Kalahandi Dialogue To Talk Development Where It Matters Most

Bhawanipatna: On the development of Kalahandi district, a three-day global conclave ‘Kalahandi Dialogue – 2018’ will be held here from Friday.

‘Talking development where it matters the most’ is the theme of the inaugural day.
Participants from India as well as outside the country will give their views for further development of the district.

Kalahandi Dialogue brings together and engage world leaders, policy makers, development practitioners, social entrepreneurs, impact investors, public intellectuals and the youth at large, to discuss debate and deliberate on global development issues.

Around 500 delegates from across the globe, including students, will be part of conclave. Apart from that 200 university students, dozens of social entrepreneurs and activists from diverse sectors and geographies will also participate at the venue on OUAT campus.

Meanwhile, the Congress has termed it as a BJD’s programme and a poll gimmick. Senior Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das alleged that the programme is being conducted by inviting outsiders, who have never seen interior pockets of Kalahandi. “Had the local people participated in the programme, the actual scenario of the district would have come to the forefront for all,” he said.

Das told the mediapersons here that Kalahandi, which has always been neglected by the state government, is still facing water, electricity, health and education and communication problems in remote areas. “Farmers have been suffering from distress sale and lack of pesticides. Kalahandi is the place where a tribal man Dana Majhi carried his wife’s body on its shoulder for lack of ambulance service”.

Refuting the allegation, Junagarh BJD MLA Dibya Shankar Mishra said those who were commenting can also participate in the development of the district. “The programme is being organized by Kalinga Kusum Foundation of Bhubaneswar and so many partners. The Chairman of Kalahandi Dialogue-2018 conclave is Sujeet Kumar who is also special secretary of Odisha State Planning Board,” he said

He further told a press conference here that long ago, the district was known for famines, abject poverty, malnutrition, hunger and starvation but today Kalahandi is emerging as a remarkable development story. “It has been possible because of the right policies, proper implementation of development schemes, political will, citizens’ effort and innovative grassroots solutions,” he said.

The dialogue will be an annual forum and issue ‘Kalahandi Declaration’ each year, which will be submitted to the United Nations, other multilateral organizations and philanthropic agencies, heads of governments, ambassadors and civil society organizations.

The inaugural ceremony will be attended by Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik, Rwandan High Commission to India Ernest Rwamucyo, Founding Director, Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), Sonam Wangchuk and Co-founder, Mindtree, and Chairman of Odisha Skill Development Authority Subroto Bagchi.