BHUBANESWAR: The Government of Odisha concluded the two-day state-level conference “Vikas Manthan 1.0: Governance in Action” at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre with a strong reiteration of its commitment to accelerated economic growth, citizen-centric governance, cultural preservation and innovation-driven development. The conference, jointly organised by the Planning & Convergence Department and the Odisha Centre for Integrated Development (OCID), brought together over 500 policymakers, senior administrators and domain experts to deliberate on the roadmap towards “Viksit Odisha 2036” and “Viksit Bharat 2047.”
Accelerated Growth Under Decisive Leadership
Addressing the valedictory session, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi outlined the State’s transformative journey over the past 20 months. He stated that the Government has been steadfastly advancing economic expansion, social transformation, infrastructure development and cultural rejuvenation to realise the vision of a developed Odisha.
The Chief Minister emphasised that strong leadership, policy clarity and collective resolve have positioned Odisha among the fastest-growing states in the country. He noted that the State recorded a growth rate of 7.9 per cent in the current financial year, surpassing the national average. Over the past 20 months, Odisha has attracted investment commitments worth approximately ₹20 lakh crore, signalling strong investor confidence.
A total of 109 projects with an investment outlay of ₹2.40 lakh crore have been inaugurated or had foundation stones laid, generating nearly 1.76 lakh employment opportunities. Odisha has also earned national recognition for its performance in Ease of Doing Business rankings. New sectoral policies have been introduced in electronics, artificial intelligence, Global Capability Centres and semiconductors to transform the State into a digital and industrial powerhouse.
Fiscal Discipline and Record Budget Expansion
For the first time, Odisha’s State Budget is set to cross ₹3 lakh crore. In the current financial year, Rs 72,100 crore has been earmarked for infrastructure development, amounting to 6.5 per cent of the State’s Gross Domestic Product (GSDP). Notably, Odisha maintains one of the lowest debt-to-GSDP ratios among major states at 13.6 per cent, well below the FRBM threshold—reflecting strong fiscal prudence.
The Chief Minister underscored that disciplined financial management has enabled the State to expand capital expenditure without compromising macroeconomic stability, thereby creating sustainable growth foundations.
Social Empowerment and Agricultural Strengthening
Highlighting inclusive development, the Chief Minister pointed to the success of the ‘Subhadra’ scheme, under which more than one crore women have been economically empowered. Nearly 17 lakh women have achieved “Lakhpati Didi” status, marking a significant milestone in women-led self-reliance.
In the agricultural sector, the Government has ensured procurement of paddy at ₹3,100 per quintal, reinforcing farmers’ income security. During 2024–25, a record 92.63 lakh metric tonnes of paddy were procured, with payments amounting to ₹28,715 crore directly benefiting farmers across the State.
Education, Health and Rural Development
The education sector has witnessed structural strengthening. As many as 45,000 “Shishu Vatika” centres have been established, and more than 20,000 teaching positions filled. Under the ‘Godabarish Adarsha Primary School Yojana,’ 2,200 schools are being developed in the first phase with an investment of Rs 12,000 crore to improve foundational learning outcomes.
In healthcare, Rs 23,182 crore has been proposed for 2026–27. Through the Ayushman Bharat–Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, 3.47 crore individuals from 1.03 crore families are receiving health coverage, ensuring financial protection and access to quality care.
The Government has also set a target to connect all villages with a piped drinking water supply by March 2027. Additionally, the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack–Puri–Paradip Economic Region (BCPPER) has set an ambitious goal of expanding its economy to $500 billion by 2047.
Cultural Revival and Heritage Conservation
In the cultural sphere, major initiatives include the establishment of a corpus fund for the Shri Jagannath Temple, the preservation of heritage villages, and the global promotion of Bali Yatra. The Chief Minister noted that, after 48 years, the ornaments in the temple’s Ratna Bhandar are being inventoried—an exercise that reflects transparency and heritage management.
Earlier in the day, sessions under the Vikash Manthan platform emphasised strengthening Odia identity and institutional governance.
Citizen-Centric Governance and Digital Transformation
Suresh Kumar Vashishth, Principal Secretary, General Administration & Public Grievance Department, highlighted that 445 services across 32 departments are being delivered under the Right to Public Services Act. Officers failing to provide services within stipulated timelines are held accountable, reinforcing administrative responsibility.
Digital governance interventions such as the AmaSathi Dashboard and WhatsApp chatbot have streamlined service delivery. Integration of departmental systems is underway to ensure seamless, queue-free access to services, improving citizen satisfaction and transparency.
