The Odisha Development Report, published by Odisha Development Initiative, released on the occasion of the 3rd edition of Odisha Vikash Conclave-2020, contains 40 insightful articles written by experts from diverse sectors. The report, in a studied and objective attempt, has assessed the present situation and identified the key areas of concern and constraints in achieving inclusive growth. The report also clearly states that partnership, collaboration and joint initiatives of government, civil society organizations, academic and corporates can take the development agenda to a new height and Odisha can be at the forefront of socio-economic growth of the country in the coming decades.

Though the state’s position in health parameters such as malnutrition, anemia is better than the national average, the situation in tribal districts are alarming says the report. Over a dozens of tribal dominated districts are above the state average of anemic mothers and underweight children, the report highlighted further.

The ranking of overall index highlights that districts in the coastal and the industrial belt of north-west regions of Odisha are having better social development scenario as compared to other parts of the state. In the case of basic amenities, five districts namely Khorda, Cuttack, Jagatsignhpur, Ganjam and Puri have been maintaining the top ranking, while southern districts namely Baudh, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur and Malkanagiri were found to be the worst performing.

Eight districts in Odisha have more than 50 percent tribal population. The report highlights that the districts with high share of ST population record significantly low levels of development in health, basic amenities, education, economic, and the overall social wellbeing.

“Despite the well-orchestrated interventions by Finance Commission, Planning Commission and other institutions, Odisha remained a low recipient of federal transfers and corporate investments. Besides, regional disparity in Odisha is a major challenge and needs special attention with specially designed development programmes and schemes. Moreover, social inequalities based on caste, sex, region, lopsided development, rapid urbanization, high distressed migration, and less income opportunities are noted to be major challenges in Odisha.”                                     

 

“Odisha Development Report 2020 clearly articulates the development priorities for Odisha; what the government and the civil society can do; and good civil servants who are open to new ideas, free to accept and translate them to action.”

 

 

“One-fourth of the state population consists of indigenous people and over 90 percent of farmers are small and marginal landholders mainly depend on agriculture and allied sectors as their primary sources of income. CSOs have proved the partnership with government agencies on effective implementation of OTELP, cluster farming, agriculture production cluster programmes, etc; and many CSOs have demonstrated successful development models that need to be upscale in undeveloped rural/tribal pockets of the State.”

 

“The State Government is emphasizing on the agriculture productivity and improvement in the quality of life and livelihoods of tribal people through various income enhancement programmers and alternative livelihood opportunities meant for them. Also, the CSOs have demonstrated partnership with government agencies on effective implementation of the programmes & schemes and many of them have developed successful models that need to be up-scaled in underdeveloped pockets of the State.”