Beyond his role at CYSD, Jagadananda’s public service has been far-reaching. As State Information Commissioner of Odisha, he pioneered efforts to popularise the Right to Information Act.
Jagadananda, co-founder of the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD), has been conferred the prestigious Justice A.K. Patnaik National Award in recognition of his lifelong commitment to grassroots democracy and inclusive development. The award was presented by Honorable Justice N. Kotiswar Singh in the presence of Justice A.K. Patnaik at a ceremony that celebrated his four decades of service to society.
Hailing from an agrarian family in coastal Odisha, Jagadananda has dedicated his career to empowering marginalised communities and strengthening participatory governance. Through CYSD, which he co-founded, he has championed village-based micro-planning, youth engagement, and community-led initiatives that have transformed lives in some of the state’s most disadvantaged tribal regions. His work has played a pivotal role in advancing local self-governance and fostering inclusive growth in Odisha.
Beyond his role at CYSD, Jagadananda’s public service has been far-reaching. As State Information Commissioner of Odisha, he pioneered efforts to popularise the Right to Information Act. He organised RTI camps, created citizen support centres, and introduced innovative tools such as tribal language resources and the Braille RTI Act to ensure transparency and accessibility for all communities, including those in remote tribal areas.
In his capacity as a member of the State Planning Board, he promoted participatory planning methods that placed communities at the centre of decision-making. His vision of bottom-up development helped shape strategies that prioritised inclusivity and sustainability. As Convenor of the Odisha Development Initiative, he also facilitated dialogue between government, civil society, the private sector, and panchayats, bringing diverse stakeholders together for collective action on sustainable development.
Visionary Leadership
Jagadananda’s influence has extended beyond Odisha. At the national level, he has been instrumental in advocating for electoral reforms and transparency through the National Campaign for Electoral Reforms. Through the Social Watch Coalition, he promoted citizen-led evaluations of governance institutions, strengthening accountability and democratic engagement. His expertise was also sought on high-level task forces by both the Government of Odisha and national bodies such as the erstwhile Planning Commission and NITI Aayog, where he contributed to shaping policies on development and governance.
His work has gained recognition on the international stage as well. Jagadananda has represented civil society in key global forums, influencing debates on pro-poor policies at the Commonwealth Ministerial Meetings, the World Summit on Social Development, the UN Conference on Financing for Development, and the Millennium Summit. He has also served as a member of the Civil Society Advisory Group of the Commonwealth Foundation and as part of the Transparency Advisory Group of the World Bank for South Asia, bringing grassroots perspectives into global policy-making.
The Justice A.K. Patnaik National Award acknowledges his visionary leadership, unwavering advocacy for democratic empowerment, and decades of dedication to inclusive development. For over forty years, Jagadananda has been an inspiring figure whose contributions continue to resonate across local, national, and international platforms.
Image: CYSD
