Odisha signs three-year pact with J-PAL South Asia for policymaking
The agreement aims to use research and data to improve governance and support the state's development goals for 2036 and 2047.
The Government of Odisha signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) South Asia on Wednesday to improve evidence-based policymaking. According to ANI, the partnership will involve working with state departments to pinpoint policy issues, produce thorough research, and turn those findings into practical suggestions for government action.
The agreement supports the state's objectives of becoming Samruddha Odisha by 2036 and Viksit Odisha by 2047. J-PAL South Asia, which is hosted at the Institute for Financial Management and Research in Chennai, has been engaged in Odisha since 2006, working in sectors such as agriculture, sanitation, gender, and education.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the state aims to engage research institutions to pilot innovations and use data and artificial intelligence in line with global practices. Garg noted that J-PAL South Asia will help bring global evidence to the state, adapt successful methods to local needs, and test solutions before they are scaled up.
The MoU was signed by Rashmi Kabi, FA-cum-Additional Secretary of the Planning and Convergence Department, and Shobhini Mukerji, Executive Director of J-PAL South Asia. The ceremony was attended by Development Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh and other senior officials.
A Steering Committee led by the Chief Secretary will oversee the partnership and meet every six months to review project proposals. Nodal officers from both sides will manage the coordination of activities as individual project scopes are developed with relevant departments.