Two-Day state consultation “Vikash Manthan 1.0” from February 27 to deliberate Odisha’s development roadmap

BHUBANESWAR: A two-day state-level policy consultation titled “Vikash Manthan 1.0:” will commence on February 27, bringing together senior administrators, academicians, sectoral experts and civil society representatives to deliberate on the future development trajectory of Odisha. The initiative aims to translate a long-term policy vision into an actionable, participatory roadmap through structured dialogue and collaborative governance.

Platform for Collaborative Governance

The consultation, organised with the support of the Odisha Centre for Integrated Development (OCID), seeks to facilitate discussions on governance reforms, social inclusion, economic growth, and institutional capacity-building, aligned with the State’s long-term development vision. The event assumes importance as Odisha stands at a decisive developmental juncture, where strategic planning now requires broader societal engagement to achieve measurable outcomes.

Vision Odisha 2036 & 2047: From Blueprint to Implementation

The Government’s ambitious Vision Odisha 2036 and 2047 framework outlines a comprehensive pathway toward inclusive growth, climate resilience, human development and economic transformation. Stakeholders across government institutions, academia, and civil society have emphasised that, while policy direction has been clearly articulated, meaningful participation from diverse sectors is essential to turn the vision into practical implementation.

The Vision documents, released on 20 June 2025 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, generated significant public optimism and positioned Odisha as a major contributor to the national aspiration of building a developed India by the centenary of independence. The roadmap emphasises equitable prosperity, rural–urban balance, sustainable resource utilisation, improved social indicators and modern governance systems.

Inaugural Session

The inaugural session will set the tone for the deliberations. Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh will deliver the welcome address, followed by a video presentation on the State’s vision roadmap by the Planning and Convergence Department. Chief Secretary Anu Garg will present the introductory keynote address, while Organiser editor Prafulla Ketkar will deliver the special keynote address. The opening session is expected to underline the importance of collaborative policymaking and the role of public participation in achieving long-term development targets.

Need for Stakeholder Ownership

Development specialists note that the Vision Odisha framework provides strategic direction, but policy success depends on stakeholder ownership. Without broad-based sensitisation and involvement, even well-designed plans risk remaining aspirational rather than operational. The consultation therefore seeks to bridge this gap by encouraging informed dialogue, collective learning and exchange of real-time experiences. Through thematic discussions, the platform will identify practical challenges, regional disparities, financing requirements, and implementation mechanisms necessary to achieve the targets set for 2036 and 2047.

Seven Thematic Sessions

To comprehensively address the State’s development agenda, deliberations have been organised into seven thematic sessions, each grouping related departmental domains for focused discussion.

The first session on Academic and Knowledge Collaboration will examine the roles of universities, research institutions, and think tanks in shaping policy implementation and monitoring outcomes. Participants are expected to discuss how knowledge partnerships can strengthen evidence-based governance and ensure long-term policy continuity.

The second session, Antyodaya Odisha: Inclusive Health and Social Welfare, will focus on women-led growth, empowerment initiatives, healthcare transformation, nutrition security and welfare of tribal and marginalised communities. The discussion will explore how inclusive policies can reduce inequality and create a development model rooted in dignity and social justice.

The third session, Sujala Sufala and Sashya Samala Odisha, will examine agriculture, fisheries, animal husbandry, water resource management and environmental sustainability. Experts will deliberate on improving farmer incomes through innovation and sustainability while strengthening climate resilience and ecological balance.

Economic transformation will form the core of the fourth session, Samruddha Odisha – Infrastructure, Industry and Innovation. Discussions will cover rural employment diversification, sustainable urbanisation, connectivity infrastructure, industrial expansion, service sector growth and startup development as engines of employment generation and economic expansion.

The fifth session, Surakshit Odisha – Energy, Minerals and Disaster Resilience, will address sustainable energy transition, responsible mining, disaster preparedness, fiscal innovation and internal security governance. Given Odisha’s vulnerability to natural calamities, strengthening resilience mechanisms will be a major theme of deliberation.

Human capital development will be discussed in the sixth session, Saksham Odisha – Education, Skills and Youth Empowerment. The session will explore quality schooling, higher education excellence, skill development and sports promotion, with emphasis on preparing youth for emerging global opportunities and a knowledge-based economy.

The seventh session, Odia Asmita – Heritage, Tourism and Good Governance, will focus on cultural preservation, tourism development, digital governance reforms and regulatory improvements. The objective is to ensure that economic growth remains connected with cultural identity and transparent public administration.

The programme will conclude with an open house interaction and valedictory address by the Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan, in the presence of senior administrative leadership. A special concluding address will also be delivered by former ICSSR Chairman Prof. P. Kanagasabapathi, who is expected to summarise the outcomes and provide intellectual direction for future policy dialogue.

Officials associated with the consultation believe the initiative could evolve into a recurring platform for periodic review of governance outcomes and public policy effectiveness. By integrating administrative expertise with academic research and grassroots experience, Vikash Manthan 1.0 aims to transform long-term planning into a collaborative development movement. The consultation is expected to generate actionable recommendations and strengthen coordination among departments and stakeholders, ensuring that the State’s development vision moves from policy articulation to tangible transformation in the coming decades.