Bhubaneswar: The 16th Finance Commission, currently on a four-day visit to Odisha, arrived in Bhubaneswar today. As part of their itinerary, the Commission’s Chairman and members visited the Odisha State Tribal Museum and Kalinga Stadium in the afternoon.
At the Odisha State Tribal Museum, the delegation explored exhibits featuring tribal ornaments such as leg ornaments, bracelets, and waist cords at the special Abhushan Centre. They were particularly impressed by the intricate tribal handlooms, furniture, Dokra crafts, and paintings.
The team also watched a documentary showcasing the rich culture, traditions, and lifestyle of Odisha’s tribal communities. Expressing appreciation for the state government’s efforts in preserving tribal heritage, they lauded initiatives to safeguard tribal art, traditions, and artifacts.
Later, the Finance Commission delegation visited Kalinga Stadium, where they toured several world-class sports facilities, including the Sports Science Center, Biomechanics Lab, Gait Lab, Spin Studio, Para Athlete Performance Center, Tennis Center, Athletics Center, Hockey Stadium, Gymnastics Center, Aquatic Center, and the Gopichand Badminton High-Performance Center.
The delegation included Finance Commission Chairman Dr. Arvind Panagariya, along with members Ajay Narayan Jha, Annie George Mathew, Dr. Manoj Panda, Economic Advisor Dr. Prashant Kumar Panda, Joint Director Priya Sarraf, and Deputy Directors Manshi Gupta and Shikha Singh. Senior state officials such as Finance Department Principal Secretary Saswata Mishra and Sports & Youth Affairs Department Principal Secretary Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma were also present.
Tomorrow, the Finance Commission is scheduled to visit Dhauli Gram Panchayat, Konark, and Puri as part of their Odisha tour.
