A Brief

Forty years of dedicated service at Regional, National and International Level in the field of Human Resource Development, Volunteerism, Social Harmony, Health, Education, Environment, Age care, Disaster Management, Planning and Public Policy, Youth, Training and Civil Society Development.

Present Work Profile:

Founder Chairperson, Odisha Nagarika Samaj (Odisha Civil Society) and Working Chairperson, Odisha Shanti, Sadbhavana Abhijan , Chairperson, Vinoba Seva Pratisthan, Hony. Advisor, Human Development Foundation, Senior Advisor and Head of Election Commission Expert Group on India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management.

Advisor, Innovation, Concern Worldwide, Advisor, International Resource Group on Disaster Management. Member Research Advisory Group, Aga Khan Foundation, Honorary Advisor, YUVA (Youth United for Victory against AIDS), Min. of Youth Affairs and Sports, GoI.

Present Work Profile:

Historic Contributions:
• Played a key role in making Kottayam, Kerala as India’s first fully literate city in June 1989, which
triggered a mass literacy campaign that made Kerala India’s first fully literate state in 1991.
• Conceptualized “Youth Development Index–YDI” which, after endorsement by Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting- CHOGM, has now been launched as a Global Youth Development
Index- GYDI in 2016.
• Developed three Concept Framework and Project Documents for establishment of three
national and international institutions, namely (1.Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth
Development(RGNIYD), Sriperumbudur, 2.India International Institute of Democracy and Election
Management Delhi 3.South Asia Institute of Democracy and Electoral Studies, Kathmandu.)
• On the occasion of the International Year of the Youth, initiated the first steps for reducing the
minimum voting age in India from 21 to 18 that led to the 61st Constitutional Amendment
Act, 1988 that enabled millions of young people to participate in the electoral process.

• Conceptualised and implemented the innovative “University Talk AIDS-UTA”, India’s first major
HIV AIDS education program for youth, acknowledged as a global best practice. As a Lead Member of
the National AIDS Control Program Planning Team-NACP-3, developed a national policy,
implementation of which halted and reversed the spread of HIV in the country.
• Developed the framework for “National Voters Day” and the policy document YUVA-Youth Unite
for Vote Awareness, that eventually led to a participation revolution in the country, substantially
increasing the voter turnout.
• As Founder Chairperson of SAMBHAV (Rohibank, Odgaon, Odisha, 1989) developed an
innovative Nature farm to promote organic and non–violent agriculture, the second experiment of its
kind in India. More than 65000 farmers have been trained in organic and natural farming as well as
zero tillage agriculture.

Social Harmony and Peace:
• In the wake of demolition of Babri- Ram janmabhumi disputed structure in 1992, conceptualised and
implemented a nationwide campaign called “ Youth for Social Harmony” in December 1993 and 1994
under which 5000 social harmony camps were organised, involving half a million student and non
student youth volunteers.
• As Working Chairman of ‘Odissa Shanti Sadbhavna Abhijan( OSSA), mobilized civil society and
worked to restore peace in communal strife-torn Kondhmal through peace activities like Pad Yatras,
Harmony camps, Gandhi Katha etc,( no incident has happened since then) and writings in media
(2006-2010),
• Member, Utkal University Campus Peace Committee, 2007.
• Undertook Peace march in Maoist affected areas of Odisha alongwith Gandhian and Sarvoday
workers,

• Vice Chairperson, Pak-India Friendship society, Odisha chapter.
• Organised a series of programmes on conflict management and peace education in India, Sri Lanka,
and Bangladesh.
Youth Volunteerism and Social Awareness:
• As Programme Adviser and Head of National Service Scheme( NSS) in the country , built and
developed a three million strong student-volunteer force, World’s largest in “campus to community”
and “college to village” initiative, (1991-96) Also wrote its Manual.
• Promoted youth policy and program in nine countries of Asia Commonwealth region.
• Helped in youth policy development of 17 countries including India and within India, Odisha and
Maharashtra and introduced Distance education in Youth Development.( 1996-2003),
• Developed the concept of “Youth Development Index” which eventually became an international
initiative adopted by CYMM , CHOGM and UN.(see CYP report-11-12-2005, chaired by Secy. Gen.
Don Mckinnon).

