Valedictory Ceremony Marks Completion of OAS Probationers’ Induction Training Program

Bhubaneswar: The ‘Valedictory Ceremony’ for the Induction Training Program of Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) probationers was held today at the Gopabandhu Academy of Administration. A total of 112 OAS Officer Trainees, who have undergone training at the academy over the past few months, participated in the ceremony.

Manoj Ahuja, the Chief Secretary of Odisha, delivered a keynote address, emphasizing the transformative role of civil servants in improving governance and driving positive change. He urged the probationers to leverage technology for real-time governance and to focus on providing efficient service delivery to the public. He further stressed the critical need for job creation, skill development, and fostering economic growth in the state. “Innovative thinking and result-oriented actions are key to addressing the challenges we face,” he said, urging the officers to simplify processes, ensure citizen dignity, and govern with empathy. He also highlighted the importance of collaboration, empowering others, and maintaining high ethical standards in public service.

Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, also addressed the probationers, encouraging them to continue reading and acquiring knowledge throughout their careers. Citing examples from the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, he explained the distinction between law and justice and emphasized the need for empathy in delivering citizen-centric governance. “Remain grounded and avoid arrogance,” he advised, reinforcing the values of humility and empathy in the civil services.

At the beginning of the ceremony,G. Mathi Vathanan, Additional Chief Secretary to Government and Director General of the Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, made a presentation outlining the key activities and highlights of the induction training program. He mentioned the introduction of various panel discussions on emerging subjects, such as Artificial Intelligence and Digital Public Infrastructure, which were integrated into the academic curriculum. He also highlighted the expansion of off-campus learning activities that enriched the training experience.

During the event, the Chief Secretary released the ‘Compilation of Book Reviews by OAS Probationers (DR) 2021’, a curated publication edited by the Centre for Good Governance, Odisha (CGGO), showcasing the intellectual contributions of the probationers.

The ceremony concluded with Dr. Monalisa Lenka, Additional Director and Course Director of the induction training program for OAS (DR) 2021, delivering the vote of thanks. Also present were Lala Manoj Kumar Ray, Deputy Director General, Sibo Narayan Sahu, Additional Director, Debakalyan Behera, Joint Director (Finance and Accounts), Dr. Shashank Grahacharjya, Director (CGGO), along with other staff members of the academy and the CGGO team.