Sitakanta Sethy
Development Professional
Bhubaneswar,OD
Work Preference
Summary
Dynamic professional with over 23 years of experience in Rural Development Management, specializing as a Master Trainer in Soft Skills, WASH, and Participatory Project Planning and Management. Proven expertise in teaching MBA students and conducting impactful research in Social Sciences. Seeking to contribute to an organization that provides challenges and opportunities for growth while fostering job satisfaction through recognition, continuous learning, and the exchange of innovative ideas. Committed to leveraging extensive knowledge and skills to drive meaningful change and enhance community development initiatives.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Research Associate
Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS), Bhubaneswar
08.2024 - Current
- From August 2024 I have working as the Research Associate with Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS), Bhubaneswar, which is a continuation to my earlier work here as a Post Doctoral Fellow under Odisha Millets Mission (now, Shree Anna Abhiyan). In addition to that I am also Freelancer in Rural Development Management, Skilled and Committed National level Master Trainer (WASH, Personality Development & How to Write Good Articles). During the period of my assignment, I am covering the entire Odisha for research and documentation.
- From November 28, 2019 till December 31, 2020 date as the Post Doctoral Fellow (PDF) at the Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS), Bhubaneswar with responsibility of planning and undertaking the Baseline and Mid-term Evaluation research in Koraput, Nabarangpur and Rayagada Districts, undertaking the Study on the Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) being promoted under the programme “Promotion of Millets in Tribal Regions of Odisha”, training and documentation under the Odisha Millets Mission (OMM) Programme Secretariat, Govt. of Odisha, Bhubaneswar.
Research Associate
NCDS, Bhubaneswar
08.2024 - Current
- Led research initiatives that improved data collection processes, enhancing accuracy and reliability in project outcomes.
- Developed and implemented research methodologies that streamlined project workflows and increased operational efficiency.
- Mentored junior researchers, fostering skill development and collaboration, which improved team performance and project delivery.
- Analyzed complex datasets using statistical software, providing actionable insights that informed strategic decision-making.
State Resource Person (SRP)
APICOL, Bhubaneswar
12.2023 - Current
- Being the State Resource Person (SRP), I have been working with APICOL, Bhubaneswar to develop Training Modules and Study Materials on “Entrepreneurial Motivation Training” train Agri-Entrepreneurs in Odisha, based in Bhubaneswar from December 2023.
- From August 18, 2016 to May 18, 2018 I have worked with UNICEF Bhubaneswar as the Sr. Consultant – Capacity Building, for IGTC, Bhubaneswar under the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, Govt. of Odisha. Here I was planning; organizing, evaluating and taking follow up activities to all the capacity building programmes. Being in the organization, organized and imparted residential training to around 2485 trainees in 71 Batches in the field of Rural Drinking Water, Health and Sanitation. Edited, published and circulated the IGTRC Quarterly News Letter titled “Normal Swachha Odisha” & later submitted case studies on rural drinking water & sanitation to “Panchayat Samachar (Odia)”, prepared the Annual Training Calendar, State and District Capacity Building plans with manuals and modules etc.
Guest Faculty
KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM), KIIT University, Bhubaneswar
10.2022 - 04.2023
- From October 21, 2022 to April 2023 I have worked with the KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM), KIIT University, Bhubaneswar as a Guest Faculty and teaching the Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development (PGDRD) Students.
- From January 25, 2021 to May 30, 2023 I had worked as Guest Faculty in the MBA in Rural Management Dept. under the Utkal University, New Campus (Rural), and extending Consultancy & other support services to the grassroots NGOs working in Odisha in the field of rural development management especially WASH, participatory planning and development, capacity building, social science research and documentation.
Zone Coordinator
Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar
08.1994 - 10.1996
- From August 1994 to October 1996 worked as a Zone Coordinator in “Education for All (EFA) Project” with the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar with over all capacity for planning and organizing training the School Education and Management Committees (SEMCs) in Keonjhar District, Odisha.
- From October 24, 2011 to June 30, 2012 worked as the Project Manager and Coordinator of the South Odisha Resource Centre, Koraput with the Xavier Institute of Management – CENDERET, Bhubaneswar with overall responsibilities such as partnership building and management Grassroots NGOs, project planning and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, action research, documentation, and training in Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Rayagada Districts.
Education
Ph.D. - Development Studies
Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore
Bangalore, Karnataka, India01.2006
Post Graduate - Rural Development
Xavier Institute of Social Services (XISS), Ranchi
Ranchi, India01.1993
Skills
Experienced in data analysis using Excel and SPSS
References
- Narendra Singh, Chauhan, WASH Officer, nschauhan@unicef.org, +91 94131 46941, UNICEF Odisha, Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar
- Er. Bhagban, Sahu, Engineer in Chief (Retd.), bhagaban1107@gmail.com, cerwss@ori.nic.in, +91 82491 67372, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Dept., Govt. of Odisha
HONORS, AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
National Educational Testing (NET) for Eligibility for Lectureship in Rural Development held in 1993 by the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Rural Development from UGC, New Delhi for having qualified in the National Educational Testing (NET) for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Eligibility Test for Lectureship held in 1994
PRESENTED PAPERS IN INTERNATIONAL SEMIARS
- Paper titled ‘Participatory Learning, Development and Local Governance in India’ at Ocho Rios, Jamaica in the Fourth Pan Commonwealth of Learning International Conference organized by Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in collaboration with Consortium of Universities of West Indies and University of London DURING October 30, 2006 to November 3, 2006.
