Rourkela, Dec 27: Senior BJP leader and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attended the 50th State Conference of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Odisha West, in Rourkela on Saturday. Addressing the gathering, he urged members to promote mother tongue education, combat malnutrition, enhance workforce participation, and work towards advancing Odisha’s prosperity by 2036 (Vikshit Odisha), that shines brightly within a ‘Viksit Bharat’.

ଦେଶକୁ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଦାୟିତ୍ୱ ନେବାରେ ଅଖିଳ ଭାରତୀୟ ବିଦ୍ୟାର୍ଥୀ ପରିଷଦର କୌଣସି ବିକଳ୍ପ ନାହିଁ । ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ଆମ ସାମ୍ନାରେ ମୁଖ୍ୟ ଦାୟିତ୍ୱ ହେଉଛି -
•୨୦୩୬ରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଗଠନର ଶହେ ବର୍ଷ ପୂର୍ତ୍ତି ଅବସରରେ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ସଂକଳ୍ପ ନେଇ ଆଗକୁ ବଢିବା

•ଜାତୀୟ ଶିକ୍ଷା ନୀତି ଅନୁସାରେ ମାତୃଭାଷାରେ ଶିକ୍ଷାଦାନକୁ… pic.twitter.com/a5YNPb6zlt

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) December 27, 2025

Call for Responsibilities

In a post on X, Pradhan described ABVP as having “no alternative” in taking responsibility for enriching the nation. He outlined key priorities: ensuring no child in Odisha suffers from malnutrition, raising workforce participation from 50% to 75%, creating an environment for job creation rather than job seeking, and promoting education in mother tongue under the National Education Policy.

Personal Journey Reflected

Pradhan recalled his association with ABVP, noting that 34 years ago he had attended a regional conference in Rourkela as a grassroots worker. “From being a simple worker to attending today’s conference as India’s Education Minister is a matter of pride and honour,” he said. He added that his journey from 1983 to 2025 was not just personal success but a reflection of ABVP’s ideological commitment and organisational strength.

ABVP’s Role in Nation-Building

Highlighting ABVP’s 76-year journey, Pradhan described it as the “largest free university of personality development in post-independence India.” He said the organisation has deeply influenced Odisha’s social life and contributed to building leadership with ideological clarity.

The Minister invoked the inspiration of Swami Vivekananda, Bhagat Singh, Birsa Munda, Buxi Jagabandhu, Veer Surendra Sai, and Baji Rout, noting that ABVP’s philosophy is rooted in India’s civilisational values, culture, and education system, passed on to new generations.

A Way of Life

Pradhan concluded by emphasising that ABVP is not merely an organisation but “a way of life,” committed to nurturing youth leadership and advancing India’s vision of becoming a developed nation and a global knowledge leader.