Odisha is missing from the front page of the booklet State Forward published by the NITI Aayog.
NRO Professor Chitta Baral has pointed out that while the names of all other States are listed on the front page, Odisha’s name is missing, though it is one of the 29 States.
The NITI Aayog, which is periodically updating the compilation to showcase the Best Practices, has come out with an excellent collection of Best Practices from various States, said Prof Baral.
And it also includes at least one from Odisha, Gram Tarang Initiative of the Centurion University of Technology and management (CUTM). In a letter to NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, Prof Baral has thanked him for such an innovative initiative and making it available online @ http://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/document_publication/SF%20Booklet.pdf
However, he pointed out that the front page of the booklet lists all the States except Odisha. He feels that perhaps this is inadvertent. But many in Odisha feel that the Central Government is discriminating against Odisha.
Prof Baral has also brought it to the notice of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.