Bhubaneswar, Nov 28: As Odisha approaches its centenary year in 2036, the state must accelerate climate-resilient and people-centric planning to safeguard community rights, ecological integrity, gender justice, and collaborative governance, to ensure long-term resilience, dignified livelihoods, and sustainable prosperity, concluded the two-day Odisha Vikash Conclave here on Thursday.
It is high time, a state-wide Climate Action Consortiuminvolving civil society, government, corporates and community institutions was formed to strengthen collaborative, evidence-driven and community-led responses to Odisha’s growing climate challenges, emphasised the civil society leaders, researchers, sector experts and community leaders. “Climate-smart livelihoods and climate action can only move forward when all the stakeholders including the grassroots people work together through a shared, collaborative platform,” said CYSD Co-Founder Dr. Jagadananda.
The Conclave emphasised that the State should bring outa Odisha River Policy, promote integrated land and water management and implement basin-level planning that ensures ecological flows and wetland conservation, while addressing distress migration through district-level migration facilitation centres, portable entitlementsand skilling programmes.
The State needs to recognising traditional knowledge of biodiversity, particularly the contributions of women in seed conservation and sustainable farming practicesand integrating this knowledge into state policies, training programmes and education, pointed out Bisakha Bhanja of the National Alliance of Women's Organisations (NAWO). Gender-responsive climate action was highlighted as a priority, including climate-smart and women-friendly Gram Panchayats, recognition of women farmers and migrant women, psychosocial support during and after disasters and targeted training for women to enhance safety and resilience.
As the State Government is finalising a just energy transition plan, Srestha Banerjee, Director Just Transition & Climate Change, iFOREST, emphasised developing a transition fund to support workers and communities and creating at least seven regional skilling hubs to generate green jobs.
“Last year, Odisha received only 7–8% of the CSR funding directed toward climate action. We need a coordinated state-level approach to increase CSR allocations for climate action to at least 30%,” said Dr Pratyush Kumar Panda, CEO, OneStage.
The conclave stressed on inclusive approaches to the blue economy, climate-resilient infrastructure and food and water security for livestock, alongside improving market ecosystems for sustainable livelihoods.
To strengthen community-led governance, participants recommended building participatory citizen data systems, multi-actor platforms at block, district and state levels and enhanced capacity of civil society and PRIs.
Among others, Sudhapriya Das, Director, Planning and Coordination Department, Govt. of Odisha, Prof. Amitabh Kundu, a renowned social scientist and economist attended the concluding day.
