Odisha hosts national conference on good governance practices

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, along with Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh, jointly inaugurated the National Conference on Good Governance Practices at the Convention Centre of Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.

The two-day National Conference which is jointly organized by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the Government of Odisha is aimed at setting the tone for collaborative, technology-enabled governance.

The conference has drawn over 400 delegates from across the country. The event serves as a platform for sharing best practices, innovations, and policy insights aimed at strengthening governance frameworks nationwide.

In his keynote address, the Chief Minister highlighted Odisha’s strides in administrative transformation, from paperless budgeting to digital grievance redressal mechanisms. “Odisha is proud to contribute not just as a host but as an active partner in India’s journey towards responsive and transparent governance,” he said.

The CM cited flagship initiatives like the Odisha Secretariat Workflow Automation System (OSWAS) and the innovative ‘Work Passbook’ as models of increased transparency, efficiency, and citizen engagement. He called for a shift from “bureaucracy to responsiveness, from files to data, and from compliance to outcomes.”

“This conference is not just an event—it’s an opportunity to shape the future of Indian governance. Let it be a milestone on our path toward a New India that is efficient, equitable, and empathetic,” CM Majhi added, aligning the vision with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mission of a Vikshit Bharat by 2047.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh stressed the importance of regional collaboration in governance reform. “Good governance means turning every challenge into an opportunity. By holding these conferences across different states, we ensure that governance models are both locally relevant and nationally cohesive,” he said.

The inaugural session also featured an address by Surendra Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of General Administration & Public Grievance, Government of Odisha. Puneet Yadav, Additional Secretary, DARPG, Government of India, delivered the vote of thanks. The meeting witnessed the presence of ministers, senior bureaucrats, and top-ranking officers of various states.