Odisha marked a new milestone in grassroots governance with the foundation stone of a Rs 32-crore state-of-the-art auditorium at the State Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (SIRD&PR) campus.
Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik laid the foundation on Sunday.
The proposed auditorium will seat 450 people and serve as a hub for rural transformation. Minister Naik said villages remain the lifeline of Odisha, and progress in villages defines the state’s development. He emphasised that the auditorium will not just be a building but a living medium for revolutionary change in grassroots governance.
The facility will host high-level workshops, state seminars, and training programs on themes such as localisation of sustainable development goals (LSDGs), Panchayat Progress Index (PGI), good governance, digital reforms, women leadership, social inclusion, and water and sanitation.
Officials confirmed that the auditorium will include modern audio-visual systems, cultural and thematic programs, inter-departmental review meetings, and exhibitions on Panchayati Raj innovations. It will provide world-class training for elected representatives and government officers, strengthening Odisha’s Panchayati Raj institutions.
The Minister described the project as a strong initiative guided by the Prime Minister and Chief Minister to empower every Gram Panchayat. He said the auditorium will become a milestone in administrative excellence and leadership development.
Senior officials, including Commissioner-cum-Secretary Girish S.N., Director Vinita Bharadwaj, Director Siddharth Shankar Swain, Director Madhusmita Samal, Director Indramani Nayak, Chief Engineer Priyabrata Samantaray, and other departmental officers, attended the ceremony.
