Bhubaneswar: Nobel laureate Professor Michael Kremer of the University of Chicago has inaugurated the new office of the Data, Policy and Innovation Centre (DPIC) here at the Odisha Computer Applications Centre (OCAC).
Principal Secretary, Department of Electronics and Information Technology & Energy, Vishal Kumar Dev graced the occasion.
This modern data analytics hub of Odisha will focus on collecting data from various sources and will work towards how the existing programs can be made more effective and how to improve policies through the use of collected data, official sources said.
The Centre will also provide information to the government in areas such as energy, environment, health, education, agriculture and water & sanitation etc. This effort will help improve the existing system, the source said.
While appreciating the work of the Odisha government and the University of Chicago Trust (DPIC), Professor Kramer said the centre would help to the state to improve in policy formulation in coming days.
He also lauded the initiatives taken in the IT sector in the State. Moreover, he expressed hope that there are many areas where data-driven policy analysis can add significant value to current policies.
Special Secretary Manas Ranjan Panda, Additional Secretary and CEO, OCAC, Pradeep Kumar Raut, and Chief Operating Officer of DPIC, Urmila Chatterjee were present on the occasion.