Jagadananda Honoured with Justice A K Patnaik National Award
Bhubaneswar: Jagadananda, noted social activist and co-founder of the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD), has been conferred with the prestigious Justice A K Patnaik National Award. The award was presented by Hon’ble Justice N. Kotiswar Singh in the presence of Justice A.K. Patnaik.
Hailing from an agrarian family in coastal Odisha, Jagadananda has dedicated over four decades to empowering marginalized communities, strengthening grassroots democracy, and advancing inclusive development. Through CYSD, he has pioneered village-based micro-planning, youth engagement, and community participation, significantly impacting Odisha’s tribal regions.
As State Information Commissioner, he championed the Right to Information Act by organizing awareness camps, setting up citizen support centres, and even introducing tribal language resources and a Braille version of the Act to ensure accessibility in remote areas.
Jagadananda has also played a crucial role in participatory planning as a member of the State Planning Board, and in fostering multi-stakeholder dialogue through the Odisha Development Initiative, bridging government, civil society, private sector, and panchayats.
At the national level, he has contributed to electoral reforms, transparency in candidate disclosures, and governance assessments through the Social Watch Coalition. He has also served on key task forces of the Government of Odisha, the erstwhile Planning Commission, and NITI Aayog.
On the international stage, his advocacy has influenced global policy discussions on pro-poor development at forums such as the UN Millennium Summit, World Summit on Social Development, and Commonwealth Ministerial Meetings. He has also been part of advisory groups of the Commonwealth Foundation and the World Bank for South Asia.
Recognized as a visionary leader and advocate for democratic empowerment, Jagadananda continues to inspire generations through his tireless work in promoting inclusive and sustainable development.
