In a significant step towards realising the vision of a developed Odisha by 2036 and a Viksit Bharat, NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam held a crucial meeting with Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg and secretaries from various state departments today at the conference hall in Lok Seva Bhawan.
The meeting, attended in person by NITI Aayog senior official S. Kishore and virtually by other NITI Aayog officials and experts, focused on implementing key schemes and programs by both the central and state governments.
Discussions centred on the long-term development perspective for the state and the nation, along with action plans to achieve the goals outlined in the Odisha Vision. A key highlight was the development of the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip-Cuttack Economic Region (BCPIPER), with emphasis on accelerating initiatives to transform it into an integrated economic and urban development hub.
The meeting underscored the social and economic empowerment of tribal communities through the value-added processing of forest products like Sal leaves. For the youth, skill-based training was prioritised, starting from schools and extending to various educational institutions, to meet future demands in modern industries and service sectors.
In the energy domain, detailed deliberations were held on expediting measures for clean and sustainable energy through new and renewable sources. Plans and programs for adopting low-cost, long-lasting, and clean energy systems were highlighted. Notably, a prior Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NITI Aayog and the ISEG Foundation has already set this in motion, with the foundation presenting observations and proposals during the meeting.
Through the NITI Frontier Tech Hub, the integration of emerging technologies, research, and innovation was discussed to accelerate the country’s continuous progress. Under the Living Lab program, a special presentation was made on promoting research and innovation to combat malnutrition among pregnant women and children, offering practical insights for experimental interventions that will be implemented in the coming days. Technology, research, and innovation for good governance were also emphasised.
The meeting reinforced coordination between state and central institutions, expressing a strong commitment to building Odisha as a sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven prosperous state. Secretaries and senior officials from Odisha government’s departments including Finance, Electronics and IT, Energy, Skill Development and Technical Education, Higher Education, School and Mass Education, Science and Technology, State Labour and Employees’ State Insurance, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce and Transport, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare, Health and Family Welfare, and Planning and Convergence participated in the discussions.
