Odisha Charts Inclusive Governance Path with ORCAD
Bhubaneswar, April 28: Odisha has taken a significant step towards inclusive governance by hosting a high‑level consultation on the proposed Odisha Resource Centre for Ageing & Divyangjan (ORCAD).
Organised by the Department of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SS & EPD) with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the consultation brought together senior officials, UN representatives, and experts from UNDP and UNICEF.
The initiative envisions ORCAD as a state‑level centre of excellence to strengthen accessibility, promote evidence‑based policy, and ensure convergence across departments.
It will serve as a knowledge hub for research, training, and policy innovation, aligned with Viksit Odisha 2036 & 2047.
Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar Vashishth emphasised the need for responsive systems to address demographic transitions, while Director Parul Patawari highlighted ORCAD’s role in policy innovation.
Dr Nadeem Noor (UNFPA Odisha) presented the framework, which received inputs from multiple departments, including Health, Education, Mission Shakti, Panchayati Raj, and Women & Child Development.
The consultation generated actionable insights to refine ORCAD’s institutional design and governance structure, reinforcing Odisha’s vision of inclusive and future‑ready governance.
