By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, September 21, 2026: Odisha and SELCO Foundation on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish development hubs aimed at transforming six southern districts through decentralized renewable energy, technology, and community participation. This will go a long way to strengthen inclusive and sustainable development in Southern Odisha.

The initial focus of the collaboration will be on Kalahandi, Rayagada, Gajapati, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri. The collaboration will seek to strengthen existing government schemes and programmes through technical expertise, innovation, capacity building, knowledge, partnerships and implementation support.

The MoU was signed by Girish S.N., Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department, and V.K. Joby, Chief Finance Officer, SELCO Foundation in the presence of Chief Secretary Anu Garg.

The MoU targets transforming six southern districts in Odisha by integrating government schemes with last-mile renewable energy innovations for livelihoods and health. Key areas of collaboration will include sustainable livelihoods and local economic development, healthcare and nutrition, clean energy, climate-resilient development, tribal knowledge and innovation, skill development and entrepreneurship.

The initiative will involve coordination with the Panchayati Raj, Health and other relevant departments, as well as district administrations. Existing government schemes and programmes will be strengthened through convergence, technical expertise, technology, innovation and capacity building.

Special focus will be placed on strengthening livelihoods and enterprise opportunities for farmers, women, SHGs, FPOs, youth, artisans, tribal communities, persons with disabilities and rural micro-entrepreneurs through skills, productive-use technologies, access to finance and government schemes, market linkages and value addition.

A key component of the collaboration will be the proposed SEVA Hubs- Centres for Expertise and Enablers for Rural Transformation. These locally anchored platforms will support identification of local needs, programme design, convergence, capacity building, access to technology and finance, implementation support, knowledge management and scaling of successful solutions.

Former NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam and SELCO Foundation’s founder Harish Hande attended the virtual signing meeting alongside state officials. The MoU will remain in force for five years. Specific projects and initiatives will be developed separately based on their requirements.

By bringing together community participation, technology, innovation and technical expertise, the partnership seeks to create new opportunities for sustainable development in Southern Odisha. The MoU will help accelerate inclusive and sustainable development in these districts, Garg said.