XIM, Bhubaneswar Conducts Panel Discussion on 'Millennium Development Goals' with UNICEF

XIM, Bhubaneswar Conducts Panel Discussion on 'Millennium Development Goals' in Association with UNICEF

The World Summit for Social Development, held in March 1995 at Copenhagen, considered conquest of poverty as the over-riding objective of development. This objective received wider attention in the millennium summit held on 6th September 2000 at the

United Nations headquarters in New York. During this summit, 189 world leaders committed to, 'free all men, women and children from abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty by the year 2015'. To achieve this, 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were formulated. The first MDG is to Eradicate Extreme Poverty & Hunger.

Achieving this goal by 2015 is significant for Orissa, which still has 39.9% of the population living below poverty-line. It is also true that achieving MDGs in Orissa will put India on the global map of successful nations as achieving MDGs for Orissa is so compelling and impending. In order to assess Orissa's progress and to suggest measures to accelerate the process of achieving MDGs in Orissa, Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB) and UNICEF, Orissa have taken the lead to form a State-Level Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This forum consists of representatives from the government, international agencies, civil society organizations, corporate, academia, political party and media. The first meeting of this Forum was held on 17 December 2008 at XIM-B.

The second meeting of the forum was held on 16th February 2009 and it was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Ms. Vandana Jena, I.A.S., Principal Secretary, School & Mass Education Department. The meeting was graced by Mr. Aurobindo Behera, I.A.S., MD, Industrial Development Corporation, Guest of Honor, and Mr. Shadrack Omol, Chief, UNICEF, Guest of Honor. Fr. Blacius Ekka, XIM-B, welcomed the august gathering. The key-note address was delivered by Mr. Shadrack Omol.

A status note was presented by Prof. S. Peppin, XIM-B, followed by a short video documentary on MDG 2 by Mr. Prosun Sen, UNICEF. This was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Dhanada Mishra, HDF. The panel formulated and submitted an Action Plan to accelerate the realization of MDG 2. The members who participated in the panel discussion were: Mr. Nikunj Dhal, I.A.S., State Project Director, OPEPA, Mr. Surjayakant Mohanty, Centre Head, Wipro, Fr. Blacius Ekka, XIM-B, Fr. Panka Toppo, XIM-B, Dr. Rashmi Mishra, Faculty, NCDS and Mr. Ranjan Mohanty, Secretary, PECUC.

Faculty members from XIM-B, Human Development Foundation (HDF), Utkal University, and other members from civil society, media and UNICEF also participated and offered their views. Dr. Mamata Mishra, Senior Research Assistant, XIM-B, proposed the vote of thanks.

Next

Contributed by -
Madhukar Subramanian,
Coordinator, IlluminatiX,
Media & PR Cell,
Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar.

MBA Alumni \| MBA Students \| MBA Aspirants \| MBA Forums