Taking learning beyond the classroom, the students of BA in Public Administration and Governance (Batch 2023–2026) from the School of Governance and Public Affairs (SGPA) participated in a multi-institutional field visit across Odisha. The initiative aimed to help students witness governance and public administration in real-world settings.
The visits included key institutions such as the Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, the Office of the Post Master General, the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), and the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC). Each visit provided valuable exposure to diverse aspects of public service, policy implementation, and administrative functioning.
At the Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, students explored the institution’s legacy in nurturing excellence in public service through training and research. They observed induction training sessions for OAS probationers and interacted with Dr. Shashank Grahacharjya, Director, Centre for Good Governance (CGGO), gaining insights into effective governance practices.
During their visit to the Office of the Post Master General, the batch interacted with Shri Nirmaljit Singh, learning about the postal hierarchy, six service verticals, and citizen feedback mechanisms. They also reviewed an actual APAR (Annual Performance Appraisal Report), deepening their understanding of performance evaluation in the public sector.
The visit to OSDMA offered an inspiring perspective on Odisha’s transformation in disaster management. Under the guidance of Dr. Kamal Lochan Mishra, IAS, students traced the state’s journey from the 1999 super cyclone to a model of resilience-focused, technology-driven disaster preparedness. The session emphasized early warning systems, community engagement, and collaborative planning with academia and international agencies.
At the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC), students attended an engaging session led by Dr. Sanjay Mohapatra, Domain Advisor for Emerging Technologies – AI. They learned about OCAC’s evolution since 1985, its leadership in IT and e-Governance, and its initiatives promoting citizen-centric digital services.
A highlight of the visit was the discussion on the Ama Shasana initiative, which leverages AI and real-time feedback to enhance transparency, accountability, and responsive governance in local administrations.
The field visit as a whole bridged classroom theories with field realities, offering students first-hand insights into policy execution, service delivery, and governance innovation. It served as an enriching experience, inspiring the next generation of administrators to approach governance with empathy, awareness, and purpose.
