the spiritual leader.
Officials said the move aims to preserve the memory and ideals of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, who dedicated his life to the uplift of tribal communities in the region.
This apart, the state government would provide Rs 13 crore from the Chief Minister’s Special Assistance (CMSA) fund for the development of the seer’s ashram at Jalespata and its associated institutions, including the ashram school and girls’ hostel.
Of the total allocation, Rs five crore will be spent on constructing a 300-seat girls’ hostel to improve residential facilities for students. Similarly, Rs three crore has been earmarked for the preservation and development of the saint’s heritage site, Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a statement on Monday.
To address water supply needs, a mega river lift project worth Rs 60 lakh will be implemented to provide water to the ashram, school, and hostel premises.
The remaining funds will be utilised for infrastructure development, including construction of toilets, additional hostel buildings, boundary walls, classrooms, and renovation of existing hostel facilities.
The Chief Minister stressed these initiatives are aimed at safeguarding the historical and cultural significance of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati’s ashram while also improving educational infrastructure in the tribal-dominated district.