Judicial and Legal Reforms
Dr Pabitra Mohan Samal, Principal Secretary, Law Department, outlined structural reforms to modernise the justice delivery framework. Initiatives include the rollout of the e-Courts app, the establishment of paperless courts, the appointment and training of non-cadre Public Prosecutors, the formation of the State Law Academy, and the formulation of the Odisha Replant Bill, 2026. He emphasised that policy effectiveness depends on understanding grassroots realities.
Promotion of Odia Language and Cultural Heritage
Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya, Secretary, Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department, announced a budget allocation of Rs 614.97 crore for 2026–27. Additionally, Rs 1,000 crore has been earmarked for establishing the Shri Jagannath Museum in Puri and ₹800 crore for a state-of-the-art museum in Bhubaneswar.
A provision of Rs 10 crore has been approved for the Mayurbhanj Chhau Academy in Baripada to promote traditional Chhau dance. Under the “Odisha Baraputra Aitihya Grama Yojana,” ancestral homes of eminent personalities will be developed into museums and interpretation centres, with up to Rs 15 crore allocated per site.
“Odia Pakhya” was celebrated statewide for the first time in 2025 and will be observed on a larger scale this year. The Government has committed to conducting official work in Odia, supported by training programmes organised by the Odia Bhasa Pratisthan. Over 29 lakh students participated in a mass rendition of “Vande Mataram” on National Youth Day.
Tourism Vision: “Think India, Think Odisha”
Director of Tourism Shri Deepankar Mohapatra presented a comprehensive roadmap under the vision “Think India, Think Odisha.” Fifteen priority eco-cultural destinations are being developed as tourism hubs, alongside strengthening the Puri–Konark Heritage Corridor.
The Odisha Tourism (Amendment) Policy, 2026, rationalises investment slabs, expands special tourism zones and offers enhanced incentives, including support for women, SC/ST and differently-abled entrepreneurs. Heritage hotels, museums, MICE tourism, Odia cuisine promotion, eco-tourism and art and craft theme complexes are being incentivised.
Adventure tourism initiatives include trekking, water sports, coastal and hill experiences. Caravan tourism and homestays in rural and heritage areas are being promoted to generate livelihoods and authentic visitor experiences. Destination management systems and accreditation mechanisms are enhancing service quality and sustainability.
“Saksham Odisha”: Innovation, Education and Skills for 2047
The plenary session titled “Saksham Odisha” unveiled a strategic roadmap to transform Odisha into a $1.5 trillion economy by 2047, positioning it as a global leader in innovation, education, skill development and sports.
Smt. Rashmita Panda, Chief Executive of the Odisha Space Applications Centre (ORSAC), announced the launch of the Odisha Research and Innovation Fund (ORIF) with an initial corpus of ₹300 crore. The State aims to achieve over 50,000 annual patent filings and increase R&D expenditure to 3.5 per cent of GSDP, focusing on aerospace, biotechnology and clean energy sectors.
Smita Pani, FA-cum-Additional Secretary, Higher Education Department, outlined plans to achieve a 60 per cent Gross Enrolment Ratio and establish Multi-disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU). Financial inclusion measures such as the KALIA Scholarship and 100 per cent interest subvention on education loans aim to eliminate economic barriers.
Dr N Thirumala Naik, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, School & Mass Education Department, is committed to zero dropout rates and 100 per cent literacy. The State has operationalised 44,000 Shishu Vatikas and inducted 22,000 new teachers, while expanding vocational education across 1,200 schools.
Shri Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Skill Development & Technical Education Department, highlighted the “Skilled-In-Odisha” campaign’s focus on semiconductors, aerospace and fostering “Nano Unicorns.” As Secretary of Sports, he unveiled the ‘Youthful Odisha’ movement, including 30 Integrated District Sports Centres and the ‘Khel Ratna Khoj Abhiyaan’ to nurture grassroots talent.
A Unified Vision for the Future
Moderated by Professor Banchhanidhi Panda of Sambalpur University and co-moderated by Prof. Charudatta Panigrahi, member of GIFT, NITI Aayog (Goa), the sessions concluded with a shared mandate: to make “Made in Odisha” synonymous with “Invented in Odisha.”
Collectively, the deliberations at Vikas Manthan 1.0 reflected a holistic governance model—combining fiscal prudence, inclusive growth, digital governance, cultural preservation, tourism expansion and innovation-driven economic transformation. The conference reaffirmed Odisha’s commitment to building resilient institutions, empowered communities and a globally competitive economy as it advances steadily toward the milestones of 2036 and 2047.
