Bhubaneswar: Odisha is on the cusp of being in a leadership position in the country. The new millennium has brought new opportunities for the State. The first two decades of this century have seen the State touching new highs in every social and economic sphere. The State has seen itself grow from a poor agrarian economy to one of the fastest growing economies in the country with thrust on technology and new economy. The State owes its phenomenal change to the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the transformation brought by his government. Odisha’s transformation, particularly in the last fifteen years, was due to the dynamic changes brought in the governance system. And, at this crucial time of change over, the role played by VK Pandian – the Chief Minister’s trusted lieutenant is invaluable.
One person, one personality with undisputed qualities of leadership – VK Pandian, has been there with the Government of Odisha in all its transformative endeavors. The young and energetic bureaucrat joined the Government of Odisha as an Indian Administrative officer in 2000. His first involvement with the welfare of the people was possible when he joined as the Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh, Kalahandi. His tough stance with the unholy millers ensured full payment of Minimum Support Price to the farmers and profits to cooperative societies. His efforts streamlined the paddy procurement in a systematic manner and also helped the Government to get highest ever revenue collections. This initiative got him the appreciation and felicitation from the Chief Minister.
In a brief stint as the ADM in Rourkela, Pandian was instrumental in the Chend market eviction leading to people getting long pending justice. Pandian was one of the youngest Collectors of the country when he took charge of Odisha’s largest district – Mayurbhanj. His daily visits to the remote villages of the district helped accelerating the development process. There he introduced the Single Window system for empowerment of PWDs which was then taken as a national model and implemented throughout the country. Mayurbhanj received the National Award for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities. Pandian set in place a system whereby PWDs could be identified and rehabilitated at the village and block levels. Pandian received the Helen Keller Award for his work for the PWDs – a rare distinction for a bureaucrat. Due to his resourceful experience, Pandian was invited many times to LBSNAA to address the combined courses of Defense forces and administrators. His work in Mayurbhanj was taken as an example of how pro-people administration can reduce the spread of Naxalism.
Pandian’s stint as the Collector of Ganjam from 2007 has been the most challenging. Managing the most populous district of the state with diverse aspects was a challenge that he took up and successfully accomplished. As Collector of Ganjam, he received the National Award for NREGS twice for the best district in the country – Ganjam, given by the Union Government. He introduced the revolutionary system of bank payment of wages in NREGS under his leadership in Ganjam district . Seeing its success, it was then taken up by Government of India for implementation in the entire country. Pandian’s ‘Out of Box’ interventions continued and Ganjam got the National Award for being the best district in NREGA implementation. A record Rs 100 crore was transferred in this manner into the bank accounts of thousands of laborers in the State. His successful approach resulted in Ganjam getting the Presidents’ Award twice for leading changes. The people friendly approach helped maximize the mandays under NREGA and minimize the incidents of labor migration to other states. His tenure as Collector of Ganjam showed a deep sensitivity and understanding of people and an intent to root out corruption in government functioning.
Under his leadership, the Ganjam District administration undertook massive improvements in the lives of HIV infected people. As Collector, Pandian also received the national award for his rehabilitation efforts towards HIV-positive people in Ganjam. He was instrumental in setting up of the publicly funded shelter home for AIDS orphans, which was established on a priority basis within a short period of time. With his penchant towards the orphans, Pandian had become their guardian and saviour. Every year Pandian visits the Sraddha Sanjeevani Child Care Home in Gopalpur to meet the children and spend some time with them despite his busy schedule. Pandian also spends time with the students at rehabilitation centers, tribal hostels, and other orphanages which speak volumes about his love and affection for the children in need.
The year 2011 saw the dawn of an important innings for both V K Pandian and the State Government. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, seeing the inherent qualities of Pandian, brought him to the Chief Minister’s Office and made him a part of his team at Bhubaneswar for a greater role in the State’s development. He was made the Private Secretary to Naveen. Thereafter, for both VK Pandian and the State, there has been no looking back. CM Naveen found in Pandian a right administrator who is foresighted, young, energetic, articulate and hardworking. As Odisha took to the path of transformation propelled by the 5T Initiatives as envisioned by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, VK Pandian became the curator of new Odisha. Both Naveen and V K Pandian are working towards making the common man the focal point of governance. And hence the growth story of Odisha was written.
