Bhubaneswar : A forum on “Unlocking the Power of Data Exchange for Smart Governance” was held today at the State Convention Hall in Lok Seva Bhavan. Organized by the Data, Policy and Innovation Centre (DPIC) in collaboration with the Electronics and Information Technology Department, Government of Odisha, the event brought together experts from the Centre of Data for Public Good (CDPG), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, and senior officials from various state government departments. Odisha’s Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja attended as the Chief Guest.
Speaking at the event, Chief Secretary Ahuja highlighted Odisha’s ongoing efforts to enhance data governance and shared that the state is preparing a new State Data Policy aimed at improving data interoperability, accessibility, and evidence-based decision-making. He emphasized that Odisha is working towards building a resilient and scalable data ecosystem that will empower government departments and policymakers to use data effectively while ensuring long-term sustainability.
CDPG Chairman Professor Inder Gopal spoke on the importance of open-source data exchange platforms for evidence-based decision-making. CDPG’s Principal Scientist Jyotirmoy Dutta and Applications Manager Akshat Sharma also shared insights on the subject. The IISc team presented the capabilities of the Open-Source Data Exchange Platform, which has already been successfully implemented in various sectors, including the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Government of India, the Government of Telangana, and the Survey of India.
Principal Secretary of the Electronics and Information Technology Department, Vishal Kumar Dev, reiterated the state’s commitment to leveraging advanced data science tools and research for improved governance. He acknowledged the role of DPIC, a collaboration between the Government of Odisha and the University of Chicago Trust, in driving these initiatives and thanked IISc for its participation in the forum.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by DPIC Executive Director Urmila Chatterjee. It was coordinated by the Electronics and Information Technology Department, Odisha Computer Application Centre, and DPIC.
