Dikhyaa Mohanty 
In a significant step towards advancing social research and youth development in Odisha, the Odisha Research Centre (ORC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, on Sunday. The event, held in Bhubaneswar, was attended by Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan, who lauded the initiative as a milestone in shaping the state’s future.
“This is not just an agreement between two institutions, but a visionary initiative to chart a new path for Odisha’s young generation through research,” Pradhan said at the ceremony.
A significant step forward in social research and youth development in Odisha was made on Sunday with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Odisha Research Centre (ORC) and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. Attending the event in Bhubaneswar, Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan hailed the endeavor as a crucial step in deciding the state’s destiny.
Pradhan highlighted the literary legacy of Odisha and cited Balaram Das’ Lakshmi Purana as an early example of women’s liberation. He said that important scientific, social, and economic truths that need to be revealed by methodical inquiry are woven throughout Odisha’s literary and cultural heritage. The forthcoming centennial of Odisha’s creation in 2036 and India’s 100th anniversary of independence in 2047 were cited by the education minister as significant turning points. He advocated giving data-driven research top priority in order to introduce the next generation to Odisha’s rich cultural heritage.
