OTV Foresight 2026: Time has come that the sun of Vikshit Bharat will once again rise from the east, says Delhi LG

Marking a significant milestone, Odisha Television Limited’s (OTV) annual convention ‘Foresight 2026 – Changing Times, Changing Minds’ was held in the national capital on Tuesday with Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena attending as the Chief Guest. 

The theme of this year’s convention was ‘The Making of a Viksit Odisha, Unlocking India’s Growth’. Addressing the gathering, Saxena began his speech by thanking OTV for choosing a theme focused on Odisha’s role in India’s growth story and underlined the critical role eastern states must play in shaping the country’s future.

Renewed Focus On Eastern States

He said, “I’m of the firm opinion and even our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said on many occasions that the growth for a Vikshit Bharat 2047 will have to be the eastern states of our country. Once, the diverse of our economy are states like Odisha, Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam fell into a deep obese due to a range of issues including political and discrepancies.”

Highlighting the historic industrial strength of the eastern region, he said these states were once the backbone of India’s industrial economy.

Also Read: “Today, Odisha is a national growth story”: MD Jagi Mangat Panda at OTV Foresight 2026

“Home to almost 90% of India’s mineral sources, and pioneers in industrialisation till as late as early 60s, these states suffered heavily due to various policies, one of which was great equalization. Rich in coal, iron ore, bauxite, uranium and petroleum etc, these states that once boasted mammoth industries in Rourkela, Angul, Durgapur, Bokaro, Jamshedpur, in the last few decades became raw material suppliers to industries in Western and Southern parts of the country,” said the LG.

Calling for a renewed focus on the eastern growth corridor, the Delhi LG said the time had come for the region to reclaim its leadership role.

Viksit Bharat Is Not Only GDP Numbers

“However, the time has come that the sun of Vikshit Bharat will once again rise from the east. Viksit Bharat as initiated by our Prime Minister is a national vision, delivered locally. It is not an abstract national slogan, but Vikshit Bharat is to be built, district by district, city by city and village by village. The strength of India’s rise depends on the rise of India’s states. India progresses through many growth engines and the states are those engines,” he stated.

He further stressed that national development must go beyond economic indicators.

“A stronger India requires states that are economically competitive, administratively efficient, socially stable and future ready in skills and innovation. Viksit Bharat is not only about GDP number, but is about better services, better mobility, clear cities, rule of law and better governance,” LG Saxena added.

The annual convention of OTV has brought together policymakers, industry leaders and thought leaders to deliberate on Odisha’s growth roadmap and the evolving role of eastern India in the national development agenda.