Odisha Hosts Workshop on Grassroots Governance Capacity Building
Bhubaneswar witnessed a landmark workshop titled Reimagining Capacity Building for Grassroots Governance at Krushi Bhavan on April 7, 2026.
Organised under the national Sadhana Saptah campaign, the event brought together the Capacity Building Commission (CBC), Department of Personnel and Training, Mission Karmayogi Bharat, and the Odisha Government.
Odisha’s Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, and Drinking Water, Rabi Narayan Naik, addressed the gathering. He emphasised that strong panchayats form the foundation of sustainable development. He stressed the need for continuous, skill-based training for Panchayati Raj representatives and pledged to drive transformation at the grassroots with the support of dedicated officials.
Dr R. Balasubramaniam, Member (HR) of CBC, highlighted the vision of Mission Karmayogi. He explained the shift from rule-based to role-based governance and underscored citizen-centric service delivery. Senior officials, including Rajesh Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Girish S.N., Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Odisha’s Panchayati Raj Department, and SIRD Director Madhusmita Samal shared insights on strengthening local governance.
The workshop unveiled innovative digital tools such as the AI-powered Bikashit Panchayat WhatsApp chatbot and a dedicated e-learning module. These platforms, integrated with the iGOT Karmayogi framework, aim to equip Panchayat representatives with practical knowledge and immediate solutions to local challenges.
Pilot projects have already begun in Odisha’s Baipariguda block of Koraput and Thakurmunda block of Mayurbhanj, alongside 60 other Panchayats nationwide.
