The Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, declared on Monday night that the Government Medical College and Hospital located in Kandhamal district will be renamed to honor Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a prominent leader of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).

Majhi highlighted that the renaming is a tribute to Saraswati’s efforts towards tribal welfare and educational advancement within the region.

Additionally, the state government plans to allocate ₹13 crore from the Chief Minister’s Special Assistance Fund to support the development of the Jalespata ashram, its educational institution, and the girls’ hostel.

This financial package includes ₹5 crore earmarked for the construction of a 300-seat girls’ hostel, ₹3 crore dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the ashram’s heritage site, and ₹60 lakh for a river lift water supply initiative that will benefit the ashram, school, and hostel. The remaining funds are set aside for constructing classrooms, restrooms, hostel facilities, boundary walls, and renovating existing structures.

According to the Chief Minister, these efforts are designed to maintain the ashram’s historical and cultural significance while bolstering the educational framework in this tribal-centric area.

Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, who dedicated many years to serve in Kandhamal, was tragically killed on August 23, 2008, when armed attackers invaded his Jalespata ashram, resulting in his death along with four others. The attackers unleashed approximately 50 rounds of gunfire before escaping.

This event triggered severe communal unrest throughout Kandhamal, leading to the loss of at least 39 lives and the destruction of numerous churches. Authorities registered around 800 criminal cases in response to the ensuing violence.