Bhubaneswar: The Induction Training Programme of OAS (DR) – 2020 batch probationers has been inaugurated today by Pradeep Kumar Jena, Chief Secretary, Odisha. Out of 129 OAS Probationers who have joined to undergo training under the Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, 128 belong to the OAS (DR) – 2020 batch and 1 is from the (DR) – 2018 batch.
The batch comprises of 56 women and 73 men. The 22 week long Induction Training Programme is scheduled from 26.06.2023 to 24.11.2023. Jena, in his keynote address, urged that the probationers who would be serving the government for about 30 to 35 years, will be leading Odisha from transition to transformative changes through continuous acquisition of knowledge, internalising 5T approach, innovative thinking, efficient service delivery, optimizing resources, ensuring quality and abiding strictly the Odisha Government Conduct Rules.
He maintained that in a life cycle approach, learning is a continuous process that starts with nurturing and mentoring at the early stage. It continues through self-learning, innovations and evaluations with integrity to the government system throughout the service tenure. Gopabandhu Academy of Administration provides opportunities and prepares young administrative officers inculcating these habits and disciplines.
He appreciated the innovative initiatives of the current DG, GAA in enhancing the quality of teaching and learning experiences despite limitations. Jena thanked GAA for extending the training period from 18 weeks to 22 weeks in modular approach, knowledge sharing by internal and external resources and exposures. He is optimistic that this phase of training will be instrumental in building the young probationers as full-fledged officers with high integrity and value system.
OAS probationers are advised to follow their discipline and find out their own right path. With citation of certain remarkable milestones Odisha has achieved over the years, across sectors, he expected that the young probationers would take leadership in bureaucracy to transform the vision into reality.
Raj Kumar Sharma, the Director General of Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, and Member, Board of Revenue, Government of Odisha, attributed the young probationers as ‘Karmaveer’, as agents of transformative governance, and as epitome of civil services. He emphasized upon the importance of the three cornerstones of GAA – Mahatma Gandhi’s Talisman, the path finding deliberation of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel to IAS probationers on 21st April 1947, and the philosophy of ‘5T’ towards leading a successful public service career.
Sharing his experiences with changing development trends of Odisha, he noted that the State has taken significant stride shifting away from relative backwardness in pre 2000 scenario to a progressive State as on today in many sectors, especially with proven credentials in disaster management, water resources and agriculture. He expected that the young probationers will contribute sincerely and significantly in Odisha’s progressive journey into future.
At the outset, Manish Agrawal, Additional Director General, GAA briefed about the composition of the OAS (DR) – 2020 batch, duration and the design of training programme. He informed that GAA has taken adequate measures to ensure balanced combination of indoor academic sessions and outdoor activities, all within the framework of the course structure.
The course modules will be transacted by internal and external module coordinators. He also stated about the resource agencies such as XIMB, CUTM, OCAC, ROTI with whom technical collaborations have been made. He comprehended the training pedagogy as learning by doing, seeing and by being. Dr Himanshu Bhusan Panda, Additional Commissioner, GAA, offered vote of thanks. Dr Mamatarani Naik, Joint Director, GAA anchored the programme.
