SHYAMA BHAKTA MISHRA

As Member, Odisha Public Service Commission played a pivotal role in upholding the principles of transparency, meritocracy, and fairness in civil service recruitment and selection processes.

Key contributions include:

• Introduced significant reforms in the examination and evaluation system, ensuring enhanced transparency, process efficiency, and candidate trust.
• Strengthened institutional accountability through digitization, robust confidentiality protocols, and improved standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Contributed to policy formulation and regulatory oversight to align recruitment practices with evolving governance standards and constitutional values.
• Ensured the timely and merit-based selection of candidates for key government roles, reinforcing public service quality and administrative credibility.

As Managing Director, Boyanika (Government of Odisha's premier handloom organization) provided strategic leadership to revitalize the handloom and handicrafts sector by driving innovation, expanding market access, and ensuring financial sustainability.

Key contributions include:

• Championed digital transformation by launching online trading platforms and enhancing e-commerce presence, boosting sales and artisan outreach.
• Promoted sustainable business models to empower weaver communities while ensuring long-term organizational viability.
• Headed the design innovation, branding, and market linkage initiatives, resulting in increased visibility of Odisha’s handloom products at national and international levels.
• Strengthened collaboration between weavers' cooperatives, designers, and policy-makers, improving livelihoods and preserving cultural heritage.

Extensive experience in district-level administration as Additional District Magistrate (ADM) and In-Charge Collector, with key responsibilities and achievements including:

• Headed law and order management, ensuring peace and stability in sensitive and high-risk areas.
• Led crisis response and public safety operations, including riot control and emergency containment.
• Directed disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts during multiple cyclonic events, ensuring minimal loss of life and infrastructure.
• Effectively managed COVID-19 pandemic control measures, including quarantine, testing, vaccination drives, and public communication.
• Oversaw the peaceful conduct of major religious festivals and public gatherings, coordinating crowd control, logistics, and inter-agency support.
• Played a key role in inter-departmental coordination, enabling quick decision-making and seamless execution of field operations.
• Supervised emergency logistics and restoration efforts, enabling swift return to normalcy during high-pressure situations.

As Sub-Collector & Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) – exercised magisterial and executive authority over a critical administrative subdivision, ensuring law and order, smooth electoral conduct, and industrial coordination in high-stakes zones.

Key responsibilities and achievements include:

• Successfully conducted elections (General & Assembly) with high voter turnout and peaceful execution, ensuring strict adherence to Model Code of Conduct (MCC), inter-agency coordination, and quick-response mechanisms for sensitive areas.
• Managed coalfield administration and industrial operations, facilitating seamless functioning of major PSUs and private entities such as MCL, NTPC, and JITPL while balancing industrial security, labor issues, and environmental compliance.
• Handled land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement, and public grievance redressal, often in challenging socio-political environments.
• Ensured disaster preparedness, encroachment removal, and daily revenue administration, reflecting strong grassroots-level governance capacity.