By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar September 19, 2016 : Odisha should make efforts to create more employment for people in industry and service sectors as its excessive reliance on agriculture is the major reason of its backwardness.

“The successful countries focused on creating employment for their people and imparting education. We should take it on a mission mode to achieve 100% literacy in next 10 years,” said Niti Ayoga vice chairman Dr Arvind Panagariya on Monday said while addressing at the Odisha Development conclave here.

Inaugurating the three-day Odisha Vikash Conclave here, Panagariya said, when at least 58 per cent of Odisha’s population was engaged in agriculture and allied sectors, its contribution to the GSDP was only 18 per cent.

The contribution of agriculture to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is the lowest one in comparison to industry and service sectors. Hence, the Odisha government should focus on key sectors that have potential to make larger contribution for economic growth, said Panagariya.

Stating that the budget allocation for education, health, drinking water supply and sanitation were abysmally low, Dr Panagariya said unless the state registers increase in the state GSDP, it cannot hike tax rates to meet its social sector expenditure.

“The best way to empower people is to create employment for them. This can be achieved through proper education and skill development. Employment generation will lead to economic growth of the people and thereby enable them to afford for various basic social services like food, cloth and shelter,” the Niti Ayoga VC said.

Stating that there was immense scope for establishing agro-industries and food processing industries, Dr Panagariya said the state also should make efforts to harness the economic potentialities of its long coastline.

He advised the Odisha government to adopt job creation model instead of focusing on relief model that leave people dependent on the charity.

Stating that Odisha made significant progress in poverty reduction in the last few years and achieved higher economic growth rate in recent years, Mr Panagariya said this tempo should be maintained.

Speaking on the occasion, union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan underscored the need for empowering the people through sustainable economic model instead of relief centric model.

“Relief centric model can bring temporary happiness but it cannot bring out sustainable development. State should have role of empowerment. It should not have only a relief mechanism,” he observed.

The minister requested the Niti Ayoga vice chairman to hold a similar interface with civil society representatives in New Delhi for preparing a roadmap of sustainable development.
The Niti Ayog VC agreed to the proposal.

Speaking on the occasion, Odisha health and family welfare minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said it key challenges must be identified and necessary steps be taken accordingly.
Presiding the conclave, former Odisha Information Commissioner Jagadanand expressed happiness over a large turnout of civil society representatives, intellectuals, media persons and people from various other sectors.

Nalco chairman and managing director Dr Tapan Chand gave vote of thanks.

A set of recommendations will be submitted both to State and Central Governments with specific suggestions to augment development process of Odisha after the three-day deliberations.