Accompanied by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra and other senior leaders, the Finance Minister visited Biraharekrushnapur and collected soil from the village. The soil was put in Amrit Kalash under ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign.

Sitharaman also honoured the family members of martyrs and freedom fighters of the area in the presence of Dharmendra and other senior leaders. She was also seen touching the feet of elderly family members of freedom fighters.

Earlier, the Union Ministers took part in a plantation drive as part of ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign launched by the Centre to pay tribute to individuals who sacrificed their lives for the nation.

In the morning, Sitharaman along with Dharmendra and other leaders visited Shree Jagannath temple at Puri and offered prayers in the 12th century shrine.

The Union Ministers also visited sand art on ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ installed by noted artist Sudarsan Pattnaik & his team at blue flag beach. Sitharaman praised the sand art created by the internationally acclaimed sand sculptor and his team.

She then visited the Shri Sadashiv Campus at Central Sanskrit University near Penthakata in Puri and attended a programme under ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign.