Activity Report –since 2001                                                                    

The “ODISHA Forum, New Delhi” a Registered Society establishes in May 1999 by the Odia Pravasis, under the guidance of Padma Bhushan Shri Jatin Das, an eminent Artist and other prominent Odias settled in Delhi. ODISHA Forum completes 15 years in Delhi. Advocacy for ODISHA being its focus, the Forum brings the Pravasi Odias together with an interest in the emerging economic opportunities and its rich cultural heritage. It was instituted soon after the super cyclone that happened in ODISHA. 

The ODISHA Forum since inception has initiated prominent persons to come together periodically and deliberate on socio-economic issues of our state ODISHA.  We have a membership of over 175 eminent Odias from all walks of life. The Forum operates mostly as a ‘think tank’ but has taken up initiatives in the socio-economic sector. It made its humble contribution during the super-cyclone in ODISHA by mobilizing material and financial resources, and visit by its members to specific areas. The Forum organized Odia Pravasi Meet in New Delhi, inviting Odias from across the world to deliberate on industrial and economic opportunities and recent developments in the state.  The ODISHA Forum is trying to make the Forum more action oriented and is in the process of forming a confederation of all Odia organizations in Delhi. The Forum has been interacting with the Govt. of India and ODISHA from time to time and has received their support.  

Apart from the regular monthly members’ meetings there were many interactive seminars, conclaves and cultural events. Some significant events need to be mentioned: –  

2001

 A two-day crafts exhibition and cultural mega event organized by ODISHA Forum in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Mr. Jatin Das lighted the lamp along with Mrs.Leela Venkataraman, Mr. Sarat Mahalik, J.P. Das, Devdas Chhotray, Veena Chhotray and Justice Arijit Passayat, as Chief Guest. In inauguration seven prominent Odissi dancers made a historic dance presentation together.

2006

·     1st Global Convention of NROs / NRIs on “Emerging Opportunities in ODISHA” at India International Center, New Delhi.  Chief Guest Shri Vayalar Ravi; Honorable Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Govt. of India and other guests of honour; Shri Debi Prasad Mishra, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Govt. of ODISHA; Shri Debashish Naik, Hon’ble Minister of IB & PR, Govt. of ODISHA Shri Suryanarayan Patra, Hon’ble Minister of Energy, IT & Culture,   Govt. of ODISHA Justice G. B. Patnaik, former Chief Justice of India. This was a two-day event where parallel discussion forum were also organized.

 

Other speakers at Prabashi Odia Meet - Mr Anil K. Agarwal; Chairman,  POSCO; Head of Akshaya Patra; Damodar Acharya, AICTE; President,  Assocham;  Mr Mishra ,Secretary , Department of Tourism Government of India;   Mr Gyan Das, IT Consultant, Silicon Valley, USA. Incidentally, three Ministers of Government of ODISHA, accompanied by the Secretaries made presentations on their goals and plans.

 

2007

 Talk on “Humorous Oriya Poetry” by  Prof. Sumanyu Satpathy, Department of English, University of Delhi at ODISHA Bhawan, Chanakyapuri

 
 Discussion on ranking of ODISHA in the India Today study by   Laveesh Bhandari, Chairman, Indicus Analytics who carry out this annual exercise.2007


 Development Issues of ODISHA  a talk by    Mohan Guruswamy , Economist

       Panel discussion on "Role of Civil Society and Development in ODISHA: Exploring A new role for ODISHA Forum "  by  Ms. Jhanja Tripathy, IRAS, Executive Director (Finance), Sports Authority of India; Dr. D K Giri, Director, Schumacher Centre Delhi; and Ms. Barsha Poricha, A Development Professional

 8 September 2007, a talk on Building Institutions in Orissa byDr Ramesh Chandra Panda, Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Sector Undertakings, Govt of India.

 Experience of running industry in ODISHA by    Vice President, Jindal Steel, 2007

 “Skilling the Youth of ODISHA” an inspirational talk by   Dr. B. Acharya, Chairman, AITC. Presently Director, IIT Kharagpur

 

2008

 
 Panel discussion on  ‘Kandhamal - Retrieving Secular Image of ODISHA’ by Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty, Deshmukh Chair and a member of Concerned Citizens’ Independent Fact-Finding Mission to Kandhamal; and   Mr. Madhu Chandra, All India Christian Council (AICC)

 
 Panel Discussion on “Women’s issues - a study in perspective with special reference to ODISHA” by speakers:   Mrs Bulbul Das, Legal Expert and Social Activist, Member AIWC spoke on ‘Legal provisions concerning women’; Dr. Monica Das, Reader in Economics, Gargi College, Delhi University and Socio-cultural Activist spoke on ‘Vignettes of gender reality’; Mrs Atreyi Majumdar, Reader in Economics, Gargi College, Delhi University, spoke about ‘Feminization of Migration’ in the present context.

 2009 

 Felicitation of Mrs. Krishna Mohanty (daughter of the eminent freedom fighter of ODISHA Mrs. Malati Chaudhary) on the occasion of her receiving ‘Rabindranath Tagore Literacy Award’ from former President of India Dr. A PJ Abdul Kalam. The Forum had an open discussion on the topic, ‘Orissa’s Development and Women Empowerment’. 

 Felicitation of School Teachers from ODISHA who had received Government of India Awards

 Joint presentation by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and DPCL (Dhamra Port Authority Limited) on Conservation of Ridley Turtles and wider Ecological issues

 2010 

  Master Plan for Greater Bhubaneswar Region’ a talk by Dr. Subas Pani, ex-Chief Secretary, Govt. of ODISHA 

·       A talk on ‘Aspects of Rural Development in India’ by Dr. (Mrs.) Sarala Gopalan (IAS), a Development Professional    and a presentation by Mr.  Rajesh Chintak, Chief Resident Representative of Tata Steel on their development projects in ODISHA

 ‘The festivals of ODISHA’ a talk by Dr. G. Das

2011

         A Talk & Presentation on Edu Comp by   Dr. Ravi Pillai, Educationist

  Talk on topic – ‘Odia Identity by eminent writer and poet Dr. J. P. Das

  Felicitation to Dr. Sitakant Mahapatra (Eminent Poet, Literary Critics & Bureaucrat) for receiving Padma Vibhushan Award

 Suggesting inputs for Tourism Development Policies of Government of ODISHA – by Mr. Amrish Sehgal , Professor and Consultant in Tourism Management and Mr.Banambar    Patra, Chairman, Toshali Sands 

2012  

·         Talk by Mr. Shankar Sen Former D. G, Police on ‘Policing in India with special reference to ODISHA’ 

·         An interactive session on the theme ‘Odia Reflections’ and Deepawali Milan  

·         Felicitation of Shri A V Swamy, MP, Rajya Sabha and Padma Bhushan, Shri Raghu Nath Mahapatra  

·         Organized a felicitation ceremony of Shri Hara Prasad Das (IAS) on his receiving of Moorti Devi Award where he gave a talk on ‘Odia language, ODISHA’s history and Odia identity’.

 2013 

·         Panel discussion on ‘Mining Policy - The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill 2011’, in terms of National Mineral Policy 2008 and the present   scenario in ODISHA  

·         An interactive session with three sitting MPs of ODISHA – Mr. Bhakta Charan Das, Mr. Sashi Bhushan and Mr. Baishnava Parida  on identifying important issues of odisha and having serious focused discussion in the Parliament. 

·         A panel discussion on ‘The emerging Steel Capital of India at Kalinganagar and expectation of people of ODISHA’ 

2014 

·         Seminar on ‘Opportunities and Policies of Govt. of India for betterment of ODISHA’, ODISHA Forum Felicitated 16 ODISHA’s Secretaries to Govt. India.  The invited Secretaries presented their views on how their respective Ministries can contribute to development of ODISHA and expectations from the ODISHA Forum. 

This year the ODISHA Forum initiates an Annual Conference to honour a few persons residing outside ODISHA  with “Pravasi Odia Sammana”, who have contributed to enrichment of ODISHA’s art, culture, literature and helped in socio economic development or otherwise enhanced the image of ODISHA on the National and global level. This also includes some prominent NRIs residing outside India who have achieved remarkable success in their respective professions. The awardees have been carefully selected by a panel of eminent jury headed by Justice G.B. Patnaik, Former Chief Justice of India.

With the blessings of Lord Jagannath and support of all the Founder Members, past Office Bearers and well wishers, I am privileged to say, we are fortunate to have associates in this organization, who have rendered selfless services and made us proud. I on my behalf and on behalf of ODISHA Forum thank all the contributors for this Souvenir, without whose support this would not have been possible.