Bhubaneswar: In a significant move, the Government of Odisha has proposed to establish a “Directorate of Odisha Paribar” to create a one-stop point of contact and support system for Pravasi Odias, who live in other parts of the country and across the world.
A decision in this regard was taken at the digital Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik from Kyoto in Japan on Sunday.
The “Directorate of Odisha Paribar” will work under the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture to have a better connection with the Pravasi Odias within the country and across the world. The Directorate will engage with the diaspora in the growth journey of Odisha by leveraging their knowledge, skills and global reach while also making efforts to resolve any issues they may be facing.
The Directorate shall, inter alia perform the following activities:
- Act as a single point of interface with the government departments for the resolution of specific issues relating to labour, students, cultural promotion, clearances
- Develop a closer relationship with the people of Odisha living in different states and abroad including Gen Next through partnerships at individual, institutional and civil society levels on matters relating to the promotion of Odia language, culture and heritage, tourism and sports; handlooms and handicrafts;
- The directorate will develop a dedicated portal titled ‘Paribar – the portal for Pravasi Odias – connecting the
There will be an advisory council to be headed by the Chief Minister. The members of the Council shall be nominated by the state government. The number of members, tenure of their membership etc. will be as decided by the state government from time to time. The Minister for Odia Language, Literature and Culture shall be the permanent member of the council. The Secretary of the OLLC department shall be the Member Convener.
According to the proposal, there will be an executive committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to provide strategic direction and review the activities of the Directorate of Pravasi Odia Affairs with the Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary; Secretary, Horne; Secretary, Labour and ESI; Secretary, Finance; Secretary, Industries; Secretary, Higher Education; Secretary, Odia Language, Literature & Culture; Secretary, Housing & Urban Development, Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management; Secretary, School & Mass Education Department; Secretary, Tourism Secretary & IT; and Secretary, Sports as members. Members of the executive committee can be altered by the state government from time to time.
