Bhubaneswar: Nine IAS officer trainees of the 2024 Odisha cadre on Friday underwent a specialised attachment programme at the Department of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD), as part of their district training curriculum aimed at strengthening grassroots-level administrative exposure.
The programme focused on familiarising the trainee officers with inclusive governance practices and the implementation of social welfare initiatives targeting persons with disabilities and other vulnerable sections of society.
The session was led by Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar Vashishth and SSEPD Director Parul Patawari, who provided an overview of the department’s functioning from the state headquarters to field-level offices. The trainees were briefed on key welfare schemes, monitoring mechanisms for programme implementation, and grievance redressal systems.
Officials also highlighted inter-departmental coordination efforts that enable efficient delivery of services across sectors.
As part of the field exposure, the trainees visited the State Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SIEP) in Bhubaneswar, where they gained first-hand insight into institutional facilities and service delivery frameworks for beneficiaries.
The trainee group comprised Animesh Pradhan, Prajnanandan Giri, Kasturi Sha, Fabi Rasheed, Mrinalika Rathore, Shubhra Panda, Pawan Kumar, Bhagat Shamal Kalyanrao, and Santosh Kumar Patra.
Senior officials, including Additional Secretaries Deepak Routray and Sonia Behera, were present during the session and interacted with the trainees.
The department emphasised that such exposure programmes are crucial in equipping future administrators with practical understanding and sensitivity required to effectively implement policies and address the needs of marginalised communities.
