Bhubaneswar: In an important development, the Odisha Government has appointed Sujata Rout Karthikeyan as the new Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department. The move holds much significance as the most important Culture Department gets an accomplished woman officer as its head. The appointment will further boost Odisha’s efforts to promote, preserve and develop its rich cultural heritage. As the Culture and Heritage of Odisha holds an important place for Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who himself is an ardent admirer of the rich cultural heritage of Odisha and a connoisseur of art and culture, he has entrusted the duty to one of the proven officers of the state.
Sujata Rout Karthikeyan is a proficient officer, who is credited for the success of the Mission Shakti movement in Odisha. Her rich experience in developing Mission Shakti and empowering millions of women will certainly add to the new assignment and we can see a transformation in the language, literature and culture space.
Thanks to the leadership of Sujata Rout Karthikeyan, Odisha has seen the dawn of a new millennium based on women’s empowerment. The 2000 batch IAS Officer has shown her mettle in transforming the lives of more than 80 lakh women of Odisha by bringing in them economic, social and political independence.
Under her leadership, there has been no looking back for Mission Shakti Department. Due to her constant endeavor, it could become a separate Department of the Government of Odisha. For the first time, we have witnessed female leaders emerging from across the State to cross-weave their potential and bring in change. Sujata is an empathic leader who is open to new challenges and relates to the SHGs and openly interacts with them to comprehend the various issues faced by them. Her deep insightfulness in the working of the Mission Shakti groups has paid rich dividends.
Like, women empowerment, Odisha’s culture and heritage also holds an important place for Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. She has always stood for the promotion of Odisha’s rich culture and its preservation. With a view to give it a further boost, CM Naveen has taken the decision to assign it to an officer who has already proven the mettle. And, it is none other than Sujata Rout Karthikeyan who fits to the position. As the head of the Department, she will have the greater responsibility to take Odisha’s culture to the next level.
Some of her priorities will be to systematically and comprehensively promote the rich cultural heritage of Odisha with its historical monuments, archaeological sites, traditional arts, sculpture, dance and music. As the state is going through a transformative phase in all sectors, the core of all these, the State’s culture also needs to transformation through spread of language, literature and promotion of arts, music, dance and drama.
Another aspect of her challenges will be the conservation and preservation of archaeological places of significance, and other important historical sites. She will also have to work for providing social security to the artists in various fields living in indigent conditions. Some of the divisions of the Odia Culture and Language Department such as the Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy, Lalita Kala Academy, Urdu Academy, State Museum, Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Odisha Sahitya Academy, Odisha Language Institute, Kalinga Art Gallery, Government Arts and Crafts College, Khallikote, Bibhuti Kanungo College of Arts and Crafts, Odisha State Archives, Harekrushna Mahatab State Library etc., will see a boost in their activities under Sujata’s leadership.