Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi announced that the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Phulbani would be renamed after the slain seer Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati. He also unveiled a comprehensive Rs 13 crore development package for the Jalespata Ashram in Kandhamal district.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated that the decision honours the seer’s “service and sacrifice for Kandhamal’s tribal communities.” The medical college, which began MBBS admissions in the 2025–26 academic session, currently has an annual intake of 100 students.
Rs 13 Crore Sanctioned for Ashram Development
As part of the government’s initiative, Rs 13 crore has been sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Special Assistance (CMSA) Fund for the preservation and holistic development of Jalespata Ashram, where Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates were killed in 2008.
Pujya Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati Ji devoted his life to the service of Sanatan Dharma, the empowerment of tribal communities and the preservation of India's timeless civilisational values. His legacy of service, sacrifice and cultural awakening continues to inspire… pic.twitter.com/bsVYKzMPyc
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) July 27, 2026
The allocation includes Rs 5 crore for the construction of a 300-seat girls’ hostel aimed at providing safe and quality residential education. Another Rs 3 crore has been earmarked for preserving the heritage site associated with the seer.
In addition, a Mega River Lift Water Supply Project costing Rs 60 lakh will be implemented to ensure drinking water supply to the ashram, its school, and the Kanyashram girls’ hostel. The remaining funds will be utilised for building toilets, expanding hostel infrastructure, constructing boundary walls, adding classrooms, and renovating existing structures.
Tribute to a Social and Religious Leader
Announcing the initiatives, the Chief Minister highlighted Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati’s contribution to Sanatan Dharma, tribal welfare, and cultural preservation. In a social media post, he described the measures as a “humble tribute” to the seer’s legacy of service, sacrifice, and social awakening.
Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati spent more than four decades working among tribal and Scheduled Caste communities in Kandhamal. He established schools, hostels, and welfare institutions, and was known for his campaigns on religious and social issues. He was regarded as one of the most influential Hindu religious figures in the region.
2008 Killing and Its Aftermath
The seer and four of his associates were shot dead during Janmashtami celebrations at the Jalespata Ashram on August 23, 2008. The incident triggered large-scale communal violence in Kandhamal, making it one of the most significant and sensitive episodes in Odisha’s recent history.
The government’s latest initiatives come a day ahead of the release of a book on the seer in Bhubaneswar, further highlighting renewed focus on his life and legacy.
Crime Branch Probe into Missing Inquiry Report
In a parallel development, Chief Minister Majhi on Monday ordered a Crime Branch investigation into the alleged disappearance of the Justice A.S. Naidu Commission report related to the 2008 killing.
According to an official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the case regarding the missing file has been referred to the Crime Branch for a detailed probe.
The development follows an FIR filed by the Home Department on June 10 at the Capital Police Station in Bhubaneswar, concerning the disappearance of two inquiry commission reports from the CMO. Apart from the Naidu Commission report, the missing documents also include a Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) probe report into the SUM Hospital fire tragedy.
Missing Files and Investigation Details
Official sources said the two reports had earlier been submitted to the CMO by the Home Department. While other files were returned to the department on June 4, 2024, after the Assembly elections, these two reports were not returned.
The FIR noted that despite repeated follow-ups, the reports could not be traced, raising concerns over their whereabouts. The Crime Branch has now been tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the missing documents and fixing responsibility.
Justice A.S. Naidu had submitted his report to the state government in 2016, while the RDC report on the SUM Hospital fire was submitted in 2018.
