Bhubaneswar, April 18: The Odisha Government has decided to establish a State Institute for Transformative Initiatives (SITI) Odisha as a Think Tank of Government.
It 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 has already dissolved the State Planning Board on 18 July 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, officials said.
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, the officials said.
It will comprise a Governing Council with the 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 Organizational 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.
The Development Commissioner will serve as Member Secretary while the Chief Minister will also appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a fixed tenure in the rank of Principal Secretary 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.
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.
