Books

Odisha Model of Urban Development: Decentralisation and Empowerment, discusses the key approaches and facets that underlay the highly successful urban development initiatives implemented in Odisha for close to a decade. The application of governance principles of decentralisation and empowerment in a consistent, contextual, strategic and tactical manner across sub-sectors, be it drinking water supply; environmental sanitation; municipal waste management; slum land rights and infrastructure upgrading or others has led to the development of the Odisha model of Urban Transformation. The book details out the conceptualisation, design and learning processes of the various urban initiatives rolled out in the state undertaken by the Government of Odisha. The book recounts how inclusivity and community partnerships in each of these innovative initiatives catalysed a sweeping transformation in Odisha’s urban landscape, achieving remarkable speed and scale. Most of these interventions have been accorded multiple national and global accolades. 

This book is co-authored by Mathi Vathanan, a senior Indian Administrative Service officer of the Odisha cadre (presently Director General of the State Administrative Training Institute) who headed the Housing and Urban Development Department for about a decade and under whose leadership various urban transformative initiatives have been implemented in the State, and Mr. Shubhagato Dasgupta, a well-regarded urban development professional, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research and presently also Team Lead, SCIAI programme at GWSC, AIT, Thailand. They have been working closely together since 2015. 

The book documents and deliberates on the reasoning behind the various innovative approaches designed and adopted while planning, implementing and monitoring these initiatives. It provides an insider’s perspective on the thought processes that inform the development of public programs that focus on the wellbeing of citizens. Therefore expectantly, this book would be of immense interest and use to the academic and research community including students. This book could also be a source of inspiration on what could be achieved and can be a valuable guide for other governments, city administrations, specific sector professionals and urban practitioners.  

This book chronicles Odisha’s transformative urban journey, offering an insider’s perspective on its most ambitious initiatives. It explores how programs aimed at improving urban life particularly those focused on uplifting marginalized communities and integrating the urban poor, including slum dwellers were central to Odisha’s urban growth narrative. By highlighting both the challenges and the resilience behind these efforts, the book showcases Odisha’s vision for equitable and sustainable urban spaces.