Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja today unveiled two notable books authored by Dr. Gitanjali Mishra. The event took place at the Lok Seva Bhawan in the presence of Anu Garg, Development Commissioner-cum-ACS to the Government. Dr. Mishra’s English books—Convergence and Development in India and Ability Beyond Disability—were released.
In her first book, Convergence and Development in India, Dr. Mishra highlights developmental initiatives undertaken through convergence across various departments in Odisha, along with a comparative analysis of similar initiatives in other states. The book presents success stories, policy insights, and actionable suggestions. It also covers recent approaches in governance, such as digital convergence at the grassroots level, technological convergence, unlocking local innovation, empowerment and inclusive growth, cashless transactions, and the emergence of a smarter, safer, and more inclusive economy. Additionally, the book features KPI-based performance indicators from India and Odisha. Dr. Mishra has visited 23 states and incorporated her experiences, insights, and recommendations into this book.
Her second book, Ability Beyond Disability, focuses on the welfare of differently-abled individuals. It provides valuable insights into various policies aimed at their social and economic upliftment, highlighting the importance of community participation, inclusiveness, and collective social responsibility. The book includes interviews with several individuals and is enriched with information drawn from Dr. Mishra’s extensive professional experience.
Chief Secretary Ahuja and Development Commissioner-cum-ACS Garg praised Dr. Mishra’s work, noting that the books would serve as useful and inspirational resources for researchers, policymakers, planners, and students. Kalyan Kumar Rath, OSD to the Chief Secretary, and Dr. Bijay Bhushan Nanda, Director, Economics and Statistics, Odisha, were also present on the occasion.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Mishra joined the Odisha State Government’s Statistics and Economic Service (OS&ES) in 1984 and served in various departments. After her tenure, she worked as a Consultant in Research and Evaluation in the Planning and Convergence Department, Odisha, from 2014 to 2017, and subsequently served for five years in the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department, Odisha.
