Finance
The Odisha government will soon establish the State Institute for Transformative Initiatives – Odisha (SITI-Odisha), a high-level policy think tank and strategic advisory organization tasked with directing the state’s long-term development agenda in line with ‘Samruddha Odisha 2036’ and ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
According to a decree published by the Planning & Convergence Department, SITI-Odisha will replace traditional planning processes after the State Planning Board is dissolved on July 18, 2024. The new institution aims to provide a forward-thinking framework based on strategic policy planning, innovation, cooperative federalism, and demonstrable results.
SITI-Odisha will operate in six important thematic areas: economy and finance, rural economy and livelihoods, employment and urban development, ideation and innovation, energy transition, environment and forests, and mining and natural resources, all of which are connected with the state’s primary development priorities.
The Chief Minister will chair the institution’s Governing Council. The council will consist of a Vice-Chairperson, four full-time members, nine ex-officio members, and two special invitees. It will be in charge of monitoring and directing the operations of SITI-Odisha and will meet at least once a year, or as needed.
Under the proposed structure, the Vice-Chairperson will be a Cabinet Minister selected by the Chief Minister. Four distinguished experts will serve full-time as Ministers of State. The Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary will serve as Member Secretary, and a Chief Executive Officer with the title of Principal Secretary or Commissioner-cum-Secretary would be appointed for a definite term.
The framework will also have a Programme Director, a multidisciplinary Project Implementation Unit (PIU), and an administrative wing. In addition, a State Monitoring and Evaluation Office (SMEO) will be connected to SITI-Odisha to assist evidence-based governance.
SITI-Odisha will be administered by the Planning & Convergence Department, indicating a shift in the state’s policy planning toward more outcome-oriented and evidence-driven approaches.