Youth, Adolescent Health promotion and HIV Awareness:
• As Lead Member, National Planning Team, developed the NACP-3 (National AIDS Control Program)
five year plan as a result of which HIV prevalence has been reduced from 5.2 million to less than half a
million.
• Conceptualised, developed and implemented a massive HIV and AIDS Awareness campaign in the
Country called “Universities Talk AIDS” (UTA) involving 250 universities and one million students
and teachers- adjudged as one of the best practices in the world in peer education and social
mobilisation,
• On invitation from Indonesian Government and WHO, prepared country plan on Youth Health.
(1994-95) for Indonesia,
Voter Awareness and Participation:

• Designed an action plan for the Election Commission of India based on which 25th January was
declared as National Voters Day.
• Developed a 10 point strategic document called YUVA- Youth Unite for Voter Awareness- along with a
program of action which the Election Commission of India integrated into its voter education program
leading to a participation revolution in the recent elections.

• As Head of National Experts Group of the Election Commission of India, prepared the Concept
Framework and Project Document for establishing the India International Institute of Democracy and
Election Management.
• In 1985, during International Year of Youth, first to propose reduction of voting age during
International Year of Youth (IYY) in 1985, based on which the Voting Age in India was reduced from
21 years to 18 years with a constitutional amendment, enabling millions of youth to join the electoral
process.

• Prepared a National Strategy Document and Working Group Report and presented it to the then
Prime Minister (P.V. Narasimha Rao) based on which India’s First National Institute of Youth
Development (RGNIYD) was established at Seri Perumbudur, Tamil Nadu. This has now become an
Institution of National Importance.
Education, Environment, Civil Society:
• Member, Higher Education Task Force, Govt. of Odisha for revamping higher education system for
12th 5 year plan.
• Member, Ministerial Committee on Odia as official language, 2016
• As Expert, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizens Participation, developed India’s first Civil Society
Index in 2005-6 ( Odisha Civil Society Index).
• Member, Technical Advisory Group, Odisha State Information Commission , 2009.ation

• Member, Mission for Application of Science and Technology for Plants and Land Management,
(MASTPALM), Govt of Odisha, 2009.
• Working with youth volunteers for ecology development and water shed management since 1984.
Developed a collaborative action plan “ Youth for Watershed Management” with Ministry of Rural
development in 1993-95 engaging 2 million Youth volunteers(NSS) (at the instance of the then
Cabinet Secretary, Mr Gaffer Saifullah)

• As a civil society initiative, developed Odisha Climate change Action Plan, 2010-2015, most of which
is now part of the official plan, now a subject of study by Center of Policy Research and environmental
groups.
• In 1981-82, launched a massive Youth for Ecology Development and then” Youth Against Famine”
Campaign in Odisha, impressed by which Mr Sunderlal Bahuguna, renowned environmentalist, came
down to meet and congratulate.

Public Affairs and Public Policy:
• During last ten years, produced nineteen important public policy documents of regional & national
importance in the area of development and democracy. These are:
• Odisha Adolescent Profile.
• Odisha Civil Society Index,
• AIDS Education for Student Youth (India’s first manual on the subject),
• Value Education on Age Care-A National Strategy (for Help Age India),
• Life Skills Education For Adolescents (for Min. of HRD & Youth),
• Prepared communities, Secure Country (for Civil Defence, National Disaster Management Authority).
Ministry of Home Affairs, India’s First manual on disaster preparedness.( released in April, 2012)
• India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIDEM): Concept Framework
cum Project Document

• YUVA: Youth Unite for Voter Awareness. A Strategy framework for Election Commission of India to
promote youth participation in electoral democracy,

• Drafted the Time-bound Delivery of Public Service Bill in 2011 on behalf of Odisha Nagarik Samaj, a
very important policy initiative, adopted by the Odisha Govt.( May 2012),
• Member-cum-Expert: Lokvani, Prasar Bharti, Committee for Content and Operation for local level
programming in local dialects from identified TV and AIR transmitters.
• Growing up in Family: Family Life Education for youth(published by Commonwealth Secretariat)
• Planning for election, election commission of India- 2016.
• Political finance and expediter control, election commission of India- 2016(ECI) .
• Voter registration, ECI-2016.

• YUVA: Youth Unite for Voter Awareness. A Strategy framework for Election Commission of India to
promote youth participation in electoral democracy,

• Youth Work and Sexual Health (Book)
• AIDS Education for Student Youth – A Training Manual.
• Growing up in Family (Training Manual)
• Value Education on Age Care, (Help Age India, International)
• Image of India – A Socio Literary Study
• Bikalpa Biswa (The Alternative World)

Dwitiya Pruthivi (The Second Planet)
• YUVA- Youth United for Victory on AIDS (for Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports)
• YUVA-2: Youth United for Voter Awareness, a national strategy given to Election Commission of
India.

• Learner Centred Learning (Commonwealth-HRD)
• School Health Education – Youth to Child (Central Health Education Bureau)
• Conducted WHO Field Study on Adolescent Reproductive & Sexual Health: A Guide to Conducting A
Situation Analysis (1997).

