Manoj Ahuja, Principal Secretary to the Government of Odisha
Manoj Ahuja, Principal Secretary to the Government of Odisha, said the state’s journey towards development depends on deep collaboration across sectors, with community-based organizations and inclusive academic engagement that drive real change.
Success revolves around the diverse landscapes of the state, where community institutions, Panchayats, civil society organizations and government departments work together through shared data systems, interoperable information platforms and collaborative decision-making, he said at the Odisha Vikash Conclave 2025.
Jagadananda, co-founder of CYSD, said the government must address the last-mile challenges for a poverty-free Odisha.
It must recognize the plight of the poorest of the poor and the need for local resilience systems that ensure development responses reach the communities most exposed to climate and economic shocks, he said at the conclave that brought together decision makers, civil society organizations, NGOs, private sector leaders, academics, grassroots institutions and development practitioners.
Sisir K Pradhan of the Common Ground Initiative said climate disaster assessments at the gram panchayat level, women-led enterprises, green taxonomy work and shock-responsive social protection are central to India’s emerging 2047 national development frameworks.
The conclave underscored that climate resilience must be treated as development itself, and not as a trade-off, reflecting Odisha’s status as one of India’s most climate-vulnerable states. The discussions emphasized that women and youth are becoming the “growth engines” of the state’s economy, that urban spaces need to be reimagined to reflect cultural identity and climate preparedness and that India’s transition to a green economy will only succeed if communities remain at the center of planning.
Published on November 28, 2025
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