Odisha Sets Up High-Level Panel to Boost Development in Bordering Kotia Panchayat

Bhubaneswar: In a move to address the long-pending developmental and administrative challenges in the Kotia gram panchayat of Koraput district, the Odisha Government has formed a 16-member high-powered committee. The decision follows a key meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, held on April 22, 2025.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari will lead the committee as Chairperson, while the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department will serve as Member-cum-Convener. The panel has been tasked with submitting detailed recommendations to the Chief Minister regarding the development and governance of the Kotia group of villages, which lie along Odisha’s border with Andhra Pradesh.

The committee will design a special agency model, defining its structure, hierarchy, and funding pattern, and will also focus on the convergence of welfare schemes to ensure efficient implementation in the region. It will conduct a comparative analysis of schemes offered by the neighbouring state to identify areas where Odisha can enhance its outreach and services to the local population.

A major thrust of the initiative is on strengthening ‘Odia Asmita’ (Odia identity) among border communities. The government plans to intensify efforts to promote Odia language, culture, literature, traditions, and festivals in Kotia and other bordering areas to deepen the sense of belonging among the local populace.

The newly formed panel is part of a broader strategy to put in place a robust administrative mechanism tailored to the unique needs of the Kotia region. The government aims to bring clarity, consistency, and effectiveness in service delivery and development efforts while reinforcing the emotional and cultural connection of Kotia’s residents with Odisha.