Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday convened a high-level consultation to deliberate on the proposed Odisha Resource Center for Ageing & Divyangjan (ORCAD), aimed at strengthening inclusive governance systems for elderly persons and persons with disabilities.
The consultation was organised by the Department of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SS & EPD), Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund. The meeting, according to an official release, brought together senior government officials, representatives from UN agencies including United Nations Development Programme and UNICEF, along with development partners and domain experts.
Envisioned as a state-level centre of excellence, ORCAD is expected to serve as a strategic platform to advance inclusion, accessibility and coordinated service delivery for elderly persons and Divyangjan across Odisha. The proposed centre will focus on strengthening inter-departmental convergence, promoting evidence-based policymaking and enhancing institutional capacities at multiple administrative levels.
Shri Suresh Kumar Vashishth, Principal Secretary to the government, emphasised the need for responsive and inclusive systems capable of addressing emerging demographic challenges. He reiterated the state’s commitment to ensuring dignity, independence and equitable access to opportunities for all sections of society.
Ms Parul Patawari, Director, highlighted that ORCAD is envisaged as a knowledge and resource hub supporting research, capacity building and policy innovation. She underlined the importance of institutional mechanisms that can translate data into scalable interventions and embed inclusion within governance systems.
The consultation saw participation from key departments including Health & Family Welfare, School & Mass Education, Higher Education, Mission Shakti, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, and Women & Child Development. Technical experts also contributed to discussions.
Dr Nadeem Noor, State Head of the United Nations Population Fund in Odisha, presented the proposed institutional framework for ORCAD, developed in partnership with the SS & EPD Department. The session was chaired by the Principal Secretary of the department.
The consultation generated actionable inputs to refine the institutional design, governance structure and implementation roadmap for ORCAD. The initiative is positioned as a significant step towards strengthening Odisha’s governance ecosystem for inclusive development, shifting focus from welfare-driven approaches to rights-based, institutionalised inclusion.
