Paperman Media । Bhubaneswar, October 27
The Government of Odisha has released the ANKUR Partners’ Handbook 2026, highlighting collaborative efforts to strengthen municipal governance, promote innovation and improve citizen-centric urban services. The handbook was unveiled during the Urban Mobility India Conference and National Urban Conclave 2026 in Bhubaneswar.
ANKUR (Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation and Reform), launched on May 28, 2025, was conceptualised by Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department. Inspired by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the initiative aligns with the visions of Viksit Odisha @2036 and Viksit Bharat @2047.
The initiative brings together 11 strategic partners, including Tata Steel Foundation, Janaagraha, UN-Habitat, WRI India, eGov Foundation and other organisations, focusing on capacity building, research, implementation support and innovation.
ANKUR supports municipal finance and property tax reforms, digital governance through the SUJOG platform, urban planning, livelihood development, sanitation worker welfare and air pollution mitigation. Lighthouse Centres have enrolled 9,703 young people in foundation courses, with 4,646 securing employment.
Community outreach programmes SAHAJOG and SAHAJOG Plus have reached 6.60 lakh households, facilitated over 3.25 lakh welfare scheme applications and helped unlock nearly ₹10,000 crore in public welfare benefits.
Digital transformation is another key priority. The initiative has helped reduce municipal employees’ reporting time by an average of 48 per cent. The state plans to expand SUJOG coverage from 115 to 140 Urban Local Bodies during 2026–27, alongside improvements in data integrity, system reliability and revenue intelligence.
ANKUR also promotes circular economy solutions, including the conversion of low-value plastics and industrial waste into construction materials, with a targeted plastic recovery capacity of 50 tonnes per day. Partners are additionally working with urban authorities to address pollution from open waste dumping, unpaved roads and construction debris.
Through collaboration, technical expertise and evidence-based reforms, ANKUR aims to strengthen urban institutions and build cleaner, more inclusive, sustainable and resilient cities across Odisha.
