Bhubaneswar: The state government will soon establish a State Institute for Transformative Initiatives or SITI Odisha to provide strategic direction at the highest level.
Officials said the institute will serve as a think tank of the state government – an apex policy research and strategic advisory body – to align with the vision of Samrudha Odisha 2036 and Viksit Bharat 2047. The Planning & Convergence Department has published a resolution to his effect.
The state government had already dissolved State Planning Board on July 18, 2024. As conventional planning mechanisms have become obsolete now, SITI Odisha will provide a forward-looking framework anchored in strategic policy thinking, innovation, cooperative federalism, and measurable outcomes. It will ensure strategic direction at the highest level, a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said on Saturday.
SITI-Odisha will guide the state government on six themes such as Economy & Finance, Rural Economy & Livelihoods, Employment & Urban Development, Ideation & Innovation, Energy Transition, Environment & Forests and Mining & Natural Resources. Each theme will focus on key pillars of the State’s development priorities.
It will comprise a Governing Council with Chief Minister as the Chairperson. In addition, there will be a Vice Chairperson, Four Full Time Members, Nine Ex-Officio Members and Two Special Invitees.
The Governing Council shall monitor and guide the SITI-Odisha in accordance with the scope of work set by the State Government.
The Governing Council shall convene at least once annually and may be called to meet at any other time, as considered appropriate.
The Organisational Framework requires the Vice-Chairperson in the rank of Cabinet Minister to be appointed by the Chief Minister. Four Persons of eminence with domain expertise in priority areas of the State Government will be appointed by the Chief Minister as Full Time Members in the rank of Minister of State. Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary will serve as Member Secretary. The Chief Minister will also appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a fixed tenure in the rank of Principal Secretary or Commissioner-cum-Secretary in the IAS Cadre.
Besides, it will have a Program Director having extensive knowledge in related themes, a multidisciplinary Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and an administrative unit will.
There will also be an attached office under SITI Odisha called State monitoring & Evaluation Office (SMEO). It will serve as the State’s nodal institution for evidence-driven governance.
SITI-Odisha shall function under the administrative control of the Planning & Convergence Department.
