| Abstract: | Economic Reforms cannot alone propel the economy of Odisha to grow faster. After the economic reforms, in some sectors Odisha is growing much faster compared to previous decades but it is seen that the growth has not been uniform in its effect on people. Large numbers of People of Odisha remain poor and suffer from deprivation. In this sense it is argued that economic reforms in Odisha have not been inclusive enough. Unless, the benefits of growth reach a large section of the people, the economy cannot hope to sustain its growth. Unless the growth is inclusive, the fruits of development only remain limited to the higher section of the society but not to the grass-root levels. That’s why there is the need of inclusive economic growth. Growth that is not inclusive affects the society, the economy and the polity. Inclusive growth seeks to broaden the flow of benefits of globalisation towards the currently excluded sections. The present paper focus on the need for Inclusive economic growth in Odisha. Inclusive economic growth is needed in Odisha for Removal of poverty, Creation of employment opportunities, Removal of income inequalities, Empowering people through education and skill development, Agricultural development, Reduction of regional disparity, for social sector development, protecting environment, for good governance, Creation of gender sensitive society, removing social exclusion, Infrastructure development, encouraging financial inclusion. The focus of the government in recent years has shifted from ‘promoting Incredible India’ to ‘building Inclusive India’. In recognition of this, the Planning Commission had made inclusive growth an explicit goal in the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012). The main aim of twelfth five-year plan was also to achieve faster, sustainable and more inclusive economic growth. Odisha ranks 32nd among Indian States in HDI. Despite Persistent efforts by the govt. towards economic upliftment of the People, Odisha has been ranked among the nine poorest States in the Country. The Global Multi- Dimensional Poverty Index MDPI 2022 prepared by comparing the development in several sectors and parameters that are inter-linked in the past five years revealed that nine States including Odisha continued to remain poor in the Country. As per the Report released by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and UNDP, of the 10 poorest States in 2015-16, except West Bengal the rest nine – Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, MP, UP, Assam and Rajasthan remained the poorest in 2019-21. One of the salient features of chronic Poverty in Odisha is regional disparities. For a State like Odisha, inclusive economic growth is necessary. The paper highlights the growth story of Odisha in Post Reform period, and also focuses on why such type of growth is not sufficient and there is need for inclusive economic growth. |
