Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Chapter of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication Alumni Association (IIMCAA) organised its alumni meet, bringing together members of the ever-growing IIMC fraternity in Odisha to celebrate camaraderie, professional collaboration, and shared commitment towards society and the media profession.
On the occasion, the IIMCAA Award for Public Service was presented to Ankita Sahoo, widely known as the “Pad Woman of Odisha,” in recognition of her nearly 13 years of dedicated work in the field of women’s menstrual hygiene and awareness.
Ankita, an alumna of the 2012–13 Odia Journalism batch of IIMC, has been actively working to break taboos surrounding menstruation and promote accessible menstrual hygiene practices across Odisha.
Receiving the award, Ankita highlighted the importance of male inclusion in conversations around menstrual hygiene and stressed that social change can only happen when both men and women participate equally in awareness campaigns and community engagement initiatives.
Two silver jubilee students Manaswini Mishra and Biswajit Sahoo were also felicitated at the meet.
The Odisha Chapter has consistently worked to strengthen these connections by fostering mentorship, collaboration, and collective growth. The meet served as a platform to celebrate shared experiences, discuss emerging trends in media and communication, and explore avenues through which alumni can contribute meaningfully to society.
Speaking on the occasion, Anand Pradhan, Regional Director at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, said: “IIMC’s strength lies in its people. The alumni meet is a reminder of how our graduates carry forward the institute’s values into diverse fields while staying connected to their roots and to each other. ”
He also spoke about the introduction of new MA programmes, including MA in New Media Communications and MA in Strategic Communication, alongside the institute’s flagship PG Diploma programmes.
“We are also planning for an incubation centre, and it is open not only to students but also to alumni who are inclined towards new ideas and startups,” he added.
President Sandeep Sethi reiterated the importance of such alumni meets for nurturing a community that continues to inspire, support, and uplift each other.
The meet also witnessed the presence of several distinguished personalities and alumni, including veteran journalist Kasturi Ray, Bibhudatta Mohapatra, Biraj Swain, and award-winning journalist Sarada Lahangir, Vice President Sangita Agarwal and Vice President Byomakesh Biswal among others.
Odisha today stands as the second-largest home to the IIMC alumni network in the country. Alumni members are not only working in significant numbers across media, communication, governance, academia, and allied sectors, but are also connected through a strong bond of fraternity and shared purpose.
The IIMC family in Odisha continues to grow, weaving together generations of communicators who carry forward the institute’s legacy while nurturing one another’s professional and personal journeys. The IIMCAA Odisha Chapter is dedicated to building a vibrant alumni community, promoting professional excellence, and contributing to the larger cause of media and communication in Odisha and beyond.
