In a significant push for rural and industrial growth, the Odisha state cabinet has approved six major proposals aimed at boosting silk production, revitalising the weaving sector, and enhancing infrastructure in fisheries and healthcare.
Chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday, the meeting focused on farmer welfare, skill development, and employment generation. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling shared details of the decisions in the assembly on Saturday.
The cabinet greenlit two flagship schemes: the Chief Minister Silk Development Scheme and the Chief Minister Weaving Industry Development Scheme. The silk scheme, with an estimated budget of Rs 274 crore over the next five years, seeks to strengthen the state’s sericulture industry through improved infrastructure and skill-building initiatives. It will promote ethical silk production, including Ahimsa (non-violent) silk, by focusing on silkworm seed preparation, species conservation, and farmer incentives. Cooperative societies will facilitate better marketing of silk products, protecting farmers from distress sales and ensuring sustainable growth.
Complementing this, the weaving scheme allocates Rs 490 crore over five years to foster investment, empower local industries, and expand employment opportunities. Aligned with the Odisha Apparel and Technical Textile Policy 2022 and the Industrial Policy Resolution 2015, it will provide incentives to new textile manufacturing units, aiming to position Odisha as an emerging hub for the weaving industry. The initiative is expected to enhance production capacity and create a robust ecosystem for the sector.
In the fisheries domain, the cabinet approved the restructuring of the Odisha Fisheries Service Cadre to accelerate fish production and scheme implementation under the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department. Key changes include increasing Director of Fisheries posts from 2 to 4, Joint Director posts from 3 to 19, and Deputy Director posts from 18 to 119. Additionally, 195 new posts for Block Fisheries Officers/Assistant Directors (Group-A) have been created to streamline operations at the grassroots level.
Healthcare infrastructure received a boost with the approval of the Odisha Pharma and Medical Device Policy 2025. This will pave the way for establishing the Odisha Pharma Park and Odisha MedTech Park, with the Odisha Pharma Development Cell as the nodal agency. Industrial bodies like IPICOL and IDCO will handle infrastructure development, aiming to attract investments in pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.
On the judicial front, amendments to the Odisha Superior Judicial Service and Odisha Judicial Service Rules 2007 were approved in line with Supreme Court directives. These include revising recruitment ratios for district judges, promoting Civil Judges (Senior Division), and raising the upper age limit for direct recruitment of Civil Judges (Junior Division) to 42 years (with three years of practice required). The changes are designed to expedite justice delivery to the public.
Finally, to ensure equitable representation, the cabinet endorsed a uniform reservation policy for teacher appointments in all state government universities. Treating each university as a single unit for reservations in Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor roles, the policy shifts from the existing department-based system to a post-based roster. This will promote transparency, boost representation for SC, ST, SEBC, and other eligible categories, and standardise hiring practices across institutions.
These decisions underscore the government’s commitment to inclusive development, economic empowerment, and sectoral modernisation in Odisha.