Odisha Partners with J-PAL South Asia to Strengthen Evidence-Based Governance
Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards data-driven policymaking, the Odisha government has signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with J-PAL South Asia (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab) to promote evidence-based governance and improve public service delivery across the state.
The partnership is expected to support Odisha’s long-term development roadmap under Vision 2036 and Vision 2047, aligning with the state’s goals of building a “Samruddha Odisha” by 2036 and a “Viksit Odisha” by 2047.
Under the agreement, J-PAL South Asia will work closely with various government departments to identify critical policy challenges, generate high-quality research evidence, and translate findings into practical policy interventions.
The collaboration aims to strengthen decision-making through rigorous evaluation, innovation, and data-backed governance.
The MoU was signed between Rashmi Kabi of the Planning and Convergence Department, Government of Odisha, and Shobhini Mukerji, Executive Director of J-PAL South Asia, in the presence of Chief Secretary Anu Garg and other senior officials.
Officials said the partnership would facilitate research-driven reforms across sectors such as education, governance, sanitation, agriculture, and gender equality.
J-PAL has been associated with Odisha since 2006 and has collaborated on multiple development initiatives across the state.
One of the prominent initiatives highlighted during the event was Barnali, Odisha’s gender-equity curriculum programme being implemented in approximately 23,000 government schools, where J-PAL has been providing research and technical support.
To ensure effective implementation of the MoU, the state government will establish a Steering Committee led by the Chief Secretary.
The committee will periodically review progress, evaluate project proposals, and guide policy integration across departments.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Secretary Anu Garg emphasised the importance of leveraging research, innovation, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance governance outcomes and improve public welfare.
The partnership is expected to provide Odisha with stronger institutional mechanisms for testing, evaluating, and scaling policies that deliver measurable impact, reinforcing the state’s commitment to accountable and evidence-based governance.
