Odisha Sets Up High-Powered Panel for Kotia’s Holistic Development
New 16-member committee to design integrated agency for coordinated welfare delivery and cultural empowerment in border region
In a strategic move to ensure inclusive and sustainable development in the sensitive border region of Kotia, the Odisha Government has formed a high-level 16-member committee to establish a special agency that will streamline the implementation of welfare schemes under a unified administrative framework.
The decision follows a high-level meeting held on April 22, 2025, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The meeting focused on addressing administrative challenges and strengthening governance in the Kotia Gram Panchayat of Koraput district, which shares a disputed boundary with a neighboring state.
Headed by the Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management, the newly formed committee will design the operational structure, funding mechanism, and convergence model for various government schemes. It will also analyze welfare benefits provided by the adjacent state to ensure Odisha’s offerings are competitive and beneficial for the Kotia residents.
A senior officer from either the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) or Odisha Revenue Service (ORS) will lead the proposed agency. It will operate independently and consolidate services from different departments—health, education, rural development, tribal welfare, and others—ensuring efficient delivery at the grassroots level.
Beyond administrative integration, the committee will work to preserve and promote the region’s Odia identity through language, festivals, and culture under the “Odia Asmita” initiative, reinforcing a sense of belonging among the local population.
The official order for the panel’s formation was issued by the Revenue & Disaster Management Department on May 22. The committee will soon submit recommendations to the Chief Minister, setting the stage for Kotia’s long-term transformation.
