Southern Odisha Development Council To Be Formed Soon; Task Force Holds 1st Meeting

Bhubaneswar: The state government has accelerated the process for the establishment of the proposed Southern Odisha Development Council (SODC) for speedy and inclusive progress of the region.

In a significant step towards the development of the region, the first meeting of the South Odisha Development Council task force was held on Saturday. The meeting marked a crucial milestone in addressing the region’s economic and social challenges.

The task force was formed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in December last year, after holding discussions with various stakeholders on the contours of the development council for southern Odisha.

The SODC will be formed including seven districts — Koraput, Malkangiri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Nabarangpur.

The task force also decided to constitute a statutory committee for establishing the SODC.
Chaired by Social Security and Empowerment of Disabled, Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Minister Nityananda Gond, the task force comprises Commerce & Transport and Steel & Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, Fisheries and Livestock and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Gokulanand Mallick, and several MPs and MLAs representing the region.

The meeting facilitated discussions with people’s representatives from various constituencies, focusing on the economic and social development of Malkangiri, Nuapada, Ganjam, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, and Kandhamal districts. These deliberations aim to pave the way for Southern Odisha’s growth into a prosperous and developed region.

The task force has been mandated to submit its report within 30 days, outlining recommendations for the formation of the SODC, including its structure, working methods, and constituent districts.
There is a need to form a statutory committee for the establishment of SODC, Nityanand Gond said.