• Guided a Commonwealth Project “Young People, Sexual Health and Gender” (Jointly sponsored by
UNAIDS, UNICEF, SAFAIDS, KIT).
• Developed India’s first training guide on Youth Health, titled ‘YUVA”.
••
Personality Development and Communication, published by Commonwealth Secretariat, London
• Developed the Policy, Planning and Implementation Strategy Document for the Election Commission
of India for setting up the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management
(IIDEM) as Head of ECI Experts Group.

• Also developed the Concept Framework for establishing South Asia Institute of Democracy and
Electoral Studies (SAIDES)
• Lucy’s Children, non-fiction published by Biswa Karma Publishers, 2017
• Secure country, Safer people – A National Guide on Community based Disaster Preparedness .
• How the World Votes, published by Election Commission of India, 2018.
Represented India in International
Meetings/Conferences/World Congress:
• 7th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and Pacific, Kobe, Japan (July 2005).
• India Festival in USSR, 1987
• VIIIth International conference on AIDS and 3rd STD World Congress, Amsterdam, July’92.
• The 2nd International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, New Delhi, Nov.’ 92.
• Inter-Regional Programme Managers Training , Harare, Zimbabwe, April, 1993 (WHO-GPA).

• Ixth International Conference on AIDS and 4th STD World Congress, Berlin (Germany), June, 1993.
• First International Conference on Life Style and Health, 1995, AIIMS, New Delhi
• 9th Regional Meeting of National AIDS Programme Managers, New Delhi (8-12 Nov., 1993).

• Conference of South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation SAARC., Male, Maldives, 1992.
• Team Leader , ECI Electoral Delegation to Myanmar. 2016-17.
• Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting, CYMM, Kualalumpur, Malaysia, 2001
Work Profile:
• Member, Planning Commission National Working Group for 10th and 11th plan (HRD and Youth)
• Member Research Advisory Group, Aga Khan Foundation
• Consulting Advisor, WHO , for developing Indonesia’s National Youth Health action plan- 1995
• Senior Advisor (Hony.), YUVA (Youth United for Victory on AIDS), Min. of Youth Affairs and Sports,
GoI.

• Programme Adviser and Chief of National Service Scheme (NSS), Min. of Youth Affairs, Govt of India,
1991-96.

• Adviser, National Youth Commission, India, 2004.
• Youth Adviser, NACO-WHO (WR), 2005-06.
• Lead Member, NACP–III, National Planning Team, 2006-07.
• Consulting Adviser, Help Age India and Disaster Management Support Project. 2007-08.
• Founder Chairperson , Odisha Nagarik Samaj, a State level Civil Society Platform.
• Founder chairperson, SAMBHAV, India’s second experiment in nature farming and zero tillage
agriculture.
• Senior Advisor India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management, New Delhi.
• Member Gandhi Tatwa Prachar Samiti, Sarva Seva Sangh, Akhila Bharat Sarvodaya Mandal.

• Programme Adviser and Chief of National Service Scheme (NSS), Min. of Youth Affairs, Govt of India,
1991-96.

International Assignments:
• HRD Lead, Commonwealth Asia Centre,
• Consulting Adviser (youth health), WHO, Indonesia,
• Senior Consultant, UNDP, UNFPA, UNAIDS,

• UN International Consultant, Electoral Support Project, Kathmandu
Awards and Honours by Civil Society:
• Maharshi Patanjali Rastriya ‘Manav Ratna Samman’, New Delhi-2006.
• Gandhi Vinoba Sadbhavana Samman, Bhubaneswar (by Nirmala Despandey, an Eminent Gandhian).
• National Integration & Social Harmony Award 2007 (by Nehru Institute of Youth Affairs).
• Award for Environment & community Work 2008 (Utkal University).
• Honoured by Shri Jagannath Sanskrit University, Puri 2009.

• Biju Pratibha Samman, Biju Patnaik Educational Trust, Bhubaneswar.
• Door Drusti, a popular magazine adjudged Dr.Bhagbanprakash as one of the five “Odishar Garba O
Gaurav” April, 2011 issue.

• The Karmaveer Chakra Civilian Award, by International Confederation of NGOs, in partnership with
United Nations, 2014-15
• Sambad Sahitya Samman, Utkal Sahitya Samaj, 2014-15.
• Prana Nath memorial Samman, Khordha , Pran Nath autonomous college, 2021
• Honoured by Katha Samrat Surendra Mohanty Memorial Trust,2017
• Godhuli Prabasi Odia Saraswat Samman, 2016-17