- Paper titled ‘Determinants of People’s Participation in Decentralized Planning’ at the International Conference on Citizen and Good Governance organized by Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), New Delhi during December 2000.
- A. RESOURCE BOOK cum MANUAL and Baseline Study Report
- Baseline Study Report on Minor Millets Farming in Koraput, Nabarangpur and Rayagada Districts of Odisha during 2019, Nabakrushna Choudhury Center for Development Studies (NCDS), Bhubaneswar
- Participatory Decentralized Planning: A Resource Book for Gram Panchayats, Grassroots NGOs and Development Administration written by Dr. Sitakanta Sethy, published by the Centre for World Solidarity, Secunderabad on March 10, 2007.
- B. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
- ‘Can Participatory Research, Planning and Action by Panchayats and NGOs assure Rural Poor’s Livelihoods?’ published in the India Journal of Millennium Development Studies: An International Journal, Vol.1, No.1, March 2006, pp.95–106.
- ‘Non Governmental Development Agencies in India and the Space for University Students’ published by the India Journal of Millennium Development Studies: An International Journal, Vol.2, No.2, March 2007.
- ‘Synergetic Action for Participatory Development’ published by South Asian Journal of Socio Political Studies, Kerala, Vol. 4, No.-2, June 2004, pp.45–49.
- ‘Participatory Development and Local Governance’, published in Commonwealth of Learning and the Caribbean Consortium, http://pcf4.dec.uwi.edu/viewpaper.php?id=37
- My Doctoral Thesis on - http://www.isec.ac.in/Theses%20new/Dynamics_of_people's_participation_in_decentralised_planning.pdf
- C. INDIAN JOURNALS
- ‘Determinants of People’s Participation in Decentralized Planning’, Published by Political Economy Journal of India, Chandigarh, Vol.13, Issues 1and 2, January-June 2004, pp. 76–85.
- ‘Decentralized Planning and Governance in India: Analysis of the Kerala, Karnataka, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh Experiences’ published in Vision, Journal of Jay Prakash Narayan Institute of Social and Economic Studies, Bhubaneswar, Vol. XXII, No.1–2, 2003, pp. 18-39.
- ‘Participatory Planning and Development: NGO initiatives in Orissa’, in Madhya Pradesh Journal of Social Sciences, MPSSR, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, Vol.5, No.2, July–December 2000 Issue, pp. 75–93.
- ‘Participatory Planning for Rural Development’ in ASWATHA, Journal of Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration, Pune Vol. 3, No.1–3, January–September 2000 Issue, pp. 16–18.
- ‘People’s Participation in Decentralized Planning’ published in Kurushetra, New Delhi, Vol. 51, No. 3, January 2003, pp.26–49.
- ‘People’s Participation in Decentralized Multilevel Planning and Development’ published in Social Change, The Journal of Center for Social Development, New Delhi, September–December 15, 2003 Issue, pp. 50–72.
- ‘People’s Participation in Local Level Planning and Development’ published in Kurushetra, New Delhi, September 2003, Vol. 51, No-11, pp. 37–44.
- ‘People’s Participation in Decentralized Planning: Miles to Go’ published in The Southern Economist, Bangalore, Vol. 42, No.10, September 15, 2003, pp. 15–18
- D. PAPERS IN EDITED VOLUMES
- ‘NGDOs intervention in School based Management: Case of a Tribal District in Orissa’ published in Neelam Sood (ed. 2003) book titled ‘Management of School Education in India’ published by the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), APH Publications, New Delhi
- ‘People’s Participation in Decentralized Planning: Analysis of few selected States in India’ published in an edited volume by Prof. Sachinandan Sau, titled ‘Participatory Decentralized Planning: Issues and Experiences with references to India (2002)’ Firma KLM Private Ltd., Kolkata, pp.55–76
- ‘Building up Participatory Democracy through Gram Sabha in India: Role of Development Agencies’ published Kanishka Publishers, edited by R. Venkata Ravi (2006) titled ‘Rural Development in India: Experiments and Emerging Issues, pp.158–172
- ‘People’s Plan for Sustainable Rural Development’ published in an edited volume by Purnendu S. Das (2005) titled ‘Decentralized Planning and Participatory Rural Development, Concept Publishers, pp.43–63
Undertaking
I do hereby declare that the above information given by me is true to the best to my knowledge and belief. I assure you to be accountable for the mistakes in this regard, if any during and after completion of my assignment. Date: August 5, 2025 Place: NCDS, Bhubaneswar
Writing Research Articles, and Reports
Published 17 articles, in reputed Journals and edited volumes, Presented around 7 papers in National level and two papers in International Seminars.
Languages
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Hindi
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Interests
PLAYING BADMINTON
Affiliations
- INDIRA GANDHI TRANING & RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- BAITARANI FOUNDATION
Software
MS OFFICE (WORD, EXCEL, POWER POINT), SPSS
Timeline
Research Associate
Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS), Bhubaneswar
08.2024 - Current
Research Associate
NCDS, Bhubaneswar
08.2024 - Current
State Resource Person (SRP)
APICOL, Bhubaneswar
12.2023 - Current
Guest Faculty
KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM), KIIT University, Bhubaneswar
10.2022 - 04.2023
Zone Coordinator
Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar
08.1994 - 10.1996
Post Graduate - Rural Development
Xavier Institute of Social Services (XISS), Ranchi
Ph.D. - Development Studies
Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore