Odisha to adopt Centre’s decentralisation path

BHUBANESWAR: In a move to align with the Centre’s focus on deregulation, the Odisha government has decided to adopt systemic reforms and decentralisation across various sectors, published reports here said.

The decision came after chief economic advisor (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran called for deregulation and structural reforms for robust economic growth. Deregulation would be a key theme for the upcoming Economic Survey, a leading newspaper New Indian Express said on Monday.

As part of the measures, there would be reduction of government control over different sectors, promoting competition by opening the market to more players. The state government has decided to start with the departments like Housing and Urban Development and Labour and ESI.

It said that the proposed plans were widely discussed during the recent all-secretary meeting. A detailed sector-wise analysis will be conducted to ensure that reforms support sustainable development without compromising governance standards.

It quoted sources to say that principal secretary of Industries department Hemant Sharma has been tasked to coordinate with departments to identify areas for deregulation. The goal is to reduce excessive government controls and encourage more competitive and investment-friendly market environment.

“Systemic deregulation will enable us to streamline operations, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and attract more investments to Odisha. This will be balanced with compliance measures to ensure fair practices and accountability. The Industries department has been asked to complete the task within two months. The deregulation process will begin after going through the report,” said a senior official.

Deregulation is expected to promote economic growth by encouraging private sector participation and opening markets to emerging players. Industries such as manufacturing, mining, IT and agriculture are likely to benefit from reduced administrative burdens and more employment can be generated.

As Odisha aspires to become a developed state by 2036, deregulation could be a key enabler to achieve the goal. Systemic deregulation will further enhance the state’s economic profile and contribute to its long-term growth trajectory, experts said.