CM Mohan Charan Majhi, BJP state president Manmohan Samal and senior leaders join youth-led initiative on PM Modi’s birthday
GTNS , SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 , BHUBANESWAR — Odisha on Thursday began the month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ with a large-scale blood donation programme in Bhubaneswar, bringing together young volunteers, elected representatives and senior political leaders for a service-oriented campaign.
The campaign, scheduled from September 17 to October 17, has been organised around Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday and the BJP’s commemoration of his 25 years in public life. The Odisha unit has planned 13 programmes covering blood donation, cleanliness activities, public outreach, awareness initiatives and other community programmes.
The main blood donation event was held at the IDCO Exhibition Ground in Unit-III, Bhubaneswar. The organisers set a target of collecting more than 6,500 units of blood during Thursday’s drive.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the programme and appealed to young people to devote part of their time to social service. Speaking at the camp, he described blood donation as an important humanitarian activity and noted that blood cannot be manufactured as a substitute for voluntary donation.
BJP Odisha president and Rajya Sabha MP Manmohan Samal also attended the programme. He linked the blood donation initiative with the campaign’s wider emphasis on public service and said the drive could help address continuing requirements for blood in blood banks.
The event was organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Odisha Pradesh, under the leadership of state Yuva Morcha president Abhilash Panda. Panda had earlier appealed to young people to participate in the blood donation campaign and announced the organisation’s intention to pursue a large-scale collection record.
Senior leaders attending Thursday’s programme included Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Rajya Sabha MP Sujit Kumar, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, Khordha MLA Prasanta Kumar Jagdev, Bhatli MLA Irashis Acharya and Mahakalapada MLA Durga Prasanna Nayak.
The launch also included a symbolic plantation activity. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Majhi planted an Ashoka sapling at Lok Seva Bhawan as part of the formal commencement of the campaign.
The month-long programme is planned to extend beyond the opening blood donation drive. According to the campaign plan announced by the Odisha BJP, activities will include Seva Jyoti Yatra, Seva Setu outreach, cleanliness programmes, Anganwadi-related activities, youth competitions, awareness programmes and the Jansevak Mahakumbh.
The campaign is expected to continue across Odisha from the organisational district level down to mandals and booths, with participation planned among youth, women, students, farmers and other sections of society.
For the opening day, the blood donation programme has therefore emerged as the principal service activity, placing voluntary blood donation and youth participation at the centre of the statewide campaign.
Global Times News | INDIA ; GTNS