5T Initiatives – the governance mechanism that propels the transformation of Odisha is being steered by none other than V K Pandian. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s ambitious agenda of developing the state with the pathbreaking 5T Initiatives is being implemented in the State with full vigour and it has already started showing the results. Launched in 2018, the 5T Initiatives have been changing the way the state is governed. The Common Man has become the focal point of governance and administration.
Pandian has been overseeing the transformation of the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Some of the most important developments in Governance that Odisha has seen in the last few years include Mo Sarkar, Transformation of historic and religious places, Heritage Corridor Project in Puri, 5T High School Transformation Program, making Odisha the Sporting hub of India, Transformation of Health facilities across the state, resurrection of irrigation facilities in all the districts, promoting Women empowerment through Mission Shakti, making Odisha the Steel Manufacturing hub of India etc.
The successful handling of the biggest health challenge of this century, the Covid-19 pandemic is only due to the active leadership of Pandian. He ensured that the health infrastructure was ready to face any challenge and led the fight from the front. Odisha was one of the few states that saw minimal loss of lives during the pandemic. Odisha put up the largest Covid hospital in the country in a record time and saves millions of lives by supplying oxygen to almost all states of India.
Today, more than 6500 High schools have been transformed under the High School Transformation Program. The SCB Medical College and Hospital is being transformed into an AIIMS Plus Category Health institute that is destined to be the biggest in the country. Puri is getting ready to be an important religious destination with the completion of the Heritage Corridor Project. The city is also going to get the second International Airport with the efforts of the state government. Bhubaneswar today has become the Information Technology hub of eastern India and going to play an important role as the Semiconductor hub in the coming years. The Make in Odisha Conclave saw investment intents of a record Rs 10 lakh crore – the largest a state to receive in the country. The pro-active industrial policies have transformed the state into the manufacturing capital of India. Odisha’s efforts for people’s welfare are also getting recognized by the Central Government and international agencies.
If there is one man who is believed to have been instrumental in taking the state to new highs, its none other than VK Pandian. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s confidence on the 5T Secretary has resulted in the state getting accelerated all round development and growth. The spontaneous outpouring of love and affection by the masses on VK Pandian during his visit to the various places symbolizes that they are seeing him as the leader who delivers his promises.
Pandian has always been more empathetic towards the common people. His love for children and students can be seen during his visit to the districts where he makes it a point to spend time with them. As he himself belonged to a sports hostel, he is very fund of the sports persons and interacts with them regularly. The transformation of Odisha into a sporting hub of the country is just another aspect of his love for sports and games.
Common man remains the core of every development agenda of the Government of Odisha under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Odisha is progressing towards a true welfare state for the people. Pandian has been taking forward the agenda to the grassroots in the State.
In the last six months, he visited across the state and interacted with the people. As part of the CMO, he went to the doorsteps of the people and enquired their grievances. The pathbreaking grievance hearing programs saw lakhs of people meeting him. He received more than 60 thousand grievance during the visit to the district. Due to the 5T initiatives almost more than ninety percent of the grievances have been solved.
People of Odisha are so overwhelmed at VK Pandian for his work towards welfare of the people. The common man believes in him and knows that he is the person who can bring true development. The fact that lakhs of people attended the grievance programs held by VK Pandian proves how much they believe in him.
As he embarks on a new journey today as Chairman – 5T Initiatives and Nabin Odisha, the State is going to witness another round of accelerated growth and development. The ambitious 5T Initiatives are going to be the mainstay of the state government’s transformative endeavours and Nabin Odisha is going to bring grassroots level development.
In every sense, building a strong Odisha and an economic power house, to prepare it for the changing demands of the 21st century, and revolutionizing the education system to produce future ready citizens, the leadership played by Pandian remains invincible.
As an individual, Pandian has been a quite and simple personality. His go getter attitude helps him to devise new strategies for the welfare of the people. Originally he had got the Punjab Cadre in the Civil Services, but after marriage with Sujata Rout – the current Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Mission Shakti, he choose Odisha to be his Karmakhsetra. He is the son-in-law of Odisha and belongs to Odisha. The overwhelming love and affection showed by the people in the nook and corner of the state during his visits shows how much popular he is among the masses. The traditional welcome given by the people of Kendrapara to VK Pandian as a son-in-law of the district during a recent visit also strengthens the bond between him and the masses.