Odisha has great potential, yet gender inequality, poverty, and corruption are major issues.

Only 35% of
Odisha women are employed, compared to 55% of men, according to the SDG Indicator Framework
Document. In Odisha, only 27% of women hold government and business sector leadership roles. Over
40% of Odishans live in poverty. At 38 on Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index,
Odisha is also corrupt.

Odisha must address these major issues to make the state more prosperous and equitable. Effective
governance allows the government to provide basic services, boost economic growth, and uphold the
law.

Factors There are several variables that contribute to the governance challenge in Odisha. This includes:

Weak institutions: The bureaucracy, courts, and police are typically inept. This hinders government policy
and programme implementation.

Corruption: All levels of government in Odisha are corrupt. This reduces public trust in government and
hinders investment and job creation.

Poverty in Odisha can cause social unrest and instability. This hinders the government's long-term
development aspirations.

Political will: Odisha typically lacks political will to address governance issues. Vested interests and short-
term gains contribute to this.

Challenges to Address:

Odisha's governance problem has many solutions. This includes:

Institutional strengthening: The government must increase institutional capability and accountability.
This can be done by employing qualified staff, training them, and preventing political meddling.

Combating corruption: The government must act strongly. This includes strengthening anti-corruption
legislation and mechanisms and making government procurement and contracting more transparent and
accountable.

Poverty reduction: The government should invest in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. This will
improve workforce skills and productivity, boosting economic growth and job creation.

Political will: Odisha's governance issues require political will from the government. Engaging with civil
society and the commercial sector and creating a shared state vision can achieve this.