*Chief Minister joins the fourth evening of the festival*

*Various projects worth Rs 545 crores*
*Koraput contributes to peace, simplicity and love in the society--Chief Minister*

Damanajodi/Koraput: Since 1996, Koraput has been making successful efforts to keep the art, culture, tradition and history of Koraput alive and promote it. This festival has awakened social and cultural consciousness and brought many hidden talents to the public, binding everyone in the thread of unity, said Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi today while joining the fourth evening of the National Level Tribal Festival Parva-2025. On this occasion, the Chief Minister launched 86 development projects worth Rs 545 crores for Koraput district. In this, 16 projects worth Rs 24 crores were inaugurated and the foundation stones of 70 projects worth Rs 521 crores were laid. These projects include irrigation, health centers, small industries, urban hostels, bridge construction, roads, Mission Shakti Bhavan, construction of forest protection committee buildings, additional classrooms, etc. The Chief Minister said that all these projects will help in leading the development of Koraput. Joining the fourth evening of this five-day festival organized at the Koraput Shaheed Laxman Nayak Manch as the chief guest, the Chief Minister first paid tribute to Shaheed Laxman Nayak and all the freedom fighters of the district and said that Koraput district, a haven of unparalleled beauty, is known all over the world as a unique gift of nature. Koraput soil plays a major role in peace, simplicity and love in the society. He said that the coffee, black cumin seeds and Kotpad sarees produced in Koraput soil have created a special identity for themselves not only in Odisha but also in the whole country and abroad. He further said that Koraput district is also famous for producing millet, a type of grain known as Shri Anna. Currently, millet is being cultivated in about 72 thousand hectares of land in Koraput district under the Shri Anna Abhiyan. He appreciated the efforts of Dr. Raimati Ghiuria, the district's leading woman farmer and custodian in the field of millet cultivation. The Chief Minister said that the mantra of our government is development and heritage. Our government is committed to strengthening the social and economic development of the Koraput region. He advised the farmers of the district to do allied agricultural activities like fish farming, cow husbandry, chicken and duck farming along with agriculture.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister released a special jacket and a video song for Parva. Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Shri Gokulanand Mallick said that the tribal culture of Koraput is very rich. It is the duty of all of us to bring the rich culture and traditions of the district to the people. The state government, under the leadership of the Chief Minister, is working for the preservation and promotion of tribal culture.
Scheduled Tribes and Caste Development Minister Shri Nityanand Gand said that we are always proud of our culture, our traditions and our heritage. Parva is a beautiful program to keep our culture and traditions alive. Parva has given a special identity to Koraput district. Among others, Koraput MP Shri Saptagiri Ullaka, Nabarangpur MP Shri Balabhadra Majhi, Pattangi MLA Shri Ramachandra Kadam, Kotpad MLA Shri Rupu Bhatra, and Laxmipur MLA Shri Pitavat Sauntha extended their greetings to the people of the district for the grand Parva festival and said that after Bali Yatra in the state, Parva of Koraput has increased the reputation of Odisha at the national and international level. District Magistrate Shri Manoj Satyavan Mahajan delivered the welcome speech and Koraput MLA Shri Raghuram Machh proposed the vote of thanks.