In a significant step towards translating discussions into actionable policies, the key outcomes of the Odisha Vikash Conclave (OVC) 2025 were formally shared with the Government of Odisha during a high-level meeting attended by senior officials.
The presentation took place in the presence of Smt. Anu Garg, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha, along with Smt. Chithra Arumugam, Principal Secretary, Labour & ESI, and other senior officers from the Planning & Convergence Department.
A delegation from the Odisha Development Initiative (ODI), led by prominent civil society leaders, highlighted sector-specific priorities, institutional roles, and practical pathways derived from the conclave. These recommendations are closely aligned with the state’s long-term Odisha Vision 2036 and the national goal of Viksit Bharat @2047.
The OVC 2025, themed “Pathways to Climate-Resilient and People-Centric Development,” was held on November 26-27, 2025, in Bhubaneswar. It drew over 700 participants from diverse sectors, including civil society organisations, government officials, academia, the corporate sector, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), community leaders, and solution providers.
Deliberations centred on critical thematic areas such as Ecosystem Governance & Climate Adaptation; Just Transition, Green Livelihoods & Urban Livability; Data Decentralisation for Active Citizenship; Gender, Climate & Development Nexus; Climate-Responsive Human Mobility & Migration; Disaster Preparedness for Changing Climate; Impact of Climate Change on Human Health; Demographic Transition and Associated Issues; and Climate Smart Panchayat.
During the interaction, strong emphasis was placed on multi-stakeholder collaboration as essential for achieving sustainable and inclusive development. The meeting reinforced the OVC’s role as a credible platform that bridges policy formulation with on-ground implementation, propelling Odisha’s development agenda well beyond 2036.
Government officials appreciated the depth of the conclave’s deliberations and the actionable recommendations. They stressed the need for structured implementation, scalable ground-level models, and community-centric approaches to effectively operationalise the outcomes. Assurance was given that the recommendations would be carefully considered for integration into future policies and actions.
The interactive session saw participation from key collaborators of the Odisha Vikash Conclave, including Dr. Jagadananda (Convenor, ODI), Dr. Sisir Kanta Pradhan (Common Ground), Shri Avimuktesh Bhardwaj (Back to Village), Shri Sushil Samantra (iFOREST), Ms. Swapnashree Sarangi (Foundation for Ecological Security – FES), Ms. Rukmini Panda (Breakthrough India), Ms. Sneha Mishra (Aaina), Shri Umi Daniel (Aide-et-Action), Dr. Shridhar M. Kadam (IIPH-Bhubaneswar), Shri Ananta Kishore Swain (CYSD), and Shri Antim Alok Saraf (CYSD).
This engagement marks a promising continuation of dialogue between civil society and the government, fostering a unified approach to tackle Odisha’s pressing climate and development challenges.
