Trajectories of Development: Odisha@100 offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary and interpretative analysis of Odisha’s tryst with the economic, social and governance challenges through policy and parastatal initiatives since the state’s formation in 1936 to the present day. Positioned within the global debates on uneven regional growth, the volume examines Odisha’s recent economic resurgence while probing its distributional, ecological and social implications.
The book traces the Indian state’s historical antecedents—marked by colonial exploitation and disparate functioning of the myriad princely states—and its transformation into a formally unified subnational entity. Sector-specific chapters analyse agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and services, complemented by district-level insights. The volume explores developments in education, health, and demography, and examines possibilities of emerging frontiers of tourism, and tribal economy. Additional chapters assess poverty, unemployment, food security, fiscal management, disaster governance, neglect of natural resources, displacement, distress migration, unfolding of media, and roles of private and civil society actors.
This volume will benefit scholars of development studies, economics, political economy, regional planning, and public policy, as well as practitioners and administrators of development. Readers will gain a nuanced, empirically grounded understanding of Odisha’s developmental journey and a forward-looking roadmap as the state approaches its centenary in 2036.
This book offers a comprehensive analysis of Odisha’s tryst with the economic, social and governance challenges through policy and parastatal initiatives since 1936 to the present day. It examines Odisha’s recent economic resurgence while probing its distributional, ecological and social implications.
Arvustused
'This book is a commendable stock taking effort on the socio-economic development process of Odisha since its formation. With an extensive coverage of issues from the perspective of various disciplines, it will contribute to policy making and public debate as the state marches forward in the coming years.'
- Manoj Panda, Member, Sixteenth Finance Commission of India and Former Director of Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi
'This fascinating book offers a rigorous, interdisciplinary analysis of Odishas development journey, combining historical depth and institutions with sectoral insights. It is a must read for policymakers, scholars, and practitioners interested in Odishas future and transformation.'
- Sudipta Sarangi, Professor of Economics, Virginia Tech
'This book offers a rigorous, interdisciplinary account of Odishas development, from colonial exploitation and regional disparities to recent gains in education, governance, disaster management, urbanisation and sustainability. With an extensive coverage of issues, it provides valuable insights for policymakers and scholars as Odisha advances toward an inclusive Vision 2036.'
- Shruti Mohapatra, CEO Swabhiman, author, scholar, inclusion and accessibility expert
1. Introduction: Odishas Development Trajectory
2. The Making of Modern
Odisha: A Historical Perspective
3. Roots of Economic Retrogression in
Colonial Odisha
4. Odisha's Economic Growth Transition Amidst Distributional
Concerns
5. Agenda Towards a Peoples Political Economy of Development in
Odisha
6. Fiscal Trajectories of Odisha: From Subsistence to Surplus
7.
Demography is Destiny: Tracing the Demographic Transition and its Prospects
in Odisha
8. Evolving Social Context of Odisha
9. Towards a Sustainable and
Equitable Development of Odisha Agriculture
10. Industrialisation in Odisha:
Potential and Policy Prejudice
11. Export Performance and Policy Dynamics in
Odisha: An Evolving Industrial Landscape
12. Employment: Employment and
Migration in Odisha: Emerging Challenges and Opportunities
13. Poverty in
Odisha: Past, Present, and Future
14. Healthcare In Odisha: A Historical
Sketch, Current Challenges and Future Strategies
15. Food Security and
Nutrition in Odisha for Achieving Sdg-2
16. Preparing Odisha for a Knowledge
Economy: Education and Skills
17. Development of Scheduled Tribes in Odisha:
Status, Gaps and Prospects
18. Urbanisation in Odisha: Challenges,
Opportunities, and Policy Directions
19. Tourism: Odishas Unrealized
Potential
20. Marginalisation, Dispossession and Natural Resource-based
Livelihoods: What Eludes Odisha?
21. Environment, Climate Change and Natural
Disaster in Odisha
22. Regional Disparities and Uneven Development in Odisha
23. Role of State and Non-State Actors in Odishas Development
24. Conclusion
and the Way Forward
Amarendra Das is an Associate Professor at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, NISER Bhubaneswar, and founder of its DSTCentre for Policy Research on Energy Transition. He previously served as Deputy Director in the 14th Finance Commission and taught at Utkal University. He was the secretary of the Odisha Economic Association during 2018 to 2023. He received the Global Development Medal in 2009. He holds an MA from Utkal University and an MPhil and PhD from CDSJNU.
Keshab Das is Visiting Professor, Institute for Human Development, New Delhi; Adjunct Professor, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, New Delhi; and Director, Centre for Research in Regions & Development, Bhubaneswar. With M.Phil. (Applied Economics) and Ph.D. (Economics) degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University (through Centre for Development studies, Trivandrum) he is a recipient of the VKRV Rao Prize in Social Sciences (Economics). He is the Editor-in-Chief of Odisha Economic Journal and a former President of Odisha Economic Association.
Deepak K Mishra is a Professor of Economics at the Centre for the Study of Regional Development, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. His recent books include Global Poverty: Rethinking Causality (co-edited, Brill, 2023) and Internal Migration in Contemporary India (edited, Routledge, 2026).
Udaya S Mishra, a Statistician/Demographer is professor in the dept of Epidemiology and Bio-statistics at the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai and formerly professor at the Centre for Development Studies Trivandrum, Kerala. He is engaged in research and teaching on population and development issues with a number of national and international publications to his credit.
