Odisha Plans ORCAD Centre to Support Elderly and Persons with Disabilities

Bhubaneswar, Apr 3 (BNP): In a move to enhance inclusion and support for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, the Government of Odisha, through its Department of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD), convened a high-level consultative meeting on the proposed Odisha Resource Center for Ageing & Divyangjan (ORCAD) in Bhubaneswar today.

The consultation, organized in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), brought together senior government officials, representatives from UN agencies including UNDP and UNICEF, development partners, and sector experts. The discussions focused on creating integrated, future-ready systems to cater to the evolving demographic needs of Odisha.

Envisioned as a state-level centre of excellence, ORCAD aims to:

• Strengthen inclusion and accessibility for elderly persons and Divyangjan.
• Facilitate coordinated service delivery across government departments.
• Promote evidence-based policy-making and capacity-building at multiple administrative levels.
• Enable the meaningful participation of vulnerable groups in Odisha’s socio-economic development, aligned with the state’s long-term vision of Viksit Odisha 2036 and 2047.

Speaking at the event, Suresh Kumar Vashishth, Principal Secretary, SSEPD, highlighted the importance of responsive and inclusive systems to meet the complex needs arising from demographic transitions. He reaffirmed Odisha’s commitment to ensuring dignity, independence, and equitable access for all citizens.

ORCAD is set to become a strategic anchor for inclusive governance in Odisha, fostering better quality of life and broader societal participation for the elderly and persons with disabilities.