Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects in Odisha worth over Rs 37.7 billion (bn) yesterday. The initiatives encompass schemes by the National Dairy Development Board, the Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation and state government projects. He also inaugurated the third sulphuric acid plant at the Paradip unit of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited. A cooperative development seminar in Bhubaneswar accompanied the launches.

He said the Paradip facility will strengthen domestic production and contribute to greater self-reliance in the chemical sector. He indicated that IFFCO and KRIBHCO would collaborate to boost domestic sulphuric acid output in coming years. The minister referred to intensified central efforts to eliminate left-wing extremism and expressed confidence that Naxalism would be eradicated by the end of the month. He said the government aims to accelerate development in previously affected regions and to ensure tribal communities share in benefits.

The minister also laid the foundation stone for a campus of the National Forensic Sciences University in the state and inaugurated a temporary campus to expand forensic education and infrastructure. The government is reported to be expanding forensic laboratories and university campuses nationwide to strengthen the criminal justice system. He noted that Odisha had achieved a conviction rate of more than 87 per cent in first information reports registered under the new criminal laws, attributing improvements to scientific investigation methods and forensic evidence. The initiatives are intended to improve policing outcomes and the quality of investigations.

He highlighted plans to strengthen the cooperative sector across villages, citing the Amul model as a template for dairy and allied services. The launch included projects of the National Dairy Development Board and the Odisha milk federation to support farmers and producer societies. He observed that India had emerged as the fastest-growing major economy globally and that several free trade agreements had been pursued to boost trade and growth.